slayers_desire | better to seek permission than forgiveness

Entry tags:

art projects,
clark

better to seek permission than forgiveness

April returned to her Kansas apartment fueled with inspiration, and eager to return to some awaiting art projects after receiving good advice from the Nexus. It was good timing too, as her university had its Spring Art Show, where she won first place for Freshman the year before. It would be harder to achieve another first in her second year of university, with increased competition, but April was going to submit her best work and hope for the best.

She had a couple of pieces that were uncompleted, but inspiration hit her to start from scratch on a new piece, using metals as her medium. As her heart and mind were on Clark, and the struggles he had faced recently, that flowed into the art piece. She was expressing her belief of him, the unspoken turmoil of not having a lot of 'relationship' time, and the emotions she felt from their bond as Clark struggled with issues that were often kept unexpressed.

It was a good piece when it was completed, but there was one problem. April couldn't submit the artwork without checking with Clark first. Last year, her worries were that she was expressing too much of herself. This time, she really didn't want to accidentally betray his trust or his secret.

Covering the piece for now, April picked up the phone and called him. A glance around her apartment at other options just in case she needed them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He feels a bit like a jerk for not noticing she was having this problem. But he's at least grateful that she was able to find a way to confront those troubles and overcome them.

"I don't know what something like that would be. I'm not very good at art." He's a decent writer, but his talents are more geared towards facts and reporting than creativity. So he doesn't immediately think of anything else when she suggests that.

"Writing can be your outlet. Something doesn't have to be focused on a creative energy to be passionate about something. I know Willow still gets filled with joy by doing scientific experiments. It will at least give you an outlet that is not tied to your destiny."

"You think that could help?" He's never really done much writing outside of school assignments and writing articles for the Torch, and he hasn't done any of that since graduation.

"I can't say what will help you, but I think you should give it a try. You never know... the rush of being an investigative reporter might be that thing you are looking for."

"Either that or I might start writing incredibly awful poetry." He smiles slightly to show that he's kidding. Although his poetry attempts really have been awful.

"You write poetry?" April flashes a smile

"Only when forced to for school. I never really got the hang of making it actually sound good." And he experimented a little bit once on his own, but it was just as bad when he wasn't assigned a specific subject. Poetic creativity is obviously not one of his many superpowers.

"Well I remember how much fun you had writing for the Torch, so I think you should stick with what you are good at. Returning to my art really helped me."

"I haven't seen that spark of interest in a while, and I just worry about you. Having all these forces to deal with, and not getting any time for yourself is just not fair. And I hate the fact I can't change things."

"And that is not the only spark I miss seeing." She admits softly.

"I know we haven't had a lot of time for 'us' lately," he says, feeling that familiar twist of guilt.

"It's not your fault." April immediately states, sensing that guilt.

"I mean... we have had important things to deal with. Both of us."

((heading up north, won't be able to post until later tonight))

"I know. But that doesn't always make it easier, knowing that it's necessary." He looks at her artwork again, those channeled feelings that she's used to build her confidence despite still feeling like she's missing part of him in her life. "Maybe when this is all over, we can go on a real date. Like we used to. Get out of Kansas for the day and go someplace nice."

((All right, see you then! I've got stuff this afternoon and I'm not sure how late it'll be when I'm free, so that works out just fine.))

"That would be nice. I miss you. And I just wish the drama of our destinies would not be so... intense all the time. Its hard on both of us."

"Sloth... made me feel like I wasn't attractive to you anymore. And I just felt guilty about telling you, because I know how important the Zoners are to defeat. And I don't want you to feel like I am demanding something of you."

He's not quite sure what to say. He knew that Sloth took a toll on her mentally, but he didn't think it had made her think he didn't want her anymore. "April..."

She places her hands on his knee. "I am not about to let these trials stop me from loving you. Or thinking that you don't love me. Because if I did, they would win."

He looks into her eyes, searching for any sign that says she's just saying that, and is satisfied that she isn't. "No matter what happens, nothing could make me stop loving you." And he's proud of her for being able to internalize that on her own, putting her faith in him and in their relationship despite the stress and trials at hand.

"I know. I cherish every moment we get together. And while I dislike the fact that a hiatus was caused by an important reason... I still look forward to the day when we can embrace the thing that keeps us strong. Our love."

April has always been a passionate woman, able to express her feelings with ease and comfort. Sloth tried to destroy that, but she is back to herself. Expressive, but respectful of the man she loves and the time he might need.

Clark knows that it will be a while before he feels that they can take time to be together. Between the Zoners, Lex, and his own emotional turmoil over how he handled Titan, he's not in that space yet. Though he knows that he is moving in that direction.

He takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. "I promise, as soon as the last Zoner is back in the Phantom Zone, and as soon as we can get away, we'll take some time for us. Like a romantic getaway or something. Anywhere you want to go."

"I would like that." The thing that worries April the most is how much Clark has lost of himself since dealing with the Zoners. And she just wants to see him happy again. Carefree.

"But it should be somewhere where we want to go." She leans over to place a soft kiss on his forehead.

"We'll see what happens, then. And make our decision more spontaneous, depending on how we feel."

"I am all in favor of spontaneous romantic getaways." April won't lie if asked, she does have to occasional dream of a certain hero showing up at her window, and wisking her away just to be with her.

"In the meanwhile, do you need a distraction from the last Zoner?"

"I don't know. I wasn't exactly being productive when you called me," he admits.

"Then you are in trouble, because I feel productive, and could use a handsome assistant." A slight pause, then she adds with a smile, "If you know any."

"I might." He gives her a sideways sort of look, wondering what she's thinking about. "What would he be assisting in?"

"I could get some measurements. Get a better start on an important suit for him."

"Oh, the date with the measuring tape." He'd almost forgotten about that, with everything that's happened in between. "How do I know this isn't just an elaborate plot to feel me up?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

wrong paper name

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject