rosaliehsu

[rosaliehsu]

 ———  R O S A L I E H S U

[rosaliehsu]

 ———  R O S A L I E H S U

[rosaliehsu]

 ———  R O S A L I E H S U

[rosaliehsu]

 ———  R O S A L I E H S U

[rosaliehsu]

It wasn't until she was in the shower, which was mercifully hot and with great water pressure, did her mind still for a moment. She realized a couple of things, then. First, she was tired. A type of tired that not even a month of sleeping could fix, something that had begun to work its way into her very bones, and that was worrying. She didn't have time to stop, she couldn't rest or take a break. Secondly, and in that moment, more importantly...How had she not realized Stef wore glasses? She had been so discombobulated when knocking on his door, she hadn't even taken that fact in. Much like his behavior when she hadn't gotten his pickle joke, the fact only served to endear him to her even more. Again, it just made him seem so much less the intimidating neighbor she had first met, and more the man she was slowly getting to know.

Smells of breakfast wafted towards her as she opened the bathroom door after she finished readying herself for the day, and her stomach growled. But as the kitchen came into view and she could see he clearly made enough for two, an immediate feeling of chagrin washed over her. First it was the door, then the shower, and now this. It was all too much. The last thing she wanted was to be a suck on his time or resources, but it seemed, unwittingly, she had become one. "That's...." she sighed, "Thank you. Really, but you didn't have to do that. I don't want to be an inconvenience. You've already done so much."

As soon as he left her Stef found himself almost at a loss with what to do with himself. So usually a man of action he found himself stumped as to what task he could set himself to next. It was difficult to pin point just what had left him feeling that way, knowing it wasn't just because his morning routine had been interrupted nor was it that he was reluctant to offer her help. Domesticity wasn't an entirely new concept to him but there was something novel about it being with just one other person when his mornings had been filled with chatter and his family chaotically moving around each other before they went about the rest of their days. Maybe it was the discomfort that came with the idea that he was someone she'd turn to, surprising himself that he wanted to be that person but also feeling as though he'd always been more the twisted prince than a true knight in shining armour. Before he could lose himself in thoughts and emotions he didn't know how to name an idea came to him and he shut any remaining feelings and notions off the way that he had gotten so good at.

He could practically cook in his sleep and it had dawned on him that if he needed to eat she probably did too and so moved through to the kitchen to trying not to fixate how intimate it all felt. With the batter whipped up he began to cook the pancakes, on the second one when there was a sound of footsteps joining him in the room. Without turning he greeted his houseguest, offer made with a carefully neutral tone that he hoped she'd feel like she could decline if she wanted to. "I made pancakes, if you still have time for breakfast. Coffee too." Hand gestured vaguely in front of him, spatula in hand before he pointed to the fridge across the room. "Or there's some yoghurt in the fridge if you'd prefer. I just made some granola the other day."

[rosaliehsu]

"What'd you get anyways?" Rosalie questioned curiously, it was a rare day when she was able to treat herself to takeout, and she couldn't help but want to live vicariously through Emiri just a bit. She had heard a new restaurant had popped up recently, and wondered if that was her ultimate destination. "Oh, a shitshow, like it always is when working with kids," The words were said with a grin, though, Ros truly loving what she did. "I've picked up some massive foreign object removal skills since high school. Just yesterday I got a miniature toy car out of a kid's nose." That had been the toughest case yet. "And you're at Cosmic Ink, right? How do you like it?" She felt a bit like a stalker, knowing that. But between social media and a town of this size, it was hard not knowing what your graduating class was up to.

"Oh - I don't mind, I've got..." she glanced down towards her phone in her hand to see the time, "A little longer to wait." she shrugged casually, not minding in the slightest. Logan's shop wasn't far either so technically - to Emiri - she wasn't going too far out of her way. Making a small gesture to take their leave, she offered a natural smile to the clerk behind the counter after catching eye contact. "So how's things with you?" she asked, knowing that she didn't speak to Rosalie often and yet, Emiri just loved to dive into small talk.

[rosaliehsu]

[rosaliehsu]

She was sure she remembered the woman from school, a native to be sure, so as Ros laughed along, she couldn't help but think about how odd it all was. Those who had lived in Tonopah their entire lives knew, knew that her jest was most likely more than just that. And they simply accepted it. it had been this way since they were kids, since their parents had been kids, and she wasn't sure if it would ever change. "That would be nice but are you sure? I wouldn't want to put you out, especially when your takeout's calling your name."

