Open With a Joke [Norman Osborn]

[Norman Osborn]

"So, your son, Harry, hows he doing?"

Ah, Harry. Well, just yesterday, he had informed Norman that he was officially clean. Norman found this rather abrupt, and convernient, but had spoken naught of it to his son. And obviousy, he couldn't at all hint to this reporter that the heir to OsCorp was on drugs. So, he spurted out a rather vague answer, but it should do to satisfy.

"Well, he is getting to the end of his high school career, so we're beginning to look into his college education. Of course, he is going to be fully prepared and equipped to work with me here and eventually succeed me once I retire." Well, at least Norman hoped that would happen. As far as he knew, Harry wasn't even thinking about going to college. He should probably talk that out with his son and make sure that everything is in place for his heir. How much longer would this reporter be? Or was he trying to work up to another bomb of a question again?

[Jerry Carstairs]

Good answer, very good answer. Jerry wrote it down and then decided to make Norman feel awkward. He continued to pretend to write for almost a minute and then cleared his throat, looked at Mr. Osborn and crossed his legs.

"So, any truth behind those allegations that your son Harry is doing drugs?" He asked nonchalantly. Jerry smiled innocently as if it was an ordinary question like "What did you have for breakfast?" or "Hows the weather?". The idea had been circulating round the Gossip columns for some time and Jerry (not being the type of man to miss out on gossip) wanted to entertain the idea himself.

[Norman Osborn]

"So, any truth behind those allegations that your son Harry is doing drugs?"

This question had some interesting timing. So interesting, in fact, that it bordered on irony. Norman could get away with telling the truth and looking good. It was true, Harry had been heavily taking drugs for some time now, Norman wasn't completely certain when it had begun, but it definitely happened. However, just last night, Harry had informed him that he was now clean, and a drug test had proven this. Although a remission is more than likely, Norman would take the opportunity for what it was worth.

"One must remember that us high-powered executives and our families are human, just like the rest of you. As far as I am aware, however, Harry is not involved in abusing drugs of any kind. I actually had him drug-tested last night, something I regularly do to make sure that he does not step off the path to success. He was clean, of course." Norman desperately wanted the reporter to stop asking such personal questions, but, it was his job after all. Not to mention, he might look bad if he said something.

[Jerry Carstairs]

"One must remember that us high-powered executives and our families are human, just like the rest of you. As far as I am aware, however, Harry is not involved in abusing drugs of any kind. I actually had him drug-tested last night, something I regularly do to make sure that he does not step off the path to success. He was clean, of course." Osborn replied in a very calm and very controlled way.

Jerry was a little disappointed with how he wasn't flipping out yet. The Daily Bugle was a rag for Gods sake! It prided itself on gossip and rumours! It was time to start pushing buttons until something happened.
"So, you have your son tested for drugs rather than, I don't know, talking to him?" Jerry asked, a slight tinge of dislike easing its way into his voice.

[Norman Osborn]

The quesion could be considered legitimate, and Norman was more than aware that, at this point, Mr. Carstairs was simply digging for dirt. The man's efforts were painfully obvious to someone like Norman, who worked with the media on a regular basis. Also apparent was the encroaching desperation creeping into the old man's voice. The powerful businessman had a feeling that, if he did not soon divulge something of interest, the interview would divulge into something less official and provide him with an opportunity to end it.

"You know how kids are these days, right? Ask them the wrong question and they'll get defensive, or even outright lie. Harry is a good boy, certainly he wouldn't lie to me, but it is just much simpler to take the moral dilemna off of his head by going over it, in a sense. Straight to the source." Norman lightly tapped his desk once with his index finger to punctuate his point. This was going rather smoothly...

[Jerry Carstairs]

Ugh ... this guy was too good for him. There was a danger that the conversation would trail off and Jerry would have to leave with a couple of questions that would make it ridiculously obvious of his true intentions. Time to try a different approach, namely a question that wasn't as glaringly obvious.

"How do you pass the time?" He asked, "I'm forced to ask that question," Jerry explained "Our editor assumes that your personal life and private affairs are more important than the direction you've taken Oscorp, but thankfully I've gotten those out of the way, so we can start on something more civil"

There, he'd probably not fully cleared himself but at least he'd blamed JJJ for his failed gossip-scouting efforts. And that was totally worth it.

[Norman Osborn]

Relieved that Carstairs had ceased the probing about Harry, Norman immediately launched into a different fear. The question seemed innocent enough, but perhaps there was some hidden motive. After all, what the Goblin did in his spare time wasn't exactly legal. He would have to field the question with the same cool he had handled the Harry questions with. The length of the interview was starting to get to him however.

"Well, I am fully invested in making sure that OsCorp can provide what it promises. There is not much spare time in my life, but, when I do experience a spot of it...I read. I do enjoy a good book. Occasionally I'll catch a show on Broadway." In all honesty, these were things Norman did. Before he became the Goblin. Now his spare time was almost fully invested in his sinister alter-ego. Letting that slip to the media, however, was not in Osborn's best interests.

[Jerry Carstairs]

"Not much free time anymore?" Jerry asked, scrawling down "devoted to work?" on a new page in his notepad. "Planning something big?"

He was wondering if he could turn it around now. Maybe it would've been wiser to interview him in a restaurant or some other public place, that way they wouldn't let it get so awkward, he'd be able to ask more questions and if they ordered food then he'd definitely be able to talk for a considerable amount of time. Jerry waited for an answer while writing "RESTAURANT" on the back of his hand and dotting it with three exclamation marks.

[Norman Osborn]

And so, Carstairs had perfectly set up a perfect way to end the interview. Norman could let his nice little scoop slip and then get the man out of here and down to his little cubicle so he can write up the article.

"Actually, OsCorp is intending to open a whole new division." He stood and motioned for his interviewer to do the same. "OsCorp Medical will be launching within the next month. We are coming close to some breakthroughs that will contribute greatly to the well-being of the residents of New York, and the world at large." He reached to shake Carstairs hand, clearly signifying that the interview should now be over. "On that note, I should probably get back to work. I appreciate you coming up here to talk to me."

[Jerry Carstairs]

"Um ... yeah, yeah," Jerry concluded, scrawling a few more notes onto his pad and getting up, offering a hand to his interview subject. "Thanks for your time Mr. Osborn,"

"So, that'll be out in a week or two, do you want me to send you a copy?" He asked.

Maybe he'd pushed his luck a bit too far. Osborn seemed fairly eager to end the interview here and now. He cleared his throat, packed his possessions into a bag and then walked towards the door.