tushanshu_logs | Oh Lord how they gonna stop us today

Entry tags:

Oh Lord how they gonna stop us today

Characters: Clark Kent & Lois Lane
Date: After Evandau's post
Location: Lane-Kent suite
Situation: A lot of things happening lately on the turtle, and with 'denial' being the most powerful of Kryptonian natural abilities they just have a lot of catching up to do.
Warnings/Rating: Lois and Clark? But no nothing for now will edit as needed.

[He'd tried to keep his face from showing what he thought about all of it while the Emperor made the announcement- and while they thanked the man for the message, giving him simply a curt nod. They had shared some tense moments, the Alderwood Emperor and him but he thought they had finally reached an understanding. But that had been with Superman, so he simply tried to keep things professional as the journalist.

Still an obvious detail doesn't escape him, and he shares a knowing look with Lois once they are alone- something that's become quite a rarity lately.]

If he asked to use the radio feed... the consoles might not be safe at all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lois is pretty torn between missing the surprising amounts of alone-time they've had as a rule since their arrival on the turtle and falling into old patterns. This level of work and demands on Clark's time is pretty much the norm, at least back at home.

It had been nice, getting that time with him--like when he was without powers. But duty called, and until the bombings they'd had such a reprieve that she's not surprised they were over due.]

Well, they're probably safe to touch. [Which after those spores might be a genuine concern.] But hackable? Definitely. We know people who can hack most of them if they really want to; I guarantee His Dark Spikiness has a way.

Maybe we're being listened. Normal hackers can get the devices to turn on and work remotely without people using them, and His Dark Spikiness [A raised eyebrow, but he can't hide the amusement in his eyes] is way beyond a normal hacker, from what we know.

We don't know what he knows. We might have to use other resources to communicate at all times and make sure we don't talk in front of any of the consoles altogether. [Luckily they have certain robots that can do the job just fine. Thanks, dad, Kal-El and Lady Lois appreciate it.]

[Lois just grins at that raised eyebrow and amusement. She's always had this way with words, after all.]

You know, I hadn't thought of that--them as bugs for eavesdropping. [She frowns.] Maybe we should bring it up to someone who knows the tech, though maybe telling people not have particularly relevant conversations in front of them is a good preemptive idea. I just don't know at what point paranoid becomes 'too paranoid.'

[Goddammit, floaty Kryptonian robots, stop calling her Lady Lois!]

[Clark would, in normal circumstances, make a joke about their personal expert in paranoid-ism not being around for them to talk to, but there are still consoles around. And for someone who could hear everything everyone said he simply wanted to, he's always been particular about his secrets and privacy.]

We really don't know what we're dealing with, so it's probably better to keep it safe. But at the same time I don't want to cause unnecessary panic, and with everything else that's going on... [He sighs, reaching to run a hand through his hair. He doesn't say what he wants to say, but he hopes a look at one of Jor-El's inventions forming the radio gets his meaning through.

'If only my father was here'. Kal could maybe come up with a way to free the machines from Malicant's influence, given enough time. Jor would had only taken weeks.]

[Clark doesn't need to make that joke out loud; Bruce's absence is keenly felt. She does understand that look, and after a moment comes to a decision.]

Yeah. That 'everything else' is making me hungry, and we've got enough to hold the fort for now. C'mon, Smallville, you haven't made dinner for me nearly enough lately.

[Otherwise known as 'let's go home and get away from a console.']

[Luckily they have their own code-language, so the message gets through and he nods, taking her hand and leading them outside without adding anything else. The trip to their suite is- quiet, because Clark is always quiet when he's worried about something.

But once there he simply flops to the nearest seat as if he weren't a solar-powered alien who didn't actually get 'tired' as long he has enough sunlight to recharge.]

Everything is a mess. [Well, he thought that summed things up nicely.]

[Lois knows the signs of Clark worrying--legitimately worrying, that is, rather than being a fretful mother hen--and just silently squeezes his hand when he takes it. She laces her fingers through his and doesn't let go until they're home.

The way he flops makes her smile despite the serious situation. It's so human; she never really understands how anyone finds him too alien, in all senses of the word. But some do.

So she just flops next to him, leaning back against his arm.]

So what else is new. Though this one's taking his sweet time about trying to end the world. Usually our supervillains are a little more decisive.

