16228/Out of My League Chinese

Out of My League Chinese
Date of Scene:	31 October 2023
Location:	Royal Dragon Restaurant
Synopsis:	Sara and Joshua meet for Chinese. They discuss what they are looking for in the other and Sara makes an offer to him before they have to deal with a small bigot problem.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Sara Pezzini

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Joshua Foley has posed:
She's not going to show.

That was Joshua's first thought. That Sara was pulling his leg when she kissed him and set the date and that she was going to send him a text sometime today calling it off. That text never came. And that's when he got nervous. Clearly, he thinks she could do better than him.

But, now he had to commit. There was precious little in his closet - when Nettie found him, all he had were the clothes on his back and a skateboard. That's grown a little bit. He arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes early, simply to calm his nerves and have a couple of sweet teas. Whenever the waitress came back, he was sure. "I'm waiting for my date." he managed.

Dressed in a pair of khaki pants, and a black long sleeve button up that fits well over his torso, it also accents his golden skin rather nicely, giving it a glow. His hair is freshly washed and cleaned, giving it a bit of body as he fidgets with his fingers.

He had checked before leaving 'is bringing flowers on a first date a bad idea' and got a resounding yes. So. Empty handed, though by not buying flowers, he can afford to pay for the meal and have money left over.

The waitress comes by to ask if he needs a refill. He considers. And then realizes if he gets up to go to the bathroom after another glass of tea, she may arrive and thing he stood her up and leave. "No thanks."

All this to say, he's seated at a corner table where he can be seen and more nervous than a death row inmate waiting for a last second reprieve.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
The second tick by almost audibly, counting down to the seven o'clock meeting time. Sara however, was working with extra time. She had actually left work on time, gone home and showered, then spend thirty minute looking through her closet for something that could be considered date worthy. It had been a long time since she bothered to actually dress for an occasion, normally they got jeans, a turtle neck and her jacket.

Tonight was different, tonight was an actual emerald pencil dress that went to her knees, and a pair of pumps that matched. Her hair was blown dry with the sides pulled up with combs to keep it from falling in her face. No make up, no jewelry other than Witchblade, she didn't believe those things were needed, it made it all fake.

While she was preparing herself, and part of the time she was selecting the dress, she kept thinking about the possibilities, and of course wondering if Joshua was serious or just having the usual male gut reaction to her. Either way, it was a free meal and only time would tell.

Due to the dress she took a taxi to the restaurant, and due to the chill in the air she had added a long black coat, but that came off the minute she walked through the door. She hung it over her arm as she looked around the room, spotting his location as well as every possible exit and who was in the room.

Wearing hills didn't change the gate of her walk, is merely added an appearance of grace as she approached the table.

Joshua Foley has posed:
When Sara arrived, Josh actually had to rub his eyes to convince himself she's really there. And looks every bit the part of every (straight) guy's dream date. It takes a couple of breaths, but he steadies himself as he rises from his chair, a warm smile offered to Sara as she approached him.

"Sara, hey!" he greets with a small chuckle. "You look..." he tries to figure it out. "I'm sure there is a word in the English vocabulary that would fit how you look, but I doubt I know what it is. Let's just go with amazing." And he at least thanks himself for ironing his clothes before putting them on since he is standing in front of the emerald of the East Coast.

Daringly, perhaps, he takes a moment and greets her with a light kiss on the cheek before he turns to pull out her chair for her. "I haven't ordered anything other than a drink so far. Sweet tea." There's a pause there. "I'm not sure I could get drunk if I was able to."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Laying her coat over the back of an extra chair, Sara grins rather brightly as Joshua looks for a word to describe her. She would have settled for 'good', 'feminine', and or 'real', but he finally settled on amazing which makes her chuckle.

"Thank you," she offers, and accepts the kiss on the cheek. As he leans in, she brushes her hand against his arm for a moment, one those female signals that signals clearly 'what you just did was okay'. If Josh didn't speak code, he'd learn quickly.

"You clean up nicely Joshua," she then adds as she accepts the pulled out chair by settling herself into it. Thought at the mention of the sweet tea she shoots a look toward the waitress before looking back to whisper with a playful grin, "Did she threaten you with in an inch of your life for that?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
He does not know feminine code yet. But the touch to his arm is nice and there is no complaint from Joshua on it as he helps her into her seat before he moves to return to his own. Settling in, she'll notice that his golden cheeks glow a little brighter when she compliments him - the approximation of a blush. "Thank you." comes the response to the comment.

