(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

[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.'

[have_no_mercy]

Jim's hand gets shook and then he opens his mouth and it all goes wrong. Tess closes her eyes and her shoulders sag slightly. She just to play that one to Jim, didn't she.

Rokk goes wide-eyed and tales a step closer to her. "Tell me you don't have one."

[just_cant_lose]

...oops?

He is mortified to have got her in trouble.



(Heh. :D)

[have_no_mercy]

Tess glares at him for a minute before sighing and answering the accusation.

"I stole it while we were leaving. It seemed like they owed me something."

Rokk's serious stare softens a little. Being reminded of a friend in trouble will do that.

He nods and turns to Jim. "So, you just tagged along?"

[just_cant_lose]

Played the boy he is. Shape up, kid. Jim just shrugs though, all at ease.

'Yes, more or less. I was bored, and she likes trying to entertain me. She's very good like that, don't you think?'

Maybe Rokk has noticed this quality in her before.

'And what's your name?'

[have_no_mercy]

"I was testing it to see if it worked. And yes, he was bored."

Like he always is.

Rokk doesn't quite look like he believes her,but chooses to answer Jim instead.

"I'm Rokk, and I wouldn't call what she does entertaining."

Tess just stands there, the picture of innocence.

[just_cant_lose]

'Oh?'

Jim looks from one to the other, also the picture of innocence.

'What has she done?'

[have_no_mercy]

"Now, now." She says before anything gets said that she might lose her temper over. "I'm helpful."

Rokk snorts a laugh. "Doomsday was helpful?"

She purses her lips. "It worked out fine, didn't it?"

[just_cant_lose]

'I feel we're back in territory she's never bothered to explain.'

He pulls a face, not really sorry about it.

'But I'm all ears Rokk, if you want to fill me in. She never tells me anything.'

Woe.

[have_no_mercy]

"She let loose a monster on Earth which then tried to destroy it."

"I didn't know that at the time," she fills in quietly.

"Then you sent Kal after it. You knew what you were doing then." Rokk glances behind them. "And you knew you'd cause destruction here by doing that."

"It's just a bit of fun."

Rokk sighs this time and leans over toward Jim. "She's trouble, is what she's done."

[just_cant_lose]

'Is she?'

Jim sounds horrified.

....except if you know him at all, it'll be obvious he's the very opposite. Around the edges of his smile, it kind of looks like he's never liked her more.

'I'm a poor judge of travel companion, clearly. Why don't you come with us, Rokk? You can show us around, and then we'll go home.'

[have_no_mercy]

He nods. "With a capital T." He thinks he's so witty with his 2000s Earth talk.

Tess rolls her eyes. "I'm sure he's too busy."

Rokk shrugs and nods slightly. "Still, I can show you a few things."

[just_cant_lose]

Jim does not outright laugh at the cliché. He just looks delighted at having a tour guide, and claps his hands a couple of times.

'Sightseeing's fun, Tess. Lighten up. I'm sure Rokk doesn't mind.'

[have_no_mercy]

He stares at Jim a moment, strange man that he is though Rokk's not going question Tess' choice of guests.

Tess herself knows when she's outvoted so a short tour it will be.

Rokk spreads an arm to indicate the area they're in.

"Well, to start, this is Braal Square. This is where we gather for celebrations, where most of our commerce is done and is the largest square on the planet. They were going to put up a statue of us, but you know, that's not what we're about."

Tess nods, unsurprised.

[just_cant_lose]

Jim stares right back, grinning and entirely unfazed by the boy's scrutiny.

And then the kid starts talking, and Jim - apparently - can't stop the snort that breaks free. The sound is undeniably...well. A snort. Exactly what it sounds like.

Because way to humblebrag, fella. If that's not what you're about, why mention it at all?

His tone is nothing more than curious when he follows with, 'what did you do to deserve a statue?'

He is agog.

[have_no_mercy]

"Oh, uh, well we've saved the universe a few times, protecting the timeline in the process." It may not sound like a lot, but it kind of is.

Tess chimes in, helpfully, "He's a real bonafide hero."

[just_cant_lose]

'Oh.'

Jim looks disappointed. At the boy's words, not Tess's.

'Was it worth it?'

I mean, really?

[have_no_mercy]

Rokk is confused. "Of course it was." It's the protection of the timeline. Really, Tess, who is this guy?

For her part, she's getting bored. "Play nice, boys."

[just_cant_lose]

'What are you talking about? Nothing could be more civil, right, Rokk?'

Jim's grin is wide, open, friendly.

'All I mean is...well, never mind. What else have you got here? I like the pods. It's good tech.'

[have_no_mercy]

Tess sighs. "We're a thousand years in the future. Everything is going to be good tech compared to what we're used to."

Rokk nods. He's seen their primitive little world. "You'd probably like the transit system."

It's teleporting!

[just_cant_lose]

Jim turns his head slowly to fix with her a look, no less derisive for the fact it's delivered from behind shades.

'Tess, darling. Don't be a bitch.'

He's playing, and he could do without the attitude. But he turns a smile back on the kid.

'Then why don't you show me the transit system?'