19357/Meeting a new addition to the House of El

Meeting a new addition to the House of El
Date of Scene:	23 October 2024
Location:	City Center - Metropolis
Synopsis:	Lois Lane meets Superwoman. There are similarities there that a good reporter can't deny, so she'll probably looking deeper into where she came from.
Cast of Characters:	Lois Lane, Cir-El

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Lois Lane has posed:
The red and blues of the Metropolis PD are reflecting off nearby buildings, where a group of Intergang criminals, using advanced weapon technology lie in defeat thanks to Superwoman, who is already on the scene. The police are working on making sure that the group is dissrmed completely, while loading them into the Paddy Wagon (which is a fun word to say). It seems that whatever had happened has passed, and everything is the clean up and continue on their day like always.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the police perimeter, an Uber comes to a sudden halt, the driver looking back nervously as Lois Lane, still adjusting her trench coat, hops out. "Thanks, keep the change!" she calls, throwing a bill at him before rushing toward the action, barely taking a moment to glance back at the car as it pulls away. Her bag slung over her shoulder, she fumbles for her press badge, which gets briefly tangled in her notebook strap. Muttering a quick "Come on, Lane," she untangles it and pins it onto her coat, snapping her notebook open with the efficiency of someone who's done this a thousand times before.

As she crosses the police line, Lois scans the scene with a sharp gaze, piecing together the chaos and sketching out what must've happened. She flashes her badge to a nearby officer without stopping, already thinking of questions to ask. Her mind races through headlines and leads as she readies her recorder. Then she pauses as she sees Superwoman and her head tilts curiously for a moment as she approaches. "You know." she comments with a wry little smile. "Usually, by the time I make these things, whoever was handling it is a long gone specl of red and blue in the sky." Her hand settles on her interviewer's pad. "And the police don't usually give me good details."

Cir-El has posed:
Cir-El stands at the edge of one of the impacts she made during the action earlier. It had all happened so fast, and while her reflexes are improving, her memory of events is still playing catch up. A burn that travels from shin to hip and scorches fabric and skin alike is still giving off an odd scent. Something that can actually cause harm to linger upon her person is notable and nerve wracking. Along with this journey of learning where she might find a place here is discovering what is resilient, and what is not. She drags her fingers along this lesson in misjudging an opponent's aim.

Her attention turns to Lois, and she half-turns, her expression one of furrowed brows and somewhat guilty. Like her hand was caught in the cookie jar. She'll have to work on her poker face, because she looks more like an anxious teen than a hero ready for the cover of a comic or magazine. "Hello?"

She clears her throat and fully turns, her cape swishing after a little snap-flap. Her eyes widen when she recognizes the face and the reputation that goes with it. And the ~history~, which is problematic and incomplete in Cir-El's noggin. She raises a hand, palm up, to greet. "Lois Lane." A swallow. "I got caught up in trying to...figure out..." Good Gods, hopefully she's not recording this. "...I was just trying to figure out if I could have done better."

Lois Lane has posed:
The first thing that Lois notices is the burn. She's become something of a student of Kryptonian physiology, between Clark and Jon, so seeing the wound, she steps forward, a hand reaching for it for a moment, before she pulls back. A reminder that she doesn't know this Kryptonian yet, and Lois meets Cir-El's eyes with her own violet ones. "Are you healing okay? Intergang has been trying to find ways to incorporate kryptonite into their weapons as of late, but still rely on more energy. Thankfully."

But that's not addressing the comment she made, Lois swivels back to that. "Yes, that's me. Do you have a name that you perfer to go buy in the press? I know that some have labeled you as Superwoman... but seeing you close... you can't be much older than Supergirl or Superboy." And just as experienced. Inexperienced, maybe?

"You're asking yourself if you could've done better."

She shifts her weight, tapping her notepad as she checks that the recorder is off. "You've got power, and there's always going to be questions about how to use it. But you can't let that stop you. Every fight's a lesson. No one's perfect on their first try, or even their twentieth."

Lois lowers her voice a little, offering a hint of understanding. "What matters is that you're still here, thinking about how to improve. That's what sets you apart."

She gives a brief smile. "You're allowed to learn. Don't let guilt hold you back. You're doing more good than you think."

Cir-El has posed:
Cir-El starts chewing at the inside of her cheek as she listens. She does this rather attentively, and owlish as she considers the other woman. Not pulling away from Lois' curiosity of her condition, but staying rooted.

"Yes." she says quietly, with a little raspy quality.

Her hands come forward to make invisible cat's cradles before her stomach, a fidgeting gesture, as if trying to form something from the intangible. Like her thoughts. "Kara said something like that, when she found what I'd done to the Mo-" Cir-El's lips slap shut with an audible ~bip~. She opens them again after clearing her throat. "I mean when that rocket had to re-entry and I was doing laps and then Starfire came and s-" Again, she has to abort and blink, getting more anxious as she wants to spill more, but tries to wind it back onto the spool.

