The door to Esper's office slammed open, banging against the filing cabinet behind it. Esper took a long drag of her cigarette, not even turning around - she knew who it was.
"If you break my damn cabinet, you're paying me for a new one." Her voice was soft but completely unwavering as she stared out of the window of her office at the city below.
"Your cabinet is the last thing I care about, currently," Rose almost growled. "You were right. I hate it when you're right."
Esper turned her head, looking at Rose standing wild-eyed in her doorway. She had blood staining the front of her body, still wet, and Esper knew perfectly well that it wasn't hers. "You couldn't have cleaned yourself off first? If I find bloodstains in here-"
Rose cut her off. "YOU WERE RIGHT. Stop thinking about your fucking furniture for one second." Rose walked over towards Esper at the window, raising her shoulders and clenching her fists.
Esper didn't react as Rose got close, merely taking another drag of her cigarette and blowing it out the window, still staring out. She finally looked over to meet Rose's gaze, looked her up and down, and took out another cigarette, offering it. Rose glared down at her for a few more moments, then huffed and took the cigarette.
Esper sighed. "Your methods are so... messy." She flicked open her lighter and held it out to Rose.
Rose lit her cigarette in the flame, rolling her eyes. "We've had this conversation a million times. I'm efficient."
Esper looked her up and down again, raising her eyebrows and giving Rose a look. "You're sloppy," she held up a hand as Rose tried to interrupt. "Otherwise, Anders wouldn't be on your tail."
Rose just glared out the window at that. "If you had helped me-"
"Then we'd both be in trouble." Esper put out her cigarette in the ashtray and walked to her desk, smoothing her dress as she sat down and began looking through her drawers. "Tell me what happened."
"I already told you, you were right." Rose continued glaring out the window, snarling a little. Esper said nothing. "The job was a setup. He's pissed because one too many of his oh so precious little goons got caught in the crossfire of the work I've been doing for Smith. I don't know what he did to Smith, but..." she trailed off, staring at the cigarette in her hand for a moment. A smile came to her lips. "Felt good to blow off some steam on those bastards, at least."
Esper gave a halfhearted chuckle. "And I'm sure Anders is even more unhappy with you now."
"His fault, putting a bunch of fucking morons in my way."
The two sat in silence for a little while, Rose smoking as Esper looked through things on her desk. Eventually, Rose turned to look at Esper, calmer now.
"So... What now?"
"Well, I'm sure the police aren't very happy with you either - killing Anders right now would just put them on even higher alert." Esper looked at a sheet of contacts, scanning it as she spoke. "Cleanest thing to do would be to pin the blame on him, get the cops interested in him instead. Easier said than done." Esper looked up at Rose, scanning her bloodstained clothes. "Especially given your... methods."
Rose snorted and turned to stare back out the window. "And what about the messy way?"
Esper sighed. "I make some calls, put his people on a wild goose chase, and you get to have your way with him while his goons, as you put it, are off chasing urgent leads that don't exist."
Rose let a grin slip onto her face. "I do like that idea quite a bit," she said, putting out what was left of her cigarette and turning to face Esper. Esper looked back at her, meeting her gaze and staying expressionless.
"I can't promise anything yet." Rose rolled her eyes again and made her way towards the door. "Try not to kill anyone else in the meantime, if you can manage that." Esper gave her a stern, tired look.
"No promises. I eagerly await your call," Rose purred as she stepped out, closing the door behind her and leaving Esper alone in her office.
Esper allowed herself a small smile and turned her attention to the papers on her desk.