The Perk | Saturday Morning

[flourish_or_perish]

Faye felt pretty good today. Normally she had a baseline level of irritability and existential dread that colored all her interactions, but today, things were...fine. Totally fine. She wasn't worried about anything, she'd slept great -- honestly, could probably use some more sleep -- and even took the long way to the Perk to enjoy the walk.

She didn't even mind when some random person knocked into her and dumped half an iced coffee onto her boots. "Hey, things happen," she assured the guy with an easy smile.

She tucked herself into a corner with a mint tea -- no chocolate monstrosities today! -- and stretched her legs out so they could dry off a bit as she plucked up a magazine to read.

It wasn't even a magazine with 'a million ways to please your man' advertised on the front, or anything. It was a National Geographic. And she was actually patiently reading it.

[totally open, yes]

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[died8yearsago]

Maybe it was the sharp reduction in lobster-related incidents, but Rosa found herself in an absurdly good mood that morning. So good that not only did she actually want to get out there and socialize, but she didn't even find it weird or gross that she did. And she really didn't make it to the Perk often enough, she could probably go for something a little beyond the usual large black coffee.

But the departure from the usual barked order was not nearly as unsettling to the baristas as the realization that they were pretty sure they'd never actually seen Rosa Diaz smile before. And she actually seemed to mean it when she said "Thanks, guys."

And she even quirked her chin up when she noticed other patrons like Faye already there, offering out a conversational, "Hey, how's it going?"

You know.

Actually greeting people.

What? She was just in a good mood! She could be friendly sometimes!

[flourish_or_perish]

"Hey, good morning." Those were words Faye normally never used in that order, but today she was just feeling sort of vaguely pleasant towards all things and people, and lifted her cup towards Rosa in a greeting. And it was a good morning! "I'm doing just fine -- how are you?"

Faye also normally didn't care at all how other people were doing. But today she actually was prepared to listen to the answer.

[died8yearsago]

"Not so bad," Rosa answered, sincerely, and the novelty of that...or perhaps just the good feelings in general...was enough to make her laugh a little. "Can't imagine anyone feeling bad on a day like today."

Not even herself, apparently!

Then her head tilted a little curiously at Faye. "We haven't met, have we?" she asked. "I mean, I've seen you around, but don't think we've ever really talked."

Which would actually be preferable, usually. But Rosa found she actually wanted to chat it up a little, even with a complete stranger.

[flourish_or_perish]

Faye shook her head easily, setting aside her magazine and actually moving to offer a hand -- a hand -- to Rosa. "I'm Faye," she said with an unconcerned smile. "I used to think it was weird how everyone knows each other by sight here, but it's sort of nice, you know?"

Not something she would ever normally admit, nope!

[died8yearsago]

And Rosa actually took that hand, returning it with an easy, casual shake that didn't even vie for some sort of preposterous dominance with a death grip or anything!

"Rosa," she offered. "And, yeah, it's a small island, it's bound to happen. But I think I remember you from the school trip, mostly. You a teacher?"

She really should socialize with other members of the faculty sometime....

[flourish_or_perish]

"Oh, sort of," Faye admitted with a good-natured roll of her eyes. "That trip was a whole thing. This guy I know -- John? He's the librarian -- had this idea for a bunch of us to teach a class and get to go on the free vacations? But I guess the school caught wise 'cause all seven of us were in one room for the whole trip."

She shrugged, like 'what are you gonna do?', which was a real change from how she'd screamed for most of the trip and seriously considered throwing at least four of those people over various balconies.

[died8yearsago]

At least two of those people, Rosa would have been more than happy to help Faye throw off the balcony, even without her current mood, but it wasn't like it would matter with one of them, though. It would still be fun, though.

But that made Rosa's grin brighten considerably, as she pulled out a chair to invite herself to join Faye at her table.

"So you're one of my boyfriend's co-teachers," she realized almost giddily. "I probably owe you an apology, then. If it weren't for me, you'd have had one less person to deal with."

[flourish_or_perish]

"Oh, which one is yours?" If it was John, this was probably a good day for Faye to find out she'd accidentally slept with someone's boyfriend, whoops. "And psh, don't apologize -- what's done is done."

