(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]

'I do. It doesn't mean I don't want a library as well. I don't mind in which order.'

He looks up and down the street, a tiny smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. He does love something new.

'What are you more honest about now?'

[have_no_mercy]

"For one thing I wouldn't have told you about the boom tube, nor would I have brought you here."

That much should be obvious.

"Pods appear to be more abundant at the moment. Library is likely closer to the centre."

[just_cant_lose]

'And yet, the results could easily be the same.'

He wanders to the nearest pod, and looks into it. He's not about to steal anything in broad daylight, without knowing the first thing about the police presence on this world. Besides, there are more fun ways to get a ride.

'Before I do anything rash, I don't suppose you have a key on you?'

He'll be so disappointed if she says yes.

[have_no_mercy]

"I told you, I've never been before. I wouldn't know what a key looks like here if it smacked me in the face."

Well. Perhaps she's a bit smarter than that. Maybe.

[just_cant_lose]

'Yes, but there's all these lies you tell me, darling.'

He is not judging.

'Okay, well, I'm going to find an owner of one of these and get a lift. Are you going to come with me, or shall we race?'

[have_no_mercy]

"Let's race."

But she'll watch him try to talk someone into giving him a ride.

[just_cant_lose]

'Okay. First one to the centre of town wins...something.'

He makes a vague gesture, already pulling off his autumnal sweater and messing his hair up with one hand. He doesn't care if he wins or not, he just wants something to do. Plus, neither of them know where the centre of town even is, so.

The jumper gets tied around his waist. He takes his shades off, and snaps one of the arms off. Tess gets one flash of a grin, and a wink, and then his face crumbles down into something stressed and verging on tearful. He disappears into the nearest store without another word. It looks like this world's version of a department store, but it doesn't really matter what sort of place it is. It has people in it, that's the thing.

[have_no_mercy]

Oh, he wants to start now.

Her eyes start to glow a light blue, her hair whipping in the growing wind.

This is hardly even fair.

[just_cant_lose]

Jim, being inside the store, does not see this. He's gone up to the first floor and has chosen a mark already; an older woman who is definitely about to want to look after the nice young man who desperately needs to get into the city, but can't because his pod has malfunctioned. And if he'd known it was going to do that, he would definitely have brought some money for a cab, but he's been caught short and now there's an emergency, life is the worst, et cetera...

He's half hoping people here will be different, and not be taken in by this most basic bullshit. It might mean humanity has the chance of evolving past it's usual boringness, if this world is one possibility of a future-Earth.

But, no. It works. She offers him a ride; he offers to carry her stuff. Blah blah blah. People never change.

[have_no_mercy]

The winds continue to gather around her until she's airborne, rising higher and higher with each second. The city centre isn't so hard to see from up here.

Nevermind the small commotion she's causing.

Finally, she heads in the direction of the end of the line, trailing a small area of destruction behind her.

[just_cant_lose]

He does notice the commotion from the first-floor window. Or rather, he pretends not to and lets the woman notice it, which gives him an excuse to stand next to her and watch.

That's cheating, Tess. You were supposed to catch a ride as well. But whatever; a demonstration of supries!powers is always appreciated.

'What do you suppose that's about?' the woman says.

Jim replies, with complete honesty, that he's never seen a woman do that before. It gives them something to chat about anyway, as he carries her stuff down to her pod and opens the door for her.

[have_no_mercy]

Cheating schmeating. He never ruled out super powers.

Tess lands a block away from the centre square, running the rest of the way.

[just_cant_lose]

Jim, meanwhile, is having a lovely chat with Rhonda about her grandchildren. And very much enjoying the smooth pod ride, which is much quicker and less boring than normal driving. He's itching to pull the console apart and have a look, but it's probably not a good idea while the thing's actually moving. Besides, he has to contribute the appropriate noises about a tearaway prepubescent granddaughter, who is apparently turning her father prematurely grey.

He considers shoving her out of the pod and making off with it when they approach the square, but she's a harmless old thing and he has no idea what the police are like around here. So he just thanks her profusely as they draw to silent halt, and takes her details so he can send her something for her kindness. She zips off with a beaming smile on her face, while Jim slips her magnetic ID card into his pocket. And pulls a face at his broken sunglasses before slipping them back on.

'You're boring,' he tells Tess, as he saunters over, taking his time.

[have_no_mercy]

"You lost."

She's not looking terribly smug anymore, her interest caught by the towering buildings and pods zipping by silently above them.

"Do you think they'll arrest me for my little show?"

[just_cant_lose]

'I don't know. Is it illegal?'

He doesn't sound concerned either way.

'But if the police show up, give me the tube so I can get back before you're hauled off.'

[have_no_mercy]

"I'd think property damage is punishable in some way."

Not that she knows, either. Nor is she in a mood to take a guess.

"Yeah, you're not getting it in any case."

[just_cant_lose]

'If you think you're stranding me here while you sit in jail, think again, darling.'

He waves a vague hand.

'Though I imagine if you can do things like that, getting arrested won't be much of an issue.'

Avoiding arrest that way is also boring. It's much more clever to operate under the radar.

[have_no_mercy]

"That's exactly what I'd do, unless you think you can sweet talk a bunch of teenagers into using their precious rings."

Unlikely, in her estimation. Especially if Rokk is here.

"No, it won't, but if I get sad puppy eyes from Cosmic Boy, I'm taking it out on you."

[just_cant_lose]

'Promises, promises.'

He smirks and looks around, restless.

'And I think I can sweet talk anyone.'

Or put the fear of God into them. He is confident in his ability, even if they're aliens. Teenage aliens.

[have_no_mercy]

"Little old ladies don't count."

Yes, Jim, she saw what you did there.

And then, as if on queue, someone starts hovering above them.

Quietly, "Dammit."

[just_cant_lose]

Jim does not swear. Jim grins as he looks up. He is always happy to meet new people!

If they're interesting.

[have_no_mercy]

The man who lands between them is a young brunette with a bit of scruff on him. He gives Jim a quick once over, but most of his attention - and concern - is on Tess.

"Tess, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

She manages a smile. "No, I doubt you were."

His brow wrinkles in worry.

"Are you all right? I heard--"

Tess puts up a hand for him to stop right there.

"I'm fine."

[just_cant_lose]

Ugh, so concerned. This kid is going to be a boy scout, isn't he? Jim rolls his eye behind his shades, but lets them have their moment.

[have_no_mercy]

There's no 'going to be' about it. He already is.

Rokk continues, "If you say so. Now I can ask who your friend is," he glances back toward Tess with a more serious look, "And how you got here."

TEss smiles and looks at Jim.

[just_cant_lose]

Ugh ugh ugh. Some people are just born righteous, and it's gross.

'I'm Jim. Hello.'

He extends a hand, perfectly polite and congenial. His eyes aren't visible - to a regular human gaze, anyway - so he probably just looks normal.

'You'll have to talk to Tess about how we got here. I just know it made a loud noise.'