Cir-El steps forward and lowers her voice. "I don't know, I'm still trying to figure out how to do more good than harm in super consistent way, like Kara and Dad. Er..." A frown and back onto another topic. "This was easier, with bad guys and bad guns, and the options seem to be straight forward, if numerous. But I still have to measure out how many spoonfuls of Supergirl to deliver. I think Supergirl is what I'd like but...well...there might be a better way to be called because there already is a fabulous one, right?"

Lois Lane has posed:
Watching Cir-El closely, Lois takes in the fidgeting, the stops and starts in her words, and the obvious weight behind what she's struggling to say. She waits, letting Cir-El work through the tangle of her thoughts. When the younger woman finally steps forward and lowers her voice, Lois doesn't move, just listens, her expression neutral but attentive.

"You don't have to figure it all out right away," Lois says, her voice steady. "Kara's had time. So did Superman." If she caught that slip, it shows only momentary, a small gasp of breath, a widening of eyes. But Lois, for the moment, opts to remain on the course of advising the young woman. "It's not about being perfect or matching them step for step. You're your own person, with your own way of doing things."

Lois crosses her arms, her tone becoming a bit firmer. "As for what to call yourself, that's up to you. Supergirl, Superwoman, those names mean something, but they're more than just labels. You're figuring out your place, and that's not a race. You'll know when it feels right. I know three Green Lanterns, two Flashes, and at least two Batman. It won't be the first time two people shared the same name. Talk to Kara about it. She's coming out on her own as a Kryptonian. Just like you are right now. And growing pains are the worst when you don't have someone with experience to speak to about it." she sounds like she's talking from experience, and considering she lost her mother when she was young, it makes sense.

She leans in slightly, voice lowering just a bit. "And trust me, it's never as easy as bad guys and bad guns. You're going to face tougher decisions. But measuring out 'spoonfuls' of yourself? You've got the right idea. Just don't forget, no one expects you to have all the answers right away. Not even Kara or Superman. That's why they all learn off each other."

Cir-El has posed:
The Kryptoniuman stands there wrestling with her outward demeanor, her internal thoughts spinning about on whatever hamster wheel such a being houses upstairs. But she's also peering at Lois in a way that's more cagey. She's hesitant to allow more vulnerable questions to just gush out and demanding the other woman mop them up. Lois' more savvy social skills must surely be why she can get the scoop. Or so Cir-El assumes. "You have a way of speaking that I expected to just...naturally have. For reasons."

Cir-El takes in a deep breath and brushes imaginary dust off her hands, like she'd just taken out the trash very heroically. "I have a lot to think about. You're really lucky, you've got so many peers. Well...kind of? I really don't have a grasp on what I mean when I say things. I try not to bother...family, too much with my whining." She offers a smile and then almost bursts out laughing for some reason. It's a giggle-snort as she wonders if she's really on a trend. "You're very sympathetic. "I want everyone to know I'm ready to be responsible. No more graffiti..." She gestures to the sky for some reason. "...No more spazzing out tantrums. I'm here to help those who need it, because I've got...like you said...powers. I shouldn't waste them, even if I was never meant to be here or...exist. Or whatever. So that's the plan. And I guess something other than knowing where all the empty phone booths are. I don't even ~see~ any, so what was ~that~ all about?!"

Lois Lane has posed:
Lois gives a knowing smile, her eyes narrowing slightly as she listens to Cir-El's rambling. She crosses her arms, leaning in just a little, keeping her body language open despite Cir-El's cagey demeanor. When Cir-El talks about not wanting to bother her family with "whining," Lois raises a brow, but lets her finish, the corner of her mouth quirking up at the giggle-snort.

"You know," Lois starts, her voice calm but direct, "I didn't exactly pop out of the womb with a silver tongue or a way with words. It's something you learn, over time-how to say what you mean, how to talk to people. Same goes for figuring out what you're really feeling. I figure that I have what... maybe 20 years on you? You'll catch up in time. Just keep practicing... and don't get too caught up in yourself to recognize help for what it is."

She shifts her weight, her stance becoming a little more relaxed. "As for the family thing, I get it. You don't want to dump all your worries on them. But here's the thing: trying to shoulder everything on your own isn't exactly the most heroic thing either. Everyone needs help. Even Superman leans on others."

Lois glances up when Cir-El gestures to the sky, then back at her with a soft laugh. "You're right, though. No more phone booths. I guess it was a little before your time," she teases lightly. "But look, it sounds like you've got the right mindset now. You want to help, and you've got power. That's what matters. It's not about being perfect-it's about stepping up, like you're doing."

Her expression softens a little as she uncrosses her arms. "You're here, you're figuring it out, and you're not wasting what you've got. That's already a win. And whether or not you think you were meant to be here... well, you're here now. And that's what counts."

Cir-El has posed:
In Time. That's a very interesting phrase, and apt. The moment of cognitive dissonance that Cir-El experiences is thankfully brief. One thing to always keep in mind...To keep out of mind...is not to concentrate on Time too much. The roadmap of the path to come versus the one she may have left is no straightaway to drag race, but a waterslide with dry patches. "That's what counts." she murmers in agreement. "I'm here now." Cir-El pulls a little face, but follows it up with a wry grin of her own. If it's at all similar to Lois' own, that'd be swell.

