14239/Cupp-uppance

Cupp-uppance
Date of Scene:	25 February 2023
Location:	Wayne Enterprises
Synopsis:	Running for the Senate's difficult. Phillip Cupp stops by Wayne Enterprises and has a lively conversation with Tim Drake and Talia Summers. There's an awful lot of name dropping and Tim and Talia team up to take on the Senator-Wannabe and head him off at the pass.
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Talia al Ghul, Tim Drake

---

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    As one of the Wayne heirs, on occasion Phoebe Beacon-Wayne had to make appearances at Wayne Enterprises, in the very-much created position as Junior Executive of Medical/Tech Charitable Giving, which means she has an office with a view, a desk that cost more than some people's cars, and had to poke her head in once in a while to make sure the dust wasn't too settled.

    One of the perks of being a Wayne working in Wayne Tower, which houses Wayne Enterprises, is that you get to bypass some of the normal security measures, slipping past the line of visitors and employees when you're in a hurry to bring coffee to some of the most important people.

    Namely, Tim.

    However, there is a face she recognizes as he snakes through the glass corridor of security, fake smile plastered on his face as he jokes about the price of his very expensive, custom-tailored suit, making conversation and reminded the guard that he was here to see one of the Waynes about giving to a campaign.

    Phillip Cupp, with his expensive hair, expensive shoes. and thousand-dollar briefcase (monogramed, of course).

    The girl with the coffees and the bag of bagels walks *faster* to get to the elevator bank, and sends a text on a pair of smart glasses she's wearing:

    >>Cupp is in the lobby.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul is currently at Wayne Enterprises dealing with something. She has a few small accounts that she's reasonably sure that the Family is aware of that she's having transferred over to the place if only to let them track her and her funds. SHe's hoping that it will come off as a show of good faith as she wants to stay as long as she can.. And that means smoothing as many things over as possible and hopefully avoiding things which might stand out. So funds and account trails being setup for transfer and tracking.."
    She is, however, one of those that has to go fully through security, so she's waiting over through it in whatever coincidentially overlapping area it might be. She's dressed rather plainly. Moderately expensive business suit, hair done up in a bun, glasses.. Enough makeup to make her look relatively normal. She could pass likely as an executive assistant or some very minor business person there.
    But, she's not trying to play it off as working here. Just another customer winding their way through the hoops that it takes to go to wherever they're going.

Tim Drake has posed:
    It's the second alert Tim's got in so many minutes about Persons Of Interest being in the lobby of Wayne Enterprises. Talia's presence is less a concern and more a general awareness sort of thing, but so far Bruce has chosen to give Damian's mother a chance to prove herself, so Tim only makes note of it as he stands from his desk.

    Technically his position is a junior engineer with the R&D department, but there's the whole wink wink, nudge nudge thing going on. You don't have the last name Wayne and not get a fancy office, fancy desk, fancy chair, and even a fancy view, which Tim was currently staring unblinkingly, unseeingly out at when Phoebe's notification registers, and he's out of his office and down the hall before he can even think of it, using an override on the elevators he really shouldn't have to fast-track one of them up to him.

    Chances are, he'll be down in the lobby before Cupp (or Talia) make it through security.

    "Why is Cupp here?" he mutters, as if he's talking to himself as the doors part in front of him and he steps onto an elevator, repeatedly jamming the button for the lobby. But he's really using the voice-to-text function of his comm-unit tucked into his pocket, sending that message down to Phoebe.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    >Unknown. I'm taking your coffee to your office and hiding in the drawer where I stuck the glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs though.

    Phoebe doesn't have an override that she can use in the lobby, but she manages to squeak into one just before the door closes, making her safe from the threat, even if now she's in a crowded elevator.

    "Can someone hit floor thirty seven please?"

    Cupp hasn't encountered Talia before; she's just another pretty lady to him. He gives a smile to the security guards, one that doesn't touch his eyes as he finger-guns at them

    "-- so remember, if you want to Fill Your Cupp, vote Phillip Cupp to congress! I'll be happy to represent all of New Jersey, but especially proud of Gotham City!" he croons, making one of the guards give a small laugh and a thumbs up before he turns to finalize his trip to the building, receiving a visitor's badge that will grand him access to the elevators and certain parts of the building, and he gives a small grin.

    Tim's elevator gives a 'ding!'

    'Floor One: Lobby.' the helpful voice states as the doors open for the lone occupant of the elevator car.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul goes to pick up the sounds of someone going to plug himself over then as she would muse over to herself and glance in the man's direction and shrugging, "Going for govrnoer or state representative?" Her recollection of American politics is they just had federal and state electrions barely three months ago. Or four. But then again they've already started preparing for the next series in two years so if anything the man's waited quite awhile to declare his candidacy.
    She's still in line while receiving a visitor badge after going through the security (which to her is clunky and sloppy) before being given the badge of someone going to the financial services area.

Tim Drake has posed:
    As Phoebe's elevator goes up, Tim's goes down, like two ships passing in the night. Or something. Either way, Tim shakes his head as he gets the next text but the doors are already opening, and there he is. He steps out into the lobby, looking out past the elevator banks towards the security line, and somehow it's a relief, seeing Talia.

