I know you and your cons

[osreborn]

WHO: NORMAN OSBORN and KAREN STARR
WHERE: OsCorp
WHEN: Thursday, late
WHAT: More rattled than usual, Norman confronts another snoop.
WARNINGS: Mentions of torture and violence likely. Will ETA anything further.


[ Something is up -- Norman can sense it more and more, and he knows he can't simply just be imagining it. No, he has good instincts, and it's only when he ignores them that he runs into the worst.

He isn't nervous about whatever hearsay may be in the air about the "Goblin" situation, he covered his tracks well with that one; after all, he was bound to be a suspect, so the clever thing to do was to invite the suspicion upon him so that he could be ruled out for lack of evidence. He's a chemist, a brilliant one at that -- not to pat himself on the back or anything -- so that had all been extremely easy. He also isn't nervous about the murder of Freddie Lounds, even if it had been impulsive enough that he could have left evidence behind. She brought it upon herself, and who would bother to investigate an imPort murder at any length? No... Norman rarely ever bothered to feel "anxious" about his crimes, even the reckless ones, which makes it especially difficult and frustrating for him to put a finger on what exactly is the trouble he's expecting.

But it doesn't take long to click. Working late as he often does, Norman feels a smug sense of satisfaction perk up the corners of his mouth into a grin while he watches the security feeds around the building from his lab; it's not a normal, relieved grin either, but a malicious one, a grin that says gotcha like a predator cornering prey. It's easy to put two and two together seeing Power Girl lurking outside OsCorp now combined with her unprovoked assault upon him some months prior. He hadn't pursued it then, but now... well, what exactly is she looking for?

He really can't stand snooping.

His personal labs are protected, deep within the building with lined walls for extra security, so he leaves the laboratory to exit upstairs to the main floor lobby where he can smirk at her through the glass doors. After a moment, he unlocks them. ]

Can I help you?

Comments

[boobwindow]

[ Shit.

It immediately comes to her attention that this is probably not the wisest stunt she's pulled this week. She should have known Norman Osborn would have security in place to keep out intruders and other unwanted guests. After all, her own digging with Blue Beetle's help and knowing what happened with Kanaya was Osborn's doing, she's learned the frustrating way Osborn is an exceedingly private man. He worked for her and she learned jack about him in all that time; not even her employees knew anything about him besides describing him as charismatic and brilliant. And now a couple of them had quit their jobs at Starrware to work for him, apparently.

It had been impulsive and originally, she was only here to take a quick peek before she found herself circling the building a couple of times. There doesn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary. What is she hoping to find? She's letting her desperation get to her.

And now he's spotted her, so she can't exactly fly off without looking any more suspicious. After their last encounter, she can already feel the tension settling in the air around them. ]

What, a lady can't take in the sights once in a while?

[osreborn]

It's customary to call ahead and make an appointment. Preferably during working hours.

[ Norman crosses his arms, looking at her with a calm sort of scrutiny -- markedly not intimidated, his eyes cold though somehow also distantly alert. Manic, focused; he doesn't break eye contact for even a moment. ]

Why don't you tell me what you really want? Though I think I may have a guess.

[boobwindow]

[ She maintains the distance between herself and Osborn, floating around twenty feet off the ground for extra measure. She isn't afraid of him and it's expressed in her body language, but she does get the feeling if she dares to inch closer she might put him on the defense.

The worst part is that it had actually been partially gratifying to deck him in the face back then. ]

Oh, yeah? Enlighten me.

[osreborn]

[ Holding his gaze on her for a moment or two more before he speaks again even when he has to tilt his head upward to do so, Norman smiles slowly. Now what exactly is that all about? And does it matter? Not especially. Norman's prepared enough for her this time that if she does try anything, he has options. He has the leverage here, not her.

Casually he shrugs one shoulder, uncrossing his arms so that he can gesture outward with a hand. ]

You want to apologize.

[boobwindow]

[ Her relatively calm composure is disrupted by his response, her eyes widening and her fingers twitching at her sides. She could punch him right now for that comment, but instead she indignantly sneers back: ]

Bite me, Osborn. I'm not here for that.

[ To some degree she felt bad for losing control, but not all that bad when he continues to walk free after what he had done to Kanaya. ]

[osreborn]

[ Ah -- bingo.

Norman's grin widens -- but only slightly -- and he recrosses his arms, standing there patiently though his foot does begin to tap against the ground. ]

Then what? And let's have the truth this time, I didn't step outside to have my intelligence insulted by some caped bruiser trying to throw her weight around.

