metropolis ♔ has it gone for good? or is it coming back around?

[wynn]

Fireside - Arctic Monkeys

WHO || Oliver, Felicity S., Emma F., Bo, Brantley, Lex Luthor
WHAT || The Knights investigate a connection between Luthorcorp and Sarandis' experiments on Andres
WHERE || Metropolis Kansas
WHEN || April 23rd, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

Metropolis is a bustling city even during these cold winter months, but they have no trouble finding the Luthorcorp building - because it literally towers over the skyline, dwarfing the Daily Planet nearby. It's still daytime when they arrive, working hours, and employees in well tailored suits hustle in and out towards elevator banks, past the front desk.

Comments

the records department ♔ oliver, felicity

[telepathy]

[ Guiding Oliver and Felicity aside, Ernie drops some of the tour-guide chic in favor of a more comfortable appearance. It gives the impression that perhaps tech was once his department. ]

Did Mr. Luthor find something he was dissatisfied with in our records? I ordered our analysts to print him a complete copy of all acquisitions and purchase orders. I'm surprised to hear he wanted a closer look.

[ But not so surprised that Ernie doesn't move them smoothly down the hallway, away from their friends. ]

[fistpump]

[Don't think that Felicity isn't amused by Oliver being her intern here.

Felicity knows the level of discomfort that comes from having someone else look over your work. It's never an easy thing to think about, because it's not always 'They'll find what I did.' but sometimes it's just an honest 'What did I miss?' moment.]

I don't think it's a matter of being dissatisfied. It's just a routine comparison. Make sure all the 'T's are crossed and the 'I's and 'J's are dotted. Everyone forgets the j. [She tries with her calm small talk to just keep things moving.]

Have you worked here long? [She also knows that most people in tech have a need for recognition, since they are often behind the scenes.]

[ourhero]

[Oliver is pretty much certain that she enjoyed that. Hopefully she enjoys it while she can.

He follows along, pacing himself slightly behind both Felicity and Ernie because he is just a lowly intern and doesn't actually deserve to speak until spoken to, or take part in an actual conversation between important people. Which is just fine with him. Felicity can handle herself talking tech, and if she starts to stumble he'll be right there to step in.]

[telepathy]

I got in on the ground floor.

[ And he sounds quite proud of that fact. ]

It was just one lab, then, working off a government grant to fund our research with cerebral palsy.

[fistpump]

It must have been rewarding. [She offers, with a genuine smile.]

Trying to make a difference that could actually impact lives for the better. [It really is a noble cause, one that Felicity hopes is the start of a positive outcome to this search she's going to do.]

[ourhero]

[While Felicity strokes Ernie's ego, Oliver is focusing his attention on their surroundings--keeping an eye out in particular regarding the layout of this section of the building, and any security measures or personnel that might pose an issue in the event that shit hits the fan and he needs to bust an arrow in someone's ass.

I don't know if it's relevant to roll for any of this but if so he got a (spot 21) to essentially case the joint and a (performance??? nat 20) to play it off like he's just in awe of the facilities/admiring the architecture and equipment or some shit.]

1/2

[telepathy]

[ As it so happens, while Ernie chats pleasantly with Felicity about all the good they're doing here at TLC to advance medical science and better humanity, Oliver takes notice of an altercation that seems to be stirring down the hall. Three security guards (all rent-a-cop style, dressed in polo shirts and dockers) are trying avidly to drag a brown-haired woman out of the records department. She's causing quite the scene, too, and the guards don't quite seem to know what to do with her. ]

[loisfuckinglane]

[ seven nation army - melanie martinez

her voice floats down the hall, loud and slightly shrill as she gives them hell. ] I have my rights you know! [ but whatever those rights she thinks she has might be, she probably sacrifices quite a few of them when she abruptly slams one of the guards in the stomach (atk 20), stepping back into the records room and attempting to slam the door closed again, even if it catches some fingers in the process. ] Call off the goon squad!

[fistpump]

[Felicity slows her pace, watching as the woman is hauled around by the guards.]

That... doesn't happen often -- does it? [She's curious. Mostly because given how much security they drove through, plus the lanyards -- how did this woman get this far?]

[telepathy]

I— No. No, I'm sorry, it doesn't.

[ The director hurries over to the security guards and demands in a hushed voice to know what's going on. They exchange barely audible news that Oliver or Felicity could pick up with a listen of 15 or more—the woman, as far as anyone can tell, slipped through security by using a stolen employee ID, and she's been trying to go through company files.

With an undeniably irritated sigh, Ernie steps up to the records room door and pounds his fist on it. ] You're trespassing on private property. If you don't exit the facility willingly, we will use force, and you will be charged for damages incurred on the facility. [ He glances back at Oliver and Felicity, lowering his voice. ] I'm terribly sorry for this. You can assure Mr. Luthor that I'll personally be having words with our security chief.

[fistpump]

[Felicity nods, keeping her poise. Her listen of 19 did give her that bit of detail, but she doesn't let on that she did.]

