Owner	Pose
Clark Kent	Arcades. Computer Cafes. Clark tends to hate them. Now, he likes, or at least respects, these as a hobby. But when people bring tons of them together, into space that's usually small, that's when he hates those places. To him it's noise. Noise. Noise. Against that super hearing of his. Now, Carnivals he likes. Conventions he likes. Because they're big and open, the sound can carry. A small arcade it's like being trapped inside a small room with grating noises that will just bounce off of every wall again and again and again. That's why Clark invites Nikki Hawkins to interview at Los Pollos Hermanos, or the Devil's Chicken as Clark likes to call it. Lex Luthor owns the chain. Luckily, the food falls so far down the scale of nefarious intent, he's mostly sure it's safe. When Nikki gets there, Clark will be there like before. He's dressed in a dark blue suit jacket, cardboard box brown slacks and a striped white shirt, with dark blue lines that match the coat, and a black jacket. Clark dresses himself, and days like today it shows. He should really ask Bruce about a fashion consultant. He will wait for Nikki to join him. "Miss Hawkins. I hear congratulations are in order, again," he says extends a hand after he gets up from his seat to greet her. What he doesn't expect is the company, "And is this a teammate? Friend?...more than a friend?" Clark asks pretty sure he has seen this particular teen around. "I took the liberty of ordering, since it's around lunch. Just figured a bucket of crispy and a bucket of original plus some sides. Is that okay with everyone?" he figures there would just be less leftovers now that Tim is here.
Nikki	Nikki smiles as she spies Clark Kent, walking towards the table he occupies and as he stands and offers that handshake, she's happy to oblige. "Hello again, Mister Kent. Nikki is happy to be back in his presence." She speaks in third person, like usual, even though she's going to certain lengths to try and rid herself of the habit. It just comes natural to her. Her own attire is simple. Blue denim jeans, a tee-shirt and combat boots. Her hair is down and the same turquoise color she likes to keep it. Then she motions. "Ah. This is Tim Drake. He's my boyfriend. Nikki mentioned she was meeting with Mister Kent and he decided to tag along. She hopes that's okay." This much is said and then she takes a seat. "Nikki doesn't mind that food has already been ordered. Like Mister Clark said, cannot go wrong with chicken and sides." Smiling still as she says this. "But please do tell Nikki she got ordered a soda, or was he waiting for drinks?"
Tim Drake	Tim Drake looks over and offers his hand and a bit of a smirk "Mr. Kent a pleasure, I believe you and Miss Lane have written a couple articles about Wayne tech and Bruce in the past." He looks over and says "I can get us drinks, no worries. Do you have yours or need one?" He asks of the reporter.
Clark Kent	Clark pauses ever so slightly when Nikki talks referring to themselves in third person. He's still not quite used to it, but whatever makes them happy. Now, Clark knows he know Tim Drake. It's just been a while. Maybe even too long. "That's where I've seen you. How's Mister Wayne doing? Is he leaving that office in the Palisades?" and Tim knows he's not talking about the Palisades. Well, maybe not -exactly-. "I like Tim Drake. Maybe more than a couple of his colleagues at Wayne Tech. As long as he doesn't mind me crediting him, if I ask a question." "I ordered three larges, they'll bring them with the meal." Clark waits for everyone to get seated. "What do you credit to your victory this year, Nikki? How does it different from last year?" Clark asks them. That's the opening gambit. "And how does it feel to be back in the Winner's circle?"
Nikki	Nikki looks between the two and then she just giggles. "Does Tim know everyone?" As it seems she cannot go anywhere without running into someone who knows of Tim Drake, or Wayne Enterprises. Which is also where the works. Sometimes. At the very least, she helps out when needed. "Teamwork. Nikki is nothing without her team, and we've been doing good staying up with any new features the game throws at us. A lot of people will say that it's just luck that wins you...but Nikki doesn't believe that. She believes that there is also skill involved, skills that need to be practiced and even perfected all the time." She answers Clark's first question with ease. At his second, she shrugs. "It feels good to be going to the world championship again. Sometimes Nikki doesn't feel like they've earned it because we often get asked back just because we were champions or runners up before. So it's always a great opportunity to prove that we still have what it takes to win."
Tim Drake	Tim Drake looks over and says "You know how Bruce can be, he spends his time out and about, but the business is always got a part of his mind." He speaks of Bruce's Playboy image." He then reaches over rubbing Nikki's back "She spends a lot of time practicing, and making sure she is at her best.
