Do not start with c++. Although the base code of eos.io is written in c++, you can interface with its core in Java or JavaScript or even c# without to many hassles if you know how to bind a wrapper to a native library. I think C# is the clearest option, and has a lot of support to do just that. But if anyone would be so brave to make a nodejs interface, you could do JavaScript as well. On the other hand, sticking with pure smart contracts probably fixes you against solidity for at least the near future.