audio | un: dailyplanet

[thisisontherecord]

Hello, Etraya. My name is Lois Lane, and for anyone who met a younger me before, yes, still a reporter, and no, that wasn't past me.

( A pause. People get alternate worlds here, right? )

I'm interested in talking with people about the most recent mission before our next one hits, especially in regards to the anomaly itself and any resolution or lack there-of there was. I want to write-up what we as Etrayans believe happened and get it out there for everyone since there's no real mission debriefing process.

If there are other missions you'd like to go over from your perspective, I'd be glad to do the same. If you're concerned about being named, tell me and you'll remain anonymous.

( Another pause. She sighs, very, very quietly. )

I'll be spending a good part of the later mornings over at the unnamed Diner. If anyone has anything else they'd like to comment on about Etraya and see distributed, you can reach out to me by text or call or stop by. If you're all going to end up asking for gossip columns or restaurant reviews, I'm drafting help.

( ooc: "Interview" Questions here as a form to fill out OOCly; happy to also thread anything out, just is easier if I have info to work with sooner for writing up. And no I have no idea what I'm doing we're living in Wild Times. )

Comments

un: hob (voice)

[100more]

[ A cheerful voice replies. ]

What a wonderful idea. Oftentimes, I'm confused how the missions turn out. Sometimes, we're sent to find something, and I don't actually know if it was ever found or if the objective was ever reached.

I'm not what you'd call a 'super-hero'. I don't have any powers that would help me do those kinds of tasks.

[thisisontherecord]

If powers were all that mattered, neither of us would be here.

( She says, sounding a little amused. )

But the lack of clarity about what happened on these missions is enough to drive me up a wall. We're already operating at a deficit of information. This just tips it into feeling gratuitous.

[100more]

As far as I know, we haven't had anyone attempt what you're suggesting. I guess we just needed the right reporter to show up.

[ His voice reflects a friendly smile. ]

I'm not sure what I could do to help, but if there's anything I can do, I would be happy to.

[thisisontherecord]

We'll see what persistence can do for a payoff here, but hey. We could be pleasantly surprised.

( Hers does as well at this point: Lois is affable, just also incredibly driven. )

At this point, letting me know anything you think is relevant is the most immediate help. Barring that, keeping an ear out and tipping me off in the future if there's more I should look into, as far as it pertains to all this. Our situation here, the alleged threat to the multiverse, the actions behind any given mission... resolutions, mishaps, the works.

[100more]

Like I said, I'm usually not someone who knows a lot about what's going on around here, but if there's something useful I can offer, I will.

Action!!

[levelshift]

[Understanding the importance of information gathering and sharing, Accelerator steps into the diner with a small sigh. He had spoken to Lois a bit about the previous mission already, and after seeing her message on the network he figured it would be smart to make sure she's gotten as much information out of him as possible. They're already partway there thanks to his self-loathing, so why not finish the job? It just makes sense.

He glances around, spying the booth she's sitting in, and heads on over. Sitting down across from her, he takes a moment to retract the cane portion of his crutch, then take the cuff off and set it aside. There's a scowl on his face, but that's his usual expression.]

I wanted to see if you had any other questions about San Francisco. [And the whole... maybe-anomaly thing....] Or whatever the hell else.

[thisisontherecord]

( Lois quirked up her eyebrows, watching him as he comes over and slides into the booth across from her. She's yet again staked out the corner booth, taking advantage of its larger surface area, and the co-opted plug in the wall behind one of the fake plants used as decor on the upper sections of the seats. )

I appreciate you taking the time to stop by, Accelerator. Want anything to drink?

( The companion bot behind the counter turns toward them both, holding its hands up to its chest like it's hoping dearly they say they need it. Its apron with the word "Diner" embroidered fancifully across the front is a character point. Probably. Might count as flair. )

[levelshift]

[He supposes the diner is a good enough place to interview people. There aren't that many places around good for that kind of thing. Not the library, conversations would interrupt anyone in there reading. The cafe? Outside somewhere?

