2657/Family Reunion

Family Reunion
Date of Scene:	01 October 2017
Location:	Sunnydale, Avalon
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Sarah Osborn, Green Goblin, Joker

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Sarah Osborn has posed:
September 26, 2025, just another day to much of the world...well those parts of it not being invaded by forces of Apokalypse anyway. Sunnydale is not on the front lines of this. Sarah has returned home after her interrupted visit to New York...helping fight the Female Furys at the Hall of Justice last night had not been really fun, good thing Sarah heals way faster than normal or she might still be out of it. She parks her motorcycle outside the house and heads inside.

Green Goblin has posed:
    Days before the 'triumphant' return to the public light in New York City, Norman Osborn is in a very different place, for a far more private reason.

If she's the perceptive type, the paranoid type even, Sarah may have noticed a black Lexus sedan with tinted windows very professionally tailing her motorcycle. Always keeping a few cars back so as to not show their hand - Osborn hires none but the best, after all, including his drivers and security detail.

As the woman pulls up and starts to walk into her residence, the car stops a few spots back on the side of the road, engine remaining on and a single individual stepping out of the rear, passenger-side door of the vehicle.

Immaculate shoes hit the pavement. A long, tan trenchcoat wrapped around a wiry frame - long, droopy hat covering a face lined with stress marks, deep green eyes staring into the back of the woman he has followed home.

<I... LOVE... reunions...>

The harsh whisper is unacknowledged by the man, as he begins to step forward - moving to step up behind Sarah Osborne as she enters the residence.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah heads inside, the curtins are drawn...probably it means that Angel or one of some other nocturnal friends of her and Daniel is visiting. She is not surprised that the lights are out too...but she is not really expecting the lights to come on and the gatherd people to all shout, "Surprise!" Her cousin Daniel is there (he has not been around much since being bitten by a werewolf) along with her other cousins, her Aunt and Uncle (or are they more distant...think about that later Sarah, this is a happy time) and a number of friends from school. There is a banner on the wall reading Happy Birthday...she had forgotten what with the invasion. She looks around, but does not see Gabriel, he has been kind of moody and withdrawn...he might not make it home today even though the party should be for him too.

Green Goblin has posed:
As he hears the shout of 'surprise' - still a fair distance behind Sarah - Norman stops in his own little moment of shock.

"Of course..." he mutters to himself, taking a moment to compose himself - a hand moving inside his trenchcoat and coming out with a yellow pillbottle, twisting open the cap and tossing a blind handful of the gelcaps down his throat. Swallowing dry, he wipes some sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, and takes a few more hesitant steps forward, undoing the belt on his coat (revealing the usual 3-piece suit w/ green tie & cufflinks underneath) and removing his large, floppy hat.

He's made his way inside the house through the front door, stopping it from closing with the toe of his shoe. Maybe some of the guests, or Sarah herself, notices a small creak as the door opens a crack - moments after Sarah is surprised by her family and friends - and a strange, shadowy figure standing in the doorway.

He didn't intend on revealing himself to ALL these people. But we can't always choose the way things resolve - even someone as powerful and connected as Norman Osborn cannot control every aspect of his world.

"Sarah... it's been a long time..." comes the calm, controlled, level barely-above-a-whisper utterance from the man, still standing in the doorway, seemingly waiting to be invited in.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah turns quickly to see who was speaking, she hesitates, then greets him like she would have before she started investigating, "Uncle Norman? I had heard you were dead, it has been what...five years?" Then again, this is Sunnydale, dead is not always forever.

Green Goblin has posed:
At his daughter's response, Norman can't help but crack an almost smug grin. Is she REALLY no closer to the truth than she was all those years ago?

"Yes, Sarah... it's Uncle Norman.." he says, taking a step into the main room and leaving the door somewhat ajar behind him; after all, he's in no danger here, his security detail is right outside on the street - both waiting in his sedan, and spread out on a few nearby corners. And anyway, who even knows he's ALIVE at this point?

"My niece," he says, taking a few more steps ahead - ignoring the shocked appearances of the rest of those in the room (he's only here for his daughter, after all) - and holds his arms open to offer Sarah an embrace, if she wants to step forward and receive it.

"I've missed you, my dear..."

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah hugs him, willing to play along for now...this is not really the time to ask all the questions she has accumulated since Norman's son, "Uncle Harry" told her about her parents being dead. She carefully restrains her strength, it is almost a reflex to do so, but she does note that Norman is much more solid that most businessmen.

