Metropolis RPG

[Mercy]

It was easy prey. The big city lost of traffic and people; the hustle bustle of commerce and commercialism. Mercy hadn’t profiled the guy she just saw a suit with a large bankroll who, in her opinion, could afford to lose a few dollars. She was the leader of a group of thieves. There were mouths to feed, expenses to pay… but mainly, she just wanted to stay sharp. Her street skills were extraordinary. Mercy fought dirty, she fought very well, and most of all she kept a clear head while she did her job. Mercy wasn’t a meta-human, but her talent for shutting of the emotional response and just doing what needs to be done, is a near one-of-a-kind talent.

Her eyes had followed him from the limo to the interior of the building while she played her part. She poured water into the crystal goblets, served dinner rolls with a pair of tongs, folded napkins all under the guise of being an employee. She’d marked her ‘paycheck’ and it was the youthful Lex Luthor. She waited for him to sit down and get comfortable before she made her move. Deftly she weaved in and out of the tables, waiting for the perfect alignment; a waitress with a tray overhead, Lex turning toward the window to make a phone call and in moments the theft was done; Seamless, near undetectable, and perfectly subtle.

As Mercy exited the building, she unzipped her waitress uniform, revealing her none-too-subtle outfit; a leather miniskirt, strappy high heels and backless halter-top. She fished the hair sticks from her upsweep and allowed her long waist length platinum blonde fall down across her skin, as she hailed a taxicab. Once inside she directed the driver where to go, the suicide slums, as her head turned to the side to see the commotion she’d started. It was all too simple…

[Lex Luthor]

Metropolis. A city much like any other big city. It never slept. Of course unlike Gotham, Metropolis was clean, gleaning with gold and white a city of tomorrow. Lex found himself a man of those means. While his current residence was Smallville he was always back and forth between Metropolis. One day it would be his home. For now it was just business. Tonight’s business, a Benefit dinner. When it came to Lex Luthor there was always a hidden agenda.

Pressed suit wore like it was made for him, because, it had been. The black Italian leather shoes shifted on the dark carpet of the limo. Eyes looked to the windowed partition where a woman sat.
“Miss Cox, is everything set up?”
“Of course sir, to your specifications.”
“Perfect. I’ll meet you inside.”
His hand took hold of the leather briefcase as the limo pulled to a stop and he emerged to the cameras and publicity. A smile here or there, a wave of his hand and he pressed forwards. The elevator dinged as he rode it to the top floor where the banquet was being held. His own personal table, of course some other business moguls were awaiting him. He shook hands as he moved.
“Good evening gentleman. Dinner first, then we talk business.”

Lex Luthor was younger the almost everyone in the room, save for the hired help. However his business planning and his mind for it, could best any one of them. It’s what made him who he was. That youthful sex appeal helped. He exuded confidence. The small sleek cell phone he carried with him started to vibrated as he turned towards the window to answer.
“Excuse me one moment.”
There was a pause in his movements before he stood and navigated the tables to the servers entrance and through the double doors. Hanging up he looked into the face of his assistant. She extended a stop watch his direction and he smirked. Taking a back exit the pair made their way down to where the limo was running waiting for them.

Watching the blonde enter a cab he instructed his driver to tail them, not to closely. When it pulled off in Suicide Slums he stopped the car and exited, pulling on a long dark over coat. Walking against the side walk he entered a dark building where the woman’s back was towards him. She was clearly waiting for someone, but she wouldn’t be expecting him. Bare hands came together in a slow rhythmic clap.
“Well done. Very well done, indeed.”

[Mercy]

“Did you have any problems?”
“Like you really have to ask that…” Mercy purred.
The statuesque brunette stalked toward the equally beautiful blonde, her lips wet with anticipation. Mercy tossed the attaché case onto the bed, the goods forgotten while she tasted the other woman’s mouth. Few knew how deep Hope and Mercy’s partnership went. Neither wanted it public knowledge that they preferred the softer sex, so the choice of ambiguity was never an issue.