He sighs a little, putting that thought out of mind. It doesn't really matter. Giving the companion bot a halfhearted glance, he waves vaguely at it.]

Coffee.

[He's been here enough times that the bot would know how he likes his coffee (black), so that's all it gets.]

You getting any bites so far?

[thisisontherecord]

( The bot heads over with the coffee carafe, walking with an extra pep to its step. Literally. There's a little 'pep' sound effect it's making as it brings a mug and sets the thick ceramic piece down, pouring Accelerator a beautifully dark cup of hot coffee. The steam rises off the surface as the bot continues to look carefully at Accelerator, as if to judge his reaction.

Over what was anyone's guess. It did know what he wanted. )

Dwayne. He didn't remember so many details, but he did say he was punched by, ( she pauses to look at her notes on the computer screen, flipping to another open document: ) "A guy who had the anomaly inside him." His description of him was, "a human male." A non-child sized human male.

voice

[krtaps]

Wait... there was another version of you here before? Like, from a parallel universe type of you?

[thisisontherecord]

Yep. ( She pops that 'p.' ) Seemed like a good kid.

( She was only seven? Years younger? )

[krtaps]

Dude you seem SO chill about this. Is this normal? Does this happen to you a lot or something?

[thisisontherecord]

Meeting or seeing evidence of an alternate reality self? Not in so many words, but I've become aware of just how unremarkable that may be.

( Jon's mother is another Lois. Batmans and Robins know a Lois. Presumably she exists in other realities, she just has not run into herself across any of them. Yet. )

There also seems to be an unusually high number of individuals pulled from Earths with Metropolis's and Gotham's staring at each other across a bay, because there are a good number of people from both present in Etraya. Especially Gotham. We are rich with former Gotham residents.

action!

[tinflower]

[ A nearly 7 foot half-orc walks into the unnamed diner.

With a head ducked through the doorway, whether it's necessary or not. It's habit, and while this half-orc is tall and green, scleras black against white pupils with crow's feet around the edges of their eyes, there's something that still shows youth. Even with the creases around his mouth as he looks, eyes searching.

Looking for Lois Lane, a name he knows; a person he used to know, but not the same one. A different one. Do they know about the ship with all the Lois Lanes? He gotta remember to ask.

But while he does catch sight of a woman (and maybe their eyes meet), he'll ask, after getting the courage to speak out to an entire diner: ]

Lois Lane?

[ ...that's definitely the voice of a Young Adult, if the way he dresses and holds himself (jeans, dirty hoodie, a backpack he's holding the strap of; steampunk-esque looking goggles on top of his head, fingerless gloves covering his hands.

Hi, we're looking for one Lois Lane?? ]

[thisisontherecord]

( Lois quirks up her eyebrows... and leaves them there, mostly taking in the height of this... kid? The uncertain body language, the way he's looking around, how he's dressed, he's at least not feeling strongly self confident right now.

(And she does not know of the ship of all the Lois Lanes. Sometime she should learn. It sounds like the perfect nightmare for anyone facing down a ship of alterselves.)

Lois smiles, a welcoming expression to pair with her relaxing body language. She lifts a hand for a lazy looking little wave. )

Hey! Yes, that's me. Are you here to talk about the most recent mission?

( She gestures with the hand that'd been waving to the opposite side of her rather large booth. )

Please, feel free to take a seat. What should I be calling you? The companion bot will be over in a moment in case you want to ask for anything to drink.

( This is not a presumption from Lois. The bot in their apron with "Diner" embroidered on it is watching Gorgug with all the intensity of a person longing to help another person, even if no one needs helping. )

[tinflower]

[ Oh, okay, good. He's got the right place, and there's a woman, and her name is Lois Lane. He nods when she asks why he's here, and happily gives her room to speak, looking over at the companion bot when it's mentioned.

And meeting a gaze he's not at all unfamiliar with, walking then, and saying, ]

The usual, for me? Thanks.

