Iroh is the nicest villain (westerndragon) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-03-14 22:49:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, iroh, sarah kerrigan, satele shan |
Who: Iroh and Sarah Kerrigan
Where: Iroh's house
What: flirting, installing a security system
When: Wednesday
Warnings/Rating: PG
Status complete
Sarah arrived at Iroh’s bright and early. They’d had to reschedule several times, but now she was here, and she was going to get the inspection and install done in one day, if it killed her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the zerg. Thousands of them, while her so-called friends abandoned her.
None of this was on her face or in her smile as she knocked.
Iroh was pleased with the security company's eagerness to accommodate his suddenly busy life. Between the drama and his new task Iroh barely had time to think. It suited him at the moment, but he knew it wasn't a good long term strategy. Still, he looked serene when he opened the door for the luscious Ms. Kerrigan. "Ah, come in. thank you for being so understanding about the scheduling difficulties."
“It’s all right! Alex and I were able to do some tweaking to the systems so they should be even better handling than before.” Sarah stepped inside, giving Iroh a little respectful bow of her head. She looked around his home with a critical and appraising eye. She’d already cased it once before knocking, and had a general idea of where she wanted to start.
Iroh moved when it appeared he was in her way. He didn’t want to impede her, and he certainly wanted to watch. “I’m impressed with your work ethic, both as a company and individually.” He picked up his tea cup and took a sip. Even on his day off during 80 degree weather Iroh was wearing long sleeves and pants. He was used to being a little warm.
“Thank you.” She put her pack on the floor, and bet over to rifle through it. She came up with some tools and started to walk around, doing her thing. She was dressed smartly, in jeans and a low cut, tight shirt. Easy to work in, and look good in, too.
She looked very good. Iroh couldn’t help but stare as he drank his tea. “You must have customers asking you out all the time.” He was tempted, but the recent incident with Azula and Zuko was reminding him why he’d decided against dating anymore. It was just too dangerous a lifestyle to bring in someone else.
“About as much as you’d think,” She said, nodding her head. “I never accept. It’s not good to mix business and pleasure. There are some people I’d make an exception for, though. I just don’t remember how to date.”
“You’re so young, has it really been so long for you?” This really wasn’t any of his business, but Iroh was nosy. It didn’t make much sense, he had enough familial intrigue to last a lifetime.
“I’m not that young. There wasn’t much time for dating when I was in the army, and I haven’t really been in the...mindset for dating since I left it.” There was something dark under her voice.
Iroh noticed the darker tone, but he didn’t want to upset the woman installing his security system. “I hope you get back into the correct mindset. Don’t let yourself grow old alone, Ms. Kerrigan.”
“I don’t need anyone.” It was almost, but not quite, a snap. She glanced at Iroh and gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. It’s a touchy subject.”
“Clearly, please forgive me. I forget my manners sometimes.” He didn’t want to offend her, he just wanted to talk a little. “What was your job in the army?”
“Mechanic, general repair bunny, and water girl.” Kerrigan couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “Non combat positions, you know. Except when there’s no front line, every place is a battlefield. I really wanted to be a sniper. I’m an amazing shot, and I’m not bragging.”
“Yes, it’s ridiculous to pretend that the support for the fighters is somehow not involved in the battle.” Iroh understood that concept well enough. “Are you a hunter, or do you shoot for the enjoyment alone?”
“Just for enjoyment.” Sarah nodded her head. “I’ve been shot, I’ve gotten medals for valor, and it’s still like none of that was acknowledged. They don’t start ‘allowing’ us into combat positions until what, last month?” She snorted, then tried to cool her anger. “I’m sorry. I get started sometimes and don’t know when to stop.”
“Your passion is a good trait, Ms. Kerrigan.” He smiled at her. “If I were running an army, I would want you in it.” Dedication and a desire to do one’s duty was the trait he looked for most in his people. He wanted people to care about their jobs. “Who taught you to shoot?”
