16214/Blushing Tiger, Shocked Witchblade

Blushing Tiger, Shocked Witchblade
Date of Scene:	30 October 2023
Location:	Harold's House of Oddities and Coffee House
Synopsis:	Joshua and Sara come across each other while getting hot beverages. Talk turns to flirting and plans are made for a second date.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Sara Pezzini

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Joshua Foley has posed:
After the burning ceremony, Joshua wanted to get out for a bit and catch some air. He wasn't ready to head back to the shop yet, so instead, he had found his way to a coffee shop he had been reading around on Yelp with some reviews on it's museum.

Making his way inside, he orders a hot chocolate and a cinnamon biscotti as he moves to find a place to look out on the night life outside. With his golden skin and bright blonde hair, he finds the irony and humor that he could very well be an exhibit in the shop himself as he reads the tags on some of the items.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara rarely went to Gotham. Batman's statement about 'outsiders' in his city kept her away most of the time, because if there was trouble in the city while she was there, she would help and that would tick the Bat off. In this particular case however, she'd made an exception due to needing to drop off a packet with the Gotham PD, a lovely gift from the NYPD with information on an up coming joint venture.

With obligation for one of her many jobs seen to, she got back on her motorcycle and headed to the coffee shop she used to go to with Dick. Parking outside, she swung her leg over the bike, removed her helmet and headed inside.

Joshua Foley has posed:
When the door opens, Joshua looks up and noticing Pez, he pauses for a moment. He had not expected her there. But he shoves that aside and raises his hand in a greeting to her. "Hey, Sara." he offers, a warm and genuine smile coming to his features.

"I thought I was the only one with interests in the weird." he teases. Though considering their group, it would only make since that she would be interested as well. "May I buy you a coffee?" he asks, already fishing out his wallet so he can buy her a drink.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Adjusting her leather jacket as the door closes behind her, Sara gets exactly ten seconds before she's spotted, being waved at and called over. It only takes her a second to recognize the voice, even less to put voice to face.

Crossing the room to his table she offers a smile as she says, "Just like the concept of good and evil, weird is a state of mind."

She was prepared to select her own table when he offers to buy her coffee, and as a cop it was law to never turn down free coffee. A voice in the back of her head, not Witchblade, whispers she should turn him down as he might not have that much money, but the cop law wins out. "I'd love a coffee," she replies to that, now moving to sit down across from him. "Nothing fancy though, just coffee with cream and sugar."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Will do." Joshua offers as he goes up to the bar, placing the order and in a few moments, is returning to the table to set the coffee, with a small server with sugar and a container of cream on the table.

"I apologize if you were at work and all. I just..." he pauses, why did he call out to her. He considers and finally continues. "...I was just going through the burning ritual and remembering what you had done." he retakes his seat and sips on his hot chocolate. "And I wanted to say that I hope you have better luck in the coming year. And maybe apologize for a bunch of jerk guys." That comment brings up a smile as he tips his cup for a smile.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
While he goes to get the coffee, Sara unzips her jacket but doesn't remove it. Like any office of the law, she is required to carry her side arm and the jacket conceals the shoulder holster. Getting comfortable she offers him a smile when he comes back, and takes a moment to add a dash of cream and just a spoon of sugar before stirring.

"Technically I'm always on duty in one way or another," she states first, tapping the spoon on the edge of the cup before setting it on a napkin. "So no need to worry yourself about that."

She handled that part like a master, the rest... well honestly she hadn't been expecting it at all and needed a moment to process, so chose then for a sip of the coffee. When the cup is back on the table, the smile remaining in place, she shrugs slightly.

"You are of course referring to my burning every past relationship I've been in," she then says with a hint of a chuckle. "If you apply logic, realize that I'm single and thus they all failed, burning them in a ritual makes perfect sense, right?"

An almost playful smirk dances across her lips before she adds, "Trust me when I say, the past is now the past. I've come to accept what was isn't necessarily what will be... but thanks for your concern. I also hope that this coming year is better."

A pause for another sip and she changes the topic with ease, "I have to admit, hearing what you were putting behind you hit me a little hard. I hate to hear that people have been treated poorly for what they are, and even with your past, you don't deserve that."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Well, I mean, burning every other relationship leaves you open to new ones." Joshua offers optimistically as he dips his biscotti to take a bite of it and considers the taste.

"I agree, though. The past is now the past. And you can't go back and change it." His hands move to settle around the cup. And then she brings up his part in the ceremony. "I have noone to blame but myself for it. I allowed my parents to color my attitude towards mutants when I was young. But I'm the one that did not break away, and instead, leaned harder into it."

He looks down at his hands in thought, not quite able to lift those grey eyes to meet hers as he feels the guilt.

