18857/Interview with the Author

Interview with the Author
Date of Scene:	17 August 2024
Location:	Steve's Comic Books
Synopsis:	Conner interviews a comic-book writer. For truth! (and to pay the rent). He also meets Gwen Poole, the ninja hero with a codename even worse than his own.
Cast of Characters:	Gwendolyn Poole, Conner Kent

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Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
The sign out front of the store today welcomes Carrie Moore, an up-and-coming comic book author. She's debuting her new comic book series, inspired by the real-life 'heroine', Gwenpool! Gwenpool isn't seen as much of a hero to those who've witnessed her antics, and the newspaper and reviews are having a bit of a field day with the poor author. It's hardly unusual for comics and such to come out about heroes that are out and about in the world. In fact, it's quite common. But some eyebrows have been raised about this one.

Either way, the amount of people that show up for the signing is an exact showing of the interest the average person has in the series. Nobody. A table is setup near the back of the main room of the store, with a stack of comics and a marker at the ready. The back room is quite packed at the moment, though, as it is Saturday, and the card gaming and board games and the like are going on as per usual. But nobody in that back room are paying poor Carrie much mind.

The redhead sits behind the table, fidgeting a bit as she eyes the untouched stack of 'THE UNBELIEVABLE GWENPOOL #1!'s'. She's in her mid-twenties and is a fairly average looking girl by all accounts. Meanwhile, Gwen makes her way out of the back room with a small sigh.

"Hey, buncha idiots in this town! Don't let them get to you! I read it, and I think it's the coolest comic around!" Sure, the comic doesn't get any of Gwen's real self right, and it's all conjecture from the author, but it was a super cool read for Gwen, and she feels bad other's aren't interested. Gwen is dressed in a pair of white skinny jeans and a pink crop top under a matching hoody, and a pair of useless glasses perch on her button nose. Secret identities require glasses. Just ask DC.

Conner Kent has posed:
Funny thing, Conner remembers meeting Gwenpool. Vaguely. She had nice legs and she was, perhaps, a little crazier than the average costumed vigilante. Is she getting royalties from the comic-books?

Because Conner did, way back when he lived in Hawaii. Not currently, series got cancelled. Then retconned. Then... he lost track, but future royalties are permanently donated to charities, so it doesn't matter.

Except the rent is due, so it kinda matters now! But hey, maybe he can get some cash out of the interview. Carrie Moore does have some diehard fans, even if her work is very hit and miss.

No one told Conner about the glasses trick, so his working outfit is jeans, a t-shirt and a Starkphone. He steps into the shop and spots Carrie right away. But why is the shop so empty? Maybe because it is early? (He is never early).

Anyway. "Good afternoon, Ms Moore? I am Conner Kent. We talked on phone the other day." He flashes a grin, and nods to Gwen, "reporter, I asked for an interview," he explains.

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
The author offers Gwen a small smile. "Thanks, Gwen. That's sweet of you." She sighs, though. When Conner enters both Gwen and Carrie's eyes dart towards him. "Oh! Right. I...heh. I wasn't sure if that was a prank call, honestly. But...uh..." Gwen walks into the back room and shoves one of the card players unceremoniously off his chair. "This is for making that comment about my butt earlier. At least make it a clever one." She seizes the captured chair and carries it back into the main room as the nerd's look on in a mixture of confusion and admiration. The girl sets it down in front of the signing table so Conner can sit.

"Here you goooooooo. Not like you're interrupting anything," Gwen says with a chuckle. She pauses, then, and squints at Conner for a moment. She then turns and wanders back behind the counter. She fishes out a piece of paper and begins drawing something on it. Carrie clears her throat and sits up. "So...a real interview? Alright, then. What can I help you with, Mr. Kent? And...there isn't any connection to Clark Kent, right? The other reporter?"

Conner Kent has posed:
"Not that I know," replies Conner, surprised Carrie even knows that Clark Kent guy - pretty mediocre reporter, in his opinion. Not even close to Lois Lane. "You must be from Metro," he guesses. "Anyway, no, it was real..."

And Gwen brings a chair. "Thank you, not interrupting" he offers, briefly glancing at the bespectacled blonde again, "if you want to stay, feel free, doubly so if you are a fan of Ms Moore's work."

