thedispatch | All Work & No Play

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All Work & No Play

[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.]

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What’s this, is everyone curbing off the drinks already?

[ Though Grell is clearly amused by this, she shakes her head at them in disappointment!! ]

I think you might be starting to show your age.

[ Wait, she almost missed that— did William just... agree?! The dumbfounded blink she gives only lasts a split second, before she’s on her feet! ]

Really? Well, then, I suppose we ought to get started - but you’ll still need to think of something for the next person, darling.

[ In the meanwhile, she’s going to retrieve her oversized makeup bag from her luggage! ]

[He's clicking his tongue to the roof of his mouth before giving a shrug of his shoulders before ticking his reasons off on his fingers.]

Firstly, Age has nothing to do with it, Senior Sutcliffe.
Secondly, Mister Spears must be a wee bit sauced to agree to a make-over from you.
Thirdly, Of the four of us I don't drink often so this is going to be an interesting evening.

[There's a pause as he glances at his fingers. Fourthly? Was it fourthly? Whatever, he motions with his hand dismissively.]

And Finally, since I normally make coffee at the office - even if we don't drink it now it wouldn't hurt to have the coffee pre-prepped for making since some of us; namely me, will likely be wishing they were quite deceased in the morning.

[Cue him motioning to Ronald his other hand patting Eric's knee briefly. He might be beaming like a proud parent. He also might be a teeny bit drunk.]

See? My sweet Ronnie understands me. What a good lad. Trained and mentored him properly - why I practically raised him. William leactures his work ethic. Eric takes him to pubs for drinking and flirting lessons, I reckon. I teach him everything else. Now, I get to teach him how to brew a proper coffee.

"You make wonderful coffee." He squeezes Alan's shoulder, but I'm sure Ronald can figure it out." Just when Alan is leaning against him. "As for the bars, Ronald and I are just amusing ourselves.

Lessons?

[ He laughed. ]

I'll have you know that comes naturally! S'just so happens Mister Slingby beats me to the finer birds whenever we're about on the town together!

[ And off he goes, following after Alan. ]

Come on, then. You've one more thing to teach me, I'd wager! More'n one, prolly.

[ With Alan, Ronald and Grell all heading back into the room to fetch items and make coffee and what not, William's left out on the balcony with Eric. He's chosen him for the game once before, but it seems it will happen again! Taking the final sip from his glass he sets the empty cup aside and regards the man. ]

You may as well choose. The rest seem to have abandoned us, for now.

[ Is— Alan scolding her? Despite having an arm loaded with beauty supplies, she turns to the younger reaper, righting her glasses on her nose just enough to give him a proper look-over. What, exactly, is going on here?

Ah, yes, he’s properly - as the children say it - sauced. ]

Are you quite finished?

[ Grell says through her laughter - and now that Ronald’s thrown Eric under the bus, they’ve probably got more important things to discuss - so she makes her way back out to the balcony, swiping an extra rum and coke on the way! ]

'Course I do. I've had centuries to perfect it after all! Mmhm, Flirting with skirts and getting into mischief. I know all about it.

[Pushing himself to his feet, he's leaving his warm spot next to Eric and moving to his suitcase to fetch the coffee he brought with him - he's picky. He wrinkles his nose at this talk about Eric beating Ronald to the finer birds excuse him. Luckily, he can hold his tongue for the moment.]

I can teach you all manner of things, dear boy, and I will. Just watch and see. I'll make a proper gent of you yet.

[Hearing Gell he adjusts his glasses with a slow lazy blink. What is she on about?] What do you mean finished, I haven't even started?

At any rate, [He's just reaching back for Ronald's hand, tugging him along like a mother guiding a child through a store.] Now for the proper strength of coffee you should measure it out -

[Eric just pouts and lets Alan get up. At least he'll be getting coffee soon. He takes another drink.]

Who's turn is it again? SOMEONE should get a makeover. That's what I choose. I want to watch that. [Eric's had a little too much to drink]

Edited 2021-05-28 02:47 (UTC)

[ William simply frowns at Eric's response. Is the man too drunk (and distracted!) to comprehend William choosing him for the game? Or is William too drunk to piece together what Eric's even talking about. He's not certain anymore! ]

It is your turn you dolt. I asked you already, pay attention.

