sirenspull_logs | I've got my roots and you've got ties

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I've got my roots and you've got ties

Who: Alan Humphries & Eric Slingby & You [That is to say this is OTA]
Where: One of the local restaurants
When: Nov. 11th - Evening, pre-sirens
Summary: Eric finally takes Alan out on a date or something like it but with these two nothing ever really goes quite as planned.
Warnings: Odds are this is going to end up a mess of crazy shenanigans and embarrassment - I'll add in warnings as they come.

One would think that when making a date both parties would arrive on time or as close to the agreed time as possible. Indeed one would think but if you were Alan Humphries you would be wrong and glaring at the chair across from you - the emptiness of it mocking and somehow strangely; insanely personally offensive. He didn't even want to bother with trying to figure out that whole mess and what it might mean.

Instead, he glanced at his watch and ticked off another couple of minutes of waiting. In the back of his mind he was wondering why Eric was late. Odds are Eric went to the wrong restaurant or he got distracted and sidetracked. Sometimes he was pretty sure if it wasn't for him the other wouldn't be on time for anything.

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Perhaps I am not as sane as I thought, then. Willingly putting up with you lot. Especially that thing.

[ And a laugh for that, shaking his head. ]

Thing, sir?

Though... You'd prolly be pretty barmy to put up with us every day. Don't rightly know how you manage it but you do.

I was referring to Grell.

[ Oh wait, he usually uses full names, right? Better correct himself with an adjustment of his glasses. ]

...Sutcliff. Grell Sutcliff.

[ He misses his glasses by a bit, instead mussing his hair slightly. ]

[ There's a sigh there and a shake of his head. Somehow, it doesn't surprise him that his boss doesn't know jack about relaxing. ]

Just clarification's sake and all.

[ His smile's a little half hearted as he reaches over just to smooth Will's hair down for himself, trying to put it back to what it was before pulling away again. ]

Y'know, sir... technically we're off the clock. Could prolly drop the formalities and all, eh?

[ Have a chuckle though. ]

Blimey, you're a mess when you've had a few shots...

I suppose. Just this once.

[ He finishes his current glass, but frowns at Ronald's final comment. ]

I am not. And we haven't had any shots yet. Honestly.

[ It's said loud enough so that the bartender can hear and, if he's decent at his job, bring them some. ]

Will, if it pleases you and all.

[ He knows he's pushing it with that but it didn't hurt to try. The alcohol's loosening his tongue and all. His head's going back down on the bartop though with a sigh. ]

To your engagement, then?

William works better for me, thank you.

[ William accepts the toast, raising his tiny shot glass before downing it's contents. He frowns shortly after, though, noting Ronald's drop in mood. ]

What is it?

Noted. No nicknames then.

[ His smirk is a small one as he straightens back up. ]

Right as rain, no worries. The last one I had prolly went down a bit too fast but no harm done. S'just... you lot have been busy while I wasn't around, eh?

Considering what the Core puts us through, it is practically unavoidable.

[ Half of what made William open up was all the little situations the Core's hijinks forced him into. ]

Even you'd crack under the pressure.

[ Another sigh. Situations out of his control and all, normally it's water rolling off a duck's back to him but maybe the alcohol's making him a little clingy. It's the thought of this Core that's been messing with his department, his family, his cause of feelings that may be a combination of nausea and warm fuzzies... well... it's downright worrying. ]

Haven't the slightest clue why it brought me back now of all times.

Honestly, what is Dispatch without its rookie?

[ Another little tidbit William normally would have kept to himself, but the alcohol's making him speak his mind even more than normal tonight. But, there can't be too much harm in letting your newest workers he's a valuable and welcome member of their team right? Perhaps William could stand to use that tactic on a normal basis. ]

[ And that in itself is enough for him to crack the barest semblance of a smile. ]

Better watch yourself, William. First calling me your friend and now, saying you lot would be nothing without me. Might end up stealing my heart away right from under my nose.