Emiri laughed lightly at the other's joke - it was funny and yet completely believable. Tonopah wasn't a quiet town by any stretch of the imagination, after all. "I can totally see that." she returned, her tone completely light-hearted. Returning the smile she was met with she nodded a little, "Yeah, it's not far from here actually - I can show you? I've got to pick up my takeout soon and it's in that direction." she added just so it didn't feel like she was going out of her way entirely. Though even if she was, that was just Emiri.

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[rosaliehsu]

A conceding smile touched Rosalie's lips, an admission and understanding that she was clucking about like a mother hen. But she couldn't help it, people deserved to feel cared for, especially in moments such as these. She nodded in response to the directions to the cookware, and in no time she had transferred the soup to the stove and began heating up. --- She turned slowly, another smile, this time softer, sadder. "I can imagine. And I just want to say, if you ever need to talk to someone who isn't...So directly involved, like Niko might be, I'm here. Or if you just need more soup and to not talk about it at all."

"Yes, mama," Mikki teased, though she felt a warmth spread through her at Rosalie's fussing. She settled down into the breakfast nook, easing herself onto the bench. "Pots are in the cabinet to the right of the stove." Having someone care enough to want to help or take care of her that wasn't obligated to in any way was something she was still allowing herself to accept without complaint after so many years of being independent. "I have been at Niko's for the last couple of days, but I needed to get a few things, and I wanted to grab them myself," she explained. "Then I ended up dozing off on the couch... Sleep has been difficult, so I take it when it comes."

[rosaliehsu]

The dramatics at which she said 'a child?' made Ros laugh, and she couldn't help the words that slipped out of her mouth next, a reference to vines of long past, "A child? --- No!". It had been happening more and more lately, making references that the younger teachers or student teachers didn't have any grasp on, and every day she was left wondering how she got to be 30-freaking-2. But in this moment, she knew in hear heart, that her reference would be received. If it wasn't, they may have a problem.

"Okay, but like....You could just pass me off as like.....a slightly taller than normal child and charge me the kiddie price. If you really wanted. If you were a real friend."

"That sounds like a come on, but I accept. Like, weird way to propose but I'm into it."

"What -- a child? Or a Chuck-E-Cheese?" She took the cup back form her friend, taking another fairly liberal sip without even thinking about it. Funny, how everything became so much easier (and dangerous) to drink through a straw. "Well, that's not entirely surprising. It is, essentially, a child's casino at heart. Fits right into the gambling atmosphere." A shrug pulled at her shoulders, offering the drink back to Ros once her hands were free again. "I don't really see how they could make a giant animatronic rat sensory-safe, but that's nice. I didn't realize they were so accommodating." Honestly, the visuals alone would probably have been enough to stave her off for life, but maybe if they had another Stanley Cup full of wine...

Eve couldn't help the eye roll that flickered across her face, a smile twitching at the corner of her lips moments later. "Then you'll have to pay about twenty bucks extra. No kiddie prices for you." Though, honestly, teaching her friend how to ride a horse sounded a lot more appealing than one might think. "Yeah?" Her brows arched, grinning excitedly. "Of course I'll take it easy on you -- do you really see me as that much of a hard ass? Tell ya what, we'll ease into it and you can just sit behind me and hold onto my waist. Better height advantage for ass-peeping."

[rosaliehsu]

"I don't understand why you're not over at Niko's house anyways," Rosalie fussed, straightening up items as she fell in step behind Mikki, eyes looking for anything she could get done for her friend so she could rest. "He should be waiting on you hand and foot." she tutted. "But in the mean time, I'll take his place." That sounded more like a threat than anything else. And know what? Maybe so.

"I will take some soup, but only if you sit down." She implored, a concerned, almost motherly look on her face. "Tell me where your pots are and I'll be good to go. Just needs to be reheated."

Mikayla scrunched her nose, knowing how right Rosalie was with her warning. Niko would've said something similar -- after all, he hardly let her out of his sight the last few days. It was strange how some things that felt so mundane and normal to do before now no longer felt safe.

Seeing the tube of arnica, Mikayla let out another laugh, this one far fuller than the last. "Oh, my muscles are going to love that. Thank you so much," she said, taking the tube from her friend. "If you're not too busy, we could share some? Soup, I mean, not the gel." She made her way towards the kitchen, hoping the bruising didn't appear as bad as it felt as she walked. "I hope you didn't go too far out of your way to do all of this."

