(no subject)

[have_no_mercy]

The door opens directly into the study at Luthor mansion. Technically, it's a castle, but that tidbit is usually kept for people she's trying to impress in some way. Jim is not one of those people.

It's rather sparsely decorated for a room it's size; A fireplace that is always roaring, a couch off to the side, a large desk behind which is a comparatively small bookcase. It's dark, which the artwork helps convey. A large pair of heavy wooden doors adorn the far wall, presumably leading to the rest of the house.

The only real points of interest are the stained glass windows just behind the desk. Decorative "L"s are at the centre of each, one in green with a few extra symbols around it and the other plain in purple.

Tess strides and waves a hand around the immediate area.

"Make yourself comfortable, if you want. Drink?"

Comments

[just_cant_lose]

Nice to see she's got her Scotch mojo back. He smirks and downs his own, then stands up.

'Show me what you've got.'

[have_no_mercy]

Something like that.

Tess stands as well and after a deep breath, she holds the tube out in her hands. There's an extremely loud BOOM and then they're surrounded by a bright, white light.

It'll dissipate in a few minutes.

[just_cant_lose]

He's glad he put his shades on. Also glad he's the type to wear them indoors without shame.

'Provide earplugs next time,' he murmurs, though maybe she won't hear if her ears are ringing as badly as his right now.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess just smirks, even if he's unlikely to see it.

When the light retreats, they're standing on the outskirts of what looks like a large, tall, shining city. Pods zip around from one building to another and although they are unable to see from their vantage point, there's a bustling of people on the ground as well.

It sort of looks like what you'd see on the Jetsons. And of course, it's all metal.

[just_cant_lose]

It looks...neat. And yes, shiny. Jim immediately likes it, because he's a big fan of clean lines. Bustling people are less of an attraction, but eh. Nowhere seems to be rid of them.

'Lets find a pod to go in,' he says immediately, because he wants to ride in one and then he wants to take one apart. Or at least get the info on how they work.

[have_no_mercy]

She's never been here before herself so she's a little distracted looking around and taking everything in.

She can't say she's surprised when he mentions wanting a pod.

"Come on, this way. There's a path into the city."

[just_cant_lose]

Jim sticks his hands in his pockets, casual as anything, and takes everything in from behind his shades as he walks. Yes, it's futuristic, but he assumes the human dynamic will be the same. It always is. But he'll keep an open mind until he's proved right. He's not about to sneer at something new, at least until it proves it's just like everywhere else.

'How did you find out about this place?'

[have_no_mercy]

"I've met one of them. He visited Earth and helped us out a few times. Rokk Krinn. Just a kid, really."

Tess will also not be surprised if there's a statue of Rokk and Kal in the city square.

[just_cant_lose]

Jim suppresses a sigh.

With zero subtlety.

'There's obviously more to the story than that. Or is this just another thing you're not willing to tell me?'

[have_no_mercy]

She looks over at him, genuinely surprised.

"There isn't more. He came, he helped, he left."

[just_cant_lose]

'How did he get there? What did he help with? How does he travel between worlds just like that?'

Has he got one of the little tubes? There's always more to tell.

[have_no_mercy]

Oh. All that.

"They have rings that allows them to travel in time." But so does the boom tube, so she's given up on trying to get a Legion ring.

"He helped remove a metallic alien entity from one of our friends."

[just_cant_lose]

'Sounds like a useful guy to have around.'

Jim murmurs this, his attention engaged on the city they're moving into.

'Is he still here? We could go say hi.'

Also, in news that will surprise no one, Jim wants his ring.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess is not shocked or surprised. She wouldn't mind one herself, sadly they don't grow on trees.

"He is, as are the rest of his team. But they're very picky about not messing with timelines."

Which means no ring for you, Jim.

"I have no idea if he's here or not. I'm sure we can find out."

[just_cant_lose]

He wasn't going to ask for it.

'Well then, lets. He can show us around. Though maybe he'll ask questions about what you're doing here, and how you got here?'

Beat.

'Is he pretty?'

[have_no_mercy]

"He will ask questions and he won't like the truthful answers." And she's not in the mood for a lecture today.

"I suppose he's pretty. A little young for you, though.

[just_cant_lose]

Jim looks immediately outraged.

‘How dare you! I don’t know how old you think I am, and now I don’t want to. Also, you don’t know what age I favour.’

The idea he would care about something as mundane as age is totally offensive! Et cetera.

‘Anyway, who says I was asking for myself?’

[have_no_mercy]

Tess rolls her eyes.

"You're not generally concerned with the well being of others."

[just_cant_lose]

'I've counselled you to get laid many times.'

Admittedly it's mainly to loosen her up so she'll be more fun to hang around with.

'With people other than me, even.'

[have_no_mercy]

"He's, like, barely twenty."

Her brother's age. Not that she remembers a whole lot about him.

"Is that all you think about?"

She knows it's not. She stops briefly to inspect what appears to be a plant.

[just_cant_lose]

'What, shagging you?'

He knows she knows it's not.

'And hey, he'll have stamina on his side. You did say you were looking to integrate back into normal life.'

He watches her with the plant, idly wondering if it'll turn out to be flesh eating. That'd be a funny surprise.

[have_no_mercy]

"Shagging in general."

The plant winds a trail around her wrist and she has a bit of trouble getting loose. Not so much fun.

"Apparently lack of a social life is my normal life."

[just_cant_lose]

'It's what people are welcome to believe I spend my time thinking about.'

He does not, of course, make any attempt to help her get loose. He stands with his hands in his pockets, waiting for her to sort it out and come along.

'And you know it doesn't have to be that way if you don't want it.'

[have_no_mercy]

"Mmm. I'm sure you don't care."

Of course he doesn't help. She doesn't expect him to. Really, she's impressed her anger didn't get hold of her and end up with a torn plant.

"I don't know what I want, yet."

[just_cant_lose]

'You're just not honest about what you want. Or you weren't, before. Who knows now?'

Torture can change a person. He knows this. He almost envies those who let it.

'Are you finished playing with the fauna? I want to find a library.'