2958/Setting the Stage

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Setting the Stage
Date of Scene: 17 August 2020
Location: Hall of Justice - Watchtower
Synopsis: A few Justice League members chat about the upcoming opening hours before it's scheduled to begin.
Cast of Characters: Clark Kent, Kara Danvers, Oliver Queen, Kate Kane




Clark Kent has posed:
The Justice League's new station on the moon is finally up and running, and the opening ceremony is scheduled for this evening. In the large meeting room midway up the base's solar tower, Superman is standing at the conference table, tapping away at one of the built-in workstations, making edits to the speech he plans to give before the assembled donors and dignitaries tonight. He has a talent for making his inspirational words sound entirely off the cuff, and in fact he's a good speaker with or without preparation, but that doesn't mean that for a critical event like this one, he doesn't find it helpful to put in some preparation. Occasionally, he looks up from his station and contemplates the blue-white globe of the Earth, hovering placidly through the viewports that encircle the space.

Kara Danvers has posed:
This is the first moon base Kara has ever been on, let alone helped build. Her eyes are focused on the microscopic of the glass windows and their seams. She knows it's safe, but she can't help but check again, for the millionth time. As her eyes focus back away from the microscopic she takes in the beautiful sight of Earth.

Kara grew up looking at the gigantic star maps of past Kryptonian star empires that had long fallen but not forgotten. Krypton liked to celebrate its past but not actually reach for the stars themselves anymore. Pictures of Krypton itself and their giant red sun compare with Earth and its G-type star. A beautiful blue and white marble are still alien to her eyes.

"What makes for a good speech in Earth cultures? On Krypton, it was usually about acknowledgement of guild convictions. It made most speeches somewhat hollow and very ignorable," she asks Kal as she turns her back on Earth to look at him taptapping away.

Oliver Queen has posed:
At last! All is prepared! Ready for the big ceremony this evening....

Or is it?

Oliver, being Oliver, has been here supervising all those last preparations, making sure everything is done to specifications. Defenses, life support, EXTRA COFFEE. All that's needed for what may very well be an all-nighter for the leaguers that join up for the partay.

Yet even he eventually has to take a breather and so he finds himself walking towards the area where the others are at, dressed in the dark green of his costume, the hood up and covering his face even if not the longer beard. Someone needs to get a good beard cut for tonight apparently!

Kate Kane has posed:
Batwoman has been there for a while, helping out with last minute preparations and taking care of things as she stays out of the way. Perhaps a bit self-conscious about being a reserve, though she doesn't actually say it. She does, however, overhear Kara's question and flashes the Kryptonian a grin, "Typically, it's a little more complicated than that. But for humans, it tends to be about expressing personality. Something I think Supes shouldn't have a problem with, considering."

With that, she flashes Superman a wry grin, "Relax. You'll be fine. Just be yourself, and everything will flow naturally. You have a gift for it." Then she nods over at Ollie when he walks in, head tilting a bit as she says, "Trimming time, I see."

Clark Kent has posed:
Superman flashes a quick smile at Kara's question and Kate's reassurance. "Well, hollow and ignorable are definitely not what I'm going for," he answers, squinting at the screen in front of him and making some significant edits, "although it probably is a good idea to thank the 'guilds' that helped us get here, now that you mention it."

Lifting his hands from the keyboard and focusing on her more fully, he takes a few steps toward the planet they're up here to protect, stopping at the viewport. "I think what I'd like is to remind people that this base represents the amazing things the people of Earth can accomplish together. Something about resilience in the face of danger -- something about the value of every person's contribution."

Turning as Ollie approaches, his nostrils flare slightly and he says, "Speaking of important contributions, is that coffee I smell?" Whether caffeine has a real effect on his Kryptonian physiology or not, the habits of the farm and the newsroom are deeply ingrained; Kal has gone entirely native in terms of his prodigious consumption of coffee.

"I don't know about having a gift for it, but I'll definitely do my best," he answers Kate. "People generally seem to get the point I'm going for," he admits, perhaps leaning a little hard on the characteristic humility.

Kara Danvers has posed:
"Personality. That must get abused a lot. I am still coming to terms with the ramifications of Earth politics," she says contemplating Kate's answer. If anyone proposed to the council of Krypton that they use 'democracy' to govern the planet, they'd be laughed out of the room.

