( closed ) Seven sunrises and seven more nights...

[flakjackets]

Who: Lois and Clark
When: Evening of 4/3
Where: Starting in the Garden, going from there
What: It's time to have an awkward conversation because life goes on...
Warnings: MUCH AWKWARD VERY WOW

Lois had been surprisingly busy over the past few days, doing her own exploring and coming to terms with just what was in store. She'd been itching to go down to the prison world, to expand her scope beyond the realm of the ship. And yet she hadn't. She'd done her due diligence in getting her own ducks in a row. Settle into her new job while trying to establish some sort of order.

However, even in all this she can't stay away from the only person she actually knows for too long. She tries to give him some space, let him continue his own life without inserting herself into it somehow. He was a friend of sorts back home, a hero in his own way. She can't work through sorting him into a box if she doesn't make the effort to actually get to know him. The real him, not the figure that's been placed on something of a pedestal. That person who'd changed something in her and made her realize there was still good in the world.

Besides, she needed to give him shit about his doppelgänger and hope that her case of mistaken identity could be a gateway into her real reason for tracking him down. She makes a little bit of an effort, wearing her hair down before starting in the garden. It takes a bit, but she eventually finds him - quietly moving until she's off to the side, watching him with a soft smile.

"This is quite the undertaking. Very impressive. The kittens are... Interesting."

Comments

[heliakal]

Clark has been keeping busy. He doesn't really know what else to do with himself. Beyond being available and supplying her with as much information as he can, there's nothing to do for Lois except to let her have her space. She'll process and adjust to everything in her own time, on her own terms. He doesn't have any doubt about that.

Still, he keeps to the ship for the first few days. If he's honest, he still wants to be close, and maybe not just to keep an eye on her. He hasn't forgotten the last time he saw Miles, and just how utterly out of himself he'd been. As far as Clark knows, he's not really improving, either.

That nothing has gone disastrously wrong with Kara, Conner, or Zatanna recently is some consolation, at least. He never thought he'd end up responsible for three teenagers just out of the blue. It's not that he's unhappy about it - they're all great kids - it's just... complicated. In a few months he's gone from one or two people in his life to several, most of whom expect him to be solid.

He really wishes he could talk to his mother about all of this because, honestly, sometimes he has no idea what he's doing.

He's so lost in his thoughts that he's entirely unaware of anything until Lois speaks up behind him. He sits back on his haunches and turns to look at her. There's a beat of silence where he just stares back, mirroring that small, soft smile.

They haven't had a lot of time together, but there's something about Lois Lane that just makes him think everything will work out fine.

"I got a lot of help," he says, honest. "And the kittens are... a long story."

He gives her a once-over, his brow furrowing just a little. "How are you doing?"

[flakjackets]

It's honestly exactly what she needed, that reminder that he was around without him actually hovering. She'd managed to stay out of trouble for the most part and was even beginning to make progress on her project.

She'd been to the garden a few times before this, but that had been more work related than pleasure or whatever she wanted to label this as. Where she might exude a form of comfort to him, he does the exact same for her. It's not forced or an attitude she sometimes has to project when following a story.

"Well, they're very popular it seems." She doesn't miss that little once over, dipping her head slightly before answering his question. Her visit did technically have more than one purpose. Might as well get right into it. "Good. Better than before. I started interviewing a few people about their time here, met Zara... oh and I met your doppelganger." And without missing a beat, she's just going to push on. "I was surprised just how much people were willing to share about themselves. I honestly thought it'd be more of a debate on the whys." Yup, she's definitely circling back to the interviews rather than lingering on the whole doppelgänger thing.

[heliakal]

"They're adoptable," he offers, just as one of them determinedly begins to climb his pant leg. Clark has long since resigned himself to the position of 'favorite cat toy' while trying to work.

He wouldn't have minded a visit for no particular reason, but he doesn't really expect it, either. Lois gets right to the point, as always.

"Nathaniel? I've heard he does a great impression of me," Clark says, without inflection. He watches her curiously, but if there's any more to the story, she doesn't look like she's interested in sharing. "What happened?"

It's entirely possible that nothing at all happened, but it's also highly unlikely, considering that every now and again someone just attacks him out of the blue. If he said anything to Lois...

