death_glare | private PSL

[ Grell's entire body stiffens - which certainly doesn't feel pleasant with how tired she is - but she thinks that, perhaps, if she's completely still, he won't think that she's home.

Unfortunately, her second occupant is unsettled by the loud noise echoing through the flat and begins to cry. ]

Ohhh, no no no...

[ Pleading with the most gentle voice she can muster, Grell reaches into the child's crib, scooping it into her arms. Bouncing the baby against her chest, her lids press shut with a quiet whining sound of her own. She's absolutely busted. ]

[ William's rapping does stop, as he's completely taken aback by the sound he just heard from behind the door. That couldn't be Grell making such a high-pitched and needy sounding cry. He definitely knows that to be a baby's cry. And there is no reason she should have a child in that flat!

Before she knows it, William will have teleported past the door, entirely done with knocking. ]

Sutcliffe. [ She can probably feel the temperature change in the room with how icy his voice comes off. ] Where did you get that child?

[ Looking utterly defeated, Grell sinks down into the couch. With the baby cradled protectively against her, she eyes William almost wearily over her glasses. ]

I'd found her yesterday evening. [ The child still whines, bordering on crying once more. Grell tucks its little head under her chin with a sigh. ] After reaping her mother, a poor woman with no family. If I'd left the child, she'd have been left holed up in that dump for days, at least. She'd have died, for sure, and--

[ Teeth pressed into her lower lip, she dreads speaking of it further, because she's just certain that she'll be made to give her up now, anyway. ]

[ Walking around to the front of the couch, William stares down at the baby whimpering against Grell's chest. Remarkably, his glare softens just slightly. ]

Regardless of the circumstances, you cannot go stealing children away from the mortal realm. You've tampered with enough mortal fates, as it is. You're lucky to still have your scythe.

[ He won't say it, but he can sympathize with her feelings towards reaping or abandoning small children. It's one of the hardest things to do as a death god. One of the main reasons emotions should be kept out of the job. ]

Give her to me.

[ Dismissing his scythe, he holds his arms out, expectantly. ]

Edited 2018-10-03 19:21 (UTC)

[ With a shake of the head, Grell looks down, curling in around the child just so. ]

I didn't steal her away from anyone! I'm merely giving her a chance, anyway... Not tampering, per se....

[ And in the short time that she's had the little one, she's already become dreadfully attached. Why, even her breath has become a little shaken, which has the girl fussing. ]

Will. Don't. Please.

[ William watches the child, Grell's protective embrace seeming to calm her, for the moment. He knows what he should do, in this situation, but he lowers his arms, instead. ]

And just how do you plan on taking care of her? Your job does not offer you enough time to give her the attention she needs. She would be better off at an orphanage.

[ Though, he knows they're horrible places. But, Grell's current plan isn't going to cut it. She'd be found out by other quicker than she thinks. ]

You've seen what becomes of orphaned children.

[ It's surprising that he hasn't attempted to force the child out of her grasp, by now - although she knows William not to be a terrible man. Perhaps he's a bit soft for children, as well. ]

Even if I'd make a horrid mother, she'll-- at least be.. warm and fed...

[ Now that she's saying it aloud, she realizes that William is right, in that sense. If she managed to take care of the girl around her schedule, she'd still feel terribly neglected. ]

Oh, God, Will. You're right, I have no idea what I'm doing.

[ Head falling back with a halfhearted sob, Grell closes her eyes for the briefest moment as her head rests against the cushion. ]

All that I do know is that I'm dreadfully attached to this little thing. Babies are messy, smelly, noisy - I haven't been able to sleep, and I look like hell... But when she looks into my eyes, holds my finger, or even just sleeps peacefully, I feel as though I could do anything for her.

[ Oh Grell, William understands those feelings more than you could ever possibly comprehend.

Leaning over, William scoops the girl up before Grell has the chance to complain. Despite the stoic stance of her new holder, the child calms, watching William almost curiously. He holds her, cupped under her arms for a moment before taking a surprising turn to sit next to Grell and placing the child in his lap. With a heavy sigh, he finally speaks. ]

Honestly, you are going to get me demoted for this. At best.

[ Grell startles rather violently, panic settling into her features-- but then, William is beside her, with the baby in tow. Positively perplexed by this, her brow furrows. It even takes her a moment to register precisely what he means - but when she does, her entire body slumps with relief! Collapsing onto his shoulder, she hugs his arm with a tired croon. ]

Oh, Will♥--!

Edited 2018-10-03 21:47 (UTC)

[ William side eyes Grell as she leans on him, but he allows her to rest there. He has no idea how they're going to manage this, but it seems he's having just as hard a time to cast the child away as she is. They sit there together, in silence as the girl plays curiously with her tiny feet. It's unbelievably endearing. ]

Did the mother's file state the girl's name?

[ Thank goodness he does, because Grell is exhausted. She even yawns as she plunks her cheek down there. ]

No, unfortunately, it didn't. I've been calling her Rosalind-- because of those cute rosy cheeks, isn't that right?

[ The redhead reaches out to run a fingertip along the bottom of one of the girl's feet, fondly smiling. ]

[ Rosalind gives a high pitched giggle at the tickle to her feet. Seems she enjoys that. Though, William doesn't look nearly as pleased, as he's running this whole situation through his head, trying to make some sort of plan. ]

An unsurprising name choice for you.