[ Usually Grell is the one on the receiving end of William's aggression, but this time Eric's getting a firm kick to the shin. ]

What’s this, then?

[ Standing in the doorway, hip cocked, and brow raised high, is Grell! ]

I leave you alone for thirty seconds, and you start flirting with someone else?

[ Utilizing the outdoor table provided to them, she dumps the beauty supplies! And bottle of alcohol, albeit more delicately. ]

That— [ Grabbing William’s chair, she swivels him to face the light. ] —will not stand!

[ With an amused breath, she plops herself atop his lap. It appears that she won’t be standing, either! ]

[After a few minutes and being shoo'd off by his ~~son~~ trainee, Alan is wandering back to the others but he pauses just short of joining them.

Instead he's just watching them. Moments like this are rare and few between. Moments where they're just having a good time, like a real family. Moments like this he's going to treasure. It's a shame he thinks that they had to die to find this.

With a soft smile and shake of his head he laughed.]

I can't leave you three alone for five minutes without someone getting a bruise and Grell throwing herself into William's arms. What am I going to do with all of you?

[His tone is teasing and light said like he has a secret and he does - only this time it's a good one. What he's going to do is love his ragtag little family.]

Eric is nicely drunk, and far more interested in the dynamic of his fellows than the game. "So, I choose someone for truth or dare? All right, Spears." He's been called a dolt and he's going to get some revenge. He's still looking around for whoever is going to make and bring coffee.

[ Even if he's smartly drunk, himself, it doesn't make William any less capable of shaking his head disappointingly at his subordinate. ]

Fine, truth. And you- [ William's glare flicks to Grell who, of course, is in his lap again. ] there is a legitimate chair right there. Can you not do this from there?

[ Remind him why he's even bothering to ask, again. ]

Edited 2021-06-20 17:46 (UTC)

[ Having glanced back over her shoulder at Alan with the most wickedly guilty sort of grin, she beckons him back with an inching of the index!

As for William, she leans in awfully close, to delicately remove the glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. ]

No❤️. [ Said right as she boops said nose! And then, sets his glasses aside on the table. ]

]He really should stay at the door and keep an eye on Ronald as he got the coffee going but he just returned to them. He settled himself back next to Eric. He lighty patted his shoulder.]

Coffee'll be going soon. Watching Spears get all dolled up is going to be the strangest thing I've ever seen.

Eric chuckles. "Talk about your feelings about Sutcliffe, WHILE she is doing your makeup. Irritation, frustration, raging lust, a desire to beat senseless, or molest. All of it."

Be careful with my gla--

[ The warning comes out almost immediately, but is interrupted by the touch of Grell's finger to his nose. He blinks a few times, obviously surprised by the affectionate tap, but quickly regains his composure.

That is, until he puts together all his coworker's comments about the dare he's just about to fulfill. Oh no...make over means makeup! ]

I thought you were going to style my hair.

[ Then, to top things off further, Eric's truth is finally processed by his drunken mind. ]

No. Where is my drink?

[ Ah, but there's no drink close enough that he can forfeit. At least, not that his impaired vision can tell. With an overly irritated and defeated huff, he relents. ]

Alright, fine. Honestly, I would reap the lot of you if it wouldn't leave me with extensive overtime.

[ This is a rather involved truth, so it will take him a bit to formulate an honest answer that he hopefully won't regret later. ]

Edited 2021-06-21 00:09 (UTC)

Oh~❤️!

[ Why, yes, Eric! You might just be stirring the pot, but she’ll gladly take a helping!

When William refuses, that’s precisely what she expects - and she quietly scoots her bottle of rum further out of his peripheral, holding a finger to her lips and winking at her peers.

Except— wait, what was that? Did he just agree? It’s her turn to blink, drawing a breath. ]

Well! I suppose I’d better get started, then!

[ This ought to be interesting. Perhaps the Liquid Courage/Truth will help strip him of a few hundred years worth of denial.

