Too Damn Bright [open]

[October Bathory]

October frowned at the people around her. They were far too happy. She crossed her arms over her chest as she sat in the park. Children were happily playing not far from her. Their parents seemed to be blissfully unaware of everything around them other than their gossip and vaguely what their children were doing. How did the world function like this?

Metropolis was so not the place for someone like her. October was far too dark of a person to want to be in such a cheerful city. They were just happy to have Superman babysitting them, thinking that he can take care of everything. He was the ultimate hero and could do no wrong. Right, sure. She didn't believe any of that.

There was darkness in every person, even superheroes. They just refused to let it out. Batman was probably one of the closest to falling over the edge and really embracing that inner darkness. Her brow furrowed, wondering why she was thinking about people she had no connection with. She had bigger issues.

She had two of them sitting two benches away staring holes into her back. She was never without a security detail. She didn't need the guards; they were there to make sure she didn't hurt anyone else. October supposed she should just be happy that she could sit in a park, feeling marginally free. She could be dead right now. She had been pulled off of death row just to be a consultant on homicides almost as bad as hers.

All she had to do now was wait for some nut job that thought they could get away with a massacre to grab the police's attention. That or find a way to get away from the suit squad to let out her own frustrations. Oh, what a bloody mess that would be.

[The Question]

"And so, this reporter would ask you to be vigilant viewers. It would seem that in an age of prosperity for Metropolis, its newly-dubbed second favourite son may well be profiting from the lackluster efforts to control the corporate world. Who has too much power: is it Superman, or Lex Luthor? Vic Sage, yet to make up his mind, reporting from Metropolis. Back to the studio, Jimmy."
As an out-of-place Vic Sage finished his report, the fuzzy picture on the camera filming him panned out to reveal LexCorp's menacing peak in Metropolis' skyline. As 'people not to annoy' go, Lex Luthor ranks pretty highly - not that that ever mattered to an obnoxious investigative reporter from the gloomy streets of Hub City. Lex was probably watching and filing a lawsuit as Vic spoke, but it didn't matter. If just one person took him seriously, looked into LexCorp's financial reports with some kind of fancy twenty-first century tech warrant, maybe they'd catch him. Vic knew as well as anyone that it was unlikely, but there was only so far his reporter persona could go: pile on the pressure. Worst scenario? A certain faceless martial artist in a trenchcoat would have to pay a visit to the bald CEO himself and deliver a more certain verdict. For now though, Vic knew that he was doing his bit to shed light on the truth, but he had to let people find it out for themselves a bit too.

"And... Cut there. Great job, Vic. Make sure you leave that suit of yours to me in your will," the cameraman joked, obviously well aware that Vic Sage was making enemies out of some very powerful people in his crusade against corruption. Vic couldn't help but crack a wry smile as he dusted off his startling blue suit and ruffled his ginger hairs, presumably just to dust away the 'niceness' of Metropolis' so-called perfect society.
"Not likely Jones. If I die, it only proves my point. This guy's a lot smarter than that." Vic handed back his microphone to the sound crew and glance up towards LexCorp's top office. It had to be home to the man himself. He was probably up there now watching the ants below work hard so that he can rob them blind and profit from the destruction of their livelihoods.
"It'd be pathetic if it wasn't so dangerous..." the reporter muttered under his breath, clearly aggrieved.

Vic pulled out a small camera from his inside pocket and took a few snaps, seemingly of the pretty clouds. In truth though he was zooming in to catch a glimpse of the shine of Lex's head high up in his tower. Unreachable? Tell it to The Question.
"We're gonna head back to Hub tonight Vic, top dogs have us working some anniversary of the mayor's daughter. It's not your thing, but you can get a ride back if you want?" The cameraman, 'Jones', had clearly missed Vic's earlier whispers. It didn't seem to take long for Vic to make up his mind. His eyes darted about, watching children playing and dogs chasing frisbees. Sure, it was 'nice', but it wasn't really his style. Metropolis as a city had this way of being pretentious; it all appearing grand and important, but still deep down shared all of its problems with crooks and no-goods (they just wore suits instead of ski-masks). Vic cleared his throat and loosened his tie, eager to leave his uncomfortable surroundings.
"The sooner the better," he explained, and picked up his evidence briefcase to take in the van. As he turned round though, Vic's attention was immediately fixed on something else. He had that wily old detective's look in his eye - this was the sort of thing he wouldn't pass up.
"On second thought, I'll hang around, crash at my apartment in this 'paradise'. Maybe it'll do me good." The crew were clearly surprised by Vic's change of heart, but they simply shrugged and went on their way. It wouldn't have been the first time Mr. Sage had more important things to do than get back to work.

