Reaper Mingle is go!

[death_glare]

Who: William T. Spears and any reapers of the far shore
When: Evening of August 16th
Where: The temple of Baron Samdi (Ronald Knox)
What: William calls an emergency meeting for any and all reapers. There is something they all need to be aware of. (And because it's being held at Ronnie's temple, you can expect it to devolve into more of a mixer once William stops preaching.)


Part 1 - The Announcement

[ The following is a text that appeared on the BBS late last evening, shortly after the training session wrapped up. It is addressed to those on the far shore who were reapers in their home worlds, however, the only one who is blocked from viewing it is William's shinki, Hannah Annafellows. ]

I am calling to attention anyone who holds the position of a Reaper, Death God, Shinigami, or other related title. Good evening. My name is William T. Spears. I believe I met many of you this afternoon during the training session at Bishamon's temple. However, regardless of whether we met, this announcement is still directed towards you.

There is a matter of utmost importance that I feel all of you need to be made aware of. I have arranged a meet up at Ronald Knox's temple so that we can discuss the issue and come up with potential solutions. Please arrive to the temple of Baron Samdi by 7 p.m. so that we can make the most of our time. Thank you.


Part 2 - The Meeting

[ William finally stands up in front of where everyone's busy chitchatting. He's clearing his throat, attempting to get their attention and already looking pretty peeved. And it's not even because of the topic he needs to discuss, or the fact that it's well past 7:45 and they haven't even begun yet. Nope, the main reason for the crease in his brow is because of the absurd jacket he was forced to wear this evening. Not his usual black dress coat, but a lovely gold sequined one that nearly makes him glow in the brightly lit room. He has no idea how the eyesore of a garment found its way into his possession, once more, but he wouldn't be wearing it if he didn't have a good reason to. ]

Everyone. If you could all please have a seat. We are already behind schedule.


Part 3 - The Mixer

[ Now that William's concerns have been made aware, it seems that the event has evolved into more of a reaper shindig. Ronald has set up appetizers and has plenty of booze available. It's almost as if he'd planned this from the beginning. ]


(( ooc: mingle mingle mingle! Feel free to tag and threadjack around! Discuss the issue at hand or ignore William and just build cr with your fellow reapers! Party crashers are always welcome, too! ))

Comments

[death_glare]

[ Utterly defeated in his attempt at doing what he deemed was 'right', William has secluded himself outside. He's got a glass of gin in hand as he sits, trying to figure out just what he should do now. ]

[diehardreaper]

Prolly the best place to sit'n think, sir.

[ There's a small smile as he approaches with a glass and a bottle of spiced bourbon. The river looks nice tonight. Big round moon, nice and somewhat misty.

It's his manor so he'll sit wherever he pleases, fishing into the pocket of the tailcoat he's got on. ]

Fancy a smoke? This coat's always got one in the pocket even if I don't remember putting it in.

[death_glare]

[ Of course Ronald shows up to sit with him. William's never allowed to sit quietly by himself for long. But he can't say he doesn't welcome the offer of a cigarette.

He reaches out, a silent way of saying yes I need one now. ]

[diehardreaper]

[ Close but no cigarette. It happens to be a cigar. One of those fancy hand rolled cuban types. ]

Apparently the Baron was a fan.

[ Snipping the tip before handing it over with a lighter. ]

Not for nothing, sir. You did give it a go, warning the lot of them.

[ Pause to sip his drink with a hiss. That burns gooooood. ]

But these demons're nothing like the lot back home. Prolly nothing to worry about... lest your shinki is one of ours...

[death_glare]

[ He's not exactly used to cigars but in this moment, he'll take it. ]

That still fails to ease my mind.

[ A long drag on that cigar before he lets the smoke out, slowly. Harsher but just as relaxing. ]

Hannah Annafellows. Not that I expect you to recall her name.

[diehardreaper]

Doesn't ring a bell but it does sound like one of ours...

[ If naming is anything to go by. Yuki's demon lessons involved names that end in -el and this world's had names he couldn't even pronounce. Sipping at the bourbon thoughtfully. ]

At any rate, she's your shinki. Could train her if you so fancy. You've a demon on a leash.

[ Ron, that's a demon, not a dog. ]

[death_glare]

I am hoping I can deter her from picking up her old ways. However, even if she is unaware of being a demon, I cannot imagine her manipulative behaviour and taste for souls will merely vanish.

[ Plus, there's the issue of her regaining memories. Of which William still has yet to learn.

There's a pause before he speak up again. ]

Do you believe I was out of line this evening?

[diehardreaper]

[ He does nod at the first bit. If there's anyone who can curb bad habits, it's definitely William. Even without his scythe.

The second part does cause Ron to turn his attention back to him. ]

Can't say. You've got your reasons for hating their kind, m'sure. I was the same at the start, to be honest. Ruddy terrified of the damn things. Specially after what I've seen.

[ A pause to drink. Maybe it's this stuff that's causing him to talk. The Baron always did like em strong. ]

....but they're not all that bad. Some of them can't help what they are. Like how we can't help being reapers, really.

[untodeath]

[ Grell may not have seen him leave, but she was quick to notice once he was gone. Thankfully, he hadn't been too very difficult to find.