[ He'll just laugh it off, really. ]

[ Ronald's little comment has William's hand re-affixing itself to his glasses once more. ]

There is nothing wrong with me saying such things. You should be happy I am doing so, at all. Honestly.

Never said I wasn't.

[ There's that smile that's just all honest and well meaning and everything that lists him as the team's optimist again. ]

You prolly haven't the slightest idea just how hearing all that's making me feel.

[ It's the bourbon talking. ]

Good, I should hope. Otherwise, I can always take it back.

[ Definitely the bourbon talking because within the next minute or so, he's leaning in with his hand tight around William's again. Like it's a lifeline. ]

Don't you bloody dare.

[ He seems serious at least. ]

Took a bleeding long while to finally get you to open up... M'not about to let you take it back just yet.

[ Ronald seems rather insistent upon holding his hand tonight. William knows he should find that odd, but with his mind so hazy right now, he can't quite place his finger on why. ]

I won't. Just do not go running about telling everyone.

[ It's contact. The only contact he's ever made and he's not about to let go. Some people are snuggly when they're drunk after all. ]

Course not. S'not just anyone who gets to 'ear this sort of thing from you after all. s'just...

[ His words are slurring -- so much more than they usually do and it's not just from his ridiculous accent. ]

Might've... might've 'ad a bit of a torch burning for you for a while now s'all... then this comes along and the Core and all and I dunno what to think...

[ William puts his drink down and turns to look at Ronald more fully, a perplexed look about him. ]

A torch..? What are you on about?

Better t'show than tell, eh...?

[ And in one motion, he's leaned in with a hand beneath William's chin to tip him close. Without even considering what he was doing, his lips are on the other male's own and the distance between them is all but gone.

So much for logic. Logic, for lack of a better term, had rightly fucked itself in the arse. It was the bourbon, it really was. Normally, such a thing would never come to mind. ]

[ Normally William would have intercepted that drunken move before it even had the chance to make contact. But that bourbon... let's just say it takes a few moments of wide eyed staring as Ronald kisses him before it clicks and he finally pushes the eager boy's face away. ]

Knox, what are you... I am your boss!

[ You know, because that's the important point right now. ]

[ And then it hits him, just what he's doing. The bourbon haze clears itself from his mind and he pulls back, wide eyed and panting. There's an evident fear in his eyes as he regards William with a hasty, almost apologetic look. ]

I'm... M'sorry, sir. Dunno what came over me just then. Didn't... mean any harm, honest I didn't... quite the opposite, really.

Best you prolly forget everything I said up until that point.

[ Normally William would be beating Ronald to a pulp right now. The poor boy would be on the ground with his boss' shoe planted firmly to the side of his face. But, William's not too certain he can stand upright, at the moment, much less land a meaningful blow to the boy's head.

Plus...what just happened. Honestly? What. Just. Happened. Even engaged, William still wasn't quite sure why Grell liked him so much, so for the rookie, who spent half his shift every day down in Personal Affairs chatting up the ladies, to suddenly be throwing himself at William now too, he just was at a loss for what to do.

Thus, William remains seated on his bar stool, frowning into his empty bourbon glass, confused as all hell. ]

[ Well that was awkward... like really awkward. Were they home, he would have been held in contempt with possibly a month's worth of overtime and suspension to follow.

But his boss is being surprisingly merciful. Maybe it was the bourbon, too.

There's a groan of frustration as he slumps himself face down on the bartop. ]

...won't happen again, sir...

Good. Make sure of it.

[ William tries to regain his authorative tone. But he clears his throat shortly after, adding on a bit more. ]

And no one is to tell Grell of this.

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I've got my roots and you've got ties

/highfives

Yay interchangeable accounts.

Always a handy thing

XD;; specially when I'm speed tagging to keep up with you lot

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/gets spit out by the corporate world again

/catches lovingly

;n;

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