“Thank you.” She smiled, a little happily. “My dad. I even won rifle competitions, including the junior championships.” Kerrigan was rightly proud of that. Maybe she should get back into the competition circuit.
“You really must be good.” Iroh was duly impressed. “I hope those skills won’t go to waste. I’m sure you’re a very good at your current job, but it’s always best to try to do what you love for a living.”
“I enjoy it.” Most of the time. Sarah gave Iroh a smile. “Thank you for your interest. Not many people seem to care about that sort of thing.”
“It is the only thing I find truly bothersome. People do not care enough about each other.” Iroh was seeing a lot of that attitude in the extreme at the moment. “Beside, it’s not often I get to chat with such a capable and interesting woman.”
“Thank you.” She started to turn the color of her hair, so she turned back to what she was doing. “Even with redundancies, your home will be pretty easy to wire, which will save you on development costs. Do you have a good safe, or a room you particularly want protected?”
“I have a safe in my bedroom, and I would like both to be well protected.” He led the way back to his bedroom, which was tastefully and sparsely decorated, like the rest of his house. He didn’t need a lot of sentimental objects. “The safe is in the closet, I decided against a wall safe, as they’re somewhat ridiculous, and the house is too small to really accommodate it.”
“It’s actually better to secure in the closet anyway.” She opened the closet and inspected the safe. “We’ll put some wiring on the safe in case someone tries to mess with it.” She got an annoyed look on her face. “Whoever put this in here was terrible. It wouldn’t take much effort to remove it from the floor and just cart it out of here. I can fix that.”
Iroh coughed. He’d put it in himself. “Yes, trust me, that man will never be installing security devices in my home again.” He had enough grace to smile, he’d hired her for her knowledge, after all.
Kerrigan nodded. “Good. Good. Okay, if you don’t mind, I can get started today? We can get the outside wired by evening, and then tonight or tomorrow we can get the rest done. Whichever you’d prefer.”
Was she flirting? Damn. She was flirting.
“I have no plans for the evening, and I would of course compensate you for the extra time.” His smile became warmer and more genuine. He wasn’t so old that a pretty girl taking that tone with him went over his head.
“Okay, I guess I’ll be staying late then, Iroh.” She gave him a little wink.
Iroh chuckled. “Please let me know if you need anything.” He managed not to stress the word anything, though it was tempting. “I want to keep you happy, since I’m putting my life in your hands.” His tone was a little teasing. Flirting was fine, nobody could get hurt if he flirted with them.
“My hands will take good care of you, I promise,” She replied back, in a similar tone. Kerrigan patted the safe. “I hear they’re talented.”
Iroh smirked at her. “I have no doubts about that.” She was confident, too. That was good. He liked confident women.
Sarah headed back out to the other rooms, in order to get things set up so she could wire the house. “The best part is this doesn’t require an active phone line, but if someone does cut your lines, it’ll still send an alarm.”
“That’s good to know. Do you get many customers with landlines anymore?” Iroh didn’t have one, but he did have a cell phone that he kept at home. His work phone stayed at work, and he had a personal one he used to talk to people he knew outside the family.
“I know traditional alarms require landlines, but this system doesn’t. I think that gives us a huge edge.” Sarah smiled at him.
“Oh, I see what you mean, now. It does give you a huge edge. I prefer not to have one.” He just didn’t see a need, and giving out a whole new number to everyone in the family would be such a pain.
“I’ll install a fake phone line. That way they can cut it and think they’re doing something, but then nothing’s happening.”
“I like the way you think.” Iroh said with a laugh. “Would you care for a drink? I was thinking of making another pot of tea.”
“Please, I’m parched.” Sarah wiped her hands on her jeans, and followed Iroh into the kitchen. “You like tea?”
Oh, she was definitely going to have stick around. “I do. It is one of my favorite things, actually. What kind do you like?” He pulled out various tins of loose leaf tea he had on a shelf. They were all neatly labeled in Japanese.
