(2024-09-19) Wondrous Blue Eyes

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Natlee Spatterspark comes by Ironforge HQ totally at random with no agenda, and happens upon Captain Jo Sparkwire. The two talk a little about themselves, and a lot about a certain fiance. ~2300 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

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Natlee wanders into Ironforge CCHQ, very casually, very randomly.

Jocoza is sitting in a chair in the corner, flipping through a little notebook.

[Natlee]: Oh, wow! Hi! It's the Captain!
Natlee gives a finger wiggly little wave and a big smile.

Jocoza blinks and looks up, pushing her goggles up on her forehead. "Oh, hello! Natlee, wasn't it? You're the one working with Slicket?"

[Natlee]: Um, yes, I worked in Westfall for a while before I got sick. I'm totally better now, though!

[Jocoza]: I'm glad to hear it. I hope it wasn't anything lasting. *Jo tucks away her little notebook*

[Natlee]: Turns out it was just like, an allergy, to this goblin perfume I'd been wearing. Serves me right, right?
Natlee giggles.
Natlee makes herself comfortable in a chair and fiddles with her pigtails.

[Jocoza]: Oh, dear! *Jo giggles* Who can tell what goblins put into things. It's good you figured it out. Maybe buy from a different goblin next time.

[Natlee]: Right??

[Natlee]: So um, how are you? You must be like, super busy and stressed. *her eyes are wide and sympathetic.*

Jocoza looks at Natlee, settled in her chair. "So… are you looking for your next assignment?"
Jocoza speaks at the same time as Natlee.

Natlee giggles.
[Natlee]: Oh no I was mostly just coming to like, see who was here and socialize a little? Now that I'm feeling better.
[Natlee]: I'll probably just tag along with Slicket next time he goes out.

[Jocoza]: Oh, good. Well, I'm not super busy and stressed. I do try to be here or in Dalaran when I can. We have a lot of groups all over Azeroth. It's quite a lot to keep track of. And it's always good to socialize with other gnomes. *Jo shoots Natlee a friendly smile*

[Natlee]: Toootally.
[Natlee]: Do you have much time for socializing though? *She twirls a pigtail*

[Jocoza]: More than you would think. *Jo blushes faintly* I find time for important things. I suppose I didn't announce in the newsletter, but I am engaged.

[Natlee]: Oh, Wow!!! *biggest eyes ever.* Congratulations!! Tell me all about it.

[Jocoza]: Oh, he's just perfect, *Jo says with a happy sigh. She is not biased at all.* No one in Cobalt, don't worry. He's a 7th Legion Siege Engineer, Kerlo Quarterflash.

[Natlee]: Wait, why would I be worried if he was in Cobalt…?

[Jocoza]: Oh, just that I… there's… there's a distance one has to keep as a Captain. I'm not always great at distance, but I do keep to rules of fraternization.
[Jocoza]: What about you, Natlee? Are you married?

Natlee giggles hysterically.
[Natlee]: Oh gosh, well for one I'm only like, barely seventy. Also, you know, I'm just kind of um… free-spirited I guess? But I love that journey for you. Tell me ALL about him. 7th Legion, huh?
Natlee leans her elbows on her knees, eyes enormous, feet kicking slightly at her chair.

Jocoza's smile has a little touch of sadness in it. "You remind me a little of a friend I once had. But yes, he was introduced to me by another friend - one I still have - who left Cobalt to join the 7th. She's back in Cobalt now, so you might've seen her poster. Tadget?”
Jocoza looks around and indicates a Cobalt Blade poster on the wall. "The gnome, obviously."

[Natlee]: Oh wow, you're friends with — well I guess you are, I mean, you're in charge of the Cobalt Blade. It's crazy having famous friends, right?

Jocoza giggles. "I suppose so. I wonder if I'm a famous friend these days? Anyway, yes, Tadget and I go way back. Like three years back, at least. Post-Gnomeregan."

[Natlee]: And the 7th Legion is pretty famous too, even if like, the individual members aren't. So that's like, a really good match, you both being part of such famous organizations, right? Are you like, totally in sync about everything?

[Jocoza]: There was a time we were less so. *Jo leans back a little, remembering* We disagreed about the wisdom of love in wartime. But I think we both came around to the conclusion that more love is always better than less, even with the risk of pain and grief.
[Jocoza]: These days, though, we're both so terribly busy, we try to snatch what time together we can. If you do end up dating someone in the special forces, I'd be happy to give you advice about that.

