= 8 =

[compos_mentis]

[Written]

Anyone know where I might find a fellow by the name of Norrington?
I'm due for a drink with the man.

[There is a pause. Her pen taps a few times before curiosity abounds, and then she just starts to write random terms. Someone, somewhere, must be curious enough to ask her, right. And after spending some time as Fergan, she sure needs

Comments

[written]

[lists_to_port]

Dear Miss,

I did not get your name, before. I see you're eager for our drink together and I cannot wait to see your loveliness in person. When would you like to join me?

Yours,

James Norrington

[written]

[compos_mentis]

[What's in a name... Nina Parker's a throwaway to her, so it doesn't matter, but at the same time . . . She's feeling sentimental, let's pretend Dee will get a date with anything which isn't an quaddropus]

Dahlia Edwards
I confess I am eager. Unless you have other plans, as soon as later tonight would be great

[written]

[lists_to_port]

Dear Lovely Dahlia,

Tonight serves perfectly. Shall I come for you or shall we meet?

Eager for Your Answer,

James

[written]

[compos_mentis]

[This letter form is pretty charming. She doesn't know any- no wait, Yume does it like that. Nina deletes all of Yume's sendfeeds though. Tap tap.]

Tell you what, why don't you pick me up? I'll be waiting at Community Building 2 tonight around sundown.

[written]

[lists_to_port]

Dearest Dahlia,

It shall be as you say.

Yours,

James

[What follows this brief note is a lot of scurrying around on Jack's part. He needs to look different. Disguised. Not himself.

So he takes a very long, very hot shower, using the good-smelling soapy stuff Buffy and Dawn left for him. That done, he shaves the beard and mustache. Pulls back the dreads. Forgoes the pirate garb in order to dress in some of the modern clothes that Buffy picked out for him once upon a time.

By the time the sun starts to set, a very different man--rather ordinary-looking--is heading toward Building 2 with halting steps. In the pocket of his coat is a dagger. He has left his sword at home.]

[written]

[compos_mentis]

[Oh good boy. Nina could be someone different... she actually briefly, So briefly considers it.

But there's no point, he already "knows" what she looks like no doubt and will be looking for her. Baring in mind that, all she does to prepare is make sure her appearance is in order, put on some nice-looking civvies (though, pants+shirt. Not a dress) as opposed to an all-purpose combat suit, and then puts her gun at a side-holster at her belt. Her voidblade she reduces to the awkward dagger weight and puts on her belt too. The hardest part is putting on shoes as opposed to combat boots, she almost always wears boots, but oh well. Done.

And she, in turn, actually waits just inside the ground floor, such that she can see the door. Waiting there for the guy to venture in... or perhaps he'll wait outside. Let's see what sort of man you are, James]

[action]

[lists_to_port]

[A few yards from the entrance of Building 2, Jack halts; looks up at the face of the building; pats his pocket briefly. Every muscle in his body is tensed as though he's just about to walk into a battle, or a prison. He'd wanted to meet this Nina because of curiosity, in part. What kind of person could have the Slayer running scared? Did she truly pose a threat to Dawn, as Buffy believed? He'd quite confidently assumed he would be able to read her easily. But things had changed after the shooting. Now he wasn't quite sure where his head was.

I don't want to kill her, at all at all.

Well now maybe he did. Maybe he did, just. Jack opens the door and walks inside.]

'Ello? Dahlia, love?

[action]

[compos_mentis]

[And there she is in all of her glory. To her credit, she looks genuinely curious. She'll be a hard read mate, because what you see... is usually what you get, it's just not true. That said, she gives him a once over and chuckles a little]

I have to say, you're more impressive than I was expecting, Norrington.

[action]

[lists_to_port]

You can call me James, lovely. [He bows slightly and offers his arm. Trying to remember the manners of an EITC officer. Trying not to think of how stunning she looks.] Shall we?

[action]

[compos_mentis]

[Arm. She looks at the arm and then concludes... oh, he must be from a culture where she would be escorted. The through process lasts only a few moments before she decides, no thank you, she'll feign ignorance and not latch for it, instead just taking a position next to him and nodding]

James then. Let's.

[action]

[lists_to_port]

[Jack is not to fazed by this; he needs to learn what will fly and what won't with this woman. So instead, he begins the walk to Good Spirits. Emotionally, though, he feels compromised; laid bare and raw. He wishes that Buffy had never told him about being shot. That alone is clouding his judgment, he can already tell. Each feeling that doesn't serve his own interests is a liability.]

Are you from earth as well, Miss Dahlia?

[action]

[compos_mentis]

[She shakes her head, lightly, allowing herself a cool laugh] Afraid not... I'm a spacer - I don't really have a planet to call home.

[action]

[lists_to_port]

Far more better to be a voyager, if you want my opinion; more exciting that way.

[He gives her a sideways glance.]

And in space, what do you do?

[Jack is wondering if he should have a conversation with McCoy about this girl. The doctor could at least fill him in on space facts--apart from it being filled with disease and danger, that is.]

[action]

[compos_mentis]

A little of everything- you might call me Odd Jobs Edwards. A little piracy upon a time until the law caught up with me, and then once I got myself out I decided to go legit... for a while. [There a pause here, she glances down at the ground, hinting at there being more. Sigh and she fumbles for her pocket. ... ... Well, let's just do it-]

James, mind if I smoke? Bad habit.

[action]

[lists_to_port]

Piracy, was it? [Jack does his best to sound offhand; not that interested.] Dangerous line of work for a young lady, is it not?

[action]

[compos_mentis]

[Taking that as her cue, she takes a cigarette out of her pocket. She puts it to her mouth and takes it in her lips - doesn't light up just yet though. She does turn to him]

Well, sometimes you just get born into situations. My parents weren't exactly stalwart citizens.