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The Kurt Vile mural had seen better days. The parking lot it lorded over was currently empty, save for a seemingly abandoned car that judging from the flat tires had been there for some time. Anthony, all almost six feet of him, was standing with his hands in the pockets of his burgundy velour tracksuit, bent back at the waist, staring at the wall and its art. The look of judgement was intense, like a very intense judge considering a case.
"s'pretty cool, yeah," comes a voice from behind anton, and perhaps a bit above. should he look he sees a small-framed young adult, almost plain-looking wearing jeans, a slightly over-sized t-shirt, worn running shoes, and sunglasses despite the dark night sky. they're sitting on the wall on the opposite side of the parking lot as the mural, and in their hand is a sealed manila envelope. they kick their feet against the wall a bit, filling the air with the soft sound of shoe-on-concrete, "i like the snowflake. snowflakes are cool."
Anthony's posture didn't change, but he did turn his head to look over his shoulder at the source of the voice. "Why snowflakes?" he asked. His voice fit in perfectly with the city, marking him as someone who grew up there, even if he technically was not. After he asked his question, Anthony's eyes narrowed a bit as he took a better look at the speaker.
"'cause they're cool," they repeat, more emphasis on the last word. the quirk of their lips seems to suggest that they are making a joke they find funny.
His eyes narrowed even more, before Anthony's face widened in a smile. Woof, it was a terrible smile- enough to make babies cry. "Oh, that was pretty good," he told them, before finally turning around to present himself. He dusted off his tracksuit, even though he wasn't dirty, and sauntered towards the wall sitter, combat boots clomping each step. "Snowflakes are transitory though. Individually insignificant...but....you get enough of them together, and they'll fuck up traffic. Among other things." He stopped about ten feet from the wall Andy was sitting on, and jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the mural. "You know that's not the original, right?"
they side-eye him a moment, before shrugging, "i mean, i wouldn't be surprised. don't know much 'bout the history, though. just that it's a mural."
"and it sure is, alright."
"Yeah, apparently some asshole white washed the whole wall like six years ago," Anthony informed the wall sitter with a frown. "Really..who does that? Destroy art. " He exhaled through his lips and then tried another smile. "I get the feeling you aren't here to shoot the breeze about that wall."
"gross," they stick their tongue out a bit, before shaking their head and waving the envelope, "i gotta letter here, an' you fit the description i've been lookin' for. anton ruru..... ruri..... ratatoulle?"
they may or may not be messing around. about the pronunciation, at least.
"Rurikid," Anton corrected almost automatically, his old Russian accent shining through. The smile disappeared and his face fell flat and bored, but he did appear to be giving a second assessment of the would be courier.
"ye, that," the letter is half-tossed and half-dropped towards him, "an' before y'ask, no i don't know what's in it or who really sent it. i didn't look, that's not the kinda trouble i like to get into."
....
"eh. usually."
The tall scarecrow in burgundy moved with startling alacrity to snag the letter out of the air, returning to his spot exactly ten feet away from the courier. Anthony looked it over, and glanced over its edged to the wall sitter. "What now, do I tip yah?"
"i mean, i'm not gonna say no to a tip," andy flashes a grin as they stand, taking their time. their height, even on the wall, is still not impressive, "gotta get whatever we can, right?"
sevensided (Anthony)Today at 8:49 PM
He pulled a twenty from his pocket, and after stuffing the manila envelope into the track suit top, Anthony started folding it into a tiny airplane. "How did you find me....I'm not exactly listed in the yellow pages. Or on facebook. Hell, I don't even think Google Maps has me..."
They shrug with one shoulder, "i had some help. don't worry, it wasn't easy." not for them, at least!
The paper money airplane was almost done- Anthony was spending extra effort on getting the wings just right. "You think you could do it again? And again?"
"i mean. not me personally, not without help?" they're frowning now, watching him uncertainly.
"Huh." Anthony folded in the nose of the plane. "But this resource is one you could..conceivably tap...again. You know, to make a delivery to some unknown..." ((I mean, not anymore than someone is usually around a vampire. Yet))
they lean away from him, frown deepening, "potentially, i guess. if i needed to make a delivery to someone i can't like. find normally. i'm just a courier."
He launched the 20 dollar bill through the air towards Andy. "Well hell's bells. Test passed, I guess," Anthony finally said.
andy catches the 20, still frowning and looking uneasy, "test?"
Anthony grinned wide. "Yeah, who the heck do you think would send a letter to someone named Anton Rurikid?" he asked with a laugh. "I could use a reliable runner - not often mind you- but enough that finding someone with the skills was necessary."
"uh," blink, "i mean yeah i guess. that don't sound too bad."
"You gotta name, kid?" The question asked as he fished in his pocket again.
"y'can call me Laika."
Anthony's bushy eyebrows rose. "Laika? Like the space dog?" he asked, hints of Russian popping back in his voice.
their voice gets a soft, deep sadness as they say, "Laika diamond in the sky. Yes."
"I'm not one to harp on destiny or fate, but that's oddly...nevermind." He waved off the thought, and found what he was looking for, pulling out a cheap grocery store bought phone. Anthony held it up for a moment, then tossed this to Andy.
the phone is caught easily enough and they tilt their head at it curiously, "do you want me to add a number, or is this for me to keep?"
"Keep it. I have the number. If I have need of a delivery, I give you a ring. Easy peasey, right?"
"easy peasey," they repeat, not 100% thinking it's all gonna be easy peasey. they tuck the phone away, "if i can't do it, i'll say no." that seems to have a fair warning sort of vibe to it, the enforcing of a boundary.
The Kindred raised both his hands, trying to shoo away her concerns. "Hey, no problem. I'm probably the worst thing I'd ever ask you to deliver something too."
they offer a lil smirk, "i mean, you'd be surprised. i guess we'll see each other later...?"
"Probably not. Maybe. I tend to be shy."
"y'know. fair. s'been good doin' business with ya."
"Stay safe out there. The nights are always a bit wild," Anthony says to Laika, giving a rather lazy salute in their direction.
they lazily salute back, and make their way off into the night.
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