13687/Slumlord Open Forum

Slumlord Open Forum
Date of Scene:	29 December 2022
Location:	Suicide Slum - New Troy
Synopsis:	Alura gets to meet Conner properly while also righting a low rent housing wrong.
Cast of Characters:	Alura In-Ze, Conner Kent

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Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura sweeps across the skies of Metropolis. It's a fascinating city filled with haphazard blur of culture and languages. Getting the hand of humanity and Earth is going to be a lot of work but what else is she to do. Not all of it is shiny and interesting though - no, it seems the wealth of this planet is divided unevenly.

Alura lands upon the cracked sidewalk in the rundown part of Metropolis, known locally as 'the slums' aka Suicide Slum. There are store fronts boarded up and covered with graffiti tags. A random dog chained to a wall next to a water bowl. The people here aren't walking with pep in their step.

She's trying not to be judgemental but it's hard not to. A society can be judged by how it treats its most needful members. These people, compared to the ones in the rest of the city, have a great need.

Alura is also getting stares because she stands out in her white Themysciran gown, slippers, and a metal belt about her waist. She looks like a muse from a baroque painting has stepped out in to a ruined landscape to bring inspiration and sing songs on roller skates.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner lived in Metro the first few months of his life outside virtual reality, and he has a spot in his heart for the so-called City of Tomorrow. But Metropolis doesn't need him anymore, if it ever did. He liked Hawaii so much more, and now New York seems to be a more solid place too.

Like... Metropolis is what it should be, but not what most of the world is now. And even in Metropolis there are dark spots. Which Conner always checks twice when he is in the city because if there is an ongoing crime in Metro, it would be there four out of five times.

That is how he spots Alura. Which he thought was still in Themyscira. He never even got to talk with her a minute. Maybe it is the time, now.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura spies Conner. Her senses acute and she is still responding like someone not entirely used to them. She does smile though - she remembers him from her first moments on Earth. Judging by the way he looks to her super vision, she supposes he must be Kryptonian too.

She gives him an odd wave, fingers touching to her chest and then spreading out toward him in an open gesture. Most likely a Kryptonian equivalent of sticking your hand out there and waving it about. Her journey is taking her down the street as a street car passes by. She looks at it on its rails embedded in to the street and the way the cars stop when it stops. People drudgingly get off and on.

Up ahead a family, mother and father with two children, sit amidst their belongings. The father is holding back the tears but the mother is not. They sit outside a large square building of apartments, very rundown looking at that.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner wears the El symbol in his chest, red-on-black, not red-on-yellow like Kal does. And that is it, as the rest of the outfit he is wearing is definitely Earth-side. Blue jeans, black boots, and a black leather jacket.

He smiles for a moment when Alura gestures at him. She spotted him? Apparently she got used to the enhanced senses really quickly. Maybe that is something adult Kryptonians would do. Not that he is jealous or anything.

Then he flies down quickly, landing a few feet from the woman. "Hello!" He greets. In English, because his Kryptonian sucks. ""Alura In-Ze, right? Nice to see you. Are you looking for Kal-El?"

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura has a strange alien necklace on but she's only using it a little as she replies to him in English. "Hello. I never got your name when I first arrived. But yes, I'm Alura In-Ze tynth." The belt has a carefully etched symbol for the house of El in it too. Finely cut as only advanced manufacturing can do. It's a far more subtle nod to her household than the giant symbol Kal and Conner wear.

"I was not, but if he's near I'd be happy to see him again," she says and then stops before the sad family. She looks to Conner, then to them and asks of them, "What has brought you to tears?" There's a part of Alura that cannot give up civic duty now that she has sat on the high council of Argo City.

The man presses his lips together a moment and says, "We are forced to leave our home. The heating no longer works and the land lord ignores our calls for help. But we have no place else to go."

Alura looks up at the building before them. It's an imposing structure of stained dark concrete and shuttered blinds behind windows. It does not look like a place people should live.

Conner Kent has posed:
"I am Kon-El," offers the young man, thinking the Kryptonian name is the best for the situation, besides, in the middle of the street, people are watching. Probably taking pictures with the cellphones.

Small problem, since he has a flimsy secret-identity, and it is not very important considering what the man is saying. Conner frowns, "and just after Christmas... maybe he is not in town? In any case, that is pretty much illegal. Do you have a place to go?" He glances up at the building. It looks run down, even for the Suicide Slum. He thought this kind of thing happened in Gotham, not in Metro.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura looks delighted. It makes sense considering the symbol on his chest. "Then you're family which means to you I am Alura. Or perhaps ynugh.. uh.. Auntie?" She's still getting her head around English but learning has become a lot easier thanks to Sol.

