slayers_desire | taking Clark to Rome

He puts his arm around her back, hugging her close to his side. "Well, it has been here longer." He watches the people far away, going about their daily business, like it's just an ordinary day. And it is. "Does Rome have a special significance for the supernatural community? I mean things that the average person wouldn't know about."

"I am not sure. But I have felt a strong power in this place. And there has to be a reason that the Slayers have come here. And other champions of the Powers That Be. And even dark forces."

"We could go to a place where Demons hang out. I could introduce you to a couple of ones that work for the good side."

He nods a little at her explanation. It sounds to him as though people of different factions and groups are somehow drawn to Rome, subconsciously or not, and he has felt something similar with the mission Jor-El gave him to retrieve the stones. It's a call that he understands.

"Allies of yours? That sounds interesting."

"Then lets head down that way." April will guide him down a path, that led from the Villa and down to a quiet area of town. It was deserted and there seemed to be a bad neighborhood vibe.

"The demon bars are hidden from mortal view. But those with supernatural blood can sense them."

Bad neighborhood or not, Clark doesn't feel in danger, though he is alert for anything out of the ordinary or potentially threatening. And so soon after sparring, his vulnerability to magic is more on his mind than usual. But he feels that if anything happens, he and April are well equipped to handle themselves.

He's not technically a mortal in the normal sense, but he doesn't figure he falls under the category of supernatural creature either. "So I won't be able to see it, but I can go inside if you lead me there?"

"Of course. A supernatural being is always able to lure a mortal to these places." There is more to that sentance than meets the eye.

The bar itself is quiet at the moment, because of the time of day. And for Clark, it might seem like an abaonded warehouse. Until he and April enter. And then the illusion is removed.

Some of the regulars are there. There is a Torto demon (http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Torto_Demon) singing on stage. And a Bohg'dar demon (http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Bohg%27dar_Demon) sitting at the bar ordering drinks. There are a handful of other demons too.

"Good thing I'm with a friendly one, then." He can imagine the sorts of things that go on with other supernaturals that have less than noble intentions.

He looks around curiously, taking care not to stare. Fortunately his time in the Nexus has helped him become accustomed to seeing people of all shapes and sizes. He feels a little fortunate now that his own species is such that he can pass for human, knowing that there are others who aren't so lucky. Although he doesn't assume that all of the patrons are necessarily unable to conceal their identities, whether through shapeshifting or magic. Here, clearly, they can be themselves as much as they want.

Taking Clark's hand, April is careful to ensure that they avoid some of the more dangerous Demons. In the fact that there is one who has poisonous barbs, and another who is leaking a gas, and the female demon who has her pheromone attractors enhanced.

"There should be a Pockla demon around here. Somewhere."

Clark has no idea what a Pockla demon is or what one looks like. "I definitely need to study some of those books in your library while I'm here," he comments, following her faithfully. Though he does keep a close eye on the other customers, in case someone gets annoyed at their existence or something.

"When we return we can go through the library if you want." Heading to a back area of the demon, they almost literally bump into a Demon. This one has a very familiar reaper vibe to it, dressed head to toe in a red cloak.

"Oh! James! There you are." April smiles.

Clark blinks. "James?" For some reason, he wasn't expecting such a normal name for someone who looks like that.

"His true name is hard to pronounce using human dialogue." April explains. It is a nickname for the Pockla. Who stands there hidden under the hood, twitching his long talon fingers.

"James this is Clark. He is a friend of mine."

"Ah," he says. As the only surviving native speaker of Kryptonian, he sympathizes with that. Although he is curious to hear it anyway.

"It's nice to meet you." He's not entirely sure if it really is, but April seems like she's not worried at all, and he trusts her judgment.

"James is a healer. The Pockla are responsible for healing flesh and regenerate tissue." April watched as the Demon extended a taloned hand towards Clark. "He doesn't speak any human."

"I helped him translate using my gift of sensing emotions. And he told me that he would be there for me in return, when I needed it." About now Clark should get the gist that the introduction is a necessity. That this Demon might be the one to heal her quickly after being tortured.

Clark takes the taloned hand in his, unsure of if there's some kind of protocol he should be following besides the normal human social behaviors. He doesn't feel out of his depth often, but this is one of those times. He's in April's world now, in more than one sense.

He catches onto her insinuation, and focuses laserlike attention on the demon. "Oh. In that case, it's very nice to meet him."

The taloned hand feels a little scaly. Like touching a snake. And it seems that the Pockla is very accepting of human social behaviours.

It speaks something in return, which might sound like a lizard hissing.

"He senses your strength." April translates.

Clark is somewhat curious about what the demon looks like, underneath that red cloak, but he's respectful of his privacy and doesn't invade it by using x-ray vision on him. And hearing him speak, now he knows how everyone else must feel when they hear Clark speak his native tongue. Unable to understand, or be duplicated by humans.

"It's what I'm known for," putting on what he hopes is a friendly sort of smile.

((I have to go out for a bit. Be back relatively soonish, I hope.))

"Because of their nature, Pocklas can sense when a mortal is sick, or diseased, or are very curious to death in itself. As their kind, doesn't die."

April smiles. "It was actually this Demon that was the background behind the Grim Reaper myth. They spent a lot of time around the dying. And James actually works at a hospital. He is here every afternoon for his break."

"He works there? Does he have a way of looking, you know, human?" Clark's very curious about the workings of the demon world, especially if he's ever going to need to go here for help. "Or is it a supernatural kind of hospital?"

"He has invisibility." And seconds after April explains that, the Demon disappears to go to his job.

"Most supernaturals don't go to a hospital. For their own reasons."

"Ah." Clark isn't startled when he vanishes, and listens to the faint sounds of movement as he leaves. "That's convenient."

He nods. "That's definitely understandable. My parents don't want me anywhere near a hospital if we can help it, either." There have been a few times where he's had to submit to medical attention, but those are few and far between, and always rushed to get him out of their hands before anyone can notice anything odd about him.

"Other demons can change their forms. Some have to work in dark situations. Or for a demon-friendly business. Others just stay alone until night. It is a lonely life for most."

Speaking of lonely, April notes that the female demon has moved slightly and is checking out Clark.

"I prefer to be cared for by someone I trust, then doctors personally."

"It must be nice then, having a place like this to go where they can be themselves openly," he says. It's something he didn't have until he found the Nexus. Even at home, he always has to be careful to make sure no one's watching when he does anything out of the ordinary.

He's only alert for physical threats, so he doesn't notice the female demon's gaze.

"Me too," he agrees quietly. "Doctors and I don't get along. The one time I got really sick, my dad had to let one examine me and she ended up selling my blood to Lionel Luthor."

"Everyone deserves to have a place where they can be themselves." April adjusts his shirt collar, in a 'marking her territory' kind of way. Without even realizing that she is doing it.

"You can trust me to take care of you."

He smiles a little at her touch, not really aware of the hands-off vibes she's subconsciously putting out to potential rivals. Fortunately, if the female demon decides to press the issue, Clark is immune to most pheromones and chemical agents, so she won't be able to lure him away by force.

"I do trust you." And if they were alone, he'd have a kiss waiting for her.

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