(Untitled)

[irish_bombshell]

Who: Fiona and OPEN
What: In search of her possible job
Where: Around town.
When: Day 50

When Fiona woke up that morning, she was still uncertain as to what she was supposed to do with the

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[csi_eric_delko]

Town Maintenance. Eric had no idea what kind of insanity his head had concocted. He was having drinks and chilling in the single scene one second, facing some crazy middle age man the next.

Someone must've drugged him. Only, he wasn't feeling drugged. Just when Eric had enough of being told he was some kind of character created by the strange man and planned on storming out of the room, Gregory West sent him on his way with his tape, journal and key.

Eric walked the town until he found his address. Oddly enough, the clothes he was suddenly in weren't a far cry from his real wardrobe. It wasn't until he was in his room that he saw the Town Maintenance coveralls.

West's instructions repeated in his head. Eric finally donned the outfit, changing out of his nice wingtips for the pair of plain black leather work shoes. He decided to play along and see where the day might take him. It might be a good change from Miami.

He spotted a feminine figure. Not a bad start. Eric kept his hands in his pockets--one hand held his key, the other held his envelope with tape inside. It was a friendly approach where he stopped walking a few feet from the woman.

"Any idea what Town Maintenance does? I'm new here. Didn't really get any instructions..." More like you weren't really listening to them. "...Name's Eric. Though guess you can read that off my name badge." He pulled his right hand from his pocket and held it out.

[irish_bombshell]

Fiona was startled from her thoughts by a voice she'd never heard before. Not that that was really surprising, seeing as she hadn't met most of the patrons of Peaksville, but it still put her on her guard. Trying to appear pleasant and casual, she turned towards the voice and found a very nice looking man. Her smile became a bit easier. She still had no idea who he was, but it couldn't hurt to flirt.

"Town Maintenance? Hmm, well, I'd guess something like making sure there's not graffiti in the park and things like that, but I'm really just guessing." She put on her best innocent smile (which was pretty damn good) and kept her eyes open. It was hard to tell on first glance who around here was like her, and who worked for West.

"Don't suppose you've seen any flower shops around? Or any flowers at all? I'm still trying to figure out what my job is. Oh, and I'm Fiona, by the way. Nice to meet you Eric." She smiled again, notching up the flirtation. She often found it was easier to read a man when they were distracted by female prowess.

[csi_eric_delko]

She was attractive physically as well as how she carried herself. In fact, her flirting was very well controlled and he couldn't help but think of Calleigh. But the likelihood that the woman in front of him knew anything about ballistics and enjoyed firearms to the extent that the southern belle did... Eric needed to stay away from crazy.

Flowers. Nothing he really knew much about. Neither did he know anything about removing graffiti--was there even graffiti at this day and age? The coveralls were comfortable enough. He would walk around and try to figure this place out. "Well, if there's a park then it's gotta have flowers. Guess we can both take a look."

His eyes had openly roamed over Fiona but refrained from staying at an inappropriate location on her body and finally locked on her eyes. There was no wedding band. She seemed interested. Suddenly this entire experience didn't seem so bad. "And the pleasure is all mine," he ended, holding her hand a little longer than he probably should have. 

[irish_bombshell]

Fiona narrowly kept herself from smirking as Eric obviously checked her out. She definitely wasn't getting a creepy, works for West kind of vibe off of this guy, and really Fiona liked to think that she was pretty good at reading people. She wasn't about to let her guard down yet, but at this point Eric seemed a bit more like a player than creepy weirdo from Peaksville.

With a casual smile, she nodded. "Sure, sounds like as good a place to start as any. Honestly, I'm still kinda hoping for a flower shop. The weather here is too unpredictable for me to want to work outside all the time."

"I've come across two parks here. Well, if you count the trees in the town square as a park. There's another one further into town that has a playground. Maybe the swings need fixing." She shrugged and gave him a bit more of a flirtatious smile before turning and walking confidently towards the park she'd once taken Anthony to.

[csi_eric_delko]

"If it's any consolation, you look more the florist than a landscaper." His words were as flirty as the way his eyes followed her. Eric slid the hand that shook hers into his pocket. Both made a quick check of the items that he pocketed before leaving his room. Fiona was a field day for his senses. Sight, scent and sound. He kept a swagger along her stride though his glances were borderline indecent. Hey, couldn't blame him for trying with her responses so far.

