All Work & No Play

[amongthethorns]

[Honestly, they're all exhausted - not tired but just worn out physically - after getting called all the way over here to help deal with a sudden rapid spike of missing souls which had been caused, unsurprisingly by an influx of demons. It was an odd thing and they still needed to pinpoint the origin of this matter, after all. Neither they nor the Paris Reapers could figure out what can caused an entire legion of Hells most foul to ascend on the city of lights.

Thankfully, with the five of them working pulled through just fine even if Alan was just a junior and Ronald was a rookie still. 

At least the hotel was nice even if they had to bunk up; two beds to each room. At least they had adjoining rooms so if they wanted they could throw the door between the two rooms open and interact.

Alan closed the field kit he'd been using to tend even their most minor of injuries; huffing out a tired but relieved breath. His chest ached just slightly and his shoulders slumped a little bit.] 

Well, that was certainly interesting if I don't say so myself. I know we've still got a few more days here in the city just to make sure things are well in hand an find answers, but what do we do for now? I mean - what do you even do in Paris?   

[He turned toward his bed where a rather large suitcase was tucking the field kit away. He'd brought a few things with him. They'd put all their belongings into this singular suitcase - fresh suits, documentations they needed when they went to Paris's dispatch branch for briefings and reports, a few other odds and ends.]

Comments

[ochitashinigami]

Eric laughs. "Who says it's not. I'll play spin the bottle."

[dead_serious]

[ Both Eric and Grell with get the typical glare from William. Did they honestly think he'd be willing to play spin-the-bottle? They're both way too obvious in their intentions. ]

If you two wish to play, then have at it. Humphries and I will leave you to it.

[ Perhaps he'll just go sit on the balcony and view the city. It must be beautiful lit up at night. ]

[untodeath]

[ What an easy crowd. Grell chuckles into her glass, pausing to sip before responding. ]

Oh, you two are sour when you’re jealous. That wouldn’t be fun for any of us.

[ Licking over her licks, she regards her drink with an impressed hum. A beverage that she hasn’t rendered undrinkable? Remarkable. ]

Truth or dare, then!

[amongthethorns]

Jealous?

[The way he says the word is incredulous. What in the world does Grell think he's jealous of? What does he even have to be jealous of? What on earth is she on about?]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[He rolled his eyes before shrugging his shoulders. He can't see anything wrong with that.]

I suppose that would be okay.

[ochitashinigami]

[Spin the Bottle is just kissing. Truth or Dare feels like there's a chance to be truly vulnerable and nope.]

What's wrong with spin the bottle?

[dead_serious]

[ William looks to Eric as if the answer should be obvious and he shouldn't have to explain. ]

The issues are:

[He counts them off on his fingers. ]

1. I will not be kissing any of you.
2. I doubt either of you would want to deal with that thing [ He points to Grell with his other hand. ] if your spin landed on me.
And 3. No.

[untodeath]

[ Grell finds herself looking to Eric with a wry grin, a shoulder raising as she chuckles! Surely, she’s about to offer a crude solution, but William speaks first.

And when he gestures to her, she props a hand beneath her chin prettily whilst batting her lashes! ]

Aw, Will, you know me so well.

[ That hand then gestures into a shrug. ]

It’s alright, Eric. If you really wish to kiss me, you could always dare it out of me. Since no one else would mind and all.

[amongthethorns]

[His lips parted before William started to speak, bless the man. He kept Alan from saying something foolish. Instead he closed his mouth and gestured to William.]

Exactly. Thank you, Sir.

[There was a scrunch of his nose at Grell's words but he's wisely saying nothing, instead he's bringing his glass up to his mouth taking a healthy sip before moving to drag the chair from the other room into this one to sit in.]

Fine. What are the rules and who goes first?

[ochitashinigami]

[Eric laughs]

It's harder than that to kiss me, Sutcliff. I don't have to use dares.

[He sits down on the floor next to Alan, his head next to Alan's knee.]

So, what are we playing?

[dead_serious]

[ Reclaiming the other chair, William reluctantly joins the other two. It's ridiculous, playing these so called 'party games' when they're centuries old and there's hardly a party going on. But, truth or dare sounds far more tolerable than spin the bottle. ]

Truth or dare, was it? Or is there a third suggestion. I don't know of any, honestly.

[untodeath]

[ Grell rolls her eyes at Eric, snerking! ]

And yet, you’ll have a bottle determine the fate of your affairs?

