Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
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Post by Nina Stenet on Aug 29, 2013 1:50:46 GMT -5
As Vicki explains what the press assumes about her condition, Nina is nodding and comments, "Yes, that's intentional. Again, for my safety, the longer it takes the Riddler to find out that I'm alive and well, the better. That you managed to find out is somewhat impressive - not that you're in trouble, but I do have a friend who will find out how you know and will ensure that doesn't happen again. My assistant is not the only one keeping an eye on me." Given that the person she's referring to is Selina, odds are that Vicki's source will be found. But nothing too terrible is likely to happen to that person - they just need to make sure that no more phone calls to the press happen. Nina herself, however, isn't much involved in her security though - the people handling it would rather that she rest than have to worry about it all.
Not looking very surprised when Vicki explains she was here at the hospital five days ago, Nina simply nods to those words and comments, "Yes - very lucky. The surgeon who did the emergency cardiac repair used the word 'miraculous'." Even with the aid of her power, she'd only just managed to pull it off - that was far too close for her to be patting herself on the back for having managed it, as there'd been a huge amount of luck involved even so. Her injury was certainly intended to be fatal - and not just fatal but quickly fatal. And given to her by a man who knew what he was doing.
As Vicki starts to list the facts out loud Nina is quick to note that, at least by that measure, she's most of the way through the questions. She thinks that she's doing a fairly good job thus far of answering them, so that's a bit of a relief. Truth be told, though, she doesn't know why Edward decided to stab her. There's a lot of other information, primarily about her relationship with him prior to that, which she's keeping a secret but even knowing all of that Nina still has no idea what led him to try and take her life. If she had known that he had a reason, then he probably couldn't have done it in the first place since she'd have had the good sense o stay away from him.
"In my apartment in north Gotham," she replies to the question, "In my kitchen, to be exact - he used one of my own kitchen knives..." Her voice trails off as she remembers how it all had happened - she'd made so many mistakes that night and has hardly forgiven herself for them.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2013 21:18:48 GMT -5
Vicki didn’t react to Nina’s comment about investigating her source and putting an end to the phone calls. When Nina mentioned her assistant, Vicki turned and acknowledged Shawty with a soft smile. She agreed with Nina that the surgeon had done an incredible feat in saving Nina’s life, that was a given. Finally, Nina revealed the location of the attack, and Vicki sat up straight in her chair.
Turning off her recorder, Vicki gave Nina a stern look. No more bullshit. It was time to take off the kid-gloves and get down to business.
“Let me be frank with you, Dr. Stenet . . . off the record. I appreciate your willingness to give me this interview - - I really do. And I assure you, I’m going to report what you tell me because it’s your side of the story. You may be pleased with the answers you’re giving. However, I want you to know upfront that I’m not as clueless as you might think I am about your relationship with Edward Nigma. You want him pictured as a cynical bastard? Fine. I promise you that I’m not going to portray Edward in a good light; but, in all fairness, I have my doubts that you’re as innocent in all this as you’re leading me to believe.
“I’m not a novice, Doctor. I’m known for reporting the truth. It’s a reputation I’ve earned, and I try to maintain my integrity as a journalist. Over the years, if there’s one thing I’ve learned as a reporter and a photographer, it’s that perception is not always realty. I’m going to report the truth, Dr. Stenet, not what you want the public to see. You may think I’m naïve, but I’m not stupid, especially when it comes to men. As women, we both know men come around us for a reason. You want to come across as an innocent angel in all this, but things just don’t add up.
“You see, during those three days you were comatose, a friend and I did some investigating of you on our own. The Riddler has attacked several people in the past, some with more obvious ties to him than others. You are the first one that could have been one of his former lovers, and that makes this a story. There is security footage in a museum before a robbery that shows you and Edward speaking together - - flirting actually. It’s time-stamped, and so I know exactly when it happened. The security guard to the building you used to live in when you and Edward first met later identified that the Riddler came through the building, on several occasions. So there has to be an explanation for him attacking you.
"Also, I did some research and discovered that the FBI arrested you for having connections with the Riddler and had evidence to prove you were his accomplice. The evidence was associated with biochemical weapons that were set to go off throughout Gotham that the Riddler planted. It became public record after the fiasco in Gotham. You were taken into custody by the FBI and were released because of mishandling of the case by an agent. However, there was evidence that tools the Riddler used in a bank heist could have been made with your help. Interesting, isn’t it?
“Also, I was joking with you in the beginning when I called you ‘Ms. Lazarus,’ but this is actually the second time you’ve died and resurrected, isn’t it? It looks like you’ve got this resurrection thing down-pat, Doctor. Heck, you’ve got one up on Jesus.
“Look, I’m so sure that you and Edward Nigma were involved on so many levels that I’d stake my reputation on it. Now, please answer my question . . . with the truth this time.”
With that, she turned on her hand recorder again and asked, “What is your relationship with Edward Nigma?" Then she locked eyes with Nina and waited for her response.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
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Post by Nina Stenet on Sept 1, 2013 6:33:33 GMT -5
When Vicki starts messing with her recorder, it pulls Nina out of her memories. Though at first she assumes that this means that the interview is over. But when Vicki starts to talk again, it's quickly clear that's not the case. Her expression remains rather blank as the woman proceeds to lecture her on the subject of the professional integrity of being a journalist. The more cynical person on the street might laugh at the very idea but Nina is more charitable and suspects that, like people in general, most journalists are simply out there honestly trying to do their job properly - it's only the bad apples in the bunch that give them the reputation of not caring who they hurt in their pursuit of a story that will make them famous. No, Nina doesn't need to be told that Vicki is wants to be honest with her work, so though she listens it's ignored as something she already knows.
But even as Vicki proceeds to reveal what she's managed to find out about her, Nina's eyebrows only lift a little in the mildest of surprise - it's all too easy for her to forget just how long her publicly findable 'record' is. She's spent the vast majority of her life without one, after all, and so much of it is small bits and pieces of what really happened. But as Vicki continues, her expression settles back into one of simply passively listening - she even stops looking at Vicki entirely and just stares at the wall where it meets the ceiling in front of her.
If she'd heard that list a week ago, her reaction would have been quite different - perhaps she would have shown more of an emotional reaction. But during that week not only was she given the biggest wake-up call of her entire life, but she also has her current physical condition to deal with. Thanks to her gift she's in much less pain than one might think, but she's also in a state of complete physical exhaustion that lasts all day every day no matter how much she sleeps. And that has an effect on her both mentally and emotionally - she doesn't want to do anything or feel anything that isn't absolutely necessary. She just wants to lay here, get better, and ponder what the appropriate thing to do to the man who did this to her is. So her non-reaction to all of this information is really to be expected.
It's only when Vicki turns her recorder back on and asks what Nina supposes was supposed to be a rather dramatic question that she really reacts, and at first she looks mildly amused. "That was all... rather dramatic of you," she comments with a slight smile, still looking at the wall, "You're, lets see..." There's a pause during which her fingers wiggle one by one as she mentally counts. "Hmm, I believe the seventh person - that I know about anyway - to take a really detailed look at me. How should I feel about that? Flattered?" she asks herself.
"Yes, he flirted with me," she admits easily, her expression growing more serious, "And like any red-blooded woman who doesn't make it her hobby to know what costumed criminals look like when they being less conspicuous, I talk back to attractive men who speak to me. But as you know, being a woman yourself, that doesn't necessarily mean anything. To say that I therefore must have been his 'lover' when that's the only evidence supporting that theory is, quite frankly, a sign that you very much want that to be the case. Understandable, since that would make this story so much more interesting, but I have too much respect in your skill as a reporter to actually believe that you'd 'stake your reputation' on such flimsy evidence when you know as well as I do that there are plenty of other explanations for why a woman would repeatedly talk to a known serial killer without contacting the police. Perhaps I pitied him and treated him as a friend. Perhaps he threatened or bribed me into silence - you don't know. So I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your unsubstantiated theories to yourself."
