[location: outside luthor plaza] you wanna hear about the deal i'm making (backdated to May 6)

[patricide]

In Lex's mind three weeks ample time to not only get himself acclimated, but start being useful to Taxon. He had currently been in this city for two weeks and six days, with his internal deadline drawing near. The temporary population boom during his first few days was a bit of an obstacle, but not one that couldn't be overcome.

Thankfully he was not entirely without the comforts of home as it seemed as if Luthor Plaza had decided to travel with him. That was more than enough motivation to move forward with his plans. First order of business was rendering the unused science labs operational which required gathering and setting up new equipment, as well as a good cleaning that he was damn sure not going to use an extra for. (The latter he wasn't necessarily ashamed of, but Lex was inclined to keep that one to himself.)

With one lab ready to go and his personal office set up, Lex was ready to begin to get to work. Never one to say no to ceremony, even when it was on his own, Lex stands outside the skyscraper and breaks a bottle of champagne against its outer wall.

Comments

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[defenestration]

Since his telephone conversation with Lex, Adrian has been looking forward to a chance to get a look at the interior of Luthor Plaza and to talk business with the man living there. He walks up as Lex is christening the building, wearing a purple shirt and black slacks that are still a far cry from what he'd consider appropriate, but suit him much better than Dan's borrowed clothes did.

"It's a shame there's no press corps in Taxon, it seems wrong to let such a good photo opportunity slip by."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

Lex tosses the broken bottle away from their feet, and brushes his hands together, making certain to wipe away any stray drops. He notes Adrian's significant change of clothing but for now chooses to address his greeting.

"I'm sure I could hire a swarm of extras, but that would defeat the whole purpose."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[defenestration]

"Yes, it would," Adrian agrees. The Extras don't bother him the way they do some people, but they're disconcerting nonetheless. "Well at least you had one witness, I suppose you'll have to make do with that."

His attitude is relaxed, open, as if he's both interested in and amused by everything around him. He offers his hand and a polite smile to the other man.

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

"I was planning on keeping this private," he says in a tone that does not tell whether or not he's glad to see his plans change.

At Adrian's offer of a hand Lex takes it in a shake and returns the same cordial smile. Though he promised Adrian a meeting, he hasn't forgotten the man's initial impression.

"Would you like to see the facilities, Mr. Veidt?"

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[defenestration]

Adrian inclines his head in apology. "Then I'm sorry for the intrusion."

He's about to offer to return at a better time when Lex suggests a tour, and immediately Adrian smiles. "I'd very much like that, Mr. Luthor. I'm sure it's no surprise to hear that I've been intrigued by the place since it arrived."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

"I never would have gotten that impression." That subtle change in his deadpan means Lex is joking.

He leads Adrian into the lobby. As it is the only part of the building that is accessible from the outside, extras flit about as if carrying on with their business. When the head toward the elevator Lex presses a button and turns to Adrian. "I'm afraid the tour will be a little short considering the lack of demand in this city."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[defenestration]

The dry humor is encouraging, and Adrian inclines his head with a little smile.

He's clearly impressed by the interior, eyes taking in every detail with approval. Dan has been a good friend by giving up his privacy and taking Adrian in, but this is so much more appropriate to his tastes, and Adrian feels a slight burn of envy.

"There's a great deal of demand here, Mr. Luthor. We just need to adjust our perception. With a facility like this, you could accomplish some amazing things even here." That envy creeps into his voice despite his attempts to hide it. Never has Adrian missed New Karnak as much as at this moment.

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

"You're right, and that is exactly in line with my way of thought. There might not be a demand for LuthorCorp as it existed before, but I plan to change that." He catches the envy in Adrian's voice and adds, "with your help if today proves to be beneficial to us both."

The elevator doors open and Lex gestures inside. "After you."

[location: inside luthor plaza]

[defenestration]

"It's my intention to make myself invaluable, Mr. Luthor." Adrian has no doubt he can accomplish this, even if Lex is still wary of him.

He steps into the elevator allows part of him mind to begin calculating the possibilities that access to a facility such as the one he suspects exists here might open up. "How were you thinking of beginning? I must assume you have some ideas as to the best use of your available resources at this point."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[iminmynightie.livejournal.com]

Amy just happens to be walking by on the other side of the street when she sees this display of ceremony. Rushing over, she goes, "Oi! Don't you know that's a waste of champagne?"

Of course, the question is just a way to start a conversation about what he's christening, since she doesn't know what the building is for.

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

The broken bottle has been dropped and as it is rolling away Lex turns his attention to Amy. "I've never had someone so concerned over my alcohol intake."

He offers her a hand and a pleasant smile in greeting. "I don't believe we've met. Lex Luthor."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[iminmynightie.livejournal.com]

"I'm Scottish," she replied in a joking tone. "Wasting alcohol is like losing a loved one."

Amy took his hand and gave it a firm shake. "Not yet, no. Amy Pond."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

"My grandfather was Scottish. I think something got lost through the generations regarding what counts as a waste."

