15040/Is it the Super or the Man

Is it the Super or the Man
Date of Scene:	06 May 2023
Location:	The Daily Planet
Synopsis:	Lucifer and Sinister make a trip to the Daily Planet, beginning their hunt for Superman, himself.
Cast of Characters:	Lucifer, Sinister, Superman

---

Lucifer has posed:
It doesn't take Lucifer and Sinister long to grace the city that is Metropolis. Bludhaven isn't really that far from most places, being some sort of central melting pot to New York, Sunnydale, Gotham and here. He knows a few things about the city, just enough to at least not get lost when trying to get somewhere. Sure he could have cheated and just teleported the two of them right to the building they were looking for - but he decided to take the scenic route...just a couple blocks from The Daily Planet.

"You know, I never did get around to contacting Lois and asking if we could just pop by. I hope we're not interrupting anything she might be working on. I just know that she's likely the one person we can talk to here that might have any inclination of where to look for...someone." Lucifer loses his train of thought as they approach the building and - after walking in - the mass of reporters running around and people trying to scramble for this printer or that office is...astounding. Receptionist? There may be one.

"Any chance we could talk to Lois Lane? Is she in today?"

Sinister has posed:
So here's the other half of this not-so-dynamic duo sporting smart casual as it goes. Poloneck, leather jacket over it, designer jeans. Human face, because his other face would raise questions in here. "Colour me surprised, given how busy we've been lately," Nathaniel replies with a look at the security, who are present but honestly probably overworked and underpaid and with a smile to the similarly stressed out receptionist. "We wanted to give her an exclusive, if that's possible..." he turns on the English charm just a little, leaning lightly on the counter as he looks to the elevators, the names on the wall, the stickynotes, the impossible bustle.

"You know, it's a wonder anything actually goes to press any more, it seems like an endless circus of not very organized chaos."

Superman has posed:
A receptionist is down there. An intern, to be exact, but they will stop the pair. However, the young man is giving glances to Lucifer. Must be something magnetic about them. Although, Nathaniel may get a few looks. Albeit, a little less lust driven.

They're about to open their mouth when Sinister drops the word, "Exclusive."

A lot of people -think- they have exlusives. Or stories that haven't been done before. "What kind of exclusive?" they ask cautiously. Obviously, the man with the button up t-shirt, a dark green with a bunch of white dots that make the shirt almost look like it's embossed, or a little textured, it's tucked into a siple black pair of slacks. The kid is -more than likely- an intern or some fresh face new hire. Howver, an exclusive could -maybe- get him in Lois's good graces. That would remove him from -this- desk and put him behind a real one.

Lucifer has posed:
"The kind that screams front page news and may just cause panick and mayhem once it hits the presses. Also, just tell Lois that Lucifer from Lux in New York is here to see her. I'm sure she'll take us." Lucifer offers this with a little grin to the lust-eyed man-child. "I'm sure if you take that message right to her she'll give you a few brownie points and maybe you won't have to run around so much." Another grin is given then. That grin that speaks of promises. Though he's clad in a cream colored three piece suit with a lilac button up shirt and same colored handkerchief tucked in his left breast pocket. His hair is blonde today and eyes the color of a green sea.

If this doesn't work, he does have a bribe or two in his pockets that'll surely turn hearts if not heads.

Sinister has posed:
Sinister simply smiles as the more drop dead omg gorgeous one of the pair has captivated desires and is running with it. He gestures with an open palm and straight fingers, to Lucifer's response and glances again to the decor, as if that might give him some insight. "I'm not surprised she doesn't spend much time in here. There's working under pressure and there's not being able to hear yourself think straight -- out there on the ground. Mmmm."

He picks up a business card and tucks it into his inside jacket pocket, in the interim. "Hmm. Something..." he muses, then shakes his head a little, closing his eyes a moment. "I might not be all that helpful at the moment, all the noise is giving me head trauma. The constant chatter."

Superman has posed:
Oh, those promises do speak t the intern. "Maybe you're right," the confidence speaks volumes. It makes the intern take a big risk here. "Excuse me, sirs," he says politely. "If you two could wait." and he will gesture to a small series of black chairs that stand at a contrast against very light brown, almost tan colored walls, with a dark gray carpeted floor. Yes, it's a little dated, but it does suffice.