For once what had caught Vic's eye wasn't a police officer taking a bribe or a most-wanted-list-hotshot. It was something more primal, more human perhaps. It was a girl. A woman. But she wasn't some run-of-the-mill Metropolis housewife with her 2.4 kids. This lady looked as awkward and out-of-place as Vic, despite looking quite dapper and professional, felt. There was no way she'd accidentally wandered into the park, or came for a quiet chill-out. She had a story, and Vic loved stories.

Grasping his briefcase by his side, which obviously contained more than documents and staplers, Vic set off towards the bench where the girl sat. He did his usual 'song and dance', perching himself on the other end of her bench with a few huffs and puffs. Drawing out some newspaper clippings and article drafts was usually a good way to make him seem vaguely interesting.
"What a day, what a day," he mumbled quietly, crossing his 't's and dotting his 'i's rather more violently than usual. Anything to perk the interest and maybe get her guard down. She certainly seemed quite defensive, or possibly introverted. Yet more indication that whoever this girl was, she'd have a thousand other places she'd rather be right now. But then why was she here? Vic cleared his throat and set his paperwork to the side.
"I'm not from here, either," Vic told her, much louder than before. He was taking a chance perhaps, but he wasn't often wrong about these little 'feelings'. "Vic Sage, Luthor-basher. Do you have a name?" he asked in his typical nonchalant way, outstretching a hand to shake. As he did though, ever-aware of his surroundings, Vic felt a pair of eyes pierce into his from behind the bench he was on. He didn't dare to look round just yet, not wanting to cause a scene. Vic's decision to be polite and friendly had clearly created some tension and unrest, if subdued. Now he was only more curious to discover what exactly the scoop was on this girl and these 'watchers'.

[October Bathory]

October set to twirling a piece of hair around her finger like any normal girl. She hated to think of herself as "normal" but that's what she was supposed to be now. She wasn't allowed to do anything that really made her her so stuck she was. She rolled her eyes skyward, as if that were going to distract her from the dullness around her. It was too cheerful here, too clean. Superman was this almighty savior that everyone adored. It made things so peachy keen.

Laaaame.

The raven haired woman started to consider going back to the little room that she had been shoved into for her "stay" in Metropolis. Yeah, like she believed she was a guest. The only reason she hadn't moved on yet was because her nannies said stay. She could do nothing or she went right back to where she started which was about to get perished. Not really something that she wanted.

Finally a distraction came in the form of a man sitting next her. She could feel the suits two benches away sit up a little straighter from here. Dare they risk hurrying over and shooing her or the man way? That would gain attention no one wanted. Hey, at least this provided her a little fun. It was a break from talking just to the guards that barely spoke a word to her. Goody, she loved new toys.

Deep brown eyes turned to meet Vic's and she gave him a small smile. I have a lot of names, honey, She replied, taking his hand politely. She new that would piss off the boys behind her. How dare she touch another human being? This little touch could be his death! Yeah, right. She wasn't stupid enough to try anything out in public like this with watchdogs ready to tail her anywhere. It was broad daylight, too, in a city that idolized a man that could barely be hurt. October was not about to try anything here.

Other than Luther-bashing, which I think is probably most people's past time, what are we investigating? She asked, peeking down at the articles Vic had pulled out. Yes, she did completely avoid giving her name. It would be boring to just hand one out. It was better to dance around the subject, be mysterious. She didn't get much fun anymore so she had to make do with what she could.