[open] That's great, it starts with an earthquake...

Aug 17, 2011 12:03

Who: presspasskey and YOU!
When: August 17th-20th
Where: Various sectors of the city
Summary: The day after the earthquake, there's enough going on that Lois decides it's time for some field work.
Warnings: Possibly some language, because Lois curses occasionally.

Wire in a fire, represent the seven games in a government for hire... )

snake (999), peter parker | spider-man, lois lane

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August 18th - Northern and Western Sector 4 presspasskey August 17 2011, 16:06:13 UTC
[She looks much more casual, if still like she's working, as she walks around talking to the people in her home sector.]

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typhlopid August 17 2011, 21:59:06 UTC
[Snake is taking a peaceful walk around the Tower Apartments, enjoying a little of summer's warmth while he can. He is on the tall side tall, with an elegant posture and gait, seeming a little unsuitable in the donated jeans and T-shirt he wears. He uses a white cane to navigate as well as to indicate his blindness to others.

He recognizes Lois's voice as she is speaking to someone else, and approaches her, waiting for the conversation to be done.]

Is that a Miss Lois Lane? I do believe we've spoken via NV several times.

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presspasskey August 17 2011, 22:43:16 UTC
[Lois blinks--still thinking about the conversation she had been having, and takes a moment to reach back into her memory banks and place his voice.

After a moment, though, her face lights up--not that it does him much good.]

Y'know, I think we have. Snake, right? Yes, I'm Lois Lane.

[The smile is evident in her voice--it's kind of nice to actually meet these people face to face, and not over the network.]

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typhlopid August 18 2011, 04:52:34 UTC
[Snake can usually tell if someone is smiling or happy to see them - it's in the sound of their voice, the shape of their words, their posture. He offers a hand to shake.]

Yes. Am I as suspicious as the name led you to believe?

[There's a warm humor in his voice and expression.]

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presspasskey August 18 2011, 04:55:56 UTC
[Lois is grateful that he held out a hand--she usually likes to include a firm handshake, but knew at a glance that offering her hand wouldn't exactly do much good.

Hurrah for initiative, and she shakes it before laughing a little.]

No, not really. Did you get through the earthquake okay?

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typhlopid August 18 2011, 05:36:27 UTC
[Snake's handshake is also firm, but not aggressive. He shrugs when asked about the earthquake, apparently not thinking much of it at all.]

It seems it was just another challenge of Siren's Port. Fortunately my sister and I were unharmed.

What about you? You seem to be making the rounds. Is there someone you're looking for?

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presspasskey August 18 2011, 05:58:03 UTC
Not really. [She shrugs a little.]

But you never know what might turn up, talking to enough people about their own experiences. Or whose houses were damaged, and why. Given this city, finding something about how someone or other is skimping on construction to save or launder money is almost guaranteed.

[Lois, looking to piss off megacorporations? Surely you jest.]

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typhlopid August 18 2011, 07:50:02 UTC
Well, it should surely come as no surprise that some of the Darkness-proofing failed. [Snake continues to speak calmly and smoothly, but there's a hint of unpleasantness in his voice.] I'm frankly surprised that the Tower Apartments aren't in worse repair. How convenient it would be if everyone who lived there simply died because of a technical problem like a little cracked plaster.

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presspasskey August 18 2011, 14:27:54 UTC
[Lois looks thoughtful for a moment, mulling this over. And then she starts to smile, slowly. AGI just took a hit--not big enough, but a hit--but with any luck she'll be able to pin this one on SERO somehow.]

Oh yes. God forbid the Newcomer population take a hit like that.

I know both SERO and AGI have contributed to the building. Do you know who would have been responsible for the construction and upkeep of the Darkness proofing?

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typhlopid August 18 2011, 20:11:38 UTC
I believe that they share the responsibility, actually. It is a unique situation - either company would surely be happy to make over the buildings completely if they had full ownership, guaranteeing a percentage of 'customer loyalty' from the newcomers forced to stay here. However, since it required to be neutral territory and the government cannot afford to upkeep it, my guess is they both avoid putting any unnecessary costs into the building, while putting more time into sending us flyers and coupons. [Snake has a calm, matter-of-fact sort of voice, very much the sort of person who is aware of what he's talking about and very possibly believes himself to be the authority on the subject. He does not fidget.]They are simply trying to keep costs low while doing the minimum of maintaining what the government originally provided. I was under the impression the building was initially built by neutral parties on behest of the government, but that may only be the surface of the matter. As for any of their contracts, I'm afraid that would ( ... )

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presspasskey August 18 2011, 23:18:19 UTC
[Lois listens attentively, mentally making notes about it and determining to break into the records if she possibly can.]

