slayers_desire | kidnapping Clark to a red-sun Earth

"We might have to get more, but if we could keep some around, it could definitely help reduce my exposure to green kryptonite," he suggests. Clark never likes the idea of being exposed to kryptonite of any flavor, but he's willing to endure a short burst of pain if it helps him avoid more in the long run. If only it worked for the other colors, too.

He's concerned to hear that April nearly retreated into her vampire state, and he puts a hand on the back of her neck, warm and solid, attempting to offer reassurance and comfort. He knows how hard it can be for her to deal with her darker half, especially so recently brought forth last month by the kryptonite vampire sorority incident.

"Maybe experimenting with a few different colors might give us some detection for those two. I am sure you both would figure it out."

Smiling at Clark's touch at the back of her neck, April eases slightly. Making it easier to talk about the vampire. "In my universe, vampires are Demon spawn. They infect humans, possess their bodies, and slowly destroys all traces of the human that used to be there."

"As the vampire, I feel no empathy. No human emotions. I am more logical and cunning, but with a twisted darkness to the way as the Demon is always seeking power and control." She steadies her breath. "Someday... I wouldn't mind you researching some of my abilities."

"It would be nice..." April bite her bottom lip. Looking back at Clark. Not sure if he has talked to Victor about this yet. "To have both of our genetics researched. See if we are... um... compatible."

"The only problem is that contact seems to activate the other colors of k." There's a burst of elation, overwhelming, like a bird flapping its wings at tremendous speeds as Victor comes up with a solution. It's a rush. "A radiation detector, handheld. That would be perfect, wouldn't it? Right?"

"If you'd be comfortable with it, I'd like to help in any way that I can," she says. "What d' you mean by compatible?"

"It might," he agrees. "They probably give off different types of radiation, so you could even calibrate it to warn us of specific kinds."

Clark hasn't brought it up with her, and this is a little awkward, because he knows she doesn't necessarily think about this sort of thing in the same way they do. "Um. She means... genetically."

"Oh gosh. It would be wonderful to have a hand held radiation detector."

"I am comfortable with it. I would not mind having Clark around for the tests, as he is able to deal with the vampire persona fine."

April phrases her next statement delicately. "That way we would know if we could have a family. Of our own. Someday far in the future."

It's one of the best feelings in the world, to come up with a solution to a problem, and she's all heart-poundy and happy and proud. "Did you know that bananas give off trace amounts of radiation?"

Then: "Oh. You mean engaging in activities that'll one day result in offspring. I'm not sure how I could... test that," she says, equally delicately, face heating up right away.

"They do? Then why haven't there been any banana-powered supervillains?" It's rather sad that that's Clark's first question. It's a bit of a joke, but still.

He'd been hoping to wait a little bit and come up with a more delicate way to phrase the question to her, to try to avoid her getting embarrassed, but it was probably inevitable. "Well... I still don't even know if I have DNA," he says, carefully. "Or if it's double-helix, or if I have the right number of chromosomes." He tries to phrase it scientifically, to give her a different angle to look at it that isn't so awkward for her.

"How do you know there haven't? Just because you haven't faced any?"

"I have no idea what my DNA even looks like." April adds to things to avoid the embarrassment part. "I am awful curious."

She relaxes. Thank goodness it's not dealing with parts, just with DNA. The micro-level as opposed to the macro-level. She will stitch you up, hold your hand, draw your blood, and have a goofy karaoke night with you, but mention anything to do with the bathingsuit area and she's flummoxed and vaguely panicked.

"I'd love to test it for you. Hopefully I'll be able to go back to work pretty soon, and then I'll have access to their equipment."

Clark makes a face at April, amused.

Fortunately for Victor, Clark and April have the mechanics all worked out, just as two ordinary human beings would. It's just the genetics that are the tricky part, and although Clark doesn't know it yet, he's one of the few versions of himself who is compatible with humans in that way. Others often aren't so lucky.

"That would be great. No rush, though. I don't think we'll be ready for a while." He takes April's hand in his, rubs his thumb across her knuckles. "But someday. And if you need more samples, let me know."

April sticks out her tongue. She has a faint recognition of one super-villain who is a gorilla. Just can't remember its name or origin story.

"We have all the time in the world." April acknowledges. "But I am more than glad to come in for other tests someday soon. Since I am one of two vampires that was born in my world, I am curious about everything."

Her fingers twitch again; there's another one of those hopeful rushes of feelings, glad to learn, sharply interested, full of compassion, like a fruit smoothie except with emotions instead of fruit. Her thoughts run fast, and she's bright, and all of that is reflected in the way she reacts to things. In the super-positive emotions associated with learning.