When she turns his attention to the waitress, there's a shake of his head. "No," he starts, before gesturing to a small pile of debris. A small tea pot and cup set and a small pile of sugar packets. "The sweet tea was 'DIY'." His look is one of amusement. "And she said something I didn't understand." Which may have been the whole 'murder' thing Sara mentioned.

"How have you been? I've had a busy last couple of days." he admits, "Been busy at the clinic and with my studies. Have the deliveries I've been taking care of. Little bit of skateboard practice. Xavier's was good enough to give me access to the school so I can further my studies in medicine. Their career counselor thinks I'd make an excellent doctor."

"Though I guess I'd be niche, since basically, I don't need to use any medical tools. A lot of people will be turned off by that. Or I'd be called a heretic." Realizing he's about to go down a wrong path, he pulls back and gives the table to her while he looks at the menu.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
As the waitress appears with the pot for Joshua, Sara just nods and gestures to it as she says, "Without the sugar, please." No way was she getting muttered about, her father used to have sugar in his tea and they were always muttering.

"Mandarin is a complex language, but I'm pretty sure she was hating on your sweet tea... politely," she adds that last word in there but was already chuckling. "My father had his tea sweet as well, I've learned a few words of Mandarin as a result, none of them repeatable in public."

Collecting the menu from the table, she angles it to look at and still be able to see him. "I've just been working," she replies plainly. "No major cases in the past few days, which has given me more training time with the unit. They were all surprised to get out on time today, so I made sure to tell them they should tank you." She grins at this, looking up slightly to see his facial response before her hazel eyes go back to the menu. "I have no idea who Xavier is, but I'm glad he's helping you out. Getting a good education can set you for life, and if there's anything I can help with in that regard, let me know."

When his tone changes she looks up fully at him. "Become a doctor, learn everything you need to get a medical license, even go for being a surgeon, then rub that shit in the nose of anyone and everyone who might want to call you a heretic," she states with a hint of fire to her tone. "See, by doing that Joshua, you did it their way and your own way, and they can go fuck themselves."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Xavier's is an institue in Westchester. They mainly school people like me." Mutants, he means. "I'm too old to be a student, but can take college courses there, which I've been doing." Joshua explains as he lifts his grey eyes to meet hers. Her smile makes his own even warmer.

"You know..." he says in a whisper. "...let them mutter, I'm here with you and that's all that matters to me. Well, unless they spit in my food."

A bright grin hits his face when she mentions she got off early, amusement in his grey eyes as he suggests, "Imagine how well they'll recieve me if this goes well and we move forward." A wink at her, he's at least trying to keep up with her little flirts. Then he returns his attention Xavier. "I've been offered a full scholarship ride. I want to continue to help the shop, so I'm going to try to juggle both, especially since we have the group to consider. I don't want to give that up."

When she starts speaking passionately though, his hand instinctively takes hers, his thumb rubbing over the top of it. "I'm working on it. I know my genetics are unique and I can do some powerful things with them. But that doesn't mean I want it to be my all and I forget that there are other things out there." he admits. "As for helping me? you are. Though I could make a comment about wanting to get a better look at your anatomy." Another blush of his cheeks at that suggestion.

The waitress returns with Sara's drinks. "Now you ready to order?" she asks Joshua bluntly, and he looks over at Sara to see if she is, before he nods. "I'll have the Light It Up Lo Mein." Someone wants spicy food.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara thought she knew about all the schools in the area, but apparently one had managed to slip past her noticing. Maybe it was designed that way, since it was for mutants, or perhaps it was just far enough out that she hadn't heard of it before.

"I'm glad you have a place to get an education from, and a full scholarship... you can't beat that," she offers with a smile before whispering back, "I seriously doubt they would spit in your food, curtesy is usually important."

Finally laying the menu down, she continues with, "Your education is far more important that anything else out there, including myself. If you can juggle the shop and helping out the JLD, then fine, but don't let your education suffer for it."

Now she grins coyly and raises one brow slightly, "My anatomy is near perfect, and I'm certain that should you continue along this chosen path, an opportunity to study it just might happen." Her voice remains social level, not too loud but not a whisper either.