I'll be sure to leave the incident out of my notes for this visit. You seem to have it well under control and if I can avoid more paperwork, I'd prefer it. [She just wants to get to the computers where she can just do her thing.]

[loisfuckinglane]

[ she yells out from the room, the sound of a desk being yanked across the floor towards the door from inside (str 17) so she can try to buy herself another minute to upload some info. ] You know, you can tell Mr. Luthor that if he hadn't declined my request for a face to face meeting, maybe we could have avoided all this.

[fistpump]

She seems very... determined. [Felicity remarks, making sure to make eye contact with Oliver. If there was ever a time to try and figure out who was getting held by security -- this seems a good time. If she has suspicions that line up with their own, she might have an idea of where else they can look for answers.]

What sort of accusations is she making?

[ourhero]

Who is she?

[Oliver the intern can speak, apparently. It would be pretty stupid of them to break their cover at this point, but they might be able to get in contact with whoever this woman is later on--assuming she was able to find something incriminating in the lab's records room. Unless, you know, Luthor had her killed or something which lbr he wouldn't put it past anyone at this point.]

[telepathy]

[ The director seems to figure out the answer to Oliver's question right as Lois calls through the door, actually, sighing his understanding. It's the sigh of "not this bitch." He turns to address Oliver and Felicity neatly. ]

Ms. Lane fancies herself a reporter. She's been harassing Mr. Luthor for some time now. It would seem our recent partnership has attracted her interest. [ Then he raises one hand and gestures for the guards to begin breaking the door down. And so they try (str 19 and 21), so they're making definite headway in pushing the door open despite the obstruction. It'll take them a minute or so to get through, though, which might just afford Lois enough time. ] Just a moment. [ He apologizes to Oliver and Felicity as he pulls out his phone to message someone. ]

[fistpump]

[Felicity has to wonder how skilled Ms. Lane is at whatever she's doing. If their systems are that easy to get into -- she might just have the easiest day since becoming a knight.]

[loisfuckinglane]

[ lois gives up on trying to talk to them, muttering into her earpiece where a certain cousin of hers is probably helping her out. her computer use check is a 22 on its own but i'm imagining she's got someone aid another-ing her in there... ] Come on, come on...

[telepathy]

[ And in they get, two security guards moving to grapple Lois. One of them rolled a 24 to grab her, but she catches him in the gut with a quick jab of her elbow. He doubles over, but it gives the other the opportunity to get his arm around her neck in a chokehold with his nat 20 grapple. ]

[ourhero]

Is that level of force really necessary?

[Well, yeah, Ms. Lane here was obviously trespassing and making life hell for security, not to mention accessing what are probably restricted files. But Oliver can act like he's s-so uncomfortable with this level of intervention. He's supposed to be an intern for a computer analyst or whatever so violence of any kind was not something he should be used to rite.

He exchanges a glance with Felicity. Obviously they are going to want to talk to this woman but how to make that contact happen without drawing anymore suspicion to themselves was the problem.]

[loisfuckinglane]

[ her hands grip the arm that's around her neck, even as she's dragged out, teeth gritted, trying to drag protests out of her squashed vocal cords to little avail. she's still not gonna go easy but she's goin'. ]

[telepathy]

[ Sharp eyes flick over to Oliver. The Director notes his discomfort, and then nods to the guards, indicating down the hall. ]

Keep her in the security office and make a call to the local authorities. We can turn her over when they arrive.

[ There seems to be more he's communicating to them in his gaze, though, some kind of shared context. He then turns to push the records department door open the rest of the way. He sighs. ]

I'm afraid we have considerable clean-up to do in here. Maybe you'd like to come back on another day …

[fistpump]

[With a look of determination, Felicity pushes ahead and surveys the room.]

She didn't do that much damage; it's fine and I am not sure how I'd manage to keep this incident out of my report and still tell Mr. Luthor that I wasn't able to look at the records.

[She knows that if it was here, she wouldn't let anyone into the records after a breach -- but Felicity wants to know who was beating her to the information and possibly where it went. (diplomacy 17)]

I'm sure I can look at what I need to even with the slight bit of disarray that's in here.

[telepathy]

[ The director hedges, but assents with a nod. ]

Of course. Once we've dealt with Ms. Lane, I'll give you a proper rundown of our systems.

[ The security guards, meanwhile, start to haul Lois further into the facility. ]

[fistpump]

[Felicity is certain she can sort out their systems herself, but she will wait like a good... spy. Okay, maybe not a spy, but it would be cool if she could consider herself that.]

Of course. Is there a place where my intern can get me some coffee? [HA HA. Look who might be diminished all the way to getting her coffee. THE ONE THING FELICITY WILL NEVER DO FOR YOU, OLIVER.]

[ourhero]

[It's almost funny. Almost. Oliver doesn't actually react but you can be sure as shit that her request wasn't lost on him.

Is splitting up right now really a good idea, Felicity? He looks over toward Ernie expectantly, since the question was directed toward him.]