2605/I've Missed You...

I've Missed You...
Date of Scene:	28 September 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen

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Lois Lane has posed:
Just before midnight, but just, Jimmy's phone rings. It's the same phone number Lois Lane had since before he left the country, but whether he remembers that number or not, who knows. How she found his is a mystery also, but Lois has always been determined. "Come on, Jimmy...pick up..." She half groans into the ringing phone.

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
The Windows to Jimmy's apartment are open, and candles are lit up all over, as his building.. hell, the entire neighbourhood of Suicide Slum, is still out of power after the whole Apokalypse invasion thing. Luckily, Jimmy is always prepared though, since he has been visiting a lot of third world countries (one of which he returned from literally DURING the invasion), so all his gear is unpacked and he has a BUNCH of rechargable batteries. He is sitting on his couch, enjoying the breeze and listening to his MP3 player while typing on his laptop..

He frowns as his phone rings and picks it up.. staring at the display.. seeing teh caller id. He bites his lower lip, then sighs and thumbs the connection on.

"Hey, Lois.." he answers, tentatively. "So.. uhm.. how are you?"

Lois Lane has posed:
After years of writing at the paper, winning the Pulitzer, being promoted time and again, Lois is lucky to have a decent condo in a more than decent area of the city. Not completely rich, but their electric has been prioritized. So, she's still sitting up in a mostly dark apartment, staring at the bathroom light from her insomnia-sheets strewn bed. She's got the edge of sleep or booze in the back of her voice, maybe a mix of both, with that familiar exhaustion behind it. "...Nice of you to let us know you were back in town, you know? I mean... I was worried something killed you before we even managed to get coffee. I thought to myself, SURELY Jimmy wouldn't come back into town and not call. Maybe he's hurt. Maybe it's bad... Maybe he finally got in over his head... but no. Apparently, maybe, he just doesn't call."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen is silent on the line, but in his apartment he winces slightly at Lois's tone. The silence drags a few moments and then he sighs and closes the laptop. "Lois.. I.. I apologize.." he says as he pulls is legs up and hugs his knees. "Really, I do. I sent you a text message when my plane landed but.. you know.. Alien invasions and all that. I just got back reception today.." he looks around his apartment. He coud definately aford much better but.. he grew up in this neighbourhood. "And thats about it, No power here for probably another week."

Lois Lane has posed:
Silence lingers across the phone for a few moments in turn, the faint sound of sheets or a pillow rustling in the background and Lois letting out a long breath. "...No. Shit. That's...probably a crappy way to start a phone call when I really just mean to say I missed you and I was worried. Perhaps I should just say that. I'm way better when I can edit a first draft of my work, you know that..." SHe half teases, even if the apology sounds genuine. "...you... you want a hot shower? You can come up this way. I got a pull out couch and a Keurig."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen relaxes somewhat now and leans back on the cushions, eyes haf closed as he enjoys the breeze. Outside can be heard the surprising muted sounds of Suicide Slum.. a place that has a bad rep though when crisis strikes people tend to pull together. "Well I.. I've missed you too." he admits, flushing though she cannot see it, being embarrased at admitting to missing anyone. "I've missed you and Clark and The Chief... all of you..." he sighs slightly. "And.. I guess I could have kept in contact better.. so.. again.. I am sorry." he then smiles a bit. "Well not all of us second string reporters have the luxury of a first draft edit.." he half teases, half uses self depreciation with. "And.. I'm fine, Lois. Really. I have a solar shower rigged up on my balcony. And a camp stove. I got some great coffee on my way back from South America..."

Lois Lane has posed:
"...you were never second string, Jimmy... for what it's worth. Never. Not since the first day you worked with us." Lois is quiet for a few heartbeats after she says that, the words having spilled out in that moment of passionate insistance that takes her when she really feels deeply about something. She never quite was good at holding her tongue. But the next words are a bit more quiet, "...perhaps I should have told you that more when you were here."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen seems to have fallen silent a moment.. before he responds, his voice a little softer now. Softer.. maybe older.. More mature. "Lois.. I didn't leave because I felt you conciously thought I was second rate.. or even unconciously." he assures her. "Well.. maybe I might have felt you thought that way at first, but that was for fleeting moments. I didn't leave because of anything you or Clark or anyone else did. I swear that.."

Lois Lane has posed:
He's pausing, hesitating, lost in his own thoughts, but Lois is quick as ever. "Maybe not consciously but... ah..." He corrects the one thing she was going to catch him on before she even finishes. She then actually forces herself to stop and listen -- she's been working on that more lately. When she's certain he's done speaking, she sighs across the phone, "Then...why did you go? We... we were just starting to do good work. REALLY good work. I know this digital first stuff is bullshit but... we get through it."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen sighs and lays back on his couch, staring at the ceiling.. at the old glow in the dark star stickers that pepper the ancient and cratered plaster. "We weren't starting, Lois. We /were/ doing good work." he tells her, pride in his words, but then he pauses again. "We.. were." he repeats, now sounding a bit more unsure of himself. "Lois.. I had to prove it waasn't a fluke."

