Metropolis: Centennial Park Sandwiched between slums and high-rises, Centennial Park is a public gathering place for picnics, cycling, or long meandering strolls. The grass and various trees are upkept by the city, as well as the benches and war memorials. By far the greatest monument however, is the 'tomb' of Metropolis' once-dead first citizen--Superman. Though the Big Blue Boyscout is once again flying faster than a speeding bullet {and very much alive), his larger-than-life bronze statue stands guard over the park, with the words 'Earth's Greatest Hero' etched into the granite slab upon which it stands. This massive piece was erected less than two weeks after the battle between Superman and Doomsday, and funded by LexCorp. After Superman's return however, the city also took over the upkeep of the statue. Obvious exits: Subway University of Metropolis Downtown As you look around, you see couples sitting on park benches holding hushed conversation, children playing Frisbee, or lone persons walking dogs. Near the eastern side of the park, an artist has set up an easel, and is painting the scene. A teenaged girl ( Gina) is hangin' out in the shade under a tree. She looks like she's writing something, and upon closer inspection it appears to be a story. Quotes an' all, y'understand. All in all, it's just another quiet afternoon in the park. The other patrons of the park are naturally unaware of the Martian Manhunter's arrival. Invisibility can do such things well. His gaze sweeps over the various park patrons as he strolls quietly, lost in his own thoughts, perhaps having come to find some s ort of company to them. Or perhaps simply to watch. Gina puts her notebook down and sighs, leaning forward and resting her forearms on her knees. She bites her lip and looks upward, shading her eyes from the sun and apparently searching for something or someone, a worried look on her face. Not seeing whate ver it was, she sits back against the tree again and plays with a blade of grass, daydreaming. And the children play, and the dogs run, and the adults picnic. And the Martian Manhunter...watches. He takes a position off to the side, out of the way of any possible parkgoer, attempting to keep himself from being discovered or a disturbance. His eyes rest on a few people, here and there, as he gazes about. Studying. His gaze falls upon Gina for a moment, having come to rest against a tree near her, and then they slide away. Gina mutters something about Superboy in a rather annoyed tone. Then, surprisingly, she adds Superman to the list of gripes. What is this? you ask. How could anyone be annoyed with the savior of the city, the champion of justice that is Supes? His Martian hearing being somewhat adept, the Manhunter actually picks up on that particular grumble, having it be somewhat near his own thoughts. He turns his attention back to Gina, considering quietly as he observes her more closely. Gina tears the blade of grass into itty bits, drops the itty bits, and takes up her notebook again, sighing. Martian Manhunter reaches out with his mind, idly, as he studies Gina. Not necessarily to peer into it, but just to glimpse at some open thoughts, those flowly most easily from her mind, as he watches her. Gina is thinking, . o O (Bloody -nass-...Superman -said- he's look for SB, but I haven't heard word one...I know SB can take care of himself, but it's just not -like- him to disappear without a word - and then be gone for days. Damn titanic battles...I ho pe to hell he's okay. I really do. God...) She sighs, and tugs at her ponytail, obviously not able to write when she's worrying like this. Martian Manhunter considers for a moment, as he observes the girl. ~Another fan of the new Superboy. Interesting.~ Having tossed off that idea, at the least, his gaze moves back towards the rest of the people, perhaps not quite realizing the personal conn ection, aside from the simply adoration of the girl. Gina gahs, and wishes someone -responsible- would be around, to know what to do. There is something of a shout from off towards the side, voices raised. A scuffle, perhaps? It attracts the attention of the Manhunter, who turns his unfocused gaze back into a true direction. Gina's head jerks up. "Wha..?" she says, with the voice of one who's just awakened, and looks over to the origin of the yell. The incident resolves itself, as a pair of somewhat non-pleasant looking youths appear to be harassing a couple of ladies out for a nice picnic. As the crowd starts to slowly drift away from the scene, taking the typical 'I don't want to get involved' approach, the girls look about as if for some measure of aide. Gina stands up, assuming what she hopes is a commanding yet casual presence, and stuffs her hands into her pockets, after putting on a pair of shades. She walks over quickly, but with the self-assured step of someone who has time and fate on her side. She also hopes to hell it doesn't come to a real confrontation, cuz she's get her butt kicked. "Hey, Joan..hey, May," she says in a slow drawl, hoping they'll play along. She looks up at the mooks, then back down at the women. "These guys givin' you a hard time? Steve and Alex are 'round th'corner.." Gina is bluffing, of course, but it's convincing...-if- the girls play along. The girls, unfortunately, either lack the wit or the desire to play along, for once the two punks turn their attention to you, they sneak away into the safety of the shade. Leaving two fairly surly looking young men facing you with a scowl. "Oh, look at t he tough girl..." Gina raises her eyebrows above her shades, and looks slightly amused. "Tough?" she asks. "I? Not likely.." The two punks, of course, decide to test that, and start to advance towards you, bearing whatever passes for a weapon. One with something of a chain, the other with ... a spoon? Gina draws her hand out of her pocket, taking with it a quarter, which she flips and then studies. She looks back up to the guys, and says softly and slowly, "Tails. You win." She looks over her shades at the guys, an odd look in her eyes, and begins to walk away - hoping they'll feel psychologically fulfilled by the fact that they 'won', whatever it was...at least long enough for her to get away. The boys exchange glances, but apparently are not won over by pop-psychology. One moves forward quickly, pushing you in the back, apparently determined to knock you down, as the other leers. "Don't walk away from us, pretty...we own this park." Gina, luckily for her, had one foot in front of her, as she was in the process of talking. Therefore, she has a brace against being knocked down. She's slightly offbalance, though, and this freaks her out...but outwardly, she only appears calm and slightl y annoyed. She turns back to them, "Do you? That's funny, I was under the impression it belonged to the city." "This park is ours, lady...and everything in it is ours too!" The begin to step towards you, raising their hands, their scowls darkening, as if to appear menacing. And then, they freeze, pausing in their motions, as the glare foreward. Perhaps your statem ents have cowed them, after all. Gina isn't stupid, so she realies the danger she's in, even though its perpetrators cut rather ridiculous figures. A spoon, indeed! She begins to let some of her mask of self-assuredness slip, unintentionally displaying a hint of fear on her face...then s tops, puzzled, as the two boys freeze. . o O (WHat the...?) Then, after a moment, the boys simply turn around and run away, a slight yelp on their face, without any other sign from you. Puzzling, perhaps. A rather nonplussed look on her face, Gina stands where she was for a moment, before taking the opportunity granted her and turning to leave. She stops short at what appears to be a wall of green in front of her (after all, she's -not- a tall person), and stumbles backwards a step. "Ahh.." is the only sound that comes out of the startled girl, as she fishes for words... "Hi?" The steely gaze of the Martian Manhunter greets you, his head turning down to regard you from his 6'7" height, after watching the boys recede into the horizon. "Good afternoon. I apologize if you felt the situation was under control, but I had thought you might be able to use some assistance." Gina looks up, then shuts her mouth as she realizes it was open. She blinks, then says succintly, "No...thank you, really. I was wondering what I was gonna do if they decided t'keep coming...which they were..." Her eyes are wide, but not with fear - more like awe, it is. Martian Manhunter nods slowly. "Which is why I made my presence known." He considers for a moment. "It took a great deal of courage to approach the situation and attempt to help out. Had you not done so, and I not been here, those girls would likely have fallen into a bit of trouble." Gina nods, then remarks wryly, "More like if -you- hadn't'a been there, *I'd've* been in some trouble. Can't help getting involved, myself." Martian Manhunter nods again, this time allowing something of a smile to cross his countenance. "Indeed. At times you must balance caution with care. You could have actually gone and taken up another one or two to aide you, and not done it by yourself." Gina