Alura frowns though hearing the story of the people waiting outside the apartment complex. "Who is this land lord and why is your housing feudal?" Perhaps taking the language a little too literally there. English is confusing like that.

The man nods to Conner, "It is - but no body can do anything about it. Everybody has problems in this building and that piece of trash just ignores it. He's never available, always busy, always away. Nothing ever gets fixed. We're going to have to move out east, which means I have to leave my job of 22 years. We have to start all over again. And not us, so many other people have had to leave already." He huffs in annoyance, "His name is Arthur Greenfield."

Alura forms fists and then releases them as she hears about these injustices. She draws back her sleeve and reveals a bracer upon it. It's not like the Amazons. It's not armor. She motions over it and a holographic display in Kryptonian hovers above it. The children look on in wonder as the man starts to realise what symbol Conner wears on his chest.

"I'll find this man for you and there shall be a free forum of discussion regarding the inadequacies of this living space," she states matter of factly as she taps in to the local internet. The trams stop a moment and resume as the power fluctuates, as do some of the lights in the shops and buildings. Her study is intense for a moment until she finds what she's looking for.

Conner Kent has posed:
"If he is doing this to all the tenants, maybe you should pool resources and hire a good lawyer," he suggests. Alternative, of course, he could grab the creep and hang him by the foot a thousand feet up. The Batman solution!

It was going through his head when 'auntie Alura' says he can find this Mr. Greenfield. "It is not feudal, aunt Alura; land lord is just a term. Means this Greenfield person is renting living spaces. And ignoring the laws about it, it seems." He folds his arms, "you can't do much about it within the local law. Fixing of this kind of thing can be painfully slow. Or... we could also do something Kal-El would not approve and 'convince' Mr. Greenfield that it would be healthier for him to repair his building."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
More of the tenants have started to come out to show their support for the family that are moving away. Mostly because of Conner, Superboy, taking an interest in things.

Alura shakes her head and smiles. "Perhaps we bend the laws of this land a little then. There's only one way to settle dispute amicably and that's through communication. People must use their words and this man is hiding away so he does not have to face the reality of his actions."

Alura nods to the gathering people and says, "Please excuse me one moment. Kon, I will only be a moment." It's rare for her in her life to be in a position where she can directly affect change that makes a difference in peoples lives. These new gifts from Sol perhaps give her that chance. A chance to right some wrongs of the past.

She leaps in to the sky and flies with a crack of the wind breaking through the sound barrier to a tall building down town. Hovering outside the office of one Mr. Arthur Greenfield. A finger to the glass and it cracks and smashes inward. She steps in and lands on the carpet.

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!," Arthur says and grabs at his phone for security.

"Mr. Greenfield, your tenants require your attention urgently. Their lives are disrupted by your lack of availability. As I can see you are free now...." she walks over and scoops him up.

A few moments later she lands amongst the tenants of the rundown apartment complex and sets Arthur down on his feet. He adjusts his clothes and wipes back his balding hair. He looks bewildered and not quite sure what to say as the tenants faces begin to recognise the man who has caused them so much misery. All at once they begin to speak their grievances.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner's eyes follow Alura's flying trajectories and he smirks a little. Definitely not what Superman would have done, but he is not going to tell him. "Well, now he will have to listen. But if he was there, and available, then he probably already knows what is going on and he was unwilling to help."

Getting harassed by irate tenants for a while, though, won't hurt Greenfield. Much. "We are going to have to keep an eye on him for a few days to make sure he fixes his building," he notes.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura steps back and the man is being very animate with his arms in defence but after a while his shoulders slump and he starts to engage in the conversation. An angry conversation that starts to simmer down when it's clear Greenfield is actually listening for a change. Caught red handed, cornered, he is doing what rats do - surviving.

Alura nods to Conner and says, "I understand. There were people like him on Krypton. Not to this degree, but they would only do what is right when you exposed what they were doing. It's, perhaps, a universal trait in co-operative societies. Parasites who only think of themselves."

Her eyes are watching the people in case anyone thinks violence is the answer. She is not going to let that happen. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the solution for anyone here. After a while, people start helping the family move back in. Greenfield is on the phone organising heating and plumbing experts to come immediately.

One of the tenants gives a wave to Conner and says to him, "Thanks Superboy. You've helped a lot of people today."