"In a way, I did deserve it. Ignorance is not an excuse." That's simple rule of law there. "When the mutanimals attacked the lab I was at, that was the first time I realized what I had been aiding with. The Reavers had convinced me they were treating mutants. I didn't realze what that meant. I died in that lab. Literally."

He pauses. "It exploded around me. The last thought I had was that it was so very hot and I was so very sorry, I was sure I was going to Hell." He sighs and finally looks up to hold her gaze. "I woke up on a cororner's table. Fortunately, they had not done an autopsy on me yet. I walked out of there and spent a year on the streets before Nettie found me in the dumspter next to the shop. She took me in, cleaned me up and gave me a job."

There's a laugh and he shakes his head. "I'm prattling... but I feel like I should tell you things, because you're just..." he waves his hand over her. "...If I was a guy you wanted to know more about, I'd want you to know that stuff. Anyway. Nettie went to the Outback, took out the Reaver base. And the Reavers released their hold on me. So here I am. Trying to figure out my next step."

Another sip of cocoa.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara's body language reads calm and relaxed, with her right hand holding the handle of the coffee cup and the left one in her lap. On her right wrist is a wide silver band bracelet with a large fire opal red stone on it that almost seems to be looking back at anyone who looks at it.

She takes a sip of her coffee then sets the cup down hard, tension appearing between her shoulders, "Hold up now... you did not allow your parents to do anything," she states firmly, a hint of authority to her tone. "It was their job to teach you right from wrong, to prepare you for the world you live in, and they failed at that. It was in no way your fault that they kept your eyes closed to the reality of the world. So no blaming yourself for that."

Going silent to let him finish, almost relaxing once again, her shoulders tense up one more time. He was too hard on himself, and even if he wouldn't look up at her she could read the guilt in his body language. Being trained by the NYPD and being a detective, she knew how to read into things that weren't said and to read how someone presented themselves. She may not have wanted to all the time, but it wasn't something she could turn off.

"You are way too hard on yourself Joshua," she finally says when he finishes speaking. "Just like I told Lydia, we all have things in our pasts that we regret, that we can't change, and you can't let it eat you alive in the present. Let it go now, it's alright to forgive yourself."

Taking a slow, deep breath she tries to relax and lighten the conversation by adjusting her tone to a lighter one. "I'm glad Nettie found you, and that you are starting fresh to find your place in the world. It's not an easy thing, some changes..." she pauses there for what appears to be no reason, head canting very slightly. "... right, some changes in life are drastic and not in our control, but once you get back on your feet, you get the time to work it out."

Another sip of coffee, a moment to consider everything he said, and a moment to determine what he meant by it. "So, every pretty woman you want to get to know you're going to prattle that out to them?" She finally says in a more jovial tone, one brow raising slightly as a sly smile appears. "That might be a lot for some women to handle Joshua... but not me."

Joshua Foley has posed:
There's a small chuckle that bubbles up from Joshua. "This may be the last time I ever talk about it, so that may be why I'm long-winded." he admits. "We're both leaving a lot of baggage behind, and looking forward to something different.

"I help out in Bushwick when I'm not in the shop. There's a clinic there - mutants don't get great healthcare. Especially those that are abanonded." He considers. "Did I tell you what I can do?" he asks.

But then he gets a little hung up. There's a swallow and a blush that makes his golden cheeks seem more like sunshine. "You are very pretty." he admits. "And I'm hoping that I can get the chance to know you better. To ask you out on for dinner." he offers bravely. After all, in his mind, Sara is /way/ out of his league.

But you miss 100% of the pitches you don't swing at.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara was well aware of her looks and how they attracted men to her like moths to a flame. Unfortunately it was usually she who got burned, which had led her to be single for the past half a year. Joshua wasn't her usual type, but then again she didn't really have a type... she dated Wade Wilson, she could /not/ justify claiming a type.

"For this moment," she begins softly. "Let's put a pin in that dinner offer and before I finish speaking, we'll circle back around to it, alright?"

Sitting back a little in the chair, she crosses her legs as she watches him. The blush was adorable, no denying that, it said volumes about the man that words couldn't express. "From what you have said, I have already gleaned that you can heal people, but as for anything else you can do, you haven't said," she continues, folding her right hand in her lap with the left and out of habit, turning the bracelet around her right wrist once. "The art of 'getting to know' someone goes both ways, so with that in mind, why don't you share what you can do, and then ask me a question you want an answer to."

Retreiving her coffee she takes a sip then smoothly adds, "I like Chinese food, so pick the place, day and time."

Joshua Foley has posed:
And it's obvious that Joshua is inexperienced in this. But he's learning and growing a bit more in this confidence. He chews on his lip as he considers her question and decides to answer it honestly.

"Healing people is putting it simply. If I have knowledge of your injury, I can heal it. It's why I usually have a medical text with me and still make use of Xavier's extensive knowledge and practice at the clinic. I have not tried it yet, but if I was able to raise myself from death - I may be able to raise someone else." he explains. "This color..." he holds up his hand, turning it over so that it reflects the light. "Is a side-effect of that."

