Battletech: Planet's Fall

Klaus steps out of the cafe, a basket in his hand. "Good news, they have practically everything. Sandwiches, tea, coffee, wine." He extends an arm to his date. "I hope we can make it to the top before sunset." He continues a leisurely stroll to the cable car station. "But I hope that we can entertain ourselves no matter what."

Klaus is fairly relaxed clothes...at least my his standard, a pair of slacks, a nice dress shirt and a peacoat, along with the ubiquitous gloves and eyepatch.

Tessa walks alongside Klaus, pleased to have coffee. She takes his arm with a smile when it is offered. "I'm sure we'll manage. I'm really looking forward to the view, you?"

"Oh, certainly. And the mountain will be nice too" Klaus' eye twinkles with amusement and he leans in conspiratorially, placing a hand on his date's arm. "Seriously though, you look wonderful. I've never seen you in that before."

Klaus present the tickets for the rail car as they reach the station. "I know it's not the fanciest date, but your company is priceless. I knew...no, it's silly." Klaus looks away embarrassed.

"Now that leaves me torn; should I thank you for the compliment or for giving me a chance to wear this?" She flashes a cheeky smile at him. "Maybe both, oui?"

The humble comment meets a shake of her head. "I'm enjoying it. Stop worrying." She gives his arm a squeeze as they wait to board. "What's on your mind Klaus?"

"I like both. And I know exactly how you can express those thanks." Klaus responds with a cheeky smile of his own. He presents the tickets to the station attendant and makes his way to the cable car, holding the door for his date.

The interior is minimalist but honey, with faux wood paneling to give a rustic feel to an otherwise. The seats are cushioned, but not overly plush: it's a sightseeing event, not a lounge.

"It's nothing bad. Just a touch embarrassing for me." He pinched his fingers together as the cable car closes behind them and begins to climb into the horizon. " Embarrassing enough that I'd want to ask an embarrassing question in return"

"Hmm~ I'll have to be the judge of that." She responds in mirth, stepping in and taking a seat. "So, are you going to tell me or do I have to tickle it out of you?" Tessa crosses her arms, lifting a single eyebrow to strike a pose. "Or perhaps you just wanted to be tickled all along. Who can say with a strategist."

"Well, I think you might be quite cunning yourself madam, but I'll get to that later." Klaus bites the inside of his cheek.

"It's just that...you were the first thing that made me welcome in the Angels and I doubt you ever knew it. I had been cut out from the only life I knew, the only paty I had seen for myself. And here I was, about to sign my life away when I get handed a stack of papers and...They were perfect. Comprehensive without being redundant, clear, easy to follow and with almost no ambiguity on terms. I was wondering if I would be handing it into a literal platoon of bureaucrats, and I see a single gorgeous blonde who I assumed was a secretary." Klaus winces and offers an apologetic smile. "I am sorry for the assumption. I couldn't believe that you were in charge of it all, and working with you...it's the closest I've felt to normal."

He coughs. "Is that embarrassing enough? I want to ask a question."

"You're only embarrassing me there Klaus." Tessa replies with a little pink to her cheeks. "But you're not the first to assume I'm a secretary. Truth be told I've played the role a few times, when it's convenient. Erm, I have told Eric a few times that he needs a personal assistant though. Oh, I'm happy in my current role. He needs someone else to help with all his paperwork. I'd be happier if we had a few more staff, but..." She shrugs a little. "What can you do? It takes time to train them usually and there's only so much that junior staff can be trusted with."

She reaches out a hand to rub Klaus' shoulder. "I'm glad I could make you feel welcome. I do try to be warm and friendly to everyone that joins. It's not unusual that people join with some history, you know? Everyone needs a friendly smile at some point. Still, you sure shot up in the ranks quickly. I was your boss early on, and now... well, Iria may be the Chief Intelligence Officer, but you're our Intelligence Consultant at this stage. Between you and me... I think she's pretty irritated that nobody has been listening to her throughout this deployment."

"Hmm, thank you for giving me the heads up. I...don't always notice things like that. I get so wrapped up in my own head that I miss obvious things that I should have guessed on my own. I haven't stuck up for Iria as much as should have. I often find myself in agreement with her, and I think she has a good eye for strategy on her own. It's just been unfortunate that politics is playing as much of a part in this job as it has."

"I should see what I can do about that. You have rank, you deserve to have some more assistants sent your way. If you need it, I am more than happy to help with paperwork during our transit times. I'm not quite up to your standards Miss Tessa, but I think I have avoided embarrassing myself." Klaus reaches out to gently touch Tessa's hand, enjoying the silence. He finally coughs "Well, speaking of embarassing myself, and for missing the obvious: back on the morning before the party, when I was in your office were you flirting with me? Because you moved past me, and then bent over to reach for something and-" He cuts himself off. "And you have very nice hindquarters" He can feel himself coloring.

