16269/Low Caffeination Questions

Low Caffeination Questions
Date of Scene:	13 May 2024
Location:	Coffee Shop, Mercutio's - Gotham
Synopsis:	A little coffee and a little talk.
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, Nikki Hawkins

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Lois Lane has posed:
    Lois has been tracking a story for some time. Those that follow her work across various platforms will know she's been peeling the onion on a big story. The overall topic is human trafficking, but lately she's been biting around its edges.

    She ran into something she doesn't understand, though. Which is why she's here. She needs information from someone in Waynetech. Someone who might recognize something from a single picture. Who might guess as to what its purpose was.

    So Lois Lane, star reporter, is lurking in a coffee shop, reading a news paper and occasinally peering at people who enter the place. In front of her sits a monument of strangeness. There's no coffee. She's drinking ice water and some kind of heatlhy wrap with a pastry that is also within the parameters of a very strict diet.

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
Having just gotten off work and headed in the direction of home, Nikki Hawkins walks into Mercutio's COffee Shop - which is likely a habit that has been formind for quite some time. As she walks to the counter, the barista behind it welcomes her by name as if they're old friends. "Hey Edwin. Just popping by for the usual and then will be heading home. Long day running tests and such..." The woman says as the barista rings up her order.

"Oh, and Nikki thinks that Tim Drake made a mobile order about fifteen minutes ago? She'll take that with her once she leaves." Offering that much more, because some people of Gotham will know the name and the ties to Wayne Enterprises as a whole. Some don't. But it's not like the company is a secret. Just some of the things they make behind closed doors.

"No problem, Nikki. We'll have that ready before you're on your way. And your own drink will be ready in a few minutes."

"Thanks!" Is the reply before Nikki turns and heads to a table one over from where Lois sits, pulling out her cellphone to fiddle with a game or perhaps text while she waits.

Lois Lane has posed:
    Lois almost smirks at how lucky she is. It's funny how often the world reminds her that a lot of her reputation is built on the skillful manipulation of probability. Study hard, know your target, finds its weaknesses, and attack, attack, attack. Her father would be proud.

    The way Lois folds her paper is designed to get notice. A dramatic ruffling sound is followed by a folding so precise that it obviously takes its inspiration from military flag folding.

    Her violet eyes study Nikki with interest. It takes perhaps half a second. Likely less. The demeanor, the language, the names. It all slides together for her. She's in luck.

    She glides from her seat. Oh, she is close, but calling from table to table doesn't fit her style these days. Somehow it seems low class to call from table to table.

    "Hello there. I'm Lois Lane. I hope you don't mind the interruption. I need help and I suspect you might be a great person to get me on the path to the truth."

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
Nikki glances up from her phone to the woman standing across from her and raises a brow. "Hello Lois Lane. How can Nikki help you?" Asking that before looking back down at her phone for a brief moment before she locks it and sets it down. Her gaze shifts to the paper that the woman is carrying and then back to the woman herself.

It's not every day someone actually approaches Nikki, so the woman is definitely curious. On very rare occasions, someone does recognize her from her profile picture among the gaming community. They'll want her autograph. This woman doesn't really seem the type however.

"Uhm. You can have a seat. Nikki just needs to go get her drink real quick and then you can have her help until she's finished with her drink. Then she'll have to head home." This much more offered even as she's standing up to go claim said consumable.

Lois Lane has posed:
    The third-person talk does get Lois' attention. It rings a bell, then, too. She doesn't know every single story that her fiance has worked on, but she knows most of them! Including those on the fascinating topic of gaming and esports. Lois likes it precisely because it's so weird to process.

    "Thank you for agreeing to help me," replies Lois. She will settle into a seat and use the time she has to get everything ready on her phone. By the time Nikki returns to the table, Lois has a three image sequence up on her phone.

    "Before I get started, I'd like to know if images of violence bother you. They are not critical to the situation, exactly, but provide some context. Ultimately, what I need help with is understanding what a specific part does and how it might be used."

    If Nikki is okay with the violent image, it will be shown first and explained as the scene of a double homicide of two sixteen-year-old girls. The other two images show objects found at the scene. Well, part of objects, anyway. The whole thing was supposed to be wrecked in an arson attempt but dumb luck and a quick fire response undid the effort.

    The second image shows a piece of metal that has the Waynetech logo on it. It's a mechanism designed to deliver specific voltages in sequence. On its own, that's not terribly useful info. But with the third image, context may start to emerge. There is a thick rod, perhaps ten inches long, made of some durable polymer. On its tip are two small metal prongs. Careful examination will reveal a hidden button on that rod. It's something like a cattleprod.

Nikki Hawkins has posed:
Back with her drink, Nikki says that violent images are fine and as Lois shows her the pictures, she tilts her head, as if trying to piece things together in her brain. She sees the WayneTech logo on one of the pieces and that has her lofting a brow upwards and she memorizes how all the pictures look. Just in case a request she'll make soon is denied.

"Nikki's really sorry, but she works in the robotics department. Things like this haven't been seen by Nikki before." The woman offers. "But if Lois doesn't mind sending those pictures to Nikki's email, she can ask around and see if anyone can tell her. Or even just the one picture with the logo. Somebody should know..." And Nikki has a way in because she works there. It's a completely perfect plan!

And of course she won't admit to likely just showing them to Tim or someone important like that and maybe causing some speculation to emerge within the company. Nope!

Lois Lane has posed:
    "So long as they aren't leaked to another reporter, I can do that." Lois is, at her age, capable of hiding the excitement. Robotics! That's... so perfect. And she'll have Nikki's email. That's like gold.

    "Where would you like me to send these?" It's asked so casually. Downplaying the critical need for it is all part of the job.

    "And if you don't mind me asking, is there anything you can share about your current work? You work for WayneTech, right? I suppose I should ask how you are going to change the world of robotics." This would be a huge ego stroke if it wasn't actually kind of normal for that company.