2769/An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth
Date of Scene:	09 October 2017
Location:	New York City
Synopsis:	Approached at his temporary NYC Campaign HQ by Bludhaven detective Elizabeth Greene, Norman Osborn is forced into answering some... inconvenient questions, regarding the parentage of Sarah Osborn.
Cast of Characters:	Green Goblin, Sarah Osborn, Elizabeth Greene

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Green Goblin has posed:
Making his way through the mass of reporters and photographers - both professional and amateur - who have been camped outside the brand-new oscCorp buildings since he first announced his intent to run for Mayor, Norman Osborn seems to ignore the flood of flashes and shouted questions as his security detail ushers him past the press of journalists and into the vast, cavernous lobby of his corporate headquarters.

'OSBORN: The Change We Need' prototype flyers are plastered all over the walls, the results of months his PR people spent with focus groups, researching how to... brighten up his public image, a bit. As a result, the Campaign posters are all in garish colour combinations and feature him... smiling.

Now that he's in private, having shoo'd his security staff away, Norman takes a look at the assembled Campaign staff and promotional material with a scowl. The things he does for power.

Pulling back the right sleeve of his suit jacket to glance at his watch, he taps his foot a few times, keeping his eye on the door. No doubt one of countless interviews or meeting he has arranged for this day. Politics stop for nothing, after all.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah is observing Norman, quietly and trying to stay our of sight. Right now she is hidden in plain sight, as an anonymous campaign worker. She knows, people do not generally really look at the ones handing out leaflets, expecially if they appear uninteresting. She has been trying to do additional research, about the labboratory explosion and about her uncle Harry mostly. But observing Norman is still on her "to do" list.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
At the appointed time, a figure comes through the door and pauses just inside. Beth glances around at the flurry of activity, trying to figure out who best to ask for directions to Mr. Osborn himself. It only takes a moment to pick him out of the bustling crowd. After all, his picture is plastered on posters and flyers everywhere so if she didn't already have him memorized, she could have figured it out. She's dressed professionally in a pair of black slacks, a light colored blouse with a dark blazer over the top. A folder is carried in her left arm.

"Mr. Osborn?" she says as she approaches, offering her right hand. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today. I promise I won't take up too much of your time."

Green Goblin has posed:
It's certainly not remotely beyond belief - to anyone that knows him, of course - that Norman doesn't notice his 'niece' among the crowd of anonymous campaign workers. After all, he barely lowers himself to talk to ANY of his staff - leaving most interpersonal business to his personal assistant Victoria.

Nodding absent-mindedly at a stack of papers handed to him by on of his Senior Elections Strategists, Norman wheels quickly and stuffs the papers back into the man's hand as he hears his name called from behind him. Smiling quickly and ushering his staffer away, Norman takes a step forward and grips Elizabeth's offered hand tightly.

"A pleasure, and it's appreciated," he says quickly - after all, it's obvious he's a rather busy man, from the flurry of activity going on in the oscCorp lobby. "Perhaps if you'd follow me away from this mess?"

Whether or not she agrees, he begins to stroll away from the masses of computers, desks and staffers set up in this temporary campaign office, "You understand, I'm looking for something more permanent to run this Campaign out of... in the meantime, however, I must mix business with politics. Unforunate, certainly, but it can't be helped. Not if this city is EVER going to get cleaned up..."

He pauses at the foot of the escalator leading up into the more private offices, clearly not willing to bring anyone up there he isn't familiar with - particular after the latest atttack/break-in. This will have to do. "I looked into you, a bit," he says, lying - his research was extensive, to say the least, "after you called to make this appointment. I must admit, I'm curious what someone from Bludhaven might have to do with a New York City mayoral candidate..."

