16158/Cousins Catching Up

Cousins Catching Up
Date of Scene:	01 April 2024
Location:	Fortress of Solitude, Marie Bryd Land
Synopsis:	Two cousins get some much needed catching done.
Cast of Characters:	Power Girl, Superman

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Power Girl has posed:
Karen sighs softly, lips pursing as she whistles a soft little tune to herself as she flies through the air at a speed that means she can't actually hear the whistling, and at an altitude normally reserved for military spy planes and balloons released by particularly ambitious high school science teachers, she's not worried anyone's going to hear her clumsy rendition of 'happy birthday'.

Partly because she'd see any of those spy planes coming, and partly because at such altitude and speed, Karen's not going to be out in public for terribly long as she rockets over the icy plains of the antarctic, idly considering whether or not they're plains or just ice floes. Something to look up during her break at STAR Labs, or ask one of the lab assistants at GIRL as a learning experience. She files it away for later, cutting off her whistling as the Fortress of Solitude comes into view and she rockets to a stop at the massive doorway, cape snapping before she's going through the process of unlocking the door with the appropriate signal, and floating through the doors.

And onwards she floats carefully, eyes scanning, her breath escaping in a slow sigh as she just... soaks in the wonder. It might not be the same wonder as Metropolis with its people and hustle and bustle... well, of course it's not, or it wouldn't be very Solitude-y. But it's a home for her in a way.

And her family. And that's who she's looking for, trusting Kal to hear her coming, even before she lands to let the heels of her boots click on the crystalline floor as she chimes out, "Cousin! Do you know what day it is?! I can't believe I almost forgot!"

Superman has posed:
Clark is busy, dressed as Superman, working on the crystals. Just moving them about making sure they're working. "Is it your birthday? What do you want for a gift?" Clark asks with a smile. For a brief moment he wonders about all the different things he can get her. For a brief moment his mind matches that of his friends. What do you get the girl that has nearly everything?

Clark will turn around and float. "What day is today?" he asks making sure he got that right. Those sky blue eyes focused on her arrival. It's a good thing seeing Karent. It's been far too long. And so, he's waiting for the cousin to join him. A welcomed addition to the family, always.

"And how have you been?" Clark asks, afraid he may sound like his mother. That Kent family attitude about family rubbing off.

Power Girl has posed:
Karen scowls half-heartedly, or really, tries to scowl half-heartedly in playfulness, but because she's already grinning when Clark gets it in one, she really just looks goofy for a moment and then huffs out a sigh. "Of course you'd remember! I didn't even remember! And who says this isn't my gift? Drop in, visit the menagerie, see my favorite cousin... and also, I can be assured I'm prepared if Lois has some sort of surprise party planned because there's no way she could get an entire party of people down here unnoticed!"

She watches him moving the crystals, eyes drifting, darting... just mentally following along and reassuring herself she can. After all, what if /she/ needs to move them around sometime? She laughs softly and sighs out, "Well, it's also April Fool's day, but I feel like we sort of miss out on that particular tradition... which is probably for the best. Superpowered pranks seem like a recipe for disaster."

Still, as he turns to face her, Karen floats back up from the floor, arms stretching above her head as her back arches and she hums out, "Oh, I've been alright. Busy with a bunch of quantum mechanics calculations and theories at STAR, I dropped by this other thinktank called GIRL to offer my services as something of a mentor for the scientists of the next generation. Beyond that it's all just rescuing cats from trees... figuratively. I haven't run into any supervillains of late. And you Clark?" One eyebrow perks and she grins, "Maybe us having some quiet time /is/ my birthday gift. From the universe."

Superman has posed:
"I try not to forget," Clark says, plus his phone may have helped. Calendar programs are seriously underrated sometimes. "Who says it is?" Clark counters as he looks at her. "Besides, maybe I want to get you something, but didn't have time to ask you," it is true they didn't have time to connect beforehand.

Karen's darting out of the way which is fine, "I promise Lois is not here and that's not April fools. Lois may still have something planned, if she has, rest assured she kept me in the dark," and Lois would do that to keep it a surprise.

"I've heard of good things about GIRL." A nod comes from him, "You didn't hear about Blackgate. Massive breakout. League is occupied with it for now." Aka people like Batman are combing for clues that somehow went amiss. Plus there is the matter of who they sprung.

"So it's not -that- quiet." To Clark the quiet means preparation.

Power Girl has posed:
Karen laughs softly and sighs out, "Honestly? I can't think of what I would even want... I mean, I've got so many free credits for audibooks I haven't used yet... I certainly don't need a Power Copter or something..." She tilts her head and murmurs softly, "Text me the day before Lois's birthday as a reminder so I don't forget her birthday like I do my own? That'd be a nice gesture."