The intern goes running off for about a good ten to fifteen minutes. The intern does return with another gentleman behind him. The man walks with a slight slouch, that screams of either bad posture or social issues, a dark blue button up shirt with diagnally striped tie that has different stripes of a midnight blue, ice blue, white and sky blue at various alternating points, simple gray slacks and a faded brown long coat. His hair is dark and combed back. One, or both, men would recognize him. It's clearly not Lois Lane.

Clark Kent approaches the duo. "I'm sorry, Miss Lane is out on another story. May I help?" he asks and will extend a hand to Sinister first. "I'm a correspondant that works with her," Clark Kent does have his own awards that are impressive. If Lois is number one, Clark is a number two on the food chain. Someone that -could- be number one.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer does walk over to the chairs indicated, but he doesn't sit down. He's fine standing up, even if it does take about ten to fifteen minutes for the intern to come back with someone who...is not Lois Lane. Lucifer gives a slight tilt of his head and then a little grin. The average mortal obviously can't tell strength from a limp noodle to a barbell - but Lucifer can.

Clark Kent has it by the ten-folds.

The hand, once offered, is taken and Lucifer shakes it in a firm grip. "Ah, well that's what happens when I don't call ahead I suppose." He says this with a chuckle. "Admittedly I was hoping to pick her brain a little bit. Cause she's a smart woman and I know she knows more than she's ever let on to me, but she's come to my club several times and..." He pauses. Maybe for a reason. Maybe because he's trying to figure out how he's going to say the words. "We're looking for someone who can help us out. With a problem. A problem that actually needs to stay out of the presses, and might take someone she may know to help us..." A glance is given to Sinister then. "Take out the issue?"

Sinister has posed:
Sinister DID however, take a seat, so that he might sit back, close his eyes and pinch inner canthae of his eyes, to stave off the roar in his mind. It would be more ideal to shield himself, but one doesn't want to be caught unawares, as it were. His eyes open again however, at the approach of the actor in thier midst. "I think we've met before, briefly. With Lois in Lux. It wasn't a very huge impression that was left, she rather had centre stage." But this is Nathaniel Essex and the man has an excellent mind and an exceptional memory. "Clark wasn't it? Clark Kent?"

There's a nod toward Lucifer though, an agreement with the assessment as he sits upright, rises to take the proffered hand. They'd be on a par heightwise, if Clark didn't slouch, now wouldn't they? "Is there somewhere we might talk, a little more privately? With less background noise?"

Superman has posed:
Clark shakes Lucifer's hand and Clark will not put pressure into it. If Luci squeezes, Clark will make some kind of comment about it.

"That depends on what you mean by -help-. She does know a lot of people in a lot of circles," Clark doesn't name General Lane. However, it's hard to ignore some of those connections, even for him. Although, it's quite possible they mean her other worldly contacts.

"Yes. It is," Clark says to Sinister as the pair recognize each other. Those dull blue eyes look at the man, "You look different," then he looks about.

"Anthony, can I get two guest passes? They'll be on my watch," and sure enough the intern gets two geust lanyards.

"There's a place upstairs we can go. It's private. That's if you want to stay in the building," he says knowing they may want to go elsehwere. Just to feel like that they're being watched a -little- less.

Lucifer has posed:
"I think upstairs is fine, so long as there's not a lot of chatter. We can also give a few more details I think..." Lucifer says this much and then gives a little smirk. He wants to call the man out on so many things - but he also gets it. Because several heros and villains alike have come to Lux. Sometimes they reveal themselves. Sometimes they don't. It all depends on the venue, the timing, and their public identity. Lucifer respects things like that.

Unless given a reason not to, but no one has tested that theory yet.

The guest pass, once acquired, is taken and he slips the lanyard around his neck. Then glances to Sinister as if to make sure he's answering the questions corectly enough, because if Nathaniel would rather go somewhere else - that's fine too.

Sinister has posed:
"Upstairs should be fine, yes..." And another agreeable nod to the more talkative of the two as it currently stands. His handshake was firm, but nothing abnormal. AS to looking different "I've been going through a few changes, lately. It's a work in progress, I admit. Sometimes, it doesn't quite work out according to plan." His own press visitor's pass put about his neck, he duly follows, gaze on the floor rather than around and about. There is a process going on here, but it's not what one might call 'obvious' really.

