Work Text:
With another NXX meeting wrapped up, the five members lapse into casual conversation.
Rosa sighs, setting down her nth cup of coffee (the others would scold her for it, but the last time they did she pointed out their hypocrisy, so they let it slide for now).
“You know what, we should have another bonding activity, that’d be fun after all of this stress.”
Vyn is quick to nod along, “yes, an outing with you would certainly be an effective destresser.”
Marius gives him the stink eye. “Eh, you make it sound like you’re going to steal her all for yourself.”
Rosa smiles. “If we do anything it’ll be together.” She raises a brow at Vyn. “You got that?”
“Ah Rosa, always so considerate of others.”
“Actually, I think I know what we can do.”
Rosa leans towards Artem, “oh? What is it?”
Artem pulls out his phone, on it he scrolls until he lands on an e-voucher.
“A recent client gave me 2 vouchers for afternoon tea at the new tropical garden.”
“Just two?” Luke asks. “I thought we were going to do something as a team.”
“Technically it’s for 2 couples, but children are allowed to come as long as they are paid for.”
“Oh?” Rosa’s eyes widen. “But none of us look like someone’s kid, do we?”
Artem needs no time to think. “Marius definitely does.”
“HEY!”
“If that upsets you then perhaps Luke can be the child, he does look the most youthful.”
“HEY!!”
Luke doesn’t mind the comment, instead turning to Marius. “What are you upset about this time?”
He points a finger at Vyn. “Are you telling me I look older than Luke?!”
He doesn’t reply, simply taking a sip of his tea.
Despite earlier protests, Marius steps up to pay for his entry. It wouldn’t hurt his wallet after all.
On the day, they arrive at the venue around the same time.
Artem takes the lead, showing the voucher to the waitresses by the door. They gladly lead the group into the tropical cafe, which definitely lives up to its name.
It’s like a chunk of a tropical island was dropped right into Stellis. There are flower bushes of varying colors and sizes, there’s so much vegetation that they all silently wonder how it’s kept alive.
They’re brought to the unroofed part of the building, where the palm and coconut trees sway in the subtle breeze.
“Please, take a seat!”
Being the first one there, Artem sits at the head of the table. Rosa follows behind, sitting on a seat to his left hand.
Unfortunately for this group, even something as small as seating arrangement can take a while.
The remaining three men surround the chair next to Rosa.
“Hey I was here first. I wanna sit here!”
“No you weren’t Marius, I was the one walking behind Rosa. You just pushed past me.”
Vyn only smiles, “how about we let Rosa decide, hm?”
With that all four of them turn to Rosa. She sighs deeply, did they really have to collectively share only one brain cell, and did that one brain cell always have to be attached to her?!
“Marius, you can sit beside me.”
The man in question jumps up, a fist pumped in the air. He plops onto his seat with flourish, sticking his tongue out at the two losers.
“Miss has good taste. That’s what makes her so great.”
While Luke grumbles quietly, Vyn not-so-subtly rushes to the chair opposite of her.
“Why yes, which is why she’s allowed me to be the one her eyes come to rest on.”
Marius rolls his eyes while Luke trudges to the last chair. Once he’s seated he slouches with a huff.
Artem, who was probably zoned out the entire time, calls their attention at last to the menu.
“Everyone gets to choose one type of tea. Once we do they’ll serve some pastries and-”
BONK, something lands square on Vyn. A strangled noise comes from his throat as he reaches up to rub the top of his head. His glasses have been knocked askew on his nose, which he fixes with his free hand.
The rest of the table looks at him in shock. Luke had raised his arms up, Artem’s mouth hung open, and Marius’s eyes had gone wide. Rosa was even halfway out of her seat.
Artem’s the first to utter a word. “What…?”
His trailing speech is cut off by Rosa’s chair scraping across the floor. She stands completely, immediately going over to Vyn.
“Are you okay?!” Rosa was relieved that he was still sitting upright, but she wanted to be sure.
Luke doesn’t say a word, but he eyes his head for any injuries. Seeing none, he scooches his chair back to look at the fallen offender.
Vyn quickly smiles, his gaze softening when Rosa pats his head.
“I’m alright. I only ever need your concern and care to feel better, no matter what happens.”
Rosa’s face goes red, and both Artem and Marius scoff.
“I’m surprised his skull didn’t make a hollow sound.”
“Marius!” Rosa says, horrified. “He could have seriously been hurt!”
He deflates a bit in his seat. “...but he wasn’t.”
“He said he’s okay, Rosa.” Artem’s gaze flickers from Marius to Rosa then to Vyn. “There’s no more need to worry, let’s enjoy the food.”
As they speak, Luke gets up. He softly touches Rosa’s arm as he bends over to pick up…
“A coconut?” Rosa whirls around to take a closer look.
Luke looks up, she can’t tell if it’s to think or to look at the coconut trees overhead.
“Yeah, I think this might be the guilty coconut.”
At the blink of an eye a man, who they assume to be the manager, appears before them. It appears that he saw the whole thing go down. He wrings his hands as he launches into a spiel.
“Valued guests,” when he looks over the group, his eyes land on Rosa and Artem’s attorney badges and he quickly adds in a quivering voice, “attorneys.”
Rosa’s eyebrows furrow. She nods at him to continue.
“Please forgive us for our oversight, which may have led your companion to being injured. When building this establishment we kept in mind the possible hazard of falling coconuts. We understand that risk, which is why we have nets under the trees. Unfortunately it may not have been enough. We’ll make sure this won’t happen again.” He takes a deep breath before continuing. “However luckily, it was a relatively small coconut, which may have left him spooked, but not seriously injured. Due to that fact, we hope that you can,” he clears his throat, “overlook this incident.”
It was apparent to the group that the baseline was: “Please don’t sue us.”
Rosa’s about to launch herself into an argument when Artem speaks up.
“That coconut…” Artem brings his hand to his chin while he gathers his thoughts. His pause leaves them all in suspense.
In the meantime Vyn picks one up for himself. He tests the weight of it, eyeing the ones still hanging from the trees.
“It’s fake.” They say in unison.
It had Rosa fooled. “Fake?!”
Marius motions for Vyn to hand over the coconut. He doesn’t, and so Marius resorts to nabbing Artem’s. Around and around, he turns it in his hands.
“Impressive, it’s incredibly realistic.”
Artem’s gaze shifts to the side due to theft, but makes no further comment.
After simply watching the whole interaction, Luke raises a brow. “Are the trees fake too?”
The manager shakes his head. “The trees are real, however we use prop coconuts here and there to enhance the garden’s image.”
He nods. “So really, there was no chance of him getting a concussion or anything.” As if to prove his point he tosses the coconut up and one with one hand.
“No, not at all sir!”
“That should settle it then,” Luke pats Rosa’s shoulder, “you can relax now.” He even leans in to mutter, “he’s probably too hard-headed to get hurt like that anyway.”
Rosa suppresses a giggle, which earns her a wink.
“Yeah Miss, enough of letting Dr. Richter ruin our day.”
“Yes, the food should be out shortly.” Artem gives a pointed look to the manager. “It’d be a shame if this incident overshadowed our outing.”
Luke walks Rosa back to her seat, pulling the chair out and pushing it back in like a true gentleman. “They’re right,” he says with a smile, “after all, the food’s always the best part!”