"You're not the only one to have done that, you know," she continues, sounding rather dispassionate, "The FBI was a prime example. As you well know, they were on a witch hunt when they were here. They had three pieces of information: first, that I'd been interacting with one Edward Nigma; second, that I have the education required to make biochemical weapons; and third, that he used biochemical weapons. That does not mean that I gave them to him - that 'evidence' is entirely circumstantial, and they never really had a case against me. And anyone who knows the first thing about me would tell you that I would die first, not to mention that I do have proof that it wasn't me who gave it to him - I simply have decided not to supply it to the authorities, so they don't have it. I do have a very strong suspicion about who did give it to him, but that's useless information because I have no proof and I'm sure that Mr. Cobblepot would successfully sue you for slander if you said anything."
"As for my other 'near death' experience - that was hardly miraculous. You'd think that Lex Luthor would have found someone more competent than the Ventriloquist to kill me, but fortunately for me he failed miserably. Sadly, my only evidence in that case was the word of the Ventriloquist himself - hardly enough to cause the team of lawyers Mr. Luthor could afford to bat an eyelash. So it was only logical for me to pretend to be dead until that was all worked out - the only injury I got that day was the one required to make the 'murder' scene convincing. But again, useless information to you, as I'm sure that Mr. Luthor would be equally happy to sue you for slander," she says, and when she finishes that part she gives a tired frown. Partly because all this extended talking is really wearing on her limited energy, but also because she's being made to remember so many very hard things she's gone through in what was really a very short amount of time.
But, after only another moment's pause, she works up the energy to add, "But to answer your actual question: let's just say that if he showed up on my doorstep in urgent need of medical care, I wouldn't lift a finger. Anyone else, I would - but not him." And as she says this, her eyes lift to meet Vicki's with nothing but cold anger in her expression. Though that expression only lasts for a moment before she sighs tiredly and adds, "If you want to know what it was, you'll have to ask him." She pauses for a moment before abruptly asking, "Ms. Vale, what is your personal opinion about Batman? Do you trust his good intentions?"
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Last Edit: Sept 7, 2013 17:46:01 GMT -5 by Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2013 17:27:30 GMT -5
Nina’s non-responsive and passive reaction to Vicki’s revelations did not surprise the ace reporter at all. She watched as Nina’s eyes fixed on the corner of the room during her spiel. After turning on the recorder again, she listened intently to what Nina was telling her. She didn’t give a rat’s fat ass if Nina was flattered or not by her research, and she didn’t appreciate Nina putting her in her place and demanding that she keep her “unsubstantiated theories” to herself. She was doing her job; if Nina didn’t like it, that was her neurosis. She didn’t appreciate the threats of lawsuits, and she wasn’t impressed by all of the name-dropping either - - Oswald Cobblepot and Lex Luthor were respected for their positions, not their reputations. If the doctor was trying to be intimidating, she was failing miserably. And no matter how long Nina pressed for Vicki to believe in her innocence, Vicki still wasn’t buying it.
Vicki found it particularly interesting that the doctor was saying everything BUT confessing that she and Riddler were lovers at one time, let alone friends. To Vicki, dodging the question was the same as an admission of guilt. Vicki was amused by Nina’s comment about not lifting a finger if Riddler needed medical attention. In other words, she wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire. Good girl. The doctor seemed to have some common sense instead of just book sense.
Oh, well. Vicki had done her due diligence. Deep down, she knew she wasn’t going to get a straight answer from Nina - -the doctor was too smart to do that - - and so she concluded that her work here was done. When Nina asked about Batman, Vicki knew she’d had enough. She was done. She wasn’t the one being interviewed here.
"I'm sorry if I’ve upset you in any way,” she said, turning off the recorder and packing up. “I understand your unwillingness to respond to the assertion that you and Edward were lovers. Yes, the point would have been sensational, but it is hardly necessary for the story. You seem to be tiring, though, so I think I will take my leave.
“As far as your question about Batman is concerned, I don't have an opinion one way or another. Batman is Batman, end of story.”
Vicki stopped there, refusing to reveal her unexplained connection to Batman. She saw part of herself reflected in him -- the same tenacity for truth and the same pain for lost innocence.
As a professional courtesy, she gave Nina her business card.
