[ audio ]

[signifies]

Who: Clark Kent and you.
Broadcast: Fleetwide.
Action: Aboard the Marsiva.
When: The week of his arrival.

I don't suppose I could click my heels three times. . . [ Only Clark gets his little joke. ]

I'll keep this brief. My name is Clark - I'm from Kansas.

[ He's been the new guy at work often enough to sound chill about this, but he is feeling a little shaky having woken up here in the middle of his workday. To top it off, not being able to hear his mother's heartbeat is jarring.

There's some stress baking in Clark's future. ]

What do you make of this place? I'm curious to know how it compares to where you come from.

Comments

[signifies]

Natasha, then.

What did you do back home?

[outstandingbalance]

I was in intelligence. [It's Natasha's standard answer to that question. True enough to scan, and not cause too much drama if and when the truth came out.]

How about you, Clark?

[signifies]

I'm a journalist.

I suppose that means I'm now your arch-nemesis. [ Teasing. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, I hope not. I'm not on the market for a nemesis.

[Her tone matches his, light and a little dry.]

You might have me at a bit of a disadvantage there.

[Natasha doesn't sound like she's been at a disadvantage a day in her life. Not one she recognized.]

[signifies]

Oh. [ He sounds theatrically disappointed. ]

Well, if we're not going to be enemies, I guess our only option is to be friends.

[outstandingbalance]

[Smooth. Or not, but it reminders her of a conversation she had with Steve once.]

Those are the only two options then? I bet you say that to all of the girls.

[signifies]

Only when I know it'll work. [ He smiles honestly, though. ]

I know there's plenty of other options, but this seemed like the best one for everyone involved.

[outstandingbalance]

You might want to save decisions like that for when you actually meet me. That said...

[There's a curl of amusement in her tone.]

If those are the only two options you're interested in, friends sounds better than the alternative.

[signifies]

Doesn't it?

[ She has to save her decision for when she finally meets him as well, but Clark feels she's decided on something. She really doesn't sound like a lady who is often at a disadvantage. ]

I've never had a nemesis, I'll just have to live with the disappointment.

[outstandingbalance]

Not too disappointing, I hope.

[Lightly, keeping the conversation going.]

Well, Clark. Have to say, you seem to be adjusting well.

[signifies]

And what would be adjusting badly? [ He also keeps joking, aware how much worse this could have gone to him. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Hm. You're not making threats or calling out Atroma. You could be a lot more suspicious than you are—unless you're better at hiding it than you let on.

[signifies]

There's a lot worse ways to wake up. [ The last time, he'd been strapped to a table after having passed out on a spaceship.

He's just being honest. ]

It is a little overwhelming, but it helps I'm not the only one here.

[outstandingbalance]

Run into someone you know? That does help.

[She notes the other implications of what he says, saving it for later.]

Or did I get that one wrong?

[signifies]

Believe it or not - family. [ It still hasn't sunk in yet. He has a biological relative here. ]

Weird world, huh?

[outstandingbalance]

It is. You're a lucky man, though. Most of us have to make do with a friend or two, if that.

[The next question is obvious.]

Your cousin anyone I'd know?

[signifies]

Yeah.

[ He's very, very lucky. Until an hour ago he didn't know he had any living family left.

He chuckles. So she knows. ]

Kara. [ Tentatively testing out how it feels. Her name is so wonderful and precious to him already. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, we have met. Sounds like you'll be well taken care of.

[That would be the case even without Kara's powers; Natasha will sit on that question for now too.]

Definitely better off not being nemeses. Don't think she'd care for the stress.

[signifies]

Oh, you're a friend?

[ Even better! She must know Kara well enough to say that.

If Natasha plays her cards right (she will) there's homemade Kent baked goods in her future. ]

[outstandingbalance]

Friendly, at least. Your cousin's a very easy person to be friends with in some ways.

[In other ways, not so much; those tend to reflect more on Natasha than Kara though.]

Friendly enough to know she must be thrilled to have you here.

[signifies]

Yeah. [ He won't let the conversation focus on him, though. ]

What about you, is there anyone you know?

[outstandingbalance]

A few people. Quiet a few, actually. And a few more who've come and gone since I got here.

[Her shrug is audible in her tone.]

It really does help.

[signifies]

Thank you, Natasha. I'll take your word for it.

Do you think you'd be up for coffee sometime?

[outstandingbalance]

Oh, I think I can pencil you into my busy schedule.

[signifies]

I'll let you know, then.