The interviews, at least, have Clark's expression clearing to something softer. He pushes himself to his feet and comes over to her. The kitten has long-since curled up on his shoulder to nap.

"Well, people can surprise you when they're united toward a common purpose. I'm glad you're finding your way around here. Dig up anything interesting so far?"

[flakjackets]

"I don't think I should be trusted with a kitten, considering my work schedule. I think the little guy would get lonely." C'mon now, Lois - be truthful. It's a work schedule you're setting for yourself. She knew he was going to ask more about the other guy and she really wasn't ready to have that talk again. Or maybe she was, only this time it'd be far more truthful... And maybe that was a little terrifying.

"Mostly things about home worlds, their time on the ship - places they've seen while here. Flying whales?" That's still mind-boggling to her. She's almost sad she missed it, but then if the corresponding logs had been true - it's probably for the best. She had a knack for being drawn towards the darker side of humanity and it could have gotten ugly. BUT she doesn't linger on that, instead circling back to what she'd wanted to avoid. She'd caught that look and there was no way she could just leave it at that. "As for Nathaniel, the impression is top notch. Mannerisms and all, really it was impressive in its own way. We talked, mostly. Had dinner. He asked --"

Deep breath. Sink or swim, Lane. Dipping her head slightly, she lets her hair fall into her face for a moment before brushing it behind her ear. "He asked if it was selfish to be happy I was on the ship, we talked a little about relationships but I'm glad that didn't get too far." She's just going to leave eeeeeeeeeeeeeverything else that happened out for now and hope that what she gave him is more than enough.

[heliakal]

Clark raises his eyebrows. "You've been here three days and you've already packed your work schedule?"

He's not really that surprised, just concerned that she might be putting herself under too much stress too quickly. Then again, this is the woman who tracked him across the country and helped him stop a disaster. Hitting the ground running is probably her way of coping.

He smiles and nods at the first bit. He's fond of the flying whales, and glad things worked out peacefully for everyone involved. And speaking of things working out peacefully...

Clark's jaw sets as she talks about Napoleon. He'd asked him not to play this sort of game, but apparently that message hadn't gotten through. He's not angry that they had dinner - well, maybe a little jealous - but his irritation is squarely directed at Napoleon, who has clearly taken advantage of the pretense.

"I'm starting to understand why I get attacked so often..." Clark murmurs, and then she dips her head and continues on. He actually flushes, caught-out, because it's exactly what he'd been thinking when she first arrived. It was just that Napoleon had said as much out loud.

"Yeah, of course. He didn't - try anything, did he?" Because that seems like Napoleon's MO. "While we're on the subject maybe we should sit down and talk. About us."

There's not really an 'us' per se, but they're both adults here, and there's no denying that there's something they need to sort out.

[flakjackets]

Things had been going smoothly. Or as smoothly as she could have expected to a point. When his jaw sets, she almost says something until that comes out of his mouth and she can't help but be floored. Sure, she'd guessed that she wasn't Napoleon's first attempt at playing Clark... But, she never expected the imitations to lead to violence.

"I'm sorry, what?" She didn't miss the blush, her own expression softening as she tells him exactly what he needs to hear. "No. No he didn't because no matter how smooth he might have been, we aren't there." Yet. She doesn't say it, but it may or may not be implied. She likes him - that shouldn't be a secret. And they were complete adults, able to have this discussion without dissolving into teens.

"Yes, that'd be -- that'd be great. Did you want to talk now or should we meet somewhere a little later? Or I could bring some food back here, let you finish up your work?"

[heliakal]

He realizes a too late that the comment was a little alarming, and he gives her a small, apologetic smile. "One woman shot at me, and another broke her fist on my jaw. We straightened things out after the fact, it was just..."

He shakes his head. What is there to say about that? It would be ridiculous if it wasn't true.

He's honestly relieved that nothing happened between them, and not for entirely unselfish reasons. He likes her - he's missed her - but they really aren't quite there yet, and a third party complicating things isn't something that they need.

It's tempting to take her up on the offer to meet up again later and sort things out comfortably over dinner. If it had been anyone else, he might not have minded waiting until it was convenient, but the thought of putting it off much longer is already tying knots in his stomach. "I can finish up later - I mean, if you're not busy right now."