“I’ll follow up in a few days to schedule that photo shoot with you. I don’t see it taking more than an hour of your time. It was nice meeting you, Doctor Stenet. I wish it had been under different circumstances.”
As Vicki made her exit, she acknowledged Shawty with a smile. Yes, just like Nina Stenet, Shannon Morrison was cut from the same cloth and was definitely a piece of work, too.
Being a journalist, Vicki knew the pen was mightier than the sword. Using the information she had gathered, she would compose the story from Nina’s statements and paint the Riddler in a negative light. Sure, it would make a great article and would sell a lot of newspapers, but, most of all, Vicki hoped it would bruise the Riddler’s prideful ego so badly that it would force him out of hiding. She knew she was making herself a target by reporting Nina’s account, but it was the only way she could see of ever getting the Riddler’s side of the story.
It was worth a shot.
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Nina Stenet
"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu
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Player: Avalikia ~
Registered On: Nov 4, 2010 0:01:40 GMT -5 ~
Posts: 696
~ Relationship Status: Single
~ Character Profile
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Post by Nina Stenet on Sept 8, 2013 1:41:34 GMT -5
If Vicki had stayed in her place to begin with, then Nina wouldn't have had to put her back in it. A reporter's job is to report facts, and perhaps piece those facts together to discover a larger whole. It's not to speculate upon theories that may or may not be true when you have no real evidence. And of course Nina's not going to just hand her that evidence in the form of a confession. Instead she just gives Vicki the truth - perhaps not the full truth, but a sizable portion of it. And contrary to what Vicki might believe, she's not trying to impress or threaten anyone with her statements - she's simply telling her story. Cobblepot and Luthor really would sue someone for slander if it were repeated in a public forum no matter how true it is, after all, and at the worst by saying so Nina is simply reminding the reporter that there are limits to these things.
That said, Nina doesn't really expect Vicki to believe that she's innocent. She's only emphasizing her innocence because it's the truth, no matter how suspicious she may look - she did nothing to deserve any of this, except possibly fall in love with the wrong man. But she knows that she can't prove that any more than Vicki can prove that she's guilty, so she won't fault the woman for not believing. She'd only fault the woman if she prints more than the truth.
When Vicki reacts to her question the way that she does, Nina looks somewhat amused. "No, you've not upset me at all," she replies very simply, the calmness of her tone almost emphasizing that fact. Oh, maybe a few of the things that she'd said upset her for a moment, but there wasn't anything that Nina couldn't shrug off easily. She does notice, however, that Vicki's answer to the question about Batman is just as evasive as anything that she'd said herself. And it's just as believable.
"Hmm," she says as if the answer was interesting, even though it wasn't really, then comments "I asked because he visited me last night. I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult for you to get a copy of the security tapes, if you want to verify that. He let himself be seen on purpose, after all - to protect me." Which may be a surprising thing for her to day, depending on how you interpret it. If Batman visited Nina, and she's not under arrest, that either means he has no evidence she's done anything wrong or has a reason not to do so. It could be that he only came to ask her questions about her altercation with the Riddler, but then the detail that he'd gotten caught on camera on purpose would indeed indicate that she's being protected if that's true. Likely any rogue that investigated the idea of visiting her would hear that Batman had been by and that would make them think twice, so that's an effective strategy for that, but why is he protecting her in the first place?
When Vicki hands her the card, Nina takes it and glances at it, but her attention remains on Vicki. "That sounds fine to me - we should know the timeframe of when I'll leave here by then," she agrees. Right now, even she isn't sure exactly when she'll be healed enough to leave - it very much depends on how well she feels and not so much on exactly how mended her body is. Giving Shawty a look, her assistant is quick to guess what she wants and pulls one of Nina's business cards out of her jacket and hands it to Vicki - it simply lists her as the owner of Stenet Labs and has the contact information. She's guessing that the woman already found that information while digging into her life, but this way she doesn't have to be annoyed later when that's proved. "Thank you for visiting me, Ms. Vale - do let me know if you have any further questions," she says with a polite smile - though perhaps that last part might seems a little insincere since she's obviously not one to promise that she'd actually answer any.
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