| Federal Contracts Expo Dance |
| Summary: | Log Summary |
| Date: | 2014-08-06 |
| Related: | Various not yet posted logs |
| NPCs: | na |
| Scene Runner: | NA |
| Social/Plot: | Social |
| Players: |
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To be entirely honest, Karen Starr is not a woman who often attends what might be considered 'high society' or 'posh' social events. She does it, sometimes, if required to represent StarrWare at some event or another. And a few times she has been dragged - not-so-literally kicking and screaming - to such an event to represent a team she's on for a scientific conference. But overall, she avoids these things like the plague. There just are not very many good ways to properly disguise her figure in attire deemed suitable for such events. And though few would ever guess it, minimizing her figure is a big part of maintaining her secret identity. There are other elements - change in hairstyle, no longer worrying about vibrating her face to avoid cameras and recognition software, and almost always wearing those StarrGaze glasses - but the figure is a biggy.
Tonight, she has been gently - but very firmly - ordered to attend the social reception being held in Gotham for the Federal Contracted Suppliers Expo. Her Board feels that as impressive and awesome as Richard Starr - her dad and the CEO of her company - may be, nothing and no one better represents the company than the beautiful blonde braintrust who founded it. So, Karen is in attendance. StarrWare is present in the Expo to demonstrate their latest prototype smart goggles.
Karen enters the reception just a minute or two before her hidden Starkphone reports the reception is supposed to officially begin. She's wearing a deep royal purple plush-look floor-length gown with a fitted full bodice sporting a squared neckline, the skirt a swirling gently pleated fall with a usually invisible mid-thigh split along the outside of her right leg. She is wearing comfortable but stylish matching two-inch-heeled purple open-toed mules, with silver toenails to echo the thin silver sash about her waist, and the silver choker about her neck. Tiny pearl earrings in silver settings show from her ears. And she is wearing prototype StarrGaze glasses, rimless and transparent except for the flashes of light within their depths now and then.
The tall blonde's gaze sweeps the room, and then she makes her way to the bar to request a sparkling apple cider, which will of course look like champagne to everyone else, while being non-alcoholic. She isn't yet 21, so drinking is illegal in the States.
In contrast, Kate Kane -thrives- on high society events. While it's something of a throwback to her 'party girl' days, it's an image she likes to maintain. It certainly helps keep the focus off of Batwoman when she's around, to be sure. This particular affair is even more appealing to her, since it involves StarrWare smart goggles. Who knows? She might even pick up a few leads to the Mad Hatter while she's here.
Kate is dressed to kill. The red gown is shimmery silk with sequins, strapless and sleeveless and flowing down to her ankles. It's held up mostly by the sweetheart neckline (and perhaps some adhesive!), clinging dangerously to her curves whenever she moves. The gown is slit far up the right side, high enough to flash her stocking and a bit of garter as well. Sparkly red pumps could very well be her ticket back to Oz if she clicks the heels together three times. A ruby tennis bracelet and choker necklace completes the outfit.
One of the first guests to arrive, the redhead works the entrance well. The stretch limo has long since pulled away by the time she makes the door, still greeting people on the way inside. And she lifts a flute of champagne off of the first tray that passes. Green eyes wander about, taking in the smaller details with her detective's mind. There's a stunning blonde at the bar, and as the woman turns briefly Kate recognizes Richard Starr's daughter.
Armed with her fake alcoholic drink, the tall blonde Karen Starr makes her way out into the reception floor, nodding when greeted by various people. With her StarrGaze glasses and a proper app, she is able to address everyone she meets by name, which keeps her from being a fumbling, bumbling fool - and keeps people from wondering at her amazingly perfect memory. Karen doesn't get into any great, in-depth discussions, but she greets people politely, with a friendly air that still communicates 'this is so not my scene.' So far, most respect that air, though of course as things progress this evening she's sure to get prssed by more than a few. No matter how minimized she tries to make it, there's no completely hiding that amazing figure, or her unfairly Aryan beauty.
When the reception is called to order, Karen stops wherever she is in the crowd and turns to face the podium, as a few various speakers - Kate's stepmother included - take the stage to welcome everyone and give brief speaches about the importance of this expo and the amazing possibilities available here. She does not yawn. She does sip lightly at her faux champagne, and raises her glass to the obligatory toast. Then, at last, the speaches are over and it's more mingling. Oooh! Shrimp puffs!
The blonde's figure was intriguing in a not-so-professional way to Kate at first, but the more she watches Karen the more she puts other things together as well. She squints a little when it's discrete, imagining the purple gown gone and replaced by white spandex and a red cape. Could it be?