Green Goblin has posed:
Offering an unusually sincere embrace, Norman pats his daughter on the back. Whether he feels genuinely sorry that he hasn't been in Sarah's life for all these years, or if he's just playing it up in the usual 'I am Norman Osborn and these people are pawns to me' way... well, she IS family.

"I'm so, so sorry.." he says after a few back-pats, breaking the embrace and reaching out to grab hold of Sarah's shoulders - if she'll allow the grip, (if she does, it seems a bit tighter than should be possible from a white-collar 'businessman') - and locks his green gaze onto her eyes. Is he searching for something in there? Some part of himself, just below the surface.

He leans in close and drops his voice to a whisper, "Where's.. Gabriel...?"

His men hadn't spotted him around town in any of their surveillance details, but he truly expected the boy to find his way to his sister's birthday, if he were ANYWHERE.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah replies, "I have been doing a lot of...volunteer work lately, what with the invasion and all. I have not seen him since the first Alien attack, though I have checked all the official shelters." Of course, the volunteer work has mostly been as Goblin-girl, but that is not info for public consumption. She does note the strength of his grip...well no real surprise there. She remembers him teaching her basic self defense, he no doubt keeps in martial training.

Green Goblin has posed:
"I'm pleased you've been helping the city, my dear... You're... well... you're part of the FAMILY," he says in response to the news about Sarah's recent 'volunteer work' - if he knows more than he's letting on, he certainly isn't saying anything either. The old trademark Osborn wall-of-lies, seemingly on display from both members of the family here. Whether it has to do with the surprised crowd of Sarah's friends who had gathered for her birthday, or whether he is simply feeling out the tone and motives of his daughter... what EXACTLY she knows...

Norman Osborn isn't the type to show his hand first, when it can be avoided - after all, he was face-to-face with Peter Parker just two days ago, and didn't eviscerate him in front of a crowd of reporters. Compared to that, watching his words around Sarah and these strangers is a cake-walk.

"Gabriel is... I miss him, as well..." he says, his voice still low and calm - though perhaps betraying a small hint of disappointment in tone, "I was hoping you two would still be there for each other in my... abscence."

He releases Sarah's shoulders and takes a step back to give himself a bit of room, reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket and producing a small, giftwrapped box. Inside, an expensive bracelet (along with a long card with an apology for his lack of contact these past years - a small gesture, but a seemingly sincere one all the same). It's been so long, his mind so fractured after his disappearance and the Goblin's apparent 'death' at the hands of Spider-Man and his own Goblin Glider, that he truly has no idea what kind of gift to get his illegitimate daughter. Does she even care for such jewelry? He truly doesn't know.

Reaching forward to offer the box, he explains, "I know these are uncertain times, Sarah.. I don't know what the future holds for any of us. So I just... I wanted to see you," he sweeps his eyes around the room at the other individuals, "I hope you understand.. I was not expecting such a crowd. I should've known, you would have made plenty of friends," he says with a small smile, as though it actually pleased him to see an Osborn surrounded by people who care about her.

"I can't stay. I shouldn't even be seen here, with all these people. I hope you understand.." he says, though he makes no motion to leave the house at this time.

Joker has posed:
The tinkle of chimes are in the air. Happy safe and serene sounds. A van, complete with plasic molded ice cream on top slowly rounds the corner. It pulls up by a certain black sedan. The chimes continue tinkling and plinkling. Wait for it kids... you know what the first rule of comedy is... right?

...
...
...

TIMING! At the same time as the large cone suddeny topples to the side, the 'ice cream' in it going gooey, engulfing the car then resolidifing, stronger than steel, faster than quick drying cement from Acme, A figure, white hat and apron, white skin, green hair, a wicked grin, and the laughter of the damned pops out and lands neatly with a flourish.

"Ta-da! I scream! You scream! They all scream... Ice cream!" many cones in his hands are flipped, flopped and thrown and floundered in the faces on the security detail. "I'm more for merryment though but, trust me, you're ol' pal Joker's whiped up a special something to bring a smile to your faces!"

Joker then carrys on towards the door letting the toxing do its happy thing. Once rather resistant guard, weapon drawn, advances on the Clown Prince of Crime. Joker walks sleighting two flakes, one into the gun and the other into the guards mouth. "If you wanted one... all you had to do is ask!"

Shrieking laughter gets louder as he rounds towards the door. "Coo-ee!" He satrts friendly "Can Joker can come in and play?" He finishes with gritty and grim gravel grinding his words when he says, "I know you're in there. Come out. You know how hard it is to steal an icecream van and come up with that routine on short notice?!"

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Well, at least it is an adult gift, not some child's toy. That is something. She looks over the letter, and notes the abscence of any facts on where Norman has been and what he is doing. It is not really useful, but she does not plan to do much right now...possibly later she will take it to Elizabeth and tell her about his appearance.

