tushanshu_logs | Oh, I'm hoping you'll understand

Entry tags:

Oh, I'm hoping you'll understand

Characters: Superman & you?
Date: From 22/03 for Superman, a week later or so for Clark Kent.
Location: All over the turtle
Situation: Kal's finally decided to step out of prison, start actually getting consequences for his actions. This is something of a catch all for everyone who wants to talk to Superman or Clark after his stay in the prison. Threadstarters tba (if you want one poke me at plurk!

crotalus)
Warnings/Rating: There might be talk of murder, will edit if needed

[Superman - Flying (low) around the turtle]

He wasn't quite sure what to do.

He had to pay visits, talk to those he'd personally offended, but- then, what? What next? The world hadn't ended, his life had kept on going. He'd killed, maimed, hurt both with his words and with his fists and yet he was still alive. What was he supposed to do, pretend nothing happened? Pretend he wasn't afraid of it happening again? Pretend the memories of it wouldn't hurt him every time he closed his eyes?

This is what he wondered as he flies around the turtle in full costume... deciding he should, at least, let himself be seen. He'd been so comfortable hiding in prison, but that was done. Superman was back, and Mark had been right about something: the longer he hid from others the worse the memories would get. The hardest forgiving him would be.

So he simply flew around, the way he used to do back in Metropolis in his 'patrols'. Having his power back was honestly a relief, after so long without them. If he saw any signs of trouble for both Kedan and Foreigners he'd fly down and try to help- even though there were a lot of heroes who could have easily done his job in this place.

[Clark Kent - Work (Radio) / Grocery shopping around the turtle]

Using his fake leg as Clark Kent was the hardest time. Not because it didn't fit, or do his job properly (it was Jor-El's work, of course it did). But the phantom pains where still there, still present and somehow they got worse the more he spent as Clark Kent. As Superman he could simply hover, stop touching the ground with his bad leg- or maybe it was simply a psychological thing? Maybe he reverted back to human weaknesses when he was being human, as he'd done when he'd had electrical powers.

Still, he had to get back to work. Lois had been overworked for long enough as it was, and even though his father's bots had done a great job acting like he did (again, Jor-El's work) he couldn't stay away from being Clark Kent. It was as much of a part of him as Superman was, and after a week he decided it had been enough waiting to cast away any suspicions about Superman and Clark.

So he could be found in the Radio's office, doing his job... or simply at the markets, getting what looked like enough food to feed a legion. After the time in the bottle and the time in prison, he wanted to make sure Lois was finally eating right.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

One should never be surprised what sort of violence can come from Arthur's wife's mouth. Especially regarding the harming of a child. They've seen too many children's deaths, and it's a bit of a touchy point with Mera. Arthur manages to be a little more level-headed about things, though, at least when Black Manta isn't involved.

He's heading out when Kal lands in front of him, dressed for fishing and carrying his net and pole despite his current one-handedness. Arthur isn't going to let his injury keep him from providing for his family - they largely survive off the sea, even here, and Arthur sees no reason to purchase their food.

He just quirks one blond eyebrow at the hesitant comment. "It's about time. Did you realize you weren't going to let go of your guilt in there, or did Evandau kick you out?"

He avoids looking the net- he knows Arthur isn't cruel when he goes fishing, but he's glad he caught him going and not returning. The conversation will be hard enough as it is.

"The first one, but I think Evandau was about to not-so-calmly tell me the prison was not my personal hotel. Arthur, I-" And then he glances at the pole for entirely different reasons. Will he get angry if he apologizes? "I wanted to talk to you, all of you. Say I'm sorry."

He can respect Kal's feelings about fishing and eating creatures that were once alive, but Atlanteans have a much more 'circle of life' sort of viewpoint. Not all of them can communicate with fish like Arthur but he can't let that make him go on a hunger strike. Still, he does set down the net and pole outside the front door until he's facing Kal with an empty hand.

As much as the thought of him near his family again sets that instinctive part of him on edge, he tamps it down to face this level-headedly. Or as level-headedly as possible. Ultimately, it's their choice if they do or do not want to see Kal and hear his apology. "Mera has already told you what will happen if you lay a finger on Kaldur'ahm? Friendly or no."

"Friendly o no." He repeats with a nod, even though the words had kind of stung. He'd known some people wouldn't be able to forgive, and that others would forgive but not forget. And he'd been ready for that, ready to accept it and move on with his life hoping one day they would.

