9209/A Housecall

A Housecall
Date of Scene:	15 September 2019
Location:	Barbara's Penthouse
Synopsis:	Cheetah makes a deal for answers to her new reality. Lex evaluates her for the Light indirectly.
Cast of Characters:	Cheetah, Lex Luthor

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Cheetah has posed:
Barbara-Ann is standing in the main living area of her penthouse apartment situated atop the Glass Castle building in Metropolis. The place is lavishly appointed with the usual ostentatious displays of wealth one might expect. The only true eccentricities are the two, full-grown Cheetahs that lounge on the bearskin rug near the far wall: Mafdet and Ammit. They are new inmates here at the Castle and appear 'relatively' harmless as they watch Minerva and her guests with studied disinterest. Barbara pays the cats no mind.

"Lex, this is intolerable!" Barbara's livid face is rose petal red. The knuckles of her clenched fist are bone white, almost as white as the crumpled mass of paper crushed between her slender fingers. Moments earlier that poor ball of paper had been a crisp lab report that had proudly proclaimed that the battery of tests performed on Barbara by LexCorp's best and brightest had found nothing amiss with her. In LexTech's defence, they've been extremely thorough and it would probably help if Minerva had actually /told/ them the precise nature of the problem. But these are not the sort of details that Barbara-Ann deigns to concern herself with.

Lex Luthor has posed:
Mercy, Hope and Lex all stand there, unmoved, as Barbara throws her fit. In fact, Lex has a decidedly neutral expression. "My dear, we've run all the tests you've requested. If it were anyone else, I would have put you in contact with a physician I know and charged your insurance. Instead, I've been very generous and put all the expenses on my personal account." Lex informs her, his hands behind his back still as he watches her.

He brings up a hand to brush off his suit, before he brings it back around his back again. "Until you give me something more specific, modern human science has given you a perfect bill of health."

Cheetah has posed:
"Of course I've a perfect bill of health", Barbara-Ann positively snarls while wringing that poor, lamented lab report yet further, "that was part of the deal." This last is said is a low whisper. She paces back and forth within the imaginary boundaries of a small box. Rather like a cat. Her other hand finds purchase on the twisted carcass of the lab report. "I should have known you weren't up to the job!" Barbara-Ann turns sharply to face Luthor and his bodyguards. "I'll simply have to seek assistance elsewhere." Her face makes a game effort to appear composed but her eyes are having none of it. Neither are her hands as they practically vibrate in silent fury. At the far wall the two big cats shift uneasily. Oddly, they appear to be making a play at looking as submissive as possible.

Lex Luthor has posed:
There's a very, /very/ slight narrowing of the eyes to that. "I wish you luck with that, then."

Lex doesn't need to be physically present to keep tabs on her, after all.

Within moments, Lex has turned and is heading for the penthouse elevator, Mercy and Hope silently following. "Do keep in touch, dear."

Cheetah has posed:
Barbara-Ann blinks. Her unfocused fury finally has a place to alight, "You...wish? Luck?!?" She practically chokes on the words. The twisted paper in her grip finally snaps. "Lex Luthor! Come back here this instant!" A beat of silence, just long enough for Mafdet and Ammit to scurry into the adjoining room and out of sight, "This INSTA---" The syllables are stillborn as the sound tearing out of Barbara's throat devolves into a literal snarl. It's the unmistakable snarl of a cheetah. Before the torn remnants of the paper hit the floor a furry hand shoots to Barbara's mouth as if to push the offending growl back in. Barbara-Ann takes a step back not yet having noticed the physical change that has occurred.

Lex Luthor has posed:
Lex has pissed off enough people in his life to know fury when he sees it, and he is unmoved until he hears the snarl.

Lex himself turns to the side and glances back. Meanwhile, Mercy and Hope both immediately get into defensive position behind their boss. Mercy's right arm opens to reveal a weapons grade laser cannon aimed right for Cheetah. Hope gets into a melee stance, having put on a set of shock gloves. Both wait for any offensives.

Looks like Lex has competent bodyguards.

Lex himself simply watches.

"Physical transformation... without any sort of physical trigger medical science can see." Lex notes, aloud. "So, anything you'd like to tell me?" There's a hint of amusement to his voice at the question.

Cheetah has posed:
In short order, Cheetah's mind becomes aware of her newly appeared tail. The full panoply of her more-than-human senses suddenly feeding her a cartload of extra information about her surroundings settles any argument. Nonetheless, Minerva is as Minerva does: deny if you can, lie if you must. A clawed finger shepherds an errant lock of red hair up and behind a pointed ear. "I have no idea what you mean, Lex." She says indignantly and with a voice slightly huskier than before.

