Finally, it flew straight at my face, and I did the most sensible thing I could: I froze, closing my eyes so that its proximity wouldn't cause me to flinch, and stayed as still as I possibly could.
The yellowjacket did not care that it was causing US distress, and proceeded to exit and reenter several times. It would go out, we would roll up the windows, and it would sneak through the gap before they finished closing. Lather, rinse, repeat.
But! I did not get stung, and after walking around my flesh and finding nothing to eat, the yellowjacket left the car.
Petulance to panic attack (insult to injury with no actual injury), the barista was new, and screwed up my drink. I got FACE WASPED and my drink was wrong.
I just went with @ha1fbyte.bsky.social to get coffee. We were parked and waiting, windows open for the breeze, when a yellowjacket came into the car. We began trying to encourage it to depart the car, as gently as we could, so as not to cause it distress.
I now know what it feels like when a yellowjacket walks on your face.
I could have done without this knowledge.