16020/The Reclusive Dr. Cassandra Read

The Reclusive Dr. Cassandra Read
Date of Scene:	02 February 2024
Location:	Central Business District, New Troy
Synopsis:	Lois Lane is missing her interview target and meets Ivory, Tini and Kimberly!
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, Ivory, Yellow Ranger, Pink Ranger

---

Lois Lane has posed:
    Lois has been back in town for a while, but other than her considerable work with her "Elena Story", she has not made any major splashes in the Daily Planet. In fairness, that one was pretty special and very intense.

    Today, though? Today Lois is out on the beat, dragging a frazzled photographer behind her. She wishes she could work with Jimmy (mostly to talk), but he's rather busy, so she got herself an intern.

    "Martin, did you hear anything back yet?" she asks. "It's not like her to be late like this. Unless she fell asleep at her lab again. Wherever it is."

    Lois is standing near a cafe, holding a water bottle (no coffee?! gasp!) But she looks like Lois, which is to say irritated and impatient, so that's normal. "Why don't you try her assistant's cell again?"

    Martin does not mean to give her a look. Or at least he knows he should not. But he does. "I think she may get annoyed if I call her the fifth time in.." He trails off and kind of... withers away from Lois's responding look. It's not a glare, it's just very... flat. He hesitates a moment. She raises an eyebrow.

    "Right away, Miss Lane!"

Ivory has posed:
Armed with a ceramic cup with a lid in the left hand, guiding a four-wheeled suitcase and carrying a suit bag over the other arm comes Ivory. White hair, jeans jacket with a white persian cat entangled in yarn embroidered on the back, jeans, T-Shirt.

A moment they stop to take a sip from the mug, then peer up to a nasty reflection, shielding their eyes before marching on a little and stopping once more as they almost run into the cameraman.
"I know that jacket!" they note, offering a crooked smile as they point to Lois. "Know it rather intimately even."

The explanation only comes when Ivory makes a few faster steps to get to Lois side. "I hope you like it, Miss Lane!"

Yellow Ranger has posed:
    Trini, luckily for her, has had some fairly nice and mostly quiet days; martial arts training and spending time with friends. Today seems like more of the same, which she can't complain about. She's wearing a yellow tanktop, denim jeans and a pair of white tennis shoes on her feet. Her long, dark hair is held in a ponytail by a yellow scrunchie.

    Trini comes stepping out of the cafe, holding a cup with a white lid and one of those cardboard sleeves around it to not burn her hand. Green tea. As she steps out, she takes a look around to make sure she's not in anyone's way.

Lois Lane has posed:
    Martin was just leaving yet another voicemail for Dr. Read's assistant. It includes an apology for seeming like a stalker. Lois was just about to say something (judging from her suddenly warm smile, a friendly something), when she hears Ivory's voice.

    That smile shifts from Martin to Ivory, then. "I love this jacket! I wear it quite often. Though I do have to mix in my blazers here and there. It all depends on the event and the situation. So while a fancy blazer or dress is what I wear to major events, I like to wear this for things that are more casual, like when I traumatize my poor cameraman while chasing a scientist who probably doesn't even know what day it is."

    Lois turns back to her assistant/intern/cameraman. "This is Martin," she explains. "And Martin, this is my friend Ivory." A pause and she adds, "Oh, Martin is he/him, and Ivory is they/them for pronouns. See, I'm not /old/."

    She then notices that Martin is not really looking at her. Or Ivory. Martin is looking at Trini. "You'll have to forgive Martin, his jaw is on the floor." Without batting an eye, Lois Lane, pulitzer prize winner reporter, puts her poor intern on the spot.

    "Excuse me, miss," she calls out to Trini, "Would you have a moment to join us?" Martin is, in this moment, terrified.

Ivory has posed:
"Chasing Scientists? Did you change your line of work from reporter to beekeeper?" Ivory teases back to Lois, their white ponytail bobbing some as they shake the head. For some reason the hair seems to move oddly, and then it folds up. No, it's not hair folding up, it's fluffy cat ears unfolding.

"No, you're not old, but I get it. I mean, that you put it all on the pin and need to mention it. Thanks for that, don't need to correct him then. So, who's that elusive scientist and what's their work?"

As Lois juuust so happens to try to get Trini to join them, they smile, those cat ears swiveling.

Yellow Ranger has posed:
    While Trini stands about, out of the way of people who try to enter/exit the cafe, sipping her green tea, her attention is brought to Lois. She doesn't realize that the photographer is checking her out. "Hm?" She raises a brow, curious, and a smile comes about her face. She casually steps over, greeting them all with a wave of her hand. "Hey there. Can I help you with anything?" She asks.

