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 Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 8:47 pm
"Of course treats are. Why do you think I generally bring something to snack on with me when we're meeting up to pa-- Parade around the park." It probably wasn't the best idea to bring up patrolling while it was just the two of them out in an open area, but that wasn't going to keep her from teasing him. "The Twizzlers aren't just for my benefit, you know." She nudged his shin lightly with the tip of her toe beneath the table after she settled into her seat, holding on to her cup for a moment. "The cake in there is mine, but you're more than welcome to the muffin... Work has been quiet , which is good for sanity-- Bad for tips, though." It was a trade off that she was willing to make, and with the holidays approaching there were likely to be shows popping up that would bring in a bit more business. "The other work has also been quiet, which is also... Odd doesn't seem like the right word. I suppose I thought after everything it wouldn't be so... Quiet." Her nose wrinkled at the word even as she brought her cup up to her lips, taking a small sip to make certain it wasn't too hot to drink. "I suppose it's something to be thankful for, though. How have you been, Fritz?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 8:57 pm
He fought back a smile at parade around the park. "Well, Twizzlers are an excellent form of communication," said Fritz, tugging the muffin from the bag and feeling Cordy tap at his leg. He set his own treat carefully down on the napkin, then slid the cake out as well, pushing it across the table towards Cordy before crumpling up the bag and setting it aside.
"I'm sorry to hear about your tips," said Fritz, breaking off a piece of his muffin and popping it into his mouth. "That's minimum wage here in America, isn't it? You live off of tips?"
He couldn't deny that the quiet seemed almost wrong when they were used to violence and mayhem. Fritz absently twisted a corner of his muffin wrapper between his fingers and gave Cordy a wan smile.
"It's peculiar," he agreed. "As for myself, well..."
One shoulder rose and fell in a partial shrug as Fritz tried to figure out how to put into words how he was doing.
"Better," he finally decided on. "I've been doing better, which is to say, I've been doing well."
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 9:18 pm
"They do certainly bring people together," she added on to the conversation about the Twizzlers, still smiling as she took the plastic container that was nudged her way, popping the lid open so that she could get to her cake. It looked delicious and she wasn't likely to eat the whole slice, but she'd certainly enjoy the bites of it that she took once she did. "Minimum wage, if you're working anywhere decent, with tips on top of it. Some places, mostly smaller restaurants, pay a lot less so the wait staff relies more in tips than they do their wages. I'm fortunate enough that the Paw pays its staff well enough hourly and the tips are just additional fluff-- Spoiling myself with a slice of cake, or a designer sweater that I've been eying." After slowly sliding her fork into the cake she popped the bite past her lips, making a soft 'mmm' sound at the taste before drawing the fork back. She appreciated the little things a lot more now than she had when she'd been a teen charging everything to Daddy's credit card. "For what it's worth, you look much better. You seem to smile a bit more every time we cross paths, and while I'd like to think that's all because of my wonderful company..." Stormy eyes danced with mischief as a teasing smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. It was easy to hold that smirk for a moment before it softened into a smile. "I'm glad that you've been doing well."
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2016 7:28 am
He made a mental note, somewhere in the back of his mind, to get Cordy a package or two of Twizzlers for Christmas - or maybe an entire box full, because it wasn't like he'd forgotten that she'd come to talk to him - a stranger at the time - in the park when he'd felt like he was losing his mind.
Admittedly, tips were still something Fritz felt unclear about, but he took another bite of his muffin and gave a slow nod of understanding, expression slightly amused at Cordy's clear pleasure. "Spoiling oneself every once in a while is necessary, I think," he said. "Otherwise, we wouldn't get very far."
Hypocritical words coming from someone who deserves nothing, said a nasty little voice in his head, but Fritz shoved it forcibly aside in favor of concentrating on Cordy's teasing smile. A small one of his own tugged his lips up, and Fritz let out a little laugh.
"Well, your delightful company certainly does help, darling, that's for sure," he said, and felt warmth curling in his chest at her words, even if it was still hard to actually believe them. "It's, ah...it's been a bit of a process, I'll grant you."
