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 Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 5:56 pm
December 11th, 2017
He felt his heart give another skip, ignored it, and took his place beside Cordelia, reaching out to accept the offered cup. "I do so enjoy an adventure," said Fritz with a small smile, taking a sip. The heat of the liquid soothed his throat, burned pleasantly in him, the perfect combination of spicy and sweet.
It was an effort not to stare at her, at the way her face looked in the light, at the soft rosiness to her cheeks from the cold. Fritz raised his eyebrows.
"Everything all planned out?" he said, a little surprised, but simultaneously warmed and gratified. "Well, I can't say no to that. An adventure with the lady Cordelia, how can one resist? Although, I would hope I'm better on the ice this year than last..."
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:21 pm
December 11th, 2017 Cordelia shifted closer to him once he'd settled down, her shoulder brushing his as she huddled for that little bit of extra warmth. Nearby the fire crackled and snapped, sparks drifting up into the early evening air. The soft sound of holiday music drifted through the air, bringing with it an extra bit of cheer as it mingled with the voices around them. Funny, really, how she didn't feel like there was anyone else around at all with the way he was smiling-- only she and Fritz. "Not everything. I hadn't thought about what I might do if you hadn't found me after that last clue." She hid a grin behind her cup, taking a small sip of the cider. It was impossible not to smile when he was, impossible not to feel at ease when he was beside her. Even with the prospect of teetering around on skates looming ahead Cordelia felt confident. "Does that mean you haven't been practicing, Fritz?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 8:19 pm
December 11th, 2017
Both the closeness and the warmth were nice, even if the former made Fritz immediately want to simultaneously draw away and lean closer. The aversion to physical contact was a hard obstacle to overcome; he did not prefer to push it too far when he knew it would break.
"Oh, so you were just going to leave me to my fate," he said, "I see how it is."
But there was teasing in his voice nonetheless. Fritz gave a small laugh.
"I've practiced a bit. Not nearly enough to be impressive, I'm not sure what you think of that, but, well, I've done my best."
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 5:52 pm
December 11th, 2017 "I think you underestimate just how impressive you actually are, Fritz St James." Cordelia nudged his elbow lightly with her own before shifting back just enough to give him space as she finished off the last of her cider. Once she'd done so she stood, drawing in a deep breath of the crisp air before looking to her companion. "Just so you know, I knew that you'd find me, Fritz. I'd like to think that you'd be able to find me anywhere." Her tone was soft, smile warm as she regarded him with it once more before stooping down to retrieve her skates. "Shall we hit the ice?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 6:20 pm
December 24th, 2017 Cordelia had thought initially that it might be strange having Fritz with her for the holidays, just the two of them alone in her family's home. She thought that they might spend more time avoiding one another, orchestrating an awkward dance around schedules to minimize opportunities that might lead to closeness. She assumed one, if not both of them, would spend a painful amount of time hiding in their rooms-- reading, researching, or even going so far as to escape to home-world or wonder just for a reason to put distance between them. She had spent so much time fretting up until that last moment when she'd heard the doorbell ring that she'd been nothing but relieved to find out that nothing that she'd thought would actually be. They were two friends sharing a space; two good friends laughing over meal preparation and arguing (gently, of course) over who would take care of the dishes afterwards. They spent their time apart, of course-- she at work or out on an evening patrol, he with a book or canvas, doing whatever it was that he did to occupy his day-- but the time spent together made it seem as though this was something they did always and not just for the holiday. The end credits had just started playing for the Muppet Christmas Carol; the last movie she had insisted they watch that evening before calling it time to turn in for their 'one last sleep 'til Christmas'. Fritz was nestled in the crocheted blanket she'd given to him as an early Christmas present, dosing lightly through the tail end of the movie. They'd been up late the night before, up early that morning out of habit (thanks, Eta), and she was finding it difficult to keep her own eyes open as well. Taking hold of the remote, Cordelia turned off the television before gently reaching over to nudge her friend. "Fritz... Fritz, it's time for bed. You can't sleep on the couch tonight or Santa will never come."
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:12 am
December 24th, 2017
Christmas was a lonely time of the year. Rhys and Hitch had gone on vacation together; everyone else that Fritz knew or spent time with was gone for the holidays, off with their own families. His own parents had decided to go on a trip, and going back to England had been out of the question. It felt less like Christmas than it had in years.
Except for the whole spending the holidays with Cordelia thing. The spending the holidays with Cordelia alone thing.
It had felt...magical.
A cliched word, and he was embarrassed by it, but there was something wonderfully calming about being able to just...sit beside her, or watch her do something entirely mundane, like read a book or watch a show or make a salad. Fritz found his eyes watching her when her back was turned, unable to do so when she was actually looking, but unable to stop himself otherwise.
It was wonderful. It was terrifying.
He had dozed off during the movie, unintentionally. Curled up with his legs beneath him, blanket wrapped around him, Fritz's head was resting on a stack of several cushions, his eyes closed. He was dimly aware of the music shifting, of the lighting around him changing, but getting up felt like a monumental effort he didn't want to expend.
Cordelia's nudge made him breathe out a sound almost like a grumble.
"Don't wanna."
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:02 pm
December 24th, 2017 "Fritz," her laughter was soft as she leaned in, gently tucking a strand of hair away from his face before brushing a chaste kiss to his temple, "you won't be comfortable here curled up like this all night. Promise you can take the blanket with you." She tugged on the blanket gently for emphasis as she stepped back to give him the space he would need to stretch and unfurl should he wake enough to do so. In truth, she could think of little more that she would like to do than linger on the sofa curled up with him, but the last time that happened had triggered a series of events and.... The events had lead them here to this very moment, and if asked she would say that their friendship was stronger than it had been before-- that they were stronger than they had been before. They had grown as individuals every bit as much as they had grown together and... At some point Cordelia Carden had fallen head over heels for her best friend and she didn't have the stones to tell him. "Oi, Fritz, you ate too many cookies earlier and I don't think I've the strength to carry you upstairs, so you're going to have to help me out here, love." Her tone was gentle and teasing as she reached out once more to take him by the hand in an attempt to drag him to his feet. "Let's go. Bed."
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