[rosaliehsu]

[rosaliehsu]

Without thinking, her hand flew to her head, only upon her fingers touching the corduroy of one of her favorite hats did she realize what he was referencing. And though it took her a second to fully process, she couldn't help but laugh, a loud peal falling from her lips. It was at the entirety of the situation, really, how obviously frantic and flustered she must seem, that she couldn't even remember the hat on her own head. But mostly, at how....Cute he sounded, not to mention that embarrassed smile. The concept of such a stalwart person feeling that way was oddly comforting. It was good to know she wasn't the only person who could feel awkward or as if they had said something silly, something her loquacious nature often made her feel around him, all silent and stony-faced. "I'd forget my ears if they weren't attached to my head this morning. Sorry for gas-lighting you momentarily."

Her stomach jumped as he moved aside. She was thankful, endlessly so. But suddenly her mind began to spin out, trying to think how she could communicate just that. A gift card to his favorite coffee place? No, then she'd have to ask Tori where that was. Offer to take Titan out? Seemed too transactional. Make him dinner? Her mind paused on the idea. She knew he cooked at his family restaurant, so she might embarrass herself in the process, but it obviously intimated food meant something to him. And what better way to say thank you but in a language he spent most of his days speaking? As she bent slightly to greet Titan, her mind became more and more resolved. If she could get out of school on time for once, she should be able to make it to the cheap market downtown before the older couple who owned it closed up for the afternoon. --- She followed him (and Titan, naturally), almost on autopilot as she thought it all through, her mind only focusing on the present as he stopped. His words were firm, as if there was no room for argument, and she found herself utterly and rather embarrassingly, speechless. And as he turned on his heel and gave her privacy, she still hadn't figured out how to reply.

At her obvious confusion about his quip he raised a hand slightly, as if motioning towards his own invisible cap. "The pickle in question." Lips pressed together in a lame attempt at a smile as he inwardly cursed himself for thinking his poor attempt at a joke would receive any other kind of reception. It should have been obvious that her mind would have been elsewhere when the last thing anyone wanted or needed when they were stressed or running late was someone making light of it. Throat was cleared, choosing to move on from his miscalculation before it could chafe him too much and push him into true awkwardness. His conversational skills were efficient but that often came with a lack of warmth or ability to build up a true rapport, something he found himself regretting now as he searched for a way to seem more like a functional, empathetic human. Swift nod was given and he moved out of the doorway to let her in, careful to turn his hip so that the weapon he'd placed on his hip remained out of sight.

"It's no trouble." Words were said with a simple, firm honesty that he hope would be both believable and inarguable. As he shut the door behind them both Titan moved in to greet her, tail moving in a slow wag, somehow managing to prove more adept at a warm greeting than himself. "Bathroom's this way." With a brief pause he pulled a clean towel from the cupboard, holding it out with an almost sheepish smile. Quick explanation was given of the various handles before he moved towards the door to give her some privacy. "I'll leave you to it, just shout if you need anything." For a moment he considered leaving it there but her earlier words still echoed in his ears, making it clear to him when he read between the lines that she didn't want to ask for too much. But as far as he was considered, when it came to Rosalie, there was no such thing. He wasn't sure that the mantle of saviour sat easily upon his shoulders yet but it was one he found himself wanting to pick up where she was involved. "There's not a quota on my help, you know, you can't go over."

[rosaliehsu]

"More likely but also more boring." she joked, "Who wants a nepo baby when you can have some sort of criminal mystique? Maybe they're unloading boxes of bunk bills in the back right now." Dang, say that ten times fast. Boxes of bunk bills in the back. "Definitely bias, but we all need a ride or die, so it's forgiven," she smiled warmly. She was thankful to have her own, even if it took her some 30 odd years to find. "And to be honest, it's gotta be better than this, so count me in. It's downtown, right?"

"Ohh could be." Emiri couldn't quite help her little chuckle as her attention shifted from the item of clothing she was looking at and towards the other, it was funny to her how her mind instantly just went to money laundering and yet she'd totally just blame her rewatch of Good Girls on that. "Yeah that... probably seems more likely." that the owner of the store just had rich parents - it'd make sense to the price tags, or more, it did in her mind. Who knew though; it was a total judgemental stance. "You know I... will definitely be bias here but my friend owns Sammy and Lo and she's always reasonable." she plugged, shamelessly apparently. Emiri was conscious of speaking quietly, however, considering the small space.