private PSL

[death_glare]

[ If Grell had expected William to be oblivious to her activities, she was sorely mistaken. He'd come from his office multiple times that day, looking to have a word with her about proper office behaviour, timely submission of forms, and the coffee carafe from the break room, that she'd happily emptied but failed to refill. Each time, he'd been met with an empty desk, even though he'd seen her minutes before. And when questioned, Knox just brushed him off like it was no big deal - he'd finished his own work for the day and wasn't staying overtime, big plans for the evening and all that.

So, the next time William caught a glance of bright red slinking past the frosted windows of his office, he made an executive decision - quickly teleporting himself in the doorway of the office, appearing just before she attempted to leave... ]

And where are you sneaking off to this time?

Comments

[death_glare]

[ William keeps eye contact with her for a few moments before calmly removing her hand from his face. He nods, briefly. ]

I will come by once I've settled a few things. Noon, at latest.

[untodeath]

[ Ah, and how that gaze makes her heart jump! Grell is content to hold it for as long as she may, and her hand eases into his with a hum. She nods, in turn, lips pulling into a more proper smile expected of her character. ]

I'll be looking forward to it.

[ And right on time, Rosalind begins to fuss from the kitchen. ]

Oh, no one has forgotten you, my sweet! [ She fondly pats a hand at William's chest, before retreating to fetch the child. ]

[death_glare]

[ William takes this as his chance to leave, though he does quickly peek his head into the kitchen to make sure things are alright. Hopefully none of Grell's neighbors will be alerted to the child's presence by her crying.

The following day, William spends his time going though his belongings. Sorting out necessities vs things he can pick up easily, once they arrive in New York. There's a good amount that he can store in that little realm that reapers tuck away their scythes and work binders, but only things that can be easily held by hand will be accepted by the pocket world. They really will need to furnish a brand new home.

Once he's satisfied with his progress, he visits the local bank, cashing out just enough of his store as to keep the account open and appearing in a normal state. Then he hits up a local bakery, picks them up a bit of lunch, and heads to Grell's flat. There's a knock on the door as he waits patiently. ]

[untodeath]

[ It will take Grell a minute or two before she answers, but once she has the baby and her bottle balanced against her with one arm, the door cracks open for him to enter! ]

Oh, whatever that is smells lovely. You're my hero.

[ Nudging the door closed behind him, she gently bounces Rosalind against her chest. It's clear that she hasn't slept recently, but the redhead has at least managed to shower and pull up her hair properly! ]

[death_glare]

A few pastries and some coffee. I don't think I've ever taken note of how you take yours, so I left it black. I'm assuming you have cream.

[ The bag and cups are placed on the kitchen table before he goes and snatches Rosalind up from Grell's grasp. ]

How did you fare last night?

[untodeath]

Mn, that'll do just fine.

[ Rosalind blinks to, peering up at William curiously. Her little hand settles over the pad of his thumb, while she babbles around her bottle. Grell can only smile on at the two of them, endeared. ]

She'd fallen into a deep sleep for a few hours. Enough so that I managed a bit of a shower and a quick nap! [ She pauses to inhale the scent of her fresh coffee, before dumping in her sugar and adding cream. ]

[death_glare]

Good.

[ William wiggles the nipple of the bottle in her mouth, getting her to latch back on. She closes her eyes, contently. ]

You will need to go though your belongings and store away what you can.

[untodeath]

[ Meanwhile, Grell's also closing her eyes while enjoying her first drink of coffee. She sighs with joy. ]

Mm-hm.

[ Wait what. ]

Ah, packing? Right. Did you already manage yours?

[death_glare]

Mostly, yes. But I feel it's safe to assume you will have far more to bring along than I do.

[ Managing to hold the bottle upright with his left hand, he reaches out to break a piece off one of the scones he'd brought along. ]

Were you planning to wait longer before we leave? Because the longer we have her here, the more likely she is to get discovered.