Openly, huh? It seems to me that there's an advantage to, say, offering housing at a temporary discount or what seems to be a discount, but really isn't, in either controlled territory if the building became known to be unsound. Or is that totally broken business strategy? I've never fully understood what goes through the minds of CEOs, and I've dated one.

[Frowning then, Lois chews her lip thoughtfully. That sounds... distinctly unpleasant. And with the overtones of LuthorCorp she's come to expect from SERO.]

Stipulations?

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typhlopid August 19 2011, 04:41:31 UTC
I was interested in SERO's science programs and inquired into their facilities, namely accessibility. I was told in no uncertain terms that they don't have many audiobooks, no braille keyboards nor braille books, and the text readers on the computers are rather out-of-date. However, I was offered an operation free of charge. I could go to their school as long as they [sharply] corrected my blindness with new prosthetic eyes. As if that were some simple and easy adjustment to make, and one that I would obviously want to make if presented with it. I dislike being condescended to, as well as the implication that I should change my body simply to complete my education when I am perfectly capable of doing so without alteration.

Companies aren't about people. Net worth, losses, gains, money. I won't be a SERO success story. I will not have them congratulating themselves for my success in the future, or have anyone think it is all due to machines.

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presspasskey August 19 2011, 05:09:28 UTC
[Lois smiles as he speaks, slowly and almost viciously, eyes flashing. This is just the kind of thing she's been looking for. Somewhere, this story gets filed away in her mental cabinets of things to look into. After a moment she inhales and bites her lip, the smile well gone.]

Couldn't have said it better myself--I've seen someone 'improved' prosthetically, without his permission. The results were...

[Beat. She searches for a description, especially in light of her recent knowledge of kryptonite's capabilities.]

Destructive, to say the least. [Short pause.] I'm not sure you know--I'm a reporter. I've been... considering looking into SERO for some time, especially after this morning. If I find anything out about SERO's offer to you--side effects or functions that weren't mentioned when they tried to sell it to you--I'll obviously pass to you what I know.

[She likes this guy--a lot, he's got serious guts--but this is her job, and this is the kind of thing she's been looking for. Especially since the news item this morning. Still, ( ... )

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typhlopid August 19 2011, 06:04:51 UTC
I am not entirely against prosthesis. [He lifts his left hand, only obviously an advanced prosthesis upon very close inspection.] But it is not a decision to take lightly. And nothing as intricate as that could ever be free.

As far as information goes, if you would like, I can go back and ask a few more questions and see if I can find you more leads. [Snake smiles a little.] However, I should warn you that I may be considered an unreliable source. When I arrived, I was briefly labeled as a terrorist threat, though I was downgraded emotionally disturbed.

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presspasskey August 19 2011, 06:27:26 UTC
Anything like that for free, there's a catch. Usually it's not worth it.

[Lois laughs then, and grins at him.] Labeled by who is really the relevant question.

And I'll come to my own conclusions as to reliability--I may not even need it. But thank you. I'd be interested to know what they are and aren't willing to tell their prospective lab ra-- I mean students.

[She is snarky.]

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typhlopid August 20 2011, 06:46:01 UTC
I believe it was the local paper that said as much about me, as I accidentally caused a panic at the baseball field for what they believed was no good reason. [Snake just shakes his head.]

As if I somehow knew all about the Core having arrived minutes ago, and was making threats about a bomb in my stomach knowing the undue attention it would get me. Fortunately for their precious Core, there was no bomb after all, and the situation was written off to be being disoriented due to the Pull.

[It's clear Snake is annoyed over the situation. He fusses like a cat, snottily, really, as if the next words out of his mouth are going to be as if or I meant to do that.]

It may not bear saying - I have had my share of being a lab rat against my will. One of the reason I wish to continue into the sciences is so that I may do something about SERO.

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