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So as Clark talked about some issue or another, she watched as Chloe talked with Lana. “Chloe’s body language is hostile.” Lois might not have noticed a real change in Chloe’s body language as she was talking with her, but it was obvious as she spoke with Lana. It was even slightly apparent as she stood next to Clark. Chloe had leaned away from Clark. Chloe usually stood firmly in his personal bubble. Clark never minded because they were exceptionally close friends. Lana and Chloe’s conversation afforded her the ability to objectively look at Chloe.
heh, I liked how the fic began with Lois stating her bewilderment about WHAT Chloe sees in Clark. It is true that, discounting his amazing superpowers, Clark actually seems like a mediocre doofus… nothing amazing about him at all, except for the fact that he’s ‘pretty’. But then again, Clark Kent has spent a lifetime learning how to blend in and make himself as average looking and inconspicuous as possible… so it’s easy to see why Lois wouldn’t see the attraction… not right away.
It was also very interesting to see that Lois has also observed something a little ‘off’ about Chloe body language. Not only the way Chloe is now distancing herself from Clark, but also how she’s acting around Lana…
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Lois took in Chloe’s stance. “It’s wide. To stabilize. Stabilize for what?” Chloe’s eyes seemed to dart over Lana’s body. “As if she’s looking for something.” Lois trailed her eyes over Lana in much the same path as Chloe’s. “What could she possibly be looking for?” If the gravity of the situation had been any less, Lois might’ve been tempted to make an internal comment on how Chloe could’ve been looking for a brain or even an errant thought in that vapid exterior. And then Lois saw Chloe’s eyes move to Lana’s. And something she thought she’d never see happened. Lana dropped her eyes for a split second. Lana’s head actually ducked and her eyes lowered. “What the hell?” But something else happened to trump even that and make Lois’ eyes widen and a gasp to almost slip from her lips. Chloe’s entire body posture changed. No longer was irritation and hostility evident in her frame. No longer did she seem like she wanted to be anywhere other than standing in front of Lana speaking with her. Chloe *relaxed*. It didn’t last for long. And then Lana’s and Chloe’s conversation apparently came to an end. Lois didn’t think that Chloe had even realized what was going on. She also didn’t think that Lana realized what had happened either. Lois was certain that Chloe was most likely too busy trying to seem as if nothing was wrong for her benefit. Lois watched Chloe leave the Talon. Her body language alert. “As if she’s anticipating an attack of any sort.” If Lois, for even a second, had thought about not uncovering what was going on with her cousin then what she had just witnessed steeled her resolve.
This was fascinating! Lois is a lot more observant and insightful that I would have given her credit for. I really like this version of Lois… THIS woman is showing true signs of being a budding reporter and investigator that she’s destined to become.
Hmmm, I didn’t ‘completely’ get what happened between Chloe and Lana… Obviously it began with Chloe surveying Lana’s body and finding startling evidence of NO pregnancy as well as a vague sense of ‘wrongness’ about her… but after that? What made Chloe ‘suddenly relax’ around Lana… Was it because Lana ducked her head and lowered her eyes (signs of submission), which allowed Chloe to feel like she had established her dominance over the girl, and therefore allowed herself to relax?
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“What was so important that for the last few minutes I might as well have been talking to the cows?”
Lois could not believe that Clark would actually liken her to a cow. If Lois had been a lesser person, she might’ve decked the guy. “Negative reinforcement would do wonders on Farmer Ted.”
“Did you actually imply that I was a cow? Seriously Clark, were you raised in a field or just in the barn itself?”
Lois felt a momentary twinge as Clark’s eyes actually darkened. “I suppose I very nearly came close to impugning the honor of his most sainted mother.” But Clark was too much of a stand-up guy to say anything in reply. She watched as Clark glanced to his watch.
Heh, there’s something fun seeing two completely tactless and verbally inelegant people sniping at each other. Especially when they manage to accidentally score some hits off each other, LOL! It might lack the polish and grace of Chlex banter, but it’s still great fun to watch.
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“Clark, don’t be mad. It was a joke. It would be just like if someone asked me if I lived under power lines as a child. Nothing to get your flannel in a bunch over.”
Clark shook his head and a small smile danced across his features. “Did you see what just happened there? You actually came close to apologizing. Maybe we’re making progress after all. I actually do need to head home. I’ll talk to you later.”
Heh, but the good thing about these two… at least they’re very quick to apologize IF they happen to realize that they’ve hurt someone’s feelings. So at least there are no lingering feelings of resentment between these two… not this time, mostly because they were not oblivious of the accidental damage they had done on each other.
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It was a shame that Clark, Lois, and Chloe were all too wrapped up in their own concerns and as a consequence missed the pair of eyes that had tracked Chloe from the time she entered the Talon until she left.
