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]

[ William's mouth parts, briefly. But it closes rather quickly and he looks down to the glass held between his hands. It's obvious he's not even sure where to begin - What he should say, what he should keep to himself. ]

Honestly, I do not care if the others find my opinion of demons to be rash or unfair. I think they're foolish for putting so much trust into something they could be so easily deceived by.

[untodeath]

Hm. [ A simple sounds of agreement, as she idly rotates her wrist, to move the alcohol 'round the bottom of her own glass. ] If it's any consolation, I told them that they were fools for not considering your warning.

[ A little smirk tugs at her lips, exhaling something of a chuckle. She knows very well how hypocritical that sounds - but she, too, knows that demons are dangerous. That's why she likes playing with them so much. ]

You meant well.

[death_glare]

I am certain they will regret it when something happens. Especially that shinki of yours.

[ It's fairly obvious that he's skirting around the actual topic - falling back on his usual grouchy mood to keep other emotions from showing through. He lifts his glass once more, this time taking a rather healthy gulp. It burns going down his throat, but that just helps with the distraction. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell simply shrugs. ]

It's something she'll undoubtedly experience for herself before she can hope to understand, stubborn girl.

[ Botan is an intelligent woman, undoubtedly; intuitive. This was an unforeseen lapse of sense, in her opinion - but she couldn't deny that being a bit headstrong was why the redhead took a liking to her, as much as it drove her crazier at times. ]

[death_glare]

[ A heavy sigh. It's not that he really wants anyone to experience what he went through, but it really bothers him that no one will heed his warnings. If only someone had warned him. ]

She is lucky someone was willing to provide any sort of information.

[untodeath]

[ With a nod, Grell hums in agreement. ]

Not everyone is so lucky, mm? [ The redhead will inquire, knowingly peering over the rim of her glass as she takes another sip. Perhaps to lead back into the subject, and not entirely subtle about it. ]

[death_glare]

[ He looks to the side, knowing he's gonna have to speak up. ]

No. Though, perhaps I wouldn't have believed it either.

[untodeath]

How many of us would have?

[ Grell reaches over to place her cup onto the table, so that she might offer him her full attention, instead - and with her free hand, now places it atop his wrist. ]

It's alright, Will. You can tell me.

[death_glare]

[ He looks to Grell's hand, where it's placed over his. It's a surprisingly comforting gesture, at least in comparison to her usual forced contact with him. ]

It was her nanny.

[untodeath]

[ With a faint press of her brows, Grell heaves a silent sigh. ]

How truly awful.

[ To betrayed by a person instilled with such trust... How incredibly like a demon to do! Of course, she needn't say such a thing. ]

And the mother-- where was she?

[death_glare]

[ He's quiet for a good, long moment before answering. ]

Christine had passed away a few months earlier.

[untodeath]

[ At that, Grell almost looks-- regretful. William's situation had been far more tragic than she'd anticipated. ]

Oh, Will... [ She'll offer his hand a softly reassuring squeeze. ]

[death_glare]

[ That tumbler of his is emptied as he swallows the rest of his drink down. ]

I wouldn't have had to hire a nanny, otherwise. [ A pause as he discards the glass, now running his free hand through his neatly parted hair. ] If I had just been home more...for both of them...

[untodeath]

[ Humming with doubt, Grell's mouth quirks just so. While she's hardly the most logical person she knows, that certainly doesn't make sense to her! ]

And what then, resign your family to poverty and starvation? I know you to be more sensible than that, William. Such a thing could not have been your fault.

[death_glare]

It's why she left, to begin with.

[ He leans over his knees, keeping his hand pressed to his forehead. It's difficult enough to let Grell - anyone - know this, but he doesn't quite think he can allow her to see the emotion on his face, as well as in his words. ]

[untodeath]

She left...?

[ Terribly confused, Grell's upturned brows furrow together. Had his wife abandoned him before passing...? The mere idea sparks hatred in her chest--

Ah, but seeing William so physically overcome with emotion, she must restrain herself from saying too much - and so, she'll simply scoot a bit closer, to instead rest her hand upon his back as she waits for him to steady himself and continue. ]

[death_glare]

I had nearly stopped giving her any attention. I fell back into burying myself in my work. She told me how Abigail would cry whenever I didn't come home on time. And I didn't do anything to change...

[ His voice is wavering as he speaks. It's horribly humiliating but he can't get it to stop. ]

[untodeath]

[ Grell can't resist; she slips her hand over to grasp his opposite shoulder, bowing her head, to rest a cheek atop the other. ]

You were miserable, though-- weren't you? Distracting yourself with things that didn't require emotion to succeed...

[ And if she's right about that, he hasn't changed much, in that regard-- only become worse.

Lifting her head up, she'll take hold of his knee by her free hand, to command his attention. ]

It may not be something that you want to hear, but if she left you - and the child you bore, together - instead of finding another way to fix it... She didn't deserve you, regardless of her fate!

[death_glare]

[ William lifts his head slightly, but still avoids any eye contact. They've become red and damp, and Grell's words really aren't aiding him in holding back. He knows she's not going to want to hear this but he needs to say it aloud for himself. ]

That doesn't mean I didn't love them. I can only hope they both knew that.

[untodeath]

[ Jaw tensing, Grell can feel a bit of moisture at her eye, as well - surely, out of anger-- for the man that presented himself as cruel and emotionless, whose affection she pined over for more than a hundred years, is weakened and lovesick over a woman who would dare abandon her child and the man that needed her.

Briefly, her hand fists in the fabric of his trousers. ]

--Of course you did.

[ She, too, can't keep her voice from wavering. It isn't usual for her to restrain herself in this way; it hasn't been for a long time.

Seeing his reddened eyes might be a reminder of why it's turned out this way. With her hold loosening, she raises a hand to smooth down the back of his hair fondly, stopping to rest at his neck. ]

Only a monster wouldn't.

[death_glare]

[ William rubs at his eyes under his frames so that none of those tears will dare roll down his face. This is so humiliating to him, even if Grell is being more supportive than he ever would have imagined. ]

What does that make me, then? I shouldn't have opened myself up to begin with.

[ Unfortunately, a few rebellious tears escape down his cheeks, dripping upon the hand Grell has resting on his knee. ]

[untodeath]

Anything but that.

[ Shaking her head, she'll allow her arms to shift down to his middle, chin atop his shoulder, as she embraces him loosely. ]

I-- see a man that internalizes so greatly that he must find an outlet in which to bury his anguish. Men are not designed for perfection, Will; we can only hope to find another that will understand us, and forgive our mistakes.

[death_glare]

[ A soft sniff and he raises his head more, gazing out across the courtyard. He goes through this nearly every night. Hoping to get home on time, even though there's no longer anything to go home to. Then spending the time there alone and regretful. This is the first time he's heard someone else's view. It'd odd how you can never come to new conclusions once you get stuck in your own stubborn mindset about something. ]

Since when did you become the logical one?

[ It's not said in an insulting way, but instead he's disappointed in himself. ]

[untodeath]

[ That earns a faint and amused breath from the redhead. ]

It hardly seems my style, I know. [ With a tilt of her head, she offers him a lopsided smile, even if his attention might be elsewhere. ] In any case, I can't say that I've done very well in that field, myself. We all do what we must to get by!

[death_glare]

Honestly, I don't know how you got me to speak about this. But, I will admit I feel...better. Slightly.

[ He finally looks back at her and gives a short nod. His way of saying thank you. ]