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

[fistpump]

[It's uncanny how no matter where the tall skyscraper gets built, it's always the same look. Cold steel and thick glass. It reminds her a bit of Queen Industri-- Palmer Technologies main offices. She doesn't glance around too much, mostly just focused ahead and on the group she's with. If you've seen one billionaire showing off with a building, you've seen them all.]

[telepathy]

All the same, I suggest we determine what he's willing to divulge before resorting to sundry other methods of discovery.

[ Mostly, she's just indignant at being kept waiting. That's 90% of this scowl. ]

[succubestie]

Do you think it's smart for us to all question him together?

[He might just get ultra-defensive immediately.]

[theterminator]

[Oliver is present through all of this, but has yet to really contribute at all beyond simply being there. He's used to being a one man show--now more than ever (well, one man/one woman but you know what I mean). Working as part of a team isn't necessarily new for him, but not running point in said scenario certainly is. So he is just kind of there, taking it all in for the time being. At least he appears completely comfortable in corporate building such as this one? And looks pretty good in a suit, too.]

I don't think it matters one way or another. [If his own experience is anything to go by. Someone at the head of a company like this wasn't going to be forthcoming by default. How many people they sent to interrogate him wouldn't matter in the slightest. It was just good that between the group of them, they had more than one method of obtaining information at their disposal. Because, let's be real, Ollie is already 100% convinced that it was going to come to that.]

1/2

[telepathy]

[ Emma looks to Oliver and gives him a nod like she agrees, then turns to explain to Bo. ]

It is if we don't approach him as if he's culpable. We're here to offer the Karthur Institute's assistance in investigating a recent acquisition of his, one that he may need to watch more closely if he's going to associate it with the LuthorCorp name.

[ The secretary comes out of his office, and Emma holds up her water bottle to them in a cheers gesture. The kind that makes it look like she wishes it were wine. ]

I'm sure he'll be glad for the investment advice.

[villainous]

[ The assistant stewards them all into Lex's office, which is big enough that one might guess it were actually a studio penthouse. The dark hardwood floors are interrupted only by the steel and glass furniture. The walls are dark enough that they look as though they may have been crafted from obsidian, but for the exterior wall, which is a single, uninterrupted sheet of bulletproof glass.

Lex stands tall, facing it with his back to them and his hands folded casually behind him. His lengthy desk stretches between the Knights and where he stands. ]

Come in. [ He turns, wearing a genial smile. ] Taylor tells me you're from the Karthur Institute. [ There are two chairs opposite his desk, so he doesn't bother gesturing to them, but he does wave one hand to invite them further into the office. ]

[fistpump]

[Felicity files into the room, but doesn't take up any of the seats. She just stands to the side assuming that Emma or someone else will be doing the talking. Definitely not her.]

[succubestie]

[Bo has a seat in one of the chairs, also assuming that Emma will do quite a bit of the talking (since she's apparently familiar with this man), thus taking the other, but Bo completely willing to back her up with...various types of persuasion if necessary.]

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley stands near near them, taking neither seats. He stands ready to support any arguments they will throw at the conglomerate.]

[fistpump]

[Actually, this guy makes her a touch uneasy. She'll just glance to Oliver and hope he has the decency to stand near her. He'll make a great human shield protector if this goes horribly wrong!]

[telepathy]

We are indeed. [ Emma smiles genially, but doesn't invite herself to any of the seats. Rather, she steps to hover behind Bo, resting her hand on the back of Bo's chair. ] Normally, we wouldn't be so forthright with this, but we came across some interesting connections related to one of your recent acquisitions: Total Logistics Control.

[succubestie]

[Bo's expression is calm enough, though she raises her eyebrows as she adds:]

Specifically in regards to some shipments they may have sent to Andres Isle before the recent, shall we call them, leadership changes.

[villainous]

You're referring to Prime Minister Sarandis.

[ He says it crisply, a bit of the humor sifting out of his expression as his eyes fall on Bo. ]

Interesting. You know, they say Prince—I'm sorry, King Marcus showed up with an army at his back. No one had any idea where he got it; no countries are taking responsibility for the coup. [ The smile comes back. Stepping forward, he rests splayed fingers comfortably against the surface of his desk. ] I don't blame them, not wanting to muddy their hands with that business. It's a good political move.

[fixyourproblem]

[Brantley stands calmly, not bothering to react at whatever implication the man is stating. He gives out a business smile as he, in reply, politely asks:] That is why we are here. Considering the company business relation with Ex-Prime Minister Sarandis, we're wondering if you have any insight about their business preceding your acquisition?