Eyebrows perk high and she chimes out, "Well, if there are any leads that need someone bullet proof to tag along, let them know I'm willing to help out. I know I'm not the best detective, but I'm pretty decent at being a distraction." Eyes narrow playfully, because Karen surely knows she's more than /decent/ at being a distraction. Sure, sometimes that means throwing a bus at a powerhouse of a villain, but... she's also always happy to just get in the way of bullets.

Her head tilts and her lips press in a thin line, "So, other than the breakout, how are you doing, cousin? Really doing?" Her lips press into an even more severe line. She's not saying that her family has a bad habit of trying to handle things themselves but... well, she knows she does it sometimes. And she figures, being /the/ Superman, her cousin needs to let a load off time to time too. And she'll be there for him.

Superman has posed:
"Alright, but that's not a gift. That's a courtesy," Clark looks at her firmly. He's not going to budge on that one. And he quickly rules out the idea of any book for a gift.

"Are you sure? Kryponite is involved," Clark is making sure Power Girl has an understanding of the risk. "They have a Kryptonian countermeasure. Maybe more than one," he says laying out the pieces of the puzzle he understands. "Not saying you're not good, or willing, just making sure you -know- the dangers."

Then the look focuses and turns even. A thin line. "I'm trying. Things are good, but I worry I'm not doing enough," Clark will come clean with that one. Those sky blue eyes looking back to Karen. "I promise you aside from that, I'm fine." And a moment later his gaze rests on her. A similar even nature, "Yourself?" Again, he's expecting similar honesty.

Power Girl has posed:
Karen lifts one eyebrow. "So are guns. And probably magic. And all the other things that other league members are vulnerable to. Just because I can stand up to things that would flatten Flash if he wasn't fast enough to get out of the way doesn't mean I shouldn't stand up to things that are as risky to me as that bus is to him!"

She sighs out and suddenly she's closer, arms around his shoulders, leaning in against her cousin and giving a squeeze, "Of course you're worried you're not doing enough. You always worry you're not doing enough..." She flashes a little grin and narrows her eyes, "That's why you've got the rest of us around. So we can remind you you're your own worst critic. Also so you don't have to eat all of Lois's holiday meals all by yourself... now /that/ is an act of heroism... she can cook!"

And then she heaves out a sigh like she knew that question was coming, "I'm... okay. It's still a balancing act. trying to accept that I'm me and that's good enough even if I'm... you know... a clone." She frowns ever so slightly, "Honestly, if anything I think I need to get out and be more /Karen/ than Power Girl. Like, socialize some more." She pauses for a long moment and then grins, "But this little visit totally counts even though we couldn't be further from other people. It's socializing with you, so it's totally valid. And cheering you up, as is... my sacred birthday duty?" Her shoulders shrug helplessly as she tries to come up with a very good excuse for why this was her first thought of what to do on her birthday.

Superman has posed:
A nod of confidence goes to Karen. It's just Clark's protective side showing. Not a lack of faith in her.

"Lois is a lovely cook. Well, getting there. It's almost scary," he says because to him eating good food is not that all heroic.

Karen has a lot of good points about Clark being his own worst critic. That's very true. He won't deny that.

Then Karen gets quiet talks about needing to be Karen more. And she's right about the visit. However, Clark asks a simple question, "What is Karen Starr like?" he asks and turns to her. A simple question he knows may touch a nerve. However, he's going to just be quiet for a moment. "When I used to ask 'Who is Clark Kent' that's when I just explored. Went to good restaurants. Went to bad ones. Catch a couple of sports games. It reminded me of why I'm Superman and made me closer to people. I started to gain likes and interests. I think Karen Starr should do the same," he points out to his cousin. Just letting her understand it's not instantly that she knows who Karen is. It's going to take time. "Some Eastern philosophers believe a soul isn't something people are born with. It's something earned. While they talk about trials and tribulations, we've been through those. Our human 'souls'," and yes he does air quotes. "They come from the little things."

Power Girl has posed:
Karen's eyes roll and she sighs out, "Judging by as of late? A workaholic who needs to get her work-life balance in order as much as I've got my... Karen/Power Girl life in balance. Of course that means like... half Power Girl, and then like a quarter work, and a quarter socializing... I've done a bit. Diana was helpful for that, but we haven't run into each other in awhile." She glances sidelong and grins lopsidedly, "The last sports game I went to got attacked by some kind of interdimensional monsters... I mean, it /was/ more fun than the hockey game had been but... not exactly an entertainment to repeat."

She draws a slow breath and narrows her eyes, "Isn't that bit about souls being earned from an episode of The Simpsons? Is Jimmy Olsen my Millhouse?" That's right... Karen knows pop culture! Look out, world!

And then she's breaking down into a genuine peal of giggling at the air quotes and nods her head, "Okay okay, that... that actually makes more sense. See? Look at that. Self-assurance. The best birthday gift my cousin could give me."