Kate is playing her usual game of bait and switch with drinks, taking a couple sips of champagne and swapping it out for a fresh glass. It makes her -look- like she's tossing it down hard, while keeping herself sharp. And this wasn't entirely a pleasure cruise, after all. Speeches are over and she follows the tall blonde, heading her way as crowds form about them both. Kate's elbow brushes Karen's upper arm and she turns to flash a smile. "Oh! Hello there, Ms. Starr. I'm Kate Kane."
Brushed, Karen turns - naturally - to make sure the other party is OK. Of course, she knows who it is - Kate Kane - and where, because she cannot help but constantly be hyperaware of her surroundings. Still, she plays it off quite humanly. "Oh. Hello, Ms. Kane. Please, call me Karen." She smiles warmly, extending her right hand while her left minds her glass. "Pleasure to meet you. Sorry I was so clumsy. I'm afraid I'm better suited to a lab or a server room than a crowd of people." She glances over Kate, and grins. "Your dress is beautiful. It suits you."
Of course, both women having become magnets of their own crowds, those crowds start to merge and jostle for prominence around them, becoming more demanding of attention. Karen does her best to field other questions and comments made, and Kate could likely spot that flicker of light in her glasses as she pulls up small dossiers on each person as she faces them, reminding her of important facts like name, company, specialty and such.
There are similarities, of course, between Karen and Power Woman. But most of those similarities are things the average person puts down to those one expects amongst two women reasonably close in age - though most consider Power Woman to be approaching 30 - who are blonde and somewhat stacked. But the lines of their faces trick the eye - and the camera - into believing they are not the same. Their hairstyles are noticeably different, Karen apparently sporting a do easily a couple inches shorter than Power Woman. But there are similarities, of course.
Kate smiles warmly, just a few inches short of being able to look the blonde in the eye. "Thanks, Karen. And please, call me Kate." she replies, fingers strong and sure when the two women clasp hands. She regards Karen with a discerning eye, and certainly notices the data scrolling in the periphery of those lenses. Likewise, it would have only taken a brief glancea at Batwoman with x-ray vision to recognize Kate's face.
"I like the glasses, by the way. Are they a Starr product? I've been following the company's latest releases, and you have a new one due soon, don't you?" Tilting her head curiously, Kate's opening line is calculated to touch a techno-nerd's heartstrings. Yes, the enthusiastic thing would be to offer them for a looking-over.
"Uhm, sure, Kate." Karen ammends with a slightly nervous smile. Kate's knowledge of Karen, beyond her age, her phenom status in the sciencies, and her company, would probably be somewhat limited. She's apparently from somewhere near Seattle, and her father was a programmer, her mother a high school teacher. There have never been any substantial rumors of the young blonde dating, and none of the usual 'partying at college' leaks of indiscretions of chemical or sexual nature. If not for her brain and her looks, she'd almost be boring.
"Yes, actually. These are a pair of pre-production generation two StarrGaze smart glasses. They're paired up with my Starkphone, actually." Karen does take her glasses off, and offers them to Kate. "Careful." she offers, and smiles. If Kate does put them on, she'll be able to read the data scrolling over them, as the camera embedded in them sweeps over faces, and their brief bios scroll up on the glasses. Even Karen's. They're just barely-expanded press kit bios, with reasonable but minimal personal information.
"These are supposed to come out in two months. They are the basis for the technology that was built upon for our smart goggles, which we'll be demonstrating at the expo." Karen finishes, which gets a lot more people interested in the glasses.
Kate smiles, accepting the glasses almost gingerly. A little toss of her head, then she slides them on carefully and looks about the room. It's not so unfamiliar to her, actually, being as she's used to Batwomans HUD, and she makes a mental note to have Pops follow the product release. "Very nice, Karen. And light, too." she offers. And when she looks at Karen without the glasses Kate isn't studying the woman's bio. No, the similarities become more apparent.
Removing the glasses just as carefully, Kate hands them back but doesn't quite release them yet. It's a move intended to draw Karen's eyes to her own, and then she replies in a lower voice. "Would you like to step out for a bit, perhaps? Get a little fresh air, even. I'd like to talk more about the goggles, but the conversation isn't for spectators."
"Glad you like them." Karen offers Kate, smiling as she reaches out to accept them back … except Kate hasn't let go yet. That does draw her eyes up to the redhead's curiously. Her bio on Kate does imply that Kate has an interest in women, so she's not completely shocked that Kate might flirt a bit with her. But this … doesn't feel exactly like flirting. Which is odd. Then Kate whispers … in a room full of people.
Karen's first instinct is to play it off like she didn't hear that. That is the safe thing to do. No normal person would manage to hear something said so softly in this crowd of noise, not even when this close to one another. SHe could read lips, perhaps. Or have an app for that - she does, actually, but Kate would be well aware that it wasn't 'up' on the glasses. And Karen isn't wearing them.