Hope pulled away from Mercy, her soft brown eyes glancing to the case.
“Aren’t you even slightly curious what a man like Lex Luthor is hiding?”
“I’m not saying it doesn’t tug at the cat, but you know the rules baby… never make yourself too informed. Keep a clear head and remember the golden rule. If you don’t know, then you don’t have to lie about it later if you get pinched…”
Hope quirked a dark brow, puling her teeth against her bottom lip as she drew herself closer to her lover.
“Mmm… that didn’t stop you from acting on your curiosity as to what was under my dress.”
“Touché…”

Mercy met her mouth again with her, pausing at the crack of the door. Her head glanced back to the slow clap green eyes widening in shock.
“…Get down!”
She commanded to the brunette, shoving her to the side as her hand closed about the handgrip of Hope’s weapon. Mercy’s bare arm came about, sizing the gun’s sights on Luthor. Her thumb flicked the safety.

“Well done. Very well done, indeed.”

The slow rhythmic clap met her ears; her eyes took in his casual stride. Then it all clicked home. He’d hired them. He was the mysterious contact.
“Just what kind game are you playing Mr. Luthor?”
The weapon was lowered, set on the table, as she stood between Hope and the multibillionaire.

[Lex Luthor]

Lex ran a hand back over his scalp. An accident long ago had left him this way. Bald. Most men in his position would have opted for hair-replacement surgery, but Lex liked the look. Besides, he had a nicely shaped head to be bald. Some men just didn’t. The look however fit the multibillionaire. Eyes scanned over Mercy to the young woman crouching on the ground at her lovers command. With that casual confident stride he moved forwards the long coat hitting at his ankles.

The multibillionaire moved back the long coat as his hand slipped into his pocket. Left hand motioned forwards towards Hope and Mercy.
“Have I interrupted anything? By all means, please, continue.”
There was a suaveness in his voice, complimented with that smirk once again. A look that seemed fitting for him. Youthful and rich. Eyes fell upon Mercy once again as she put all the pieces together. The gun sites lowered and was placed aside and he stopped just feet away from her. It had all been planned to his own design. A test for Mercy. Timed and executed to a form he hadn’t quite expected. And now as she realized who he was.

What fun would life be if there were no games. What sort of man would he be if he didn’t play them? Everyone played games. If they didn’t they were lying. Lex enjoyed things that were challenging. Testing those around him as well as himself. This was the same concept. There was more to it that just a game, just testing Mercy and how she could handle a job. He’d get to know the kind of woman she was, her partner as well. Intending to use them both in his own personal employ. He was becoming more of an important figure, what with his father more or less out of his usually commission. Lex was growing up and he already knew the type of man he wanted to be.
“So, are you going to introduce me. Or am I to rely on my own information.” He smirked "Hope and Mercy. A bit Ironic don't you think, considering."

[Mercy]

“Have I interrupted anything? By all means, please, continue.”
“Please, Lex if you think that standing there in your Brooks Brothers suit, and giving me a look like I’m a bought woman is going to sway my opinion of you then you’re positively unhinged. And second, as much as I don’t need your go ahead to fuck my girlfriend, it’s going to take more than a pithy comment to allow an audience.”
Mercy walked forward, Hope sat down on the edge of the desk, crossing her long legs. They were quite the epitome of every male fantasy; one demure, the other sizzling.

“So, are you going to introduce me. Or am I to rely on my own information?”
She nodded in her lover’s direction, “Hope Taya, meet Mr. Alexander Luthor,” she stared back toward him, “and I am as you know, Mercy Graves.”
"Hope and Mercy. A bit Ironic don't you think, considering."
“Trust me the irony’s not lost. So tell me Lex what in the world could have possessed you to set me and my partner up on a wild goose chase like this? Are you trying to get us arrested?”

Mercy closed the gap between them, leaning to his ear with little effort. She was an Amazonian; six feet, hourglass figure.
“Because if you did set us up just to watch us fall… you bet your pampered ass you’ll be crying my name before the night is through.”
Her words might have been soft, but there was nothing warm about the threat. Money or no Lex was dancing on dangerous ground toying with her.

[Lex Luthor]

Lex was always confident. He always went after what he wanted as well. In anything. Business. Pleasure. Spending money on any whim he had which included this whole set up. He was testing Mercy. And soon Hope. Lips formed a smile as she spoke and he put on a façade of shock to what she said.
“It’s Ralph Lauren.”
Hand smoothed the suit as he looked over the women. Both exotic and could stop a normal man in their tracks. Smooth head nodded their direction in meeting.