Alura looks at Conner with amusement and nudges his side playfully, "I admit I don't know how enforcement works for laws here but it seems to be suboptimal if this can happen to people. I'm just glad we could get a good outcome today."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Hey, it was her who did everything," replies Conner pointing at Alura when someone gives him the medals. Then he looks at the woman, "it usually works slowly and sometimes it doesn't work. And this is one of the most advanced countries in the world. Some areas of Earth are barely industrialized. And others are ruled by vicious autocrats. It is a bit of a mess. I bet Krypton was far more organized. Even if we can find a few Mr. Greenfields in every planet of the Galaxy."

He shrugs. It probably looks very primitive to Alura. "Are you staying on Earth? I mean, this world is just entering the space age... and there are other survivors of Krypton out there."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
The man nods to Conner and dips his head to Alura a little, "Well.. then.. uh.. Thanks. Super... woman. Superwoman." He's never seen her before, but he spies the same symbol on her belt as what Conner has on his chest. The landlord is being ushered inside the building to see other issues first hand. It's going to be a long day for him - this is exactly what he was trying to avoid. Spending time and money doing the right thing.

Alura turns and sees a whole bunch of people standing around holding cameras pointed at them. She's not quite sure what to think of that but what can she do about it? shoo them away? that seems rude.

"I'm staying. My daughter is here. My family is here. Where else is there to go with all of this. May be this world has a lot of rough edges but there's potential here. If this world will have me then I see no reason to leave."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner laughs, "yes, I think they will 'have you', for the good and the bad," he waves for the cameras. Then he points out to Alura. "Lets get some distance, too good pictures in the networks might make difficult for you to get around discreetly."

Besides, he has some questions. Which maybe he shouldn't ask without Kal and Kara around. But they have been bothering him since he was the remains of Argo City.

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura nods her head, "Sure. Let's go." She jumps in to the air and pushes her hands out flying up and away. The cameras follow but quickly she moves away from the city and out in to some quiet forest. She lands amongst the trees and places a hand on the patterns of the brown bark.

Turning she looks to Conner, expecting him to follow her. "Kon. Tell me - who are you to Kal and Kara? We sent them to this world but I never expected to meet a young man like yourself here. Though, I never expected to ever make it here in my life time."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner follows, but gets to the forest a few seconds after Alura. He is not as quick as her, and it shows. "Well, I have no idea where to start. See... things got complicated when Kal became pretty much the most beloved and powerful hero on Earth. And I think Kara's spaceship got delayed several years." Probably not Jor-El's plans.

"Have you met Jon-El yet? Because he is Kal's hybrid son, and he is from the future," he explains. "And I am Jon's clone, created by a time traveller as part of a crazy plan to 'save the world'" he quotes with his fingers. "A plan that would have killed a lot of good people. Well, that is not going to happen and the time traveller is currently in jail."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura nods to the first part. She has talked to Kara about her late arrival and while that wasn't the plan things seemed to have worked out. Kal-El has turned out to be a wonderful man. Kara is coming in to her own on this world too.

The second part, however, has Alura's mouth drop open in surprise. It's a lot all at once. "One moment," she says and lifts a finger. "I have not met Jon-El. Kal has a son? but presumably not yet. That must have been quite difficult for Kal to believe at first. And time travel. Time travel is - well - forbidden."

There's no better way to put it than that. Knowledge of how to time travel existed on Krypton in the locked archives because travelling through time does nothing but make things worse. At least, that's the way the science of temporal anomalies was taught to her. With real examples too of how things got messed up when time explorers first existed.

But then the next part. A clone. She looks him up and down - he's standing, breathing, not trying to eat her brains, holding conversation. A Kryptonian-Human hybrid cloned by future humanity. She finds a felled log to sit on for a moment as she tries to wrap her head around this.

"Cloning is ... was illegal on Krypton. We're very difficult to 'get right'. But if you're part Kryptonian, part Human, well, that changes the equation considerably. The mind boggles but here you are in front of me. Proof that it can be done. And you seem like a nice young man, so perhaps proof that it should have been done."

"Don't let the law of Krypton worry you - it was there because if you get the cloning wrong the results can be horrible and that is unethical; but also the gene pool must be maintained or a species will be doomed to extinction."

With a small huff she continues, "We were already beginning to experience that. It's one of the reasons Jor-El first came to Earth. He was looking for a solution to our genetic degredation."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Jor-El was on Earth?!" That is something Conner didn't know. But if he had a spaceship already... "Kal told me Jor-El sent him to Earth because human biology was compatible. Which is really odd for what I know about genetics. Anyway, Jon is the living proof he was right. I think he was naturally born, not create in a lab or anything."