[ With both chairs occupied, there’s few options - and she’s certainly not sitting in the ground - so, she sits on the balustrade itself, back resting against the wall and legs outstretched. ]

Yes, truth or dare. As the title suggests, one would choose another player, and challenge them to pick either truth, or dare. Neither should render them incapable of continuing the game. If they should forfeit, they must default to the other option. Once they’ve completed the challenge, they go on to challenge another player. Easy enough?

[amongthethorns]

[So that's interesting. There's an Eric sitting just right there like he just has to be by Alan's side. All right then, he's going to back that away for reflecting on later - mush later.

Instead, he's focusing on Grell, tilting his head.]

And if we don't want to do the other option either? Who knows what kind of odd dares you two could think up. Besides, I thought the point of the game was to drink or am I wrong?

[ochitashinigami]

"A forfeit is something we're doing anyway?" He shrugs and takes another drink and pats Alan's knee.

[dead_serious]

[ Apparently tired of the bickering over the rules, William gets up and heads back in from the balcony. It may appear as though he's opted not to play, at all, but soon enough he's back, shot glasses in hand and then making a second trip to bring in all the bottles of liquor. ]

Keep drinking your chosen drink as you would. Each forfeit allows the person in turn to pour you a shot of their choosing. Now, get on with it.

[ He shoves the bottle of wine into Grell's hands, assuming she would want to kick start everything. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell keeps opening her mouth to retort, and eventually just plants a hand on her waist, knocking back another healthy gulp of her drink.

When the bottle is shoved into her grip, she glances up to meet his gaze while she gets a proper hold on it. ]

I do enjoy it when you take charge.

[ And, in keeping that eye contact, she raises the bottle, using it to gesture toward him. If he stays close enough, it might even tap his chest! ]

Alright, then, Will. Truth — or dare❤️?

[ Now, he’s the obvious choice— and does she want to roll with it? Oh, DEATH, yes. But she hasn’t forgotten, there’s something veeery juicy going on between their coworkers. She just has to wait until they feel safe. And, possibly, very drunk. ]

[amongthethorns]

[If he could move his leg without making himself feel guilty or Eric uncomfortable, he might consider it. It's just a little awkward, especially since they're in front of Wil and Grell. But he's not saying anything because some part of him likes the contact.]

It's just a good idea to allow a third option sometimes if the questions get too personal or the dares are something that makes you uncomfortable.

[Bless William. At least someone saw his logic. Then again he's certain that William doesn't want Grell to give him some kind of dare to kiss her or strip without some kind of an out which he certainly understands.]

Now see, Mr. Spears understands.

[ochitashinigami]

[Eric laughs, pats Alan's knee, and puts his hand in his lap.]

I don't mind. This should get interesting.

[dead_serious]

[ As if he didn't know Grell would go after him first, he answers before they phrase is even fully out of her mouth. ]

Truth.

[untodeath]

[ Yes, well, she saw that coming! With a delectable hum, she takes but a moment to think of a question. ]

What is the naughtiest thing that you’ve ever gotten away with?

[amongthethorns]

[Death take him now. Please. Just end him.

He knows exactly what Grell is asking but he's kind of hoping William says something completely out of left field like using garishly green post-its when he ran out of the standard yellows.

At least he only has to deal with this as long as it takes him to get pleasantly drunk enough to fall to sleep.]

[ochitashinigami]

[Eric senses Alan's tension and pats his hand. Then, he laughs at Grell's quetion.]

Do we need to hear about the time Spears didn't have his shoelaces not tied according to regulation at work?

[dead_serious]

[ Will was about to forfeit. To hand Grell a shot glass and down it before she could complain too much. But Eric's comment has him answering almost immediately. ]

I had an affair with my boss's wife.

[ Now he takes a healthy gulp of his gin, nearly finishing it off. ]

Tecnically, I suppose I was found out, but that hardly matters now.

[untodeath]

[ The redhead's eyes briefly flicker over to Eric as he speaks, grin splitting wider - because, oh, they underestimate William, his rage and his pride.

And William doesn’t fail her expectations. In fact, he surprises her! Brows ticking upward, she croons with intrigue— and yet— ]

That is the worst you’ve done?

[ There's got to be more to it, as it clearly didn’t end well. Even so, she’s taking a shot in the dark here! ]

[amongthethorns]

I doubt it's shoe laces.

[Alan murmured and he is not disappointed. No, he was actually rather surprised if he were to be honest. That was decidedly unexpected but is he really so surprised? Something tells him he shouldn't be.]

Oh.

[ochitashinigami]

[Eric looks stunned for a moment, takes a drink, and then throws his head back and laughs.]

You didn't! You're lying.