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah will be unable to follow for some time, but makes a note of which way Norman headed. She is glad to see Officer Green, it shows that she trusted the right person. One does not avoid attention by acting out of character, Sarah needs to wait until someone orders something taked to the back, or something brought from the back, before she heads that way.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
Beth is sure that he looked into her more than that. If he didn't do it personally, his security staff certainly did. Otherwise, she wouldn't be here. It's a given with political figures, even a fledgling politician like Norman Osborn. "It's a little complicated," she says with a faint chuckle, her posture one of ease and confidence. She might not be very tall but she carries herself with a confidence that is likely born of her career. Or her life training at the dojo her father owned. Perhaps a combination of the two. "I was approached by your...niece. Sarah?" She doesn't wait for him to acknowledge the details. "She wanted me to look into a few things for her, about her past."

That is allowed to hang in the air a long moment before she continues, drawing out a copy of a birth certificate from the folder and offering it to him. It belongs to one Sarah Osborn and has the father's name emblazoned there for anyone to see. "It took me some time to find it. Seems it was lost at the records office somehow but I managed to dig it up. Would you prefer to continue thos conversation here or somewhere more private?"

Green Goblin has posed:
Green eyes narrowing sharply, Norman practically snatches the certificate out of Elizabeth's hands, glaring down at it and processing the information. For those able to read a person, the sudden appearance of this slip of paper has obviously bothered him in some way - a small bead of sweat making it's way down his forehead.

He glances back up at Elizabeth, regarding her with a slightly different outlook than previously. At first, she was just some Bludhaven investigator, one of many to come out of that godforsaken city... but this piece of paper could pose... difficulties.

"Well, this is... unexpected..." he says slowly, quietly, sharp eyes darting around the pair of them. "Perhaps you're right, more privacy may be required..."

He ushers the detective to the nearest meeting room off the main lobby - still seemingly paranoid about allowing her access to the upper floors - shutting the door firmly behind them if she does follow him in. There's no security watching the room, specifically, but the activity in the lobby is all towards the front entrance where the tables have been set up - there is seemingly nobody walking around this little corner of the main floor.

"What do you intend to... do with this information?" he says darkly, as he turns back towards Elizabeth, "And, more importantly, to what end?"

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah sees Norman and Detective Green head to one of the nearby offices, it is just as well she did not go to the back after them, they might have bumped into her. Of course, there is more security at the private office, things might get tricky when it comes to slipping closer if she decides to.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
At the reaction, Beth knows she has hit paydirt. Outwardly, she's as calm as she was before the revelation. As he leads the way, she follows without hesitation. Once in the room, she moves further in to make sure there is a certain amount of distance between them but not too much. While she is positive this won't turn into a physical confrontation, she isn't going to take that for granted. She can't in her line of work.

She turns to face him as she sets the folder aside on the table. "If you are worried about me blackmailing you, you can relax. That's for people on the other side of the law. I just want answers so that I can take them to Sarah." She doesn't cross her arms over her chest since the body language would show hostility but the urge is there. She manages to keep her arms at her sides. "She believes her parents are dead. While her mother is, obviously you are not. Is there a reason you have kept it from her and chosen to play the loving uncle role instead?"

Green Goblin has posed:
Norm can't help but smile at the temerity on display here, and he tries to release the tension in the room with a small chuckle, "You know, Ms. Greene, it really is a shame you've already found your calling - I could always use someone so bold, so capable, on Team Osborn."

He obviously doesn't seem to consider it as a real possibility - if there were any chance he thought he could buy the investigator off, he would, but his research seemed to point to her being one of the few relatively honest individuals to come out of the Bludhaven Police Department. A shame, really - she has such... promise.

"No doubt you watch the news, Elizabeth," he says, continuing on with a small wave of his hand, seemingly dismissing the idea of any nefarious reason for keeping Sarah's true parentage hidden, "You've heard the things these lying journalists have said about me. About my past. Slander, libel, defamation - all of it..." he says, almost hissing angrily before clearing his throat and noticeably calming, straightening his olive-green tie as he does so.

