(Untitled)

[torch_reporter]

Winter is quickly coming to Smallville. Winter means a lot of things to many people. For Chloe Sullivan, it means an excuse to drink more coffee and coffee-related products than normal. No matter how crappy the Kansas winter got, she never complained about it, just for that reason

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[otherlife]

Someone is watching Chloe. Chloe might hypothetically assume this small, dark-skinned person to be female, because of the purple sundress (and nothing else), but it's actually difficult to tell. There are no other clearly female features, and this being Milliways, it might be a boy in a dress. The face is closer to a boy's face than a girl's.

And it's a bit like being watched by an animal. The stranger sits VERY still, peering with an unreadable expression.

[torch_reporter]

As Chloe sips at her latte, she looks around the bar proper to scan for any familiar faces. While she doesn't necessarily see anyone that matches that description, she does notice that set of eyes staring at her.

So, she frowns, staring back.

[otherlife]

The stranger's head tilts slightly to one side. Still that unreadable face, and a voice neither clearly male nor female -- "Hello."

[torch_reporter]

"Anyone ever told you that it's rude to stare?"

That would clearly be Chloe's version of 'hello.'

[otherlife]

"Nobody from your world," Sorve answers calmly. And keeps staring. Perhaps leaning a little to one side. "Are you a woman?"

[torch_reporter]

"Um, yeah."

Chloe tilts her head, eying the person (guy?) suspiciously. This whole staring thing is starting to get a little creepy. At least she's in Milliways and not back in Smallville; less chance of some weird Kryptofreak of Zoner attack.

"What do you think?"

[otherlife]

"All the time?"

This is fascinating.

[torch_reporter]

"Yes," she answers slowly, dragging out the s.

[otherlife]

"And they say most people are like that." Sorve considers this. "It must be very limiting."

[torch_reporter]

Sarcastically, "Don't tell me you can spontaneously change genders."

She kind of hopes not. The last person she met who can do this - Tina Greer, a shapeshifter - wasn't exactly the nicest girl ever.

[otherlife]

"Spontaneously? No, I wouldn't call it that. It usually takes a few hours."

Sorve is very nice. Just not too savvy in the ways of aliens. Aliens being, at this point, everybody.

[torch_reporter]

Chloe nods slowly.

"Ooookay."

Beat.

"You're not from Smallville, are you?"

[otherlife]

"No. I am Sorve Harth rem ir Estraven, Lord of Estre, in Kerm Land, in Karhide, on the planet Gethen."

You don't get much farther from Smallville than that.

[torch_reporter]

No, you really don't. But alien explains a lot.

"Think I could just call you Surve for short?" Chloe grins, waving a hand. "Chloe Sullivan, Smallville, Kansas, United States, Earth."

[otherlife]

"I am honored to meet you, Miz Surrivan," Sorve says diplomatically, his slight accent becoming a bit more noticable as he tries to pronounce her name. "You are the first female alien I have met."

[torch_reporter]

"Maybe Chloe might be easier," she suggests, wrinkling her nose at the pronunciation of her last name. "And um, it's an honor to meet you too. I think."

Beat.

"I hope."