When the waitress returns she slides the menu toward the end of the table, "I'd like spring rolls, an order of the Mapo Tofu, and Wonton Soup." She's Italian, spice isn't a requirement but when in the mood, she can handle it.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Tread carefully." Joshua reminds himself at Sara's comment, and he finally remembers to release her hand - that might have been a faux pas. "It's kind of cheating." comes his admission. "All I really need to do is study and memorize how to heal something, and I can do it. No practical exam neccessary. I thought maybe about, instead of being a doctor, maybe being a paramedic, that way I can complete my education faster and be helpful."

"The clinic in Bushwick is already using me. They're overrun and understaffed. I helped a girl yesterday come down off a drug overdose. Reset a broken arm. A few other odds and ends. I can balance it." he promises her.

"A private room would be nice. I'm staying in the crash space at the shop right now, I have a dorm room at the Institute, but I'm only up there a couple of times a week for classes. Something that I can just put my stuff in with no worries. Not that I'm worried about the shop space." But no privacy.

Then he grins up at her. "So have you had a chance to practice skateboarding yet?" he asks her with renewed warmth. "Or do you need any help in like finding a skateboard and all that? I can probably let you borrow mine, but it's kinda old and broken in."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara grins playfully, tickling the palm of his hand as he took it back, then moved to pour some tea into her cup to let it start cooling. "I don't have to tread carefully, or have you forgotten the one simple fact of dating?" The grin goes mischievous. "Men go on a date wondering if they will get lucky, woman go on a date already knowing the answer." Winking, she picks up the tea cup for a sip and to let that sink in a moment.

"In regards to a room of your own, I have numerous empty bedrooms at my house," she offers, whether his brain melted or not. "I also have several extra motorcycles and an old truck, if you need a vehicle to use to get around."

So as not to linger on the offer too long and make him uncomfortable she reaches into her coat pocket to remove her phone, opens it up and shows him a video of skateboarders, "That is the extent of education thus far, and if you watch long enough the guy ruins his chances for children at the end." She keeps a straight face no matter how hysterically the guy destroys the family jewels. "How about we plan a trip to a store to get what is needed before going over and finding out if I can skateboard or not?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
There's a blush for several moments as he wraps his brain around her statement, and then Joshua speaks honestly. "Actually, I'm hoping for a relationship. Getting 'lucky' is definetly part of that, but I'm not looking for anything that's a single night..."

"I mean, you also probably have a bedroom to share if things work out." he comments teasingly, "But if it doesn't, I would consider it. Even if we were in a relationship, since you may not want to see me every night." Because that could very well be the case. "You'll have to show me how to ride, though, I do not have a driver's license, never needed it."

His fingers curl over hers when she tickles her palm and then she brings up the videos. "I know this guy. He totally deserved the ball busting!" he admits with a snicker. "That was my thought too. There are some shops that rent boards, so I was going to suggest that so we can at least figure out if you like it. You may hate it and we don't have a third date." he points out to her. "Or plan something else." to show he's kidding.

And then he swings all the way back to the top. And he looks her over, drinking her in with his eyes as the food arrives at the table. "Do I get a guess at what your answer is on the 'get lucky' part of the date?" he ventures boldly.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Curling her fingers with his, Sara takes a moment to let his words dance around in her head. He was looking for the real thing. While not unwanted, it was unexpected. She really thought he was headed for the bedroom mambo, and likely a 'see you later'.

"Getting lucky is a third date thing," she informed him with a newly formed smile. "This is only date two so..." she waggle her free hand a moment, then gives a thumbs down. "This option could change depending on the remainder of the evening however."

"Now, to put teasing aside for a moment, I'll ask a blunt question that keeps repeating in my head... and isn't Witchblade." A sip of tea give he a moment to try and find a way to word the question without sounding harsh. It would be blunt, that's just how it was. "How can you be certain at this moment, having only just met me, that a relationship is what you want? I'm not saying no, or that there's no chance, because honestly I'd like a relationship myself, I'm just curious to know what brought it about."

Not to pile on after that, she does however speak on the skateboarding thing. "I roller skated a great deal as a kid, always loved the way it felt to go fast which is in fact why I love motorcycles. So step one, get you a license, step two teach you to ride," she wiggles her brows for no apparent reason. "I'm pretty certain I'll like skateboarding, and if I have someone to do it with, owning my own is the best option."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Which was I about to say, you had made it clear that three dates before you even consider sex, unless something extraordinary happens over the noodles tonight. And for what it's worth, there's no expectations on the third date. You made that comment, but really, if it was a choice between sex and never dating again, or another date with you, I'd take the latter." he admits.

