First date jitters

[stealth_andsecrets]

Purple stood infront of an open closet, tossing away selection after selection of tops and pants, blouses and shirts, and biting her lower lip nervously.

She was going on a date with Niverian (Cipher Nine), and she just wanted to look her best. And she had never had a real date before, so felt a little lost.

Finally, she selected a blue and black dress, and selected a few accessories like a half-dozen bracelets, her gloves, and a skull pin for her hair.

Then after finally feeling ready, Purple used her PINpoint and accessed the coordinates that Cipher Nine had sent her. She wasn't sure where she would appear... but she couldn't wait to see Cipher Nine again.

Comments

[nonvillainouscipher]

He pauses in picking up his fork for a moment to collect his thoughts. "Here in my reality, we have this sort of... energy field, created and sustained by life, called the Force. According to both the Jedi and the Sith, most people have a very slight, small connection to the Force which manifests itself as a person's instincts and intuition. But there are also people who have a much stronger connection to the Force, and that strong connection gives them all sorts of powers and abilities. Many of them are similar to April's, though April is actually a much more powerful psychic than any Force user. All Force-users have mild telepathy and empathy, telekinesis, and a sort of sixth sense, occasionally mild foresight..." He takes a bite of salad, and makes sure he finishes eating it before he continues. "From there, though, that's where differences start to arise, depending on which Order the Force user belongs to. The Sith are the Force-using order who created the Empire. Many of them are capricious, cruel, all are passionate, but some of them are actually rather pleasant to be around. Warmer, and kind to those they consider friends." His mind drifts briefly to his friend Kayla Ryn, one of those warmer and friendlier Sith. "The Jedi Order is the other Force-using order. They suppress their emotions, believing that surrendering to their passions will lead them to evil. The Jedi are allied with the Empire's enemy, the Galactic Republic, and consider themselves its protectors." He pauses momentarily, apparently debating something internally, then adds, "I have a cousin in the Jedi Order. Jedi Master Zalgast. Even though we're on opposite sides of the war, he usually has no problem working with me from time to time, when the situation calls for it."

[stealth_andsecrets]

She listens intently, as she eats her soup. It seems very interesting to hear about the different Force-users. And how there is no actual 'black' or 'white', but just different levels of grey.

"It must be difficult, to be in a constant state of war."

[nonvillainouscipher]

He smiles a little. "It is now that the war has combusted again. My family and I have been very busy, juggling strategic intelligence for the war and a conspiracy that seeks to destroy both the Empire and the Republic. But until maybe a month or so ago, the war was cold, and we were still technically at peace. We had been for about ten years." He takes another couple of bites of salad, face falling into an expression somewhere between pensive and a little saddened. "I don't really like war very much. I had hoped the Treaty of Coruscant would never be broken, that maybe the Empire could find a way to coexist with the Republic. But the Empire is... we're too militaristic. The people in power enjoy war too much. So it was always going to happen; the only question was when and how."

[stealth_andsecrets]

"It is sort of like trying to change how demons and humans interact... we have been at odds for so long."

[nonvillainouscipher]

That brings the smile back to his face. "It is, yes. And from what I hear, your world has been making great strides in that direction. I hope you can make a permanent peace work."

[stealth_andsecrets]

"We really suffered during the Time of No Magic. And had to face true circumstances of not having our natural connections to the Magical Seed."

"At least until the Key created a new one."

[nonvillainouscipher]

His smile broadens a little, though it gains a somewhat bitter quality. "It must have been very hard back then. You know I'm friends with the Key; I'm also friends with her husband. And... you remember Edward, yes? The young man with the long blond hair who was with myself and Clark when we first met? Both he and Clark had a role in restoring it too, from what Edward told me about it, though it was before I knew them." He takes her hand for a moment to squeeze it gently. "I'll never know what it's like to lose your powers like that. I don't have a strong connection to the Force, just what most people have, and nine years of very intense, rigorous combat training. But I do sympathize."

((I've got some spring cleaning to do before my mom and stepfather come over for dinner, so I might be a bit sporadic in replying. Especially after they get here. Just as a heads-up :).))

[stealth_andsecrets]

"Many of the demons consider the Key a God. You are so lucky to be her friend."