And back to the author. "It was serious; you have done some interesting work. I have friends that have read it and want to ask you questions. But we can talk about anything you want."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
"Born and raised in Suicide Slums, actually," the author offers wryly. "Come a long way since then, even if you can't tell with the lack of a line." She chuckles a bit and sits back in her chair as she watches Conner settle in. Gwen glances up at the offer and flashes a lopsided grin. "I need to run the shop today, so I gotta stick around. I'll be good, though." She winks at him with a hint of flirtation, even if a playful or joking bit.

She then takes her paper and walks around behind Carrie as the two talk. "Well, you're the one interviewing," Carrie replies with a chuckle. Meanwhile, Gwen holds the paper up from behind the chair, so that she can line her drawing up with his muscular chest. The other's can't see it, but she's placing a Super S over him. She squints a bit and then nods to herself, suddenly grinnind wider. She balls the paper up and tosses it in the trash before wandering back behind the counter.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner nods, "the Suicide Slum, that should be a good story if you want to talk about it, actually. Or we can talk about your work," he reaches for one of the comic-books in display. "Gwenpool, an unusual choice, rarely mentioned in the news. Do you know her well?"

As for the real deal, although Conner mostly keeps his eyes on the interviewed, he glances at her when she is checking her paper. What? That is a suspicious grin, if he has ever seen one. (And he has seen suspicious grins!).

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
Gwen tries to pretend to be busy behind the counter, but doesn't do a great job of it. The girl is clearly just watching and listening to the interview. Carrie shrugs a shoulder. "Not much to talk about regarding my childhood. It fit most of the stereotypes of growing up there. Worked hard in school so I got a scholarship and got out. I went to Gotham U. But, about the comic..."

She watches Conner pick up the issue before she nods. "I know her. Well, I've talked with her a lot, always in costume. She saved me from a mugging and...we started going out for drinks after that. I pitched the idea for the series and she got really, really excited. Seriously, really excited." Carrie chuckles at the memory. "But she wouldn't tell me much about her origins, so she told me to make it up. She said she was really excited to get a 'real comic book origin'. No clue what she meant by that, though. So, I made up a backstory about being trained by a secret ninja cult living under Brooklyn."

Gwen grins very, very broadly at that, and there is no attempt to hide it. She even does a little bounce.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner nods slowly. Surprisingly, there are plenty of ninjas in Brooklyn, so Gwenpool's Secret Origin makes more sense than most! "See, that is probably more interesting than just getting memos from a publicist... speaking of which. Maybe this new comic-book didn't receive enough coverage? I expected a small crowd here."

Although Carrie and her book do have at least one fan, he notes, spying the blonde behind the counter.

"Maybe I can help there," he offers Carrie. "Well, I have a blog and a decent number of views every week, so if there is anything you want to tell us about this series, I will write it."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
Both Carrie and Gwen stare at the man for a long moment when he says that. Eventually, Carrie sits forward. "...I would really appreciate that, Mr. Kent! Seriously! And yes, my...publisher didn't really push the series hard once it got the initial blowback. I guess Gwenpool hurt a lot of people when she first started her activities. Before she started ...well, 'Disneyfing' her actions, as she puts it."

tGwen sits forward a bit, resting her elbows on the counter, and her chin in her hands. She might as well have big cartoon heart eyes at the moment as she watches Conner throughout the conversation.

"Well, it's an action series with moments of heartfelt emotion. Also, lots and lots of comedy. Gwenpool requested comedy. Also, she wanted romance, but couldn't decide on the kind of person she wanted to romance in it, so I made up a guy who helps build her equipment." She grins softly. "But yeah, it's mostly action, with a lot of comedy. The heartfelt and romantic moments unwravel over time in the first few arcs. The first four issues are out now, and it'll be a monthly release after that."

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner didn't know about the... pre-Disneyfing activities of Gwenpool, he might have to research further (that is: ask Robin). But the interview is not about Gwenpool but about the author. He has a few questions about previous works to ask. No, he didn't read them, but he read about them, it is almost the same!

Enough questions for at least a half an hour interview, hopefully interrupted by some fans asking for signed issues. If no one does first, Conner will purchase one himself.

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
Two fans show-up through the interview for signings, and both Carrie and Gwen seem overjoyed when they do so. But that's it. When the interview wraps up Carrie shakes the young man's hand with a smile and thanks him sincerely for it.

Once it's done a tall man makes his way into the shop and clocks in, as Gwen clocks out. She wanders over to the table as Conner is finishing up.