Clark Kent	"Well, I've had a few interviews with Bruce Wayne over the years. The connection isn't -that- difficult. Plus, his technical prowess makes him a stand out in different projects. Plus, he can be a real life saver when he wants," Clark says honestly. It's clear Clark probably interviewed Tim at some point, too. There's a pause from Clark and he says, maybe with a little bit of sympathy, "He's going to work himself to death." It makes Clark wonder if Bruce should see a familiar face from outside of Gotham. Nikki goes on to speak of their team and Clark just write it all down. "Is this the first time you've defended your championship honor with your team? I imagine this doesn't always happen in video game competitions." Clark sees it less as boxing, where someone holds a belt until it's taken. He sees it more like hockey. Champions doesn't always defend their title when it comes to the cup. "Any changes you made between this year and last you want to speak about, excluding company," Clark asks. The pen going across the paper effortlessly. "How does it feel to see your partner do so well?" Clark asks Tim about dating Nikki and seeing them do so well. "Are you a coach? Moral support? Both?" Clark just wants to know how he will see Tim at the finals. Honestly, he could see Tim being both moral boost and coach.
Nikki	Nikki shakes her head. "No. It's not the first time. But Mister Kent is correct, it doesn't happen all the time. Any team who places between second and fourth are invited back to the world championship, unless they've disbanded or are found to have broken any rules." Explaining this with a smile. "As for changes. Yes. But it all goes back to what the game developers add or take away from gameplay. If they nerf a few skills, or buff others. If they've added any new characters, and we want to try them out to see if they're as good or even better than what we currently main. It's about balancing our play styles with the way the game goes. Which is why Nikki believes it's more skill than luck that helps her team win." Her third person speech begins to go away more and more as she focuses on the questions Clark Kent asks her and when a few are directed at Tim, she beams a smile over to the man and leans her head against his shoulder briefly.
Tim Drake	Tim Drake keeps his arm around Nikki, and says "More Moral, she was kicking butt in the game when we met, and can beat me if I face her. So I aint going to mess up what she is doing right there, I just try to get her to make sure she eats, and sleeps." He smiles over at Nikki at the last.
Clark Kent	Clark amends a few things as he saw the finals working a little different, but maybe he didn't clarify which finals. It's not his world, but he will do his best to represent it. "What does nerf mean, in your own words?" Clark knows what it means but sometimes it's nice to have technical jargon. If someone can blend both technical, common jargon, it does help bridge the gap these create between audiences. "What's main? What's buff? In these contexts. And by now that's when the chicken comes out. Two buckets. Two cups. And because Tim isn't expected, Clark will say, "Can you get me a third cup?" and hand them a five. "Keep the change?" Clark will slide tim the cup meant for him. A small gesture, but trying to show Tim is an unexpected surprise, not an unexpected burden. Two buckets rest between the trio. That signature blend of spices Lex boasts about traveling in the air, easy to smell, and practically taste. "What do you hope happens this year and next year for that matter? What are the teams goals after the championship?" he asks Nikki focusing it on the team a little bit. And parallels exist between Tim's current actions with past ones. "Everyone appreciates you for it, Tim," Clark smiles and he looks at the pair. "How long have you two been going out?"
Nikki	"Oh. Right. Sorry. Nerfing something means you've taken away some of it's power. Perhaps a skill or a talent the character has in game seems like it's too powerful, or can be exploited too easily. So gaming companies like Blizzard or Epic Games, will reduce those skills to a more...appropriate level." Nikki explains with a smile. "Buff is just the opposite. If the company believes that certain characters aren't strong enough in their skills or talents, they may gain more power to equal out the playing field. It's a very common thing in the gaming world - we're quite used to it. Even if it can often upset us depending on what we lose or gain." The chicken arrives before she can really get a chance to answer that last question, but once everything is set on the table, she goes right back into it. "Ah, a main is the character you favor playing the most. Do you like to attack from afar? You'll likely mostly play an archer or a gunman. Up close? You'll play a sword fighter or a boxer...it can get a little complicated the more you want to do, and what some games out there offer, but that's the basics." She actually reaches to grab a few pieces of chicken to put on her plate. "This year we're hoping to win, of course, or at least place out to third. Otherwise there's no prize money involved. And while we love getting the experience. This is quite literally our jobs... so making money is just as important as playing the game." Then she pauses. "The team goals afterwards? We might be looking to downgrade for a while. If we can win this tournament, the pay out will be a very nice chunk of change and allow us to go into the shadows for a bit. Maybe learn something else to play together. Of course, I cannot speak for the whole team really, but that's my personal goal. Even if it means separating myself from the team for a while." Then she looks to Tim. "It's been what... six months or so now?"
