oh, so now she's beautiful? snake oil! the oiliest of snakes! or maybe soleil's standards are just devastatingly low. that's got to be it.
it doesn't help that when bernadetta looks at her—really looks at her, if only for half a second—she is blinded by her dazzling smile. she wishes she could be half as radiant. she wishes that she truly could be beautiful, could be worthy of such a rose and flattering declaration. (the fact of the matter is that she won't ever be.)
"i, uh— i-i'm not beauti—" get a grip, bernie! get a grip and then firmly grasp it! yeah, exactly like how you're grasping that stem from her now—wait, no!!!
bernadetta gawks down at the flower that has somehow made it into her hand, accepted from the other while mired in her own confusion. her ears might have gone redder than the petals but post-rose clarity hits her like a brick.
i don't talk to strangers! is what she nearly shouts, as bernadetta oft will. but unfortunately she has learned soleil's name. a name is a powerful thing and that's why she doesn't remember the majority of them. for better or for worse, though, one thing is certain: she won't be forgetting soleil's anytime soon.
"...b-bernadetta." a mumble, and still halfway caught in her mouth. she stares at her boots and begrudgingly kicks a pebble. it's only right that she introduces herself in turn, and soleil hasn't been unkind per se. not at all.
"but bernie doesn't socialize!" she has to blurt. "bernie needs an advance notice of three to five business days before you ask her to do anything!"—she holds up the number of fingers in junction with her little spiel—"three to five! honestly, i'd also feel a little more at ease for some reason if you were decent with a bow and really strong, too. no idea why, but that's just life for you."
the last bit about bows comes out as more of a muttered afterthought. never mind all of that. the more she chews on soleil's situation, the worse bernadetta ends up feeling for her plight. she isn't a con artist. she's just visually impaired. see, bernie, this is growth. you aren't jumping to ridiculous conclusions anymore!
"w-well... okay. i still don't think you're in a right state of mind, but if you're new, i can show you where the infirmary is. they'll fix you right up!" no, not ridiculous indeed.
