When Fern and Tilian seperated from the group, ten of Ironwood's men came along with them. Though they seemed to be all serious and stoic while they were at the docks, once the group got a bit into the forest, they started to relax a bit more and talk among themselves, joking and laughing occasionally. Fern was kind of relieved about this, considering she expected them to be observing her and Tilian and how they acted or something like that. Knowing they were just going to do their own thing while they traveled made the walk seem like less of a drag.
They stuck to one of the few main roads that cut through the island, they were protected by some rather low quality electric fences that were probably used to keep the Grimm from crossing the main roads. They had headed straight for a while, but once they reached a fork in the road and saw a sign that indicated which direction to head in to get to Sutton, they went that way. For the most part, Fern had been quiet the entire time, just keeping her eyes and ears on her surroundings. To say she was feeling uptight would be an understatement.
Tilian had been relaxed this entire time. He never got why Fern was always on high alert on a mission. Since the Grimm never went for a stealthy aproach. And even though it was nice for someone to be sentry. The thing was that she had been silent the entire time. Which had been somewhat awkward. At first Tilian just ignored it. Then het got bored. Then he got agitated. And then he decided to break the ice.
" So how has your vaction been?"He said.
The sound of Tilian's voice made Fern visibly jump in fright. She turned towards him and threw a glare his way.
"Come on, don't scare me like that." she said, pouting as she crossed her arms.
"And you would know how it was if you would have answered my calls or replied to my messages, but noooo... apparently you're too cool to talk to me. Jerk." she said, rolling her eyes and looking ahead again.
A few moments of silence passed and Fern sighed, thinking that was a bit.... meaner than she's wanted it to be. She frowned again and rubbed her arm and said,
"Sorry, I didn't mean that."Tilian rolled his eyes as she rambeld on, yet he stopped walking when she actually apologized. He looked at her with a face of actual concern and said.
" Who are you and what did you do to Fern?""Do you wan't to die?" Fern asked him, stopping in her walking as well. She turned to look at him and smiled.
"Is that better?"Tilian got a smile on his face as he gave Fern gave thumbs up.
"See? Thats the Fern I hate and love. But seriously we have been walking for hours and you never even told me the briefing." He then started walking again.
"But how has life been for you? Sorry for not being able to respond all the time. I was just being busy with buissnes."Fern was unsure if he was implying that she can't be nice or something, but decided to disregard it. She would restrain herself from causing any physical harm to him in front of others, but she could save it for another time. When he mentioned not being briefed yet, Fern facepalmed herself for forgetting. She was about to tell him the plan but he continued on talking, asking about how she's been. It kind of threw her off for a second.
"Uh... I've been fine I suppose. Sapphire's been keeping me company while Rust sleeps all day and you are busy... doing 'business'. I forgot you were a full-time delinquent." she said sarcastically as she started walking after him. She looked around for the few soldiers that were with them and they were just some few paces behind them, talking quietly amongst themselves.
Tilian gasped dramaticly.
"How dare you accuse me of being a thief. Let me tell you that I am everything but a thief. I am just a buissnes man who deals in certain... products. And before you ask. No I do not deal in drugs. Because drugs are bad." This was actually true as the control on drugs in vale where pretty hard. Making drug smuggling very dangerous.
Fern just rolled her eyes.
"Riiiight, of course, how could I confuse you with a delinquent? I'm sure everything you do is within the parameters of the law." she said, her tone thick with sarcasm.
"Hey I need to make a living too. Plus i have a lot of connections that i can't leave. It would cause problems if i did.""Oh no, I'm not denying that. I couldn't care less what you do on your own time. Just know, that your shit better not come back to but the team in the ass. We have a reputation of professionalism to uphold." Fern said, pausing afterwards.
"Also... Do you happen to know anyone who does nails? I seriously need a manicure."Tilian raised an eyevrow at the last question.
"You can relax. I already made sure they don't screw with me on Beacon. Plus it's not like they will try to grab me or anything. At least I eh... hope not." Tilian realized that he had forgotten to drop the money off. This send him into a small almost not noticeable panic.