    Yeah, that's right. Tim's shoulders go a little slack and some of the tension leaves his face because Talia al Ghul is in the building, and maybe she'll encounter Cupp, and then...

    No, no, that's wrong. He gives a little shake of his head and then Tim's on the move, to all appearances just out for a casual stroll before he "spots" Cupp. "Phil!" he says, crossing the distance between them. "Welcome to Wayne Enterprises! What brings you up to the financial district?"

    Out of the corner of his eye, Tim glances towards Talia. It's mute recognition, but recognition nonetheless, of her presence.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Tim!" Cupp greets the smartest man in the room, stepping away from the most deadly person in the room, and this time the smile does touch his eyes -- just a little. He reaches out to offer Tim a handshake and a clap on the back.

    "I was hoping to make it up to talk to you in your office. The Old Man *did* give you an office, right?" he grins brightly. "Did you see my Big Announcement? Running for the Senate, making my way through congress and then maybe in ten years ousting Luthor and taking over in the White House. You're looking at the *future* President Cupp!" he gives a smile, looking over Tim's shoulder. "Don't suppose your sister's in today, is she? Was hoping to talk to her -- she hasn't been returning my calls."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would glance over at Cupp and smile, "But of course. I do however think that if anyone can manage to get an amendment passed to allow more than two terms of office, it would be President LUthor. So if he is still in office then you'll have your work cut out for you." She would nod over at him.

"So you've announced your run.. Nearly two years before elections? Somewhat presumptuous, aren't we?" She would ask mildly, in the sort of nonchalance of someone that iddn't follow politics.

"And what's a SEnator worth? There are a hundred of them. Or a Congressman? Ther'es what, four hundred and fifty?"

Tim Drake has posed:
    "Actually, I work in the R&D department and I'd offer to give you a tour but it's all very hush-hush. We can't show off our new toys to anyone, not even you Phil, I'm sorry," is how Tim side-steps the mention of his office, knowing that Phoebe is currently hiding in it. He's just contemplating whether it's worth it to snag a conference room when--

    Tim's face doesn't show the relief he feels when Talia cuts in. Because he's being very careful, in this moment, to control the emotions that he's visibly expressing.

    But oh, the relief is still palpable.

    He opens his mouth for a light correction on Talia's numbers, but then he decides against it. Less for his own personal safety and more because he's totally on her side right now. "Luthor *is* a formidable opponent," he agrees, looking rather unbothered by this supposed stranger joining their conversation.

    "You know, I've heard a lot of different quotes for buying a politician. Terrible stuff, the commodification of our political process, don't you think?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "A hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars a year, plus the pride of serving their country as an elected representative." Phil replies with a smile to Talia, and goes to offer a handshake to her. "Phillip Cupp, how do you do ma'am?" he smiles, pouring on the charm that on him is artificial, but for someone like Harvey Dent would be natural.

    "I know, I know, everyone has their price, lobbiests and politicians and such, but everything's a commodity these days, Timmy." he gives Tim a bright smile.

    "What I'm curious about is how much can we count on Wayne Enterprises for a donation to the warchest?"

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would glance over at him, "That and another two or three hundred thousand will let you have a parking space in Manhattan for a year or so? Maybe less." She would go to slide her hand back. "Not that things here in Gotham are that pricey. Mostly." SHe would shrug over while glancing over at Tim with total sympathy. Timmy?
    SHe would have an expresison on her face of 'if you need help hiding the body'. Tim might even take it supportingly for achange.
    "Talia Summers. You might know my sister Alexa. She's the one that does all the exposes for the Bugle. She did something recently about organized crime funding politicians in Manhattan. Got her a Pullitzer."

Tim Drake has posed:
    The look Talia aims his way is responded to with a quick flash of a smile, barely there before it's gone again. And then the clear offer is considered in that hazy way that people with moral, upstanding beliefs fantasize: good things happening to them, bad things happening to people they don't like. Nebulous sort of fantasies.

    But Tim shakes it off, figuratively speaking, and accepts that he's going to have to deal with Cupp until he's either scared off (by Talia, maybe) or Tim sends him away.

    Now if only it were that easy.

    "There are holdouts in Gotham still who aren't bought so easily. More than you might think, too. We're a stubborn city full of stubborn people, otherwise why would anyone live here?" He flashes an easy smile that reaches his eyes, because this is a brief interlude into what Tim actually believes in. "Aside for our very reasonable cost of living," he adds, and then it's all fake again.

    Talia's "sister"'s portfolio of work is given a wide-eyed look of awe-slash-acknowledgment, before Tim turns back to Phillip. "You know that's above my pay grade, Phil. I'm just an engineer. But I can get you in touch with the right people who would be willing to discuss that with you."

