"The Metropolis Story…"
Archived at the Buffy Rebecca verse, . You might want to take a gander at the Cicelyverse page to get a handle on the Cicely Addams material...
Disclaimer: All BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...
Summary: Poet/Champion turned reporter/Champion (the vampire thing was involuntary) for the second least respectable news organization in Metropolis, William Soames Walthrop is assigned the job of uncovering the mysterious silence of a famed, deceased silent film star of the great film inspired by the greatest city on Earth. Both the other reporter/Champion and other reporter/seedy investigator of things mysterious in town hate his guts.
Part VIII…
"This is my first trip abroad so I hope you two won't mind if I say I'm trembling with excitement…" Margaret smiled at her two companions as they sat. Kolchak leaning back to relish both the first-class experience and his ace team member/sidekick/rival's discomfort as Spike struggled to find a least disturbing spot in his seat. She happily fully closing window at his request...
Heck, after all, the kid's got protection from Liam and his boys at Wolfram-Hart. Protection that should…Probably…Work.
"Heck, my knees are knocking, sweetheart…Lord knows it's my first by first-class." Kolchak grinned. Hmmn…He caught the quick smile of another passenger, a rather lovely redhead, quite well dressed, eyeing him from her seat…Clearly finding his rather quirky style interesting…
Well, perhaps later I can explain how I'm an eccentric billionaire with a thing for rumpled suits and straw hats, dear… For now, I'm occupied with what vaguely passes for all the family I got.
Excepting my Parker cousins in Indiana…Wonder how ole Ralphie and Eliza Jane and the kids are doin' these days?
"What?" he eyed the more relaxed now but still somewhat troubled-looking Walthrop… "You forget something…?"
If this be about Maggie, nows not the time, kid…He regarded William carefully. Sides, she managed to swill holy water and she's taken the window seat. I'd say she's passing all tests with flyin' colors, kid.
Still, good of you to be so concerned for the girl…Especially given what I know of your previous relationship.
"No, it's nothing…Just…I have this feeling we're being…" Will began.
"Is that Lois Lane?" Margaret stared over to the entrance to the benighted section for exiles to business and coach.
Spike nodding to Kolchak as he returned to his seat after a quick but casually cool saunter up the first class aisle, requesting a Scotch and soda for the gentlemen and a lime seltzer for the lady from an attentive stewardess…Yep, it's them.
"So, Kent and Lane in hot pursuit of us?" Kolchak grinned. "Nice…Always enjoy seeing that blowhard Perry White move a little closer to that fatal coronary. And after the Planet gets the bills for this little excursion…And finds out they've kept two leading reporters on a little special interest piece…"
"Karl…" Margaret, reprovingly. Then smile… "But it is exciting. Are they really following after us?"
"We're the hot item at INS, sweetheart…Or rather, your boy there is. And the Planet's panties are in a bind over his big story. Well, and here I was thinking I'd be bored on this trip…" satisfied grin…
"They'll likely be a pain, chasing us all over…" Will frowned. "Still, it will serve them right…Wastin' their time on this…" slight glance at Margaret's sigh.
"Don't you think this story is worth following, William?" Margaret, a hair disappointed…
"It's a polite way of getting us out of the public eye, love. Though I will admit I am a bit intrigued by Ms. Helm and her fate…"
"I think it's romantic and mysterious…It should be just up your alleys. " she eyed the two men (?, well, one at least) in turn…
"Yeah, I'm a sucker for romance…" Kolchak noted, calmly. Smile…
A smile that turned perhaps just a hair sad as Margaret turned back to a Walthrop engaged in considering their pursuers' goals…
Could it be they know something? He pondered. But the Planet's never indulged in the occult, only sneered at Kolchak's series of feverish tales of the Undead and Supernatural. Kent certainly has no room in his narrow Midwestern mind for anything but the here and now and Lois is the no-nonsense type who still questions if she really was possessed by that alien. Karl's right, they've simply been sent by White to trail along after us…Well, faint smile…About time someone found me worthy of emulating as a writer/reporter/Champion or any of the three.
