tushanshu_logs | March catch-all [open]

The sound of her name makes her turn, especially coming from her father-in-law. She hasn't seen much of him lately--then again, there was the whole prison thing. At least he's out. At least he's more rational than Clark is.

Still, she figures he's probably also suffering under more than a little guilt.

It's a little odd to see him without the cape, mostly because it's unusual; on the other hand, it doesn't look as off as when Clark somehow loses his. The robes help with that. She wonders anyway.

"Hey. Come on in, I'm due for a break." And they shouldn't talk outside.

"Thank you."

He follows her inside, waiting until the door is fully closed and they are a distance from it before speaking again.

"You've been keeping yourself busy." It's an observation, not a question. He's familiar with what it looks like on a person, if mainly himself. It is at least something of a relief that she has not allowed herself to be dragged down by what happened or Kal-El's decision to stay imprisoned for the time being.

Lois does not get incapacitated by depression, though on rare occasions severe trauma has managed to spark it. But a mission going to something far worse than hell and missing Clark? That just awakens the workaholic. Besides, she has an excuse.

"Well, there's a lot to do around here," she points out. "Double the work load, especially if I'm covering for Smallville. I've done it before, but not usually for this long. At least there's no boss to lie to."

See? She's fine. Just follow her to her office and she'll prove she's fine.

'Smallville'. Just one of another of the many things his son was called, even if it was singly by Kal-El's wife. It was a view into a large part of Kal's life that barring rare events, he was rarely afforded.

"I'm sure many of those tasks are ones that Kelor would be able to assist with, if you allow for it," he replies, as he follows her. Jor-El had insured that both family robots would be able to mimic Kal-El's voice for the purpose of his and Lois' work. Neither would mind- and were in fact intended to- helping with more tasks.

Truthfully, part of the reason she uses it right now is that it helps her stay lighthearted, keeps her from focusing on his absence. The use of that name was always rather snarky on her part; even as much as it is now laced with fondness, the origin keeps a holdover.

The offer gives her a moment of surprise. "That... would be quite helpful," she admits quietly after a moment. "Especially as I'm needing to go out to meet people and take extra time to convince them to talk to me. It's eating more of the day than I'd like. Having help holding the fort here would be-- appreciated."

"You only need to ask Kelor. Specific instructions will help the work be done the way you want it to be. I'm willing to lend Kelex to you for this as well." Both 'bots could do with the work, and perhaps stimulation.

There was something to be said for giving Kelex tasks that would remove the 'bot's focus from him. Even if only Kelor had been ordered to stop calling his son's wife 'Lady Lois'.

"And on that matter, how well have you been eating?" He's already experienced Lois' skills at cooking- or lack thereof- first hand. He should at least ensure she's been taking care of herself adequately, to assure Kal-El later.

The whole 'lady' appellation is one with potential to continuously unnerve her. Even knowing abstractly that Clark's Kryptonian family was pretty high ranked in their society, it never really registers because, well, it's nothing to do with her really.

Except in this place, where Jor-El exists and has robots programmed to address his daughter-in-law as such until told otherwise.

Lois eyes him for a moment and internally sighs. "Leftovers and takeout have been a go-to for years, and I guarantee you the pots and pans don't miss me."

"I would hope you've run out of leftovers by now." If not, that would be an actual cause for concern. As it stands, it's a point to gently tease her with.

"I can't guarantee it would be to your tastes, but you are welcome to join me for dinner." The offer is a sincere one, despite knowing she'll likely refuse. His tastes in food isn't completely incompatible- their respective physiologies are similar enough that that isn't the cause- but what is he finds perfectly adequate is not the case for her.

Lois is secretly sometimes almost as little-kid-like as Clark is (and probably that he can bring it out in her is one of the reasons they click so well). The face she makes at Jor-El doesn't quite cross that line into total immaturity--but if he'd been Clark, she would totally have stuck her tongue out. "Take out makes for leftovers too. It can last for days."

Reheated leftovers: patented Lois Lane Survival Method, even if she hasn't had to do it for years. She remembers how to, though.

The offer catches her off-guard and Lois blinks. "I really appreciate that," she begins while her mind races. Her instinct is to say no, that's okay--but she also doesn't want to insult him, or make him think she's avoiding him, or only sees him when Clark's around, or... whatever. Then again, on balance, whatever he makes cannot possibly be as bad as some of her attempts. "I'm not doing much besides work if you want the company."

