The name of the planet was Earth, just like hers, but the most jarring thing about Earth was the fact that it was a conglomerate. This, Faith quickly realized, as they made a short lazy trek to a pharmacy that was being manned by a singularly ugly android. 

"I'm guessing in this earth IOS didn't take off?" she asked as she reached out for the small plastic container the android offered. The words 'Omega Suppressant' were written atop it and it made her feel a certain way the more she stared. 

"Take it," the android pushed, prompting Faith to scoff. 

She was of half the mind that it would be difficult to figure out how to open the container but much like home, they seemed to share the same design acumen. Inside was a small blue pill that Sam had assured her was a hormone suppressant to get her in order. She'd assumed it would look more like an antibiotic than a pain killer. Shrugging, she popped it into her mouth and because they were devoid of any liquids near them, swallowed dry. 

It was disgusting.

"Tell me then," she broke the short silence, "who's the president of this Kenya?"

For a moment, Sam's face was coloured confusion but they schooled it back quickly. "We don't have territories like you. Just Earth."

Fiona's eyes widened as she placed her hand on her mouth, muffling her next questions. "Like in the sci-fi movies? So you have one president? No. A CEO?"

"I am of the opinion we should have gotten a tranquilizer as well," Sungura said as he hopped on ahead. "That way, we could have peace and quiet. We like peace and quiet, Sam."

She dropped her hand. "Keep them open." Sungura turned to face her, head leaning to the left as though he was listening to a bumbling child. "Your eyes," Fiona went on. "I'll come for you when you least expect it."

"Demon," Sungura said and before Fiona could react, he disappeared into the night, leaving her unsatisfied with rage.

She huffed. "I am starting to think it was a good thing our animals never got the talking upgrade."

Behind her, Sam let out a small laugh. This pulled Fiona right back to sanity as she turned to look at them. It suddenly dawned on her that she was alone with them. Then she shivered because that was what you did when you looked at Sam in the middle of the night in a lone street as they laughed in that very cool way. "So," Faith begun as she pushed a braid behind her ear. God, she hoped her braids looked as fresh as they had in the morning, "who is in charge of this planet?"

"I think a CEO is the best way for you to understand."

"And you're a matchmaker." 

"Yes."

"I'm sorry," she said as she turned around and started for the path to their shop. "I don't mean to be slow on the uptake but I really don't get what I'm supposed to be doing here." She turned around to look at them, walking backwards. "Is it a habit of yours to be mysterious even when you kidnap people from different planes?"

"I didn't really kidnap you," they said, a small smile playing on their lips. Fiona could feel her chest get light and heavy all at once at the sight. "I saved you from ultimate doom."

Fiona shrugged, mirroring her smile. "Then mysteriously answering only questions that suit you, huh?"

The smile got wider. Fiona almost tripped. Sam reach out in a flash, holding her up by her wrist. They stayed quiet for a moment but to Fiona, it was eternity. Her idea of what the afterlife would probably feel for her.  Their hand was soft with the longest fingers. This, she knew, because she had rather thick wrists and very few people could circle them yet there Sam was, encasing them in a grip that felt almost punishing. And their eyes? Fuck! How had she not noticed them before? They were a brown that was closer to red. They made her look so ethereal it was unfair, she decided. As though sensing what was happening to her, they let go. "I am not what you hope me to be, Fiona. I cannot be that."

A lump the size of an obscene boulder lodged itself in her throat. It was so heavily chocking her voice got ten octaves higher when she asked, "And what is it you think I want you to be?"

The smile remained but the twinkle in the eye had long left. A fake smile. A schooled smile. The kind that Fiona hated because they were the kind she dished out to right about everyone and hated when they were directed her way. It was the silly smile, her mother always told her. It made others feel silly and Fiona could not stomach it being dished her way. "Fiona, I whisked you away for my matchmaking business and I do intend on having you earn your keep. Nothing more."

Hoping she looked decently put together, she wiped her hands over her dress. Pulling to her silly smile stack, she gifted Sam one. "I don't know why you think I want more. It's been like a year since I've had a decent shag. Honestly, don't think deep into it."

Sam's right eyebrow twitched up and down. The silly smile remained rooted. "Well," they said, "I have a strict no employee shagging policy in my business."

"Reasonable. It would have been a tad concerning if you were shagging Sungura." A true laugh escaped them and even though Fiona was feeling a bit jaded, she could not help feeling proud for making that happen. "Okay, now that that's sorted, can you tell me how I can start earning my keep? I don't like owing people favours."

"Fair," Sam said. They increased the pace of their steps and Fiona had to lightly jog to keep up. 

Even though she had been rejected and she wanted to ascertain her position, she could not help but ogle Sam. They were tall and slender and they didn't make the slightest bit of sound when they walked. And their neck? Fuck, she thought, their neck was so good she could imagine herself licking then biting at the base of it. She could visualize drowning in the scent that was hidden right there. Looking at the whole shtick that was Sam, with the top hat and the black and white suit minus the actual coat, she imagined they smelled like a good mocha right there. 

As though she was back to her teenage years when ovulation kicked her about, she felt herself getting wetter at the thought. 

"Stop that," Sam said and as though she was a fucking sink, she stopped leaking.