"I'm totally up for it. Actually. I have a test-tube and a swab right here, and if you could just... swab the inside of your mouth?" She takes a small cooler, no bigger than a camera case, out of her backpack.

That's Victor. Confused about coital relations, perfectly prepared for surprise DNA tests.

Clark's a little amused at her preparedness, because she totally should've been a Boy Scout if she wasn't one. "Some day I'm going to find out how in the world you carry all this stuff on you."

April is also amused. "Sure. I am okay with that. I am also totally fine for having my blood taken too."

With her vampire needs, April can't be nervous around blood.

"I'm a master packer. Comes from five years in the Nexus. You gotta be ready for anything." She looks surprised. She hadn't been expecting to take blood today, but she has everything she needs for it, from gloves to swabs to the needle. "Actually... do you want to do that now, or later? I'd be cool either way."

Clark's a little surprised by the suggestion too, but whatever his girlfriend is comfortable with is fine by him, and he wants to be there to support her if she needs it. "I had to do a cheek swab once," he comments as April does that part. "This woman showed up claiming to be my biological mother, and the court ordered I submit to a DNA test. I had to sneak in and swap my sample for Pete's because I had no idea what would even show up."

"Now is just as good. I am comfortable now." April notes. Of course in a couple of moments she won't be able to talk as Victor gets her swab.

She had never heard the story about the claimed biological mother story from Clark before. And wonders who it had been. And why they claimed it.

The swab is properly stored and set aside.

"Ugh, I hate it when folks use science to be punks." She gets out the materials she needs, all in one convenient inner pocket of her bag, reaches for her arm. Remarkably tender, tying on the tourniquet, alcohol-swabbing the crook of her elbow, and, after a glance for permission to make sure it's okay and she's ready, she takes her blood.

Clark watches her work, a little bit jealous, because when he gets a blood sample taken it always involves green kryptonite and a lot of pain. And the one time it didn't, he was out cold. April doesn't seem bothered by it, though.

"This whole medical thing's new to you too, isn't it?" he asks. He'd never really thought much about it, since it wasn't part of his own life either, but since she was raised in the demon dimension it stands to reason she's never had a checkup either. Yet another thing they share, with Victor being the one to help out there.

There is only a slight pinprick of sensation from the needle, but beyond that there is no pain. And when the needle is withdrawn, the wound heals.

"I have never seen a doctor in my lifetime. Never had doctors in Qua-Toth. And no real reason to see a medical profession since coming to the regular world. The only healer I trusted was James. And he is special..."

"I don't think I have ever seen vampire blood in a scientific manner."

She had been reaching for gauze and a bandaid, but when it heals up on its own she's like, oh yes, of course. She takes off her gloves by turning them inside out. There's a grace in the way she works, something loving in the way that she cares about the people she looks after.

She seals the blood, places it in the cooler next to the swab, zips the cooler, and takes out a bag for medical waste for the needle and the gloves. "James? And if you don't mind me asking, what sorts of things can you do?"

"James is a Pockla demon," Clark says, smiling fondly. He feels owes James a lot for helping them after he rescued April from the Scourge. "Very grim reaperish looking, but specializes in healing."

As Clark explains about James. April covers the next question.

"Vampires in my dimension have enhanced speed, agility, strength and healing. I am no where as fast or strong as Clark there... but who is? And I do get hurt. But usually the healing will recover me quickly enough in most cases."

"Unlike the vampires in my dimension, I was born biologically instead of infected. I had a childhood. I can go out into the sunlight. And I only find slight discomfort in religious artifacts and sacred places."

"I do have to... consume blood on a daily basis. But it is animal blood. And I am not the only vampire who prefers drinking only butcher blood."

"I also have my visions. Which were inherited, but not due to the vampire genetics. My mother was born with visions, and had them before she was infected. And then eventually went insane."

She'd never heard of a Pockla demon, although she's always interested to hear about healers. Victor has a few important healer friends of her own, most recently she's met someone who can make her joints stop hurting when she's around him, which is thrilling and vaguely heartbreaking at the same time. It's always just a temporary relief. "He sounds awesome."

"Okay, that makes sense. Though... the visions. Do you control them? Do they cause you any discomfort?" She's a bit concerned to hear about the insanity on her mother's end. "And that empathetic power, do you know where that's drawn from? Do you get impressions in your mind of how people feel, or is it something else?"

Clark doesn't want to answer for his girlfriend, letting her decide what to say and how to say it, but he sits in silent support of her, absently rubbing his palm up and down her arm in small circles.

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