Maybe it's because he's the only villain in a city known for some pretty astounding heros that does it. Maybe it's just the headache.

He will however, follow.

Superman has posed:
"The room will be empty, but it's still a news building. A small slient bubble in a sea of people," he says just kind of bracing them. It'll be a nice contrast if they don't object," Clark looks back toward the pair for a moment making sure they put on their lanyards.

While methods, motives and achievements go unseen by Clark, he does gather them onto the elevator. Opening the elevator door, he waits for the pair to join him. Pressing a button a few floor ups, the elevaot does the various, "Dings," when the doors open, close and repeat with each new stop. People come and go, everyone stay on until the sixth floor.

"Come on," Clark will lead the pair out and he'll turn and they'll go down a big doorway. It's a sea of open desks. People talking to each other in the office, phones going off, more talking on phones, keyboards clattering and the usual sounds. Near the end of this open office area is a series of black glass doors and near full length windows. They could look like nice interrogation, study or similar, rooms. They're used for private talks.

Guiding the pair to them, clark oepns the door. They see simple gray table tope desks with metal foundations and edges. All of it smoothed over. Chairs that match. Various lights and simple blinds that clark will close to every window once the trio is inside.

"These are private enough. What, or who, are you looking for?" he asks and will sit down only after the duo sit down.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer listens, nods and follows. Silently enough. Though he is looking around, ever so curious to all the things around him. Something aside happens, in the hopes that Sinister's mind will calm down a bit as they move through the ever busier and noiser parts of the news people. None the less, there's an elevator, another walk through the sea of cacophony before they are led into a more private business meeting room type place.

He moves in, looks around. When he's certain they're as alone as they can be, he sits. "I do not know how succinctly I can put this. Rumors abound even beyond Metropolis of the exsitence of one who is perhaps strong, fast, and mysterious. I believe your people have dubbed him Super Man." He offers. "We've come looking for any information that can lead us to finding out who this person is, or where we might be able to find him. It's a matter of world safety...to explain loosely." A glance given to Sinister in hopes he hasn't spoken too much.

Sinister has posed:
The journey through the newsroom and the office desk space, the confined elevator, the hustle and the bustle, it left the Englishman looking a little on the pale side. He could almost be suffering from a migraine, by the time the modest interview room is appropriated and he sits gracelessly for him; a no-nonsense parking my rear NOW kind of dealio.

Even with whatever was done in a glance.

He spends a moment then pressing his right thumbnail to his 'third eye' and murmuring under his breath, enacting -something- or other for his own psychic wellbeing and then? Then he begins to look more himself, looking under a downcast aspect, which lends itself to looking brooding... toward Clark and to Lucifer as his explanation is made.

"In other words, we're seeking a lead or two on the Kryptonians. There's more than one, I'm aware of, but that kind of an open secret, in that they're well known, but anonymous to a degree..." he shakes his head "...we can't really do this the slow and steady way, or the subtle way. We need a point of contact. I don't know if you've read much in the way of the newspaper archives, Clark? They used to be on microfiche, I think they're all uploaded to the archive database now."

He soldiers on though, not pausing in that to find out if he has or has not. "Irregardless, there's blessed few stories about them, because there tends to be something of a Scorched earth approach to outbreaks, but... the Brood have arrived on Earth."

Superman has posed:
"Superman," Clark corrects Lucifer. The space can be heard when people give a pause. He closes the gap with that phrase. "I know people that can get you in contact with them. Do you have a business card I could give them?" he asks knowing it would give them a lead, a direct contact. However, it would be quicker than they think. It would be telling them to trust the process.

"The Brood?" Clark asks and then he pauses, "Aren't they a myth?" he knows they're not. However, everything he hears about them makes The Brood feel like a far off threat. Something not in this side of the galaxy outside of maybe a couple of small incidents. Small, squashable incidents.

Lucifer has posed:
"We could only wish they were..." Lucifer offers as he reaches into the inside pocket of his suit and produces a wallet which he opens and hands over to Clark. A quick glance of it will show the name Lucifer Morningstar, Archangel, Inc, Club Lux - NY along with a phone number and email. Cause he's actually joined modern society and technology to some degree.

