17869/When Telephone Tradition Takes Over

When Telephone Tradition Takes Over
Date of Scene:	07 May 2024
Location:	Chelsea
Synopsis:	Superman is at the opening of a new phone booth when a supervillain attacks, and old instincts and traditions take charge.
Cast of Characters:	Monet St. Croix, Clark Kent

---

Monet St. Croix has posed:
It's a rather slow news day in Manhattan. The city has recently announced a reinstallation of pay phones in many low income areas to help increase access to resources. Currently, a variety of reporters are present covering it when there's not much going on and it's something for the older readers.
    The crowd is mostly those people present who have no idea what a pay phone is. Somewhere in the crowd, a man with an english accent wearing a large trenchcoat, a floppy hat, and a hideous looking multi-colored scarf just smiles wistfully.

Clark Kent has posed:
Another day in Metropolis and the intrepid reporter, Clark Kent, was trying to find a story to hit the Daily Planet for tonight before Mr White fired him. The reinstallation of pay phones in low income areas was just up his ally!

Straightening his tie, remembering the "good old days", Clark moves towards the City Officials, ready to interview them. "Clark Kent! Daily Planet!" Yes that was an actual pencil in his raised hand. And a note pad. Where was the man from, Kansas?

Monet St. Croix has posed:
And for reasons unknown to any but the Kansas reporter, he's also wearing a fedora with a tag in the band which reads 'PRESS' for those which didn't get it. No one seems to mind or otherwise be commenting on it.
    One of the workers installing the phone booth goes to chuckle.
    A city councilman present, wearing a hideously old suit made out of near threadbare plaid with a bowtie clearly wearing a toupee laughs. "You need a phone for everything tehse days. But quite a few place sdon't have them." Not to mention those that were homeless.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark Kent smiles as he adjusts his fedora with that trademark, "PRESS" tag. He looks around, but no one seems to be noticing. Ah well. That does not dampen his enthusiasm. Moving forward without jostling too many people, Clark clears his throat after tripping over a cat, of all things. "Sorry." He whispers to the cat, who meows and heads towards the tree nearby.

Writing the comments from the councilman down, Clark speaks up. "But what about potential vandalism? Is this an effective use of resources?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
The city councilman would shrug, "These things are like tanks. And it's not a phone booth unless it has graffiti on it. And if the city loses a quarter as someone broke into it, so long as it works I think it's okay. If you really want to break it, there's not even enough room inside to swing a sledgehammer at it." He spoke with the tone of personal knowledge of that exact thing.
    "And it's a compromise like a lot of things. Not the best by any metric, but it's the one we can get." In other words, the cheapest and most durable and thus better than nothing.

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark Kent adjusts his fedora, then moves a bit more to the left to get closer. Making a few notes about the graffiti and the "tank" comment, Clark nods silently, biting slightly on the pencil - which breaks it in half. Sighing, he takes another pencil out of his pocket protector, and puts the broken pencil in his pocket.

"Enough...room...inside..." Another note. Clark eyes the booth, sizing it up...can he fit in there and...?

"A compromise. Right. How many of these phone booths are you setting up Councilman?" Clark asks, raising his voice above the din of the crowd.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
The city councilman smiles, "Well, our hope is to have one or two every block. We have the funding now to do at least one per block in the borough as a pilot program. After a year we'll do a report on it and.."
    He's then interrupted over by a loud, shrieking bell that has everyone in the area (likely except Clark) suddenly holding their ears up and shrieking in pain.
    They're interrupted by a man wearing a.. Tweed suit with a bow tie and a blue mask. "Well, I must say that I was never a fan of the analog. I've come to put an end to this idiocy and waste of money." Holding up a large sonic gun.
    Not Toyman. Not the Trickster. There could only be one man with such an outfit and a gadget.
    Oswald Loomis, the expert hacker known as the PRANKSTER!

Clark Kent has posed:
Clark Kent continues to take notes, nodding. Pushing his glasses back up on his nose as he takes a pause, he raises his pencil once more, and is about to speak by asking another question, when he stops. Wincing at the sound of that bell, Clark sighs again. That is twice today.

Turning slightly at the sound of that familiar voice, Clark Kent sighs. #3. "Loomis", Clark says under his breath. Looking at the phone booth here, Clark uses his vision to see where the others were located, and spots one in a relatively secluded area.

Sneaking to the left, the crowd hiding his movement, Clark puts his note pad, pencil, and fedora away, and with a flex, uses his hands to reveal an S as he opens...and closes the doors to the phone booth.

"I miss this..." Clark says with a smile, as he becomes...Superman.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
There's something to be said for tradition. For something old fashioned. That might bring back memories, that might be instinctive. But that no doubt feels natural. As where there was mild mannered reporter Clark Kent now there's the Last Son of Krypton..
    SUPERMAN!
    Prankster whirls about with his sonic gun, pointing it at Superman, "Curses, SUPERMAN! What are you doing here protecting these money wasting nitwits? If they're going to get putting things into little schemes like this, then I can save them the time and take all the money for myself!"

Clark Kent has posed:
"Hello Prankster. It is almost good to see you again, consdering this event." Superman hovers there, three feet above the ground in front of the Prankster, his arms crossed across his chest. His cape was billowing in the wind, having a calming effect on the crowd.

"I am here to protect everyone, Prankster, not just these...people." He almost said nitwits, but he didn't feel that way. He knew they were trying to help the people of these neighbourhoods. "They are doing their best to help. Maybe you could use your talents to do the same? You are a smart man, Prankster. Imagine if you used that knowledge to help these people? What about upgrading these phones to non-analog pay phones?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Prankster grins, "Well if this is the best they can do then they should have taken the mantra of not doing anything at all!" He goes to let out a loud cackle and goes to hold out his sonic gun into the air. "Because if they can't do anything right then they shouldn't do anything at all!" The weapon is pointed up in the air rather than over at the crowd, even though they're all wincing in pain still and down on the ground hard!

Clark Kent has posed:
Waiting for an opening, Superman waits for the Prankster to point the gun in the air, to ensure there was no "accidents". Shaking his head, he uses his speed, and in a yellow, red, and blue blur, the sonic gun was in his hand, and the Prankster was disarmed.

"I see. I think you are right, Prankster. Maybe you can write a petition to the local Government with your suggestions for improvement. It could be an incredible accomplishment for one of your advanced intelligence. It might even get published in the Daily Planet. "Local resident suggests improvements for Phone Booth Initiative". It writes itself."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
There's a WHOOMSPHS over as faster than a speedinb bullet, Superman goes to yank the sonic gun away from Prankster. "Curses, Superman! You might have foiled me this time.." There might be a small instinctive urge in Superman to tie the gun into a knot, perhaps.
    "But I'll get you next time! NEXT TIME!" Even as he goes to activate a jet pack to try and fly away!
    ... Seemingly forgetting Superman could fly as well, despite Kal-El hovering.

Clark Kent has posed:
Shaking his head, and smiling, Superman nabs the flying Prankster by his jet pack after tying the sonic gun into a knot for the viewing public.

With a touch of his heat vision on the jet pack, he takes that escape route out of the hands of the Prankster, while holding him in his outstretched arms.

"Ok Prankster. Off to the local Police Station. I was hoping to help them avoid the paperwork as they are over worked, but I see you are adamant."

Looking back at the crowd, Superman taps his forehead with his free hand in a salute, and says, "Have a great day everyone." Then, he was gone, the Prankster in tow.