closed psl.

[untodeath]

[ Word travels fast around the office. By the time Grell had returned from her shift to submit the appropriate paperwork, a secretary had already asked her if she'd been by to check on Mister Spears.

Now, she had known that he had been sent on an investigative mission with Ronald earlier that day, so she immediately assumed the worst. Demanding to know where to find them sent her bolting off to the lower levels. The new recruits were smart enough to dash out of the way - and some of them even directed her to the appropriate department; the optometrist's office, where she found William sulking in the lobby.

The poor man was without his glasses, but aside from a scuffed cheek and some healing bruises, appeared to be in one piece. It was his pride that seemed wounded, as the very air about him seemed heavy. ]

Oh, Will.

[ Heaving a sigh of relief, she sinks down into the chair beside him. Though knowing fully well that he won't like it, she won't be kept from fussing over him; reaching out to gingerly dash back some of his hair left mussed by his scuffle, while taking a good look at his wounds. ]

What did I tell you about taking care of your glasses, mm?

Comments

[untodeath]

[ Grell ticks her tongue. ]

If I really wanted it, I'd take it from you later, and you'd be none the wiser.

[ She reaches to pluck the key from his grasp, so they can get in and on with it! ]

Not that I don't want a key to your flat, just to be clear♥.

[ After swinging the door open, she'll reach out to take his hand and press the key back into it - holding on for just a couple moments too long, really. ]

[death_glare]

[ William just huffs and pulls his hand back, indication that he has no intention of giving her one, any time soon. He pats the door frame as he walks through it, then uses his knowledge of the layout of his home to pat his way to the sitting room couch. He sits down heavily, seemingly more frustrated than angry now. ]

Do you think you are capable of making a pot of tea without burning my flat down?

[untodeath]

[ Well, a girl's got to try! It's not like she was expecting it, but she still huffs through her nose, before following behind and leaning against the door to close it. ]

--Hm?

[ And then she got distracted by gazing across his living area. It's very tidy, as she would expect. Perhaps minimal on the decor, but everything faintly smells of him, which is entirely redeeming.

Did he really just ask her to make tea, though? He must have forgotten who he's speaking to. ]

Of course, Will. What an absurd question.

[ She can make it. Probably. It will just taste horrid.

Still, she's already crossing over into the kitchen, more than excited to scope out yet another area of the flat! She does stop short a step past the doorway, though. ]

Might you be needing anything, in the meanwhile? [ Oh, this is already fun. She almost feels like a proper housewife! ]

[death_glare]

My cigarettes.

[ He says before really thinking it through. If he recalls from this morning, the package is sitting on his bedroom dresser. Not somewhere he wants to instruct Grell to go. ]

Never mind. Just black tea with sugar.

[ He can already hear her opening all the cabinets so he doesn't bother calling out where things are kept. For now he simply tries to piece together just where he would have stashed those old frames, if he even kept them, to begin with. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell hum doubtfully as he changes his mind, but she'll let it be-- for now. There's snooping to do! For the kettle, of course. Thankfully, it's predictably been placed in one of the lower cabinets - so she's on to giving it a rinse, before filling it to place on the stove.

It takes her a few tries to get the burner ignited, though. By then, she's had the gas running for a good few moments, and manages to receive a very impressive flame cloud!

Jumping back with a squeak, Grell presses a hand to her chest, wearily glancing over her shoulder. ]

How do you find the time to keep this place so spotless?!

[ ...Smooth cover. Truly. ]

[death_glare]

What in the...

[ William remarks to himself. He knew asking her to make him tea was a mistake. Still, he's almost impressed with how quickly she seems to have messed something up.

It will take him a minute or so, be he finally shows up in the doorway to the kitchen. ]

I don't. I am simply never home to make a mess of it.

[ Overtime, and all that. He sniffs a bit, noting the gas scent that remains from her leaving it on a bit too long. ]

I said not to cause a fire. Have you never used a stove before?

[untodeath]

[ By then, she's rummaging through the cupboards again. Having managed to find his tea cabinet, she's got a tin in each hand - which notably clank together, once her attention snaps over to him. ]

I didn't, and of course I've used one before! I just-- had a bit of trouble with the burner, is all. [ Can't you just hear the pout in her tone, William? ]

While you're here-- green or blue tin?

[death_glare]

[ He's known Grell long enough that he can tell when she's pouting at him even without words. And as usual, he opts to ignore it. Instead, he decides to take a seat at the kitchen table - as gracefully as he can. At least he can somewhat keep tabs on her, then. ]

Blue. The other is empty.

[ Which may imply that he enjoyed that one more and hadn't been able to replenish his supply, yet. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell does seem to take not of that, looking that green tin over before slyly setting it aside.]

I see. Blue it is, then!

[ Taking it with her, she leaves the tea by the stove, ready to be used once the water's come to a boil. She's humming as the plucks up the mugs she's left there, carrying them over to the table to be filled once everything's done. ]

Sooo, how do you occupy your time, on the rare occasion that you have it, mm? We've ruled out cooking.

[death_glare]

[ William has to take a moment to think. Apparently, his free time isn't all that exciting. ]

Sleeping.

[ Which could be taken as a sarcastic joke from anyone else, but he's being quite serious. ]

Though, sometimes I take walks through Saint James' Park in the early mornings. There is a cafe I visit on occasion. They serve wonderful coffee.

[ Somehow his voice has calmed as he speaks of the activity, almost as if just thinking of the place is relaxing to him. Though the last bit does have him giving a side eye to the kettle, which is just threatening to whistle. ]

[untodeath]

[ The redhead leans into the table as she listens. Sure, it doesn't sound all that exciting, but she's invested in learning more about him. It's next to never that she has the chance to speak to him outside of work-related activities, and he refuses to speak about anything but during such times.