This was probably the most egregious thing that Faye would look back on, come Tuesday. Grudges were for holding, okay.

[died8yearsago]

"Miguel," Rosa said, so that was at least one uncomfortable confrontation that could be avoided, albeit in the future, because she probably would have been absurdly cool with the news at the moment. For now, it was all just an outpouring of fond adoration that she just couldn't help and didn't even hate herself for. "The one with the tight pants.

"Too bad he doesn't fell the same way about it," she added with a laugh, "or else I'd have a lot less lobsters in my life right now."

Except she definitely sounded like she kind of loved it.

(Because she diiiiiid).

[throughaphase]

Kitty had been pretty jittery all morning, and finally decided she had to get out of the house for a while before she drove Clint, Lexi, and the dogs crazy. So she'd just visit the Perk for a while.

Of course once she was here she was wondering if Clint was okay, if Lexi had set herself on fire or something, and if the dogs had gotten into anything that would make them sick, all in the time it had taken to walk over here.

She did make sure to ask, "Can you make it extra decaf?" when she ordered, though.

[flourish_or_perish]

"How would that work?" Faye wondered from her seat, and then waved her magazine at Kitty in a greeting. "Do you think they can pull caffeine out? I've never heard of that."

She was completely serious. Maybe this was a scientific thing she'd just never heard of. Interesting!

[throughaphase]

"I don't know what they'd do, but I just need them to do it," Kitty said, ignoring the look from the barista that probably meant she was just going to give her a regular, single decaf, like a non-crazy person.

[flourish_or_perish]

"Bad day?" Faye guessed with an air of sympathy that would definitely be an act any other day, but was actually genuine today. "Sometimes coffee is just too much, I get you."

Hence today's choice of tea, though admittedly that had more to do with, like, Faye's whole vibe today.

[throughaphase]

"Ever have one of those days where you're sure the universe is out to get you?"

The universe had done absolutely nothing to her.

[flourish_or_perish]

"Sometimes," replied the woman who was actively on the run from multiple agencies and individuals. Didn't bother her today! "But those are the days when I usually want something, like, really big and frothy." Though decaf would probably help, honestly. Faye was just not that smart.

[throughaphase]

"How does something big and frothy help?" Kitty asked, and checked her phone really quick to make sure she hadn't gotten any emergency texts or eight dozen calls.

[flourish_or_perish]

"Sugar helps," Faye decided. "Though maybe it's really just a distraction, now that I say that. Maybe I've just been running away from my problems via chocolate syrup this whole time."

Introspection? Yes, something was absolutely wrong here.

[throughaphase]

"That doesn't sound real," Kitty decided.

[died8yearsago]

"Kitty."

It was always good to see her outside of the bar, of course, and now Rosa was thinking this day had somehow managed to get even better! Her smile was bright as she lifted her coffee in lieu of a wave.

"Hey. How's it going?"

[throughaphase]

Kitty regarded her with just no small amount of suspicion.

"Are you in a good mood?"

[died8yearsago]

The question honestly had to make Rosa laugh, though not unkindly.

"Well, yeah," she said, shrugging a little as if this was normal, with a shake of her head, "why wouldn't I be? It's a great day."

[throughaphase]

"Why?"

Oh god, was the island being weird? Maybe something was invading that was making Rosa happy?

...Or something.

[died8yearsago]

Rosa's look was one of bewildered yet bemused awe that anyone would need to ask a question like that.

"No cases involving chickens, for starters," she said with a smirk. "Plus," another shrug as she continued, "Anna and I had a good run earlier. Yoga in the park. They didn't screw up my drink order, I met someone new, and now," she gestured toward Kitty even if it was obvious, with a smile on her face at the good timing, "I run into my best friend, too. What's not good about that?

"Probably good for a ride later, too," she added with a thoughtful tilt of her head. "Maybe Tightpants'll wanna hit the road for the rest of the weekend."

[throughaphase]

"Are you okay?" Kitty asked, despite everything Rosa had just say that said she was okay. "You can tell me if you're not."

[died8yearsago]

"Honestly, Kitty?" Rosa admitted, with a lightness as if a ton of weight was just lifted right off her shoulders. "I've never felt better. I don't know. Just something about today, I guess."