“Sweet tea. That’s my poison.” She hung out by the chair, waiting for him to sit before she did.
Iroh nodded. Usually the generic idea of tea in America was black, and he had one that was very good on its own, and even better sweet. He poured the leaves into a tea ball while the electric kettle heated up. “Would you like it chilled? I have enough ice for one glass.”
“Please,” Sarah replied. She fidgeted, still a little uncomfortable just standing there.
Iroh wondered why she was still standing. After a minute, and a little fidgetting, he motioned to a chair. “Please have a seat. I find that the moment I sit down the kettle boils, so I stay standing until the pot is done steeping.”
“....” Kerrigan nodded and then took a seat. “Sorry. Didn’t feel appropriate without asking, first.” She watched him make the tea, feeling suddenly odd.
“Don’t worry about it, I apologize for not offering earlier.” He smiled at her. “But please make yourself at home. I know things are more casual here, and at this point I am more than happy to embrace that.”
“I’m happy to do it however you want to, sir.” Kerrigan gave him a mock salute, clearly playing around and relaxed enough to do so.
He snickered. “Please, go slow with me. I have not done this in some time.” He set a teacup in front of the chair facing her and retrieved a glass from a cabinet which he filled with ice.
She laughed. “Iced tea? I somehow doubt it’s that hard to forget.”
“Actually, the iced tea I have not made before.” He eyed the glass a little. “I prefer it hot. I suppose that is just my nature.” He smiled at her. She was a very amusing woman. It was good to entertain a woman again, even if it was someone he was paying to do a job.
“I prefer things a little chilled,” Kerrigan replied. She picked up her glass and tasted the tea. It was just the right amount of sweet, and she closed her eyes, smiling. “Oh that’s just wonderful.”
“I am glad you enjoy it.” Iroh said with a smile while he sat down. He blew on his tea, and took a sip. It was delicious.
Sarah sat in silence for a moment, while she drank her tea. It was cool, and relaxing, and she didn’t feel in any particular hurry to go anywhere, or any rush to be away from him. He was a comforting presence.
He didn’t mind the silence. How people reacted to the lulls in conversation was very enlightening. Sarah was a very interesting woman. After he finished his cup of tea he rose to pour another. “What other things do you like? Shooting and tea have been covered, which makes me believe you must have quite an eclectic set of interests.”
“I like to read. Old war stories, strategies, histories. I’m a fan of classical music too. I know I don’t look it.” Sarah shrugged her shoulder. She liked what she liked and it didn’t matter what other people thought.
“I too like to read things like that. We learn best from the stories of those who came before us.” He smiled kindly at her. “And those who judge that sort of thing based on looks are fools. What we wear or look like doesn’t always reflect who we are.”
“I am who I am. I’m glad you think so, though. I think you’re a good sort.” Kerrigan put down her drink and nodded her head. “It’s easy to feel comfortable around you.”
Iroh smiled. “I am glad to hear that. My work is so formal and serious, when I’m not there I don’t like to make others feel they need to be either.”
"What do you do?" She looked genuinely curious.
“I help my brother run the family business. It’s a manufacturing company, so there’s a lot going on. Warehouses to manage, production staff to keep going, distributors, and buyer, all these things to keep an eye on at once.” It was more or less the truth. “There isn’t time for much more than small talk most of the time.”
She nodded. “I probably applied at one point or another. Before Mr. Rogan hired me, I was running into a lot of difficult finding a position anywhere.”
“Perhaps. I’m sorry you had difficulty finding a job, but I am glad to have the opportunity to meet you.” Iroh hoped she didn’t want to keep talking about his work.
“I’m glad too.” Sarah picked up her glass and raised it to toast the old man. “I hope all your business endevours go well.”
He tapped his cup carefully against her glass. “And I hope you find a job that you truly enjoy.”