"Oh, I'm so sor-" Cress recognized the voice immediately and froze, looking up to see who she had bumped into. She was still with panic, her heart pounding fast. When he flinched at the sight of her, she winced slightly, guilt flashing across her features, before she wiped it away. She disentangled herself from him, before smoothing her clothes and composing herself. "Hello, Fern. It's been a while, eh?"
Fern smoothed his expression to cool indifference quickly. "Yes. It has been. It looks like you've been doing well." He brushed himself off and tucked his phone out of sight. "Why might you be around these parts again? I thought you moved away?"
"I did," she said, wondering what he was going on about. "Just back for a mi- um, my work placed me here, for a job that I'm doing for them." She tucked her small hands into her jacket pocket. "How, uh, how have you been?"
She cursed herself. Why was this so awkward?
Fern smiled lightly, nodding briefly as he replied, "I've been very good. I've got a good paying job and I'm enjoying life. Where are you headed at the moment?"
"N-nowhere," she stuttered, then flushed as she did so. Why was she stuttering? She shook herself. "I was just going for a walk. The hotel I'm at sucks." She wrinkled her nose, and could almost for a moment imagine that nothing had changed between them. Almost.
Fern inclined his head. "Most of them around here do, yes, unless you're a rich type and can get a fancy one." He gestured and asked, "May I walk with you? I got a phone call from one of my employers and I need to head into work, which is in the direction you're heading in." He had grown handsome over the years and also gained the demeanor of a gentleman when he required it.
"Uh… sure," Cressida said, then flushed. You fool, she scolded herself. He probably hates you, still. Why did you agree? I thought you hated him! Still, she had to admit that, now that he was grown, he was a lot more handsome than she had originally thought. She flushed even redder at the thought. What was wrong with her? She bent her head toward the ground, staring at the sidewalk, hands in her pockets, to her her face.
Fern smiled cooly. "Thank you." He began to walk, headed down the street. "So what are you been doing nowadays?" He looked over at her as he kept himself at her pace.
It was the wrong question to ask. Cress choked on her own spit, coughing, before regaining herself. "Um… nothing much," she lied, continuing to walk. "I've just been here and there, travelling for work."
Fern tilted his head, "And what might be your job be?" His eyebrow had raised at the fact she choked on her own saliva. She was hiding something…
"N-nothing important," she muttered. "Just… a travelling businesswoman. I would say that I enjoy my job, but that would be an overstatement. At least I get paid well." She changed the subject quickly. "What do you do?"
Fern smiled a little coldly. "Part-time barista at a local coffee shop, and part-time assistant at a service company. Soooo interesting, isn't it?" he ended sarcastically. He chuckled a bit, his eyes dark as they stared ahead.
Cress flinched ever so slightly, but composed herself. She matched his coldness easily, her tone sharp as a knife. "Oh, so interesting. I'm sure you get a lot of money, don't you?"
Fern flicked a glance over to her. "Just about as much as you, Cressida of the Unseen…." he hissed under his breath to her. He chuckled, sounding a bit mad as he did so.
She bristled, hearing his last words, and remembered why she had left in the first place. "Oh, of course," she snapped. "I forgot. You had the cleaing job. No wonder it took them so long to send me to kill you. You're useless." And then she realized what she had said. Shit.
Fern's face froze for a moment, a dark look flicking in his eyes before he burst out laughing. This was a seemingly genuine laugh however, tears actually coming to his eyes as he bent over laughing hysterically. When he finally began to calm down, he wiped his eyes and straightened up. "Nice one. Kill me huh? Good luck with that."
Cress just stood, arms crossed, a bored look on her face, waiting until he finished laughing. "Oh, thanks, but I don't need luck," she said, smiling sweetly. "I have pure talent, which is something you lack, cleaning boy." She turned and started walking away.
Fern smirked. He couldn't believe she thought he was just a… cleaning boy… He just followed behind her, still snickering.
Pulling her hood over her head, Cress glanced behind her, to see if he was still following her. She had remembered, now, why she had left him. Turning back to the front again, she pulled the classic "spy" move, and slid into a passing group of people, blending in with them and making Fern lose track of her. The group passed close to Fern, and as they did, she lightly slipped a note into his pocket without him noticing.
Fern noticed she disappeared and just snickered again, remembering how slick she used to be. Still was it seemed. He shook his head and continued on, a small smirk on his face as he wandered leisurely onto his destination.
(Time skip?)
(Sure!)
(Your turn, and I won't be on until Monday because my trade school has off this week, so my mom's having me stay home this week.)
(M'kay!)
Cressida strained to her tallest height, which wasn't very tall, fingers reaching in vain for the cereal on the top shelf. She was shopping for some groceries, so that she didn't go out to eat every night, although she could afford it, with her hefty salary. She gave up with a sigh, looking longingly at the box resting on the shelf high above her, seeming to taunt her.
A hand shot out above her and grabbed the box she was eyeing. Fern smirked as he bowed a bit mockingly, holding the cereal out to her. "You seemed like you were having trouble m'lady." He had stopped in the store for a box of poptarts and had caught sight of her, bouncing on her feet to get at the cereal now in his hand.
Cressida glared at him, trying to hide her blushing face behind her hair, annoyed at how short she was. She reached out to grab it from him, straightening her shirt and trying to act as dignified as possible.