"Shame though. If you are the florist then it's going to make it really hard for me to buy you flowers," he concluded with a grin. His eyes avoided hers at the punch line. Eric was a flirt but he wasn't a shameful one. Not unless he really knew the object of his affection. His fiendish grin was kept for those moments. Now, he averted his gaze and looked slightly bashful after the line. The smile, however, remained fixed on his lips.

[irish_bombshell]

"Why thank you Eric," Fiona said with a smile and a flirtatious bat of her eyelashes. It was a move she often used when she was trying to get a man's attention, mostly when she was either trying to get Michael's attention or when she was doing it for a job. She honestly didn't know why she was doing it now, but it was fun and not really hurting anyone.

Oh, and wasn't this one pulling out all the stops! She decided then to have a little more fun with him. "Oh you!" she said, giggling slightly and gently pushing at his shoulder. "Don't you know it's diamonds that are a girls best friend?" She was just kidding of course. Well, sort of. She really did love diamonds, but she didn't actually mean he should get her one.

[csi_eric_delko]

The oddity of Peaksville was falling quickly to the back of his mind as he walked with Fiona. He wasn't a cop. It wasn't Miami. The weather was perfect. His former (shit) life was all left behind and he could walk easily with a pretty woman. So be it if he had to fix a swing, paint a wall or change out the bulb on a street light. This wasn't such a bad dream.

He strutted alongside the beautiful flirting woman as she encouraged his flirting. "Oh I know. But considering my current occupation, I've gotta be realistic. In fact, I might have to pick you flowers and make you dinner if you'd consider going out with me. I can throw in some handyman work at your place too. Any of that work for you?"

Eric couldn't wipe the smile off his lips if he tried. He didn't. He felt like he was back in the saddle again. Even if Fiona was simply toying with him. It was fun. Light. Nothing followed him to Peaksville. Not his family history, work history or personal history. He didn't have to second guess anything or anyone. He didn't need to check over his shoulder. Not a bad dream at all.

[irish_bombshell]

Fiona let out an honest laugh. She liked this one. Funny, handsome and seemingly a romantic. She still had her heart set on Michael, of course, but she'd been chasing him for years and sometimes it was tiring. It was partially why she'd liked Jesse. It had been nice to have a man know her and like her for her without being so damaged that he stayed away almost completely. It was hard when you love someone and they keep giving you a taste and then taking it all away.

This, though, this was fun. She had a good-looking guy flirting with her and she hadn't lied or covered anything up that could potentially blow up in her face in the long run and have him wanting to take her and her friends out.

This was easy and she wasn't keen to have it end.

"Okay, well you got me there. Can't go spending all your money on a girl, I guess," she said, rolling her eyes and pretending that that's exactly what men should be doing. Fiona wasn't cheap, she had expensive tastes, but has always been fully capable of taking care of herself. "I'm good for the handywork, but I think we might have a deal with dinner and flowers. Unless, of course, I am working in a flower shop. Then I think they might lose some of their appeal and I'll just have to stick with dinner."

[csi_eric_delko]

"Yeah, but I picked mine. So what, they're more than likely, weeds? Isn't it the thought that counts?" Eric snickered at his own terrible joke. He wasn't exactly sure if Fiona was serious or teasing when she had been sarcastic about a man spending money. It didn't matter. His feelings wouldn't be hurt if he wasn't her cup of tea. If he was, great!

Peaksville was surreal. There was a stillness. Some things felt very real while ...Eric couldn't put his finger on it. Something was off about this place. Well, past the weirdo telling him that he was just a figment of his imagination.

None of that stood in his mind very long. Right now it was the flirty woman who was probably out of his league but he'd have as much fun as he could. "You know what? Don't answer that. I'm just gonna go with you agreeing to dinner. I'll have to figure out how else to surprise you if you're sick of flowers. I'm pretty creative."

Eric kept his teasing--borderline laughing at himself--grin. He walked easily at her side with his hands sitting in the side pockets of his coveralls.

