Cindy and Fraser, backdated to 7/25/15
Jul. 25th, 2015 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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om_mainCindy returns from a shopping trip and meets Benton Fraser, who offers to help her with her bags.
Fraser was on his way outside for a stroll when he noticed Cindy coming towards the doors, her arms laden with bags. He took a step back and reopened the door again for her, holding it wide. "Do you need a hand?" he asked.
Cindy smiled brightly, “Oh, hi!” She gave a little waggle of her fingers, the best she could wave with her arms full of the spoils of a good shopping spree. “I’d love one if you really wouldn’t mind.” She could manage on her own, but if someone was going to offer, why not?
“Not at all," he said with a smile. "How can I help?"
“Can you take a few of these?” Cindy lifted a hand to indicate the shopping bags hanging from it and her wrist. “I have a few more in the car too, but they can wait for now.”
Fraser let go of the door, keeping it propped open with one foot as he reached to take a heavy helping of the bags from her. "After you," he insisted.
Cindy beamed, and said, “Aren’t you sweet! Thank you!” She slipped past the boy and went through the door. She paused on the other side, waiting for him, and then fell into step beside him. “So, does my hero have a name?”
"Benton Fraser, miss," he answered.
Cindy let the handle of her bag slip to the crook of her arm. “And where are you from Benton Fraser?”
"Northwest Territories--up in Canada," he elaborated with a small smile.
“Ooh. How,” Cindy paused like she was trying to decide on a word, “cold. I’ve never been to that part of Canada. Only Montreal. The skiing was great, and it had surprisingly good après-ski.”
"It does tend to be a bit on the colder side," Fraser agreed amiably. "But it's beautiful. We moved a great deal when I was younger, but I admit we mostly stayed to the north. Are you from nearby?" He asked. His ear for dialect in the US sadly wasn't as broad yet.
Cindy nodded as she started up the stairs. “Manhattan. The Upper East Side,” she replied. “Have you ever been?”
"Shinobi-sempai has tried to acquaint me with Manhattan, although I admit I am generally lost without him. I'm still adjusting to the city."
“Oh, it’s easy,” Cindy said with a wave of her free hand. The corner of her mouth tugged with a smirk. “The Bronx is up, and the Battery is down, etcetera. You have to go with me sometime. Not that I doubt Shinobi’s skills as a guide, of course.”
Fraser smiled with some chagrin. "I'm afraid I'm not even sure what the battery is." As for her offer, Fraser was pleased by the suggestion, although a bit concerned that he wasn't the best travel companion. If truly she meant it, he wouldn't turn down the opportunity. "I am always happy to follow new guides. Fresh perspective is an excellent source. If you could tolerate a learning curve on my part."
“Of course. Isn’t part of traveling about learning about new places.” Cindy smiled with a wrinkle of her nose. “I think the curve’s implied. Besides,” she shrugged as she set a bag down outside the door to her room, “I’d expect you to tolerate a learning curve on my part if you ever gave me a tour of your home.”
"Oh, of course," Fraser agreed. He waited with the bags he was holding for her to open the door. It wasn't often he came to the girls' wing, but under the circumstance he figured it should be okay. "If you ever want to wander the northern wilderness one day, I'd be happy to give you a tour." The thought of his home came with a flash of memory of this winter past, and he shivered involuntarily. He gave Cindy a soft smile, trying to pull himself back into the present. It was difficult to stay anchored sometimes. He raised the bags. "Would you prefer I leave these out here?" Instead of wandering into a girls bedroom
Cindy shook her head, “Of course not! Come in. Lu isn’t here, but she wouldn’t mind if she was.” She set her bags down on the floor by her bed and gestured for Fraser to come in, offering out her hands to take her bags from him.
He entered her room and gave her the items. "You said there was more you needed help with?" he asked. "I can run out if you'd like."