"Something something that's no moon?," she offers with a playful little smile to Kal and then looks to Oliver. Her eyes roaming over the two other JL members thoughtfully, "We've not really met. Please, don't feel the need to call me Supergirl if you don't wish, Kara is my name."

She tucks her hands behind her back and smiles invitingly. "Reservist," she adds for the humour value. She's apparently seen Star Wars now. Her DEO fake parents have been taking their duty seriously by introducing her to as much Earth culture as possible.

Oliver Queen has posed:
The archer points with a thumb from whence he came from, replying. "I thought it would be good to stock up. Specially for tonight." a faint grin coming to the man's expression. "For some reason I think it will be needed. Got some of the flavor you like. Well, that you liked before." Before he died that is!

"A good speech should have personality." He confirms with a nod of his head. "But sincerity as well." a brow rising. "And since I don't think you got a gram of deceit in you it should go well enough."

Eyes then go to the others nearby, both Kara and Kate before he adds. "We have met. But I was dressed somewhat differently at the time. A pity that I could not win the auction for the flight trip." An easy smile coming to his expression and then his gaze resting on Kate. "Hopefully I will have some time before tonight, and how are you doing?"

Kate Kane has posed:
Kara gets a smile from Kate at that, "Kara, then. That works for me. Nice name." She chuckles at the Death Star joke, but adds, "Considering some of the press editorials though, maybe implying that we have a superlaser hidden up here isn't quite the way to go."

She gives Superman a wry expression, "I've seen your work. Don't sell yourself short on that. There's an earnestness to it that you don't normally see these days, and that's something people really crave. Even if they'll never admit it openly."

With that, she turns back to Kara, "And you can call me Kate, if you like. It's a secret, but everyone here knows anyway... and you probably do too already, so as long as there's no civvies around it's fine."

Kate then flashes Ollie a grin, "I'm fine, but next time my cousin asks me to distract an Ex for him, talk me out of it, okay?" She snickers a little to herself at that.

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal gives a quiet snort of laughter at Kara's comment about public speakers abusing the human emphasis on personality. "I wish I could say that you're wrong about that," he says with a touch of wry humor. "Still, I'll take the risk if it means I don't have to spend every sentence on the Kryptonian equivalent of thanking my agent."

He gives Ollie a broad grin. "You're my actual hero," he says, with exactly the sincerity the man just highlighted. Apparently, death can change a lot about a man, but not his taste for hazelnut. The exchange about the flight auction gets a raised eyebrow and a glance at Kara. "I wouldn't feel too bad -- that Wayne character can be tough to outbid, I hear."

He also holds up his hands in mock surrender as Kate speaks. "Got it. No death rays, no dissolving the senate. Is this the part where I say I find your lack of faith in my rhetorical skills disturbing?" He laughs, as if to emphasize that, if anything, their confidence in his public speaking is what he is pushing back on.

Kara Danvers has posed:
Kara nods her head to Ollie, "Thank you. It is always a little awkward you know? I can hear the way your hearts beat, see your faces and hear your voices in such fine detail. I appreciate not having to pretend I cannot. I am really not good at deceit, but I have been trying my best."

Her eyes turn to Kate though and she adds, "If I recall, you were the one that suggested to her that you two go off to the dance floor instead of the auction." She was paying attention. "But I'll do my best to warn you if it ever arises again." She wonders just how many ex's a billionaire playboy might have. Her attention turns back to Ollie's beard and she points with finger tips, "I could, you know laser eyes, give you a quick trim." She grins though, she doesn't trust herself with that kind of fine control yet. Her heat vision gives her cold sweats sometimes out of fear of what she might accidentally do.

"I bet most people on Earth would not appreciate a quick dedication to Rao in your speech cousin," she says with a small chuckle. "And he certainly did bid high, though if the Green Arrow wants to experience the joys of flight, I would be happy to oblige."

Oliver Queen has posed:
"I should had made sure to bring the voice modulator with me..." A very brief sigh escaping Oliver but then he raising his shoulders. At least the people here he trusted enough, or at least had others vouching for them which he trusted so ..., same thing!