Hmmn…Thought for sure the Planet would've put them in First with us. But I guess White's as much a pincher as Tony Vincenzo when it's not coming from a generous outsider. Thank you, former Boss and about time as regards dear Margaret Drusilla here, Spike thought.
"Excuse me, Will." Margaret, rising. "Just need to use the facilities."
"Oh, sure, love." He rose politely. Karl moving as well…
"Just a mo…" she beamed at her boys who nodded, Spike offering offhand wave.
Can't let you boys have all the fun, she thought.
"So…?" Kent eyed his subordinate.
"Smart ass doesn't become you, Clark." Lois frowned as she took her seat. "I had a look, I listened. Nothing special except…" pause.
"They spotted you." He eyed her.
"What I just said, Kent." She glared, then sighed. "I'm losing my edge."
"Hello…" a friendly voice. Margaret beaming at them from the aisle in her somewhat conservative suit, glasses perched. "Mr. Kent, Miss Lane…I'm Margaret Waverly, from INS. I happened to see you were on board and I thought I would say hello."
"Hi." Lois, grimly. "Hello, Miss Waverly." Clark nodded, with smile. "So, you're off to Europe like us? Anything exciting going on?"
"Just a little historical research and such…I'm working with Mr. Walthrop, our reporter, and our mutual boss, Mr. Kolchak. You?"
"Oh, Miss Lane and I are doing some work in Europe about that bizarre story about the mayor and the commissioner's wives. Seems there's an incident of interest there." Clark smiled.
"Really?" Margaret, curious. "We'd not heard a thing, unless Mr. Kolchak is keeping something under his straw hat. Is it really related to all the stuff about aliens and so on?"
"I should think your Mr. Walthrop ought to know more about that." Lois, coolly. "Given he broke that story."
"Yes, we're all proud of him." Margaret beamed. "Well, I should get back. I just wanted to say hello. I hope we'll get to see each other in England at least before we go on to the Continent. Are you two going to London?"
"Oh, for a short bit…" Lois, hastily. "Where on the Continent? If it's not prying…"
"I shouldn't think so…" friendly shrug… "Probably Germany and Switzerland, though I can't say as to exact places. Mr. Kolchak keeps that under his hat. If you are in London long enough, perhaps we can all get together for a drink or something."
"That would be very nice." Clark nodded. "We're staying at the Hyatt, the London Regency." Lois, narrow frown…
"We'll be at the Blakemore near Hyde Park…It's near where we'll do some research. Well, I should go now. Enjoy your flight." She smiled, heading back for first class.
Yeah in stinkin coach… Lois glared after her. "Enjoy your caviar and champagne, bitch." She hissed in aggressive whisper.
"Lois? Miss Waverly's always seemed like a nice girl." Clark frowned.
"She came back here to get info for Walthrop and Kolchak on us. And you gave it to them."
"It's hardly significant for them to know we're at the Hyatt. I gave a plausible reason for our trip. And keeping in contact, now they've seen us, is as good a way as any to track them." Kent shrugged. "Anyway, now we know they're pushing on to Germany and Switzerland for whatever reasons."
Yeah…Dark glare.
Worst of all is he handled it pretty smooth…
But dork Brit girls are surely just up his alley.
She's probably off the English equivalent of some farm in Hicksville, Shropshire or whatever.
"What do you suppose they want in Germany and Switzerland?" Clark pondered. "Historical research? You think maybe…?"
"Nazis and some weird things with the occult would be just up Kolchak's alley." Lois nodded. "I should speak to him in London."
"You?" Clark stared.
"Yeah…Me…" she nodded. Offering warm smile…Slight movement of her blouse…
Oh…
"Lois…I wouldn't ask you to…"
"Just a fellow reporter exchanging views with an experienced old hand she admires…Deeply." She smiled.
"Course I could talk to Walthrop…" she cooed, sidelong glance.
"I'll talk to him." Clark, rather grimly.
Aww…She smiled to herself.
That's sweet.