[Video]

[wherethestoryis]

[What is visible of the room is obviously in Earth Sector, both from the décor and from the view out of the large, open window over Lois’ shoulder. As for Lois herself, she’s still somewhat damp and visibly grumpy about it. Her sigh is explosive as she runs a hand through her hair.]

Kidnapping, fine. Another day in my life. Alternate universes? They’re not so much my thing. I try to leave that to the heroes. Murder and mayhem are plenty for headlines.

[Lois rolls her eyes as she says the latter. Despite the few sentences, she manages to convey even more information, even subconsciously: her face and tone are expressive. Exasperation, impatience, and the voice of experience shine through. So too does her underlying concern, though. She is absently twisting some hair around a finger. Her engagement and wedding rings glint as she does.]

Lois Lane, Daily Planet, if anyone’s heard of it.

The last time I ran into an alternate world, at least it was someone’s… misguided attempt at a paradise. Nice enough place, but even that ended in a fight. One day I’d like to get a freaking vacation with one of these things.

[Pause.]

So… are there any competent newspapers around this place?

[So much for wanting a vacation.]

Comments

video;

[demon_brat]

Not so far, but I do believe one is in the making. Looking only a short way back would let you know whose idea that is.

[YEP, the boy is smirking a little. Also in the role of miniature socialite...]

Ms. Lane. Damian Wayne.

video;

[wherethestoryis]

[Lois blinks.

And then stares. She hadn't heard of any new little Bats. But he does look--] As in Bruce Wayne?

video;

[demon_brat]

[The smile turns bright.]

Very much so. His son.

It seems that people can come here from different times, especially compared to other people they know - it is possible that I, or others you may actually know, come from a later point in time than you. Or an earlier one. It is - it seems to be no greater cause of alarm than the rest of this... experience.

[memoriesinsmoke]

Not as far as I know, but recently somebody mentioned wanting to start one up.

[wherethestoryis]

I don't know whether to be pleased at the initiative or wonder how these people got on without one.

And you are?

[memoriesinsmoke]

Beats me. Either way, apparently his name is Clark Kent, if you ever want to get in touch with him.

Agent Sherman, B.P.R.D.

[video]

[cowled]

[You better believe he takes the time to analyze every visual aspect of her message before replying to it. She's roughly the same age he remembers, which is good - it means he won't need to juggle his identities with her. Wedding ring is intact.

Her attitude seems to be likewise, of course. Which is one of the reasons Bruce actually enjoys her company. So his smile is only somewhat faked when he turns the video feed on.]

Lois! [Old friends, or a playboy hitting on a lovely reporter? Hard to say with his persona.] Goodness, it's just raining reporters these days, isn't it?

[translation: Kent's around here somewhere.

Honestly Bruce will be very surprised if Clark doesn't hear her voice and suddenly appear in her living quarters.]

[video]

[wherethestoryis]

[Lucky for the apartment she's in that she habitually makes sure there's an open window for her husband. She even double-checked after hearing he was in town. Broken glass is such a pain to clean up, after all.

But it's good to see Bruce. After all, if Batman's here, things just got an order of magnitude more manageable.

So he gets an arch smile.

Translation: I heard he's here.] If it isn't my favorite owner of the Planet.

Seems we're not the only ones arriving in numbers. Cute kid.

[video]

[cowled]

You flatter me, Ms. Lane.

[His tone implies that she's well within her rights to continue doing so. Some appearances, after all, need to be maintained.]

I see you've met Damian, then.

[video]

[notpredictable]

[HARK.

HEADLINES. KIDNAPPING. HEROES. Megamind is pinged a thousand times over.

JUST WHO IS THIS DARK HAIRED DAMSEL boasting about needing something that sounded SUSPICIOUSLY REPORTERLIKE.

He must know.]

HA! Vacation, Miss Lane? Kidnappees rarely get vacations. [He would know.]

[video]

[wherethestoryis]

[Well then.

Lois knows the look of a supervillain when she sees one. She's faced down enough of them.