[Without stopping his smile, he sets his eyes upon the businessman, watching closely for the man's body language that may show indication of lie or guilt. (sense motive 28, know(behavioral science 22))] After all, it's not a good political move to get mixed up in that business.

[villainous]

How industrious, for the Karthur Institute to fall on that sword.

[ Bright blue eyes land on Brantley as he makes the pointed assessment—after all, they're obviously willing to dirty their hands with it—but after a beat, his smile broadens, with seemingly nothing behind it. ]

When I acquired TLC, the terms of our contract dictated that both corporations offer full disclosure of their contracts and business partners. [ He leans forward, resting his palms flatly on his desk. ] To my knowledge, there was no mention of any contact with the Andresian people. It was quite difficult to solicit trade with Andres Isle prior to the coup; I'm sure I would have heard of it, had there been shipments made.

I'm sorry, but it seems you've been fed faulty information. You might want to reevaluate how much stock you put in your informant.

[fistpump]

[Felicity is listening, but she's not really sure how hands on this guy is. He seems pretty much the glossy shine that most companies don't need to polish up when the press comes around. Smooth talking and approachable smiles.

It's also typically not a good thing. Almost every super approachable guy that was claiming innocence was also extremely underhanded. Oliver is included in that group - just because he still lied to his own family for all that time.]

You're sure -- or you're positive? I know that running a company this large - there could have been things that were done without your knowledge. Things that people might not want to lose their job over, so they just didn't tell you.

[villainous]

Tell you what.

[ He steps away from his desk and moves to a filing cabinet. Once he pulls open the drawer, he begins to thumb through manila folders as he speaks. ]

Don't take my word for it. [ He pulls a file out, flipping it open to take a cursory glance. Seeming satisfied with what he reads, he closes the file and steps over to Felicity, handing the file over. ] If there's anything unsightly going on with the research methods used by Total Logistics Control, I'd like to know about it. My team did a thorough sweep of their operations, but if you have reason to believe there's something we may have missed ... I encourage you to prove me wrong.

[ He points to the file. ] You can start with that. You're more than welcome to conduct your own investigation of the facilities to put your minds at ease. The labs are outside the city, a little place called Arcadia. My security team can get you directions.

[ The genial smile persists as he gestures towards Bo, inviting, ] If you can find something my market analysts couldn't, I may have to try stealing you away from the Karthur Institute.

[fistpump]

[Felicity takes the file from him and gives it a cursory glance. She nods at his allowance to go check his files.

She'll ... just wait for Emma to decide if they're going to go with this plan or if they'll be splitting up or not.]

[succubestie]

[Bo turns to look back up at Emma.]

Should some of us check these labs while Felicity scans the files?

[Though someone will need to stay here with her, too.]

[fistpump]

[Felicity raises her hand, because clearly... she is in elementary school. She drops her hand quickly.]

If the labs have archives on site, I'd probably prefer to check those myself. [That way Mr. Luthor had phrased it with her 'starting with the single hard copy' part had her thinking the rest of it would be on a computer. Where she can actually look for hidden things. With hard copy all she can do is check for that wite-out tape.]

1/2

[villainous]

Felicity's right.

[ Lex picks up her name easily, gesturing casually to the folder he's handed over. ]

That hard copy is all you'll find in this building—the merge hasn't been finalized yet, so their internal records haven't been synched with our database yet. But you should be able to access the secure servers on-site if you head down to Total Logistics Control's lab. [ His smile is turned on Felicity, accompanied by a nod of appreciation for her fastidiousness. ]

[telepathy]

Excellent.

[ Emma's eyes lock on his for a long moment, a piercing quality to their blue depths as she scrutinizes him. An inscrutable second later, she blinks and eases up. ]

Do call ahead and let them know to expect us. And of course, we'll inform you of any inconsistencies in our findings. I'd hate to think you've been bamboozled by bigots.

[succubestie]

[Bo's hands move to press into the arm rests of the chair as she pushes to stand.]

Let's get moving then, shall we?

[fistpump]

[Felicity nods and holds onto the paperwork that she'd been given. She can read it on the way, if nothing else. It'll also help to corroborate the two sides of records.]

[villainous]

Please do let me know what you find.

[ With a final genial smile, he gestures to the door, inviting them to see themselves out. Emma turns to the others, catching each of their gazes individually before crossing to the door. ]