“Aw, you’re so sweet!” Cindy said, reaching over to give Fraser’s hand a squeeze. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, I could get started on the unpacking.” She could have easily done it all on her own, but the Cindy people expected to see would have asked for help and, well, he had offered.
Fraser smiled bashfully. It wasn't that he didn't think she was capable, but if he could be helpful he would rather try. "I don't mind at all," he said. "I imagine it would be quicker with extra hands."
Cindy took out her keys and, smiling, offered them out to Fraser on a finger. “Then I’ll start unpacking! Don’t worry about the car. I’ll park it later.”
"Of course," Fraser said amenably. "I'll be back in a bit." He gave her one more small smile before heading out into the hall. It didn't seem strange to carry packages from someone's car for them. Not at all.
Cindy watched him go, then turned back to her multitude of bags. She started to unpack, sorting the clothes based on color and style and whether they’d hang in her closet or get put away in her bureau. She actually loved this part of shopping, taking everything out and putting it away, folding some, hanging the others... It was relaxing in its own way.
It was some time before Fraser came back. Without Cindy as an escort it was much stranger coming back to the girls dorms, but luckily he didn't run into anyone questioning his location. He considered and then knocked before opening the door. "This looked to be all," he said. "She's locked up out front."
“Thank you!” Cindy cheered and went over to take everything off of Fraser’s hands. “I really appreciate it. So, what do you do when you’re not helping ladies in need?” She set the bags down and started to unpack them.
"Oh," Fraser said, folding his hands behind his back now that he could be of no further use. "When not studying I'm mostly outdoors. I enjoy hiking, and riding. I believe I may have seen you leaving the stables." Though he'd never interrupted and introduced himself. "The friesian mare, am I correct that she arrived with you?"
Cindy lowered the new, just-bought shoes she had been re-admiring. “Yes, she did! Her name is Yue. Beautiful, isn’t she?” She smiled. “We should go riding some time.” She went riding all the time, but not with other people often enough.
"She's stunning," he agreed whole-heartedly. "And that would great, if you'd like."
“I’d love to,” Cindy replied. “We’ll have to make plans.”
Fraser smiled. He would never turn down the opportunity for companionship with another rider. He loved being on horseback, and it was relaxing having a friend to talk to. Also, Cindy's mare really was beautiful. Cindy... Was very beautiful also, but if he took too much notice of that he might find it more difficult to speak, and it wasn't polite to openly admire a woman the same way one might admire wild horses. Animals in nature didn't exactly care about opinions. People on the other hand wouldn't like to be stared at. Fraser realized he was quiet a beat longer than intended. "Absolutely," Fraser said. Looking for an excuse for his lapse he gestured to the pair of shoes Cindy had most recently unpacked. "Those are structurally really very interested. Very bold design, and imagine less difficult to walk in after some practice. Did you know that in the 17th century the color of ones heel identified a person's stature? For example in France only Members of King Louis XIV's court were allowed to wear red heels."
Cindy found herself smiling. Who would have thought the Canadian wilderness boy would be offering her facts on fashion history? Life was full of surprises. “Really?” she said. “That’s cool. I should keep that in mind for future designs. Something for the queen in all of us.”
Moving to her bed, Cindy sat on the edge of it to change into the new heels. She lifted a leg once she had, tilting her foot this way and that. Perfect. There really was nothing like a well-made shoe. “I’d offer to let you try them on, but I don’t think we’re the same size.”
That wasn't the least bit distracting. The... shoe... was very nice. Her last comment startled a laugh from Fraser. "I'm afraid not. In women's shoes I definitely take a larger size the last time I checked."
“And I have small feet to begin with.” Cindy sighed. “Oh, well. Mostly your loss. We’ll just have to find something in your size sometime.”
His lips quirked. "Something sturdy. I'm afraid my balance in a delicate heel is terrible. Impossible to run in."
Cindy smirked. “It does take skill,” she agreed. “We’ll just have to start you off on a nice wedge. Or maybe a bootie.”
"The lady knows best."
