The next afterlife

[dead_serious]

[ In hindsight, it was obvious. Reapers worked tirelessly, for centuries, trying to reach that one final goal - to be forgiven. For most, the feat of learning the value of life was impossible. The depression that lingered with them after they took their own lives was only compounded by their roles as death gods. So many joyous lives cut short, the lucky mortal's record almost mocking the unfortunate reapers as they watched the panels flip past their eyes. Most would forget they even had a chance to be forgiven, drowning in the enteral job set before them.

But, on rare occurrences, a reaper would find themselves before a jury, summoned away from their desks overflowing with paperwork on scheduled deaths. That is where William stands now. And perhaps even more surprising, is the other who stands beside him - Grell Sutcliffe. William had hardly believed himself capable of forgiveness, but the redhead...she'd looked at the mortal realm and laughed, hardly caring (and often finding it amusing) if she was the listed cause of death for some of those unfortunate people. How she is here, as well, is beyond him.

The committee has decided the both of you have come to an understanding on how valuable life truly is.

The woman at the centre of the row of judges addresses them both. William's brow creases, but he refrains from asking the obvious question of why, lest he ruin their chances at eternal peace.

Now that that matter is dealt with, we will move on to assessing your sins as a mortal.

William's expression quickly shifts to honest surprise, his eyes widening and blinking in confusion. The term 'forgiven' had been a misnomer since the beginning. How had he been so naive to think all their wrong doings while they'd been alive would be waved off as if they'd meant nothing? Swallowing heavily, he gives a brief side glance to Grell. For the first time, in this afterlife, he is scared. ]

Comments

[dead_serious]

[ Yup, that tail of hers is certainly up and giving him quite the view. ]

They gave you a cunt, as well? Seems you should have been condemned centuries ago.

[ He sounds rather petty about it with the huff he adds at the end. But now that she's in front of him, he's able to see the symbol on her back that she must have been speaking of before. ]

Did you get tattooed at some point?

[ Said as if that's the most absurd way to spend their salary ever. ]

[untodeath]

[ Pushing herself up, Grell doesn’t seem to notice the blood trickling from her nose, with how astounded she is at hearing William be so crass. Sure, he’s always lacked tact in being so utterly direct, but— ]

What? Absolutely not. What, was all this not enough, they marked me up, too?! Where is it!

[ Looking herself over, she can’t seem to spot anything. ]

Unless… [ Her Gaze drifts downward with dread. ]

[dead_serious]

It's on your back.

[ He crouches beside her, sharply yanking her tail down in some attempt to cover her. Meanwhile, he scrutunizes the tattoo and how it shows through solid material. ]

Perhaps a branding of some kind. Or a seal to keep us in this rhelm.

[untodeath]

[ Grell peeks just in time to see her own tail yanked - and her yelp drawls into a deeper, sweeter note. ]

Mn❤️, do it again~ [ Now he’s gone and distracted her! ]

[dead_serious]

No.

[ And he's true to his word! Instead of yanking down again, this time he uses her tail as leverage to hoist her up when he stands. Seems he maintained some of his supernatural strength. Steady on his own, thankfully unchanged, feet, he drops her ungracefully onto her cat-like ones. ]

Honestly, I didn't think it possible for you to be more lewd.

[untodeath]

[ Drawing a breath through her teeth, Grell finds herself forced up onto her feet less than gracefully! The end of her poor, abused tail flicks, as she takes hold of William’s shoulder for balance. And yet, she’s… purring? ]

How cruel of you to underestimate me so~

[ When the glowing symbol on his back catches the edge of her vision, she’s reminded— ]

Oh, right. You’ve got one, too. It’s a bit cute, actually. Crude little skull, with marked-out eyes.

[dead_serious]

Whatever its purpose, I'm certain there is nothing good about it.

[ He glances about, hoping to notice a clothing shop of some kind. The only one that catches his eye is a shop that sells rather risque looking outfits. He avoids pointing it out. ]

[untodeath]

[ While William scopes out the area, she’s busy looking him over! ]

I suppose we will just have to stick together, then. [ Grell mutters, whilst tracing a finger along the curve of his horn.

At the least, her tail has curled around her thigh and to her front, to cover her more intimate areas! ]

[dead_serious]

[ It's odd, he can feel that she's touching something, but just barely. He bats her hand away only to have his knuckles graze against one of the horns. ]

What...is on my head?

[untodeath]

[ Grell grimaces a bit, thinking he might hurt himself! ]

You've got horns on your head, darling.

[ Now, she's fiddling with her hair, pulling it over her shoulder, to drape over her breast. Doesn't stop her from looking at him hungrily, though. In fact, her body language is even more flirty than usual. ]

They're not so bad! Rather sexy, actually.

[dead_serious]

As in demon horns?

