Chapter 5
Cassie
Varian could do it, he had to!
He was so close already...
There was no way he could flee.
He was only a few steps away...
Varian went to step and accidentally knocked a display of newspapers onto the ground, which alerted the person he was getting ready to confront for the first time.
"Who's there?!" Cassandra pulled out her sword and looked around with a glare.
Varian held his hands up with a bewildered expression on his face at the fact that the beautiful lady that he had kept his eye on, in-fact, had a sword. "Uh, hi!" Varian smiled brightly. Usually, if this was any other time, he'd probably be arrested because he was now out in the open.
But, Varian was prepared. He had drew a fake goatee on his chin, used a spare blanket he took from one of the clotheslines hanging from the buildings to make a jacket, he took a red rag that was covered in white-paint (because he had stole it from a painter painting a shop when it was being repainted one day) and made a bandana, he still wore his boots, pants and gloves though.
He would have wore his goggles, but he had lost them last week right before he had taken some sage for his alchemy. Cassandra didn't flinch, "What do you want from me?" She asked.
"I was...looking for...directions!" Varian was no longer prepared, mainly because between the fact that he was in front of his crush and his crush had a sword pointed at his neck. "Directions? I know everywhere around here, what do you need help getting to?" Cassandra finally put away the sword and crossed her arms, looking at Varian. "Well, I was...hoping for somewhere that had food or drinks." Varian suggested, since he had the silver and bronze pieces from Lady Caine.
"Right, how much are you wanting to spend? I can find somewhere around your preferred price range." Cassandra walked, beckoning Varian to follow. Varian staggered on his feet and then quickly walked after the lovely woman. "I have... 41 silver pieces and 15 bronze pieces." Varian counted, looking. "Alright, just follow me." Cassandra nodded.
Varian couldn't believe that it worked, he finally has officially met Cassandra for the first time... But, he couldn't pretend to be not-guilty forever...
Once they arrived, Varian opened the door for Cassandra, "Ladies first." Varian nodded and smiled, but Cassandra just coldly glared. She instead just pushed him inside (gently, thankfully) and then came into the shop. "Here we are, the best bakery in the Kingdom." Cassandra explained. "It's very nice, and warm." Varian looked around, the walls were made of wood, the floor had pretty designs carved into them, the curtains had bright color, but not to the point it would make your eyes instantly bleed from the holy horrible-horribleness.
"Yeah, I like to come here on my breaks." She noted.
"Oh, where do you work? If you don't mind me asking, of course..." Varian nodded softly. "I work as Princess Rapunzel's Lady-in-Waiting, and my dad's the Captain of the Royal Guards so I kind of have no choice." Cassandra said a bit proudly, yet somehow she sounded forlorn of having this duty. Varian's jaw dropped, he was standing next to a servant of the castle that had ties to the royal guards?! Okay, this was starting to sound like a bad idea.
"Have you ever had hot chocolate before? I recommend it. It's good here." Cassandra said, leaning on the counter and looking at Varian. "Uh, no I haven't! I think I'll get that..." He replied shyly.
Cassandra nodded in agreement and talked to the lady at the counter about their order, she also beckoned Varian to find a table to sit at while she was doing so.
Varian walked across the shop and sat at one of the tables. He tapped his hands on the table while he waited... Cassandra, lady-in-waiting... He couldn't believe it! No wonder she was able to talk to the guards that way, she's the daughter of the captain and a lady-in-waiting...
Cassandra sat down and put down two cups on the table, then slid one of them to Varian. "Here you go, I paid for it instead, feeling generous today." She said with a snicker. Varian didn't know how to respond, he had never had someone be nice and generous to him.
He was either being robbed by the alleyway kids, bargaining with troublesome criminals or stealing what wasn't his that others wouldn't give him.
He had to fight back tears in his eyes because he couldn't let Cassandra know that!
"Tha...Thank you." He smiled sadly. Cassandra took the handle of her cup, "Don't mention it." She blew on it and then proceeded to take a sip. Varian looked down at his cup, took it and blew on it like Cassandra did, then took a sip of it...
Varian's face lit up with excitement, it tasted like heaven, it's like someone took everything wonderful in the world and put it in a cup.
"This is... very good." Varian smiled brightly, his bucktooth showing. "I'm glad you like it." She smiled back, thought it was very small because she just didn't smile like that. Varian continued drinking his hot chocolate and Cassandra did so with hers' as well.
Afterwards, once Varian and Cassandra had left. "Thank you again, for... everything. The directions, the paying, the hot chocolate." Varian was blushing as he said this. "Hey, I thought I told you not to mention it? But, you're welcome again." Cassandra laughed.
Cassandra looked up at the sky, then looked down at the shadows, telling time by using a technique that was kind of like a sundial. "I should get going, I'm sure Raps is waiting for me, and that's bad, because I'm the one who should be waiting, not her." Cassandra winked at the attempt of her making a joke, though her voice made it sound nothing like a joke.
Varian shook his head, no longer blushing. "Oh, okay. Goodbye, I had fun today..."
"I did too." Cassandra went to walk off, "Wait, what's your name?" Cassandra paused.
"I'm Varian." Varian smiled. "Nice. I'm Cassandra." She added.
"Also..." Cassandra walked up to Varian.
She put her thumb on Varian's chin and rubbed off the fake goatee. "H-Hey!" Varian was startled by this. "The fake goatee looks silly." Cassandra smirked and then walked off.
Varian wasn't sure if he was supposed to be grumpy or laugh, so he just had this awkward look on his face that looked like he had just seen something very embarrassing, and to be fair, he did, and that was himself with a fake goatee that apparently looked silly.
Ruddiger chattered in the alleyway, which caused Varian to look behind him. "Oh, Ruddiger! I had the most fun ever today!" Varian followed him into the alleyway, rambling on about what happened, even if the raccoon didn't care and just wanted to know where Varian kept food at...