An understatement, as Cordy would know. Fritz idly worried at the edge of his muffin wrapper.
"Do you think..." he started, and then stopped, taking a breath before starting up again. "Do you think...that it's even possible for - to keep going forward?"
He felt like a broken record saying it so many times, but it was so hard to keep the thoughts inside of his head.
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 6:06 pm
"Fritz. Fritz," she said his name again, softer and almost sadly for a moment as she reached out to cover his hand with her own. When he made to worry at the muffin wrapper once more she caught his fingers, giving them a gentle squeeze and a reassuring smile. "Yes. Yes, of course it's possible to keep going forward, and should you ever find yourself slipping backwards call me, or text me, or just... Come over to my place. You aren't alone, not in any of this, not ever again." She spoke with such certainty as she gave his hand another squeeze; a reminder to herself as much as it was a reminder to him. She let that settle in for a moment before her soft smile turned into a grin. "That is why we're sitting here discussing the idea of throwing together a holiday meal, isn't it?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 7:34 pm
He felt himself instinctively tense slightly as Cordy took his hand; but after a second, he relaxed, Fritz letting her halt his motions, lifting his eyes to meet the concerned expression in her own, her smile quiet and gentle. It was a smile he'd seen before, and something in it helped to loosen the knot of tension in his stomach.
I don't know how to progress, he thought. Out loud, he said, "It's...calling for help has never been a strong point of mine. As the majority of those I associate with know."
A wan smile accompanied this, Fritz easing out a breath. "But yes, you're right, that is why we're here, isn't it? To keep ourselves afloat and to have a good time."
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Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2016 8:05 pm
Cordelia gave his hand another gentle squeeze, thumb lightly brushing over his knuckles before she released his hand to give him a bit of his space back. "If it makes you feel better, Fritz, it's not exactly a strong point of mine either... But t it's not good for us. Not you, not me." One way or another, they were in this together. She saw enough of her own shadows lurking about in the edges of his to know that she wasn't going to let him just fade away again. "Have you ever cooked a turkey before, Fritz?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:42 pm
He felt both a sense of relief and a small bit of disappointment as Cordy pulled her hand away, if only because Fritz appreciated the warmth and the gesture. But he also felt as though a small breath of air had slipped into his lungs as she let go, his fingers curling against his palm, a slight smile on his face.
"I suppose you're right," he said with a sigh, leaning back in his chair. Fritz reached for his tea again and took a small sip, his eyes flickering over to Cordy.
"I'm sorry for unloading on you," said Fritz. "As for cooking a turkey...well, no. I can't say I have."
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2016 9:34 pm
"Of course I'm right. Women usually are." A teasing smirk lit her lips as she tried to keep things light and airy before eventually nudging his shin with her foot beneath the able. "Honestly, Fritz. You don't have to be sorry for anything, least of all unloading when you need to. I might leave you entirely in charge of the turkey all on your own if you keep apologizing." She wouldn't actually do that. She'd spent too much time in the kitchen helping her grandmother when she was younger to be comfortable sitting back while someone else did all of the kitchen work. Besides, she'd never cooked a turkey before either. It would be too much of an adventure to miss out on. Sure, it could be a disaster, but it could also be a lot of fun. "My grandmother used to do most of the cooking for the holidays. I did get to help her with making the pies, though."
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 7:24 am
He couldn't help but smile at that, Fritz shaking his head.
"Do you know, I've really only made a great deal of friendships with women anyway," he said with a small laugh. "It seems I'm more drawn to them, though I suppose I do have Hitch and Lorne. Most of my other male friends I don't actually know how they've been, it's been too long."
The thought made him a little sad. Fritz had lost contact with a great deal of people over time, including people he cared about. His thoughts flickered briefly to Regan, disappointment and curiosity warring in his chest before he pushed the negative emotions aside.
"I beg your pardon," he said politely, "But if you leave me in charge of the turkey, I'm afraid I might burn the entire house down."