[irish_bombshell]

Fiona let out an honest laugh at Eric's little speech on picking flowers meaning more. It was odd. She really didn't honestly laugh a whole lot. She was often content, and amused, but just letting out a laugh that wasn't put on to help sell a disguise wasn't something she typically did. She was definitely going to have to keep in touch with his guy, no matter what.

"Well, I'm not sick of flowers yet, seeing as I haven't even started my job, so yes, the thought still counts. Just make sure you get them quick, before the site of them puts me off."

The conversation slowed for a moment after that as Fiona started taking a closer look at the shops they were passing. She really did need to figure out what she was supposed to be doing. She really wasn't keen on obeying West, but she knew she had to keep a low profile if she and Michael were going to be able to work on a plan to get them out of their while flying below the radar.

"So, Eric," she started casually. "Where are you from? What did you do before? You know, all that typical getting to know you chit chat type of stuff."

[csi_eric_delko]

She asked where he was from and what he did before. Eric had been content forgetting all of that. He felt foolish for thinking he could escape his past. However, a hint of a smile remained on his lips. He didn't want to change his countenance drastically. His past wasn't completely terrible. He could brag about his accomplishments.

To coincide with their playful exchange, he bent over and picked up a dandelion as they walked--handing it to Fiona as he started to answer her request for small talk. "Miami. I've done quite a few things. The last, I returned to being a CSI. How about you?" he asked, returning his hands back into his pockets.

[irish_bombshell]

Fiona took the dandelion with an honest smile. If this guy didn't have a girlfriend back home, she would be surprised. He really had the nice and romantic thing down. Most guys came off as creepy dirtbags that she'd rather blow away. It was a refreshing change.

"Miami? Really? That's where I was living too," she replied, honestly surprised. Actually, she was more surprised that she hadn't run into him, or some other CSI types, considering what she, Michael and Sam got up to most of the time. Then again, they were all pretty good at covering their tracks and staying away from the scene. Fi wouldn't be surprised if Eric had investigated some of their operations though.

[csi_eric_delko]

His neck stretched to a side as he cantered his head in surprise at her reply. "Yeah?" he asked through a grin. "Small world." Eric returned to a normal countenance with his lips still tugged in a smile that transitioned into a smirk as he continued. "Is that what this place is? A collection of Miami's finest natives?"

While there was a tease at his final question, Eric was mostly serious. Fiona was fine and he had no understanding of Peaksville. He hoped she gave him some insight. And if he won some romantic points in the process, so be it. She was easy on the eyes and captured his attention.

[irish_bombshell]

Fiona smirked as she thought if Eric was right about Peaksville only being for Miami's finest, that meant that Sam was left out. It was only amusing for a second though because really, who wanted to be trapped here? Even if she could think of (and had experienced) far worse situations, she still didn't like the idea that she couldn't leave whenever she wanted. She was starting to realize part of why Michael had been so desperate to clear his name. It didn't matter how much you may like a place, if you couldn't leave, it felt constraining.

"No, I don't think so. I've heard there are people from all over here. I heard one girl is all the way from England," she said, a matter-of-factly.

[csi_eric_delko]

"Is that right?" he commented to acknowledge Fiona--not actually asking a question. "You're the first person I stopped to talk to after getting dismissed by West. Lucky me."

Eric grinned in the same flirty way he had earlier. He continued to walk with his hands in the pockets of his coveralls. Peaksville had a creepy feeling to it yet he couldn't help thinking how things could be much worse.

"So how about you? What'd you do in Miami? Leave anyone special behind?" He went from what she did to who she did. Hey, these things were important when getting one's mack on.

[irish_bombshell]

"Indeed, you are very lucky," Fi laughed and tossed her hair over her shoulder, going right back into flirt mode. It was fun, and well, she was getting more of a reaction than she got out of Michael. Hey, a girl has needs, right?

Fiona paused when Eric turned the question around on her. Somehow she doubted telling him the absolute truth was a good plan. Really, all this stealth and spying stuff was exhausting. No wonder Michael was always stressed. She much preferred being more direct, but until she got a handle on this place, she was going to have to try and be more careful.

"I guess you could say I did freelance work, trying to help out the common man," she said, trying to act casual (though this really isn't her strong point). "And the one person I thought I'd left behind ended up being here."