( semi-closed )

[contacts]

who: clark kent, lois lane, kara danvers, jon kent + guests
what: the superfamily moves into a supermansion (okay, it's more of a cottage).
when: the move is early to mid-may, guests may come by for the latter half of the month.
where: the supercottage.
warnings: family shenanigans?






[ clark has found a house for his family. kara and jon have bedrooms upstairs, on the ground floor there's a kitchen, a living/dining room and lois' bedroom/study. there's a basement that will eventually feature a pool table or similar but for now is pretty empty.

supers, feel free to write your own starters for moving shenanigans, domestic things, getting used to living together, having guests over, etc. ]

Comments

[signifies]

I'm doing well, thanks for asking.

[ It's easier for him to be here than around the communal housing. He doesn't have to constantly listen for someone approaching when using his abilities.

Clark is used to going without, but he's been trying to make them more normal in Riverview. Everyone else has powers or doesn't blink at them. ]

We're a little close to the forest, but I think we can handle it.

[fingerstripes]

I was wondering how you were gonna manage that. [ He doesn't really think for a second that Clark wouldn't have every contingency mapped out anyway, but he's fascinated anyway by how carefully situated this place is. ]

You get much of a break from the noise? [ As much of a "break" as Superman can ever have. ]

[signifies]

[ Super-strength and super-hearing are very useful for anything unexpected the location brings. ]

It's easier to process out here. [ He's not surprised Dick would ask. Dick has always been considerate of him. ] I'm not sure it'd be a good thing if everything was quiet.

[fingerstripes]

Yeah. I guess not. [ He helps himself to a seat at the table with typical ease. ]

But a little distance from housing isn't a bad thing. [ He's been thinking about making the jump himself. ]

[signifies]

It gives you some privacy.

[ Dick probably already knows this. If he needs some extra motivation, this is it.

Clark sits opposite him. ]

I was thinking of building somewhere in the forest for us to use. It'd be a place to lay low if we ever needed it. What do you think?

[fingerstripes]

Man. Seriously? [ The idea delights him. ]

I actually- well, I started on a lair out by the edge of town. Remind me next time you've got some free time on patrol, I'll give you the locale. [ It's not much to look at now, but he'd always intended to share it with Clark, once there was more to it. He'd hoped, maybe a little selfishly, for the chance to impress him.

But Clark has a family now. A child to protect. It can't be a bad thing, to offer him as many ways to do that as possible. ]

Can I do anything to help? I'd love to give you a hand.

[signifies]

You did?

[ Dick doesn't have to try. Clark already respects him and is deeply impressed by his dedication to the work. He doesn't have enough perspective yet to worry about it being obsessive. To him, it's understandable why a human would want to push themselves if they lived in a world full of extraordinary people.

Between the two of them, they'll be able to secure the place properly. ]

I had some other ideas. A training room?

[fingerstripes]

With room to spare for a Kryptonian to test some limits? Yeah. [ Of course Clark is always thinking. ]

We'd need special materials, but the jungle's a big place. There's no telling what we'd find with a little exploring.

[signifies]

Or somewhere I could safely be at your level. [ They don't have kryptonite. Clark wouldn't want to be near it. Red sun radiation is a safer bet. ] We can scout out some locations this weekend?

[fingerstripes]

For the chance to be knocked sideways by the man of steel himself? [ Naturally it's a thought that brings a smile to his face at once. ]

Be a chance for me to teach you any fancy blocks you might want to know.

[ Superman has been known to lose his powers from time to time, after all. ]

[signifies]

[ Man of Steel is new. Clark isn't even sure how he feels about Superman yet. It helps people call him and looks good on a headline.

It could be worse. ]

If you don't mind. I've never had to be in a fight.

[fingerstripes]

You'll pick it up fast.

[ The Clarks are different men. All the more distinct in Dick's mind the better he gets to know this one, far away from the pressures of his own world and the specter of Batman. But Superman as a concept is as inescapable as air, and Dick barely notes his own slip.