Having the confirmation straight from a friend's mouth, a man he'd become closer during their time on the turtle... still hurts. But it's not like he can blame him, blame any of them.

"I will not touch him. Maybe it's better I talk to Mera first, then?"

They aren't purposely hurtful, but he also won't mince words after what happened to Mera and Kaldur'ahm. His family was murdered in that bottle, and whether or not it was actually Superman aside, he will not let go of it so easily. Atlanteans are a close-knit bunch, especially here, and if this puts his friendship with Kal at bay for the moment, it's a risk that Arthur will always take for his family and his people.

He has a responsibility to them first and foremost.

"You can talk to us together. And then if Kaldur consents to seeing you, one or both of us will supervise. I know you weren't yourself, Kal, but I will not fail to protect them again when they're all I have."

This is about when the front door to the suite opens and Mera appears in the doorway. Truthfully, she had heard their voices outside and had been sticking close to the door to make sure nothing terrible was going to happen. Kal might be in his right mind now but she's still slightly wary.

"Ah, I thought I heard voices out here. Is everything alright?"

"I understand-" He's about to reply to Arthur when Mera steps outside, and like every time he sees Mera now he can only see the fight. The pain. The red and her death cold eyes in replay inside of his head because he'd killed the closest thing to a son they had in this place. Would he ever forgive anyone if they had killed Chris? Would he ever forgive anyone if the had hurt Lois?

He isn't sure he knows the answer, but he's pretty sure it's not a sure 'yes' as he'd like it to be.

"It's alright. I just- I checked out of prison? And I... wanted to apologize. In person. Without bars between us."

Arthur looks over at Mera as she steps out, and manages a small smile for her, reaching out with his good hand to curl his fingers over hers in an affectionate gesture. It's no wonder that the two of them are still wary, and like this, they're an obvious united front, but Arthur hasn't made any possibly threatening movements yet.

As long as Kal keeps a respectful distance.

"Maybe we should talk inside."

"Good to see you came to your senses."

Mera returns Arthur's smile. She's quite obviously still tense but like hell she's gonna show any sign of fear. Everyone here is perfectly themselves but if anything does happen to go wrong, she's sure she and Arthur can handle it together. Besides, this time they're surrounded with a plentiful amount of water. She's at her best in this environment.

"Yes, that would be a good idea." She steps away from the door, motioning for Kal to go in. "Please, come inside."

Kal comes inside, making it a point to keep his hands where they can see them. He feels a bit awkward acting like this in front of his friends, but it's not the first time he's gone through something like this. If it's what it takes to get some semblance of friendship back from them, he'll take it.

"For the record, if it makes you both uncomfortable to have me visiting in your home I will avoid it from now on."

Arthur nods in slight approval as he watches Kal come inside after them, hands visible. It's a useless gesture anyway since heat vision doesn't exactly require hands, but the thought behind it is what he approves of. He closes the door behind them and then heads into the kitchen to dig around in the fridge, keeping the door propped open with his hip while he finds the bottles.

"Want a beer?" It might make things a little less awkward, anyway, something to do with their hands all around. "I don't think I need to say that Kaldur's suite is off limits entirely, but if we were uncomfortable-" The way he says it implies that he's actually saying 'scared'. "-to have you here, you would not be here."

She approves of Kal's attempts to make them comfortable as well and while Arthur goes into the kitchen, she makes herself comfortable on a sofa. There's no reason to stand around and discuss this. Might as well be comfortable while having a possibly strained discussion.

"As Arthur says. We're not in the habit of doing things that make up uncomfortable." If they don't like something, they don't do it. It's that simple. "Feel free to have a seat."

"Uh, I'll take one, if it's alright?" He calls out to Arthur, sounding a but surprised at the offer. He knows if it were him he wouldn't be able to chat amiable with someone he was wary of, but that is probably one of the reasons people think of him as black-and-white when it comes to morality.

He takes a seat, far away from Mera to make it clear he doesn't want to invade any space but not far away to make it awkward. He hopes. "I know, you guys wouldn't just have me here to keep an image. Which is why I'm so grateful."

He comes back into the sitting room with three beers, two in his hand and one under his arm. it's been a while since he's had to adjust to the slight disability. There's still an air of tension in the room as he sets the drinks on the table and pushes one toward Kal, then takes a seat beside Mera, thigh to thigh with her in an obvious show of unity.

"You should at least get a chance to say your piece, I guess."