"Why lie? The answer is simple. Sarah deserved something better out of life. She deserved to not be... sullied, with the reputation of NORMAN Osborn's daughter.." his voice drops, glancing around the room - these meeting areas are swept for bugs on a twice-daily basis, and the birth certificate is proof enough for anyone who might want to know... but it's a force of habit, to always make sure nobody is listening.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah continues doing assigned tasks, so far nothing that will lead her closer to the place the two she is interested in are talking though.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
That earns a shake of the head from Beth. "Perhaps I could have understood that argument when she was a child and you were smarried." She doesn't have to explain to someone other than Sarah's mother. They both know the information and it would be uncouth to say it. "She's a young woman now. A woman who has lived a life of confusion and pain from the belief she had parents who died. Not only died but violently. It's hurt her." She is trying to appeal to his humanity, unaware of who she is truly dealing with here. He's a businessman and a politician so he is going to want to keep those things afloat. "Give her the chance. She seems a smart woman who can make the right choices without hurting you. Just explain to her the truth of it. That you were protecting her. That will likely mean a lot."

She does open the folder and take out another report though. "But this leads to another question. Or series of questions, depending." The paper is a police report with portions blacked out since they are not for the public to see. "Her mother was killed. In an explosion. It was believed to have been a super battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin." She leaves the paper on the table top, watching him closely as she is speaking. "But evidence at the scene indicates the pumpkin bomb was a secondary explosion. There was a bomb in the vehicle that went off as well. Do you have any idea who would've wanted to kill your mistress, Mr. Osborn?"

Green Goblin has posed:
Now that he's got his mask on, after the slip with the birth certificate, Norman will be damned if he lets this detective get the sense that he's unnerved by this line of questioning. After all, he's no stranger to rumours of corporate espionage, white-collar crimes, even a rumoured connection to the masked terrorist Goblin responsible for the death of his mistress and, some believe, his wife as well. He's heard these stories, and he's paid off a lot of people to ensure that they get buried as deep as possible. Two years away from public, his campaign just beginning to get into full swing, and this woman shows up from Bludhaven, threatening to tear it all down with her questions.

He considers the woman in silence for a moment, his bright green eyes seeming to suck the light from the rest of his face as he stares at her sternly. What seems like minutes pass, as he taps his foot in rhythym on the hard marble floor.

"As to the... first point. You may be right, Ms. Greene. I've been away too long, hiding from these... damned lies about me, about my boy Harry... Time I could have spent with Sarah, helping her to understand.." he looks down at his feet only momentarily - whether a legitimate show of shame, or simply an act, who can tell? "But you might underestimate her. She's an Osborn. We have strength in our blood. Cunning. If I thought, for even a moment, she wouldn't be able to take care of herself..." he pauses, and trails off, eyes staring into the distance as though considering what his life might have been like if he'd been a father to ALL his children.

"And she did survive, didn't she? Don't you think all this, this... disturbing information, about her mother - a woman I loved, by the way - would simply.. stir things up, when they've been CALM for so long?"

"I would... consider this point, before you bring that last piece of information to my... daughter."

He glances down at the piece of paper containing the details of his mistress' death. He's read this before, in fact. So it's hardly surprising to him, "If you're half the detective you seem to be, you've probably read my statements to the police shortly afterwards. I can only assume some... personal rival. I do have many, you know," he says with a sly grin.

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Though Sarah is a bit frustrated at her inability to observe the meeting, she concludes she will have to talk to the detective first, see what each of them knows that the other does not. After that, she will possibly talk to Norman, sometimes what a person does not say is as important as what they do.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
Beth's return smile is tight. "And if I am half the detective I seem to be, I wouldn't rely on a report. I would want to speak to those people myself, get a read from their body language and the way they answer the questions. Words on paper aren't even half the story. You are an intelligent man, so I'm sure you understand that." She tucks the report back into her folder but she fully expects him to keep the birth certificate. It would be too much to expect him to give it back after his reaction. The original is safe in the City Records and she has her own copies of everything elsewhere.