[boobwindow]

[ Her fingers continue to twitch and she has to curl them into her palm to restrain herself, gritting her teeth. ]

Fine, the bottom line is I still don't trust you.

[ Why dance around it any longer? Their last encounter had revealed plenty. ]

I might not have proof, Osborn, but I can wait.

[osreborn]

You know, even if I were as stupid as to leave whatever key evidence you're hoping to find out in the open, lacking a warrant your snooping is a rope around your neck more than mine.

[ Norman's eyebrow raises and his eyes widen just a touch, still rapt on staring her down nearly unblinkingly. Slowly, he shakes his head. ]

There's nothing to find. I've committed no crimes here. [ Well, that's not totally true. But this crime was committed elsewhere. ] Now is this the part where you try to beat the confession out of me again?

[boobwindow]

[ Her shoulders tense now, though she's managed to stop her arms from trembling with anger. She chided herself in the back of her head for not scouring the building for security cameras before approaching. Peej hates to admit it, but Osborn is right. If she pries any further with his knowledge he likely won't hesitate to slap a fine on her, and her being Unsettled is not going to help in this matter. ]

That wasn't-- [ Great Rao, what's the point? ] No, I can be patient. You'll expose yourself -- I can count on that.

[ She hopes so. ]

[osreborn]

Oh, I don't think so.

[ That, he feels confident about. Smug, even, though not quite to the point of being blinded by his own hubris. ]

Let me remind you that you have nothing. And with that in mind if I were you, I'd be grateful I wasn't being slapped with a charges for assault. Attempted murder, even. [ His eyes gleam at her. ] You're buying into the conspiracy theories of a child.

[boobwindow]

[ Sharp and agitated: ]

Don't you talk about her like that.

[ Finally, Peej lowers herself to the ground, taking a few steps forward but never getting too close to Osborn lest he start with the threats again. ]

Why would she lie about something like that, huh?

[osreborn]

Well how should I know that? To start trouble? Boredom? For attention? Children do these things; I've raised enough of them to know. Let's face it, you think no one here might have motive to slander me? Have you even looked into her associates? It's clear as day these are the actions of a bitter and very misinformed girl who wants to represent herself with some grand heroic crusade.

[ He puts his hands on his hips now. He remembers Rose confronting him in his lab, trying to demand how and why he got Kanaya involved; funny how that had all been an accident. ]

She can't tell you how I allegedly did it, can she?

[boobwindow]

[ She exhales slow, but loudly through her nose, shoulders sagging slightly at the same time. There's no witty comeback or terse denying on her end. Right now, all they have is Kanaya's words to go on, but Peej has never doubted her for a moment when it involved Osborn in particular.

However, her silence proves Osborn's right; Peej has absolutely nothing. He can call every one of her bluffs. ]

She would never play victim just for attention. You don't know her like I do.

[osreborn]

No -- perhaps I don't. And why should I?

[ He's having fun with this; idly, Norman presses one fist to his palm and cracks his knuckles against it, before repeating the motion with the opposite hands. ]

Revenge has never been a rational motivator. Maybe she has been manipulated -- and maybe so have you. So many "maybes," aren't there?

[boobwindow]

[ Suddenly she's closing the distance between them, her feet several inches off the ground and her hands snatching the collar of his shirt. She grips the fabric, her entire figure tense with anger, but a moment later she hold on him loosens. Her teeth are bared and she holds her gaze, though her head sinks when she pulls back, clutching at the air. ]

You're wrong.

And you're going to answer for what you did to her. [ She lifts her head, meeting his gaze with a determined one. A finger points toward his face. ] You aren't fooling me.

[osreborn]

[ Norman maintains the eye contact with her, looking Power Girl in the eyes before he laughs; not manically, of course, just a couple of low, patient chuckles. ]

Except for the part where you don't know. No method, no means, and hardly a scrap of motivation -- seems like that may be a hurdle for you.

[ He flicks at her finger with his own, more to punctuate his point rather than to really try and move it -- though even that flippant gesture betrays some of his own strength all the same. ]

I'd suggest you all look into a more productive hobby before I'm forced to consider a restraining order.

[boobwindow]

[ That laughter seeps under her skin, crawling up her arms like spiders. She manages to refrain from a shudder, but she ends up jerking back when his finger reaches out. She shakes her hand like it's been sullied by something filthy. ]

This is not over, Osborn.

[ A moment later, Peej is several feet in the air above Osborn again. She narrows her eyes before veering off in the opposite direction, resisting the urge to turn back and deck him in the face. ]