"Heeeeeeeeeeeeey, so...that's cool of you. The offer to write about the comic, I mean. I know Carrie appreciates it." Gwen is absolutely beaming at him as she says that. "I just got off. Do you wanna grab some coffee or something? There's a cool cafe next door, and the gamer stink is starting to waft in from the back room," she says teasingly.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner asks for a few pictures, too. Good publicity for the shop, if anyone reads the article. And then it is over. Not his first interview, not his best, and not one that will make it into the history books. But he has college friends that will appreciate his work.

And then he sees Gwen is off work, so he does linger a little more than warranted. But before he can approach her, the girl takes the initiative. "I saw... and yes. I mean, having a drink with you. Even if it is coffee," he smiles and gestures to the door out, "lead on. Ah, I didn't catch your name."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
"I mean, we can grab a beer if you want!," she says with a grin, looking up at him. He's a good nine or ten inches taller then she is, afterall. "I just turned twenty one this year!" She brushes her fingers back through her blonde and pink hair. "My name? Oh. It's Gwen. Gwen Poole. Gwendolyn." That...is that the worst coincidence ever, or the worst secret identity ever?

"There's a bar down the block. First round's on me!"

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner tilts her head. Gwen Poole? What a coincidence! Or maybe she is joking. Or maybe Conner doesn't have the worst secret identity ever but the second worst. He should investigate this. Over drinks. This time he opens the door for Gwen.

"Please, go on, I'll pay for the rest of the rounds," he confirms. There is a bar down the block he saw when he was going to Steve's, so he figures it is it.

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
She bounces in place once in excitement, then slips out the door as it is opened for her. "Sounds good. How dashing of you. That's a -really- super thing to do," she says with a lopsided grin. She turns on her heel and starts to lead the way down the sidewalk towards the bar. Is the little blonde putting some extra sway in her walk? She absolutely is.

"So, you're a reporter! I mean, obviously you're a reporter. That's cool, though. I never went to college so I didn't really have a lot of job options. Hell, I didn't finish High School," she says with a shrug.

Conner Kent has posed:
"Just finished college," admits Conner. "Freelance. Likely to stay penniless for years," he adds with a smile. "And I got a G.E.D. myself. My high school got blown up by aliens. Funny story there."

That extra sway... "you have been teasing it, hmm? But we have met before, I am sure. Only last time I didn't get your real name. Or... maybe I did."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
She glances over her shoulder. "Yeah. We did. Y'know, I never meant for Gwenpool to be the name people know me by. It was a misunderstanding and then it kinda stuck. So...meh..." She shrugs again and does a little hop before she slows down to walk beside the taller man. "But your secret's safe with me. And obviously Carrie doesn't know. Besides, I like her version of me more."

She hip bumps him gently as she walks along, clearly having no intention of paying attention to personal space. Soon the bar comes into view, and she fishes out her ID to show it to the bouncer. Sure enough, it says 'Gwendolyn Poole' on it! Age 21, as of December. "I didn't get a GED, but I considered it. Okay, I'm lieing. I really didn't wanna."

Soon she slips into the bar and heads towards the counter.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner laughs, then shakes his head. His own ID card says he is 22, and it is fake, of course. Clones have no birthdays. "And now you work in a comic-book shop? Or is that a side job. I seem to remember you were in the mercenary business, at least way back."

Not much of a judgement. He is close friends with ex-assassins, mercenaries and weirder. "Gwenpool might still be a better name than Superboy," he adds. Because, really, why did he let them call him that!

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
She smirks a bit at that and leads the way to the counter. She waves the bartender down and fishes out her wallet. It has some anime character on it. "Strawberry Sunrise. No ice. Oh, and with one of those little umbrellas," she says with a wink. Gwen glances at Conner and grins ruefully. "...It's an order from a cartoon..." She trails off and pays for her drink, and whetever drink he orders.

Once they have both drinks she slides into a spot at a corner booth.

Conner Kent has posed:
"Tequila Sunrise," adds Conner, taking a seat at Gwen's side. It is pretty much the same she asked, but with orange. "Better than beer. I was right suspecting you would like sweeter drinks."

