(no subject)

[hero_farmboy]

Clark is still here. This is mainly because he's not leaving without Chloe. Actually, he's not sure he can leave without Chloe, but even if he could, he wouldn't.

Since he's been here, he's taken the time to get a little more familiar with the place, to the point that he likely won't get lost inside anymore. He's got his room, knows where Chloe's is and even thinks he's comfortable with food and drink just appearing at the bar. That one took a while.

Tonight, he's decided it's time to get more comfortable with another feature of Milliways - the observation window. Large cup of coffee in hand, Clark has situated himself in an armchair near enough that he has a good view, but can also look away when he needs to. This one's going to take a while, too.

Comments

[shortofcrazy]

Riley is whistling when he jogs down the stairs with his laptop under his arm, ducking through the bar and ordering a Coke from the Bar. Can of soda in hand, he makes his way over to his favorite sofa, flops down, puts up his feet, opens the laptop, readjusts his glasses, pops the top on the can and raises it -- and realizes that not only is the nearby armchair occupied, but it is occupied by one Clark Kent.

He sits there a moment, can of soda halfway to his mouth, and then he lowers it.

"Hey." He desperately wants to leave it at that, to prove he can be cool about this, but his mouth won't hold still. "This place weird enough for you yet?"

[hero_farmboy]

Truth be told he really hadn't noticed anyone else in the vicinity, but Clark looks up at the sound of the voice.

"Hey. Riley. Yeah, it's pretty weird all right, " he agrees, setting his mug aside. "Almost makes me feel right at home."

[shortofcrazy]

Riley goes 'heh.' "I think I'm almost to the point of getting Chloe to admit that it's actually weirder than Smallville," he says.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark raises his eyebrows. "I don't know, that's a pretty hard sell. Smallville has plenty of weirdness to go around."

[shortofcrazy]

He grins. "Oh, newbies. You make me smile." He taps a few keys, amusement not fading in the least. "Come back and tell me that again the day you meet a vampire who went crazy thanks to exposure to a gun made by Satan." Beat. "Or a monk who likes to disappear into his hat." Another beat. "Or Han Solo and Princess Leia's daughter."

[hero_farmboy]

"Yeah, Chloe told me I might run into some fictional characters," he replies first to the last, his own amusement growing. "The rest sounds pretty much like a typical day back home, except it all goes back to the meteor rocks." And with that, the amusement's gone.

[shortofcrazy]

"Yep," says Riley. "Chloe's told me all about the meteor freaks."

And, with that, he has completely exhausted his supply of readymade topics of conversation (they are, in order: the weirdness that is Milliways, and Chloe).

Keystroke. Keystroke keystroke.

[hero_farmboy]

"She would. She's the expert."

Pause.

"I don't suppose I have to tell you that if you hurt her, there's going to be a problem between you and me. Although I guess I just did."

[shortofcrazy]

Riley's hand stutters across the keys, producing a line that looks something like 'vhjkl;' on the screen. He stares at the blinking cursor for a moment, and then he pulls off his glasses and looks over, expression unusually serious. "I'm the last person in all the worlds who wants to hurt her." He lets that go a moment, and then he says, "But noted."

[hero_farmboy]

Clark nods slowly. "Good. Now that we've got that over with, I know she'd like it if we were friends." He looks over at Riley. "I'm willing to give it a try if you are."

[shortofcrazy]

He hesitates, just a moment, and then he says, "Yeah. I am, too." He shifts the computer to one side and leans over and offers a hand, to shake on it.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark does the same and shakes Riley's hand, before sitting back in his chair and picking up his cup again.

"So, can I ask what you're working on there?" He nods to the laptop. And really, he's glad for the distration from the window.

[shortofcrazy]

He slips his glasses back on. "This?" He has the grace to look sheepish. "It's a résume, actually. Once everything slows down, I've gotta find a job."

[cat_wth_panache]

He's getting used to the window and Bar, but is he used to the other patrons yet? Let's find out.

An orange cat in boots and hat suddenly drops from the rafters, landing on a tabletop near Clark. "Ha-ha!"

[hero_farmboy]

We're going to go with a 'no' on that.

Clark, definitely snapped out of his reverie, starts a bit in his chair and eyes the cat with great trepidation. "Um, hello?"

[cat_wth_panache]

Puss grins at the reaction and then his expression goes innocent. "Hola."

[hero_farmboy]

Cats don't grin. They don't talk either and Clark's pretty sure boots are right out, too. Still, he had been warned about this place, so he makes his best attempt.

"I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish."

[cat_wth_panache]

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that." Puss says, looking like he really is. "But that is okay, I speak English too." And there goes that grin again.

He smiles and then turns a bit more seriou. "So, I am taking a survey. On a scale of one to ten how suprised were you just then?" He takes off his hat and pulls out a small note pad, looking at Clark expectantly.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark just blinks at the cat for a few moments before answering. "Seven, I guess? It's safe to say a talking cat is about the last thing I was expecting."

[cat_wth_panache]

Puss looks a little disappointed, "No no, I meant about the pounce, from the rafters. You know if I had my sword drawn and that was a real attack you could be in much trouble."

[hero_farmboy]

Amusement begins to shine through. "You're right. I could have been. I'm lucky you didn't."

[cat_wth_panache]

He nods and makes a mark on the pad, "Right. Good then we shall say an eight." He puts the little pad away and sets his hat back on. "Thank you for your participation. An now, I shall buy you a drink."

[hero_farmboy]

"Eight it is," he concedes with a grin. "I'll take another coffee, if you don't mind."

[cat_wth_panache]

"Coffee it is." He hops down off the table and heads over to the bar, returning with a tray carrying a cup of coffee and a glass of milk for himself. "Here you are señor." He holds the tray out to Clark.

[hero_farmboy]

"Thanks." Clark takes the cup and gives the cat another smile. "I'm Clark, by the way."