[He lets out a snort. He can already feel how her simple presence, the simple fact that she is around him for more than a second before he has to rush out to help someone out is making everything seem brighter even if there's still not a solution in sight.]

If only it were Lex. He'd already have been boasting about his evil plan to me days ago. [He leans against her, pursing his lips.] It's just so many angles, so many things to keep an eye on and I don't know which one is the one we should focus on.

[Having him in one place, just being able to sit quietly with him, is doing a lot to calm Lois down from the break-neck working pace she's been at lately. It always surprises her how much she enjoys that relaxation when she gets a chance.]

If it were Lex, we'd have known it was happening and been trying to prove it for ages, but then it would be one big showdown and not this protracted mess. [She should not be missing that. She does.]

Well, I know that Lois Lane and Clark Kent keep doing what we do. [She chews her lip thoughtfully.] You remember the story of Radio Londres in World War II?

I do, but... [He looks at her with a raised eyebrow, and actually holding back a laugh. It's really not that funny, and he logically knows that- but he's honestly so relaxed to simply be around her he can't really help it.]

Are you suggesting we become la résistance? To start a révolution? [And then, with a wry grin] Or are you simply suggesting using the radio to send codes?

[Good. If he's relaxed, then she's doing her non-paying job right. Besides, his smile is one of the highlights of her day.

And despite her wry smile, her eyes are rather serious.] I'm not sure we need to become any of those. The foreigners were brought here to fight this war anyway. And communications were supposed to be down or compromised completely--the radio partially countered that just by existing.

As for codes-- [here she rolls her eyes] I'm pretty sure no one's thinking that far ahead.

[A brutal truth, but not inaccurate.]

They aren't, but they might soon.

[He looks outside, as if he could read people's thoughts, see their intentions, see their future. He has an incredibly amount of visions and he still finds them lacking.]

We were told soon into this adventure we were fighting a war. I think it's finally clicking for everyone how much that was a literal description, not a metaphor.

[Once again, there is a joke waiting to be made about the resident compulsive planner--except that he isn't resident now. Lois could make it, now, away from consoles...

But she won't. Not yet, at least.]

For our set too, I think. You capes are used to that never-ending battle of yours [she knows he likes that phrase] but it still always takes a little adjusting, going from the day-to-day to dealing with Darkseid--or the local flavor of the dark lord.

We get so used to open and direct villains, but apparently Mr Mal hasn't read the villain's book on honor code.

[He's... half joking, but actually also half serious. Even Luthor is way more obvious and less sneaky than he thinks he is- to them, anyway. They can read him, and even if they can't always guess his evil plot of the month right away they know how he thinks and what to expect.

With Malicant? They know absolutely nothing, they don't know what to expect. And it's extremely unnerving.]

We know we're heading into a war, I just wish we could take a hint from Sun Tzu and know thy enemy.

On a global or Metropolis scale. Gotham may have some more villains or at least mob bosses with that lack of honor code--

[Beat.

Well. As long as it's Sun Tzu, as long as she's mentioned it anyway. It isn't like she's usually given to beating around the bush anyway.] At least this one doesn't seem to have the unpredictable maniac trait Arkham cases do. Hell if I know how Bruce stays ahead of those.

[Sigh.] I wish he were here, though. He'd be making progress on those spores.

I wish he were, as well. [He wishes a lot of people were here, and he's glad they aren't at the same time. It's a complicated feeling he doesn't quite know how to pinpoint.]

I can make headway on taking care of the technology, specially thanks to some things my father left behind, but as much as I read about it medicine has never quite been my forte. [More of a physician, like most of the Els.] And the rebuilding work doesn't give me much free time to begin with.

And I can handle the radio--not like I'm not used to covering your job. [It's said teasingly--but how many times has she worked in bad grammar tenses to finish articles for him or at least draw up notes when he's tied up in cape business? It's part of saving the world.] Gotta admit, though, it's a lot easier without another boss to make excuses to.

I know you want to help, Clark, but you can't do everything. And even you have to rest, if only to get your head back together. [Even when sunlight can get him repowered, it just does him good on a mental level--if just by reminding him that he's a person.] Are there any tech people here you trust to talk to about handling some of that research?