Quietly, she takes a seat upon the armrest of his chair, a hand resting at its back. It's a good moment that she makes herself comfortable, crossing her legs, and propping her cocktail on her knee.

Wherever he's looking, she shall, too. It's a lovely view, but she doubts it's what he's focused on. ]

I've never taken my job as seriously as you do, William. That's how you ended up being my boss, you know.

[death_glare]

[ For once, William's comforted by having Grell turn up beside him. He doesn't move at the contact or push her off the armrest. He allows her to sit as close as she wishes - well, he may react harshly if she decides that seat is going to be his lap.

No, instead he's merely staring out ahead of them, absently swirling the gin and ice around his glass. He's barely even drank any of it. ]

You do realize why I take it so seriously, yes?

[untodeath]

[ For a moment, Grell considers her words carefully. They haven't touched on this subject of their pasts much, in all the time they've known one another. It either wasn't the right time, or one of them managed to find their way out of it.

Taking a breath, she conceals her sigh with a thoughtful sort of hum. ]

You have somewhere to be, don't you? Striving for the final promotion, and all that.

[ Ah, does that come across as bitter? Perhaps, a little! It's what they're all meant to strive for, but she doesn't care for the idea of William moving on, while she's left behind. It's selfish, it's terrible, but she doesn't care.

She needs to take a drink of that cocktail she brought with her. ]

[death_glare]

[ Without Grell even saying it, he knows just how unfavorable she finds the idea of him leaving. It's silly in his mind, as he really doesn't understand why she's been to attached to him for all these years. Then again, he doesn't understand very much about how Grell's mind works, to begin with.

He slowly brings his glass to his lips. He needs this drink just as much as she does right now. ]

I am not even sure what the point of trying is anymore.

[ It wouldn't change anything. ]

[untodeath]

[ Now, that isn't like him. Grell swallows down her drink, with a slow pass of the tongue between her lips - perhaps to detract from the genuine concern knit into her brow. ]

What have you been working for, then?

[ It might be said in a gently scolding manner. Certainly, if he were to give up on it all, she wouldn't have to worry about losing him to heaven. Yet, what would become of him, instead? ]

Do you really think you'd make yourself any less miserable by doing so?

[ Perhaps she truly has gone mad. Grell can't decide what it is that she wants! ]

[death_glare]

[ There's a long, exasperated sigh. ]

No. I know it wouldn't change anything.

[ William stands, placing his glass of gin on the opposite arm of his chair. He turns to Grell briefly, before meaning to go - leave the gathering or just wander off somewhere, he's not sure just yet. ]

I apologize. I keep all of this to myself for a reason. There is no need for you, or anyone else, to worry over it.

[untodeath]

You've nothing to apologize for. It's strange, from you, besides.

[ Now, she's deeply worried. The confusion is evident enough in the bewildered blink that results of it.

When he's behaving as though he's going to flee, she follows suit, standing to her drink beside his. ]

William... If you mean to leave, I'd like to join you. [ Feeling her cheeks warm, she's wholly expecting her request to be shut down. And, for once, she doesn't want it to be. ] You shouldn't need to keep to yourself.

[sweetdeath]

[--and here's Tsuzuki, heading outside to find a quiet place to commune with the bottle of vodka he's swinging casually in one hand. He stops as he notices the brilliant golden sequins glittering from the very quiet spot he was hoping to hide in.

Well, crap.

He hesitates for a moment before hefting the bottle.]

Want a refill?

[death_glare]

[ Was there a point to going and sitting by yourself if others were going to keep showing up anyway? William merely looks up at Tsuzuki, a crease in his brow as he eyes the bottle in the man's hand. ]

I prefer my gin straight, thank you.

[sweetdeath]

Oh, is that gin? Sorry.

[What, it's clear liquid over ice. It could have been vodka. Tsuzuki shrugs cheerfully enough and settles down on a decorative and slightly mossy rock a few steps away, unscrewing the bottle cap and pouring a few fingers of liquid into his own glass.]

... So, demons, huh.

[death_glare]

[ The heaviest of sighs. ]

Are you here to reprimand me, as well? Because I believe I have gotten the point by now.

[sweetdeath]

Actually, I wondered what you knew about your shinki that made you think they were that dangerous.

[He shrugs a bit awkwardly, and glances back at Spears.]

Demon can mean a lot of different things, can't it? Some of those aren't a big deal, like spirits that were never human. Then there's ayakashi, and then there's things from the hells....

[Some of those are more worrying than others. Some of them could be a big problem here, and the word alone doesn't necessarily explain which it is that Spears is worried about.]

[freezetheheavens]

Mind some company?

[He approaches William quietly.

There's nothing in his hands, but compared between the two of them, the other shinigami might have more of a reason to drink than he does, anyway.]

[death_glare]

If you aren't here to argue, then fine.

[freezetheheavens]

If I had wanted to argue, I would have gone home by now.

[But taking that as an affirmative, he joins William.]

[death_glare]

Perhaps I should have done so, myself.

[ He makes no attempt to block Hitsu from stepping closer, so it's safe to assume he's fine with him joining him. ]

[freezetheheavens]

I didn't think you'd be eager to return given...what's happened.

[A slight frown of confusion.]