When Arthur sits, Mera leans lightly into his side. She and Arthur are a solid unit. That much she is confident of. It's still nice to have the reassurance that he's there, though.

"You should. Say whatever you wish to say. There's no reason to hold back." She certainly won't.

If it takes a moment for him to say anything after he's accepted the beer it's not because he doesn't know what to say. It's because he feels like whatever he will say isn't enough. He could word it in a gentle purple prose, he could use all the metaphors and adjectives he wanted to pretty it up and make it all the more heartfelt. But in the end it all comes down to three words.

"I am sorry." He feels ridiculous, but now... he guesses it's out. "I know it's not enough, I now it will never be enough. But I am, I really am- and I wish there was a way to take it back.

A way to make it up to you both. Make it up to all of you."

Edited 2014-03-29 14:58 (UTC)

Arthur wedges the cap off his beer and takes a slow sip while he listens to Kal, as respectfully as possible given the circumstances. It's not right to not even bother to really hear someone out. He's quiet through the speech, until he seems to be done, and then he sets his beer down on the coffee table.

"All we can do now is live with what happened. I accept your apology, though I cannot speak for my wife or Kaldur. And I won't pretend the trust we'd built isn't damaged now."

Mera settles her hands in her lap, listening to Kal's apology. She's completely impassive the entire time, face betraying nothing of what she might be feeling. It's an awkward situation for everyone, this is very true. But personally she thinks Kal is showing quite a bit of courage coming here to talk to them. Much more than he did when he spent so long hiding in prison.

"An apology will not erase what was done. But I do appreciate it. Thank you. As for Kaldur'ahm...he is old enough to make the decision on whether or not to speak to you for himself. Perhaps he will and perhaps he won't. Whatever his decision, I trust you will respect it." She trusts Kal with that, at least. "As I told you in the prison, I am not angry. But I will also not tolerate you harming Kaldur ever again."

Kal doesn't bother fighting his lips and allows himself a little if sad smile. He doesn't want them to think he's making fun of their words, but it's just such a relief to hear them be honest yet accepting.

"I am aware I can't just pretend nothing happened. Pa Kent- Jonathan, once told me trust was like a piece of paper: easily crumbled, but once you do it will never be the same again. But I assure you both if anything like that was to ever happen I-" He frowns, the sad smile melting of his lips as he looks down. That's why he spent so much in prison, wasn't it? Because he knew it was a possibility. And what, he'd let himself get killed? Bruce had tried, and had died for his troubles. "...I assure you I will not allow for something like that to happen again. I won't.

And I will not put a single finger on Kaldur'ahm. I told Arthur you could be in the room if needed, I just want to tell him exactly what I just told you."

"As long as we're on the same page, then." It's a wise metaphor, trust being like a piece of paper, but at the same time, saying it isn't believing it, that he's okay with this development. Arthur's hand tightens slightly around Mera's, giving a light squeeze as he watches Kal.

"If he'll consent to hearing you out, then we won't stop it. If he says no, then that's that." And they'll fight to keep Kaldur's privacy if it comes down to it. The teenager isn't technically theirs, but they love him like family, and family is the most important thing to both Atlantean monarchs.

"And I want to know what you're going to do to prevent this from happening again. Saying you won't allow it... Those are just empty words."

"Us being in the room at the time of the conversation depends on Kaldur'ahm's wishes." She doesn't want to intrude on what could potentially be a very sensitive moment. At the same time, she'd feel better being there. But whatever Kaldur wants is what she'll do. He's old enough to make his own decisions. "As I said, he's old enough to make his own choices."

She certainly appreciates the sentiment, though. The comment about what he'll do to prevent this from happening is a good one. One that hadn't occurred to her until now. "A plan would make us feel more comfortable, I think."

He doesn't comment on any of their points about Kaldur'ahm, he agrees with all of them fully. It's up to him if he wants to listen, just like it had been up to Arthur and Mera moments ago. They choose to listen, even if forgiving might take a little longer. If the kid refused to... it would hurt, he can't deny that. But he'd also understand and respect it.

"Honestly? I have no idea." He runs a hand through his hair, taking a sip of the beer simply to have something to do with his other hand. "Staying in prison would help, since I have no powers there, but I can't just stay in there util the end of time- I've already forced my stay there long enough.

I guess I could talk to the Kedan? See if they have some sort of magic shield to protect us from corruption?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, I'm hoping you'll understand

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