Sarah hears the ice cream truck outside...as the temperature today has been in the nineties (very hot for early fall) she thinks nothing of it at first. She does not really realize what is happening until Joker announces himself. She replies, "Come in at your own risk, this party is apparently not invitation only. Who knows who might drop in."

Green Goblin has posed:
No sooner is the present grabbed from his hand, then Osborn hears a voice - unhinged, dangerously manic, LOUDER than he's used to hearing with all the medications floating around his brain... it's supposed to BLOCk these goddamn... wait...

That's NOT the Goblin's voice...

The hair on the back of his neck and arms stands up immediately, as he spins around - one arm immediately moving out to try and sweep Sarah behind his own body.

"I've been followed," he says quickly, his friendly demeanor snapping off in an instance as his mind begins to run through the possibilities of self-defense. His men outside, SURELY disabled - the lack of a signal coming through on his hidden comm-piece is testament to THAT. His usual concealed firearm, not licensed to be carried within the city of Bludhaven (for some reason, the palms in this godforsaken place are a lot harder to grease than those in NYC, Metropolis, or Gotham... and he CANNOT take the chance of being arrested with an unlicensed firearm). His Goblin strength... he CAN'T show it in front of these spectators, either. He has PLANS.

<Nooormmman... you neeeed me here...>
"Not... now...", the man whispers hoarsely but audibly, perhaps causing a few odd looks from anyone who might have heard him.
He can't risk word getting out, from anyone, that Norman Osborn possesses powers beyond that of a regular human - it would only stir up old conspiracies about the masked corporate terrorist known as The Green Goblin. Conspiracies best left in the shadows, for now.

He turns back to look at Sarah as she offers an invitation to the individual behind the door, eyes narrowing in disappointment. Time apart has left her... too TRUSTING. "Do you recognize this voice?" he asks, continuing to try and keep his own body in front of Sarah's; he takes a few, tentative steps towards the door - doing his best to prevent his shoes from creaking on the floor as he does so. "Stay there..."

Joker has posed:
Casually advancing on the house he looks for the face and place that goes with the reply. "That's very nice kiddo... but Uncle Joker's here to see if he can have a quickround of doorman for Norman. Can he come out and play?" Again starting cheerful then converting to a growl, "He better. Or I'll huff. And I'll puff! AND I'LL-" He stops mid overacting gesture and tilts his head sideways, disbelief painted across his face. He takes one step closer to the door raises the chirp and chipper in his voice and says as he boots the door as hard as he can, "... or I'll kick the still open door right in!" As physics plays out he thinks to himself, who says good things don't happen to bad people?

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah glances at Daniel and raises her Eyebrows. He nods once and they run for the door as one. Oz goes low, hitting the door like a linebacker and slamming it into the Joker. Sarah jumps over him and sprints out into the street...headed for the saddle bags on her motorcycle. Daniel may be in human form, but he is still a Werewolf, not much short os silver can hurt him. He may only be human strength at the moment, but he can keep nearly anyone busy long enough for Sarah to grab her gear.

Green Goblin has posed:
Norman is taken aback as the still-ajar door comes flying open, just as he gets within grasping distance of the doorknob - and he sees.. he sees the REAL face of madness.

<Oh... what... fun...> comes the harsh whisper in only HIS ear - the Goblin, obviously pleased with the figure that finds itself in front of Norman. Real madness, given human form. Chaos.

"Joker..." comes the dry rasp from Norman's gaping mouth as he steps back into the room - his daughter and her unusual friend rushing past him to face the figure as Norman continues to backpedal into the main room.

"Sarah, NO!" he shouts out as she makes a break for the street - she has the Osborn blood, he has faith in her abilities, but this... this isn't the USUAL threat.

"WHAT..." he demands loudly, suddenly finding his voice after a harsh swallow, "are you DOING here?"

His eyes scan behind him, assuming most of the other, non-powered individuals are finding their way out the back exit. Even still, Sarah can't see his strength, and he certainly doesn't know this 'Daniel' fellow.

Wew, here comes the Hail Mary play to beat all Hail Mary plays - "Joker... we can surely... TALK this through..."

LOL, sure.

Joker has posed:
Stopping, dropping, rolling, flip-flopping away from doors, Daniels, dashing daughters who think they're nieces and any other combat crazies Joker finds himself enough time to quip "First time a door's trying to close me!" Now inside he tears the apron off and throwing it over the defensive lines head for good measure. Yes he cheated. He always cheats. Anyone who kows anything about the Joker knows that. He advances on Osborn.

