Chapter 010: Fade To Black

Authors notes: Grell as always played by Tino, Undertaker by Ethan, Sebastian by me

Warnings: Language


Grell Sutcliff entered the Undertaker's shop and looked around, a frown on his face. He finally had made up his mind to talk to the man. He was still fuming on the inside. How dared the man to support Will in his brain-dead scheme. "Undertaker! Come out at once! I'm not up for games!" he called out as he looked around the shop.

Undertaker snickered from his resting place, scratching at the roof of the coffin he rested in. "Ah but games are the spice of life Grell-chan. Everyone plays them, even my guests." He didn't bother to move, seeming rather to just have his nice rest looking through the eyes of his guests.

Sebastian Michaelis enters, politely taking off his hat and looking around. Seeing Grell makes him change his smile a little, before he turns serious again. "Good morning. As I see I am not the only one with business here today. I assume we are here because of the same matter. Mr. Undertaker refuses to show himself and face you?" he asks calmly, firmly back in his public butler persona.

Grell Sutcliff moved towards the coffin and angrily kicked the side of it. "Get the fuck out of there! I have something to talk to you about." The red head was really angry now, fuming. He looked at Sebastian and nearly growled. "Yes, he refuses to get out of his cozy little box. And we surely are here for the same reason." Anger prevented him from his usual nice greeting for Sebastian. "Get out there now or I will cut that thing in half, including you!"

Undertaker giggled quite madly from his box and waits for Grell to get close and kick it before he pops the lid, intent to smack Grell with it. He would sit up with one hand still crossed over his chest before pulling himself to a standing position to step out of the box. "Business calls to those who seek it, or not, Shitsuji-san. Simply a choice made, both here means it involved something fun." He snickered again and moved toward his desk seeming to not even care they were probably both pissy at him.

Sebastian Michaelis moves further into the shop, stopping close to Grell, but more like a backup. "Your business sees everyone sooner or later, that is correct, but if you try to advance it regarding my own persona or those in my care, you have to face dissatisfied customers. Thus I am here to file a complaint. As is Mr. Grell, if I'm not mistaken."

Grell Sutcliff got smacked by the lid and stumbled backwards, almost hitting the ground. But since the demon had stepped closer, he only stumbled against him. He looked over his shoulder and nodded softly. When he regained balance he kicked the lid shut again. Then he moved around the coffin and stood right in front of Undertaker. "Cut the crap! How dare you help Will with his shitty ideas against me and Sebastian? What made you give him your scythe to imprison me and hurt Sebastian?" Filing a complaint indeed. He looked back at Sebastian and calmed down at least a little. The presence of the other was always reassuring.

Undertaker shrugged as he cocked his head to the side and his hands came up to fold together, a grin coming very wide across his lips, "I try nothing, I simply offer assistance when it is asked of me, everyone becomes my guest eventually, if you were to become one with Isabella I would have known." He reached for his jar of biscuits plucking out one to chew on it thoughtfully while he took in Grell-chan through his bangs. "I gave because he asked for her." Another shrug as he munched. "Don't we all have good stories to tell now?"

Sebastian Michaelis indeed catches Grell, but not in an obvious way, since this was business and public, not pleasure, then he gives the Undertaker that friendly smile, that warns people who know him that he was about to kill something. Or saw a kitten. "Yes, we indeed have a story to tell. What I am interested to know is, if he gave back your scythe. And why you thought he would give it back, since it is an illegal scythe and he hunts for it for many years already. It is his duty to keep it from you." He follows Grell further into the room. "Though I have to compliment you on it. It is a nice weapon, neatly balanced and well kept. You have to thank Mr. Grell here, that I don't call it my possession. Do you really care so little for your precious Isabella, that you give her up that easily?" Sebastian Michaelis doesn't sound accusing, just very interested.

Grell Sutcliff nodded to Sebastian's words. "Will is probably going to keep it. You are a rogue. Will can't just give it back or he really will be in trouble with the authorities." He took a deep breath. "Undertaker. You were supposed to be my friend, yet you help Will in that way. He fucking put me in chains and nearly raped me. Do you think this is a nice story to tell? Are you that stupid?" He was calming down, or at least got a better grip on himself.

Undertaker rolled his hands out as the grin only grew, knowing full well he would get her back since it was all in the same reason he'd taken her to begin with. "Should he return it he will , everything has a reason for it happening." He murmured as he looked over Grell again his eyes glinting. "Only nearly? I wonder if you think about that why that is, hm?" He almost purred before grinning wider. "All stories are nice stories, Grell-chan, to all but those they are about. Why would I help someone who loves you because you are a friend."