nods, accepting advice and/or correction from someone such as this. "Th'thought never crossed my mind," she confesses, revealing the fact (if y'didn't notice it before) that she's a bit of a reactionary, and impulsive to boot. It should be noted that she's intensely curious about this big green guy in the interesting costume, but she's too polite to ask. The figure nods again, as he gazes down at the female. "Perhaps you should engage in more thought, and less action, in the future. You will not always have the Martian Manhunter to stand behind you." And he speaks in the third person, too. How quaint. Gina nods, mood somewhat solemnified by the classic use of the third person. She adds as an aside, somewhat grumblingly, "Guess it's more dangerous'n I thought, hanging out with th'Kid. Kinda get the feeling, after awhile, that you're invincible..." She sighs, then wonders if she ought to broach the subject of the aforementioned Superboy's absence. Martian Manhunter arches his brow ever so slightly at the mention of the Kid. "You are personally acquainted with the Superboy?" he asks, not particularly sounding surprised. Or rather, not particularly sounding much of anything. Gina nods once, affirming the fact, if nothing else. "Friend of mine." Gina corrects, sounding annoyed, "-Missing- friend of mine..." Martian Manhunter pauses for a moment, and then continues. "Indeed. That has been a subject of some consideration of late. He is apparently off on some trip with an escort of a former Justice League member. I am sure he is safe, and you need not concern y ourself with his safety." Gina sighs. "Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better. When he's with Impulse, there's no telling -what- he'll do. But I'll try not to worry...it's just, Superman said he'd find him, and let him know I needed to hear he's okay. And...that was a couple days ago." :/ Martian Manhunter nods slowly. "Superman has other things to occupy his time at the current moment." he considers this, watching you. "If you would likke, I could see to it that you are contacted when we hear some word of the status of Superboy and his comrades." Gina bites her lip, looking slightly away for a moment, before turning back and nodding quickly. "If...if you could, I'd like that." She blushes. . o O (I am -so- not important. Why am I wasting these people's time with my worries? Gah...) Martian Manhunter nods again, offering something of a smile. "If you are someone that Superboy calls a friend, I would not mind at all taking the trouble to see to it that you are not worried. I know myself what it is like to be concerned for a friend." Gina begins to blush, then shoves her hands in her pockets. "Thanks," she says, with some unidentifiable emotion. "I...thanks." Near the end, her voice is softer, and she sounds grateful. A bright smile appears on her face.. Gina takes off her shades with her left hand, and she starts to go to shake MM's hand with the other, then hesitates, not sure what alien protocol he might subscribe to. Martian Manhunter raises his hand up to shake yours, having been around humans enough to acquire the affectation. "You are most welcome. A friend of Superboy's is a friend to our community, and I appreciate that. We all need our friends to remind us of ou r humanity. I am pleased that Superboy has found one as worthy as you." Gina grins! "Thanks...um, by the way, I'm Gina Dare..." she says, then holds up a cellphone. "And I've got SB's phone, as a way of contact.." Martian Manhunter chuckles a bit, and nods. "And I am J'Onn J'Onnz. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." He inclines his head in something of a bow towards you. "I will reach you, then, at that number, if you wish." Gina nods. "That...would be simplest." She quickly jots down the number, and hands it to J'Onn. "Thanks again, Mr. J'Onnz." Martian Manhunter takes the number and somehow places it somewhere. He then nods slowly. "Indeed. And thank you, as well. As I said, friends to ground a hero's humanity are of a vital necessity." He considers this for a moment. "As I know all too well." And then he looks off and about, towards where the people start to gaze at him, and then back to you. "I should be on my way." Gina nods, understanding. She places her notebook and the cellphone in a bookbag she carries with her, and leaves as soon as MM does - not wanting to be rude. Martian Manhunter takes a step back and then leaps off into the air, flying away, offering a wave in salute as he takes off, disappearing eventually into a small green dot in the distance. The End, or somesuch.;)