This isn't one she recognizes. Change of pace?]

I don't know, I've had a slow year or two. And I can still ask for a vacation. God knows I've built up the karma.

video

[shootingshields]

There was mention of starting a newspaper for the recently arrived foreigners. I'm not sure a kedan newspaper would be much use to us, but I don't think there are any regardless.

video

[wherethestoryis]

Any newspaper's of use, even if you can't always believe them. A kedan newspaper would at least give us something on them.

[andaway]

[Bruce is right, Clark doesn't even bother answering to the feed as her video appears on the network and he hears her voice. He tracks her heartbeat down and is right in front of her door in 0.3 nanoseconds.

But he still knocks. Manners first.]

[wherethestoryis]

[Lois blinks a little and sighs with exasperation. 'Hey, at least I managed to finish a thought without getting interrupted,' she's muttering while heading to the door.

Which she opens.]

Yes, what d-- Clark?

[Video]

[tactile_telekinesis]

No newspaper yet, Ms. Lane but don't think it'll be too long until one's actually up and running.

[Kon is grinning right now.]

This place doesn't discriminate, huh?

[Video]

[wherethestoryis]

Of course it won't be, now that I'm here.

[Holy hell she's been warned, but he's so young. And... lacking in fashion sense.]

Apparently not. Good to see you, Superboy.

→ video 99% batcryptions

[controlledvariable]

Hello, Ms. Lane. [She doesn't really know Lois, but she's heard good things from - pretty much everyone.] I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't think you're gonna get the vacation.

[fair warning]

video 99% batcryptions

[wherethestoryis]

It was probably too much to hope for anyway.

And just Lois is fine.

video;

[iron_ego]

Doing the whole fame name thing only works for big name celebrities, sweetheart. [What is with everyone throwing their names out on the network like they're the new J-Lo?] Besides, a pretty-- [cough] --intelligent reporter like yourself's got more subtle ways of getting the story no doubt.

[Newspapers? Yeah, he's betting that name you spouted's one, meaning he bets your on staff and looking for the next headliner. Congratulations: You've just met him.]

video;

[wherethestoryis]

[See her eyebrows go up. So maybe her ego is a nettled, but this guy obviously isn't from her world, either.

As a result, he gets the full-force of an archly skeptical Lois Lane.]

I don't suppose you realize the value of relying on a professional reputation for integrity.

[video]

[sharpes]

Depends on what you mean by 'competent'. There's some creepy douchebag who wants to start one up, but I'd stay away from him if I were you.

[he really dislikes Clark, okay? Like. 100 percent straight-up vitriol.]

[video]

[wherethestoryis]

[Lois gets a peculiar expression, quickly followed by a hand over her mouth. (Unconsciously, it's her left hand.) It looks a great deal like possible concern, certainly a serious kind of curiosity.

For anyone who knows her well, she's clearly torn between being offended or incredibly amused.]

Creepy douchebag?

[She's heard Clark called weak, dull, cowardly, unreliable, and on one memorable occasion having 'the charisma of a mailbox;' she's heard Superman called the first of an invasion, untrustworthy, a public menace, and 'The Alien' more times than she can count.

'Creepy douchebag' is definitely a new one.]

What happened?

Video

[wholenewstory]

[Cassandra has never met Lois, but she recognises her - and it's not hard at all to see why she's Superman's partner. She can see no terror, no uncertainty; there's a steel in her, in the way she holds herself, that reminds Cass of Barbara.]

You - probably know, now. That he's starting one. [She doesn't think it's necessary to specify, really.

She tilts her head, thoughtful.]

Don't know - what we'd call it, though.

Video

[wherethestoryis]

So I've heard, yes.

[Lois is a little curious, actually. Everyone else had specified who--Clark, 'some guy,' 'creepy douchebag' (which Clark is never living down).]

So long as he leaves the naming to me, I think we'll be fine. He's not to be trusted with them.

[Says the woman who came up with 'Superman.']