Still - With this perfect finale, the cheers and ballyhoo- Who wouldn't be happier?

[chainsaw_juliet]

WHO: Grell Sutcliff {chainsaw_juliet} (open to Nozomu and perhaps Death)
WHAT: A tragic end for the handsome Prince Hamlet. The Reaper should be happy, right?
WHERE: Residential area/flood ruins
WHEN: Minutes after midnight

Comments

[despairiminit]

He had seen fair Prince Hamlet drift by in the softly swirling water like the fabled Lady of Shalot, but he could do not but stare in horror and dark wonder. How fitting, how Nozomu had been so jealous of Hamlet, that he would be the one to deliver the news of his death to the one that he loved so dearly.

He wore a fresh kimono, black and white for mourning, and left his feet bare. Pausing in the window, Nozomu scrambled up to the precarious rooftop, nearly stumbling and falling to his death himself. Not something he'd mind, normally, but Grell had dealt with enough death today.

Instead, he crouched himself beside Grell and hugged his knees. A pale, slender hand drew nonsensical circles and penguins on the roof's tile surface.

"I'm sure he would like it very much. Flower fields..." He began, "Are far more peaceful and comforting than rows of manicured stones."

[chainsaw_juliet]

A look of unrestrained sorrow flashed over his face for but a moment before it was replaced with a wide smile.
"I didn't want to bury him in a graveyard. I wanted him to rest in a place as beautiful as he." A smile so bright and carefree despite the fact his fingers clenched in the stained velvet coat draped around his shoulders.

[despairiminit]

Nozomu was not blind; he easily caught that crushed expression that so marred his beloved's cheerful face. Hesitantly, he offered both arms to his spouse and simply spoke his name.

"Gure," His fond nickname, "Come here."

FFFFF *kills typo*

[chainsaw_juliet]

"No." Curt answer spoken sternly, face steeled with determination. His lip trembled and he bit it once more to stop the annoying reflex.

The Reaper still could not face him, instead his eyes were heavencast, wondering bitterly how the Stars watched all with indifference. He tugged the coat tighter around his shoulders, desperate for emotional warmth the owner could no longer give.

What was left for him now? No shred of home at all, only what he had built here amongst friends and friends who became family.
"If you hold me I'll cry again because I miss him and that means I have to accept he's gone and I don't want to do that yet." His voice sounded pathetic, a strain as he fought to keep tears at bay. "I want to pretend I'm happy because that's what Reapers do when faced with their duty as Death."

*spews sap*

[despairiminit]

Obediently, Nozomu tucked his arms back against himself, drawing his knees closer against his chest. He was unsure what comfort to offer. Death was beautiful to him; Hamlet got what he had longed for- to die, to sleep. What he did know was that his beautiful vision of red was heartbroken, and his endearing creased eyebrows were, for once, not an instinctive gesture, but filled with real emotion.

Hesitantly, he reached out one hand and brushed back Grell's sopping wet hair from his face, resting his palm against his head a moment.

"If that's what you really want," Nozomu murmured, his voice nearly washed away by the rushing water below, "But I think..."

"I don't think you're just a Reaper. You're Grell, too. And it's alright for you to miss people you've loved and lost. It means you have a heart to tend to."

His fingers toyed gently at his hair, stroking back the slick strands lightly.

"Something so many people here wish for. Don't abandon the heart you have," His voice grew quieter, "It's beautiful, even when wrought with

You just -know- after this he's taking Fuura out for happy knifey bonding tiems

[chainsaw_juliet]

"I guess I misjudged the weight of bearing a heart. Perhaps it would be easier if I could just switch off like William. Or perhaps if I didn't even have a heart at all. If so many want a heart, they can have mine." The words came as a rush of emotions, a tangled mess of thoughts he had pushed away deep into his mind.

"That way in centuries to come, I won't be standing in a graveyard holding flowers while weeping like a silly child. I won't miss anyone, so I won't grieve for anyone."

Of course he hardly meant it. For all the sorrow he felt at present, he adored mortality and even envied it at times. Forever was an awfully long time for a creature to exist and even his seemingly perpetual mask of happiness bore hairline fractures.

"I miss London." He began, the tears finally slipping down his cheeks. "I miss my friends and I miss trailing Ciel because he's all I have left of her and I miss Sebastian's smirk and I miss William's eyes and I just can't stand being in a place that looks so much like home but turns out to be just a

[despairiminit]

Nozomu didn't ask this time. He simply scooted closer, crossing his legs for stability on the roof. He reached and burrowed one hand under Grell's knees, scooping the little Reaper onto his lap. The folds of his outer kimono robe wrapped around his shaking form.

"But then you wouldn't know love," the teacher was hesitant, "Would you?"

He tipped Grell's chin up to face his sad brown eyes, like a loyal dog's, so laced with worry.

"It's an exchange. But personally I think..." He traced the delicate little chains on Grell's glasses, "I think it's a worthy exchange. A bargain, even."

[chainsaw_juliet]

Love and Death. The two constant emotions that fueled his very being. Grell leaned against Nozomu tiredly, eyes falling shut as his hand weakly fisted in the satin kimono collar.
"Bearing the painful weight of Death and being given the chance to love?" He pondered on that for a moment, almost distracted by the steady beating heart by his ear. "I guess so."

For a few minutes he sat in silence, soaking up the warmth Nozomu offered and the memories the coat gave. From where they sat, he could peek into the Townhouse and see their 'daughter' in the bathroom. There she sat, dress and all, in the bathtub playing with a fish. Though he couldn't hear her, he could see her bright smile as she laughed and splashed, the fish weaving around her.

Until a flash of polished metal slammed through it, staining the water immediately with a murky deep crimson. Grell giggled, nuzzling under Nozomu's chin.
"I'm feeling much better now, thank you dear." A fond little kiss was given and another one after it just because he could. The redhead stood up,

[despairiminit]

Grell was taller than Nozomu, but still slender. It was a rare treat to cradle his partner. He smelled of London Rain and violence, and death and boisterous life all rolled into one red bundle. He squeezed his soaked body close, coating his body with Rivelata's floodwater.

Nozomu smiled. It was always a little, flighty smile that made his slender eyes disappear into his cheeks. He did not notice his adopted 'daughter' stabbing away at the fish in her tub. He gave Grell's dainty, pointed English nose a little kiss.

When the Reaper stood, Nozomu took his offered hand, standing a bit shakily from the roof's slant, "Ah..." Nozomu stammered.

"Will you help me in?"

[chainsaw_juliet]

"Here." Grell scooped up the smaller young man, his weight barely registering with the Reaper. "I forgot you aren't used to traipsing about on rooftops." Even the slippery nature of the tiles proved no problem as the redhead ran along the slender 'walkway', very familiar with the roofs of London slick with rain.

Jumping down, he landed on their balcony before placing Nozomu back on his feet.
"Can you fetch the tea? I'll go fetch our darling out of the bathtub. I've a feeling her new friend won't mind." Another giggle, the spark back in his eyes- though there rested a wiser glint of acceptance as he tugged the velvet coat tighter around his shoulders.

[despairiminit]

"Alright," Nozomu hugged his kimono robe around him closer, offering a hopeful look, "I'll fix Earl Grey for you."

And the teacher was gone, disappearing into the halls of the house to fetch his beloved's tea, relief settled in his heart for the present.