tushanshu_logs | [OPEN] if you're lost and alone

Entry tags:

[OPEN] if you're lost and alone

Characters: Arthur Curry and ~~unsuspecting bystanders~~ YOU
Date: Several
Location: Various
Situation: Open log for the month. PM or plurk me for any specific starters you want. Actionspam or prose welcome equally.
Warnings/Rating: Uh... Nonsexual Atlantean skinny dipping/nudity in A.

A - OPEN
Sometimes Arthur likes to reconnect with the sea. Sometimes a pool full of seawater in a climate-controlled suite just isn't enough, and he wants to slice through the cold ocean waves and feel a little more at home. The water feels perfect today; he doesn't hardly seem to feel the cold as he cuts through the water at speeds more common to quicksilver-fast marine animals than people. A ways out to sea, the foam he kicks up can be seen bubbling to the surface and floating on the waves as it dissolves in his wake. There are very few ways Arthur is comfortable letting off steam, and this is one of them, going back to a simpler time and a simpler him when it was just a man and the open ocean, no responsibilities, no worries, nothing to weigh him down. Like this, he just lets himself be, works his muscles in the drag and flow of the water until he can feel it, until he doesn't feel so cooped up in a fishbowl anymore.

After a long, long swim, a golden head pops up above the waves, and Arthur runs a hand over his hair, squeezing water from it and slicking it back from his forehead at the same time. His arms and shoulders are visibly bare, but that in itself doesn't necessarily mean anything. He's Atlantean, and he doesn't feel the temperatures. His swim back to shore is leisurely, a graceful front crawl until he can emerge from the water, dripping wet and... well, completely bare. He's not bad to look at if you're into that kinda thing, with a tightly muscled swimmer's build, but most people probably don't want to see this side of him.

Unfortunately for those people, he is completely unashamed of his state of undress, making his way a short distance up from the water to where he's left his things, trident stuck prongs-down in the sand, fishing net and pole, a small bag for his catch if he did any fishing, money for a few groceries on his way back home. "Oh for Neptune's sake," he mumbles to himself, toeing the sand with a frown as he searches for something.

It would seem everything is there except his pants.

B - OPEN
Arthur's errands these days generally mean he's accompanied by a massive baby turtle ambling around with him. There isn't much that he needs done, he picks up a few things from the market, he delivers some fish to a couple of restaurants in the Water Sector, he strolls by the canals to check up on the marine creatures that live there. Today he's doing his business on a street in the Water Sector full of various shops, talking to an apothecary at a small outdoor stall about something to do with his two fish companions at home, Verne and Nemo, when suddenly there's a rather large crashing noise behind.

Rio'era the turtle has knocked over - something. A cart? A stall? A person? Arthur doesn't even look, scrunching his eyes closed for a moment before he raises a finger. "I'll pay for that."

C - OPEN
Another evening, the sun starting to sink below the horizon, Arthur finds himself at a small cafe, sitting on the abandoned (due to the chill) outdoor patio at a small table with a drink, watching the sun go down. There's an almost melancholy expression on his face as he swirls the unidentified (this time non-alcoholic) liquid in his glass, and he's obviously thinking about something. The street is mostly quiet at this time of day, and that's probably why he's here, taking a few quiet moments to himself somewhere that isn't his lonely suite, without Rio, who he loves dearly but is also a bit of a handful (let her other parents handle her for a while).

Eventually, he drains the glass and stands up to leave, but he wouldn't be adverse to someone coming by to strike up a conversation.

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It's less 'be careful what you say' and more 'don't talk about her like she's dumb or not here because she understands a lot of this'. Rio'era doesn't seem offended, though, at least - the carrots have made sure of that.

"They'll grow, yes, and no doubt they'll return to the sea when they're ready to live their own lives. They have to be big enough to discourage predators, I imagine. Even big as they are now, a pack of sharks could be dangerous. If things start to get tight, we'll do our part to produce more food - for us and them. I'm sure they will eventually sustain cities atop them like Asti does, but most likely not in our lifetimes."

Kal doesn't even know what his lifetime is, to begin with. Some scientist he had talked to told him he could almost expect eternal lifetime if he was careful, but since he's aged just like anyone would he assumes he will eventually become an old man just like everyone else. Now he wonders if that's enough to see the little turtles grow and leave their mothers.

But he knows that's not what Arthur means, so he doesn't comment on it. "At least Rio'era here is well-behaved." He smiles down at the turtle, unsure if she understands even after Arthur's confirmation but choosing to assume she does. "Tackling random people on the street aside."

Even an extended lifetime, which Arthur figures he might have if he doesn't die again, as a half Atlantean, he doesn't think will be long enough to see these baby turtles grow to be as big and self-sustaining as Asti.

"She just needs to remember that not everyone can rough-house with her like I can. And like you can," he adds with a slight smirk. He seems proud, though, and it's no wonder. He's always raised his kids as well as he could, and he hasn't treated Rio'era any differently.

The turtle just seems pleased, though, head-butting at Clark more lightly and projecting, whether or not he might hear it, Friend!

Over the years people have gotten so worried at Clark's propensity to be mind-controlled he has gathered layers and layers of mental protection. In the end powerful telepaths can still break them, but it does mean harmless, unagressive little things like the mental link the turtles create gets sometimes lost in the process when he doesn't consciously allow them.

