14901/A Dark Justice-ie Hello

A Dark Justice-ie Hello
Date of Scene:	11 May 2023
Location:	Candle, Booke and Belle
Synopsis:	Clark visits the Candle, Booke and Belle and has tea with Lydia and Gabby while they discuss current events.
Cast of Characters:	Clark Kent, Gabby Kinney, Lydia Dietrich

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Clark Kent has posed:
It was a rainy May day in the city. The air was cool, heavy, and damp. All in all, not a terrible day...but not a sunny one.

Today, the man wearing the grey suit, navy blue tie, and dark shoes wearing spectacles and carrying an archaic note pad decides to arrive on scene at the Candle, Booke and Belle to...browse the wares.

Entering the shop, and taking a moment to push his glasses up onto his nose, Clark Kent hmms softly.

With a sniff, and a move towards some interesting merchandise in a glass case, Clark leans over, frowns, and then stands up straight. That was when he takes a moment to look around, wondering if anyone else was present.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney didn't technically work at the shop, but given her affiliation with Nettie there were times she would fill in so that the older witch could go about any errands, chores, or just deal with a hangover in peace. It gave her something to do when she wasn't checking in on other things as well. All in all it was kind of nice doing something as mundane as keep watch over the small shop.

Lately she'd taken to putting out some samples of tea to lure people in the shop further. The weather didn't really permit that currently so she just had an electric kettle on nice and steaming warm with a few teacups situated on the counter meant for serving tea in the hopes of luring anyone in that may need to chase away the chill of the rainy day with a nice hot drink.

The door chime alerted her to company while she was in the middle of gulping down a mouthful of a purloined scone making her initial greeting belated due to, well, chewing. Even she had enough manners to try and not talk with her mouth full. By the time Clark has glanced around the dark haired, vertically challenged teen has swiped her mouth clean with a napkin so she can give a bright grin that crinkles the old faded scars on her cheeks in the process. "Hi! Welcome to the Booke! If there's any tea you'd like to sample, please let me know and I can brew up a cup for you."

No sooner are the words out of her mouth than she pauses to stare quizically at Clark with a slow sideways tilt of her head, and a long, deeply inhaled breath. An eyebrow arches faintly, smile still playing over her lips, as she asks, "Or do you need help with something else?"

Clark Kent has posed:
"Why thank you Ms. That would be swell! Please choose something nice and I will try it!"

Clark Kent smells the tea, and moves towards it. Taking a moment to savour the smells, he raises an eyebrow quizzically recognizing the smell.

When Gabby asks that question, Clark Kent changes. It was subtle but a person with a "good eye" for detail would notice it. He became more confident. Self assurred. Almost...charismatic. His voice even changes. "I may need help with some else...Ms. Kinney. I will have that tea, however. Please." His smile was almost contagious.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney considers Clark a moment more only to turn to reach beneath the counter seeking another teacup. Not one of the floral ones sitting out already, but an entirely new one. The cup she withdraws is a three legged model with a handle meant for larger fingers. More importantly, it was designed with a dark blue motif on the outside, a bright red inside the cup, and trimmed with gold along the rim. It's this she sets out before deciding on a Moroccan Mint tea which was green tea with a refreshing spearmint mixed in. It's all poured into the cup.

"I think this is the first time any of you have stopped by. Or maybe I just wasn't around at the time--And call me Gabby. The last name doesn't mean much to me." Speaking of, she asks, "Oh, right, and what should I call you currently?" Hey, she worked with the Bats before. She gets the whole 'secret identity' thing.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
    The door chime gives a little jingle as Lydia steps into the shop. "Do I smell genmaicha? I love genmaicha." Lydia is dressed in a long black skirt and a black high collar button up blouse, looking very much like a Victorian at a funeral. She has deathly pale skin, blood red lips, and her tightly curled black hair hangs down to her shoulders. As always, the starfield of her mutation surrounds her, as motes of light twinkle in and out of existence. Also, to Clarks sensitive hearing, she has no heartbeat. Or any of the normal gurgles, creaks and groans that are associated with a living human being.

    "Hey, Gabby," she says, giving the small woman a friendly smile. "Minding the store while Nettie is out?" She slides in and makes herself a cup after Gabby serves Clark, whom she gives just a friendly smile. "Haven't seen you around here before. New to the Booke?" She tilts her head at the man as his demeanor changes. "Oh! I almost didn't recognize you. What can we do for you?"

Clark Kent has posed:
"It is good to see you again." Clark smiles. "I see you have made yourself busy with this shop. Good for you!" His voice was complimntary and encouraging. His words always seem to be used for good and were never negative.

