The hard cobblestone street is cold beneath their feet, as Andromeda has her hair done up off of her neck, and Cressida’s auburn-copper hair whips around in the frost-bitten wind. The pair walk in silence, only the occasional cleared throat or cough to remind the other that they weren’t alone. Andromeda, for the most part, keeps her eyes trained to the ground, watching her own feet move among the iced over, snow-covered ground. It isn’t until she looks over at her older sister beside her, that she realizes that her gloves are worn through in the fingers. Practically useless. She stays silent about it though - they both do. The closer they get to the heart of the town, the warmer it starts to become, and the louder it grows.
Andromeda slips a hand into the coat pocket that holds the bag of coins, still standing beside Cressida. Just as she notices the fabric vendor has a few extra pairs of gloves for the season, so does just about everyone else, and the pair is nearly knocked to the ground as everyone near them push past them to get into line. Cressida grabs a hold of Andromeda’s arm, helping to keep the two of them together and to stop her from falling.
Without another word, Cressa holds a hand out to her younger sister, bending her fingers to gesture for her to give her the money bag. Andromeda remains close to her sister after placing the bag in her open palm. Cressida walks off away from Andromeda, letting her know that she’ll be right back to reassure her. She can see her sister milling about the other vendors as she walks up the rest of the way toward one of the fruit stalls. Well, not just any fruit stall. Cressa glances around her, searching for one, in particular, the strawberry stand. Where Aaliyah stands every weekend, usually with her aunt, sometimes completely alone, and Cressa is hoping for the latter.
She sees the stand, but no one tending to it whatsoever, and she can’t help but begin to fear the worst. Until she catches a glimpse of caramel brown hair just below the top of the stall, a young woman bent over, trying to pull boxes full of ripening strawberries out from underneath the countertop of her stall. Cressa drops the bag of coins onto the tabletop, somewhat patiently waiting while gently tapping a foot against the cobblestone below.
“I’m sorry, I’ll be right with you!” Aaliyah’s honeyed voice soothes over Cressa’s ears, such a reassuring sound that makes her smile - even if she doesn’t want to. Even her soft feminine grunts as she tries to get up without hitting her head, and without falling, are precious. As is common for the young woman, she is so beautiful, worth obsessing, daydreaming, and loosing sanity over. Her sun darkened skin glints in the sun, with her slightly darker hair gently sitting against her shoulders, a few tendrils curling and plastered to her forehead and temples.
Aaliyah has yet to realize that the patron in front of her is Cressa until she clears her throat. The other woman glances up for a moment, then looks back down at her full basket of fruits, and then the image of Cressa before her finally registers. She lifts her head once more, face lighting up, the pointed tips of her ears turning a bright red, as she lifts the ledge into the stall, inviting Cressida in. She humors Aaliyah, and lets her glance around, making sure no one is watching before she brings a hand to her jaw, pressing her lips to Aaliyah’s, quickly grabbing the coin purse off the counter so that no passerby can simply grab it, assuming it’s unattended.
Without a single gesture, Aaliyah’s lips part so that Cressida can take the lead and deepen their kiss, kissing her as if she might never see her again, as if she hadn’t seen her in months. Which was true. They don’t pull apart until one of them nearly trips over a chair leg in the back of the stall.
“I heard about your mother,” Aaliyah starts, pulling up two chairs from under the storage area of her vendor, making Cressa sit. Cressida can’t help but be distracted by her soft plump lips a few feet away from her, even though the gorgeous girl is offering her condolences, begging to helpe them. “How are you feeling? Do you or your sisters need any help? Is there anything I can do at all? I can bring fresh fruits and bread by tomorrow-”
Cressa cuts her off gently, realizing where she’s trying to go with her series of favorable questions, and quickly leans forward, palms flat against Aaliyah’s knees as she moves closer - kissing the corner of her mouth. Before Aaliyah can let the cup of tea slip from her dainty hands, Cressa takes the steaming mug of liquid from her sun-kissed hands so that she is unable to drop it in favor of lacing her fingers through Cressida’s auburn curls, rather simply being able to just bring her hands into Cressa’s hair, no tea problems in sight.
“We’re fine. There’s just a surprising amount of loose ends that we need to tie up before any relaxation can happen, and Eleanor is supposed to arrive soon.” As soon as tomorrow even. Cressida doesn’t dare linger on her thoughts, rather - her fears, knowing that Aaliyah will quickly pick up on them if she isn’t careful.
“That bitch is coming back after the funeral?” Cressida can’t help but laugh at the innocent-looking woman as the vulgar language leaves her mouth. Yet, she also agrees with every word hanging in the air. “Don’t laugh, I’m serious! She left you all to deal with the hard shit, but then once everything is calming down, she returns? What reason could she possibly have to return?” Cressida shrugs.
“I adore your enthusiasm, thank you, Aaliyah,” she responds, picking up the ug she poured for her and taking a small sip to test the heat and the strength of the taste. Perfect as always. Cressida can’t help but smile softly to herself, as Aaliyah quickly jumps up as a knock is heard against the counter of the stall. Time begins to slip away from her, fast enough that she forgets that she didn’t come alone.
***
Andromeda walks from stall to stall, a handful of loose coins in her closed fist which resides in her pocket. She has one bag full of fruits and vegetables, some breads and dairy products, yet she still hasn’t been able to make it back over to get her sister the gloves she knew she would like, that at the very least would keep her fingertips much warmer than they were being kept at the moment. Kicking up a small bit of melting snow, Andromeda begins to walk over to the strawberry stand, where she is aware that Cressida will most likely be.
“Aaliyah?” She calls out, leaning her head into the stall. She watches as the girl in question’s eyebrows shoot upwards, before collecting herself and walking to the front desk, and having me sign my name. Then she turns her head over her shoulder, calling out to someone in the far back of the stall.
“Cressa, Dromeda is here!” Aaliyah’s sweet voice calls from the front of the stall, gesturing for her to hurry over to them, and she does, pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek as she does so, promising to see her the next time they’re in town. Cressida tries to ignore Andromeda’s open mouth, gaping at her, for the gall to kiss Aaliyah right in front of her.
***
“What was that about?” Andromeda asks as they walk not-so-silently back home. Cressida can feel her heart in her throat, hoping she wouldn’t have to deal with more issues while they have yet to figure out their pre-existing family drama with their beloved aunt.
“That was nothing, she was just an old friend, Aaliyah,” Cressida quickly insists, as Andromeda slows their pace down.
“I’m not going to judge you if you’re in love with her, Cressa,” she insists, a hand on her shoulder.
“Well that’s not something you have to worry about, now, is it? Because I’m not.” Andromeda looks like she’s about to open her mouth to argue with her sister, but upon second thoughts appears to know better, and closes her mouth promptly, returning her focus to the street in front of them. She is aware that they have exponentially worse problems to worry about, all three of them, not just Andromeda, nor her and Aaliyah. She knows that is what she has to focus on right now, so she refuses to admit it right now. Maybe someday. Perhaps even someday soon.
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