All Clark feels is a slight... nudge, as if someone trying to make him pay attention to a certain part of his mind. He frowns, glancing at the turtle. "I... is she trying to do something to my mind?"

Arthur, despite the worries shared with him and that he's shared with Bruce and Tony, hasn't closed himself off to Rio'era. He possibly could, if he tried, but he's taking the plunge - figuring they'll never find out if they're traps or not if he doesn't open his mind to her to see. "She's saying you're her friend. Or that she's your friend. They communicate telepathically, apparently not just with people like me."

"Oh."

A laugh, and now that he's fully aware he willingly opens up his mind for the turtle. There's a reason Clark needs those shields to begin with- he's really, really bad at keeping things to himself and he always ends up leaving himself unprotected. But if Arthur trusts the turtles it can't be that bad, can it?

"Yes to both, I am your friend and you can be mine. I'm friends with your father over there, so I'm sure we'll get along just fine.

I'm Clark. Can you say my name?"

Arthur can understand the use of shields. It's probably for the best, in some of their cases, and Bruce's words come back to him, the suspicion the Emperor had toward the eggs and the turtles they would hatch. His expression doesn't change, except the glint in his eyes, and he smiles at Rio'era as she projects an enthusiastic Clark!

As soon as she's moderately distracted by a kedan offering her a piece of fruit, though, he says softly to Clark, "Once I get her situated, I think you and I should talk alone."

Clark blinks, because while Arthur never outright pushes him away he also isn't the kind to just hang out. If he wants to talk alone it has to be something serious- something regarding the turtles, perhaps?

"Anytime. Just call out." Meaning... literally. He'll come down whenever Arthur's ready.

He's not sure if he should share this or not, but he figures it can't hurt. Kal needs to be able to make an informed decision about opening his mind to the hatchlings; he's not sure if him being invaded by Malicant would be better or worse than it happening to Arthur himself.

"Meet me at the fountains in an hour," he says casually, smiling down at Rio'era as if to tell her that there's nothing wrong. No doubt he's projecting something similar, keeping a tight hold on his thoughts. "We'll talk then."

Clark simply nods, reaching to give the last of his carrot-like vegetables to the turtle. Lois' breakfast is already gone, so she might as well have it all.

"I will be there."

And sure enough, Superman lands next to the fountains a little less than an hour later, looking around for his friend.

He takes a bit to get Rio'era situated with another caretaker, managing not to let on why he has to go talk to his friend. She doesn't think too much of it since she likes Clark, and seems to like the concept of friendship quite a bit.

The hour later, he makes his way to the fountains, sits on the edge of one of the pools and trails his feet in the water because it's subconsciously soothing. "I'm not sure how much you know about the hatchlings. Has Bruce mentioned anything?"

"Some" he says, raising an eyebrow. Bruce always makes sure he knows most of what's going on- or at least as much as he wants him to know. But that doesn't mean he doesn't word things in specific ways so he's telling Kal exactly what he wants, and not more.

"What he's seen them eat, what he's gathered on their personality and a bit about the mental bounds they create- but he's always reluctant to let me know about mind-control and such, since I'm so vulnerable to it. But nothing about your little turtle specifically.

Why?"

"I'm not sure why he wouldn't mention it. He said the Emperor, Eshai, had suspicions that the turtles were... part of a plot of the evil being's. It doesn't mean it's true, and I want to believe it isn't, but I would also suggest limiting your mental contact with them until we know more." It looks like it pains him to say it, because he obviously loves the turtles dearly already, but... he has to be pragmatic. He can't let this cloud his judgement.

"Keep it to surface contact, maybe. But... don't let on to them. I want to find out more without upsetting them."

He gives Arthur a nod. Bruce hasn't specifically mentioned it, but as much as Clark would like to believe otherwise he's fully aware Bruce keeps most things to himself and only shares them when it comes in handy. They are friends, allies, brothers in arms- whatever cheesy definition you want to come up with it won't change the fact Bruce keeps to himself.

"There was a post from an anonymous location once, talking about it. I tried to check for anything weird on the eggs, found nothing. Then the turtles were born and everyone was so delighted I didn't really... well. You know me. I'm optimistic by nature.

Do you think it's better if I don't open my shields up to them?"

"I didn't find anything unusual either. Or at least, anything that felt unusual in this situation. But I'm not infallible," he says with a quiet sigh. It's obviously a sticking point, that he doesn't know everything there is to know about these turtles.

"I'll leave that up to your discretion. I know you're an optimist but we also have to be pragmatic when we're in positions of power. All I ask is that you don't let on to the hatchlings about this concerns, whatever you might decide."

"I promise." Both because he doesn't want to upset the little turtles and because he wouldn't want to let Malicant know they are onto him if what they fear is really true.

"But I am very sensible to mind control, like I just said. I'm not sure if it's wise, me talking to them like that often."

Arthur isn't going to assume they can keep anything from Malicant, at least easily. He's too familiar with the mystic to think this thing isn't just as familiar.

"It might not be. I just wanted you to know, so you can make an informed decision about your contact with them." He won't tell Kal how to live his life, or how to protect himself, just as he hopes Kal wouldn't tell him what to do with his own, but he will provide information he feels is necessary. They can at least do that.

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[OPEN] if you're lost and alone

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