There. That's a chance for him to back out if he's just part of some bizarre, Clark-instigated 'feed Lois' conspiracy and would rather not.

The expression he makes in turn isn't quite one of total bemusement, moderating of them as Jor-El is, but some of the signs of it are still present, particularly for someone who's had the time to realize it. It's just as well she hadn't crossed that line.

"It would give you an opportunity to decompress, if you chose to." Jor-El is intimately familiar with working on some project or another as a form of escape, whether needed or desired. If throwing herself into the work required for the radio is what she needs, he won't force her to accept the invitation.

Company is not something he is sure of having yet, but he cannot seclude himself.

Lois does try not to completely flummox her father-in-law. She likes him, after all. But he does make just enough of an expression for her to see, and she know that look and knows that people do get it around her sometimes. She can't help it; she laughs a little.

It feels really good to laugh again, actually.

Truth be told, Lois is still not actually certain if she wants dinner with him or not. Nothing about him personally, she's just not been in the mood for people as a rule lately. That said, she recognizes what he said as just as much giving her an out as her previous semi-counter-offer had been. That makes for a distinctly passive-aggressive game, and she has no patience for those.

Besides, Clark's already isolating himself. If Jor-El's smart enough not to, she shouldn't hinder that. "I probably should let off some steam, before I start reorganizing the entire file system at the radio."

So that's a yes.

Causing her to laugh was entirely unintentional, but one he'll accept.

"You should consider leaving some things for your husband." The comment is returned with a visible look around the office, this time. "Depending on what this office's normal state is, he might be confused."

"Dinner shouldn't encounter the same problems as last time." The attempt at Christmas dinner would be best described as 'educational'.

"He claims my organization is incomprehensible most of the time anyway," she waves that off. It's just easier to snark about him where called for than dwell on why he's not there to initiate a banter war.

The reminder of Christmas dinner makes her wince. Why had anyone thought that was smart?

She doesn't facepalm, although she's tempted. "Y-yeah, well, I think it'd be pretty hard to match that." She hopes so, anyway.

He allows the sarcasm to pass with amusement.

Until that point it hadn't been fully impressed on him what Lois' skills where cooking was concerned actually were, and it had been to raise Kal-El's spirits. While Jor-El may have predicted Krypton's destruction, he was also an optimist.

He knows better than to think otherwise where Lois' ability to cook is concerned, now.

"If we did, I think it would count as a potent weapon. I have a better understanding of what's available for ingredients that you should consider palatable by now."

Potent weapon? Really?

"Hey, I've never actually killed anyone. I don't think it's an actual weapon," she protests. "And I made beef bourguignon once that came out pretty well."

Once. She was attempting the effort as a special surprise for Clark. And maybe ketchup isn't generally supposed to go with it--but it turned out pretty well. (And she ordered in steaks for one of their anniversaries that he just couldn't manage anything rather than have to cook again.

But it makes a good family joke. She doesn't actually sound upset.

The first remark he doesn't respond to. It was in many ways still too soon for him to make a return on.

The second, however, has him somewhat stymied as to what it could be. While whatever was the source of the field that allowed them to understand each other worked, some words didn't have a translation.

"Beef bourguignon?"

She can't help it; she laughs.

"It's a long story and an inside joke going back years. Before we were married. I'm pretty sure it doesn't even make any sense."

But somehow, the phrase became a code-word between them, for all the love and history and life they've shared. And truthfully, thinking of it makes her feel rather better. "Just don't ask me anything about the food itself, I don't have any memory of what goes in it or how to make it, other than it being some kind of cow."

She's right; it doesn't make sense to him, but that comes with treasured, shared moments. Instead he'll accept that it seemed to have roused her spirits.

"I'll keep that in mind for future reference. Is there anything else that you don't remember how to prepare that I should keep in mind?" It's easily said, and lightly, even if he hasn't forgotten the reason he came to see her was for more than just light conversation.

She shrugs again, still fairly amused despite this touching far more on the delicate subject of Clark and his current status.

"Frankly, the list of things I don't remember how to prepare could probably fill several volumes. Clark's all but kicked me out of the kitchen."

At least this conversation has somehow made it easier to talk about him.

"You don't sound particularly distressed by that move on your husband's part," he says. His words have quieted by now, ready to move on.

It's time enough that he should bring up why he came in the first place. "I wanted to speak with you regarding the events that took place in Kithika." Something he will not forget. "I don't know how much you've learned about what happened."

March catch-all [open]

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