He imagines time travel is illegal everywhere once the science to make it work exists. Here? It is a-legal. No rules, because it is just a mathematical theory.

"Oh yes, clones are illegal. At least in the more civilized nations. That won't stop criminals from doing it, though. It is not our fault, I have a couple of friends that also clones," he offers. "Not Kryptonians, but super-humans, they were created as living weapons but also managed to escape."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura nods her head, "Yes. He ... went looking for another alien species related to Kryptonians but didn't find them. Instead he found Earth. So when Krypton was in its last days it was naturally the best place we could send our children. It's heartening to know there is a future for Humanity and Krypton together though - you and Jon are the proof. I look forward to meeting him, but I'm glad to have met you Kon."

She looks a little shocked though as Conner goes on to explain how clones of people were made -as living weapons-. Her mouth drops open again and she presses her lips in to a thin, angered line.

"That is horrible and wrong. I'm glad they've escaped and I hope that means they can live a happy life. On Krypton, all new science required approval from the auditors of the thinkers guild and if they believed it necessary, also from the high council of Krypton itself. We would never have approved cloning people to be weapons."

"If these rogue scientists haven't been brought to justice I hope they will in the near future. Some of the worst crimes in Krypton's history were perpetrated by science gone horribly wrong," Alura says and looks to Conner with kind but concerned eyes that perhaps someone was trying to use him for violence.

Conner Kent has posed:
"Yeah, same here," replies Conner, frowning. "We have a number of 'rogue scientists' and criminal organizations on Earth with access to fairly advanced technology. And no centralized government, obviously. Which makes everything more complicated, as the law-enforcement agencies are often overwhelmed. Some of those madmen have been brought to justice, but it seems there are always replacements. And that is part of the reason Kal and Kar, and myself, and a number of people with special abilities, spend a good deal of our lives fighting criminals."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura nods her head slowly and taps a finger to her chin. "I see, so you choose to augment the planets law enforcement to fill the gap where it falls short." She nods her head again as if in contemplation. "That's not ideal and must be quite the burden for you all. I understand now why Kara was suggesting I might wish to do what she does."

"Of course it's tricky not knowing all sides of a story. Rash decisions are not the purview of a sound mind. But already my role in life has been forced to shift just by being here. With these powers and without the structure of Kryptonian society."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner nods. "Well, I trust Kal to know how to do the right thing. He is like... he is never wrong, you know? It is his true superpower." He smiles. "On the other hand, I was fumbling around for years and made some big mistakes. Nowadays, I work within a small team and we do good work, mostly in secret."

He sighs, "but that are just some reactive measures. The world has a lot of problems besides obvious crime we can't solve with solar powers. Well, you will learn about it slowly. Or quickly, if you are smart and able to do that speed-read thing some people with super-speed can do. At the end might be you can do more for Earth introducing some Kryptonian technology and social ideas to the world than anything else."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura smiles and ponders, "I do wonder about that. But I would hope this world doesn't go down the same path that Krypton went. I don't think I can bare to lose a third world." Not that Argo City was a world, but it might as well have been considering it was the last of Kryptonian society.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner blinks... "there is Kandor. No one told you? Braniac was defeated, so there are still at least ten thousand Kryptonians out there. And there is the Phantom Zone. And I hoped at least a few more of Argo inhabitants had escaped there before the end."

And there is General Zod and his family and minions. "You need to ask Kal about other survivors. I think there might still be hope for a New Krypton in the future."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura raises an eyebrow. The lost city of Kandor is out there. Brainiac took it. Of course. She tilts her head a little as he lays out the foundations of what could be the return of Kryptonian society. "New Krypton," she repeats and then smiles. "You might be on to something there Kon."

"The Phantom Zone is a complex problem however. The quantum tags used to place the prisoners in there were all stored in Fort Roz. Fort Roz was destroyed when Krypton was destroyed. The only way out of that place is if they figure out a way out. I know I'm not the only one to do that though."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner nods about the Phantom Zone. "Not all the criminals there are irredeemable, I am sure. And I know there are ways out. Jon was trapped there for a while." It looks as if he wanted to say more, but he hesitates. "You should talk more with Kal about all this. He is the one that keeps tabs better, and has those fancy Kryptonian computers and technology in the pole. I need to get back to New York."

Alura In-Ze has posed:
Alura rises back up again and nods. "I will talk to Kal. I have a few things I need to do at the Fortress anyway," she says and approaches Conner. She's not sure if he does hugs but she knows hugs are a thing on this planet. Either way, she attempts and offers the hug to the young man.

"Be safe in New York Kon-El. I'm sure we will meet again soon."