Not that he is an expert in cocktails, since alcohol does so very nothing to his solar-charged metabolism. But Conner does try everything at least once. "Cartoon, hmm? You like comics and cartoons quite a bit, I guess."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
She smirks a bit and shrugs a shoulder. "Yeah, I like sweet things, I guess." Gwen lifts the drink to her lips and takes a long sip, as if trying to build courage with the alcohol. It's a strong drink.

She turns to look up at him beside her as he settles in. "Mn. Cartoons, anime, manga, light novels, video games. It's all I did back home. No social life. No friends, really. And absolutely -no- ambition." The girl laughs softly. "But then I came here and...decided to do something. A lot of really stupid things, honestly. But it's fun. And better."

Conner Kent has posed:
"Seriously? You are pretty fit for a girl that spent most of her life reading and playing computer games," Conner gives her a once-over, wondering, "or is that part of your powerset?" He remembers to see her teleporting once, or something that looked like that.

Maybe not a good subject for the conversation, "I used to play videogames, but then my eyesight became too acute, it is not fun anymore. I can see the pixels, and the cheats."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
"Probably the power set," she replies easily enough. "I mean, I got into gymnastics and boxing and karate and...a buncha stuff when i was a kid but didn't stick with any of it. But I'm...I dunno...better at it here..." She trails off and brushes her fingers back through her blonde and pink hair before she takes another sip of her drink.

"Man, that'd -suck-. I love video games. But it's more fun doing it for real here. Real fights. Real adventure. But they're still fun." The girl leans on Conner's side a bit and looks up at him again.

"I'm a Mutant."

Conner Kent has posed:
"And I am half-alien, and we are awesome," replies Conner, sipping from his drink and patting Gwen in the shoulder with his free hand. "To be honest, I played games mostly because Impulse was a gaming maniac and pushed me. It was fun, but so was, and still is, a hundred other things. And yeah, adventure." He gestures the bartender for two more drinks. He will pay this time. "For adventure."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
"Impulse. That's one of the Flashes, right?," she asks. She hasn't moved away since bumping his shoulder. The slight form leans against his more muscular one as they talk in their booth. She sees him order another round and she unceremoniously chugs the remainder of her glass. By the end of it her cheeks are a tiny bit rosey.

"So, no Ms. Superboy at home, worried about you dallying with cute little ninjettes?," she asks teasingly, but also seekingly. She glances up at him again, blushing slightly. "Just...I dunno. You seem nice from the interview, and...I'm familiar with Super stuff..." She trails off, not about to try and explain that she's read comic books about him and his Family. That never, ever goes well.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner frowns, then sighs. "No, no one right now, I am not dating," there is a story there, but he is not willing to talk about it. Too soon. "Hey, I am nice. Mostly." He has a reputation to be the bad boy of the superfam, but that is because all the others are impossibly nice. Particularly Kal!

"And you seem pretty nice too, and maybe a little tipsy?" He noticed. "Maybe we should go on with soda, and some snacks if you are hungry."

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
She grins softly. "It's fine. I'm not -drunk-. Just a bit tipsy, yeah. I just wanted a biiiiiiiiit of liquid courage, that's all. I can fight all day, but, like...flirting? Yeah, needed a booster." Gwen chuckles wryly and looks up at him from his side. "I dated a bit when I got here but nothing serious. Which kinda sucks. I didn't date at -all- back home. Like, at all. And here I can come off a bit too..." She considers the word before she smirks a bit. "...Chaotic for some people. I'm really reigning it in right now, trust me. I don't wanna spook you."

Conner Kent has posed:
"A hottie like you? Uh huh," Conner doesn't believe has not dated, but hey, maybe she is free right now. He checks the bar's menu and then passes it to Gwen. "Chaotic, hmm? I can handle chaotic, let me add you to my whatschat," he pulls out his cellphone and... "your number?"

Gwendolyn Poole has posed:
She grins when he calls her a hottie and straightens her back a bit. She glances down as he fishes his phone out, and she pulls hers out, too. She exchanges numbers and everything else with a smile. Gwen is quiet for a long moment as she leans against his side, peering down at her phone which now contains Superboy's phone number.

"Hey, you wanna get outta here?," she asks softly.

Conner Kent has posed:
Conner hmms? Looking at Gwen questioningly. Then again, it is just a bar. "Of course, do you want to hit a club? Or see a movie? I have the afternoon free. Barring the usual emergencies - cause if you see me run away with a lame excuse, it is business."

But he slides off the booth and offers Gwen his hand.