"Nice to meet you, Amy Pond." He releases her hand. "Are you always so uninhibited around strangers?"

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[iminmynightie.livejournal.com]

"Must have. What a shame."

Her hand released, she adjusts her purse strap and chuckles at his question. "Uninhibited? Yeah, I guess that's the word for it. Besides, no one stays strangers for long in this city."

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

"You'd have to work at it, but it's not impossible. I'm sure there are some people here who choose to stay reclusive." Though granted, it looks like it's neither of them.

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[iminmynightie.livejournal.com]

"There are a few. I met someone at the library last month whose been here for months but just likes to keep to himself." She shrugged. She was much more active. Much more of an explorer and adventurer. "Not really my style though. So..." Amy nodded towards the building. "What's this all about then?"

[location: outside luthor plaza]

[patricide]

"You might have guessed by now that I'm new here." He starts by way of answering her question. "This building was mine from back home. I'm hoping to bring it up to speed and get some use out of the thing. If all goes as planned I think I'm ready to start, hence the champagne."

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[virtued.livejournal.com]

Stefan also happens to be one of those simply walking by Luthor Plaza this afternoon. The building was fairly new, he noted, and assumed that the owner was either a recent arrival or one of those places that seemed to just pop up at random and was open to all. He's not interested in ducking inside and investigating, however, for his mind is too focused on other matters at the moment. Curiosity is something to indulge in when one isn't neck-deep in carried over complications from home.

The breaking of the champagne bottle is reason enough to stop and admire, though. He's on the other side of the street, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans as he looks the building up and down before settling his gaze on the owner. "Newcomer," he says to himself. "Poor guy."

No-one deserved to be in Taxon, even those who seemed to be making the most of it.

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[patricide]

After dropping the bottle Lex looks up to see someone staring. This sort of thing doesn't bother him, he's gotten used to life in the public eye. Perhaps this is someone from his world who would be familiar with the Luthor name. He takes a longer look than he normally would have out of curiosity and when he makes out the face Lex has to take a step back to collect himself.

He crosses the other side of the street and walks up to the young man, purposeful, but with a sense of almost forgotten familiarity. "Lucas. You're the last person I would have expected to see here."

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[virtued.livejournal.com]

Lucas? Stefan's brow furrows and he casts a glance over his shoulder as if to be sure there's no-one standing behind him, despite the fact that the absence of a heartbeat other than his own and this man's tells him no-one is standing there without the need to look. Humans look, though, and Stefan's well acquainted with the necessity to move and act as human as possible, despite instinct demanding otherwise of him.

"Excuse me?" He settles on, unsure of why this man he's never seen before is addressing him as if he's familiar with him, and by a name that's not his own. Stefan's used a lot of fake names over the years, from that train to New Orleans after he'd been turned to the last place he'd lived before he returned to Mystic Falls, but Lucas isn't one of them.

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[patricide]

Lex hadn't anticipated that reaction, but after turning it over in his mind he supposed that he should have expected it. He hadn't so much as heard from Lucas in over a year and Luthors were nothing if not fiercely independent.

"I know it's been a long time, but I thought we were on good terms at the very least."

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[virtued.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are."

With anyone else, there would be the possibility of his memories having been tampered with, but Stefan's memory is as intact as one's can be. Anything that had been compelled away and locked up when he was still human was restored upon his transition into a vampire. The man's face is that of a complete stranger, one who Stefan's just laid eyes upon not a moment ago.

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[patricide]

That comment causes Lex to halt in his train of thought entirely. He again looks at this man and the more he looks, the more he comes to accept that he's been mistaken. Stefan may look exactly like Lucas in appearance but there was a certain way of carrying oneself that every member of the Luthor family possessed that this young man was lacking.

"My mistake," Lex says with an apologetic shake of the head. "You look remarkably like someone I know." He offers a hand to introduce himself and at least clear up one end of the confusion. "Lex Luthor."

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[virtued.livejournal.com]

This is the first time Stefan's encountered a case of mistaken identity beyond the doppelgänger issue with Katherine and Elena. He was aware of having been in Taxon before; Tara had explained that to him before she'd been sent home. He had no memories of being in Taxon before this time, but that had been him as himself, not this Lucas person he was presumed to be. It was fascinating, though. Of all the people across dimensions and worlds and times, he just happened to look exactly like someone this man new. Interesting.

"Stefan Salvatore," he offers in turn, shaking the man's hand. "First time I've been told I look like someone."

[ location: outside luthor plaza ]

[patricide]

"Well they say that everybody has a double," Lex says as he releases his hand. "I don't necessarily like to treat rumor as fact, but it doesn't hurt to keep an open mind."

Though Salvatore. If this person wasn't related to Lex then he was certainly related to Damon. Interesting. "You don't happen to have a strong inclination towards gambling do you?" It's half light comment, half means of double checking.