In the meanwhile, she shuffles around for her priming oil. Despenses some into her palm, and proceeds to tap over his face to distribute it, before massaging in with surprising care. It really gives her an opportunity to read his features during his mental process, too! ]

Tell me how you really feel~.

[Alan's eyes widened at the words that came out of Eric's mouth. Oh dear. There was a moment of panic. This could end very badly which was why he'd pointedly avoided asking such things. If things went badly, if the wrong thing was said it would but a rift somewhere there.

But it's William. Even if it's a drunk William surely it won't be that bad? He was still rather tractful and not sloppy drunk so maybe he handles his gin? - it had been gin right? - better than most people. So he gave a little shrug and lean into Eric where it's nice and warm.]

'S not a bad question really. Seems like a pretty decent truth if you ask me.

[Eric throws his head back and laughs heartily.] Now we're having fun. Go ahead, spill. [This is going to get interesting.]

[ Turns out it's a bit hard to make a mental list when you're getting primer dabbed across your cheeks. ]

First off, I don't understand what's appealing about this process.

[ He's got a rather sour expression on and a severely creased brow that's certainly doing wonders at hindering Grell getting even coverage. ]

Aside from that, I find you irritating, obnoxious, loud. You are entirely disrespectful when it comes to my personal space. Nor do you show any respect of my seniority over you on the job.

You are lewd, inappropriate, and seem to have zero understanding of what sexual harassment entails.

Your office work is horrendous. You have caused me countless hours of overtime. Every time you use the last of the sugar in the break room, you fail to refill it.

[ He sounds as if he could go on naming bad qualities until sunrise, but he pauses with a huff. ]

Yet, as easy as it would be to have management transfer you, I can't seem to get myself to submit the paperwork.

[ He had been looking directly at her as he complained (or at least was attempting to. She's a blur of red, even at thier close proximity.) But his gaze drifts at the last statement. Hopefully he won't have to elaborate beyond that. Doubtful. ]

Edited 2021-06-21 06:25 (UTC)

[ Oh, William. These are the bits they already knew! Grell is left unfazed, as she sorts through and opens up he pallets and such. Still, she continues to glance back with interest, holding his blind gaze.

By the time he’s finished, she’s cupped his chin to keep him still, as she brushes through his brows and begins to fill them.

When he’s through, she leans forward to place a kiss just above his temple, in his hair. She doesn’t want to disturb the process, after all! ]

I’ll refill the sugar.

[It could be worse. Of anything William said - it could have been worse an that last bit seems to soften it a bit. It was sweet in a way since he knew William had no qualms about any other kind of paperwork so to hear he had difficulties submitting the paperwork to get Grell moved to another department well that was telling enough, wasn't it?]

Ah, I think that's enough to cover the requirements. Don't you, Eric? I suppose then it's time for William to pick.

[Eric knows William. He knows about William's relationship with paperwork. And, he knows he practically declared his undying love for Grell. He smirks.] I suppose you're right, Alan. I'll let him off the hook.

[ William's brows are naturally quite sharp and dramatic, but now with Grell having filled them in, his glare has even more intensity to it as his eyes flick around to each of his coworkers. ]

I am not through, yet.

[ His eyes narrow further as he turns back to Grell. Oh how he could stop right now and save himself from regret later, but that gin is definitely making his usual logic take a back seat. ]

Why in Death's name are you so intriguing? Honestly. You are a contradiction which I cannot comprehend in the slightest. How is it possible that your outlandish behaviours and constant disregard for simple orders has helped to keep me sane all these centuries? There is no logic behind it. Perhaps I have lost some sense of clarity if your instability somehow grounds me.

[ Seems this has gone from William stating his thoughts on Grell to him outwardly voicing all the questions he's had running through his mind for centuries. ]

But then, to baffle me further, you insist on throwing in random bouts of calmness and respect, as if your trying to bait me into fulfilling your whims. And suddenly I find myself rubbing your feet and allowing you to curl up next to me in bed. Honestly, you are like some kind of addictive substance I can't rid myself of.

[ At this point, William's no longer sure if he's angry about it all, or just confused. Realising this, he throws in one last point. ]

You best have that sugar bowl filled the moment we return to work on Monday.

Edited 2021-06-22 07:04 (UTC)

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