Inwardly a series of calculations are being run. Minerva has been 'altered' long enough to have some dim sense of her abilities. She knows she's fast enough to do away with Lex and his entourage before any of them could move -- especially in such close quarters - though what to do with the resultant mess? Perhaps Lex became too forward prompting her pets into action? That might play given the current political climate. Minerva's devious mind starts to turn. And yet...Luthor is likely the only person on earth capable of helping her if she can be helped at all; decisions, decisions. The dark slits of her cats' eyes watch Luthor intently. Perhaps he'll say something suitably offensive to clear the way. It's not like she's vulnerable to the basest flattery or anything.

Lex Luthor has posed:
There's also the fact that Luthor's entire underworld network would likely come down on Barbara like a ton of bricks if he is killed. A fact that Barbara herself might suspect, at least... given her peripheral knowledge of his Empire.

"I suggest you look in the mirror, my dear." Lex flatly states.

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah frowns. As she does so her gleaming, white fangs become momentarily visible. Her arms fold across her chest, "I am /well/ aware of the situation, Mr. Luthor" she snarls testily, cocking her head up and to the side in a huff. The absurdity of her naked denial stings and the thought occurs that she should kill Lex for no other reason than to avoid further embarassment. The fact that serious thoughts of homicide now occur so readily slips by Minerva unnoticed.

"Well," she holds out both 'hands' as though she were showing off new jewelry, "can you fix it or not?" Her tail lashes to one side; likely a sign of annoyance.

Lex Luthor has posed:
"'Fix' it can mean many things, but I'm assuming that you mean can I stop your... transformation." Lex states, before he frowns slightly, "Without knowing the trigger and without knowing how it occurs, I can't promise anything. If we put you through some more tests in this state, I might be able to find something new."

Mercy and Hope continue to not move, their stances very tense as they watch Barbara.

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah frowns again and quickly folds her arms across her (furry) chest. Her throat visibly undulates as she lets out a subdued growl. She's clearly quite agitated; however, the bestial nature of her face makes reading her intentions next to impossible. The darting, almost bird-like semi-movements of her body as she shifts her weight from foot to foot likely don't help Mercy or Hope relax.

"Tests! More tests." Minerva turns her head away from Lex but her green eyes never quite leave him. One can work out her inner calculus easily enough: she doesn't have many options available and none even approach the value of an offer of help from Lex Luthor.

Lex Luthor has posed:
For his part, Lex just sits there, watching her, staring. He's made his offer, and without an accurate read, doesn't seem as inclined to potentially ruffle more feathers with her agitation.

He has no idea of her capabilities in this state, after all.

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah quirks an eyebrow and her lips pucker ever so slightly as she absorbs Luthor's non-reaction. While the effect is lost somewhat among the fur and the fangs, devoted students of Minerva's spoiled nature would recognize the signs: her Highness was expecting to see something more...profuse. Well, a Cheetah can't change her spots.

"What sort of tests?" A clawed finger slips behind a pointed ear to twirl an errant lock of red hair. Her green eyes watch Lex with an odd mix of wheedling and annoyance.

Lex Luthor has posed:
"I need more information than what you're giving me to tell you that." Lex points out, "As I said."

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah makes a disgusted noise and throws up her hands in sheer frustration, "Luthor!" She recovers quickly, pulling her arms to her sides and balling her fists near the swell of her hips. A white tooth visibly nibbles on her lower lip. Nostrils flare as they draw in a calming breath. "What is it you need, precisely." She needs him. She knows it. She knows he knows it, too.

Lex Luthor has posed:
"What, exactly, happened to you." Lex clarifies, "I need to know the symptoms and preferable also the cause before I understand the processes involved and ways to examine them."

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah is back on her high horse in an instant, "Well, that's complicated, now, isn't it?" Her fists open and her hands move to her hips as she cocks her head up and slightly away from Lex. "I was engaged in a little...eco-tourism. In Africa." There is a pregnant pause and then, "Things got a little out of hand as you can see." She holds out a hirsute arm to 'admire' the golden fur, "It's possibly related to a minor miscommunication with a god." Yes. Possibly.

Lex Luthor has posed:
"Barbara." Lex finally states with a hint of exasperation, "do you want my help, or not?" Lex sighs, his right hand coming up to pull his LexCorp tablet out of the utility pouch to his side, and he begins to press some buttons, looking at it.

"Glossing over important details does you no favors with this. I'm not a mind reader, and would appreciate if you would stop wasting both our time trying to avoid the subject." Lex informs her.

Cheetah has posed:
    "Fine." Minerva drags out the 'f' longer than is strictly necessary and her gaze settles on Hope and Mercy as a convenient locus of her ire, "Tell your pet lesbians to settle down, they've been standing like that for ten minutes!" She throws out an annoyed gesture to Luthor's bodyguards who have been 'at attention' for some time.