“Arrested? No. Quite the opposite I assure you.”
In that casual stride he moved closer to the two women and stopped still some distance off. It was a test all in all he wanted to see how she would work. Head tipped to the side slightly as he looked back to them. Smile creased his lips once more as hand tucked into his pant pocket. They were perfect. He knew the moment he saw them together. The ease in which Mercy had worked. Now it was only a matter of convincing them.

Eyes scanned up Mercy as she stepped closer to him, her voice a whisper on his ear.
“Because if you did set us up just to watch us fall…you bet your pampered ass you’ll be crying my name before the night is through.”
“Perhaps I won’t be the only one crying names. As you so said before…you don’t need my approval to fuck.”
Lex moved with ease as he shifted around her. The man oozed his confidence and he’d let anyone know it. He circled around the Amazonian before his voice fell from his lips.
“I’m actually prepared to make you both a business proposition. What with running in the race for Senator. A man needs someone he can turn to. Away from the media frenzy. The show of money. Who are willing to do what is asked, Bodyguards. Personal Assistance. I suppose you have some questions.”

By this point Lex had circled behind Mercy and shifted. Fingers grazed her thigh as he slipped a slick black business card with silver writing against her tight mini-skirt. Chin moved over her should as he now whispered in her ear.
“I’ll let you get back to work. Tomorrow. Ten am.”
He nodded his head towards Hope as he moved away from her lover. The length of the coat hitting his ankles as he walked away. Exiting as silent as he’d entered the area. The limo sat out front waiting for him. Eyes looked to Mrs. Cox.
“I do believe she’s intrigued. To the penthouse.”

[Mercy]

The morning came, and along with it, the hope of new prospects. Mercy Graves was dressed, and ready for her meeting with Alexander Luthor, her limber frame sauntering with confidence though the massive twin doors of the high-rise Penthouse. It wasn’t unexpected, men of Luthor’s ilk were often known to showboat their wealth in homes like this; and even bouts of eccentricity. She was sure that Luthor wasn’t any different. The front desk security recognized her without an introduction, and proceeded to frisk her before unlocking the private elevator. As the doors slid closed her eyes looked up from under rich lashes to the security camera in the corner, wondering if the man of the hour was watching. Pink lips curled into a devious smirk, eyes glanced away from the lens, and she waited for the doors to part.

With a light ‘ding’ the silver parted, and she entered the small vestibule. Before her was a large circular table, with an impressively expensive arrangement of flowers on it. End tables on either side of the lift housed a vase, an expensive clock, and a small porcelain figure in the shape of a woman. High heeled feet delved deeper into the home of youthful entrepreneur, her form dressed in vastly different attire than the night before but it didn’t matter. Despite the absence of the revealing clothes in exchange for a business suit, she still exuded sexual heat. The six-foot Amazonian blonde closed the distance between herself and the large mahogany desk. She stopped in the middle of the room, waiting with her arms behind her back, her eyes studying the impressive surroundings.

[Lionel Luthor]

Deep in the heart of Metropolis, the gears of industry were turning, plots were being formulated, and men like Lionel Luthor were pulling the gears. His bearded cheek sank in as he savored the taste of his latest machination.
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” He leaned back in the leather executive char. “Isn’t that how the saying goes Mr. Laurie?” Lionel’s voice almost purred as he spoke. This was his playground, the world of keeping a smooth exterior under high pressure. There were only a scattered few who had ever seen him lose his poise.
“Yes, Sir, but I can’t see what your interest is in this?”
“Let’s just say I’d rather not see the daughter of a four star General behind bars for a crime she didn’t commit.”

The voice on the other end of the phone paused for a moment before continuing.
“Very well Sir. I can be in Smallville within the hour.”
“Then I’ll leave this matter in your very capable hands …Mr. Laurie.”
Lionel disconnected the line, trailing off to gaze out of the window. The skyline was impressive. Clouds in the sky shifted, and the glint of golden light splashed off the Daily Planet’s rooftop globe. Weathered eyes squinted, wrinkling at the corners. His hand came up to shield his vision from the brilliant reflection. Never, did he take these moments for granted, but unlike the idealistic cattle who claimed to comprehend reaffirmation of life’s value, Lionel Luthor knew better. He’d been to the brink of sanctity and death and beyond. No one understood how hard his grip on every moment was.