thenearshore | And I've got my mind.

[ Even if he had been implying something lewd happened, the specific mental image Grell's response gives him causes an irritated, and somewhat flustered huff to escape him. Quickly, he catches up to Grell, tightly gripping her upper arm and immediately transporting them to the center of his bedroom.

Once there, he drops her bags at the foot of his bed and finally turns to speak to her. ]

I was far too focused on getting you out of the situation you'd created at the harvest moon celebration to notice.

Edited 2018-03-09 23:23 (UTC)

[ The aggressive way that William grasps the redhead does well to swing her back into a pleasant mood. By the time he turns to address her, Grell is grinning once more. ]

Remind me - [ Closing the distance between them, she's rubbing her palms up and along his lapels. ] - how was it that you knew to find me?

Honestly, it is practically second nature now, having dealt with you for a century.

Your frantic messages on my phone, along with a red moon. What else would I be expected to think?

[ But perhaps it is a bit odd that it was the first thing he thought to inspect upon waking. He allows her hands to idle at his chest, for now, his own remaining where they are at his sides. ]

[ She hums, sharp and amused. ]

You have learnt a thing or two about me, this past century.

[ Those hands wander up and behind his collar. ]

Those messages were why I'd come, though. You hadn't outright ignored me for quite so long. I was upset-- but a bit worried, as well. [ Idly, she brushes a thumb along the exposed skin at the nape of his neck. ] Moreso, once I saw you... and so, I kept coming back, dreading that you'd leave me for good.

You do realize that if I left, it would not be by my own choosing.

[ Unbeknownst to him, his eyes close briefly at the subtle touch against his neck. ]

I am enjoying my time around you here far more than I ever did at the office.

[ Which sounds like an insult, but really it's the absence of their job responsibilities that is allowing him to relax around his coworkers. ]

[ And yet, his reaction won't go unnoticed by Grell. While she won't repeat the gesture again, just yet, she's taking note for later. ]

You're saying that if you were presented with the option, you'd stay, then?

[ With a slight tilt of the head, she quirks a brow inquiringly. ]

With me?

Yes, even with you here. I thought that would have been obvious, by this point.

[ He sighs, giving Grell a look that says, "Must you keep making me admit these things over and over?" But, if she's going to be that way, he'll make it a bit more clear. Finally removing her arms from around him, he points in the direction of the master bathroom. ]

Go get changed.

[ Grell has also learned a thing or two about William over the past century, and of all the things that he could have said, that might be the kindest. Joy touches her features, and if he hadn't removed her hands, they would have found their way to his cheeks. ]

Mn, fine, fine.

[ Shooting him a crooked little smile as she passes, she'll take up her bags on the way to the restroom. ]

It's just nice to hear, by the way. So, thank you.

[ It doesn't take her long to set out her supplies and begin her nightly routine; much less time to undo it all than to put herself together, certainly. After brushing her teeth, she'll begin to undress, next - not bothering to close the door at all. ]

[ It never occurred to William that actually telling Grell such things could be even more meaningful than any sort of implied action. He ponders it for a moment, humming thoughtfully to himself before giving her a nod of understanding.

With Grell's disappearance into the bathroom, William starts his own routine, which is far less in depth than hers. A quick change of clothes, his usual old style pajamas now replaced with a nicely fitting, comfortable t-shirt and soft cotton pants. The day's attire is neatly placed in a bin kept in one of the large, ornate wardrobes for later washing. And once changed, he joins her in the bathroom, paying no mind to whether or not she's decent. They are both physically male, after all, so there's nothing much to hide. ]

Do you honestly need all this?

[ Coming up beside her, he picks up a random jar from the array of beauty products that have found their way onto the marble counter top. What she needs any of this for is beyond him, so he returns it and takes to brushing his own teeth. ]

[ It's a shame that Grell didn't see more than a couple glimpses of William's changing process in the bathroom mirror, but she'd been quite sure that she shouldn't risk being put out the couch. Perhaps she regrets that decision, considering that he doesn't seem to be affected by her state at all.

Actually, with how fussy he tend to be with any sort of physicality about her, she expected some sort of quip - just a fun little rise out of him - and as such, when she drops her trousers, the last she expects is to see him so nonchalantly standing beside her.

With a start, the redhead's hands briefly cover her chest! ]

Ah, well-- [ No big deal, right? She's wearing her cutest pair of panties, after all! (Couldn't chance it otherwise.) ] I suppose I don't, considering that I haven't aged a bit in this lifetime... but after a long day of wearing cosmetics, provides some relief, and leaves my skin soft...

[ A bit of mouthwash and rinse and he's making no effort to hide the look he gives Grell up and down in the mirror. He's honestly not surprised by what he briefly sees, the undergarments she's chosen for the evening - even if it hadn't been established that she'd be spending the night when they'd first made plans.

But he doesn't comment on it, instead simply combing some of the product from his hair before turning to leave her to her routine. ]

Don't take too much longer. I may be asleep by the time you finish.

[ In fact, once she does finish, he'll already be beneath the sheets, lights dimmed, casually scrolling though some website on his phone. ]

I'm nearly finished...

[ She might have had her top on by now, at least, but when William looks at her like that, she find herself faltering.