"And yeah i got a couple of people i know who can do manicures. Don't ask me how I know them I just do."Fern noticed the slight change in expression on his face but was unsure what he was thinking about.
"Right... well, when we're done here, remind me to ask you for that contact. My nails have seriously been suffering." she told him.
"But uh... you know you can't trust everyone, right? Just be careful. And if you ever need any help... with anything, you can ask me. The worst I'll do is skin you alive." she told him with a smirk.
Tilian laughed a nervous laugh. Somewhere in his rotten heart he kind of felt worried about getting Fern into his world.
"I appreciate the offer but since you want to skin me alive I think I'm gonna go with no. Besides, they never ever tried to screw with me. Apparently someone having a flying weapon tends to scare people of for some weird reason."Fern nodded.
"Yeah... I can see that." she said shrugging.
"Well, my offer still stands. I want to be the one to kill you at the end of the day." she teased, placing a hand on her hip.
"Not... someone else."" Why? Do you hate me so much you can't give someone else the pleasure of killing me? Because I am flatterd if that's the case.""I'm sure there's no greater pleasure than being the one to wipe that smug little grin off your face." she said, reaching out to pinch one of his cheeks.
"Why would I ever give that up?"" Because you love me? He said in a very sarcastic and high tone.
"Exactly." she said sarcastically, releasing her friend's cheek. She opened her scroll, checking the map to make sure they were going the right way. It was odd and also a relif that they hadn't encountered any Grimm along the way thus far, but it was equally as odd that no one was walking along this main road like they were. By this time it was already late in the day and the sun was starting to slowly make its way down. Despite this, there was not a single living creature walking with them along the road. It seemed... unnatural.
Fern took a deep breath in through her nose, the smells of the forest around them calmed her some and she was able to relax.
Tilian saw Fern relax somewhat and decided to ask the less fun questions.
" So eh, about Sapphire since you know her and all. How long will it take before she calms the fuck down? Because seriously she is still on about it."Honestly, she has a right to be. I mean... you know how she is." Fern said with a shrug. She remembered the... recent news she'd gotten from her faunus friend earlier and a frown of worry came onto her face.
"But, I would say she's... moved on."Tilian sighed frustratingly.
" If she had moved on, she wouldn't be looking like she wanted to stab me in the face. And I know how she is. Very bloody annoying." Tilian bit on his lip for he knew that Fern and Saphire were best friends. Which was weird considering the two barely looked alike.
"No offense Fern, I just found her to be so horribly dramatic from the begging.Fern sighed and rubbed the back of her head.
"Well, we all have our flaws you know. I'm violent and clingy, Rust is lazy, Sapphire is whiny... but, you're certainly not the easiest person to get along with either." she said, giving him a sharp look.
"It's a shame actually. It really is. We've been together for a year now and we may be strong, but that hardly means anything if we can't stand being around each other."Tilian sighed because what he was about to say would sound really wrong in Fern's ears.
"Well Fern you are the less worst of them all. I mean your still a bitch sometimes but you have my somewhat respect. And yes I know i'm horrible as well. But i have my reasons for that." "We all have our reasons for being how we are. Honestly, I love you guys. I wouldn't send you so many messages and calls and I wouldn't cling to Rust and be best friends with Sapphire if I didn't. The thing is... I'm so happy that I finally have friends, that I can look past all the shit you guys pull and see you three are all pretty great." She rubbed her arm as she blushed in embarassment.
Tilian shook his head.And looked down on the ground.
" Fern if you knew the the shit I pulled you wouldn't want me to be in your eye sight." He then laughed as he saw Fern blushing.
"Are you actually blushing right now? Becuse if so i belief i just wittnessed a miracle."Hey, shut it." she said, pulling some of her hair forward to hide her face.
"Let's just pick up the pace." she told him, going into a speed walk.
" But of course my Ice queen."If you're going to call me something, make it Flower Princess or something like that." she told him, her voice indicating she was probably pouting.
" Sure whatever you wish flowerpot.