"I've had a few days to tumble it over in my mind, Sara." comes his soft confession. His tone is a little lower, it's not something he wants other tables to overhear. "I've never had a serious relationship. There's been a couple of flights of fancy. There's been a couple of one night stands. I want to feel a kinship, to know what it's like to spend time with someone, to understand what it's like to have them take root in my heart without worrying if they're going to be gone the next day."

"I was assuming that was going to take a while. Then I met you. And it's like this little spark came to life. And I realized, I wanted to fan it. I didn't want to want to run away. I wanted to feel that flame - even if it burns me in the end."

He looks up at her and chuckles. "You can flee for the door now if you want."

"I mean, if we're talking about teaching each other things... it is definetly a multiple step and possible date process. I would like to learn, for what it's worth. I'd like to see you near me when I'm looking through a medical text and ask you how it pertains to your work. I'd not even mind listening when you had a bad day."

And yeah, he stops there, finally taking a bite of his food and looking down at it so he doesn't have to see her face after he just spilled his heart so spectacularly.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Listening to the words that clearly come from his heart, Sara keeps a gentle smile on her face. They've put the teasing aside, and from him comes some of the kindest words she'd heard in a long time. She's spent the past few days thinking wham, bam, thank you ma'am, and here he was clearly looking for more. It made her feel guilty for thinking other wise.

Reaching over she lays her other hand on his, the one she's been holding, then smooths her fingers across the back in a light caress before taking both hands back to allow him to eat.

"I could claim to have had serious relationships in the past, but clearly they couldn't have been all that serious because here I am," her smile saddens slightly before she straightens her back up and nods. "I tossed those away now, you watched me burn them and I was serious about not looking back at them. I didn't expect to find myself interested in anyone quite so quickly, and yet here we are."

A soft chuckle escapes her as she shakes her head wistfully. "If I wasn't interested in more than sex, I wouldn't be here. I would have just taken you home the other night after coffee, but I'm looking for something real. I'm looking to be with someone who will be there through the good and the bad, and who won't mind that I'm a huge call of crazy with an ancient entity attached to me."

It was apparently her turn to ramble, or at least that's what she felt like she was doing. "But listen, no matter what happened between us, that room offer stands. I've been alone in that house long enough, and well... it would make it easier to complain about my day if you lived there."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Her hands are soft and warm. And he is reluctant to surrender them, but he does want to get a little something in his system.

"I watched you burn all those and reset that - and I didn't want you to think I was trying to take advantage of you while you were vulnerable. That was the scariest part about asking you out." he admits quietly.

"I don't want to be a picture on the fire next year." comes the admits to her as he lifts his grey eyes to meet her eyes evenly. "I want to be the one standing beside you, holding your hand and celebrating the first of hopefully many years together."

"I accepted you already. Even the crazy. I mean, I'm a mutant that is forever gold except when I'm trying to kill someone. You accepted that." He draws in a breath and considers her. "Would it be forward to suggest we take a look at that room tonight? Just your honest thought. No expectations of anything." he promises her. The attraction is there, it's true and he's trying to hold true to her word.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Collecting her chopsticks, Sara holds them like an expert but not exactly like she's been using them her whole life. She had said Chinese was her favorite, so clearly she's had the practice.

"My last relationship ended over a year ago," she admits with a slight shrug. "It just haunted me far longer than it should have, which is why it got burned with the rest... but I have to warn you about something."

She doesn't take a bite yet, merely holds the sticks. "Everyone I've ever cared about is either dead or left, with the exception of my Aunt Ruth, and the only reason she's the exception is that she is under security surveillance twenty-four seven. I have enemies from my police work. Witchblade has enemies that are far, far worse, and anyone I let in to my life is ask risk."

Using her other hand she takes a sip of her tea, "Now, I don't think any of that is going to scare you off, at least I hope it doesn't, but you have a right to know about it just in case." Setting the cup back down, she finally meets his eyes with her own. "You haven't even begun to see the crazy, and you haven't met Witchblade yet, so I'll give you a chance to flee when that happens." She chuckles again as this offer, even though she's pretty sure he won't flee.

"After dinner, we'll take a cab back to my house and you can check out all the rooms, even mine," she leans a little closer as the tease in her tone comes back. "And then you can pick any room but mine."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Josh is a heathen. You know how you can tell? He's using a fork. Blame his upbringing. White bread family, everything is white bread and he's figuring out his own way now.