Once he's left, Grell can't help but look at her own reflection in the mirror and wonder what's just happened...

Minutes later, however, she'll emerge from the bathroom, finally decent! The new outfit covers all of the important bits, anyway; her belly ring is just visible beneath the top' s hem, and her bottom might be visible, if she were to bend over too far - but, all the better!

She's just securing the ends of her braided hair before she gives a gentle clear of her throat, then taking a little spin. ]

So, what do you think?

Edited 2018-03-12 19:38 (UTC)

[ There's a moment or two where William ignores Grell's presence, and even question, continuing to read whatever article he'd found interesting. But it's only brief before he's setting the phone aside and glancing up to his partner of the evening. His cold eyes follow the trail the long red braid leads down her midsection, pausing briefly at the tiny glint of light that reflects off the piercing. It causes his brow to crease slightly, but he'll save that question for later. And once he's finished taking in the entire sight of her, he raises his head to lock eyes.

She'd said it was nice to hear things, so he'll oblige. ]

A bit of modesty looks good on you. [ A short pause, that may indicate that was his entire assessment, but he eventually continues. ] As does the braided hair.

[ By the time William bothers to acknowledge her, Grell has cocked a hip to plant her hand upon, her mouth pursed into a pout.

Although, his words would quickly change that. With a short, she approaches the bed. ]

You have an interesting concept of modesty, darling.

[ One knee sinks into the mattress, then two. ]

But-- thank you, I suppose?

I am certain you would have chosen something far more risqué if I hadn't instructed you otherwise.

[ Though from the initial look he'd given her in the bathroom mirror, Grell may be able to guess that he's a bit of a fan of that end of the spectrum, as well.

As she climbs into the bed beside him, William sets his phone aside, not bothering to plug it in as he'd already set Grell's phone there to charge. The first time they'd spent the night together, William had made certain he was on the furthest edge of the bed, a pile of pillow neatly stacked as a barricade between them. In truth, he was surprised that the wall remained intact through the night and only came down when he agreed to let Grell curl up close to him as a somewhat "reward" the next morning for behaving. But this time, William is nestled closer to the center of his bed, and no pillows surround him, Cept the few he has propping him up comfortably. It's an obvious invitation for Grell to come closer, this time. ]

[ With a chuckle, Grell playfully makes a show of crawling closer, not unlike a wildcat stalking its prey. ]

I'm not entirely convinced that you'd complain.

[ If he's not careful, she'll end up on top of him, arms at either side, and her braid dangling at his chest. ]

Perhaps I wouldn't. But that is not what's happening this evening.

[ One way to stop a predator? Pull the rug out from under its feet. Or, quite literally, the comforter. A sharp tug at the blanket and William's freed it from below Grell. Unfortunately for her, it's no where near as graceful as cleanly pulling the table cloth out from beneath a fully set dining room table. ]

[ The redheaded reaper squeals in surprise as she is thrown onto her side and tumbled across the surface of the blanket. ]

Will--!

[ And yet, as she pushed her fringe away from her eyes, laughter rolls off her tongue! After all, William just ruined a perfectly made bed to prove his point. ]

Actually... that was a bit fun.

[ Scooting over, right up to his side, Grell reaches out to assist in tugging the comforter over them, and back across the bed. ]

Honestly, the things you find amusing...

[ He shakes his head, at least grateful that the only complaining he received was a brief shriek of his name. But now they are beside one another again. Apparently, it's becoming a regular occurrence, and maybe be even more so now that William was the one to initiate the idea. ]

Perhaps I will throw you off completely, next time.

[ With an utterly content sigh, Grell settles her cheek atop his shoulder, nuzzling into the soft material of his shirt - and she rests her arm atop him, palm brushing across his chest. ]

I'll tell you what, Will-- you can throw me around as much as you'd like, so long as you intend to follow.

I believe that has been the basis of our relationship this entire time.

[ As if to prove his point, he allows Grell to get comfortable before shoving her over with a push of his shoulder. ]

Move.

[ She hasn't a chance to answer before she's shoved, as such! This time, she does seem miffed, however; brow furrowed and lips shaped into a pouty frown, she's huffing through her nostrils while propping herself up to face William. ]

Oh, come now. I thought you'd suggested a good cuddle.

You haven't even allowed be to get comfortable.

[ Stated as if it should have been obvious. He had been sitting upright, after all. But now free, he takes his time rearranging the pillows behind him, straightening out his shirt, and settling down further on the plush mattress - this time on his side. It's now that he looks at Grell expectantly. ]

Was it so hard to wait a moment longer? Honestly.

[ Oh. Well, if he intends to cuddle while facing one another, she supposes that it's fine...! Colour kisses her bare cheeks, something of a smirk plucking at a corner of her mouth. ]

Hn. Perhaps it was.

[ With a wiggle of her shoulders, Grell shifts herself down to lay on the pillow next to William, and drawing a knuckle along the peak of his chin, finds herself smiling fully. ]

[ Just as he'd unknowingly done earlier, William's eyes close briefly at the simple touch- a drawn out sigh following. ]

It would serve you well to learn some patience.

[ As an example of such, Grell will feel a hand settle upon her hip. The length of her top allows William's thumb to make contact with skin as he gently brushes along the hem of her shorts. ]

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