"There's a reverse to that as well. I can harm with a touch. I have to concentrate to do it, but I can lay hands on someone and break their bones, twist their organs, cause a heart attack or a stroke..." he closes his eyes, it's clearly not something he's used to doing. Or enjoys. "When my skin is completely black, I will harm people." That should give her a trigger in case she ever comes across him like that.

"I love Chinese, I can text you the details?" Which is a sneaky way to get her phone number.

For his question, he asks, "I know that you're a detective in the NYPD. What got you started on that line of work? Did you always want to be a cop?" he asks her curiously as he finishes off his cup on cocoa, but is in no hurry to get a refresh.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Every piece of information offered is tucked away in Sara's mind. She wasn't one for taking notes because she no longer needed to, if she didn't remember it, Witchblade did. What the ancient god thought of Joshua, she wasn't about to share, at least not yet. He tended to be hard on everyone who wasn't Sara, Nettie or Peggy Carter.

"It makes sense that with the good, comes the bad," she replies, watching his hand as he moves it in the air. The color of his skin didn't seem to be an issue to her, in fact he likely had already picked up on the fact that she didn't see a difference in him until he points it out. "I do find myself wondering if Witchblade could block your abilities though, since they aren't magical in nature."

She leaves that hanging there for a moment as she reaches into her jacket pocket and removes a business card. Sliding it across the table to him he will find just one number on it, but four titles. Senior Agent of SHIELD, NYPD Detective, Avenger, and of course the JLD. The woman wore many hats apparently.

"Smooth way to ask for my number," she teases as she takes her hand back. "I'm usually far more blunt, so feel free to do the same."

Another sip of her coffee is taken before she moves now to his question. "My father was NYPD, so I grew up wanting to be a police officer. I wanted to do good for this city, like he did." There is something almost painful in her tone, but she just keeps talking. "He was killed on the job almost four years ago, by the Franchetti family, but I was able to bring his killer to justice. Not the mob family itself, they sold out the murderer to end the investigation."

Taking a moment to shove all those emotions back in their box, she moves on. "I'm surprised you didn't ask why I'm a leader of the JLD, or was that your next question?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
Taking the card, Joshua slides it over and snaps a picture of it for his phone to process as a contact. With that, he puts the card away for future use. "I'm sorry for the loss of your father, but at least you were allowed closure." he says with sincerity as he adjusts to settle in his seat.

His hands fold onto the table in front of them. "You already have shown you're a good leader. And Nettie trusts you, as does Lydia. It's not my place to question that, nor do I want to." he admits to her quietly.

"You are more than qualified, obviously." And since she burned the past relationships, he knows better than to ask that. So - he actually does take her advice.

"You said you were always on duty." he asks as he gives her a little smile. "If you were to ever be off duty, what would you like to do for your free time?" There's a pause and he admits. "I'm really good at skateboarding." he explains. "It's a hobby of mine. What's yours?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Offering him a nod of acceptance regarding her father, Sara takes a deep breath. "Some closure, yes. I was able to look his sister in the eyes and tell her I got the killer, that was far more important in the moment than getting the whole Franchetti family behind bars."

Canting her head, she considers a moment, then decides to just go right into it. "I didn't mean why as in ability, I more meant why as in it is a magical based organization," she states. "The explanation of that, also explains why I'm always on duty. It explains why I'm an Avenger, why I'm part of SHIELD, and why its hard to get 'free time'."

Holding up her right hand, she pulls the sleeve back a little so he can see the bracelet she wears, and the minute she does the fire opal red stone starts swirling as if if is filled with red smoke. "Allow me to introduce you to Witchblade," she states. "He is an ancient artifact with the soul of a god. He is one of the Thirteen ancient artifacts, and most likely the most powerful of them. He is, and again I'm going to be blunt, attached by my soul, and mine to him. I am never truly alone."

Giving him time to look at the bracelet that is clearly looking back at him, she continues on to answer his question. "In the free time that I do get, no matter how little, I like to box. I competed in the NYPD boxing tournaments a few years, but there aren't many female officers who box any more." She sighs at this, not bothering to go into how she could box against male officers, but they wouldn't let her.

"I like watching movies, reading, and of course long walks on the..." she starts laughing before she can finish. "No, I can't do that to you. I do like movies and reading though, and I have never tried skateboarding but have always thought about trying it. I prefer physical activities over sitting around."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I have no magical ability and yet I'm part of the JLD." Joshua points out. "I think that was Nettie's excuse to get me on the payroll." There's a chuckle at that, "But she said that there is no full time healer on the team - so that's me."