He's quiet for a moment. He has something else on his mind also. ]

So I ran into a friend of yours not too long ago.

[signifies]

[ Dick's faith steadies him. He's not yet used to people believing. This might become more normal over time, and Clark wonders what that will feel like. ]

Oh? Which one?

[ He smiles: he has a few now. ]

[fingerstripes]

He's a little cagey about his name. [ And a wry little smile tugs at the side of his mouth. They're all in good company. ]

But he happened to mention that he knew yours.

[ Which is really the question he's working his way over to. ]

[signifies]

Oh, I see. [ Bucky had wanted to know if Dick was really his friend. Clark trusts Dick in a straightforward, clear way. ] Yeah, he uh. He found out about me.

A few people have. It's a little hard to keep that secret.

[fingerstripes]

He kinda had me figured out on day one. [ It's an embarrassing story, but his mouth quirks up a little anyway. ]

Paid me a visit while I was laying down security lines.

[ Stupidly, in the Nightwing suit. ]

[signifies]

In our defence, he is a trained covert operative. [ Clark smiles wryly, but this is a problem they can't really joke about. ] Has anyone else found out?

[fingerstripes]

No. I, uh- hung pretty tight after that.

[ It had been weeks before he'd gone back to housing for any length of time. Before he'd learned to trust Bucky enough to sleep again where he could be found by anyone but Clark. Dick studies the table for a moment, brow furrowed. This has been on his mind for a while now. ]

...You ever start to feel like it might only be a matter of time?

[signifies]

[ It's a lot more dangerous for Dick to be found out. Clark thought it was just him, until he realised he had a family to protect. He's been more careful since then. ]

I do. I'm not sure how we should act. You can wear a mask, but I don't think I'd feel right if I did that.

[fingerstripes]

Nah. Wouldn't match the ensemble. [ That Clark had already thought about and discarded the possibility makes him smile. No, it wouldn't be right for Superman to wear a mask. ]

I don't know what this says about the state of my social life in Bludhaven, but I don't remember having to juggle the divide anywhere near this much at home.

[ He also hadn't really had much of a life outside of fighting crime, seeing his family, and occasionally standing his landlady up for dates, so. ]

[signifies]

[ That he's gentle about it makes Clark smile back. He's never had to be, but he values the care Dick takes with him. It's why Clark trusts him so much.

Clark can't judge him about his social life. His own life doesn't leave a lot of room for that either. ]

Would you feel comfortable using an alias instead of Dick Grayson?

[ He's been thinking about going by Kal-El. ]

[fingerstripes]

If it came to that. [ To protect his family. Clark's family. There isn't much he wouldn't do. ]

But there's a risk everywhere, isn't there?

[signifies]

There is.

If it'd just been me, I wouldn't have to think. Now, there's an entire multiverse. There's your Superman, who's worked hard to keep himself and his family a secret. I don't have the right to blow that open.

[fingerstripes]

Not a worry I've ever had. [ Dick says, honestly. The closed environment here makes the stakes feel higher, and it means more to him than he can say that Clark's been willing to accept the burden of his secret as well. That there's someone here he can even have this discussion with. ]

It kind of comes down to Batman, for me. The only time I ever went against him on the identity thing was letting the Titans in.

[ His smile is a little rueful, but not really chagrined. They're family as much as Bruce is, and he'll never regret telling them the truth. ]

Let's just say I didn't see sunlight outside of class for a week.

...But I owe him that. I owe him my protection.

[ Regardless of whether any Bruce ever sees this place or not. ]

[signifies]

[ The certainty of Dick's faith amazes him. Clark nods, accepting it. This is what Superman has, more than anything else. People next to him who believe in his ability and accept his actions.

He's starting to have a taste of what that's like. ]

I understand. I think it'd be worth talking to him about if he arrives.

Honestly, it's easier for me to be the alien here. There's no real need for a cape. All of you have that covered.