[ He does not sound pleased with that, nor does he appreciate the hungry look she's giving him. The feathers on his chest, and the ones threaded around the horns ruffle in his irritation. ]

[untodeath]

[ Briefly, her lips purse. She can't imagine that revelation will aid his temper at all. Which actually works out well for her. ]

Well, I don't know what else you'd call it. Or-- any of this, really. [ To demonstrate, she gestures generally toward their bodies. ]

[dead_serious]

[ As William scowls, the horns seem to grow a bit longer. Does this mean he's meant to consume souls now? He doesn't want to think on it. ]

Yes, why are you a cat, anyway?

[untodeath]

[ Watching this, her lips part in a lopsided grin. ]

Hell if I know. [ Her brows tick upward. See what she did there? ] But, that is bloody remarkable! They've changed now! Can I touch them again?

[ She doesn't know what she even asked, because she's doing it anyway. ]

[dead_serious]

[ As she strokes them, they begin to elongate and turn at sharp angles. ]

No, you may not. Keep those claws of yours to yourself.

[ This time, instead of batting her away, he grips her wrist, his own clawed nails pressing into the skin. ]

[untodeath]

[ Speaking of claws, she's hooked one between her teeth, their points pressing into her flesh dangerously! ]

You don't need to resist any longer, Will, my love. This is already as bad as it gets. [ If she's able, she'll pluck her arm out of his grasp, to take a few steps away and gauge their surroundings. Her tail, however, rubs up along his thigh, in her wake! ]

Not that-- this is all that I expected...

[dead_serious]

[ And he'll just take his own stem away, out of the reach of her paws and tail! ]

Aside from the agony getting here, things seem rather tolerable.

[ Though he's wary that that will remain the case. Though, something occurs to him. ]

Where are we meant to be housed?

[untodeath]

[ Oh, boo. Her tail flicks in annoyance, before coiling back around herself. ]

Do you think they'd even bother, though?

[ They're getting quite a few stares, as they are, emotion wildly varying from one to the next. Grell's so used to it that she doesn't seem to notice. ]

Or-- perhaps that's what the papers were all about?

[dead_serious]

[ William hardly cares what the others think, perhaps even less than he had as a mortal or reaper! The thought of going back and doing that paperwork though...that does little to help his horns retract. ]

Honestly, I never wish to fill out a form again. Nor watch a film.

[untodeath]

[ Grell turns just enough to peek back over her shoulder at him. Something about what he's said makes her smile a bit more genuine than usual. ]

Well, then, I suppose we're on our own! [ And, guess what, she's caught sight of that risque little boutique. She hardly looks for oncoming automobiles before bouncing her way through traffic. ] Come on!

[dead_serious]

[ Yup and she's about to eat shit again cause there's a truck headed for her, the driver doing nothing to stop the inevitable collision but yell profanities out the window. Seems this is the time for William to learn he can fly! A second before she's about to be struck, she's plucked from the ground, William then fluttering back to the ground outside the boutique. He sets her down beside him. ]

Honestly, you'd be dead a thousand times over by now if I didn't have the reflexes I do.

[ He smooths a few ruffled feathers down again. ]

[untodeath]

[ The surprise of his grasp makes her fur bristle, and the mighty whoosh of the diesel passing behind them has her squeaking! ]

What in the bloody--

[ Her hair hasn't settled, a hand pressing over her heart as the stumbles to stand by herself.

It's right then that one of the demons passing by whistle a catcall at them. Grell's expression cycles through surprise, utter confusion, and then-- fury. She turns to hiss at the lost soul, her teeth bared.

As for the other demon, he skitters out of the way, before throwing up their arms aggressively... while hurrying off.

Shit, lady! Take a compliment! ]

... Lady? [ Well, that works in calming her down, of all things. ] Well, yes, I suppose I am.

[dead_serious]

[ Whenever she bothers to refocus, she'll find William has disappeared.
Frustrated and certain she'll force him to check out this shop, he gone in on his own. Coming from a time period where intimate undergarments involved nearly the entire body being covered, William's surprised by what he walks in on. He doubts they'll find anything that will cover her up here! ]

[untodeath]

[ Despite how she HUFFS, upon realising she's alone, she still trails behind him. Thankfully, he's easy enough to spot. The door dings as she walks in, and she has to squint while her eyes readjust to the artificial lighting. ]

Ugh, it smells of cheap perfume.

[ The woman at the counter, heels up and crossed at the ankles on the counter, responds without a beat,

That's rich, considerin' youse two still REEK o' Purgatory. Fucking' disgustan'. She pauses to loudly pop the gum she's been chewing. Keep ya dicks off the displays.

[ Quirking one brow high, she looks at William, as though to question if this bitch could actually HAVE THE NERVE. ]

[dead_serious]

[ At least now he knows there's no use asking the woman for assistance. He walks further into the store, ignoring her last comment as he'd rather not know why that had to be specified.

But her comment about purgatory keeps his brow furrowed. What did that mean? ]

Just choose something. [ And after they're out of earshot he adds ] What do you think she meant about how we smelt? Do they know we were once reapers?