And when Sara lifts her arm to introduce him to the Witchblade, he goes quiet as she explains it to him. His expression goes from one of surprise to curiosity and a tilt of his head. "Hello, Witchblade." he finally allows, because honestly, there's nothing else to say. "If I want to get to know you better, I guess I better make a good impression on him, or I may never reach first base." His tone is light and teasing, but she can see his curiosity of it all.

"Maybe you can let me show you sometime." he suggests about the skateboarding." He considers. She didn't ask him a question. But in the abscence of that, the twenty year old gets brave. If for a moment. "Oh?" he asks her curiously, and his smile turns playful. "What type of physical activities?" It's almost asked innocently.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Either something Joshua said causes Sara to bust up laughing, or perhaps it was something else, either way for a moment she sits across from laughing far too hard. Reaching up to wipe a tear from the corner of her right right she holds up her hand then to catch her breath.

"Witchblade can't speak audibly to the world," she explain, wiping her other eye. "But he does talk in my head non-stop, I mean constantly. Your 'first base' comment just made him shut up for a moment and I swear I heard his brain skid to a stop... I'm sorry, that's what I was laughing at. No one's ever done that to him."

Clearing her through a little she gets control of herself. "However, you aren't wrong about having to impress him to get to first base. I'm sure you've seen the news, or at least heard about Witchblade as an Avenger... that armor happens when he wants. If you haven't seen the armor, I'll show you another time."

Lifting her cup to take the last drink of her coffee she sets it back down, using that time to filly get herself under control. "I'd loved to learn how to skateboard," she then admits. "I can't break anything or hurt myself, so it should be a fun outing."

Now she smiles coyly, a slight tilt to her head, "Oh dear Joshua, do you want the blunt answer or a more, how would you say, girly answer to that final question? Hmmm? How about both?" SHe straightens up and he can see her put on an act, a shy teenager almost, "Oh geez, come one Josh, don't make me spell it out..." she even fakes a slight blush.

That lasts exactly long enough to say those words before she is back to her real demeanor, "Physical activities include, but are not limited to, sex."

Joshua Foley has posed:
When she bursts out laughing, Joshua is confused, clearly and about to backtrack on his obvious flirting attempt when she explains it all to him. There is a breath of relief as she does so. "Oh. Well, I assume he can hear me anyway, so." There's that.

And then she gets coy and shy, and Sara learns how easily she can make the young man across from her blush as he takes in her words and then ... she lowers the boom on him.

For a moment, his mind goes *TILT* as he digests the words and gets them back in order. With a dryness in his throat that makes him swallow, he decides to /escalate/.

"We're both done with our drinks." he comments, and then leans over towards her. "I'd like to see you spell it out to me, in every detail." A dangerous gambit to be sure.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
How quickly he went from a blush to a tiger actually catches Sara off guard and both of her eyes go wide as her jaw drops. She wasn't one to get embarrassed really, so there was no blushing, but it was obvious he just shocked the hell out of her.

"Whoa boy," she breathed out and fanned herself a moment. "Let's not go from first gear to over drive like that. However..."

Since he leaned closer and was in range, she leaned to meet him and place a small kiss against his lips before whispering, "There is a chance that this counts as a first date, Chinese will be a second date, and skateboarding a third... and we all know what happens on the third date."

Joshua Foley has posed:
To be honest, Joshua shocked the hell out of himself. But it's Gabby's words to him - that he should be more aggressive - that caused that momentary pause. The kiss to his lips shocks him enough that he leans back in his seat, that blush returning.

"I am not usually so forward." he admits, "I was trying to be different." But there's no argument from him on the order of the dates. "We'll see how dates two and three go then." His smile is warm and bright.

Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out his wallet and sets a fiver on the table for a tip. "It's late, and I need to catch the 'loop to get back to the shop for some shuteye."

He rises from his seat and brushes his hand over hers, a shy little motion. "I'll talk to you later."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
"Hey now," Sara says, watching him retreat and wanting to reach out to comfort him. She stops herself, figuring touching him would be a bad idea right now. "It's fine... be yourself, take chances, and know that all it takes is an explanation and time. I'm not going to flip out on you for trying something new, so yes... let's see how the dates go, and then we'll go from there."

She stands up, zipping her jacket back up as he brushes by, then turns slightly to let him escape. Truth be told, she didn't expect him to call. She figured he'd just scared himself bad enough, and then she piled on, but if he didn't call, it would still be alright. He would make a good friend... if he could look her in the eyes.

Joshua Foley has posed:
As he is leaving, he takes out his phone. Fingers dancing over the device as he gets on his skateboard, he his send before he takes off.

Joshua> Royal Dragon, Wed. 7 PM?

Sara Pezzini has posed:
When her phone vibrates, Sara is collecting a pastry to go so she pulls it out and stares blankly for a moment.

"Well I'll be damned..." she whispers, then her fingers dance over the keyboard to add his number and reply.

Det. Pezzini> I'll be there.