    Without waiting to see if her demand has been met, she spins about on the balls of her feet and starts pacing back and forth; her tail follows dutifully behind. "I needed an edge, Lex." The raw need in her voice is audible and she abruptly stops pacing to face him. "It isn't fair. We're being replaced by aliens, and mutants and ...whatever else." No mention of Amazons.

    Cheetah sniffs defiantly. "I made some connections. I went to Africa. I do what I always do: I made a deal. I gave something," Lex gets a knowing look, "...and I got something." Minerva holds up her paws, palms facing Luthor, "But clearly something got lost in translation. It's a trifling thing. I'm sure you can fix it once you apply yourself appropriately."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"Humanity isn't going to be replaced. Not if I have anything to say about it." Lex counters. His rivalry and war with Superman is very public... and very subtle. Few know just how far he's gone in his war, and will go again... but Lex has always been an advocate of humanity as 'The Man of Tomorrow'.

"What sort of connections, and what sort of deal." Lex presses.

Cheetah has posed:
    An annoyed expression passes over Minerva's face and she gives her head a little shake, "Oh, I don't know. Cultists. Religious fanatics. What difference does it make?" Barbara was never one to sweat the details.

    "They needed some kind of host body and mine was available!" Recounting the memory in her mind's eye, Cheetah's eyes dilate and a strange smirk takes hold of her mouth, "Immortality, Lex! No more gray hairs. Physical perfection! More than enough to compete with ... those obscene CREATURES." She makes a vague gesture skyward to indicate those infernal 'capes' who have begun to lord over the Earth. "THIS," she claws at her chest, "isn't my fault."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"The details are usually everything, Barbara." Lex has always been /very/ exacting. Some might call him obsessive... Lex would call it Focused.

Either way, he, too, finally gets a frustrated frown to his face. "That being said, my initial impression is this is esoteric related. I know someone I can call and get their opinion on this matter with."

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah somehow manages a snort that sounds sarcastic. "Well of course it's esoteric." She throws up a hand, "There was an idol and everything." Her expression tightens as the second half of Lex's comments register, "Whom do you know? I don't want this..." Minerva pauses and searches for the right word, ".../information/ getting around."

Lex Luthor has posed:
"An Idol usually means some sort of charge involved." Lex notes as he watches Cheetah, "I have allies who specialize in this sort of field. I have enough on my plate keeping up with technological trends, dealing with esoteric energy would be an annoyance."

Lex raises a brow in curiosity at her, then. "So. Do you want help?"

Cheetah has posed:
In her mind, Barbara-Ann imagines that latter-day historians will someday marvel at the herculean restraint she displayed in not trying to strangle Lex then and there. "Of course I want your help!" The raspy words trip over each other as they spill out of her still shapely mouth. "Who else can I ask? Why do you think I brought you here?"

In her exasperation it doesn't occur to Minerva that there might be price tag attached.

Lex Luthor has posed:
"I have some ideas, then." Lex offers vaguely, "We can discuss what I'll want from you later... for now, have you heard of Victor Von Doom?"

Cheetah has posed:
Cheetah's green eyes squint, "Von Doom? That weirdo with his own country?" Apparently Minervas in glass houses do, in fact, throw stones. "What's he going to do for m--" Cheetah's expression suddenly explodes into an agitated display of activity as a horrifying thought dawns, "I am NOT wearing a metal mask for the rest of my life!!" One can clearly see the tiny hairs on her neck standing on end. In fact, the visible fur on her entire body appears to bristle and a guttural half-growl rattles around her chest.

After a short space of time she partially collects herself and manages: "This is absurd!" More curt pacing. At length, her mind finishes digesting the rest of the conversation, "Want from me?!" She presses her thumb and forefinger into the bridge of her nose as though nursing a headache. Then, in an exhausted tone, "Oh, Lex, you can't be serious. I'm covered in fur." Not tonight, honey, I'm a cat-woman.

Lex Luthor has posed:
Clearly, Lex has almost reached the end of his patience too, with the sudden shift of his neutral expression to something akin to mild frustration. "I'll get back to you with a meeting time later. I'm guessing something in-depth would be required to get some answers." Lex starts to move to the elevator then. Mercy and Hope both stand down themselves, laser cannon and shock gloves powering down and going into standby as their follow their boss.

"I'll be in touch."

Cheetah has posed:
A discernable 'hiss' whistles past Cheetah's teeth as she assumes a more imperious posture, "Do that." Even when at a clear disadvantage, pride ensures she gets the last (commanding) word. As Lex and his entourage start to leave, Cheetah closes her eyes and attempts to calm herself down. This has worked to reverse her 'condition' in the past. She starts whispering to herself, "Deep breaths. Deep breaths."

A tiny voice of caution pipes up in the back of her mind. Was this a good idea? Just what has she gotten herself into? Only time will tell.