[untodeath]

Mn, no. I'm just not nearly as talented with multitasking while I have the little dear, is all.

[ A faint sigh. ]

She was in no mood to go out and fetch a paper this morning, either. I'm afraid we don't have an estimate on the ticket fares yet.

[death_glare]

[ Though totally understanding on how kids can get in the way of seemingly simple tasks, it doesn't mean he isn't going to frown at her for failing to get something done. It's pretty much instant, by now. ]

You'll have plenty of time to now that I'm here.

[untodeath]

Yes♥.

[ Batting her eyes at him over the lip of her cup, she tired wiggles her shoulders with happiness. ]

After our lunch.

[death_glare]

[ He nudges the bag with the remaining treats towards her. ]

Then eat. We need the tickets or else we'll be forced to sneak aboard.

[untodeath]

[ Oh, she's all to eager to dig in, now that her mind has been satiated with coffee. With the working of her brow, she's clearly thinking all the while, though - and she speaks, albeit around a bite of pastry. ]

No, I wouldn't want to chance it, not with Rosalind.

[ A bit of a pout comes with that. ]

Would've been a bit sexy, though.

[death_glare]

Sexy?

[ The comment gets him to look up from where he was watching Rosalind suckle at the bottle. Apparently he doesn't see how such a thing could be sexy. ]

[untodeath]

Yes! Sexy!

[ Settling into one of the kitchen chairs beside him, she stretches out her back briefly, arms behind her head. ]

You know, two fugitives on the run! Becoming stowaways, making fun of sneaking around the ship. Makeshift love nests in the cargo~...

[ She could go on further. ]

[death_glare]

[ He still doesn't get it, but he does know that the last bit deserves a deep furrow of his brows. ]

We're getting tickets, then.

[untodeath]

[ Grell pointedly pouts at him, before easing back into her chair and popping more of that pastry into her mouth. ]

Couldn't very well do that with a baby, in any case. We'll need to assure that she's safe and warm.

[death_glare]

Of course. She is our first priority over anything else.

[ And he's gonna make sure of it, this time. Step one being to quit working so much. Check! ]

[untodeath]

Although...

[ Pausing to take a sip, the redhead peers at him over the rims of her glasses. ]

Will, while you know that there's no one else I'd rather do this with, I have to ask-- why? Why with me?

[death_glare]

Because I've obviously lost my mind.

[ Rosalind has finished her bottle and is shifting around in William's arms, begging to be burped. He motions to Grell to hand him the dish cloth so he can hold her over his shoulder and not muss up his nice shirt. ]

Though, ironically, you are also what keeps me sane, most of the time. I don't believe I'd fair well without you.

[untodeath]

[ Grell moves to hand him the cloth, but for just a moment, she falters. Her features soften, her cheeks flush. ]

Will... [ She hides an almost bashful smile behind her coffee cup, sipping down some of that excitement. Doesn't stop her from gripping at the fabric over her knees something fierce, though! ]

So-- what will you ask her to call you, then?

[death_glare]

[ Attempting to hide it or not, William's sure that she enjoyed hearing that. That question, though, he seems unsure of how to answer it. ]

Let us see what she comes up with on her own.

[untodeath]

[ Grell blinks, mouth quirking into a frown. He couldn't expect to get out of it that easily. ]

That wouldn't do at all. She'd only repeat what she hears me call you, then.

[ With a sigh, she plops one of her cheeks into an open palm. ]

It's going to be something that we need to discuss eventually, you know, because two good friends don't just decide to raise a child together.

[death_glare]

I certainly don't want her calling me 'darling'.

[ He's just nervous about the whole dad thing - whether or not he deserves it. Letting out a sigh, he sits Rosalind on his lap. She takes it as an invite to explore that half eaten scone by grabbing it and smacking it on the table. William snatches it from her before it makes it to her mouth, tho! ]

I assume you want her to call you Mum?