It was in moments like these that Samuel Kale appreciated the swift, progressive turns that technology underwent every few months. Competition made the world go ‘round. Bluetooth was probably one of the best inventions to hit the market. It made talking on the phone such an inconspicuous thing. The conversation taking place would’ve proven to be interesting no matter who overheard. But it held particular importance to Chloe and would’ve provided a less ephemeral lead for Lois.
“Boss, Patient 081 just left the Talon. The second surveillance unit is moving into place.”
woah, WOAH! New player! Actually it seems like there might be a whole team of new players! The mystery thickens, and now, on top of the mysterious voice in Chloe’s head, there’s ALSO a surveillance team watching and recording her every move. As if the poor girl didn’t have enough troubles. Heh, I can’t wait to see how this turns out, it bodes to be an exciting fic :D
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Kale listened for a response and when none was forthcoming, he continued, “We have the recordings from the microphones Miss Lang so industriously placed around the Talon. This would be much easier if you simply gave me the authorization to enter 081’s apartment.”
The cultured tones that filled his ear were bored, “If she is what we think she is and if she is capable of what we think she is then she will know that her residence has been violated. Simply do as you are told and improvise as little as possible.”
VERY interesting! Whoever has hired the surveillance on Chloe has some notion about her heightened senses of smell and hearing… AND they might have an idea that she will NOT react well to having her personal space and territory invaded by strangers.
I wonder who this ‘cultured voice’ might be… Most logical answer might be Lex Luthor, but the most obvious answer is not always right… and it could just as easily be anyone with enough resources to carry this out… including Lionel Luthor, Oliver Queen, Bruce Wayne or ANY new character that Ava wants to introduce.
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“We might be having a few problems with the future Missus Luthor. She insists on more involvement.”
Freaking HECK!! That nasty horrible backstabbing witch is in on this too??!!! SHE knows about all these people experimenting on Chloe and then watching her afterwards?! AND she wants firther involvement in this interference in Chloe’s life? I hope the nasty witch gets what’s coming to her!
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Kale was not an idiot. Had he been any less smart, he knew that he would’ve found himself in a cell. Instead of bowing under the weight of the circumstances of his childhood, he got his degree in psychology and joined the marines. It’s what made him so good at what he did. Well, that and the fact that he looked pretty ordinary. He was someone that no one would be able to describe to a sketch artist simply because few people would actually remember that he was anywhere near the scene. There was nothing distinguishing about him. As a younger man, Kale was often bothered by this fact. But the money and the respect he garnered made it inconsequential. It was because of the fact that he was one of the best that he knew a threat when he heard one.
The voice on the other end of the phone continued, “She is still a serviceable asset. Dr. Langston assures me that all is progressing as planned. After this is over, she will be replaced. Until then, deal with her arrogance and her need to be something more than she is. Let her feel important and clever. Are we clear?”
I liked the description given of Kale. It really helped me get a sense of the history and personality of this character. Although the note that came later about how he seemed to be looking so forward to killing Chloe was VERY chilling!
Heh, but on the other hand… I liked all the cruel references to Lana, especially how the ‘cultured voice’ said that Lana was to be reassured and ‘made to feel important and clever’ until it was time for her to be ‘replaced’. It seems like Lana’s high and mighty days are numbered, and I can’t wait to see the witch meet with her downfall.
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After Clark finished his chores, he went to the barn to be alone. He hadn’t been angered over Lois’ insinuations and slight insult, but he did feel the need to do some quiet reflection. Of course, most people would’ve called it brooding or being needlessly angsty.
LOL! I loved this reference to Clark’s constant moping brooding hissy fit in the barn all the time. It’s promising that he’s at least self-aware enough to realize how his behaviour might appear to others.
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Clark was no fool. He knew that his view of the world was limited. It had to be. His gifts were too strong to allow for him to be as dynamic as other people. Clark knew that he wedged the people in his life into roles. His mother and father could never be more than that to him. He couldn’t let them be friends. They had to serve as the code by which he lived his life. Martha had to always be the person that took care of him. That protected him with remarkable ferocity. His father had to always remain the rigid, moral force in his life. Lana had to be the girl to which he aspired to have. She was perfect in his eyes. Pure. She needed him and no matter whose arms she ran to, or what plans and actions she engaged in, she had to be *that* girl for him. And Chloe…Chloe had to be his best friend. Chloe occupied that place in his life that served as an example.
If Jonathan and Martha were the road that he traveled, then Chloe was the compass that he held in his hand every step of the way. She showed him how to be better. His parents lectured, they proselytized the virtues of strength and honor, but they were never examples of what it meant to be those things the way that Chloe was. She was alive and dynamic. She never lectured him, but with every action she took she showed him how to be better. Her tenacity, her strength, her thirst for knowledge and truth were manifest in everything she did. How could he, a man whose gifts elevated him, be any different?
