Rosetta did look like she needed a little break. It wasn’t like she was ruffled or looking unkempt, or anything of the like. Lest just always got the impression she was working like a candle, bright and admirable. But it always felt like she was burning at both ends, even if she didn’t come off tired. Maybe he read into things too much, but he just wanted the best for her. She deserved more times where she could just soften and let things go with the flow. Sliding his phone back into his bag, he chuckled gently into his fist.
“No catch, I believe. Okay, wait. Maybe one.” He held up the orange juice like a torch, leading them out of the darkness. Waving it once, then twice again to make sure she had her eyes on it, he nodded. “Careful now, okay? Here, catch!”
Delicately tossing it out the window, he watched as it made its mark. “That’s the only catch I can come up with for sure, haha.”
Ah. Of course. She never had time to go with the flow if she was always the one who went against it. Lest expected as much and wanted to respect that aspect of hers. Rolling with the punches, he waved it off like it was no big deal. “Don’t worry about it then! Maybe we can have a snack some other time.”
He leaned on the windowsill, wondering why she had to spike her words with equal amounts of honey and spice. With his cheek resting precariously on his palm, he responded wholeheartedly. “Aw, don’t worry about me, Rosetta. Your worker bee has been working in full. He just thought the Queen Bee deserved a little rest, is all.”
“Do you happen to need a hand? Since I’ve freed my hands of the sacred orange juice, I’d be happy to lend you one,” Lest sifted a hand through his hair to get it out of his face. Humming under his breath, he contemplated on how awkward it was to continue talking like this through the window. Then, his metaphorical lightbulb clicked on. Ah. That would do it. “Hmmmm… In fact, I was thinking I needed a change of pace. A little scenery swap might help.”
Posing himself smoothly against the windowsill, he shifted the screen open and hoisted himself up. “Hup! Careful now!” Lest leapt out the window, elegantly acing his landing. It was no big deal, really. Just needed that change of environment! Dusting himself off casually, as though he hadn’t done much at all, Lest grinned at her in amusement. “Now… What were we saying?”
“Ah yes, did you need any help? I’ll be happy to be there for you. 🎵”
【❧】~ Rosetta rushes forward to catch the drink suddenly thrown her way, the bottle refreshingly cool against her palms as she glances up at him with a scoff. “Pfft, that sounds about right, boy scout that you are.” As mocking as she may have seemed, she really did appreciate Lest’s kind and understanding nature. The guy didn’t have one malicious bone in his body. And while she didn’t mind how easygoing and agreeable he could be, she’d be lying if she said it didn’t frustrate her some. Always shrugging things off and going with the flow... if he wasn’t careful, some creep could take advantage of that.
Straightening up, she raises her brow with a slightly offended look, free hand moving to rest on her hip. “Why, do I look like I need rest?” Rosetta knew her own body better than anyone else, and she knew her limits. She was pretty much running on fumes right now, and probably looked it, too. But that didn’t mean she wanted other people pointing it out.
Even though she knew that Lest was right, that she did need a break, her stubbornness and pride overpower her sensibilities in the end. Her stormy waters, always fighting against calm ones like his. “That’s sweet of you, really, but I’m fine.”
Before she can even respond to his next offer -- the answer of which would have mostly likely been no -- he suddenly hoists himself out the window, startling Rosetta a bit. Grip on her juice tightened, she reflexively takes a step back and gives him a look of incredulity before quickly regaining her bearings, head shaking as her eyes roll skyward. “You--”
Normally she would have given some sort of snappy comeback, but his words stop her. I’ll be happy to be there for you. Simple words, sure, but the blonde couldn’t help but feel that they held a certain weight to them. It wasn’t often people said that sort of thing to her when they weren’t trying to suck up, or keep from making her angry. Her instinctual need to regard people with skepticism spurs her into trying to find some sort of angle or motive behind his intentions, but with Lest she couldn’t think of any. None that made sense, anyway.
That sort of compassion... it didn’t feel so bad, to be on the receiving end of it every once in a while. She opens her drink, idly mimicking his words from earlier. “...I don’t know, worker bee.” She waves her drink towards him, making sure not to waste any of it as she does so. “If you want to help and waste your fun afternoon following me around, be my guest. This Queen Bee will be putting you to work, though, so here’s your chance to back out before it’s too late.”