[He smiles at her, simply nodding as a reply. She knows there really is no one else he would entrust something like the radio to, so he doesn't say it out loud- but he still nudges her gently hoping she gets the message.]

Don't hate me for this, but I'm never really worried about the radio. I know you watch my back in that regard. [Snd it's easier to handle with no 'chief's around.] It's... it's the rest that worries me.

And right now there's a lot of 'the rest'. What do you think I should focus on?

[She softens slightly at that smile--she often does--and nudges him back. It is a silent reply: 'Got the message loud and clear, Smallville. Go save the world, I'll handle the rest.']

Hate you for feeding my ego? Not likely. [Hey, Perry is already bizarrely lenient with them.] Of course I'll always watch your back. Besides, it's a good show.

[She really can't resist sometimes.]

Not the technology--find someone you can trust with at least some of it. There are people as capable of that as you are.

[And he actually has to refrain from reaching for her and kissing her right there for understanding what he has to say without words. He decides to focus on the other subject first- it's not her fault she's his walking distraction.]

Or more. [He admits with a nod. He's good at technology, but only because he got used to extremely advanced Kryptonian one and had most of his father's knowledge all laid out for him in the fortress if he knew the right things to look for. There are people who are actually naturals at it in this place.

One in particular comes to mind.] There's Aya? [He offers, rubbing the back of his neck.] I mean, she is like Red Tornado in a way. I bet no one else has the kind of knowledge she has when it comes to that.

[Well, it's entirely his fault he is her walking distraction; he should not have any right to be as lovable and attractive as he is. Nor to look so good in tights and a cape. And yet, he does. But after years of marriage, she does know how he gets sometimes.

Since they do need to have an actual, rational discussion, though, she'll settle for kissing him on the cheek for a moment. She may be a writer, but sometimes Lois is better without words when it comes to emotions.]

Hmm, yes. And she's connected to the Green Lanterns, right? That's already high enough recommendation, as far as I'm concerned.

[He'll take the kiss. He never realized how much he'd taken these moments for granted in the turtle until they didn't have them anymore. He really hoped they would find a way to keep all their memories, back at home if only for these little stolen moments.]

She is, she was even inside of Kyle's mind when... well. [He frowns a bit, looking away.] I had destroyed her body.

[Lois hasn't really thought about it much, although she would probably agree about keeping memories (even if it matters to her less). But this whole year and a half has been such a balance between their normal lives and that year she had him to herself-- but sooner or later their lives will come knocking.

However, this has finally hit a point when it's time to haul out the Serious Face and Wife Voice. She sits up and back a little and lays her hand on his chest for emphasis. (Unconsciously, over the shield and his heart--because she often does that.)] We've never really talked about it.

[He lets out a sigh. He'd been expecting it, and to be honest he's been both looking forward and fearing it. He reaches for her hand, covering it with her own as he looks down and leans against her.]

It wasn't me. I know that much. [That's an easy thing to begin with, because he does know. Doesn't make the guilt any easier to deal with, but at least he has that much he can latch onto when the thoughts come at him at night.]

[She turns over her hand when he covers it to twine her fingers through his. She knows that maybe she should have talked to him before this. But first he wasn't home and they weren't about to talk where others could hear, and then there was work, and--

But there's always something, isn't there?]

How long did it take you to get that? [You'd expect that tone to be irritated, or sarcastic, or dry--it's not. She honestly means the question, because he needed to work it out himself, not be told.]

[He lets out a little chuckle, he can't really help it. Of course she'd ask that, she's the only one who'd know to ask right away.]

Long. [He finally admits after a pause, reaching to kiss her hand.] Emotionally, at least. It still doesn't feel all that real since I can remember it so clearly.

[She cups his face lovingly, as long as it's there.]

How strongly do you remember the emotions of it, too? Or is it mostly events? [It matters to how well he's actually handling it, weeks later--and to just how much earlier she should have been trying to help. (He's not the only one who can feel guilty.)]

I... [He's been trying to repress it, so doing the exact opposite is actually kind of hard at first. Still, he gets why she wants him to answer so he closes his eyes.]

It's mostly events. The emotions and thoughts behind it are there, too but it's- it's like background sound, like someone telling me what I was supposed to be feeling on the back of my head but without me actually feeling it?

[She just watches him, listening--but as he explains she lets out a long, quiet sigh of relief.]