Wow! This was incredible, Ava. I really enjoyed seeing this re-assessment of Clark’s character. You actually gave a GOOD reason for Clark having such a one-dimensional, limited, black-and-white view of life. And I can see how this would translate perfectly into the DC Canon version of Superman… the stalwart and true hero who refuses to compromise his vision of ‘good and evil’ and stands as a symbol for beautiful simple, clean and pure principles everywhere.
And I loved how Clark said that it’s Chloe as well as Jonathan and Martha who are the role-models for his life… the source of all the principles that he’s eventually going to come to stand for. It’s lovely that he appreciates Chloe like this… even if the idiot doesn’t SHOW her what an important part of his life she really is.
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He could clearly see the scale of any obstacle that was thrown his way, but the minutia of life and all that it entails were obscured to him because he couldn’t allow himself to become too invested in those things. Clark knew that if such things became paramount to him, then he could easily descend into thinking that he was superior and not merely gifted. His role as protector was not a mantle that he had donned willingly, but a burden placed on his shoulder by the mere fact that he was what he was and his parents reinforced this. It would’ve been so easy to chafe at this, but the people in his life that filled a role moderated and soothed that which could have broken him.
It was VERY interesting how Ava has made Clark so self-aware, so he KNOWS about the limitations of his views, but he knows they are necessary for him to maintain his sense of self and not give into the urge to abuse his powers… not even the ‘slightest’ bit. VERY nice, Ava… I’m actually proud of your Clark, and I can see how he can grow up to become Superman.
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He couldn’t grant himself the luxury to pick and choose when and where to be moral; he had to be obsessively consistent because he wanted to be a good person. He wanted to be worthy of the gifts that he was granted. Clark could readily admit to himself that he was lonely, but Chloe took him as he was. He wasn’t the savior his parents wanted him to be yet. He wasn’t the man that Lana could love. He wasn’t able to be a friend to Lex. But he could be the person that Chloe cared for and was loyal to. He could simply be himself and he knew that Chloe would like him still. And it was for this reason that no matter what happened he couldn’t let her go. He realized that he took her for granted, but all she would ever need to do is cast one glance at him and he knew he’d go running. But the thing about Chloe was that she never did. She didn’t need him like others needed him.
The harsh truth was that Chloe didn’t *need* him, she *wanted* him. Clark knew that if she had never met him then her life would be much the same. She’d still have her journalism. She’d still get into trouble. Her vivacious personality would still exist, but would his parents have been content? They needed a child and he could be that. Lana needed a savior and he could be that too. Chloe, however, wanted him around and that freed him to find his way. It freed him to accept what he was and what he could be…to find his purpose. It meant that he could be content, he could be happy, but most of all it meant that he didn’t have to be alone.
This was also great. I’m actually beginning to think that ‘deep down’ Clark is a person who is actually worthy of Chloe’s friendship and loyalty. It’s obvious that he appreciates her and the role she plays in his life. In fact, he actually seems to hold her in reverence, unlike any other person. Not even Lana is granted the same kind of awe and worship that Chloe has in Clark’s eyes. It’s really such a pity that the stupid, careless idiot doesn’t SHOW Chloe how much she means to him. It’s just pure laziness!
I loved the distinction Ava drew about how other people ‘need’ Clark, while Chloe ‘wants’ him… It was a very interesting perception that I have never considered before, and it was a real-eye-opener about the way Clark sees Chloe.
Other people need him to perform a particular function as a saviour, devoted admirer, loving son, loyal friend… Everyone expects him to live up to a certain role, while Chloe is the only person who accepts him fully for all his faults, bumblings, eccentricities and carelessness… and she still adores him, and WANTS him in her life… as he is. I thought it was beautiful how Clark NEEDS Chloe to reaffirm his sense of self, but I was also ticked off on how he uses her to reaffirm himself without returning the favour to her. Lazy bastard!
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Clark was getting tired of this particular train of thought and was about to leave to go to the house when he heard shuffling, a crash, and a faint moan. He quickly ran outside and saw Chloe lying on the ground, clad only in an over-sized shirt, half conscious and covered in blood.
heh, it’s about time some kind of an emergency happened where Clark was finally supposed to ACT on his friendship and loyalties for Chloe. She needs to be prioritized now, and no more excuses, you lazy farmboy!
Hmmm, I wonder what led to Chloe ending up here tonight covered in blood? Was she hunting? Or was something hunting HER? Let’s see how it turns out in the next chapter… PLEASE update soon, Ava!