His side eye is little indication, as she's rather transfixed on him-- it isn't until the whistle rises in volume that she jumps up to return to the stove! ]

That's fair enough, I suppose. Sleep is fundamental to health and beauty~.

[ Taking the kettle off the burner, she at least manages to turn it OFF without a hitch. ]

Don't tell me, you feed the pigeons while you're out. [ She chuckles. ]

[death_glare]

[ She'll hear a clearing of his throat before he responds. He knows she's teasing him, but she's also hit the nail on the head, completely. ]

Honestly, you can't expect me to simply ignore them.

[ If he can't bring himself to laugh at her perfectly reading him, at least he can defend his choices. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell is positively grinning over her shoulder, at that. It's probably the most endearing answer she can imagine. ]

You? Never.

[ Now that the water is ready, she takes some of the dried leaves from the tin to empty into the teapot she's found. Giving them a good rinse with the boiled water, she pours it out into the sink before refilling. At least she knows how to do that much! Unfortunately, she's used far too many leaves, so they're going to end up with some terribly strong tea. ]

How much sugar do you take, darling?

[death_glare]

[ He won't add that the cafe usually gives him some day old bread to feed to the birds. ]

Two should be enough. [ Though he pauses, knowing that something is going to be wrong with it. ] Actually, make it three.

[ Better to have overly sweet tea, in his opinion. ]

So, what is it you do on your days off?

[untodeath]

[ Well, that certainly has Grell gawking! Thank goodness William's currently blind. ]

Me? Let's see...

[ Wow, he's actually taking an interest in her? Or, at least, being polite enough to pretend that he is, which is still an improvement! ]

I like to go to the theatre, or the opera when I can! Ronnie and I will occasionally go shopping together, as well. And, of course, there's-- [ Giggle. ] -- sleep.

[ Time to pour the tea, she thinks! Hopefully, she's right. ]

I fancy a bit of reading before bed.

[death_glare]

[ There's a vague interest, but he's also just making idle conversation since they will be sitting here drinking tea for a bit. ]

I have not been to the opera in quite a long time.

[ In over a century, to be exact. He hums, as if attending the opera hadn't even occurred to him until just now. He just might be interested! ]

[untodeath]

[ At that, Grell becomes just a bit too excited and drops one of the cubes meant for one mug into the other, bringing it up to four sugars... Looks like that one is going to be hers. ]

Oh, but you must go, Will! Art keeps the soul young, you know!

[ Alright, she finally has the tea prepared for the both of them, and it's time to present! Carefully setting the mugs onto the table, she'll take her seat with a satisfied sigh. ]

We should go together.

[death_glare]

[ William sees the red blur in front of him and hears the mug settle against the table. He careful pats it, making certain the handle is fully grasped before lifting the mug to his lips. The tea smells alright, but it's time to find out if that's truly the case.

But he pauses just as he's about to sip. His eyes drift up, attempting to meet hers. ]

Perhaps we could.

[ I surprising response! It's almost as though his bad mood has subsided and he's allowed himself to try and relax. ]

[untodeath]

[ It's surely a good thing that she hasn't tried the tea yet, herself. She's nearly just choked on her spit alone! ]

--Really?!

[ Biting back a squeal, she clamps a hand over her mouth! ]

[death_glare]

I said perhaps. That is not a yes.

[ As if he didn't know she'd start squealing. Still he shakes his head in irritation, bringing the cup back up to his lips. Unfortunately, he's momentarily forgotten that the tea he's about to ingest just may be the second death of him. So when three sugars can't even cut through the intensity of the tea, he has to catch himself not to choke on it. He immediately pushes the cup away from him. ]

How many leaves did you use? Did you even leave a single one?

[untodeath]

[ Somehow, despite knowing very well that her tea stinks, she's caught off guard! It's with a huff through her nostrils that Grell moves to pick up her own cup, so she can try some for herself. ]

Oh, come now, it can't be that bad--

[ A sip - and a suppressed gag. Because of course it is.

A hand pressed her her lips, she immediately returns the mug to the table. ]

[death_glare]

[ A heavy sigh and William attempts to get up from the table to pour his tea out. He pretty much makes it without issue! Only hitting the mug on the side of the counter top once. Without turning to look at her, he gives her instruction. ]

Get over here and fill the kettle back up, with four cups.

[ He's gonna attempt to teach her how to make proper tea. ]

[untodeath]

[ Scooting to the edge of her seat, Grell is prepared to hop up and divert him from disaster, if need be-- but, surprisingly, he doesn't need the assistance!

Unlike her, with the tea... ]

Ah-- alright...

[ Although she sounds a bit unsure, she does need to learn. Might as well try again, right? So, she's up on her feet to do just that.

Staring into the kettle, she realizes that she has little to NO idea what would constitute as four cups. ]

Uhm. Do you have a measuring cup, by chance?

[death_glare]

You didn't use...[ Just another shake of his head. ] You should have seen it when you found the mugs. It is on the top shelf.

[ He moves slowly back towards the table, patting around for Grell's mug and making his way back to dump hers, as well. ]

[untodeath]

[ Settling the kettle down, she immediately goes back to the cabinet that she found the--... Okay, perhaps it was the one next to it.

Anyway, once she has the measuring cup, she's on to filling it with water! Quietly, she counts beneath her breath, with every one she pours into the kettle. Just in case she were to get distracted. ]

Alright, then! Onto the stove you go, kettle.