Tim Drake	Tim Drake nods a bit and says "Yea, something like that, think we have known one another about a year or so, and been dating about 6 months. We met at a robot fighting competition. I was there looking to do a bit of head hunting for the R&D department, and was impressed with her bot, and we started talking and she was the best for a possible job
Clark Kent	Clark will try to make sure everyone is seated, eating. There are plates that he passes out. For himself, he grabs a piece of each. The sides brought are simple, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, and a small side of fries. Basically, all the fixings for a decent meal. After everything is served, he'll resume with the questions and interview. Clark looks at the pair when talk of Robot competition. "So it was love at first Byte?" he asks, and yes he makes that bad joke. "What game do you hope to get into Nikki and do you plan on making Tim part of the team this time?" he asks just looking between them.
Nikki	Nikki has taken a piece of chicken out of each bucket and some mashed potatoes with gravy and a biscuit. She wants all the carbs. Then Clark is making a bad joke, but Nikki is laughing never the less. "You could say that..." She adds in, looking to Tim once more and offering a kiss to his cheek. "It took some time...it's no secret that I am not...normal as it were. So I miss a lot of things...social queues and the like...but eventually we partnered up. And I couldn't be happier." That last question has her giving a pensive look. Like she's having to think really hard on it. "You know. I don't really know right now. There's a lot of new games coming out to the market...and I think the days of stuff like Smite and Heroes of the Storm might become obsolete. In fact, they just released a Smite II ... so I may look into that." A pause. "As for Tim joining...probably not. We already sort of mix work and relationship...I think it's best we keep this one aspect of my life separate.."
Clark Kent	Clark nods to the next offerings. He'll take a little bit of everything, except the corn. When you live on a farm, sometimes it's hard to transition to the canned stuff. One of those for Clark is Corn. So, he'll avoid it from certain restaurants. Rush toward it, if it looks fresh. "I am happy for you two. I really am," Clark does an odd almost ritual here. It's take a few bites, hit a wet nap, ask a question, write response. Another question, or two, may barrel forward before the ritual repeats all over. Thinking on it, Clark starts to write everything down that she talks about games she wants transition to, if possible. Tim and her wouldnt' be doing together. Clark knows why, gets it, but it is a little sad. The pair are cute. "Is there anything you'd like to add or tell people?" Clark asks of Nikki. This is the stinger. A chance to give the interviewee to say something they might want, or felt left out.
Nikki	Nikki takes the moment that Clark is eating and writing to get a few bites in herself. Only she's odd about it. Picking off all the skin first to eat - or set aside for later - and then she'll eat the mashed potatoes. It's almost like she has a system to eating. Clark can definitely realize that she's autistic at worse - OCD or AHDH at best. Something along those lines. Once she's almost done with her potatoes, Clark is asking another question so she wipes her hands and mouth and washes her food down with a drink of soda. "Yes. Actually. I'd like to encourage parents or guardians or...basically anyone with children...to not discourage their dreams. It may seem weird or odd, but coming from someone who is a lot weird and odd, those aren't bad things. If gaming helps them express themselves, then instead of completely discouraging them, work out a way to balance their playing and their home life that works for everyone. Gaming isn't a bad thing, not like some in the media would always have you believe." She offers that much and then takes another drink.
Clark Kent	Clark nods, "Basically, interests are changing. I mean look at jobs and schools, a lot are going remote. Interests have been remote for a while and they shouldn't be descouraged," and he knows that applies to other interests, too. IT's just the quickest comparison Clark can make. Dull blue eyes looka t Nikki. "Thank you for joining me again," he gives a genlte smile before taking a bite.
Nikki	Nikki nods. "Pretty much that exactly, yes. Plus, while the internet can be a dangerous place... the gaming community is a close knit one. You can find some good people there. It's how I pretty much got started several years ago, and look at what I've become." Offering this and then she smiles. "Thanks for inviting me for another interview. Your time is always appreciated, Mister Kent." Once that's all said and done she looks down at her plate, frowns a little, and gives herself a bit more mashed potato. Eating through that for the moment and washing it down with her soda.
Clark Kent	Clark nods. He finishes up the writing and will add, "I hope this inspires someone like you," he says honestly. He give a soft smile. "I'm happy you took time out for this." Taking the chicken, Clark readies it. Soemtimes it's nice to break metaphorical bread with people.