Sebastian Michaelis s smile grows even more friendly, and he bows. "Thank you for your kind assistance then, Mr. Undertaker. It will be my pleasure to report to Mr. Will's superior, that he had your illegal scythe in his hands and not only let it fall into the hands of a demon temporarily, but also gave it back to the rogue he is supposed to take into custody.. As always, you are a tremendous help." As he straightens his eyes focus on the man in black. "And he only nearly raped Mr. Grell, because of my timely arrival."

Grell Sutcliff finally seemed to snap. "Why he only nearly raped me? Because of Sebastian, you sick fuck! Because Sebastian was there fast enough to stop him! You think I enjoy having Will put me in chains, against my will, put that disgusting collar around my neck and force himself upon me?" The words weren't spoken anymore but shouted. He did his best not to simply lash out and hit Undertaker. Sebastian's voice behind him made him take a deep breath. And then he suddenly smiled. "Undertaker...you owe me. Should Will return the scythe to you, you will inform me of that incident right away. No tricks, no nothing. If not...you still are a rogue, even without the scythe. Since you are my friend, I don't report your whereabouts...yet." The smile was rather cruel for a moment. "I would like to know how far Mr. Spears is willing to go for his stupid little schemes."

Undertaker held both his hands out and waved them with a laugh. "Who said I have her?" He murmured and swayed to the side a little. "The strict one is expected eventually." He assured as he looked over Grell again and his shoulders went up. "Are you so sure of that Shitsuji-san, Grell-chan?" He almost purred having known both shinigami for so long he didn't seem the least bit worried. "William hurting you more than needed I don't see and since neither of you are my guests my assistance did little to nothing." He leaned forward and his grin grew the widest that it could. "Ohh, chains, did he, that was something I did Not know." He giggled just a bit. "William will go Not so far as you two seem to think." He waved them off tisking like they were overreacting and leaned back again.

Sebastian Michaelis tilts his head to the side a little, as if he was surprised. "You don't have her back yet? What a shame. I looked quite forward to sparring with you again. Apart from Mr. Grell here, you were the only one that could make a fight at least entertaining." He sighs, disappointment clear on his face. As Undertaker continues speaking he closes his eyes to slits. "No matter if he would have gone all the way, what he already did was a violation of Mr. Grell's person." There is disdain in his voice.

Grell Sutcliff balled his fists by his side, his body visibly shaking when Undertaker was speaking. "You heard me. He returns it to you, you inform me. Or I make sure you are caught and incarcerated." His voice shook with suppressed rage. "You have no idea what has happened. I'm the one who was there. Who was sexually molested by somebody I trusted. Will has hurt me. And he can thank every god he knows I forgave him. But I will not forgive you for your words tonight. I'm done with you." He turned around and made his way towards the door. his hand brushed over Sebastian's arm as him passed him, silently communicating the need to leave before this ended in violent murder.

Undertaker waved his hands out again and his shoulders went up. He still had his prayer sticks if the other felt like sparring. He crossed his arms again this time down lower as he looked at both and for the first time in a long while became serious. "I was not worried Grell-chan could not handle himself with the one that loves him. The dark blackness can be a lonely place when you're left there by someone who is supposed to care. Even your fire can't hold back everything Grell-chan" He looked back to Sebastian and cocked his head as he took him in now. "I have to wonder why Shitsuji-san seems so involved these days, hm? is the Earl doing so well without you?"

Sebastian Michaelis gives Grell a nod, but doesn't follow him at once. Instead he turns to Undertaker again and bows like he did before. "My young master enjoys great health and my unwavering servitude and loyalty. I have to thank you afresh though." His voice becomes lower, so one could think the doesn't want Grell to hear.."Your assistance is much appreciated. By helping Mr. Spears and antagonizing Mr. Grell to the point of severing your friendship, I am in an even better position now. By losing you as a friend he now has no one else but me to turn to, which drives him further into my arms and secures my grasp on his heart..." his grin gets even wider and virtually demonic. "... and his soul. You have my deepest gratitude." Straightening, his voice is audible through the whole shop again. "I bid you a wonderful day, Mr. Undertaker." With a polite nod he dons his hat and follows Grell to the door, offering his arm as a gentleman would do.

Grell Sutcliff stopped at the door when he heard Undertaker's words about blackness. "I don't fear the darkness and blackness, Undertaker. I embrace it." he said, in a strong, yet absolutely calm voice. He took Sebastian's arm and walked out with him.

Undertaker grinned again at that still seeming very much not worried as he looked over the demon. "Cockiness in Shitsuji-san is so amusing, should be careful it doesn't come back to bite you." He tipped his head back toward Grell and nodded. "You may, but not everyone can, Grell-chan, some of the world can only fall to it, I hope your heart, and soul can be lifted high enough above to know that." With that he moved back around to his desk and rested on it. "You have my apologies that William did such things without informing me of his intent Grell-chan. Have a good day." He lifted his hand to wave to both of them as they headed out.