“I knew you were smart,” Cindy replied with a grin. “I might have to keep you around.”
Fraser smiled. "As you wish."
Fraser was on his way outside for a stroll when he noticed Cindy coming towards the doors, her arms laden with bags. He took a step back and reopened the door again for her, holding it wide. "Do you need a hand?" he asked.
Cindy smiled brightly, “Oh, hi!” She gave a little waggle of her fingers, the best she could wave with her arms full of the spoils of a good shopping spree. “I’d love one if you really wouldn’t mind.” She could manage on her own, but if someone was going to offer, why not?
“Not at all," he said with a smile. "How can I help?"
“Can you take a few of these?” Cindy lifted a hand to indicate the shopping bags hanging from it and her wrist. “I have a few more in the car too, but they can wait for now.”
Fraser let go of the door, keeping it propped open with one foot as he reached to take a heavy helping of the bags from her. "After you," he insisted.
Cindy beamed, and said, “Aren’t you sweet! Thank you!” She slipped past the boy and went through the door. She paused on the other side, waiting for him, and then fell into step beside him. “So, does my hero have a name?”
"Benton Fraser, miss," he answered.
Cindy let the handle of her bag slip to the crook of her arm. “And where are you from Benton Fraser?”
"Northwest Territories--up in Canada," he elaborated with a small smile.
“Ooh. How,” Cindy paused like she was trying to decide on a word, “cold. I’ve never been to that part of Canada. Only Montreal. The skiing was great, and it had surprisingly good après-ski.”
"It does tend to be a bit on the colder side," Fraser agreed amiably. "But it's beautiful. We moved a great deal when I was younger, but I admit we mostly stayed to the north. Are you from nearby?" He asked. His ear for dialect in the US sadly wasn't as broad yet.
Cindy nodded as she started up the stairs. “Manhattan. The Upper East Side,” she replied. “Have you ever been?”
"Shinobi-sempai has tried to acquaint me with Manhattan, although I admit I am generally lost without him. I'm still adjusting to the city."
“Oh, it’s easy,” Cindy said with a wave of her free hand. The corner of her mouth tugged with a smirk. “The Bronx is up, and the Battery is down, etcetera. You have to go with me sometime. Not that I doubt Shinobi’s skills as a guide, of course.”
Fraser smiled with some chagrin. "I'm afraid I'm not even sure what the battery is." As for her offer, Fraser was pleased by the suggestion, although a bit concerned that he wasn't the best travel companion. If truly she meant it, he wouldn't turn down the opportunity. "I am always happy to follow new guides. Fresh perspective is an excellent source. If you could tolerate a learning curve on my part."
“Of course. Isn’t part of traveling about learning about new places.” Cindy smiled with a wrinkle of her nose. “I think the curve’s implied. Besides,” she shrugged as she set a bag down outside the door to her room, “I’d expect you to tolerate a learning curve on my part if you ever gave me a tour of your home.”
"Oh, of course," Fraser agreed. He waited with the bags he was holding for her to open the door. It wasn't often he came to the girls' wing, but under the circumstance he figured it should be okay. "If you ever want to wander the northern wilderness one day, I'd be happy to give you a tour." The thought of his home came with a flash of memory of this winter past, and he shivered involuntarily. He gave Cindy a soft smile, trying to pull himself back into the present. It was difficult to stay anchored sometimes. He raised the bags. "Would you prefer I leave these out here?" Instead of wandering into a girls bedroom
Cindy shook her head, “Of course not! Come in. Lu isn’t here, but she wouldn’t mind if she was.” She set her bags down on the floor by her bed and gestured for Fraser to come in, offering out her hands to take her bags from him.
He entered her room and gave her the items. "You said there was more you needed help with?" he asked. "I can run out if you'd like."
“Aw, you’re so sweet!” Cindy said, reaching over to give Fraser’s hand a squeeze. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, I could get started on the unpacking.” She could have easily done it all on her own, but the Cindy people expected to see would have asked for help and, well, he had offered.