"Superman. Apologies. I can only go off the rumors that I've heard and how it's been pronounced and written by the time the stories of this person reach my circle." A pause. "If you could have this done at the quickest, that would be best. We fear we may be working on borrowed time, and we would also like to leave this as hushed as possible. The world need not know about a threat gone sundered." If they could get it that way, of course. Less panic, more managing the situation.

Sinister has posed:
And a lot fewer casualties.

Similarly, Sinister takes a small card case from inside his jacket and a press of a button has a single one poking out of the top. Black, red emboss, with the symbol for Essexcorp on the front and a number on the back. Hopefully Clark will take it.

"There have been a number of incursions. They tend to be myths in so far as there's a standard kind of myth that there's very few documented case of wolf attacks on man -- which is tantamount to saying there's been none where the man survived the encounter to tell about the close encounter." He shrugs, slightly. "So far, we have moderate containment, but something is off about this particular incursion. I suspect that there's been infectees who are not strictly human."

Superman has posed:
Taking Lucifer's card, Clark looks at it. A brow goes up at the name, but he doesn't say anything about it. For now, he takes "Lucifer" as a stagename. Much like many before Lucifer such as, Prince, Elvis or even Nicolas Cage. He will pocket the card taking the man seriously, just not the name. "I promise you this will be done quickly," Clark says being honest with that one.

He will take Nathaniel's card, too. "Kind of like the History books. They're only written by the winners," he says kind of going with that understanding. "Is there anything else I can do for you gentleman? I do know people he is in contact with at his office. I will notify these folks and he should be contacting you afterward," Clark says knowing it would have to be enough. Although, he does have a bit of an honest face. May be hard to take the man a sa liar. And Superman -would- see these cards.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer stands and nods as he does so. "I think that's going to be all for us, to be honest with you. We do appreciate your time. And if you see Lois anytime soon, tell her Lucifer says hi, and extends an offer to come by the club for a VIP night. You can come along with her if you'd like." Does he remember when Clark came with Lois? Likely. He just isn't going to say one way or the other about it. Especially since he does love to tease Lois while she's at Lux. It's just how he rolls.

A glance is given to Sinister. "I suppose all we can do now is wait. Perhaps we can go do a little sight seeing or shopping while we're in town?" Offering at least that, perhaps even as a distraction, while they wait for the call from either a liason or the man himself. "It was a pleasure, Mister Kent."

Sinister has posed:
"I am grateful," Sinister replies to Clark, nodding. "Indeed, History is written by those that would hang heros," he quotes, standing from the table with the effort made to push it in nice and neat and tidy. "I do so hope that discretion is a watchword," -- and to Lucifer he glances, consiering. "They have a rather nice zoo here and aquarium. I do enjoy zoological studies and there's plenty of sights to see. We do not have to depart immediately, but I am left with a curious notion and I should pursue some of it at least. Old notes."

Because this is perhaps the greatest Geneticist on the face of planet earth right here, he does have a repository of quite a number of genomes, not all of them human. But that involves trawling archives. And comparing when he worked with other nepharious sorts and got some access to unusual things.

"It can wait. A little. I'll tell you about it later, I'm sure." A pause, a thought. "I could seriously do with a few drinks."

Superman has posed:
Clark will nod to Luci's words about waiting. Then he will stand up, "Mister Nathaniel. Mister Lucifer, with me," and he will head back to the elevator. Take them back down to the bottom floor and walk them back to the front desk. From there the hand will extend, "Your passes. Please," and when he has the lanyards they go back to the intern.

"A pleasure," he holds out the hand again. "Both of you," and both get the offer. "I will be on it!" Clark says in an all too chipper voice for the circumstances. And he will turn to go.

Two hours later. The club is about to open. The usual crowd is gathering, but there's a lot of chatter. Calls will go to Lucifer directly. As will various reports from security. The Lux's internal system, and social media, is abuzz with the same issue.

Every call, and report, show the same thing. Superman is floating inf ront of the Lux toward the top of of the building. He waits patiently. In his hands are -both- cards. If he sees any secuirty camera on him, he will look toward it, "You wanted to see me?"