[ The bot nods back, speaks back 'Of course, Gorgug!', sharing his name before Gorgug can. But even so, Gorgug's already looking back at Lois, to the direction he's walking. ]

Um, my name's Gorgug. I've been here a while -- okay, I'll sit.

[ There's an explanation there that didn't need to be shared, that he's fine with speaking with the companion bots (he's more friendly with them than his boyfriend agrees with), and then a pause that's awkward, that he doesn't know what to follow up with except for I'll sit.

And sit he does, pulling out the seat and leaving some room between himself and the table for the length of his legs. He does bend the up, doesn't stretch them out, choosing manners before comfort (and rude man spreading). And sitting across from Lois, he can't help but take a second to examine her face, if not very deeply.

She doesn't look anything like the last Lois he knew, that much was already evident. But he kinda wonders anyway, if there's anything they share. Some detail, even physically. ]

...Hi, [ he says. Because. Yes. Hi. ]

[thisisontherecord]

( He's regular and he has a companionable relationship with the bot. Lois notes this to herself, nodding amicably to Gorgug once he's seated. She flashes him a small, easy smile, leaning back so she's granting him a sense of greater space. This table in the corner does have the most relative space, but he's also taller than Clark, by more than a head. )

Hey, Gorgug. Thanks for making time to come out here and talk with me. Is there... anything in particular on your mind today?

( She's mentioned the mission most recent, because it's the one she has any idea about herself without it purely being based on what's on network history. Lois remains relaxed, a touch serious, but still largely affable. He doesn't need intense Lois. She has a feeling that'll be counterproductive at this moment; she can re-evaluate as they go. )

[ un: SleepNear // voice ]

[quibblingfunctionary]

[A floaty voice with a vaguely Scandinavian accent comes across the line.]

A debriefing could make future missions go smoother. With this we could keep an eye on whom one can work with and whom one should avoid.

[thisisontherecord]

At minimum we'd at least know what the results of each mission is for us, as people caught up in this dog and pony show. Which means yes, we can also learn more about who we want to work with and how.

( there's no way all of them are ever going to be on the exact same wavelength, but they can get people closer to a shared one, surely. )

[quibblingfunctionary]

[...dog and pony show??]

I confess I do not know what became of the anomaly—gain you any knowledge of this?

[thisisontherecord]

( the problem with idioms being they rarely translate well across cultures )

As of yet, no. That's part of what I hope to learn from those willing to speak with me.

( So far tallying... two people. Later on, five. )

action

[crimsonsphere]

[Lois Lane's pitch intrigues Paine. The idea of a mission debriefing written by them, for everyone--that's the kind of thing she's been figuring out herself, from a different angle.

So she walks into the diner and sits down across from her.]

I hear you want to start keeping records of the things we do around here.

[thisisontherecord]

( Lois looks up from where she'd been typing on her laptop, spotting the unfamilar to her face of another young woman. She flashes a smile: time to at least be friendly, because this is what she's hoping to get people to do.

Talk. )

Hello, yes, I am. Lois Lane, ( She says, knowing she's already recognized if she's being approached, but she slides out of the booth to hold out her hand to Paine regardless. ) usually reporting on International news for the Daily Planet. Getting a lot more focused since arriving in Etraya.

[crimsonsphere]

[Oh. A reporter.

It's an instinctual impulse of repulsion. For seventeen years, the only "news" Paine saw was someone on a sphere, parroting whatever it was they'd been told they could say by the Church of Yevon, with the only really trustworthy words out of their mouth being the blitzball scores.

But Lois might not be like that. Paine can't return the smile, but she does shake Lois' hand.]

The name's Paine. You're going to be reporting on a lot more than international. And less, at the same time.

So what does reporting involve, for you?

[thisisontherecord]

The truth. Investigating it, verifying it, cross-checking it, getting it in front of people so they know what's happening behind the veneer of the world's show. Calling out the government and everyone else for the cover-ups they think they can get away with.

( Lois simply watches her, eyebrows quirked just a touch. )

Bit harder to get the same degree of paper trail here, given the nature of everything. Gotta start somewhere.