    AKA, the department of outward-facing folks who will give Cupp the runaround.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Thank goodness we don't live in Manhattan then!" Phil counters to Talia, giving her a toothy smile. "Ms. Summers, pleasure to meet your acquaintence -- though I find it hard to beleive that the daily Bugle earned anyone a Pullitzer. I mean, it's not the Daily Planet, and they don't exactly employ Vicki Vale, do they?" he pauses, thoughtfully -- "Isn't that the one that usually condemns that Spider-Man fella?" he asks, "but what I find more unbelievable --" he trails off a moment, and looks somber "Is that not one, but two of the Waynes are giving me the run-around!" he states with friendly incredularity, as if he and Tim have been close friends forever.

    "First Phoebe doesn't return my calls after the Reindeer Gala, and now you're pretending like we're not friends Timmy!" he gives a bop of his head, trying to look sincere.

    "Gotham City's a tough place to represent, but I feel like if I were to represent New Jersey in general and Gotham City in particular, we can put her in a better Light. Something sparkling, something hopeful. I mean, it's still within living memory that it was cut off from the mainland, and that hangs heavy over many of Gotham's sons -- and daughters." he states somberly.

    "And you can't fool anyone, Tim, you're one of His boys. I know you know how to Make Things Happen. Grease the wheels, do the--" he holds out his hands, ass if typing "-- techno-magic thing, right?" he gives a grin. "I mean, I could always start taking a few continuing ed classes at the U to see if I bump into Phoebe there. I'm sure she has the old man's ear too."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul would go to smile over and fold her hands together, "Oh, no. Don't worry. They're the ones that tend to support Superman. You know, the guy with the big blue S on his chest. I'm really, really sure they're hard to mix up." She would go to get over and smile, "Well, I can tell you now as voter that.." SHe would start to hum voer and her lips would hit a specific tune.
    There were some sorts of things which when broght up would hit just those vibes over that were hard to eliminate from one's brain after they had hit. Catchy jingles existed for a reason. All she had to do was hit a few bars of it..
    And the first strains of the Barney song would hopefully hit the man hard.

Tim Drake has posed:
    Tim's too young for Barney. Sure, technically the series was still going as late as 2010, but there were other, shinier children's shows by then that took the forefront. So the humming, thankfully, has no effect on him.

    He's also too busy trying to scramble out of this mess to really listen to it. That helps too.

    "All the more reason for letting the right people make the financial decisions, don't you think?" Tim asks, his brain rapid-fire trying to get ahead of Phillip Cupp's sliminess. "Political donations are serious, and need all due consideration given to them. Wayne Enterprises represents a lot of people, more than just me and Phoebe, or even Bruce himself. I wouldn't want my personal bias to unfairly influence where our yearly campaign contributions go."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Barney is a dinosaur from our imagination, getting stuck in Phill Cupp's head as he dreams to rule a nation. Talia's earworm ends up good, getting stuck in his head, while Tim meditates on his sliminess and tries to find a good end!

    "Right you are Timmy, that would be the best way to go about it, huh?" Phil's smile oozes as he schmoozes, and he play-punches at Tim's arm, and tries to get the Barney tune out of his head. It's really awful.

    "And Ms. Summers, I would be definitely happy to represent you in the coming election and beyond. *Do* give my regards to both your sisters then, since I do have a meeting with one of the other C Suite types today." he gives a smile, and excuses himself to head towards the elevators.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
There's a sigh as she goes on. Then as Tim is backing away Talia goes to hand him over Cupp's smartphone and his wallet. "I'm very sure that there will be something that a quick scan through a database will pick up." Politicians -always- have things that they don't want to have anyonek now that the public will respond badly to.
    "At the very least when they do an ID check to confirm it's the same person on the log.." Then he'll have an issue! Becasue Wayne Enterprises doesn't want people to just snatch a visitor's pass and use it to sneak around in after all to bypass all that security.
    So, the exchange is hopefully handed over to Tim to make some merry mayhem from it as he escapes.

Tim Drake has posed:
    Nothing on Tim's expression communicates the deep-felt relief he feels at Cupp's departure. The stonewalling worked, as he had hoped, and Talia's presence (maybe the humming, too, that Tim is mostly unaware of) certainly had something to do with it. He exhales slowly, and looks over when Talia holds some things out to him.

    "Oh, I'll make sure we get these back to Mr. Cupp as soon as possible," he says, which is a bold-faced lie and he's not even trying to sound like it isn't.

    Eventually the security team will get it. So forgetful of Phillip, to have forgotten both of them at the security checkpoint!

    But first, Tim will dig up whatever he can on Phil. And he also changes the number underneath Phoebe's contact info so that all of those annoying messages get forwarded to a different phone.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    ANd thus the day was saved by Talia 'Summers" and Tim Drake, Phoebe's phone no longer has to bounce messages (since Phil's number was already blocked), Phil was extraordinarily late for his meeting to smooze with the C-Suite type, and never got the meeting rescheduled. And no one ever suspected that nice lady who went into Financial was to blame in the least.

    And by the time Tim gets back to his office, Phoebe had broken out the glow-in-the dark dinosaurs and there was already a pitched battle, with funny voices and everything, for ownership of his coffee.