"So." he says quietly as he sets down his fork to consider it. "I'm sure most people would have fled from either me saying I want a commited, exclusive relatioship with you, or you saying you have a lot of weird things in your life and things that could kill me."

He purses his lips for a moment, then he comments in a rather serious tone. "I told you my ability. Maybe it is fate that we met, Sara. Because that which harms me. That which kills me? I just get back up again." Resurrection is an ability, after all.

When she suggests going back to her place - and then that terrible terrible extra piece that he can't pick her room, he laughs and suggests lightly. "Then the room closest to you. Or, you could pick my room."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
"I can't imagine why anyone would flee from your suggestion of a committed, exclusive relationship," Sara states, eyes on his fork for a moment as she considers how to teach him to use chopstick. Witchblade has a few things on that matter that she promptly ignores, because everyone of them involves a fight to the death... he's a really annoying god sometimes. "I've been in poly relationships before, I've been with women before, I've been monogamous before... so you saying you want a real relationship, not the scariest thing in the world."

Taking a bite of a spring roll, not dipped in anything, she savors the flavors before swallowing. She has kept her voice low, so their conversation was just between them, and she continues to do so. "I don't like the idea of you having to die, even if you can come back from it... but it's oddly comforting to know you will come back."

All of a sudden she looks to their right where a man and woman are sitting at the table staring at Joshua. It's not disgust on their face, but they both clearly have some sort of issue with the color of his skin. Without missing a beat the New Yorker in Sara comes screaming out at she says, "You wanna mind your own fucking business? Yeah? Thought so."

At this point she looks back to him and offers a smile as if she didn't just rip their heads off, "The room next to mine is the second largest, and has a nice sized closet. It was my room growing up, but trust me... you won't find any barbie dolls or posters on the walls."

Joshua Foley has posed:
When Sara screams at the pair, Joshua winces. He had been ignoring them - really trying to ignore them the whole night. It was why he looked down a couple of times guiltily.

But now that Sara is speaking up, Joshua pulls on some small reserve of bravery and straightens up. "I know, I'm out of her league, but I like her anyway." he offers to the pair with a cheerful smile. "And yeah - /it's/ gold too." Okay, a little overkill, but he's so over being made fun of for his skin tone.

Though when he looks back to Sara, some of that bravado slips away. "Can we get this to go? I'm not so hungry anymore."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara waves the waitress over, "If you can get this in containers and in bags before I arrest myself for assaulting that couple over there," she says loud enough to be heard by the entire restaurant. "There's a huge tip for you."

Even as she is looking back to Joshua, and reaching over to take his hand for a moment, the waitress is collecting things back into a tray to package up. The couple at this point are trying to slink into their chairs because everyone is staring at them, which is exactly what Sara had hoped would happen.

"We can eat it at my house," she says quietly to him, giving his hand a squeeze. "You shouldn't let assholes like that bother you though, they just lack the proper education in social etiquette."

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua's fingers lace into Sara's, holding onto her tightly. She can feel the small tremble in his muscles. And the guilt. Because not too long ago, she would have been reaming him out for the same behaviours.

She squeezes his hand and he returns it as the waitress is returning with their food and the check. Oh, right! Releasing her hand for a moment, he moves to take out his wallet and after looking at the bill, sets three twenties on the tray. Sara did promise a large tip and Joshua thinks that a ten is a good tip, right?

Standing up, he puts the bag of food in one hand, and offers his other hand to her. "Do we need an Uber or a taxi?" he asks her curiously. Because he is ready to get out of here.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Standing up herself, Sara collects her coat to slip on while giving the couple one more glare then turns all of her attention back to Joshua. With her phone in her free hand, the other one goes to take his offered hand, and she starts toward the door.

"We'll call an Uber if we have to, but there may be a taxi to hail out there already," she comments, also feeling the need to leave. She'd been arrested once, by her father, while still in the academy, but this was more related to the anger from Witchblade.

The ancient god was tasked with maintaining the balance of this world for all of mankind. He didn't differentiate between mutant, metahuman, and human, they are all his to protect.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Sounds good," Joshua says as he walks with Sara to the door, he opens it for her, to let her go first. And then he follows her out onto the street beyond so that they can wait for their ride home... well. Their home?

At least that's how it's shaping up.