( open ) turns into gold in the sunlight

[contacts]

who: lois lane + various
what: a tough as nails journalist gets bitten by a firefly or two and becomes very affectionate
when: saturday, april 29th
where: the park and a bar
warnings: adults in love ("gross" — jon kent)



✘ for jon (closed)

[ there are probably better and healthier means of bonding with a child than taking them out for ice cream once a week, but this is something that lois already knows works and she's still at a loss on how to feel about jonathan kent. he's her son, but he isn't her son, not really. she isn't ready for children and doesn't know if she'll ever be. just because some version of her in another universe had a child at some point in her life doesn't mean that lois ever will, she knows that.

it doesn't really matter, though. she's the adult here and jon's so quick to call her mom, he obviously misses his mother and admires his father endlessly and lois isn't going to fail him just because she never counted on having children. besides, spending time with him is not exactly a hardship. he's cute, generally easy-going, he hasn't thrown any tantrums or anything — the other her probably did a pretty good job raising him. or he just got all that from clark.

so she invites him out for ice cream again and they walk through the park with it. lois has managed to escape the fireflies so far, though she's heard about them. it isn't really the time of day she expects them to be out, though, and so she isn't paying attention — until she feels one bite her in the arm. ]

Damn. [ she probably shouldn't swear around a minor, should she? ]

✘ for taako (closed)

[ lois thinks clark is out exploring, and she's not quite willing to just go back to the housing that she still refuses to call a home. so she texts someone she hadn't been sure she'd contact again instead, someone she's pretty sure will listen and get a kick out of it without making a fuss about it later.

she might have been skeptical about his magic, but she'd like to think that she got a good read on who he is as a person despite that and he'd seemed, well, nice. she really needs more people to drink with, to spend time with outside of work.

that's an odd thought; work has always been everything to lois.

once at the bar, it isn't difficult at all to spot taako. ] Thanks for meeting me. [ she says with a grin that's a lot softer than any expression she's worn during their previous meeting. ]

✘ for peggy (closed)

[ at some point, lois leaves taako alone at their table for a while to freshen up in the restrooms and to get more drinks. leaning against the bar, she meets the gaze of a woman with dark hair in beautiful rolls, immaculate lipstick, a glass of some dark amber liquid in front of her. ]

Scotch? [ lois asks, and ] Can you recommend it?

✘ open

[ between spending time with jon and meeting taako for drinks, lois can be found on a park bench with a soppy grin on her face, ready to tell just about anyone about how great a partner clark kent is.

alternatively, come chat with her in the bar while taako's on a bathroom break or getting more drinks. ]

Comments

[advanced]

[Bucky is often wary about coming into the main city, but he can't deny that he likes the park and so every few days he risks jogging through there. He might just have passed by, but he notices her on the bench and recognises her right away.

He probably owes her an apology.

He's not good at those, though, so instead he just stops a short distance away, gloved hands pushed into his pockets awkwardly.]

I spoke to Clark about you.

[contacts]

[ he stops a short distance away, standing there a little awkwardly, and any other day, lois might feel the need to poke at him again, to try and get just a little more information out of him than she did last time.

today, right now, she just smiles. ] What did he say? [ it's not fishing for compliments, but neither is she trying to interview him right now. ]

[advanced]

That you could be trusted.

[He doesn't. But he doesn't know her, so he's not about to trust her. Clark holds her in really high regard, though, and hinted that he might not keep any secrets from her in the future either.]

[contacts]

I'd like to think that's true.

[ of course clark said that. of course clark trusts her; the thought gets a somewhat soppy smile out of lois, warm and affectionate in ways she wouldn't usually wear on her sleeve, out for the world to see. ]

[advanced]

[He doesn't know her well enough to know if this behaviour is out of character for her yet, but she seems more relaxed today than she did last time.]

I need to know what he told you about me.

[contacts]

Not much. That you knew. That it isn't because he told you but because you found out.

[ she lifts her shoulders in a shrug, smile a little rueful because of course clark has decided to trust this man who keeps secrets regardless. ] That he thinks you'll keep his secret.

Oh, and one of your many names.

[advanced]

[Nothing about what they discussed in that abandoned building, then. It's a surprise, but it's also reassuring, and it makes his shoulders relax just a bit.]

He's not wrong, I won't tell anyone about him. That's his business.

[Besides, Clark has earned his loyalty by now.]

[contacts]

You don't seem to tell anyone much about yourself at all, if the fake names are anything to go by.

[ lois shrugs, her own posture remaining relaxed and easy not in an attempt to fool him but because she really is feeling this relaxed. there's even a hint of affection in her tone, like giving out fake names is a peculiarity that isn't particularly worrisome. ]

[advanced]

That's because who I am is nobody's business but mine.

[Is she drunk or something? She seems much less fierce than when he spoke to her last time, much less suspicious.]

You okay?

[contacts]

[ lois lifts a hand, wiggling it slightly in a so-so sign. ]

I got bit by one of those fireflies. [ she's self-aware enough, at leasts, to know that her behaviour at the moment is pretty atypical. she doesn't mind, not right now, but she's aware of it. ]

[advanced]

Oh.

[She's not the first person he's seen that's been bitten, but her problems seem very different to the ones he's seen before. It feels wrong to just leave her alone, almost like abandoning someone who's been drugged.]

Can I take you home?

[contacts]

[ lois' smile in reaction starts slow but keeps growing and growing. ]

That's sweet of you. I'm not drunk, though. Just feeling warm fuzzies.

[advanced]

You're compromised, doesn't matter how it happened.

[If she won't go with him, he'll have to stay with her. He at least owes it to Clark to keep her safe.]

[contacts]

I'm not sure I'd go that far. But why don't you walk me to the bar? I'm meeting a friend there.

[ calling taako a friend may still be a bit of a stretch at this point, admittedly. ]

[advanced]

[He's really not sure she ought to be drinking when she's already compromised, but that's her choice and so he nods briefly.]

Is it Clark?

[Because he could at least know Clark would get her home safely.]

[contacts]

[ at the mention of clark's name, lois can't help but smile, her expression full of affection. love, even. ]

Clark is more than a friend.

[advanced]

[His eyebrows raise slightly, but he's not that surprised.]

I take it that means no.

[contacts]

I'm meeting one of his friends.

[ his guess was right. ]

[advanced]

[He offers her an arm, a gesture automatic rather than thought about.]

Alright. Direct me, and I'll take you there.

[contacts]

[ lois quirks an eyebrow, smiling. ]

So there's a gentleman hidden under your scowls somewhere?

[advanced]

Or maybe I just don't want your boyfriend to murder me if I let something happen to you.

[It's said in his usual dry tone, but there's the slightest uptilt to his mouth to show he's joking.]

[contacts]

Partner. [ comes the immediate correction, though lois is still smiling, so it's really a gentle reminder more than anything. ] I'm too old to call anyone a boyfriend.

And he wouldn't kill you.

[advanced]

It used to be best guy in my day.

[All of this partner, boyfriend, nonsense.]

Come on, let's get you to the bar, ma'am.

[contacts]

Well, he's easily the best guy I know, too.

[ she's still wearing a sappy smile while she says it, but she finally takes his arm. ]

[advanced]

[He can't help but wonder if she'll regret saying this much when these effects wear off.]

I bet he'd be pleased to hear that.