"Personal rival." They both know the words are falling flat for her. She isn't buying it. But without proof, she only has theories. Theories are not something a cop can do much with other than look for more answers in other ways. They need proof. "No one else had a reason to get rid of the mother of your child." The woman that would be able to destroy his secret if it got out. "You did give a list of possible rivals at the time. I suppose I should look into them. I do intend to share the information I have found with Sarah. Perhaps...it would be better if it came from you instead?"

Green Goblin has posed:
"Hah!" comes the sharp, sudden burst of laughter at Elizabeth's first retort; the grin on his face makes it plain, troublesome or not, he does respect the detective's wit and... confidence. Particularly if she's read all the available information on what happens, every so often, to people a bit too close to Norman Osborn and his business.

The detective's intuition is correct in at least one regard, Norman makes no move to return the Birth Certificate, still clutched in his grip. Let her make another trip to the Archives for another copy; the idea amuses him in some low, petty way. In fact, during the discussion between the two, the certificate itself has been crumpled into a tight ball, disappearing inside the grip of Norman's left hand.

"I'm afraid I gave the NYPD all the information I had - being a man of business in this city, I've become... used to the slings and arrows being tossed at me; it is the price of greatness in a world of mediocrity."

"Rest assured, I fully intend to bring Sarah into the family, where she belongs... and tell her..." he pauses, with a smug grin, "everything I KNOW."

He clears his throat and takes a step towards the Bludhaven detective, staring down at her with his slight height advantage, "I'd just be careful about the language you use in public, Ms. Greene - I've ruined better people for defamation before, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Now, you're free to bring this information to Sarah. I've been busy, you understand, and I'd intended to stay away from her until these... threats on my life had passed. If you wish to endanger my daughter's life, if you can LIVE with that... then send her to me, and I will explain this to her."

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Things seem to be winding down out here, this is bad for Sarah as she will have to leave the area soon or arouse suspician. Hopefully the detective will call her quickly and they can talk.

Elizabeth Greene has posed:
That earns a lifting of Beth's eyebrows. "But you have had rivals for as long as she's been alive. Since they did such a heinous crime." Then those brows lower as a polite smile returns to her face. "You intend to bring her into the family. But not until she won't be in danger. Yet, she will always be in danger. So which one is it?"

It's rhetorical so she quickly offers her right hand again, a polite gesture despite the animosity she feels coming from him. Or maybe she's imagining it. The way he is trying to use his stature is something she's seen often in her life. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Osborn. I know it's precious with the campaign on the horizon. I'll be sure to let Sarah know she should come speak to you at her earliest convenience." Then she will turn to leave the office, leaving the file on the table for him to deal with as he did the birth certificate.

Green Goblin has posed:
"You know, Ms. Greene, you may think the worst of me - but I honestly had hoped these years I spent out of the public light, would have made old enemies forget about me. About my family."

He shakes the woman's hand again, still feeling compelled to explain himself, "I'll note; my first attempt to make contact with Sarah upon my return, was interrupted by not only that Gotham Clown MANIAC, but some OTHER individual as well.. One I didn't recognize."

Opening the door to let the detective out, he offers one last statement, "I love my daughter. Believe that, or don't. I simply don't want to see anything happen to her. Good day, Miss Greene."

With that, he slams the meeting room door - leaving her out in the main lobby again, with him behind - no doubt looking over the file she left. "Stay in Bludhaven, next time, if you know what's good for you..." he mumbles, as he gathers up the rest of the files and ponders, precisely, what to tell Sarah when she approached him. No doubt sooner than he had originally intended, now...

Sarah Osborn has posed:
Sarah is preparing to leave, taking her time getting ready though not visibly dragging things out, when the door opens and she hears, "I love my daughter. Believe that or don't. I simply don't want to see anything happen to her. Good day, Miss Greene." Hmmm? Interesting, could that mean her mother is Norman's daughter and is still alive? She will certainly have to talk to the detective soon.