Yes... Norman! He's not gonna acrobat his way into a house just to then advance on the one now outside!! Well... maybe he would. But, definitely advancing on Norman, playing card in hand, known to be one of a millian gimmicks but always razor sharp metal Joker says, "Norm. I hear you're a... sharp... guy." He says flicking the card against his palm a few times.

It's an old trick but a good one. Only Norman Osborn can see... it's a regular old playing card. bends each time it hits Mr J's palm. Joker then darts forward, getting behind Norman, and puts the card to his neck.

Other arm in a surprisingly loose hold, "Nobody move! Normie wants to talk. So we will. We're going out back. Anyone follows and we can all make jokes about the loss of the head of a corporation." As he backs to the back of the house Mr J sys, quietly, "Funny you say that Norm. Great minds think alike. I'm here to talk too!" He grumbles something inaudible after that.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah has learned to change fast, her has on her kevlar body stocking, she just needs to chsange her jacket for the goblin vers, throw on ther helmet and mask, and grab her bandoleers. She can do without the gloves and boots in a hurry. She jumps in the door and points her spring gun, "Oh JO-KER, I heard you are a clown, but your make-up needs work. Here, let me help." She fires two paintballs from the gun towards his face. Using lethal weapons in a crowd of civilians (especially family) is not the best choice.

Green Goblin has posed:
Norman's tension, despite his best efforts, is almost palpable. He can forgive Sarah and this Daniel fellow - who, come to think of it, seems to look.. oddly familiar - for rushing into action. They're young. They're passionate. This is THEIR home that's being invaded.

Mr. Osborn himself? He knows a losing situation when he sees one. He's here, unarmed minus his conductive cufflinks and a few razor-sharp throwing knives inside his mesh-lined suit jacket's hidden pocket, and The JOKER is standing in front of him. And so, he holds his arms casually at his side as the madman lunges forward and holds the playing card to his neck. A small bead of sweat starts to dribble down Norman's forehead - brow furrowing as he knows he may be moments from death... IF he doesn't play this smart, play this... The JOKER'S way.

It seems like his daughter is a woman of action, however. When the costumed individual comes through the front door, and he sees the spring gun in-hand, his OZ-boosted reflexes kick in as almost a matter of INSTINCT.

Even still, he doesn't want to push the Joker - a man, seemingly willing to take up his offer for detente, a calm conversation between a bunch of entirely... rational individuals.

So, he raises his hand quickly between Goblin-Girl and the Joker - still being held in front of the Clown Prince - the paintballs impacting his unusually solid palm and exploding in, what one assumes, would be a splash of regular paint.

"Stop! Please... Put down the weapon. If he wanted me DEAD... I'd be DEAD."

His eyes move back to try and catch the Joker's as he continues to be dragged towards the back of the house, "I'll be.. okay," he says, not quite believing it himself, and not exactly WANTING to be alone with Joker, ".. just.. watch him, okay? He's dangerous.."

Norman is playing along, for the time being - he really doesn't see any other path, and his respect and fear regarding this madman is VERY real. One lunatic always recognizes a greater lunatic, after all.

Joker has posed:
"I love it when people see sense. I know I can't!" Joker says then... there's a blur. He didn't catch all of it but Norm sure did... now THAT is interesting. Looks like he got the right guy after all! Oh... this will be fun... He then scowls and tooks away to the rough direction of the shot, "Hey! I'm breaking, entering, kidnapping and life threatening here!... D'ya mind?! Kids these days." he shakes his head.

"I'm telling you, Norm, people used to respect when you took the most important person in the room and said stay back... but listen to me yammering on! How's your day? You're lookin' good! Heard you were dead..." He then looks up, absent minded, waving the card around, "... or was that someone else? Oh, who knows?! Who cares!?"

"Oh, right, me. I can see I've crashed a party so maybe now's not the best time... and I've found someone more frustratingly punctual than That Man. Shame really... I had a whole day planned too!" Reaching the back wall and using his free hand he starts to work the back door.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah notes the reflexes, no normal man, not even a martial artist, could have reacted that quickly. It is something to discuss later. The balls were just paint...this time. Although she has other magazines with different loads depending on what she is doing. She comments, "I would not go out that door if I were you, there is a Werewolf outside it waiting to take a bite out of you. This is Sunnydale, monster capital of the world. Get out while you can, and leave the normals alone." In this case, she is not sure if she is bluffing. She does not know if Dan has enough control to do wolf without the full moon...