[Natlee]: Wow, that is like, sooo so so romantic. And now you're getting married huh? So I guess you must know him really really well even though you don't get much time together? Because it would be crazy to marry someone if you didn't know him well.

Jocoza blinks, and looks at Natlee a little more carefully. "Yes, I think I'd say I know him pretty well. I'd recognize his voice, or his footstep, or his mandolin-playing, or his poetry any day."

[Natlee]: He plays the mandolin? He writes poetry? *A little flash of something darts through Natlee's eyes, almost like envy.* Wow, suuuper super romantic. He sounds so great. Wow, aren't you lucky? *Big BIG smile!*

Jocoza looks for a moment like she might get out of her chair, but she remains sitting, still looking at Natlee. "He is rather great, but I don't mean to… are you having some kind of difficulty? I know you said free spirit, but…"

[Natlee]: Oh just um… well I mean not everyone is so lucky, you know? I've dated a lot… maybe even more than you, even though you're older than me. I mean, not much older… *Something about that brings a slightly mean glint to her eye*. But like…
[Natlee]: …people just… they always have dark secrets, you know? It's hard to find someone you can really trust.

Jocoza considers Natlee, and then nods seriously. "It's important to find someone you can trust not just with your present, but with your past. And I think we do have that in each other. I hope you do someday as well."

[Natlee]: Mm hm. *She nods. Eyes wide.* Just like… you know, for your own sake, be *sure* you know all about his past and everything before you commit to anything. Especially like… I mean are you thinking about… having babies and stuff?
Natlee wrinkles her nose with distaste just a little at "babies" but turns it into a big smile and an 'aww so cute' look.

Jocoza catches the nose-wrinkle-to-smile and looks at Natlee curiously. "Well, yes, I'd like to." Jo pauses, then takes a breath and says, "I always meant to, before Gnomeregan fell. But I lost my partners there, and since then… "

Natlee looks genuinely startled and sympathetic for a moment at the revelation that Jo lost her partners in Gnomeregan. For once she doesn't say anything.

[Jocoza]: Well, it wasn't until I met Kerlo that I really thought that might be a possibility in my future.

[Natlee]: So has he like… lost people too…? *There is something vulnerable, strangely hopeful in her gaze as she looks coyly at Jo from under her lashes.*

[Jocoza]: Yes, time hasn't been kind to him, either. *Jo leans forward a little onto her knees as she considers Natlee* It seems like it often isn't for our people.

[Natlee]: Oh well, I got lucky. *She avoids Jo's gaze and fluffs her hair.* I didn't even grow up in Gnomeregan so I avoided… all that. *She gestures vaguely. Circumstances.™ *

[Jocoza]: It can still hurt, *Jo says, sympathy in her voice and expression.* I've known a number of people who weren't there for the fall. I think it hurt Nish more than she liked to let on, and then there was Tibbiah - she was in Outland, came home after twenty-some years only to find it gone.
[Jocoza]: Where did you grow up, then?

[Natlee]: Kul Tiras and Kezan. So like, Gnomeregan is just a word to me, you know? Not like, a place. I don't have any… pride or whatever about it.

Jocoza 's smile is a little tremulous. "It was my whole world, until it suddenly wasn't. But… you must be feeling similarly out of sorts. With the ports closed to Kul Tiras, and what happened in Kezan…"

[Natlee]: Yeah, but I'm used to just kind of wandering around. Neither place was like, home home. It's fine, I'm just … seeing new places now! Like always. Only without my mom, because she was totally murdered.

Jocoza gasps.

[Natlee]: Right? I think she finally made the wrong person mad.

[Jocoza]: I'm so sorry! What happened?

[Natlee]: I'm still not sure, just like, there she was, super dead one day.
[Natlee]: Looked like it was at least pretty quick.
[Natlee]: Honestly it looked a little like a professional hit, so she must have really found the wrong person to annoy.

Jocoza looks like she really wants to hug Natlee right now, but Natlee doesn't seem super open to it. "Was she a mercenary, too?"

[Natlee]: I guess so. Or like, an independent adventurer of sorts. Just… maybe not as… noble as Cobalt Company type adventurers.
[Natlee]: We were kind of partners.
Natlee fluffs her hair, totally unfazed by her dead partnermom.

