“ahh, why did i agree to something so troublesome again?” because a little girl wouldn’t quit it with the puppy-dog eyes, that’s why, “i’m too old for this.”
that sure didn’t stop him from deftly scaling the tree, hoisting himself up onto a sturdy branch and scarcely jostling a few leaves free to the breeze. along that same branch was a cat, with a dusty white and grey coat and a pink collar fastened around its neck, barely a year old it seemed like. when it looked back in alarm, he attempted an easy smile, though it manifested somewhat crookedly, and raised a hand to bid it a greeting.
“nothin’ to be scared of here, but there’s a kid down there missing you real bad, y’know?” and with that said, he then attempted to inch closer, “help an old man out and just stay right there, huh?”
when he’d moved just shy an arm’s length, Lancer leaned forward, reaching carefully for the animal, hoping to simply lift it into his arms by the scruff of its neck-- but he was no good at these things. he lost balance and swung backwards, falling through a mass of foliage with a rustle and a grunt. sure, he managed to at least stay tethered to the branch by his legs, but his dignity was long since carried off by the wind. he dangled there for a moment, heaving a sigh-- he should’ve expected this, but hey, who was he to ignore a crying child?
when he dared open his eyes, finally contend with his little predicament, he was instead met with a gaze so striking, the colour of a summer’s sky so clear he could see himself in them. her parted lips seemed inquisitive of his... dilemma, perhaps on the cusp of asking just what he was up to, and so he found himself again, deflecting it with an apology. well, he had just dropped in unannounced, after all.
“ahh, sorry, sorry--!” he tried on another sheepish smile for size, “didn’t mean to startle ya.”