Green Goblin has posed:
Eyes narrowing as the Joker rambles on about this and that, Norman's face betrays the emotion that his voice covers up - does this lunatic know more about Norman than he's letting on? Regardless; he's in between a rock and a hard-place, and the stress lines around his eyes, his gritted teeth, his sweating brow - they are all testaments to the fact that he KNOWS the Joker has him here.

Lash out and unleash the Goblin? ALL his plans for the future, destroyed in an instant because of one lunatic who he doesn't even have BUSINESS with.
Allow this individual to try and rescue him? Well, as strong as Norman might be, he's heard enough about this Clown to know he doesn't walk into a water-gun fight without a bottle full of highly toxic acid (metaphorically speaking, of course). He can't risk it.

His eyes twitch, no doubt fighting back the whispering urges of the Goblin, BEGGING to be let free so he can play with a kindred lunatic on his own terms. "No..." he whispers to himself, but certainly loud enough for the Joker and even Sarah to hear.

"Listen.." he starts, attempting to keep things as professional as possible here, "I have NO idea what your business is here - but you're in my NIECE'S home.." where exactly did Sarah go anyway? Hm, something to ponder over in private later, most certainly - hopefully she's three blocks away and still running. His gaze moves back to the oddly-costumed Goblin-Girl individual.

The mention of a WEREWOLF seems to take him aback, and he shoots an incredulous look back at the Joker, still going along with the Clown without any real struggle. He can't help but let out a low chuckle, "Well, THAT'S interesting..." he mutters about the prospect of a werewolf in the backyard, "I wonder, Joker, what you plan on doing with me? It should be plain, you won't harm me and walk away. Perhaps you've..."

His smile grows even wider, in spite of the fact he's still being held in front of a man who has killed people for having names he found funny, "..underestimated the situation?"

He looks back to the Goblin-Girl, "And what do you think? Are you willing to kill this man, to prevent him from talking to me? I wonder, what ANY of you hope to gain here.."

The inner... BUSINESSMAN, is coming back to the surface.

Joker has posed:
He stops. He looks at the costumed crime fighter. Pointy ears. It's always him... Joker shakes his head, "Kid, I've done jobs with a man made out of face cream. I'm not exactly shaking in my shoes here..." He notes to Goblin Girl, then turns to Norm, "Hardly like I'm normal myself, eh, Norm?"

There! Beautiful. He then gives Norm a friendly pat on the sides, keeping the card away from him in one hand and totally not slipping a second bit of card into Norms pocket. "What do I want with you? Your charming wit, your sparkling personality, your business wisdom, your creative accounting so I could file my tax returns! I just didn't want to make an appointment. Still. Now's a bad time. Your people should call my people and we should do lunch or something. Look me up. Under the J in Joker..." He pats that pocket again. Then, throwing the card to the side, he suddenly looks very surprised, scared even, and he points back in the driection of the front door "Look! A distraction!"

At that point the Ice Cream van explodes as a van sized flashbang grenade. Harmless... probably? But certainly beside the point kids. Were we paying attention? Did Norm spot the little present in his pocket? The deliberate use of under J IN Joker? That while everyone was looking here there and everwhere in the chaos... the Joker ran away.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Goblin-girl runs outside and quickly resumes her civilian ID...She and Daniel might be capable of tracking Joker down, but simply preventing more loss of life is enough....and protecting her identity from those not in the know is a secondary concern. Hopefully Oz will be able to rejoin the party...of course that may be contingent on whether he actually did go wolf.

Green Goblin has posed:
Taking in a sudden breath as the loose grip around him is finally released - Norman might not show it, but he's... well, remarkably pleased that he managed to resolve that issue without any bloodshed. Those public speaking courses at Columbia really did pay off, after all!

As the BANG comes from outside, providing that wonderful distraction his lunatic 'kidnapper' needed to escape, Norman shields his eyes as the flash is seen even through the windows of Sarah's front room. He hasn't noticed the second bit of card in his pocket, but he knows enough about the Clown Prince that even his chaos tends to have a purpose. He'll no doubt come across whatever was left in that pocket while back at the office this evening, but that's a story for another time.

Rubbing his neck absent-mindedly and shooting his cuffs, straightening his lapels and tie to regain composure, he notices the Goblin-looking creature has gone as well.

Was it... ever there? But, The Joker saw it too... Then again, THAT isn't the most reliably witness. Shared hallucination? Is some guardian angel WATCHING Norman Osborn?

"Hrmph..." he says to himself, looking around the now-abandoned residence and beginning to stroll to the front door.

Well.. at least he got to say HI.

"We'll be in touch, Joker.." he mutters, underneath his breath and to nobody but himself, "You can bet on it..."