((no problems. Should do some laundry myself))

[nonvillainouscipher]

He chuckles quietly. "No argument here. Though I'm sure you'll become friends with her too, given the chance to get to know each other better."

((Good plan! I'm basically done with my cleaning now, and my parentals are due over at 5:30 PM Central. But I'll more or less be gone at around 5-ish, to make final preparations :).))

[stealth_andsecrets]

Purple felt a little weird about that... but she suppossed it wouldn't hurt to try. "Maybe..."

[nonvillainouscipher]

He frowns over at her, a concerned expression rather than an unhappy one. "Are you worried about the circumstances of the Initiative's first interaction with her?" he asks, resting one hand gently on her shoulder for a moment, trying to reassure her. "She's not the type to carry grudges, you know... Neither is her husband."

[stealth_andsecrets]

"Not only the circumstances of our first interaction with her..."

"But like I said, many of our kind consider her a God. It would feel a little weird..."

[nonvillainouscipher]

He nods, understanding. "Like meeting someone you idolize for the first time. That would be awkward..." He leans over to kiss her cheek. "I think it'll work out fine. But we'll take care of it in your own time. And if you're not comfortable doing it at all, then we don't have to."

[stealth_andsecrets]

"Thanks... for not pushing me."

[nonvillainouscipher]

"Of course," he replies, brushing the back of his hand down her cheek for a moment. "The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable, for any reason." He finishes off his salad and waits for her to finish her soup, taking another few sips of wine.

[stealth_andsecrets]

"I got to admit, you have opened a whole new world of possibilities for me."

[nonvillainouscipher]

He smiles over at her. "I'm glad I have," he replies. "And it seems you've opened up a few for me as well. If I can help the Initiative in any way, I'd be glad to lend a hand." It's in his nature to be helpful; that's one of the reasons he takes so much time away from work to help out April, Clark, and Ed. "And I think both of us have several things to teach each other as well."

((When you have a moment, and assuming you still have them, would you mind dropping the full-sized image files you used to make Purple's icons into our shared Dropbox folder? They might come in handy for me at some point :).))

[stealth_andsecrets]

Purple leaned in to gently kiss him, so happy that he has offered his assistance. "That would be nice."

((can do))

[nonvillainouscipher]

He happily returns the kiss, resting a hand on the back of her head. "I live to serve," he replies, smiling.

((Thanks! Just finished copying them over :). Also, I should now be back up to my usual pace for tagging. Mom and Sky just left.))

[stealth_andsecrets]

She resists the obvious line that is right there, with a soft blush and a giggle. This is a first date after all. And it is about getting to know each other.

"So besides the dangers of the life of a spy, anything I should know about you?"

[nonvillainouscipher]

He laughs a little, then considers for a few moments. "I'm not quite sure where to start," he admits after a bit, with a somewhat sheepish chuckle. "Is there anything about me you're particularly curious about? There's not much that I'd consider 'off-limits'." A brief pause, then he smiles over at her a little. "Not to you, at any rate."

[stealth_andsecrets]

"How did you get the scars?" She might as well start with that question. She has a few concerns with her cybernetic implants. And figures, they might as well get the awkward conversation out of the way.

[nonvillainouscipher]

Except it's not awkward for him. His scars don't bother him. "Well, when I was eleven, I was caught in the middle of a terrorist attack on the Imperial colony I grew up on. They set thermite-based explosives in various places around the town. Primarily the economic, administrative, and military structures. I was standing beside one of the buildings that was wired to explode, near one of the windows. Thermite burns very hot—hot enough to melt the glass in the window I was standing beside. The molten glass and thermite were propelled outwards by the shockwave from the other explosives they used, and I got splashed by it."

[stealth_andsecrets]

She is glad that he didn't seem bothered by the question. And she gently touches his cheek, the side with the scars. "Any other scars, unseen?"

[nonvillainouscipher]

He smiles a little, leaning his cheek into her hand slightly. He was fortunate; nerve damage from the attack was minimal, and he still has full feeling on that side of his face. "Some," he answers. "Mostly from the earlier portions of my training, when I was still learning the basics of fighting. I've got a couple from vibroknives, and a few blaster burns. Most of those are somewhere on my torso."