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]

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. ]

[untodeath]

[ 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! ]

[death_glare]

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.

[untodeath]

[ It's actually quite good that he doesn't wait for her confirmation, because while she would say that she shouldn't have them, she very much wants them!

With a chuckle, she scoops William's portion onto his plate while he carefully balances her half of the short stack on his silverware. ]

--Oh? Calm, as in I've been more tired than usual? [ That earns a playful 'look'. ]

[death_glare]

As in, you've been mostly behaving yourself.

[ Though her playful look gets a not so playful one back. It's short lived, though, as he focuses on carefully placing the teetering pancakes onto her plate. ]

[untodeath]

Well, I have my moments.

[ Okay. So she may be nibbling at her lip a bit, in anticipation of eating all of this delicious food, now. ]

Perhaps we just never spent enough time together for you to realize, is all.

[death_glare]

That does not mean you couldn't have put in the effort to when we were around one another.

[ He could be sounding bitter about it, but who can with all this delicious food? He tries the omelette, giving a nod of approval at Grell's selection. ]

[untodeath]

You mean, refrain from being myself when excited? That's a bit silly, isn't it?

[ Grell can't help it, she's going to take a bite of those pancakes first... sooo delicious, she melts into her seat a little! P

[death_glare]

It would be nice to have a break from your excitement, every so often.

[ Though the meal isn't technically free, fees for it being included in the ticket prices, it somehow makes it taste even better knowing there will be no bill handed to them at the end. ]

[untodeath]

What do you call this, then?

[ The redhead huffs around a healthy bite of eggs! She was much more hungry than she thought. ]

My point was that we didn't spend much time together, so not only did that warrant some excitement upon seeing one another, it also gave you no chance to see anything but! Mm?

[death_glare]

I suppose. Though, I can't imagine I'm much different than what you're used to seeing.

[ Rosalind has taken to gumming at the ruffles of her dress. William makes to tug them free, but decides it would be best not to risk her getting upset. ]

[untodeath]

[ A corner of her mouth twitches into a smile as she shrugs. ]

You've been surprisingly kind. Not to say that I didn't know you had it in you.

[death_glare]

[ He hums, as if he hadn't quite realized. ]

Perhaps that goes along with your unexpected calmness. Or the fact that I am no longer your boss.

[ So relieving! ]

[untodeath]

[ That prompts a chuckle. ]

You had taken it very seriously, for having no foreseeable future for yourself there.

[death_glare]

It was a rhythm I simply fell back into.

[ Which he doesn't sound all too pleased about. ]

Once I find a job, I am going to need you to help keep me from doing so again.

[untodeath]

[ Humming, Grell nods. She recalls briefly having this conversation with him before. It seems safe to assume such is why he feels estranged from his ex-wife. ]

I feel that I may confidently say that I've had the best success at getting a rise out of you. [ Wink! ] Now that I've your request to go all out, you haven't got a chance.

[death_glare]

Do not make me regret that decision.

[ Even though he's warning her, he's quite aware of just how much he needs her. He takes a breath, wondering if he should even say what's on his mind. ]

I know I complain about it regularly, but your persistence is mainly what's kept me interested.

[ He shakes his head, clearing his throat before returning his attention to his food. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell gulps down her coffee with some difficult, at that. ]

--Interested, mn?

[ Yes, she's pointedly keeping her voice at a hushed level, lest she get too overexcited and default to excited croons. ]

If I may, just what is it that keeps us from... [ There's a vague gesture between the two of them! ]

[death_glare]

[ Sighing, William takes up his own coffee. ]

Nothing anymore, I suppose.

[untodeath]

[ Brows raised, Grell blinks. This would typically be the part where she'd throw herself at him, except she's meant to be playing a proper woman without a voice to scream in delight with - and, well, she'd never actually expected this to happen, especially like this, so she's a bit dumbfounded! Sitting back, she's really looking at William, as she seemingly considers her options before reacting for perhaps the first time in a hundred years. ]

I see. Well. [ With an indignant little sniff, she picks up her fork once more. ] Since you've been rather firm with moving at your own pace, I'll expect you to initiate our relationship with some more thoughtful than that. Or you'll need to accept when I begin to take things into my own hands, as it were.

[death_glare]

[ As aware as he is that Grell needs to put on her best act in this set of roles they've placed themselves in, he's somehow off put by how calm that reaction was! It earns an irritated huff. ]

Fine. Then you best be willing to continue waiting for that moment to come.

[untodeath]

[ She huffs right back! ]

I don't understand what you've been waiting for, Will. You've already decided to run away together so that you may raise a child with me-- [ She really struggles to maintain her composure here, voice kept hushed but clearly edged with aggravation. ] All I need is some validation beyond some-- half-hearted afterthought.

[death_glare]

Keep your voice down.

[ William catches sight of the waiter who's about to come over and check on them. He makes eye contact with the man, gesturing that they are fine and he need not come and ask. Once he's certain they're in the clear, he gives Grell a stern look. ]

This is not the place for that. Besides, I said nothing about having to wait long.

[untodeath]

Fine.

[ Closing her eyes, Grell sighs with annoyance while attempting to gather herself. ]

You know I'd wait, regardless. [ She mutters, rolling a grape across her plate. ] I've just never felt so-- altogether confident and confused.

[death_glare]

[ That statement of devotion gets William to quietly place his coffee cup down. He reaches over, pulling the fork from her hand and setting it aside. Then with a firm grip, he takes her hand in his own. ]

This evening. I would simply rather us be alone. [ He looks to their baby girl. ] Or, as alone as it's possible for us to be, now.