Who: Bo Dennis and Faith Connors When: Last week in july sometime Where: Sidewalk What: Random Encounter Rating/Warning: Low/None, a little suggestive talk at the very end, but nothing major Status: Complete
Faith bolted over a wall, hitting the ground and rolling on the sidewalk. She sprang up and bolted down the street, glancing at the time on her watch. She cursed and ran faster, leaping over a bus stop bench and springing off of the trash can. The light ahead turned yellow and she sprinted across the intersection, jumped and scrambled up the side of a building and hauled herself up by a dangling part of the roof.
She dropped down on the other side, and leaned back against a fence to catch her breath. She looked at her watch again. “Two thirty. That’s better than last time.”
Bo had been walking, but stopped when a woman dropped down in front of her. She blinked a few times, then looked up at the roof. “Wow. You’re like Spider-Man.” She said, breaking into a grin. “Congrats on the better time.”
Faith grinned at the woman. “I can’t scale that well. Thanks. In my job, shaving off a few seconds here and there is the difference between making it and not.”
“What job is that?” Bo asked, curiously. Not the kind of job that she’d want to get into. She didn’t want to have the chance of, well, not making it.
“Courier service. I ferry small and large objects throughout the city and occasionally outside the city. I’m never late.” Faith grinned cockily, then held out her hand. “I’m Faith.”
“I’m Bo.” Bo said, then held out her hand to shake the other woman’s. She broke into a warm smile. “Never late, hmm? That’s an admirable quality. Do you just... advertise on Craigslist, or what?”
“Craigslist, Valarnet, my company has listings places too. There’s a lot of word of mouth.” She nodded at Bo, taking her hand back and stretching. “Never late.”
“I bet that’s a valuable commodity.” Bo was thinking about the kinds of things that people needed rushed to their destination, and why. She imagined that organs had to be moved quickly--though, they’d often be moved in ambulances, wouldn’t they?
“It is.” Faith never questioned just what she moved, as long as it wasn’t something that could hurt someone or make her sick. That was pretty much her only rule, even if she usually tried to stay law abiding. Trespassing on peoples’ rooftops notwithstanding. “I’ve delivered everything from a hamster to legal paperwork.”
“A hamster?” Bo asked, breaking into a grin. “Now that sounds like an interesting story.”
"The little jerk was a biter," Faith responded, her nose wrinkling up at the memory.
Bo laughed. “Where was he going?” She asked. “Where’d he come from?”
“Emergency delivery to some 3rd grade class,” Faith replied. “Picked him up at the mom’s house. She forgot to bring it back.” That had been a funny one.
“Wow. That seems like an expensive delivery. I mean, couldn’t the mom just pick him up herself?” She gave a little shrug. “Anyway, sounds like you’ve got an interesting job. Lots of fresh air and exercise...”
“Some mom’s think it’s worth the price -and have way too much money to spare. I’m happy to take advantage.” She winked at Bo, clasping her hands behind her back. “I love it. I know short cuts you wouldn’t believe.”
Bo chuckled. “A fool and her money,” she said, then nodded. “I’m still new to the area. I’d be a terrible … um... stuff runner.” As if that was the other woman’s official title.
“Spent a solid two months learning the lay of the land when I first came here, and even two years later I don’t know all the best places.” Faith smiled. “I think even after fifty I’ll still be learning.”
“Well, it’ll keep changing on you, too.” Bo said. “Not that I’m ever really around for long enough for things to change.” She wasn’t the type to put down roots.
“That’s the best part! It’s a job that’ll always keep me on my toes. I had a good teacher.” She thought of ‘Mercury’ and smiled again. She missed that man something hard core, but she hadn’t heard from him in months.
“Moved around a lot when I was younger, after my dad died. So I can get that.”
Bo nodded. “I’ve had something like fourteen mailing addresses in the last ten years.” She said. “It gets a bit tiring, but when it’s time to move, it’s time to move.”
“You win, but I don’t have any prizes to get you,” Faith replied, grinning. “Maybe a coupon for a mover.”
“I’d take a coupon.” Bo said, raising an eyebrow. There was a gentle smile on her features. “Or you can just use your imagination and come up with some other prize for me.” Flirt flirt.
“Some other reward?” Faith leaned against the fence and looked Bo up and down. “I can think of a few things. Dinner and Breakfast?”
“And a few things in between, I hope.” Bo said. She pulled out her cell phone to check the time. “It’s almost dinnertime now.”
“I think I’m in the mood for something spicy,” Faith said. She wasn’t sure what possessed her; she didn’t usually flirt with random strangers. But something about Bo made her want to.
“I know a great place for Curry. But it’s only to go.” Bo mentioned, suggestively.
“Lead on, Bo.” Faith rested a hand on Bo’s wrist.
Bo led the way down the street. Funny how she was showing the woman who delivered things locally for a living how to find a place, and she’d only just arrived here what... a couple weeks ago? But she liked it. She could feel warmth from the woman’s hand on her wrist.
The warmth from Faith’s hand migrated to the small of Bo’s back. She felt a slightly giddy excitement. It hadn’t been something she’d been seeking out, but it was a great way to end the day.