death_glare | private PSL

private PSL

[ 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?

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What is wrong with enjoying chocolate?

[ He feels he must defend his tastes from Grell's teasing! And now that's definitely what he's ordering, so he closes his menu, setting it aside. It's then that he looks down to where Grell's hand still rests upon his. ]

You really are relishing this moment, aren't you?

Now, I never said that there is anything wrong with it.

[ And if Grell's hand over his was indication enough, the way that she looks upon him with absolute adoration might be the nail in the coffin, as it were! ]

--Ah, but of course I am. In the matter of a week, it seems that my dreams have all begun to manifest! [ She cants her head. ] Aren't you happy? Just the slightest bit.

[ William looks from Grell's eyes over to Rosalind, then back again. He's quiet for a bit, perhaps thinking of how to phrase this. ]

It is an odd sort of happiness. Bittersweet, perhaps.

That's not precisely what she wanted to hear. In light of everything else, she's been pushing aside the knowledge that William had previously had a family - memories for which she now realizes that they must always compare to.

Sitting upright, Grell pulls her hand back to rest beneath her chin. Shoulders rising with a breath, she smiles. ]

Well. It's a start.

[ Eyes falling to her menu, she intends to steer the conversation to something more reasonable, before she raises her voice and blows their cover less than a day in! ]

What do you think about sharing an omelette?

[ He's well aware that it's not what she was hoping to hear from him, but it's not like him to say something simply to appease them. If they are going to take on this new life together, then they have to accept each other fully. It's something they will both need to work on.

To keep the mood light and not dwell on memories, William lets Grell shift the subject back to breakfast. At least until she's speaking way too loud, and then he very 'subtly' kicks her under the table. Apparently he'll reprimand her for her slip up but act just an inappropriately. Also, his tone as he responds is highly rude to speak to one's wife with! ]

As long as I have my pancakes, then I am fine with that.

[ Not aware what she'd done, the kick comes as an utter surprise! Jaw clenching, she presses her coiled fingers against her mouth to keep herself from yelping - or very possibly groaning!

Pointedly picking up her menu to hide her blush away from prying eyes - just because it seems like the ladylike thing to do - she shoots him a sidelong leer to match her huffy pout. ]

[ Completely ignoring that pout, William flips to the page of omelette options to look them over. ]

Did you have one you fancied over the others?

[ With a deep steadying breath - that really comes off more as an indignant sniff - Grell sits herself upright. Not unlike a dignified woman!! ]

Cheese. With bacon and spinach.

[ She mutters. Agai, POINTEDLY. ]

Fine.

[ If he was one to laugh, William might find Grell's efforts to appear legitimately feminine humerus. Alas, instead, he merely waves the waiter over, who finally has their original order of fruit. ]

We are ready to order. A cheese, bacon and spinach omelette for her and chocolate chip pancakes for myself. Also a refill on my coffee.

[ After decades of ignoring Grell's wishes to be referred to with female pronouns, he's almost afraid he'll slip up. ]

[ Ah, if only they weren't putting on a facade, she would be legitimately swooning over the fact that William has referred to her as such! Although, hearing it does make her heart flutter ever so slightly.

Folding her menu, she hands it to the waiter with her most pleasant smile - and without those pointed teeth visible, it might actually pass for sweet!

She's really just excited for her fruit. ]

[ William quietly sips the rest of his coffee before turning towards Rosalind. He's not quite certain she'll like eating out of an metal, adult-sized spoon, but she should enjoy the applesauce. It takes her a bit to open her mouth for it, and once she does, the most perplexed look comes across her face. She seems very unsure about this new experience, but is willing to open up once more when her daddy has refilled the spoon. ]

[ Between watching Rosalind, and enjoying her delicious arrortment of fruit, Grell easily slips back into a chipper mood. There's a bit of quiet laughter on her breath, as she conceals her mouth as though chewing. ]

We're quite lucky that she's such a good natured child, aren't we? She's been such a good girl so far.

She really has. We are fortunate that she's taken to us so well.

[ Though, the next bite of food is squished out of her mouth entirely. William tries to catch it with the spoon, but some still gets on her cute dress. It causes William to huff slightly. ]

[ With a sharp intake of breath, Grell only barely keeps herself from gasping aloud! Her brand new dress! But, she is only a baby, so such a thing should be expected-- such is why she eases into tutting her tongue instead, as she turns in her chair to wipe up that excesses food with her napkin. Once that's done, she ties the ends behind Rosalind's collar. ]

We'll need to get her a bib...

Multiple. That will have to be a top priority once we arrive. We barely have anything she needs.

[ Baby shopping! The kid will be spoiled in no time.

Though, as he continues to feed her, he seems to get the hang of it, again, and not much more ends up on her shirt or the napkin. ]

That would be my negligance, really. [ A sigh. ] I'm not quite a natural, as I was hoping to be.

[ Though seeing the girl pick up on things so quickly makes her smile, regardless. She pets a hand over Rosalind's hair, picking up a corner of that napkin to dab a bit of sauce off her cheek - a result of her becoming distracted, looking away, and mistakenly swaying her cheek into the spoon. ]

Neither was I, nor am I still.

[ William offers Grell the spoon, if she would like to try feeding her with it. ]

It's something you can only learn through experiencing it, really. Children are exceptionally unpredictable.

[ Simultaneously, her eyes brighten, and features soften. Grell is all too happy to try her hand at feeding the darling girl - who is expectantly snacking her hands on the table for more during the transition - and she's quite charmed that William would say something so reassuring. ]

Well, you had me fooled, darling.

[ Scooping up just enough to fill the tip of the spoon, she playfully draws an airborne spiral toward the baby's mouth. Rosalind grins and babbles around the spoon, getting more on her lips in the process... but it worked! ]

It is good that we are starting her on more solid foods. I'm certain we would attract some suspicion if we were bottle feeding her in public.

[ He watches as Rosalind eats before eyeing Grell's fruit cup and snatching up a strawberry with his fork. ]

Really? I'd thought that she would be on the bottle for at least a year...

[ Grell's quite focused on the task at hand, very gently scooping up the excess sauce around the baby's mouth with the spoon. She doesn't even notice the strawberry! ]

She will be. However, it will look odd feeding her with a bottle when her mother could be nursing her.

[ If she's not going to notice, he's going to keep picking at her food. Those pancakes need to get here faster! ]

[ Well, now that he's said as much, it finally clicks, and Grell mouths a silent 'Oh.' ]

Right. It will seem a bit peculiar that she doesn't resemble us much, as it is... >[ Another sigh! ] Perhaps we should say we adopted her in.

If someone asks, we may have to. It is arguably the truth.

[ Good, because we all know how terrible William is at lying. As such, William hushes himself as the waiter returns with their food, eyeing Grell so she knows he's coming and quiets herself, as well. With a nod, he accepts their food. ]

These look fairly good.

[ And he can't help but enjoy the first bite with his second cup of coffee. ]

[ The timing is good, as it seems that Rosalind wants nothing more with the apple sauce than to spit it out, for now. As the waiter sets out her food, Grell removes the napkin from the baby's collar and wipes around her mouth.

Settling back into her seat, visibly excited for her food, it is only now that she realizes her fruit bowl is much emptier than she left it. Blinking, she raises a brow in William's direction!

Well enough, she'll just work at splitting the omelette in half, in addition to what remains of the fruit! ]

Would you like some of these, as well?

[ Splitting the pancakes will allow for room on his plate for the omelette, after all. Not that he couldn't finish them all on his own! Even before answering, William's cutting down the center of the short stack. ]

I must admit, these calm meals we've been sharing have been rather nice.

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