"Not...fake it till I make it. Do it, repeat, refine." She nods more eagerly and takes in a deep breath. She doesn't expell any chill wind per se, but some tension instead. "I didn't pop o-" Yeah, claw that back and veer elsewhere. In Time. I'm here now.

"I'm sorry if I'm not doing the best giving you a good quote, and I might be making your job more difficult. I promise to practice in the mirror, so I can be good for the cameras and things. if I'm not a rapidly diminishing speck in the sky that is. Gawd...did I remember to exchange a shift at the Shop? I left so fast..." Cir-El's stomach gives an unheroic gurgle demanding calories and embarassment from its owner. "Sometimes I wish I was all one thing, rather than a mess of two things, then at least I'd know what I'm in for, here. In the present...place. I'd like to pick your brain about a certain member of...our...family sometime. You've spent more time with them than me. And I'm finding I tend to not go directly at some issues that aren't purely punchable, for some reason. Wow, this is super unprofessional!"

Lois Lane has posed:
"You're not making my job difficult," Lois says, waving her hand dismissively. "Trust me, I've dealt with a lot worse than a little rambling. Besides, you don't have to be perfect for the cameras. People relate to someone real, not someone who's rehearsed every line. So, skip the mirror practice. Just be you."

When Cir-El mentions feeling like she's caught between two things, Lois nods knowingly. "You're not alone in that. A lot of people, heroes or not, feel like they're walking a line between different parts of themselves. It's hard, figuring out how to balance it all. But you don't have to be just one thing. It's okay to be a mix, even if it's messy. You'll find your way."

The mention of a certain family member draws a raised brow, but Lois doesn't pry, not yet. She steps a little closer, lowering her voice just a bit. "Whenever you want to talk about... them, I'm around. Sometimes those issues that aren't punchable are the hardest to deal with, but you don't have to go at them alone. And if you need to pick my brain, I'll make time."

Lois lets the moment hang for a beat before she grins. "Also, might want to get something to eat before the next big crisis. Can't save the world on an empty stomach, right?"

Cir-El has posed:
Cir-El does a little self-heimlich as another burble threatens to perform a whalesong tune for Lois. Her other hand goes to her hair to finger comb at. "Yeah, big and small crisis, with a side of fries. They get served up by some invisible Chef."

"I'll do that. Both, actually. Picking your brain, but I'll wait till you're off the clock. And if you don't mind, just one-on-one. Your perspective on things I think will be invaluable after talking with the other side of things. I still haven't touched base with the other...Kryptonians, as I will be soon. But something Supergirl said really resonated with me when she was talking me down from a tantrum. I had a really skewed perspective on folk that couldn't fly is how I'll put it. You're right, I should embrace the mess rather than favor one faction. I'm an omelet, not a sunny side up." Gurgle.

"I'd suggest we both grab a bite if you've got the time, cause I know a little place where a cool gal slings coffees and muffins when she's on the clock. Why don't I give you the address, and the next time you're inbetween places needing caffiene...you come on in and I'll serve you up?"

Lois Lane has posed:
"Big and small crises, served with a side of fries, that sounds about right," she says with a chuckle. "And trust me, I know that invisible chef all too well."

When Cir-El talks about picking her brain, Lois gives a small nod, respecting the request for a one-on-one conversation. "I get it. Sometimes you need a different angle on things. Whenever you're ready, just let me know. And talking to Supergirl? Sounds like you're already getting some solid advice. Omelets are always more interesting anyway," she adds with a wry smile.

At the mention of grabbing a bite, Lois's expression brightens. "You know, I might just take you up on that. Coffee and a muffin sound pretty good right about now. I'll swing by your spot next time I'm in need of a caffeine fix. Sounds like a deal to me."

Reaching into her purse, she opens a small container and pulls out a card with her Daily Planet contact information on it. Flipping it over, he takes out a pen and scribbles another number. "My cell. Call me when you want to talk, Superwoman." she says warmly, "And don't worry, this has all been between us." She plans on keeping a lid on it. Cir-El has a lot of growing up to do still, and no need to mess with that.

Cir-El has posed:
There's no way Cir-El wouldn't be able tos suppress the thrill of being addressed in such a favorable way. That's a pretty swell moniker for the nervous do-gooder wanting to put her best foot forward.

She reaches forward to take the card, staring at the number like pinpoints of red might suddenly manifest at the center of her pupils. Memorizing it, sliding her thumb over a corner carefully. Not to avoid a papercut, but to be nice to the structural integrity. "Cool."

"Appreciate the confidentiality!" she says in a cheerful bray. The opposite of a tone that would be keeping things low. But she's a bit jazzed up now.

"Customers say I'm getting better. Coffee is drinkable temperature these days and everything." she probably jokes and takes a few steps backwards. That palm-up gesture of greeting now delivered as a goodbye. "I'd better get back before I'm fired. Or before others start firing elsewhere, right? Thank you!"

With a bit of a seizmic rumble, she pushes off to whoosh off to try and do that blue speck in the sky business. Like a day-saving Kryptonian should.