Intrigued, however, Karen decides to play a different process. She leans in very close to Kate and murmurs, "What was that?"
Assuming Kate repeats her request, Karen rights herself and glances around, then shrugs just slightly and nods. "Sure. 'Scuse me." she offers to those around her, and slides past them, ready to follow Kate towards a balcony door, as she slides her glasses back on. A flick of two fingers sends a command to her Starkphone, and automatic sweeps begin, checking for any recording devices or transmitters /other/ than her phone. It'll likely ID Kate's phone, and - chances are - anything else on her person or secreted here or there around the balcony or doorway. It will also monitor for any laser microphones or other systems of surveillance. A standard passive parabolic mic would probably be missed … but maybe not.
"Nice summer night." Karen comments, waiting to see - or hear - whatever Kate has in mind.
Kate does repeat the request, leaning in close enough to brush cheeks lightly with the taller woman. Okay, so that's more in line with her bio at least. She smiles, looking pleased as she leads the way to the balcony. But at least she doesn't offer her arm to the other woman. She's carrying her phone, but other than having a surprising level of sophistocation for an heiress there's nothing unusual running. Closing the balcony door behind them dampens the rest of the party, and Kate turns towards Karen before she speaks.
"A lovely night, yes." she replies. Letting her gaze linger for a moment, she seeks the other woman's eyes. "The purple looks wonderful on you, but I can also see you wearing white. Something form-fitting, perhaps. With red accents." Her smile is a touch playful but her gaze is even.
Karen inhales, drawing in the night air, and seems perfectly relax. It's almost but not quite impossible to tell the tension she's holding in. She looks at Kate and grins a college girl's grin. "Well, don't tell anyone. The purple is my school colors. I bought this dress for a science reception a few months ago, and decided I could get another use out of it. Most folks here won't have been paying any attention to a collegiate science affair." Those blue eyes of hers might almost twinkle behind her StarrGaze glasses as she responds … without /quite/ giving Kate the answer she's looking for.
"Almost anyone looks good in white, honestly, unless it makes you look too washed out and pale." Was that an allusion to makeup worn beneath a black and red Bat cowl? It might be, or maybe not. "I'm lucky, I don't have that problem." Karen finally offers. "I try to avoid the form-fitting look, though. Hard enough to get folks to look up to my eyes without adding that challenge, don't you think?"
"I confess," Karen offers, "I'm surprised you're here. True, your bio says you rarely miss a chance at a swanky party. But I thought you avoided your stepmother's business affairs. My goggles can't be that interesting, can they?"
Kate chuckles softly, green eyes seeking blue while they talk. "Oh the purple is plenty distracting, actually. And even though I've noticed that you fill it out well, I think I'm doing alright in meeting your eyes while we talk." She smiles and her lipstick is red. Like Batwoman's. "You shouldn't be surprised, really. I've developed a recent interest in StarrGaze goggles. It started about the same time as my recent interest in solar radiation wavelengths." Yes, the curing room at the mint.
Kate shifts her stance, then, and slinks over to rest her hands upon the balcony rail. Highlighted against the lights of the city, the dress does little to hide her figure. Almost to herself, she offers. "I'm very good at keeping secrets, Karen. Always have been."
Karen follows Kate towards the railing, but stays just behind her for now. "I'm not quite as good at it. I have to work really, really hard at it, and I never feel like I'm doing a good enough job." she answers Kate, honestly. It's that refreshing, self-deprecating honesty she would remember from the Daily Planet rooftop. And the Hatter's lair. "And with recent developments in solar radiation technologies, you might say I've become even more heavily invested in keeping some of those secrets, no matter how hard it may be." She's not going to apologize for giving Kate the run-around.
"My friends and I usually stay pretty clear of Gotham. The dark nighttime atmosphere doesn't seem to appreciate our style." Karen comments, as she comes to the railing beside Kate, lightly letting her fingertips brush the other woman's. "But sometimes we hear things that are important. The sorts of things that should be followed-up on. Appropriately, if you will." Karen's fingers flick oddly, and Kate's phone will 'ding' with a received text message, complete with a link leading to a rather sizable attachment. "A friend of yours might want to follow up on some of that kind of information. Children's lives might hang in the balance."
And apparently no apology is necessary. Kate smiles when fingers brush, her own lingering a bit longer than would be considered discrete. Recognizing the text message arrival, she turns towards Karen and looks up into the other woman's eyes again. The two women are very close, now, and Kate shifts her weight to ease a bit closer still. Hand still on the railing, fingers brush again and she replies. "Then you'd best leave Gotham for our mutual friend. I'll make sure she gets the information."