[Jocoza]: That must've been nice, working with your mother. I followed in my mother's footsteps too. She was really into electricity.
[Jocoza]: I try to be better with electrical safety.

[Natlee]: Oh did she get killed? *Her eyes go wide.*

Jocoza nods, with a little shrug. "It was a really long time ago. I miss her, but it was just a lab accident. These things happen."

[Natlee]: Electricity is a whole thing yeah.
Natlee considers. "I'm not sure if I miss my mom or not."

Jocoza raises her eyebrows a little. "You… you don't? Did you not like working with her?"

[Natlee]: It's like… when you're used to something and so it leaves a hole, or a mark, like a too tight bracelet you used to wear? But you kind of realize you're probably better off not wearing it? *She avoids Jo's gaze.* Like I say she wasn't…
[Natlee]: Cobalt material.
[Natlee]: But um, she wasn't all bad. She was really… pretty?
[Natlee]: And super clever.

[Jocoza]: Oh, dear. *Jo moves over to sit next to Natlee. The hugging is imminent, Natlee*

Natlee smiles brightly! She's fine, fine, it's fine!
[Natlee]: She could be like, really elegant, too, all dressed up? Taught me everything I know about fashion.

[Jocoza]: Do you take after her? *Jo asks* I mean, nothing inappropriate of course, but you do seem very fashionable and… blue eyes like that aren't common.

[Natlee]: Oh yeah, I totally have her eyes. She used to say so all the time. *She beams.*

[Jocoza]: I hate to ask, but it sounds like the case was never solved?

[Natlee]: Yeah, it wasn't a case so much, since we were kind of… I mean we didn't really keep in touch with uh… authorities or anything.
[Natlee]: It was just… a thing that happened. When I found her I just like… ran. In case they were after me too.
[Natlee]: But I turned over a new leaf and now I'm a priestess!

[Jocoza]: And now you're a part of Cobalt. *Jo hesitates* If that were ever something you would want to look into… I could make inquiries. She was a Spatterspark?

[Natlee]: Oh um… maybe you shouldn't look into it. She's not someone Cobalt Company would want to be … like, associated with, probably. You know?

Jocoza blinks. "Even if she did something in life we wouldn't agree with, in this case she's a victim. Unless… unless what you want is not to have her legacy follow you here. I can respect that."

[Natlee]: Aaaanyway, we got way off track. You were telling me all about your amazing fiance. And how you want to have kids and everything. You've talked about it? He wants kids too? Some men don't, is why I ask. I wouldn't want you to get your hopes up.

[Jocoza]: Oh, he does, he los… *Jo clears her throat* He's definitely on board for children. We've spoken about it.

Natlee suddenly looks stricken. She quickly covers it with a huge smile. "How great for you. I love that for you!"
[Natlee]: Just a wonderful new beginning for everybody! *Her smile is even bigger, her eyes very bright. Maybe a little too bright.*

[Jocoza]: Natlee, has someone… *Jo bites her lip, and reaches a hand over the table, not quite patting her on the shoulder.*
[Jocoza]: Are you alright?

[Natlee]: Oh, I don't want kids myself, I'm just saying like, that's great for you. It's so great when people get to just… start over, nice clean slate, no baggage, haha. Like me, I'm trying to do the same, with the priesthood and all. Fresh start!
Natlee's lashes glitter a little.

[Jocoza]: By all reports you've been an excellent priestess. Your assistance in the attack on the Dun Morogh airfield alone was impressive. And instrumental in preserving what could be preserved. Not to mention your work in Westfall.

[Natlee]: Oh yeah, Slicket and I totally dominated. Very different kind of partner but I'm goood at working in a pair.
Natlee furtively dabs at a corner of one eye.

[Jocoza]: I can see that. *She can also see that possible tear* I'll make certain the two of you get work suitable for your caliber in the future, if you have trouble finding anything.

[Natlee]: Thanks, that's super nice of you. Um, I should probably go. I'm sure you have a TON of work to do.

[Jocoza]: Okay, I wouldn't want to keep you. But you can drop me a note anytime, alright, Natlee?
[Jocoza]: I'm a mage, I travel easily.

[Natlee]: Aren't you just super nice? Love it. I will totally drop you a note some time.
[Natlee]: Anyway bye!

Jocoza smiles. "Take care out there."

[Natlee]: Totally. Always.
Natlee trots away.

As Natlee leaves, Jo murmurs, "Wondrous blue eyes, like her mother's."