[ He states blandly between thoughts. Though, perhaps it's best they don't use her actual name. They're going to need to hide her, after all. ]

Do you have a better one, Will? Mm?

[ Chuckling along with the girl's darling laughter, she plucks gently at her little toes. ]

[ He shakes his head, not having nearly the brain power to think about that now, too. ]

We'll go with that, then.

[ Jerking his arm free, William stands, holding Rosalind over his shoulder. ]

If you need to rest, I suggest you do so now. I will look after her for awhile.

[ Now to head into the kitchen to see what food Grell's scraped together to feed her. It's going to be a bit hard without a mother to provide for her. ]

[ Very nearly face planting onto the couch, Grell obviously needs it! Still, she protests, and it isn't until getting up onto her feet seems difficult that she realizes it.

For a moment, she tentatively chews at her lip. If it were anyone else, she should worry that they might remove the child at such a time, so as to spare a violent confrontation-- but William would do that to her. Surely. Right? ]

She still has a bit of a bottle left, on the counter. There's more of it in the 'fridge, if needed... and she's a binky in her crib... [ What else? Oh, she can't think. ]

[ If William intended to take the child away, he would have done so, violent outburst or not. So she must believe he's being serious in taking care of her. A quick look around and he locates the bottle. It should do for now, as it still feels warm as William checks it against his wrist. ]

Clean nappies?

Yes!!

[ Of course, how could she forget to mention THOSE. ]

Been keeping them under the coffee table. There's a blanket there you may use for changing, as well.

[ YAWN. Hoisting herself up by the back of the couch, she smears a hand across her cheek tiredly.]

I'll be in my room for a spell, I suppose... You're certain that you'd care to watch her?

You'd best go before I change my mind on all this.

[ He'll let her see herself out to the bedroom, as Rosalind's begun to fuss, a bit. William cradles her against his chest, quieting her with the bottle while he heads back to sit on the couch. Gosh, it's almost like he's done this before! ]

Yes, alright--

[ After Grell's had some proper rest, she's more likely to connect the dots-- but, for now, at the sight of them, she hesitates at the hallway entry because the sight of William caring for a child ignites an entirely new sort of admiration in her.

With an enchanted smile, she absentmindedly leans in to rest her cheek against the support. Promptly, her lids begin to drift closed, and it's right then that she realizes she ought to take heed and climb into bed.

She only manages to remove her shoes before she's knocked out, sprawled across the bed atop her comforter. ]

[ Whenever Grell wakes and ventures out into the living area, William will be out of sight. Though a brief inspection of the room will find that he too has fallen asleep.

His suit coat and vest have been removed and draped neatly over the back of the couch. His shoes, placed politely away from the carpeting, and gloves laying upon the coffee table. He and Rosalind can be found on the longer couch, William on his back with the small girl resting peacefully atop his chest. As arm is draped over her back as to keep her in place as they've both drifted off to sleep, as well. ]

[ Clamping a hand over her mouth, Grell suppresses a wheeze of pure adoration. While she'd always fancied the idea of sharing a domestic lifestyle with Will someday, actually seeing him play the role of a father far surpasses any fantasy she's had.

Although, he's almost too good at it, isn't he? Slowly pulling her hand away from her mouth, she cups her cheek with a lull of the head.

Well. Something to inquire about later. She's actually starving, and certain that William will be so upon waking, as well. Quietly, she'll tiptoe her way into the kitchen - certainly not to cook, but perhaps she can put something edible enough together.

Oh, and to start the coffeemaker, of course. ]

[ The subtle bubbling of the coffee pot is inevitably wakes William. The smell does a good job of helping, too. Thankfully, he has enough awareness of his surroundings to remember there's a small child perched upon his chest. He holds Rosalind close as he carefully stands from the couch. Perhaps he can keep her asleep and quiet a bit longer.

He appears in the doorway to the kitchen, inhaling at the smell of coffee. ]

Did you get enough rest?

[ When Grell glances up to meet the sight of William, she's just about finished making them some salads with smoked chicken and fresh fruit. Thankfully, cutting up things is something that she's good at, so it's a failsafe dish.

Speaking of sighting him, her eyes instantly brighten with love, seeing the two of them again. She's even forgotten that she's washed her face (and hair) of whatever smudged makeup had been left, leaving her bare and disheveled. ]

Mn, must have, as my stomach had decided it's more important. Are you hungry?

Yes, quite.

[ Seems Grell managed to get her hands on a highchair, as well as the crib. William carefully seats Rosalind in it, strapping her in safely. Then he's beside Grell, opening the cabinet closest to the coffee pot, expecting to find mugs there. ]

You will want to take every chance you have to sleep. Babies are highly unpredictable in their own sleep patterns.

[ William's correct in his assumption, and he'll find that's perhaps the most stocked cabinet she has. They're all mismatched, cute mugs she's picked up over the years and hoarded in the event that she's too lazy to wash dishes. ]

You're quite knowledgeable about baby matters, aren't you?

[ Peeking up at him over the rims of her glasses, she gives him a lopsided smile. ]

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