"No, I, what?" She turns red awfully quickly. "Oh gosh... I'm... so sorry." Letting go of Klaus' hand, she covers her mouth. She felt mortified.

"I was flirting but I wasn't trying to, erm, show anything on purpose!" She fidgets her hands together, looking down. "Does that count as my embarrassing thing?"

"I didn't see anything, I swear!" Klaus feels his blush deepen to match Tessa's. "It was a long skirt, so I didn't-well, that it was very nice and I imagined-ok I am going to shut up and kiss you now." He leans forward to place his lips on hers, hoping to change the subject.

"We are kind of a mess at this, aren't we?"

She pecks back shyly, but that's it. She's much too embarrassed for anything more!

"I can't believe you're younger than me." Tessa bemoans. She fiddles more. "I'm really out of practice here. I... I don't have much relationship experience. I only dated a few guys in high school, one at university and nothing serious since. I've been on dates, sure, but... they never went past the first one, you know? And..." She sits up straighter and gestures toward the windows and the view. "Now I'm here, enjoying time with someone I like, ahem, and some effort's been put into a nice evening and all I'm managing to do is show you my best impression of a ripe tomato."

"Well, for one, you are adorable like this." Klaus reaches for her hand, his own blush starting to fade. "And I see plenty more than you think."

"I...have" Klaus pauses. "Minimal experience as well. "Dating" was not something I have experienced much of, to be honest. I had plenty of social interaction with ladies: school events, balls, salons. But any sort of thing that would lead to a potential partnership was chaperoned. Heavily. And I wasn't exactly selecting my own dates. They were all arranged between my family and theirs. They were closer to job interviews or business deals than pleasure outings, and my parents were not exactly fishing in a deep pool."

"People have ideas about what it's like to be Lyran nobilty, but everyone is obsessed with the next generation, with what your children will be. Barring some truly cataclysmic run of deaths amongst my siblings, I will inherit next to nothing from my father. My eldest brother will take the barony, and likely the remainder of the estate. As a junior officer in the AFFC, my future was a prospect rather than a definite. After the "accident"" Klaus shakes his head. "Less so."

"So, I don't quite know what normal is. I'm just...enjoying time with a beautiful lady who seems worth being so flustered." Klaus offers a gentle smile. "And you're not that much older than I am, are you? It's rude to ask, I wouldn't guess a day over" he pauses, trying to pick a number that won't offend either way. "28? At the latest, I am sure."

Tessa only interjected when there was a pause. "I can't imagine..." Klaus' prior life was very, very different to her own.

She gives his hand a squeeze as she listened on.

"Does it... matter... erm, what normal is?" She asks before covering her mouth. "I shouldn't answer a question with a question. Sorry." Tessa lifted her chin a little as she tried faking some confidence. "You're well off the mark for my age. Clearly I'm twenty one and not a day older." She smiles through her embarrassment.

"You're a year out, but close enough. Why?"

"Well my dear, as much as I enjoy the idea of being your barely legal stud..." Klaus take the opportunity of his date taking his hand to slide closer, an arm encircling around Tessa's waist. "First, I must apologize: a gentleman should never make a lady reveal her age." There is bluster and bravado in his voice, but then his face softens.

"I ask, because, for one, I think you have plenty of time to find your right person. I don't want to rush you into a relationship because you don't know if there is another chance because, trust me, there are plenty interested." Klaus gently leans into his date. "What I would call "normal" is out the airlock at this point and besides, this" he points out to the city in the distance as it transforms into glowing pinpricks of light in the darkness "is far more enjoyable than what normal used to be."

Klaus lifts his hand and brings it gently to his lips, pressing her knuckles against them. "And my date is considerably lovelier and more charming as well"

"You've read too many medieval fantasy stories Klaus." She nudges her shoulder into him with an abashed smile. "How about we enjoy the trip up? I'd say we're about halfway up now. Torutovy's getting smaller, isn't it?"

Tessa leans into Klaus slightly.

"Is your homeworld similar to this?"

"Miss Wentworth, I am a medieval relic" Klaus replies drily. He gently strokes Tessa's face. "And I like this view very, very well."

His expression becomes more distant at the mention of home. "Close. The mountains and cold are the same, but nowhere near as prosperous. I've barely seen it for...a dozen years? My schooling wanted for nothing but that meant being shipped away. And then, it was heavily implied that I shouldn't show my face until I did something of note. That hasn't happened yet"

Klaus leans into the nudge. " What about you? Where are you from? "