![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
#D32F2F
[ He wants to address the losses. He wants to do something about them, but the guilt of them still eats into him: he'd been a wolf at the time, dangerous in a violent situation, and he'd been doing his best not to become a danger.
The problem with Superman as a violent beast is that he is more than well aware of exactly how fast and deadly he'd be without the mental barriers he puts in place not to be a danger. And keeping that from being unleashed on the town had been his priority.
But it still stings. All the same-]
I won't say much about everything that happened over the last few days. That said, I'd like to thank any and everyone who assisted in making and distributing the cure. As well as those who did all they could to defend the town. Suffice to say, you have my thanks and appreciation.
But as always, there's more to do so hopefully, here is where I can do my part.
It took a bit of processing, but I've managed to make some passable (if flavorless) toothpaste, washing soap for doing laundry, and soaks for strained of aching muscles.
For those who help medically and for those who are involved in our farming efforts, I'm happy to provide access to the rest of my store of epsom salts, and anyone is welcome to some of the baking soda if they need it. There are limited amounts [ because both had involved a somewhat complicated chemical process that he'd managed using some hastily welded pots and pans scavenged from where he could find them, minerals found in the ground with his senses, heat and processing and pressure provided by his own eyes and hands... ] but I'm happy to give what I have to our efforts.
I was also looking at the possibility of introducing some sort of running water to the town, perhaps utilizing a water tower to produce the pressure necessary. Nothing as complex as what we're used to, no doubt, but maybe we can make it a little less difficult to get water for people.
And last but not least, I'm going to do soap classes, spinning classes, and weaving classes on [ insert appropriate time and date here ] but let me know if you can't make it and we'll work something out.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be brighter.
Sincerely,
Clark Kent
[ooc: please assume if he promises you something, it'll get delivered to your house (or would have been delivered to your house if you asked for soap) unless you want to play it out]
The problem with Superman as a violent beast is that he is more than well aware of exactly how fast and deadly he'd be without the mental barriers he puts in place not to be a danger. And keeping that from being unleashed on the town had been his priority.
But it still stings. All the same-]
I won't say much about everything that happened over the last few days. That said, I'd like to thank any and everyone who assisted in making and distributing the cure. As well as those who did all they could to defend the town. Suffice to say, you have my thanks and appreciation.
But as always, there's more to do so hopefully, here is where I can do my part.
It took a bit of processing, but I've managed to make some passable (if flavorless) toothpaste, washing soap for doing laundry, and soaks for strained of aching muscles.
For those who help medically and for those who are involved in our farming efforts, I'm happy to provide access to the rest of my store of epsom salts, and anyone is welcome to some of the baking soda if they need it. There are limited amounts [ because both had involved a somewhat complicated chemical process that he'd managed using some hastily welded pots and pans scavenged from where he could find them, minerals found in the ground with his senses, heat and processing and pressure provided by his own eyes and hands... ] but I'm happy to give what I have to our efforts.
I was also looking at the possibility of introducing some sort of running water to the town, perhaps utilizing a water tower to produce the pressure necessary. Nothing as complex as what we're used to, no doubt, but maybe we can make it a little less difficult to get water for people.
And last but not least, I'm going to do soap classes, spinning classes, and weaving classes on [ insert appropriate time and date here ] but let me know if you can't make it and we'll work something out.
Hopefully, tomorrow will be brighter.
Sincerely,
Clark Kent
[ooc: please assume if he promises you something, it'll get delivered to your house (or would have been delivered to your house if you asked for soap) unless you want to play it out]
text --> action bc why not
[Initially, he had planned to Batman the hell out of Clark by going unnoticed and ditching the tablets in view and leaving. Now he's roped into being a therapist.
The closer he gets, the more he regrets it, having to think and consider all of what Clark may want to discuss. Planning (???) heavily for no reason is a Thing.
Whatever, he's here. He'll deal with it. Knocking on the door and hoping no one else decides to answer it but Clark. Spare him.]
no subject
That's why he opens the door and welcomes him into the house with a warm smile and the scent of cookies from the kitchen. ]
Thank you for bringing those over, Damian. Would you like some tea while we talk?
no subject
As soon as the door opens and he sees it's Clark, his hand comes up with the tablets for Clark to take. The four pack has been split in half--Clark gets two blisters. Without waiting to even be invited, he pushes past Clark and heads in.] No.
Don't waste it. Unless you're planning to cultivate more.
no subject
Technically, it would be a 'tisane' but I don't generally specify unless someone asks.
[ He looks at the blister pack and reaches over to take it, looking at it with just his eyes. But to be fair, he can see a lot more than most people can that way. ]
Industrial issue or something your father put together himself?
no subject
I'll have some. [He's not sure it'll be Alfred Pennyworth's tea (tm), but nothing can ever compare to anything Alfred makes with his godly, caring hands.] Are you able to make it spicy?
[His eyes drop to the blister pack in Clark's hands.]
One of Father's concoctions.
no subject
The cookies are simple enough, but serviceable. Thankfully, many of the various ingredients for his work, while they might not have any flavor, still function as required in the chemistry of baking. ]
Thank you for coming by. I really appreciate it. And I'm sure your time is taken up by all the work there is to do around here as much as mine is.
[ He's not being at all sarcastic. Not even a little. ]
no subject
It wasn't an inconvenience.
[Lifting a cookie, he looks it over as if he has special Super vision of some kind himself. Maybe the cookie will impart some kind of ingredient knowledge to him.
The tea smells nice, though. He'll try that first, if anything.]
Are you sublimating?
no subject
[ The cookie will impart a certain buttery-ness and a light sweetness. Otherwise, it's not going to give him much. The tea is pretty nicely spiced. ]
Sublimating? Over what?
no subject
Are you upset Father is here with Kyle?
no subject
Why would I be upset that Selina is here?
no subject
[He wants to know if Clark is jealous, in a way, and trying to deflect both sorrow and jealousy by instead baking. It doesn't sound like he's judging, like he's setting Clark up to say yes so he can sneer.]
no subject
And you think that I wish Lois was stuck in this too?
[ He puts his cookie down for a moment as he considers that question.]
Well, I won't say that I don't miss her. She's my wife, after all. But I don't think she'd enjoy this place much. And it gives me plenty of motivation to get back to her.
[ He picks up his tea cup and takes a sip.]
Regardless, though, I wouldn't begrudge your father something like that. He's my friend.
no subject
Then it's the town. The magic? The fact there's a majority of children?
[Putting the cookie down, he exchanges it for the tea. It's bland, but in a wholesomely simple way. He doesn't seem to mind it. The spice helps.]
no subject
[ It's an easy way to start out. ]
And I'm worried about what might be going on at home while we're here. I'm concerned about those who might miss me right back, and about those who might see my absence as an opportunity.
[ To be perfectly frank. ]
I'm not a fan of magic in general, but it's something that's a daily part of life here by necessity. And while I don't mind the number of children and young adults who seem to have shown up here in theory, it concerns me that this place chose to take so many of them. Why it would. After all, any number of stories involve children who wander into strange worlds.
no subject
Even at thirteen, there's been worry about what is happening back home. There are people he misses despite his father being here.]
Fairy tales are always read to children. In a lot of them, children are the protagonists or the focus. Even in epics such as the Illiad, characters were young. Maybe it's all the town knows.
no subject
Sometimes, the image of firm, cheerful optimism doesn't help everyone. Clark's had to learn that a few times over, to be honest.
He shakes his head a little at the hypothesis, though. Gentle, but firm.]
Many, but not all. And stories like what we consider 'fairy tales' and folklore haven't always been just for children. There's significant oral history, religious parables, social instructions, safety lessons, and even explanations for scientific phenomena to be found scattered throughout the stories of various cultures.
[ He's going to show himself as a little less naive than some might think but- ]
I'm more concerned it took younger people because it believes it can train them better. Mold them more completely.
no subject
You can. Train children easier.
[Slowly, his gaze moves to Clark's own, and he doesn't look away. World's Greatest Detective isn't needed to figure out how he knows that in such a certain way.]
Based solely on the data that has been gathered so far, I don't think it's trying to make child soldiers at least. Even the quests that ask for battle are related to mythology; fighting jorogumo, dispatching the Bogeyman. The conditions of others are mostly philosophy, intangible. Moral. Or "lesson" based.
Cleaning, restoring writing, giving, sharing, resisting temptation, being positive. Working together.
Perhaps the town knows children are the only ones who can accomplish those tasks because they haven't already been groomed to be discriminate against others like some adults.
no subject
Children are also more open minded. They can accept things like strange magical worlds where the color exists selectively a lot easier than most adults can. Most adults.
[ He sips at his tea and lets that settle for a moment. His father and Clark are both used to having a much more elastic understanding of the bounds of reality than most. The other adults he's encountered seem to be about the same.]
I agree with you: I don't think this place wants soldiers.
I think it would be premature to assume anything so... manipulative. The kind of magic that exists here seems almost primal in its understanding of morality and narrative. And trying to assign motives to something so... well, alien, might not be the wisest idea.
no subject
We search for food, safety, color through the quests. When we accomplish the tasks, we're rewarded. When we do something the town doesn't like, we're "shocked."
Did Father discuss Elizabeth and her portals with you?
no subject
[ Had Bruce mentioned it yet? No. Is Clark aware of them because he'd had one heart-stopping (literally) moment where he'd thought Bruce was dead? Absofrigginlutely. ]
But I don't think we're in a Skinner box. That's still assuming more consciousness than I believe this place has.
no subject
[Your son and him went on one, okay!! It tried to kill them!! It talked to them!! They had to Save the Day!! But he can't tell Kent any of this right now, he doesn't think, because Kent won't understand. They'll tell Kent over breakfast when it happens. Uh, back home.]
Elizabeth can manufacture wormholes in space-time. All it shows is another town rather than other planes she claims to be able to open. We can't go through them. I tried.
The town punished me for it.
[And... Bruce and Elizabeth, but Damian doesn't want to mention that to Clark... ]
no subject
[ Which he makes sure to keep mild. ]
Though I did, perhaps, misspeak. I think you're assuming more consciousness in regards to our treatment than I believe this place is putting into things.
[ He takes up one of the cookies. ]
What you're assigning as punishment may just be a function of this world, an automatic response triggered by your actions. After all, it's clear enough that this world itself works on a system of punishment and reward.
no subject
We're being tested on, what? Moral merits? "Do a thing, get a reward."
This all isn't a test to see what we will do; otherwise, we would never be punished period. It isn't about good or evil either. Bad joke aside, that's too black and white.
no subject
Whether it's entirely sentient, whether it's a manufactured world or some strange corner of the universe, what we're being tested on and what it wants-
[ He takes a long sip.]
I'm not sure. Because I think the sample size is too small, so far, to make any definitive conclusions. Not when we're dealing with something as alien in understanding as this is. We have to be careful not to impose our own biases, suspicions, and presuppositions on what we're observing.
And take care that we don't rush to answers just because we want them so badly.
no subject
Yes. I love waiting for some unnamed horror to rise up unexpectedly and demolish a quarter of our populace much like the Bogeyman did.
[Sometimes, he's an eighty year old, straight-laced heir to the Batman mantle and Wayne Enterprises. He's focused forward, shoulders and back rigid, lips twisted. Other times, he's a thirteen year old, Tired boy, and so his head thwacks when he drops it down against the wood of the table beside the cup.
For a long time, he stays this way without saying anything, and then he finally picks his head up, leans back.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)