Lois Lane has posed:
    Lois is all business. And all trouble. Blame Clark for helping her see that life is supposed to be fun. "Lois Lane, former star reporter, now frequently called a boomer," she introduces herself to Trini.

    She nods to Ivory, "This is my friend Ivory, they/them, maker of great jackets with cute cats, and this is Martin, my intern (she just gave him an introduction demotion!), emphasis on the first syllable for the momment. Very much a he/him with a chronic case of jaw on floor sickness." She gives the cameraman a smirk. Never, ever let her catch you like that again, Martin!

    "Now, that aside, I was wondering if you have seen a 5'5" woman with black hair, brown eyes, coke bottle glasses, and a distracted, vacant look on her face around these parts."

    She turns to Ivory, "Dr. Read is working on some kind of communication technology. Quantum-quantum-quantum, revolutionize this that and another thing. You know, it's a typical day."

    "And she's apparently stood me up, but maybe you've seen her around today?"

Pink Ranger has posed:
The promise of tea, a break and a catch up for her? Kimberly was on her way. Of course, having come from training she was wrapped in her tracksuit and jacket...but it was still nicer than turning up in her leotard in this weather, right?

Making her way in, the brunette's gaze was sweeping for the sight of Trini ahead.

Ivory has posed:
"Present or past time Doctor Read?" Ivory teases a moment, winking once at Lois before they take a look at the buildings around, looking for a clock, and then taking a sip from their own ceramic to go mug.

"Anyway, Ivory Valentine, Designer of genderless clothes, and on the way to show some stuff to people... well, I got a little time."

Yellow Ranger has posed:
    For Kimberly, Trini is standing off to the side outside the cafe. She's wearing a yellow tanktop, denim jeans and a pair of white tennis shoes on her feet. Her long, dark hair is held in a ponytail by a yellow scrunchie. She's standing with the others, casually sipping a green tea in a white cup with a lid and a cardboard sleeve to protect her hand from the hot contents of the cup. She listens as she drinks and then lowers her cup. "Trini. Trini Kwan. Nice to meet you all." She smiles warmly, and then cants her head to her left a little while she listens to the description of the woman. "No I--I'm afraid I haven't seen anyone by that description. I'm sorry."

Lois Lane has posed:
    Lois nods, "I imagined not. Well, I suppose I had best deal with the problem from another angle." She perks up when her phone vibrates. "My apologies, I need to look at this."

    She pulls out a phone, flicks through a few screens, lets out a sigh. Her head shakes slightly and she taps out a response. Her expression is bemused.

    "The mystery is solved. The doctor has responded. Presumably from the very slight past and not the future. Apparently I need to find her, as she is lost. She could not find the cafe that she herself suggested as she has never been here before." Lois sighs.

    She looks at Martin, "She wants me to visit her lab. It's what we've been waiting for! But she said no pictures." Martin looks excited, and is all ready to claim his big moment of freedom and speak to Trini. Until Lois grabs him the collar. "Sorry, Casanova. No pictures doesn't mean no cameraman."

    Lois does not leave yet, but she's obviously on her way. She gets another message that delays her a bit longer. "Oh, Ivory. How long would it take you to make me some skirts? Say ten or so. Various lengths. Pleated. White."

Pink Ranger has posed:
"Trini!" Kimberly announces herself, seemingly barging into the meeting and wrapping her arms around the other woman in a hug of greeting before tilting her head to the side. "Sorry I'm late!"

The overtly affectionate greeting ends with her stepping back, looking up at the gathering of the vaguely familier Ivory, Lois and her dejected cameraman before she lifts a hand. "Uh hi...sorry, did I interupt something or...?"

Kimberly herself was a minor celebrity to those who followed olympic gymnasts but...well, that was a little niche compared to someone like Lois Lane!

Ivory has posed:
Ivory shrugs a moment, then narrows their eyes together again. "Oh comeon Lois. Skirts? I'm all ungendered clothes usually! Like... why do it have to be skirts and not pants?"

Trying to fight a battle of gazes with Lois, they eventually sighed after some moments. "Fine, Kilts. Kilts are genderless these days." they relent, doing some acrobatics in their head. "And time depends on the fabric. At least a week or such for the first. Shall I text you about fabric samples later?"

As Kimberly barges past, the swiveling cat ears follow the steps, then the eyes, then there's a smile. "I know you... Uh... Coffee Bean, June last year?"

Yellow Ranger has posed:
    "Oh. That's a relief!" Trini says happily after Lois explains the mystery is solved. She looks at the... intern... Martin... who seems like he is going to talk to her but Lois grabs him by the collar. Before she can wince at him being grabbed like that, Trini hears her name and turns swiftly. She knows that voice, definitely! "Kim!" She's pulled into a hug, and brings her free arm around Kimberly's shoulders to hug her.
    She peels away, giving her a pat on the shoulder before her arm drifts back to her side. "She needed help finding someone, but I think it is okay now." Trini explains to Kimberly. When it seems like Ivory knows Kimberly, Trini looks between the two, seeming interested in this.