Green eyes twinkle with mischief as her lips curl into a bit more of a smile, now. "I still think you should be more careful with this. Too many people know, and the risk is too great." And even though she remains Kate Kane, there's something in her voice that's shifted. Something more authoritative. Military. "But I do respect your right to be involved, and I can't discount your ability to get results."
What with the view through the windowed doors leading to the ballroom, there are sure to be tabloid reports about naughty heiress Kate Kane propositioning the sweetheart science phenom. It will depend on the writers, whether they speculate a friendly let-down, or hot, steamy secret affairs to follow. The picturs could sell either tale, with the visible chemistry of their body language together.
"I'll do that. So long as that mutual friend does what she can to keep in touch. She's not the only one with a vested interest, after all." Karen offers, smiling as they now look upon one another directly. "Mmm. Well, I might be more careful than you think. That dinner bell wasn't the meal you think it was. But I won't deny it could be related." Her blue eyes twinkle behind those crystal clear glasses. "I can't deny your ability to get results, either."
Karen lets her eys flick towards the door momentarily. "We should … probably head back inside. I don't think I'm quite ready to practice dancing tonight." Another allusion to their sojourn at the Daily Planet? "It was … stimulating to make your acquaintance, Kate."
Kate doesn't follow Karen's glance back towards the door, actually, she's continuing to watch the taller blonde. "Well neither of us is dressed for dancing, so that's alright." At least not dancing on the rooftops. She does look towards the door, then, gaze meeting the swarm of reporters who are trying to look discrete. "I'm used to living in the public eye, Karen, and I'm used to having my private life smeared across the front page. It helps with who I am." Who she *really* is, of course.
"You don't have to jump in, at least not -that- way. But my friend would be very disappointed if you didn't keep in touch as well. I know she's got your number, but don't be shy." Kate offers a smile at the last. "I'll go inside first. It's only a ruse, and a lame one at that, but it'll add fuel to the fire." She pauses, then adds. "And if I do end up dancing with someone, watch my eyes." With a wink, Kate turns towards the door.
Following Kate's plan, Karen stays out on the balcony for a bit, allowing the lovely redhead to blend in with the crowd and draw most of the reporters away, before she then finally returns to the party as well. Of course, not all of the reporters have been put off her scent, and a couple are keeping a close watch on the lovely young blonde. But none of them actually approach her to ask any questions. So Karen blends into the rest of those at the party, almost as if nothing happened. But she does keep an eye on said lovely redhead, now and again through the evening.
Kate Kane
Svelte and strong, this woman stands not quite six feet tall and carries herself with confidence. Her red hair is trimmed into a short bob, the strait locks following the line of her jaw with bangs cut straight across just above the eybrows. Bright green eyes stare out from beneath brows the color of her hair. Her features are fine and comely, pale skin with a pert nose. Her mouth is wide and her lips are full, painted bright red and usually curled up into a playful smile that's reflected in her gaze. Her hands are narrow with long, graceful fingers. Nails are neatly trimmed and painted bright red.
The red gown is shimmery silk with sequins, strapless and sleeveless and flowing down to her ankles. It's held up mostly by the sweetheart neckline (and perhaps some adhesive!), clinging dangerously to her curves whenever she moves. The gown is slit far up the right side, high enough to flash her stocking and a bit of garter as well. Sparkly red pumps could very well be her ticket back to Oz if she clicks the heels together three times. A ruby tennis bracelet and choker necklace completes the outfit.
Karen Starr
This figure is a strikingly tall, noticeably voluptuous young blonde woman. She stands just shy of six feet tall, with noticeable curves that she downplays a bit with her choice of wardrobe. Her pale golden blonde hair is pulled back and styled into a simple ponytail. Her deep blue eyes are usually hidden behind a pair of mostly transparent futuristic-looking glasses that give odd flickers of colored light in the lenses now and again. Her features are strong but beautiful, her skin the smooth and unblemished perfection of mature youth. Her voice is a rich alto tone, with a hint of a Northwestern US accent to it. Most would estimate her age to be in her latest teens or earliest twenties.
She's wearing a deep royal purple plush-look floor-length gown with a fitted full bodice sporting a squared neckline, the skirt a swirling gently pleated fall with a usually invisible mid-thigh split along the outside of her right leg. She is wearing comfortable but stylish matching two-inch-heeled purple open-toed mules, with silver toenails to echo the thin silver sash about her waist, and the silver choker about her neck. Tiny pearl earrings in silver settings show from her ears. And she is wearing prototype StarrGaze glasses, rimless and transparent except for the flashes of light within their depths now and then.