Open RP: Metropolis Office W-GBS News Reopening Party
Please, before reacting/responding, read the piece in full as there are several different 'rooms' up, such as: the cocktail hall (this post), the dining room (link), the terrace (link) and the silent auction (link).
PS: Canon characters, OCs and crossover characters may interact with the post. No response length is expected, even just side commentary is fine on this post (some may even just watch arrivals on their tv if they're not attending, for exemple). We won't police anyone's interactions, but maybe make sure you're welcome into a conversation if you hop on existing threads between people. Otherwise, feel free to hop from a location to another as you please, even hold several different conversations with the same character, it's all very free!
GBS News had spared no expense for the event. From the very entrance hall that had been decorated with a backdrop in their colours and with their logo where people were photographed or pulled aside for short interviews, to the burgundy carpet guiding guests straight to the cocktail hall.
The hall's decoration had been kept minimalist and functional, clearly a space made for professional needs first. But the whole thing still managed to look welcoming and tasteful, with a stage at the very rear and a bar with an art deco inspiration on the left, tended by several people of different genders but all wearing the exact same outfit. Black pants held by black suspenders, and a white button up with rolled up sleeves and a black tie. Meanwhile, other people dressed the exact same way except that their sleeves were rolled down and they were long black aprons were going around the room with trays to offer different amuse bouches, prepped to clarify on allergens and ingredients to accomodate dietary restrictions.
Eventually, as people started to fill the room, M. Matthew Matheson appeared on the large stage, beginning his very short address to the guests:
“Good evening everyone. As some of you might know, and others might not, my name is M. Matthew Matheson and I am a News Anchor on W-GBS News, as well as Managing Editor of News Nights. I, I have always taken great pride in the work we did, believing, no, knowing, it was important to inform people, to speak about what was important and to shed lights on issues that should not remain obfuscated. This is what journalism is about right? When I got into this position, I got in with the following mindset: People will want the news if you give it to them with integrity. Not everybody, not even a lot of people, maybe 5%. But a 5% that'll make a difference. Because I believed journalist needed to be reclaimed as an honorable profession. Especially on tv. So we worked, we worked on creating a nightly newscast that informs a debate worthy of a great nation. Civility, respect, and a return to what's important; the death of bitchiness; the death of gossip and voyeurism; the will to speak truth to stupid. No target audience, no demographic, just good work. When GBS News started to climb back on top, to re-establish ourselves and become a national powerhouse, I was terrified. We'd gone well beyond the 5%. But I remember a call with a colleague, an old man named Perry White, some of you might have heard of him, he told me I was idiot, and I said sure, but why? And he responded: where does it say that a good news show or good tv channel can't be popular? And I remember being at loss of words, which, you can ask anyone who knows me, doesn't happen often. Today, GBS News is taking another fresh start, and all I have to say is, let's keep being us, let's keep our honour, and our integrity and our will, and let's do good with the might we've acquired. Let's be great, let's be us. For the people who we've lost doing exactly that and for those who've grown to place their trust in us, to do exactly that. To W-GBS news! And to all the people working here, making it what it is! Now I think I've taken enough of your time, so please help yourself to the food, keep any smoking or God forbid vaping to our terrace, and don't forget to participate to the silent auction! All the funds will be donated Metropolis Brown Library! Thank you very much, this was M. Matthew Matheson who clearly can't wait to be back on tv!"
With those final words, the news anchor disappeared backstage and was soon replaced by a modern jazz quartet. Eventually though, Matheson reappeared amongst the crowd of the cocktail party, ready to make his round.
Cocktail Hall (you are here) | Dining Room | Silent Auction Room | Terrace
Suddenly the ground shook in the GBS HQ building, surprising the team of journalists who'd returned to office for a special edition. The over head lights also started to flickers just as the fire sprinklers took off, sending a rather confusing message to the team who exchanged surprised glances.
"Earthquake?" Marnie, one of Mara's colleague asked, a touch of panic in the the pregnant woman's voice as she stood up from her chair.
"Right now? I don't think..." Roman, another fellow employee declared, taking off his glasses to wipe the water away. "We'd have heard something from our meteorological services no?"
"What the..?"
Frowning, Mara stood up from her desk and slowly made her way towards one of the meeting rooms, noticing a low flickering light coming from a machine now that the ceiling lightning was turned off. Said flickering little bit of light turned out to be the first spark of a much bigger explosion, a device apparently planted in one of their office's water dispenser. By the time the realisation set in, the woman ended up projected backwards, barely having the sense to cover her eyes as shards of glass flew in all directions at what actually was the second explosion in their buildinh. Which seemingly triggered a chain reaction, that culminated in a fire well-fed by a convenient gas pipe leak somewhere below in the building whilst another explosion took place higher up.
Mara felt her head hit another surface, likely glass, and limply slid to the floor, face covered in shards. The woman closed her eyes, feeling herself pass out. She didn't even register the sensation of her body falling downwards, as the now unstable grounds of the building crumbled on themselves.
When the woman woke up again, tears of pain instantly filled her eyes. Swallowing away her dread, Mara closed her eyes and numbly lifted an arm up towards the back of her head, the dampness she felt on her fingers indicating that she was indeed likely bleeding out. And couldn't see shit around. Swallowing, Mara slowly brought her hand in front of her face, running her thumb against the wet digits. Blood.
The woman coughed up a little and felt a severe, piercing pain her side, leading her to bring a gripping hand to her ribs as fresh tears rolled down.
"Hello?"
She called softly, voice wavering as panic rose in her throat.
Aw! Thank you, WGBS. That’s really kind of you all.
Let’s all make sure to remember “Superman Day” is really a day to celebrate the people who keep showing up for each other. First responders, community organizers, teachers, neighbors… I’m just lucky I get to help. :)
The one-shot Sins of Youth: Superman Jr & Superboy Sr was published with a cover date of May 2000. The issue was part of the Sins of Youth Event. The adult Superboy turned himself over to the Agenda with promise they would heal an injured teenage Superman Jr. ("The Adventures of Superboy... When He Was a Man", Sins of Youth: Superman Jr & Superboy Sr, DC Comic Event)
The whole redaction team returned to our office in spite of the bombing threats in support of our threatened social media team employee to make a sad special edition...
Tune in to GBS 24/7 Live at 8 for an online debate moderated by our very M. Matthew Matheson with fellow guests: MCPD Commissioner William Henderson. renowed lawyer and vigilante defender Matt Murdoch, and FBI official in charge of A.R.G.U.S. Amanda Waller, amongst other speakers.
images/cosplay credits :: Spoiler Cosplay Credit // Red Hood Cosplay Credit // Batman images from The Batman (2022) // Red Robin Cosplay Credit // Nightwing images from HBO Titans (2018)
We will, inform the authorities then. Again... Thanks for the heads up? And yeah, glad to be a trusted new source for everybody from all backgrounds! I guess...
