8497/The Great Darkness

The Great Darkness
Date of Scene:	25 July 2019
Location:	A coffee shop just across from the Daily Planet
Synopsis:	Lar learns some new and very disconcerting details about what happened on Apokolips from Kal.
Cast of Characters:	Superman, Mon-El

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Superman has posed:
It was a nice, sunny, and slightly breezy day. The city was bustling as the end of the day hists. People were heading home, and a few were stopping for coffee at the small coffee shop just across from the Daily Planet.

One man in particular was ordering a coffee. Passing some change to the man, Clark Kent says, "Thank you Charles. Another day in the bag!" The man smiles, and pushes the coffee towards Clark. "Indeed it is Mr. Kent. Another day. Have a safe trip home." With a nod, Clark turns, takes a sip of the coffee, and considers the warm summer air.

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar has been rather concerned about Kal lately, with his rather cagey behavior at the Fortress recently. However, the kryptonian had agreed to coffee in Metropolis at some point to talk things over. Which was somewhat of a relief, although time will tell if Lar will have his worries soothed, exacerbated, or something in between.

    So on the agreed upon evening, he walks into that coffee shop where Charles works and Clark has just picked up his order and approaches the latter. "Ka--" He begins, then clears his throat. "I mean, Clark." Right, in public. "How are you?"

Superman has posed:
Without turning quite yet, Clark holds up two fingers, and says, "Looks like he made it Charles. How about a second one for my friend?" Paying for the coffee, Charles doesn't say a word, simply winking, pushing another cup of coffee to Clark, and goes back to doing what he was doing.

The place was relatively empty at this time of day. A young woman in the corner near the back, too busy with whatever was going on her phone to notice. An elderly man was eating his doughnut and drinking his coffee while reading today's Daily Planet. That made five people in this little coffee shop.

"Lar. I am glad you came." Turning, Clark holds out the second cup of coffee with a smile. "Coffee?" Strangely, he ignored the "how are you" and just said, "I'm glad you could make it. Want to sit?" Clark waves towards a table with two uncomfortable looking chairs.

Mon-El has posed:
    "Er...thanks." Lar takes the coffee, peering into it momentarily but not yet taking a sip. He definitely noticed that Kal ignored the question of how he was. With a faint sigh, he moves over toward the table as suggested and sits down.

    Assuming Clark joins him, he sets the coffee cup down and looks his friend in the eyes. "You didn't answer my question." Another sigh, and a frown. "Clark...what's going on?" he asks, trying to keep his voice down. "What exactly happened back there on Apokolips?"

Superman has posed:
Sitting down across from Lar, Clark takes a moment to get comfortable and then takes a sip of his coffee. Smiling, he enjoys the flavours for a few seconds, his Kryptoninan senses sending so much more to his brain the a normal human gets. Putting the cup down, Clark looks Lar in the eye, and says, "It is good to see you my friend."

Sighing, Clark sits back a bit, and crosses his arms across his chest as though weighing his words carefully. "I did avoid your question. A lot happened. A lot." Clark pauses again, and looks over Lar's shoulder, into the distance. "I don't know what happened on Apokolips, Lar. I can't explain it..."

Leaning forward, Clark uncrosses his arms and picks up the coffee but doesn't take a drink. "It is like something is there. At the edge of my consciousness. Calling to me. I fear we didn't finish everything we needed to on Apokolips. A Darkness, Lar. I fear a Great Darkness is coming. And I am the fulcrum that could cause the end of everything."

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar listens to what Kal has to say, frowning pensively. Needless to say, it's not very specific. "Do you remember what was happening around you? The battle? Anything? Or were you lost in your own mind?" he asks. "It seemed to everyone else, that something was controlling you, would you agree with that?"

Superman has posed:
Clark's eyes grow distant once more as he tries to delve into the darkness that had him, deep in his core. "I remember pain. Shouts. I remember Kara...and others...a witch." His eyes focus and find Lar's. "I felt you there as well. Thank you." A smile. "I wasn't lost...I was buried. A deep, ancient darkness was there, and we were connected. It was like I was being used as a magnet, to bring something ancient and evil back."

Clark shivers, although not cold. He takes a sip of coffee, and continues. "Something...or someone...was in charge. Controlling me. I fought back, which allowed you all to free me. It isn't gone though. Simply beaten, but not defeated....something called... the Source Wall?"

Finishing off the coffee, and suddenly wishing he could feel the effects of alcohol like humans, because he sure needed a drink, Clark considers. "There is something else. A Scion of something worse than what I want to say...a woman." Shaking his head, Clark says, "That is what rings true. It tried to hide that from me. Oh, and a fear. A fear. Of...Darkseid."

Mon-El has posed:
    "Hmm." Lar frowns. He doesn't like the sound of this. "The Source Wall..." he mutters to himself. It doesn't sound familiar, so he'll have to see if he can research it. "When did it start happening? Must have been at some point after we fought Enchantress at the Watchtower."

Superman has posed:
Clark's voice was almost a whisper. "It was. The Enchantress." That name hit something. It was like a bell rang out in his subconscious. The struggle behind Clark's eyes was on. "Yes. We need to find her. She will know...things." Standing up, Clark Kent straightens his glasses by pushing them up on his nose, and looks uncomfortable, as though he was a rabbit who had forgotten that he had a date and he was very, very late.

"Lar. This is important. Find Willow and John. Kara...tell Kara..." Lar could tell Clark was getting ready to flee. "...tell Kara HE is coming. The Great Darkness. He knows..." Moving towards the door, Clark pauses and places his hand on Lar's shoulder and says, "Find the one called Grail. She is important Lar."

With a smile, a "Thank you my friend..." he is gone.