Looking around, Clark Kent takes in the shop. "This is a really nice place. I am impressed. There are several items of interest. I hope nothing dangerous is present in the shop. In the wrong hands, even the most altruistic intentions can be dangerous."

The tea smells amazing. Clark nods in appreciation as he picks up the teacup and takes a sip. "Thank you. Gabby."

"It probably is the first time. Although perhaps the "darker" member of the team may already know what is happening here." Batman. "Please, call me Clark. Nice to officially meet you."

As the door chime jingles again, Clark looks over his shoulder, and nods to the new arrival. "I am new to the Booke. Clark." He introduces himself and smiles. "I am just browsing. And saying hello. Offerring my help if you ever need it. Diana is better at this mystical stuff than I am, but you never know!"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney grins in amusement as she offers the teacup out for Clark. "Clark it is," she agrees with a solemn nod. Her hand are dusted off on a tea towel kept back there though perhaps unnecessarily so. It was just habit at this point to try and keep things off her hands that had a strong scent which might linger.

Lydia's arrival earns a bright grin. "Yeah, Nettie's out for awhile, and I can pretty much manage most other things oline, so." A shrug is given as if the rest of it were obvious why she was here. Clark's remarks on the shop earn a grin as well.

"The shop is Nettie's, but it's cozy here. Nothing 'real' is out here other than potential ingredients that can't cause any real harm even in the hands of those who don't know better. We keep the serious stuff under lock and key in the 'members only' areas."

"Yeah, I was wondering about that. If you're anything like Conner the magical stuff is a bit... Not so good?" She wasn't fishing for potential flaws so much as understanding exactly what he meant. "Anyway, you're all always welcome here regardless. The whole point of asking Nettie to use the shop is to ensure we *can* be accessable if our help is needed at all."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
    "In the front? No, we don't keep the dangerous stuff in the front." She gestures to the back of the shop, "We have a secure room where we keep that kind of stuff. Like you said, we wouldn't want that kind of stuff out in the wild.

    She cups the warm teacup in her hands, and brings it up to her nose to smell, closing her eyes and enjoying the aroma. She, then, takes a small sip, just enough to coat her tongue and savor the flavor, but not enough to actually drink. "This is good tea, Gabby."

    "It's good to know we can count on you when we need somebody of your... abilities," she says, with a playful smirk. Discretely muttering under her breath, just loud enough for Clark to hear she says, "You never know when we need to punch a planet."

Clark Kent has posed:
Taking another sip of the tea, Clark Kent finishes it off, and says, "That was delicious. Thank you Gabby." He places the empty cup on the top of the cabinent, and smiles. "Oh yes. Nettie's shop. Of course. I need to meet her someday too! When she is around."

With a solemn nod, Clark appreciates the "serious" stuff being under lock and key and not wanting the stuff in the wild. "Good news. Glad to hear it. I know you both are responsible women, so that makes me confident we won't have any issues."

"Conner". That elicits a chuckle. "Yes, we tend to react badly to magical effects. I find they are "itchy"." Was that a joke? Clark's smile widens. "Thank you for the warm welcome. I won't stay long, just wanted to see how things were running here and offer my help. To you both. Maybe even try more exotic teas! Before punching any planets. I try to stay to "moon level" threats to punch." Clark winks at Lydia.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney takes the teacup up to tuck into the 'need to clean' bin beneath the counter for now. No sense in doing dishes while a guest was still in the shop. Occasionally her gaze flits to the front of thes tore, whenever someone walks by, just to ensure no one was about to come in on this conversation.

"Part of what we try to do is locate and remove the more 'serious' things from the public. Not everything is a fight. Sometimes it's just maintaining the peace and making sure accidents don't happen."

A little grin is offered. "When it comes to magical stuff it's better when things are boring."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
    Lydia returns Clark wink with an amused grin. "Thanks for checking in," she says. "It's nice to have a friendly visitor from your neck of the woods for once. Your... 'darker' friend likes to check up on us from time to time, but all he does is glower disapprovingly."

    She chuckles and nods to Gabby. "Indeed. I think that's true for people like us."

Clark Kent has posed:
"I would take boring anyday." That was the truth.

"You are welcome!" Clark says to Lydia. "Yes. He can be depressing." Clark grins."

"Thank you both for the warm welcome! I appreciate it." Clark straightens his tie, and pushes his glasses back up on his nose. It was like he became a different person as he heads towards the door. Not so confident or strong. More clumsy and slow, with a change in posture that was uncanny.

"Time for me to go back to work. Remember, if you need me, I will be there! You have our contact. Please keep us up to date on any Earth Shattering menaces!"

With a smile, and final nod, Clark Kent heads out the door, heading into the rain and streets of the City.