Lois Lane has posed:
That's enough to drive her quiet a heartbeat or two. Lois' breath just echoing quite on the phone. She finally pulls herself out of the restless bed, the quiet sound of feet on tile echoing over the phone as she walks towards her balcony. "...Yes. You're right. We were doing good work. We *are* doing good work. But... it wasn't a fluke. You know how I know that? Because you're one of the most talented reporters I've met in my whole career. And it's...never been the same since you left. We were a team."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen clenches his eyes shut. "No... /you/ are a talented reporter. I was a photographer who accidently took a picture of a flying man in a cape.. and continued taking pictures of a flying man in a cape.. and other people in capes.. But that first picture.. That first picture.. It won me a pulitzer." And now he sounds almost ashamed. "It won me a pulitzer, Lois. An accidental picture that earned me a friendship of the most powerful man on Earth.. My whole career has been based on that..."

Lois Lane has posed:
Now that edge of anger, the anger that comes when Lois is feeling particularly passionate about something, it sets into her voice now, "Yes, Jimmy...that picture was a fluke. You know what so much DAMN GOOD photojournalism is? A fluke. A fluke you catch because you are out there at the exact right time, right moment, because you're out there every damn day working your ass off for 97 percent of what is shit, but then you are there for those three percent moments. Hell... That's all of reporting. And you were out there then. Then you kept going out there. Kept your eyes open. Your whole career is based on the fact that you were willing to get out there. End of story."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen breath is soft for a moment. "I understand timing and luck is involved.." he tells her.. "Lois, I really do understand that. But everything that came after that. But..." he swallows. "I was yours and and Clark's shadow. Not that that was a bad thing. You guys taught me so much. And I love you guys. But I /was/ your shadow. And I was 'Superman's Pal', his shadow. And as much as I love you guys and him.. As much as I owe you guys and him... That was the problem. I owed you guys EVERYTHING. I didn't know.. I /don't/ know if what I accomplished was because of my own skill. You say it is and I know you don't lie but.. Inside, /deep/ inside, I am still not sure it was /me/."

Lois Lane has posed:
Silence. Stillness. Nothing but that for several heartbeats, then Lois' voice comes ever so quietly, "...And now? Did you manage to prove to yourself what we always knew?"

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen sighs. "Not fully... but enough to know I was an ass for leaving. I ran away to find one thing but I think.. I think I found another. There are stories that need to be told, STories that I /can/ tell and that you can't. Just like there are stories you can tell that I can't. But.. That doesn't mean I wouldn't want to tell a story /with/ you still..

Lois Lane has posed:
Silence again, rather heavy in the air, echoed just by the faint sound of Lois' breath on the line. She exhales slowly, considering how to handle this. It was too late for this conversation. It was the perfect time for this conversation. "...So... how do I help you do what you want to do now? Hands off? Maybe I side kick for you a while? Get you a coffee?"

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen actually... chuckles. "Lois, please.... You would last all of three minutes as a 'sidekick'." he saysm then pauses as if thinking. "All I need is.. your support. Thats it. To trust me that I know what I am doing. What I am looking for. I know thats hard for you. You're such a go getter but think about.. about when you first wanted to be a reporter. What you dad thought about it.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Oh, he's still pissed. He wanted to watch me crash and burn then come crawling back to him. I mean... I can do that... but it seems a little callous of me. But, if you need it, Jimmy..." Lois offers with a half laugh, mostly joking.

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen chuckles even louder. "I wouldn't have put it in those words, Lois. At least the crawling back part. No, what I need is for you to do for me what your father couldn't, and sometimes still can't, do for you. Let me grow up."

Lois Lane has posed:
A quiet groan escapes her lips, her forehead hitting the glass of her balcony door for a moment, "So needy, Jimmy. Want Want Want. Let you grow up. Acknowledge your career for the indepedent brilliance it is. Don't sidekick you. Dammit, Jimmy, I'm only one woman..." She teases huskily.

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen snorts now. "Riiiiight. Just One woman. Who has no less than, what, eight peices going at once; Aand a luicrative book deal so she spends nights writing; Oh, and who insists on cooking her own meal at least three nights a week; The only thing this 'one woman' can't seem to do is spell."

Lois Lane has posed:
"That's what spell check and a copy editor is for, Jimmy. Come now. You know this." Lois half laughs again. But then she sighs and leans against the glass fully, the exhaustion behind her voice practically tangible over the phone. "You do what you need, Jimmy. I'll be here. Let's... get coffee, or something. And maybe work a piece together. YOu pick the piece... I might not side kick you but... we'll partner it. Through and through."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen sits up, shaking his head in amusement. "I can live with that." he says, accepting the offer. "I have a few more irons in the fire I need to finish hammering out first. The Latverian story... Genosha.. Gotham.. But yeah, lets do coffee first. Oh, hey, How is Clark doing?"

Lois Lane has posed:
One last sigh, almost forelorn, almost longing... Complicated as ever. "He's...Clark. The nerd. Nothing's changed. You should call him too. Seriously. Call him. He misses you." Lois picks herself up from against the door, "But...Perry expects me in 8 am. I...should go. Coffee soon. ANd the offer for a crash pad is open. Just come by, any time... Really. I'm glad you're back, Jimmy."

Jimmy Olsen has posed:
Jimmy Olsen laughs, trying to imagine Clark /not/ being.. well.. Not being Clark! he can't do it. "I will.. I promise." he assures her. "And tell Perry Hello as well. I'm sort of scared to call him because, you know, 'working for the enemy and all that'." He checks his watch. /The/ Watch... and sighs. "I need to crash too. Be safe, Lois." he pauses. "And Thanks. You know.. for being a friend."

Lois Lane has posed:
"You buy the first beer and I'll consider us even. Night, Jimmy... good to hear your voice." And then the line goes dead, leaving him alone in a dark apartment, both fo them lost with their thoughts