Lois Lane has posed:
    Lois looks at Kimberly for a moment. Not a stare, but the look of someone who is thinking quickly. "I know you. I have a question or two." She produces her card and presents it to Kimberly. "There's something I'm digging into unrelated to absent-minded professors. You may be just the person I need to give voice to those who are afraid to speak for themselves."

    It sounds like a lot, but Lois says it so matter-of-factly that it might as well be a comment about the weather. But her eyes, they are sharp, intense. But when she turns back to Ivory, she is more relaxed. "Yes, that sounds good. And what's wrong with a skirt? Who says that a guy couldn't wear on, anyway? I just want it to be something light, flowy, a mix of cute and beautiful, simple and elegant. And looks expensive but isn't too expensive. I'm a reporter, not an actor."

    She gives Martin a look. "You want to break into this, kid, you have to want it more than anything else. At least for ten years. Later one, when you're over 35 and have no kids or spouse you can have a day where you look back and regret it all. But today is not that day."

    She grins and heads off. She's not dragging him, but when you are an intern, assistant, or.. whatever he really is... you jump when Lois says jump. That's a byline anyone at the Daily Planet wants to share.

Pink Ranger has posed:
"Wow! Good memory!" she offers lightly to Ivory before tilting her head to the side and giving a little grin. "I mean, here I was thinking you were being interviewed," she offers her friend and then turns to face Ivory properly. "How are you going?" she questions lightly, tilting her head to the side. "What brings you out here? Another hunt for coffee?"

Ivory has posed:
"Nothing's wrong with guys in skirts, but people think of skirts as feminine, unless they are kilts or Hakama, and I try to stay pretty smack dab middle of the road. I don't even..." Ivory tries to protest, but then Lois already is off, dragging her cameraman behind. "distinguish gender when making sizing... great, she didn't hear the last half, did she?"

Sighing, they offer an appologetic look to Kimberly and Trini. "But that's Lois Lane in a nutshell. Sometimes. Anyway, as a reminder, Ivory Valentine, Designer, and since you have only a 50% chance to guess my gender of the moment, please use the neutral they."

"Well..." Gesturing with the arm covered with some suit in a bag and a suitcase next to them, Ivory shrugs. "I was on my way to a presentation, and Lois seems to be hunting down an elusive scientist that got lost on the way out of the lab."

Yellow Ranger has posed:
    Trini laughs a little when Kimberly mentions she thought she was being interviewed. "I thought I was going to be, yeah." She sips more at her hot, green tea. "I don't think she did." Hear the last half, Trini offers in response to Ivory. "That's..." A pause as she tries to find the words about who Lois is after, "... Well that's certainly something! I hope I'm not keeping you from your presentation. Can I ask what it's about?" Trini is curious about the presentation, silencing herself with a sip of her green tea.

Pink Ranger has posed:
"Hunting a scientist," Kimberly muses aloud before tilting her head to the side. "I mean, it almost sounds like some thriller thing, right?" She begins before coming to ponder if she was going to find herself a drink. Leaning against the table she too looks curious, waiting to see what Ivory might share.

Ivory has posed:
"With a reporter like her? Totally could be a thriller, or just another tuesday." Ivory notes, chuckling a moment, those feline ears tracking someone passing by before returning to the conversation.

"Oh, just need to present the latest version of some designs to someone that pays to have the stuff made and stocked in their stores... you know, clothes online sell ok-ish, but if you want to live as a designer you either are a big brand, or you need partners in sales."

Yellow Ranger has posed:
    "It really does!" Trini responds to Kim, seeming a little amused, but she's always 'all smiles' anyway. Trini glances to Ivory, listening to them answer her question and nodding her head. "That's true. I hope it goes well. I'd love to see your designs sometime." She smiles sweetly.

Pink Ranger has posed:
Odds were Kimberly -had- seen some of them at some point, fashion-fan that she was (not that her post-training gear would suggest that). "Oooh, any chance we can get a peek ahead of the curve, or are you going to be keeping it all super secret?" she asks lightly, trying to wave-down a server and claim a drink for herself while she waited with the others.

Ivory has posed:
Even as a nieche designer, there had been a larger line in the past. "Well... Half the stuff is new cat prints, but those always sell like hot cakes. But really..."

Sighing a moment and glancing back at the clock they noticed earlier, the cat eared one takes a quick sip. "Uh, how about you get the full show in like... uh... three hours or such? I can't really get to my cards at the moment, but if you give me one of yours, I call you once I am done with the presentation and show you."