Fraser smiled bashfully. It wasn't that he didn't think she was capable, but if he could be helpful he would rather try. "I don't mind at all," he said. "I imagine it would be quicker with extra hands."
Cindy took out her keys and, smiling, offered them out to Fraser on a finger. “Then I’ll start unpacking! Don’t worry about the car. I’ll park it later.”
"Of course," Fraser said amenably. "I'll be back in a bit." He gave her one more small smile before heading out into the hall. It didn't seem strange to carry packages from someone's car for them. Not at all.
Cindy watched him go, then turned back to her multitude of bags. She started to unpack, sorting the clothes based on color and style and whether they’d hang in her closet or get put away in her bureau. She actually loved this part of shopping, taking everything out and putting it away, folding some, hanging the others... It was relaxing in its own way.
It was some time before Fraser came back. Without Cindy as an escort it was much stranger coming back to the girls dorms, but luckily he didn't run into anyone questioning his location. He considered and then knocked before opening the door. "This looked to be all," he said. "She's locked up out front."
“Thank you!” Cindy cheered and went over to take everything off of Fraser’s hands. “I really appreciate it. So, what do you do when you’re not helping ladies in need?” She set the bags down and started to unpack them.
"Oh," Fraser said, folding his hands behind his back now that he could be of no further use. "When not studying I'm mostly outdoors. I enjoy hiking, and riding. I believe I may have seen you leaving the stables." Though he'd never interrupted and introduced himself. "The friesian mare, am I correct that she arrived with you?"
Cindy lowered the new, just-bought shoes she had been re-admiring. “Yes, she did! Her name is Yue. Beautiful, isn’t she?” She smiled. “We should go riding some time.” She went riding all the time, but not with other people often enough.
"She's stunning," he agreed whole-heartedly. "And that would great, if you'd like."
“I’d love to,” Cindy replied. “We’ll have to make plans.”
Fraser smiled. He would never turn down the opportunity for companionship with another rider. He loved being on horseback, and it was relaxing having a friend to talk to. Also, Cindy's mare really was beautiful. Cindy... Was very beautiful also, but if he took too much notice of that he might find it more difficult to speak, and it wasn't polite to openly admire a woman the same way one might admire wild horses. Animals in nature didn't exactly care about opinions. People on the other hand wouldn't like to be stared at. Fraser realized he was quiet a beat longer than intended. "Absolutely," Fraser said. Looking for an excuse for his lapse he gestured to the pair of shoes Cindy had most recently unpacked. "Those are structurally really very interested. Very bold design, and imagine less difficult to walk in after some practice. Did you know that in the 17th century the color of ones heel identified a person's stature? For example in France only Members of King Louis XIV's court were allowed to wear red heels."
Cindy found herself smiling. Who would have thought the Canadian wilderness boy would be offering her facts on fashion history? Life was full of surprises. “Really?” she said. “That’s cool. I should keep that in mind for future designs. Something for the queen in all of us.”
Moving to her bed, Cindy sat on the edge of it to change into the new heels. She lifted a leg once she had, tilting her foot this way and that. Perfect. There really was nothing like a well-made shoe. “I’d offer to let you try them on, but I don’t think we’re the same size.”
That wasn't the least bit distracting. The... shoe... was very nice. Her last comment startled a laugh from Fraser. "I'm afraid not. In women's shoes I definitely take a larger size the last time I checked."
“And I have small feet to begin with.” Cindy sighed. “Oh, well. Mostly your loss. We’ll just have to find something in your size sometime.”
His lips quirked. "Something sturdy. I'm afraid my balance in a delicate heel is terrible. Impossible to run in."
Cindy smirked. “It does take skill,” she agreed. “We’ll just have to start you off on a nice wedge. Or maybe a bootie.”
"The lady knows best."
“I knew you were smart,” Cindy replied with a grin. “I might have to keep you around.”
Fraser smiled. "As you wish."