"Finally Kal, you admit who's the real hero around here, mmm?" The guy with the bow. But he winks, "Regardless, feel free to fill yourself up with coffee in the kitchen. I know Zatanna has been around the base doing her thing but ..., the coffee machine should be safe." some teasing on his tone there. "Any news on who we might be expecting to attend?"

He turns to Kate, shaking his head. "If there's one thing I have learned is to not get into in the middle of family business." he's got enough drama in his family as it is! The suggestion of laser eyes from Kara makes the man sober up. "No, thanks. Think I will be fine." he only trusts himself to never miss! And lasers ..., brrr.

"As for flying, I would certainly enjoy it. We could set something up when we are back on earth."

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate gives Kara a wry grin, "At his insistence, I might add... though, to be fair, I'd probably have done it anyway. I mean, she was awfully cute." She looks rather amused, then she glances back towards Ollie, "And yeah, that's probably for the best. It sometimes gets a bit weird."

And then Clark gets a wry laugh, "Yeah, better save those unless the Jedi make an attempt on your life sometime before the speech. Or if Disney rewrites your origins for the new director, again." She glances back at Ollie, "And Zee did a great job with that espresso machine, she's very talented."

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal's eyes widen, and he waves his hands at Kara, gesturally voting with Ollie to put the kibosh on any heat vision beard trimming. "That is a terrible idea," he says. "I've been practicing that since puberty, and even with Kryptonian beard hairs, it is a /delicate/ process. You think normal razor burn is bad?" He shakes his head. "I gave myself a really weird-looking sunburn once." He raises his eyebrows and looks back and forth between them, trusting that they'll get the point: can you imagine how hard it is to give a Kryptonian sunburn?

He flashes a smile, then, saying, "Anyone who wants to claim you don't belong among the world's finest heroes is welcome to argue the point with me, Arrow. Coffee aside. Although the coffee is a bonus. I'll be down there shortly, I don't doubt." He glances over at his neglected terminal. "It can help a lot to walk away from something you're writing and come back with fresh eyes." And how, exactly, does Superman know so much about writing?

"It looks like we'll have a pretty good mix of guests," he says, turning to that topic instead. "Lots of dignitaries from various world governments, representatives of sponsors, a few superscientists who donated technology... and, um. Victor von Doom." He gives the others an apologetic shrug. "I thought it would be a good gesture of openness after that critical statement he released. And I'd rather have him as an invited guest than a gate-crasher."

Finally, he points to Kate, but turns to Kara. "Please never ask me to do something like that, okay?"

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Doom." Ollie repeats the name, almost as if to make sure he heard it right. Surprising. But very well. He nods slowly. "Sounds like it will be a 'real' party then. Damn." A snort being given and he turning to look towards the security deck. Time for more adjustments!

But before he departs he still glances over at Kate, "Perhaps the most talented mage I know." he says in confirmation about Zee. Yet then it's time to go! Preparations to make, beards to trim (WITHOUT LAZORS!)

"I will be catching up with you guys later on during the opening then. Take care." and off he goes!

Kate Kane has posed:
Kate chuckles, "Well, just buy them a cup of coffee or something, I'm sure most of my exes wouldn't be an issue." She grins wryly at Superman, "Though, Doom, well... he /seems/ to be behaving better now. Keeping your friends close and your enemies closer seems like the deal with him, though I don't think he'd be silly enough to try anything here."

She pauses, then shrugs, "But, well, contingencies in place for everything. Speaking of which, I should do some preparations myself." She nods to Clark, then gives Kara a warm smile, "See you there, Kara." With that, Batwoman saunters off down the corridor, to do some last minute preparations considering who all is coming...

Clark Kent has posed:
Kal's eyebrows peak in the middle, beneath his signature forelock curl. "I hope not, if 'real' party means what I think it does. I have his word that he won't disrupt the event with violence, although I'm not going to prevent him from speaking his mind. We are supposed to be emphasizing openness, and there's no point in seeking out ill will. He is, for better or worse, a world leader. Like you said, Kate, we'll just have to be prepared in case he tries to turn our openness against us."

As the conversation winds down, Superman returns to his terminal to finish up his speech.