12867/The Fish That Got Away

The Fish That Got Away
Date of Scene:	23 September 2022
Location:	Hall of Justice - New Troy
Synopsis:	Arthur comes into the Hall of Justice dripping mad about the recent events at the Starport.
Cast of Characters:	Arthur Curry, Zatanna Zatara

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Arthur Curry has posed:
    Often times the heroes in Metropolis would seek to arrive at the Hall of Justice without much ado. It was always good to keep some hint of a low profile now and again since the city was often subject to the machinations of ill-intentioned evil villains, so any sort of wild activity at the Justice League headquarters tended to be watched and watched closely. Since for many of the citizens of that city that was their first clue or hint that something was up.
    So when Arthur Curry, the Amazing Aquaman, leapt out of the ocean in an explosion of waves and water... then landed with a heavy crunching thud in the ground leaving his footprints in the earth as he then walked on up to the front of the gate scowling to himself.
    The automated systems within the hall sounded their green-tinged warnings about his arrival, letting various systems know and update various parties. Then when he reached the door the virtual assistant's voice lifted in its neutral gentle tone, "Welcome, Arthur Curry."
    Into the main area he strode, boots thumping on the floor and trailing water. He wore those boots and blue jeans and little else though the tattoos gave him a semblance of armor. Scowling he answered.
    "Hey computer, give me the feeds for the Starport!"
    Which had the displays flickering to life when he left the front area and went into the league facility proper.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Cameras swivel and track the shirtless denizen of the sea, giving Zatanna a good view of Arthur's tattoos. The magician sitting alone in the main hall, leans forward in her chair, speaking to the room's AI, "Connect me to reception."

A cool voice answers, "Connected."

"Arthur, come up to the main meeting room. YOu might want to dry off first though. What is going on with the Starport?"

She brushes off her fingers, before tossing back her dark hair, and gives the cuffs of her shirt showing under the tailored jacket a tug. The cheese puffs she had been snacking are left on the table.

Arthur Curry has posed:
    "Yeah yeah," Is Arthur's eloquent response to the other ethereal voice coming from above. Though he does as is requested, small dollops of water seeming to float and lift off the ground, his clothes, his form and coalesce into a swirling bubble of water that drifts in the direction of one of the planters in the corner giving whatever plant is there some extra liquid.
    And so what if it's salt water.
    And fine maybe that plant is plastic.
    Whatever the case may be, Arthur continues on into the hall, and moments later steps through the door to the main meeting room. Without even a hello or a 'how was your day?' he points at the display. "That's it?"
    Which likely it is, the swirling imagery of the starport displayed showing the port proper as well as the vehicles that are moving around it. As well as the area of increased activity by the Atlanteans.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Magically not a trace of Cheeto dust sullies Zatanna's raven hair or the pure white of her cuffs. She gestures grandly to the display, then turns to him, eyebrows raised inquisitively, "That it is. What has your trident in a twist, Arthur?"

She pushes the bag toward him. "Sit down. I was there about a week ago. Is there a problem?"

Arthur Curry has posed:
    A grunt is heard from the half-Atlantean as he steps over and thumps his knuckles onto the table. Leaning forward and peering at the display he lifts a hand to drag and draw the image over to the side, focusing on the new activity of the Atlantean engineers as well as their more recent construction. He frowns for a moment.
    "Mmm, was running by the embassy, just seeing what's what. Namor put out a press release thing about some sort of kerfluffle that went on at the Starport." He glances sidelong at Zatanna, then those golden eyes lower to the cheetos, then back up to hers.
    He grunts again and scoops out a cheeto and chomps it before looking back.
    "Thanks." He murmurs as he crunches the life out of the snack food.
    He pointedly, however, does not sit down and keeps adjusting the image. Then over his shoulder he says, "Hey computer, give me the camera feeds from the Starport's... Northern clover leaf."
    Which changes the view to a more direct image instead of a satellite above view. He zooms in with another hand gesture to get a shot of some Atlantean ships.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
"Ah, you heard about that, did you?" Zatanna grabs a Cheeto and nibbles on it while she considers the Atlantean. "The Shi'ar dropped something into the sea or were intending to. Though, I'm not privy to everything that happened."

She rocks back in her swivel chair and points to the northern loop of the starport, "A Shi'ar died, I understand due to something involving factions and there are rumors of invasion." She focuses on the display then turns her sapphire eyes back on Arthur, "And war. The interplanetary type."

Arthur Curry has posed:
    Which has Arthur scowling as he looks at the display and murmurs a rather uncharitable, "Fuckin' idiots." Which could be angled in any number of directions. Though likely it's meant more for the Shi'ar. Or aliens. Or whomever wants to invade. Shaking his head he then seems to remember that Zatanna is a lady.
    "Pardon," He adds in that kneejerk way of manners ingrained over the years.
    Then he looks back at the display and adjusts the view. He shakes his head, "I could go out there. And see what's what. But if I do that, could raise all sorts of eyes. And could also be what Namor is expecting. Or wanting." His jaw tightens, teeth grinding a little.
    "But meh." He straightens up and clenches his hands a few times before shaking his head. "I got a bad feeling about this. But maybe I'm just being paranoid. Or maybe I just don't like Namor." He says at the last with some small hint of self-awareness.

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Inured to potty mouth by the likes of John Constantine and Meggan, the mage snorts faintly and waves her hand dismissively.

Eyebrows knitting slightly, "What is the problem with having eyes on you? I thought you were good at stealth," she says, teasing him."Besides, there will be plenty of ships and submarines in the area, patrolling in case the wrong Shi'ar return uninvited."

She looks at Arthur with a trace of skepticism in the set of her mouth, "What about Namor? Don't you all see eye to eye?"

Arthur Curry has posed:
    A hand lifts as he gestures to the side, "I'm okay." At the stealth thing, underwater. But then he shakes his head, "Nah. That could be even worse, sneaking around and then found out." He pushes himself upright and takes a deep breath, frowns.
    "I'll see if I can get one of the Kryptonians or Diana to do a flyover and see what they can see." That said he gives a nod toward Zatanna. "Or I'll ask the ocean hot line what's all the hubbub about." Since, after all, every fish can be a /spy/ for Arthur.
    He pushes away from the counter-top and scowls as he walks toward the door, then back in a small pace as he shakes his head. "Dammit."

Zatanna Zatara has posed:
Baffled by his reluctance to go out to the site, "Look, I was just out there, tracing the ley lines under it for a project. I'd be perfectly in my rights to go back to double check on a little blip we noticed in the lines. Would that help?"

Arthur Curry has posed:
    "Possibly," Then he points at her, "Actually, hold that thought I have an idea." And as he says that he takes a step back toward the door. But then he seems to remember his manners even as he's walking backward. "Ah crap, I shoulda asked. How are things for you? Everything ok? Look I gotta go!"
    And as he says that he turns back around and is stomping out into the hall, such as is his way.