He had tried to say it with a straight face, but it didn't work, the corner of Fritz's mouth twitching. "Does this mean that you're going to make me a pie?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 6:45 pm
"Alright, so the turkey will have to be a combined effort and as long as you're willing to stick your hand inside of it I will make you your very own pie." One of the things that she had managed to take with her out of her parents' house had been some of her grandmother's recipe cards. She hadn't had a chance to make much use out of some of the better ones, but this could certainly be a good opportunity to start some new traditions amongst friends-- Almost like a new family. "Pumpkin, apple or pecan, Fritz? Or are you more of a chocolate cream pie sort of gentleman?" Her brow lofted as she took another bite of her cake. She savored the flavors for a bit before continuing on with the conversation. "There's nothing wrong with having friends of the opposite sex. Unless they're constantly throwing themselves at you, in which case that might be a little bit awkward, but..." A light smirk touched her lips as she watched him. "If you do have women awkwardly throwing themselves at you, do let me know. I don't mind being the overly protective lady friend if you need a buffer."
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:25 pm
Fritz gave Cordy a suspicious look, as though he wasn't quite sure whether she was making fun of him or not.
"Fine," he said, with an elegant sniff. "I will try to stick my hand in said turkey as long as I get apple pie out of this little arrangement."
A pause, and then -
"All three?"
He shifted a little in his seat, Fritz's fingers slowly curling and uncurling on his tea. There hadn't been any mind paid to the fact that most of his friends were female, until now; it felt somehow strange. He had Hitch, though Hitch didn't really count. Lorne, and Chris. But the rest were women, and while there was nothing wrong with that, as Cordy had said, there was an ache low in the pit of Fritz's stomach that he couldn't quite discern.
"You're a very kind lady friend," said Fritz, with a courteous bow towards Cordy. "Though I doubt there are any throwing themselves at me, you give me far too much credit, my dear."
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Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2017 8:46 pm
"None at all?" Her brow lofted as she slid her fork past her lips, taking one more bite of cake before setting the fork down on the table. "With your natural wit and impeccable use of charm, what do you mean they're not throwing themselves at you?" If she hadn't been teasing him before she was certainly teasing him now, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly with a hidden grin. It felt good to be able to joke around with a friend; to have another person she felt comfortable enough to let her guard down around and simply be herself. "Maybe they just aren't as good at coaxing a smile out of you as I am, in which case we'll call it their loss and my gain." Of course, she couldn't let the conversation linger too long on that, quickly adding on, "So you've never cooked a turkey and you're leaving the pies to me... What side dishes do you have any expertise with? We could always make it a pot luck, you know... Talk a few friends and family members into making the sides for us?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:04 pm
He gave an inelegant snort, hands wrapped around his tea.
"You flatter me," said Fritz dryly, "but no, no one is 'throwing themselves at me,' as you so kindly put it. I'm not even sure I'm..." He shook his head, not wanting to turn the conversation so serious when Cordy was clearly fighting a smile, her eyes alight with amusement. "At any rate," he said, giving her a stern look. "I'll thank you to keep any flinging people away from me, right?"
A grin flashed across his face, Fritz ignoring the little wellspring of anxiety that was curling in his stomach, as it always did when he was out socializing these days. "You are very good at making me smile, that is true," he conceded, because it was perfectly true. "And no, I haven't cooked a turkey...I could make blood pudding," he said thoughtfully, tapping a chin. "Or perhaps some steak and kidney pie. Or a yule log. I'm not half bad at those."
It wasn't entirely clear whether he was joking or not.
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:29 pm
Nothing about something called 'blood pudding' sounded anything close to appetizing. Steak and kidney pie, however, she was a bit more familiar with due to her grandmother's cooking-- None of it really sounded like Thanksgiving, though. Especially not the yule log. Stars, was Fritz joking about that? "Mm... Maybe we'll stick with a states-side traditional feast this time and we'll save the more unique dishes of the British Isles for Christmas?" Her brow lofted as she offered the compromise, knowing well enough that the past Christmas she'd simply ordered Chinese from the place that delivered down the street from her apartment. "You also have my word that I'll keep any flinging people away from you," she added on as an afterthought, holding her hand out to him with her pinky extended as a sign of promise.
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