I was worried the memories of feelings were stronger. [Not that it isn't bad enough, of course--but it could have been a lot worse.] But you've made your peace with Aya.

[He shakes his head.] No, it's still mostly the events I recall. maybe I'd be able to focus on the emotions if I tried, but I'd really rather not do that.

I've made my peace with most people [He reaches to point at his forehead with the hand that isn't holding hers.] here.

No need to dwell on it, no. [She does not want him dipping into excuses to exercise his guilt complex. He uses that superpower enough as it is.

She offers a smile.] Considering how much force your skull can take, it's a start, at least.

[He snorts, using that same hand to (very gently) flick her forehead.]

Are you trying to sound like B now?

[She bats away his hand--and takes the opportunity to wind her fingers through his. Hey, he gave her the chance.]

Like I haven't been saying that for years. [Beat.] Besides, someone has to.

[And about all those painful topics...]

And you'll make the sacrifice to be the one to tell me, hm? [But he just squeezes her hand, the smile a little less forced.]

But really, it'd be hard to accept it wasn't really me. Unless I accept Jor-El just really wanted to chop my leg off.

Edited (typo) 2014-05-29 18:19 (UTC)

Speaking my mind--especially to you--is one of my life's greatest trials. [She rolls her eyes.] It's so hard to stop.

[Good, he's at least trying to use logic instead of his guilt complex. As long as he's doing that for himself, all she really needs to do--or can do, for that matter--is let him.] And we both know how likely that is. [More gently:] Most people? Is there anyone you haven't made peace with [she echoes the tapping gesture--on his head, of course, not hers] up here.

[He pauses, considering.] I think...

I think I'm worried I 'made peace' too late. I think, right now I'm feeling guilt over spending so much time in prison? On a scale from 1 to Ultraman, how dumb am I being?

[Lois doesn't bother stopping the flash of amusement--scale of 1 to Ultraman, really?--but considers it.]

About a Bizarro. [Hey, he asked.] Could be worse. What about it feels like it was 'too late?'

[If she can just help him talk through it...]

[In normal circumstances he'd laugh, kiss her cheek and go on with the conversation. As it is... is a surprise he even manages to smile.]

Well, I did spend far too long in that prison. And when I was inside that cell I was mostly worried about myself, not my victims.

[But he does manage to smile, which means that for one, her reply worked, and for another... It's not as bad as it could be seems to have become her mantra for this conversation.]

Yes. You did. In all fairness, you were a victim too, and no matter how much the guilt was weighing on you then you did need to get your head together before you could really do right by people you hurt.

That long in jail was not the way to do it, though. [Clark's wife was not at all pleased by his being in there that long, okay?]

[He nods, completely unsurprised that she's being blunt and honest. That's one of the reasons he put a ring around her finger, after all.]

I made a mistake, I was only thinking of my own pain and fears. But what's done it's done and now... I'm not sure how to fix it.

[As much as she loves him--and it's almost unhealthy--she has never hesitated to be straight with him.]

Well, start with listing what there is to fix, then. Once that's more explicit, it'll be easier to figure out how to tackle it.

[And she's always here to help.]

Well... [Lists, he liked lists. He didn't know if it was his genetics thanks to coming from an extremely logical species, or his upbringing by a pair of farmer who liked to write every little detail down in the almanac but when emotions overload him, lists definitely help.

When he has something to write on them, anyway.] I apologized, already. Late, but I did.

[She knows he likes lists. There's a reason she started making him think through one.]

They say better late than never. [She raises an eyebrow.] I'm not entirely sure that's actually accurate, this time-- but at least you did. [Blunt, but she doesn't sound like she's judging. Just stating the facts.

It is her job.] What else?

[He makes a face. True, but it doesn't make it any less hurtful.]

I also offered my help, to all of them. Even said I'd ask Jor-El to make a hand for Arthur but he... he rejected it.

From what I know of Arthur, taking offers of help isn't always his strong suit even when there isn't other emotional strain involved.

[She pauses briefly.] Did that talk go worse than the others?

[He's about to say no when he pauses, actually recalling the conversation. At the moment he'd called it a win, but...]

His family was the one that had lost the most in that place, I believe. I guess a bit of resentment was to be expected... but it did hurt.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh Lord how they gonna stop us today

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject