January catch-all

[apricitous]

Who: Clark Kent (apricitous) & you!
What: Catch-All and some concern about the state of things
When: January
Where: largely Wyver
Warning(s): none so far


[ scouting for reporters | wyver | open]
[ While Clark's put up his message, he's also putting up a few flyers around town with the same basic content; while his focus is the refugee population, just for ease of communication, he's not opposed should any locals show any interest in helping. He obviously can't offer any money since it's not a business as of yet per se or anything but... if you see him, feel free to ask about it. ]

[deserters | outside of the city | open ]
[ There are things Clark can't do, but there are also things he can do, things that he can't not do when it comes right down to it... and one of those things is look out for people. Especially people who are desperately trying to avoid a conflict.

Clark goes there first, asks what they need, and at first he uses some of the funds from his dragon bounty, what was still there. It's after Christmas, so it was a little more scant than he'd like, but he makes up for it by eating less, sitting in the sun more; he'll cook portions for Jessica the same as usual but he can make do himself. Eventually, he does have to ask for money, but he'll run into the city and bring back just about anything. He's also taken to spending the occasional afternoon out there, though, patrolling from the sky or ground to take care of any natural threats that might be stalking the smaller settlements just in case... ]

[ home | wyver | open ]
[ If you happen to come by their house, you'll find Clark at one of three activities: attempting to write something on the current Wyver-Olympia conflict, trying to figure out how he can better siphon some of his paycheck into supplies, cooking the occasional bit of food, and working from a particular book given to him for Christmas as a present, muttering to himself in a strange language that your character almost certainly isn't familiar with. ]

Comments

[vorrutyer]

[ A look down at his drink. He smiles down at it. ]

I expect you understand quite a lot. My grief is not a special grief.

[apricitous]

Isn't it?

[ He glances off, distant, towards nothing and... well, towards the Natha. Towards his mother. ]

Just because we're all grieving doesn't mean our grief isn't special. Isn't specific.

[vorrutyer]

[ A little shrug, and he rolls his head to the side with a wry smile. ]

Who can say? I think it likely that all grief feels the same. But you can't know without hopping into someone else's head, I suppose.

[apricitous]

[ Clark glances down at his beer. ]

I don't know.

The way I miss my mother, the smells, the taste of her cooking, the way she'd brush my hair back when I was worried about something... it's different from how I miss my boss or my coworker or my... girlfriend.

Missing each one of them feels different to me.

And I don't think that's just me.

[ He turns to Byerly. ]

Maybe it is, but you're right: who can say?

[vorrutyer]

It's like lemon and lime.

[ He shrugs. ]

They taste different when your eyes are open. But if you close your eyes, and put either one on your tongue, they're indistinguishable. It's merely context that gives different coloring.

[apricitous]

Lemons are sour.

Limes are bitter.

[ He isn't trying to be mean. He just- ]

But they both have a bite. They're both overpowering. I guess it doesn't matter how you're overpowered, in the end.

[vorrutyer]

Let us discuss something less depressing, hm?

[ He smiles easily, picks up his whiskey. ]

I find talk of emotions to be tiresome.

[ Difficult. He finds it difficult. ]

[apricitous]

I thought your interest was people.

[ But he's still shifting the conversation. Or rather, letting it shift. ]

[vorrutyer]

Oh, it is.

[ He sits back, his smile cheery. ]

Gossip. Chatter. Fun. Nothing maudlin. Sorrow weighs down the soul, you know. Keeps it from flying free. Don't you agree?

[apricitous]

I don't know. I think a little sorrow keeps things from feeling artificial. Saccharine. But you can't overdose on it either.

[ He sips at his beer then tips his chin to By's drink. ]

Can I get you another?

[vorrutyer]

[ A short laugh. ]

God, yes. And quickly.

[apricitous]

What'll it be.

[ He pushes up to head to the bar. ]

[vorrutyer]

Whiskey again. Best not to mix alcohols. That's the key to good health and long life.

[ Uh...no. ]

[apricitous]

I'm pretty sure that's not true. But I'm a journalist, not a doctor.

[ He goes to the bar, makes his order, waits for it, and comes back with another drink for By.]

[vorrutyer]

Za vas, Monsieur Kent.

[ He lifts the drink, then takes a sip. ]

Ah, a man who doesn't go for the cheap stuff when buying drinks for others, either. I ought to keep you around. You're my kind of sucker.

[apricitous]

And why am I a sucker, exactly, for keeping my end of a bargain?

[ He settles down in his seat with his own new beer. ]

[vorrutyer]

Isn't it obvious?

[ His lip curls up in a wry smile. ]

You're getting the short end of this bargain. I'm a bottom-shelf-liquor sort of person on a good day.

[apricitous]

I think there's something wrong about getting bottom shelf liquor for an emperor.

[ He bows his head. ]

Or maybe I just don't like giving the smallest amount of effort.

[vorrutyer]

Now, that is being a sucker.

[ He stretches luxuriously. ]

The smart man is a lazy man. Conserve your energy. That is the path to a long life.

[apricitous]

And I'd say that a long life lived without really trying to do anything isn't wise either.

[vorrutyer]

But of course you do something by living a long time.

[ He frowns in mock-thoughtfulness. ]

You irritate the hell out of the people around you. That devil is still alive? It must be because he's such a spiteful old coot. The true meaning of life is annoying those around you.

[apricitous]

I've never had any trouble doing that, fortunately or unfortunately.

[ He tilts his head. ]

On the other hand, before I got here I was dead so... I suppose my thoughts on life are just different.

[vorrutyer]

Really?

[ There's no horror or shock in his reaction - he comes from a world, after all, where cryo-revival means that one can often have conversations with the formerly dead - but there is interest. He tilts his own head in a mirror of Clark's gesture, and invites him: ]

Please do go on. Tell me more. What happened?

[apricitous]

[ The interest has him pressing his lips together a little. ]

I made a choice to try and save someone I loved. From what I understand, it worked.

I didn't get to see it.

[vorrutyer]

No, I imagine not, what with the death and all.

[ With a little wave of his fingers towards the skies, indicating the Orbiters - ]

You were revived by them?