004. Third Flight - Slightly distorted video

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[What is that? An American flag fluttering across the screen? No, just a cape. A very bright, very red cape. Clark is practicing his hovering, because it looks completely different on screen than simply standing still, and strengthens his make-believe that Superman and Clark Kent are from different universes, and that he can fly, you know, just

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[Monsters be damned, Re-l can take care of herself. She's sitting on the roof of her apartment building, alone, with a gun safely tucked at her side in case she runs into any trouble later. She's swinging her small legs off the edge as she watches the fireworks, smiling to herself. They really are pretty, and it's a shame she didn't take advantage of this last year.

Of course, Superman wasn't around then.

She'll have to thank him later.]

[southernreaper]

[This was all Julian's fault. He'd dragged him out and told him to "be sociable" and to "stop hiding." Well, he wasn't hiding, he wasn't sociable and he didn't want to be neither.

Climbing up the side of a building, he spotted a little girl, sitting on the edge, looking like she was watching the fireworks.]

Umm, ya alrigh', darlin'? Should ya be up here by yaself?

[He's got his hands tucked into his pockets and is carefully keeping his distance. He knows size doesn't mean unpowered or nondangerous.]

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[She looks over when he speaks, slowly nodding.]

Yeah, I just wanted a better view of them.

[She recognizes his voice, but she's not sure from where.]

You can come sit. There's room for two.

[southernreaper]

[He looks out at the fireworks.]

Makes sense I s'pose.

[A wary look. Despite the warmth, he's wearing long sleeves, a turtle neck and gloves.]

If'n ya sure I ain't gonna be crowdin' ya.

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I'm sure. It's all right with me, really.

[She doesn't mind company. He doesn't seem threatening, after all.]

[southernreaper]

[Kevin finds a place to sit, keeping a goodly amount of distance between the pair of them.]

M'name's Kevin Ford.

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Re-l Mayer. I'm...not usually this small.

[Which was embarrassing to admit, but she wanted to be honest.]

[southernreaper]

[It takes him a moment to figure it out, but he creases his eyebrows and comes to the right conclusion.]

That lady that was usin' magic?

Any idea how long it's gonna last?

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I don't know. Someone said a week but... I'm just not sure.

[southernreaper]

Well, here's hopin' it's shorter. I cain't imagine it'd be fun bein' age regressed like tha'.

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[Clark sets off fireworks a little after nightfall too, but they end quickly enough--no point inviting monsters over, and the Darkness seems to eat up the bright lights, making them appear dull and unspectacular. He goes straight to his rounds when the party breaks up, which is when he notices Re-l, and steps down to join her on her rooftop.]

I almost didn't recognise you.

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[She looks up when he steps down to the rooftop and she stands to make the height difference a little better. Nothing more embarrassing than being super tiny.]

It's not quite the same, I know.

[Re-l gives a faint smile.]

The fireworks were beautiful.

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[He's used to being taller than everyone, it's sort of his thing. He smiles, though, and finds a seat beside the spot she'd been in before, swinging his own legs down over the side and looking north.]

You had a nice vantage point.

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I would have had a better one if I had been taller.

[With stronger claws, bigger wings, she could have gotten to one of the taller buildings to really get a good look.]

But it was nice. We didn't have this last year.

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Or you could have come down to the lake, spent the evening with everyone.

[It's not condescending, or questioning, just warm. He's sure she has her reasons for watching from here.]

It's nice to have a little bit of home here. Reminds everyone that they're not alone, that they're not expected to just give up their traditions or their values. It's a shame Edgeworth felt he couldn't make it.

[The slightest, curious tilt of his head. Bruce has told Clark that Re-l and Edgeworth are close, and this is almost his way of asking. It does make sense, though.]

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That's all right. I'm still not fully up to walking around with everyone like this.

[The imposing Re-l Mayer as a child. And what if something had happened on her way back?]

I agree. I think he was just busy and needed to stay in.

[She looks at him knowingly. It's a very stupid lie and they both know it.]

He's not one for fun when others are suffering.