video; ID reads Clark Kent

[andaway]

Uh, hi. I’m Clark.

[This is not a bad idea. This is not a bad idea. This is not a bad idea. Maybe if he keeps repeating the same thing over and over he’ll be able to convince himself. But he doesn’t seem to be the only one confused (not by a long shot), so there shouldn’t be any harm in getting some answers through this network. It’s just unnerving to know so many people that know who he is. What he is, something only his family and Lana were supposed to know. Will he find more people who know that, if he shows his face?

Again: This is not a bad idea...]

Uh, so now we know why some of us de-aged a bit, I guess? Or aged up. Which is- well, not good that it happened. But it’s good that we at least we know what’s going on. And it wasn’t the government doing it. [Which is a relief.]

But what about those who don’t remember? Do we have any idea why that’s happening or how to reverse it? [The idea of someone playing tricks with his mind it’s pretty unnerving. And it’s the unnerving cherry on top of a very unnerving couple days.]

Comments

[andaway]

Uh... [People have recognized him before, but no one has ever used that one name of all things.]

I think so. I mean that's what the hologram- how do you know that name?

[boobwindow]

I hate this week. This should be cute, but it's just weird now.

[ Of course he won't remember her at that age. ]

My name's Karen... but my real name is Kara Zor-L. It's a long, long story, but first: are you alright?

[andaway]

Yeah! Everyone's being really helpful. And this house is nice. It's just a little frustrating to have a lot of people that don't really remember m-

[Aaaand that's when it clicks and he raises both eyebrows.] My father's name was Jor-El. That's... eerily similar to your real name, isn't it? Or part of it, anyway.

[boobwindow]

I promise you'll be fine soon. The effects of this should wear off soon.

[ She hopes so. ]

Like I said, it's... too long, didn't read. We're sort of family.

[andaway]

[Longest pause ever goes here, to the point where it's a little bit awkward.]

My father's hologram said my planet had died. That I was the only survivor. ['That I was alone'.]

[boobwindow]

[ She bites down on her lip, looking away uneasily. ]

We're not from the same universe. There are parallel Earths and I come from one of them. In my universe, Krypton exploded and you and I were the sole survivors.

[ She doesn't dare bring up Kara or the other Kryptonians who appear later on. She can still hear Ma Kent's voice, understanding but firm, telling her her Clark deserved to know the truth about his family. It aches to think about it. ]

[andaway]

Oh.

[He nods, disapointment clear in his voice even though it's probably better this way.] I see. I'm sorry, I know about time travel because I spent some time with... friends. In the future. But I don't know anything about parallel Earths.

[boobwindow]

[ This part never not hurts. ]

It's okay, Kal. Don't worry about it.

I wanted to make sure you're doing okay. I guess you've heard someone accidentally caused the situation you're in right now.

[andaway]

[He nods, even though he doesn't look convinced. He just gets the feeling pushing it wouldn't be smart. She said she had her own Superman... maybe she misses him? He'd miss the only other survivor of Krypton, as well.]

Yeah, at least the let's-mess-around-with-people's-ages part. I still don't know what happened to my memories. Everyone seems to assume the government did it, though.

Do you think they could have done this?

[boobwindow]

There's a lot this government might be capable of, but I don't believe tampering with our memories is one.

It was an imPort... someone like us. It was all an accident.

[andaway]

I guess that's more likely. And good, since it means they weren't trying to hurt us, right?

But... will we get our memories back? I want to remember everyone and everything, it's really really creepy to be stuck like this. To be talking to you and know you know more about me than I know about you.

[boobwindow]

I don't think he intended to hurt anyone.

[ He gets a sympathetic look in return. ]

... I can't say, but I think you will.

[andaway]

I hope so. I'm apparently going to have to get a lot of stuff changed if I stick like his- I'm apparently missing work already? And I would need a legal guardian, too.

It'd be kind of a mess.

[boobwindow]

Look, don't worry too much about all that stuff right now. If it happens, we figure it out together when the time comes.

First, I really need you to be careful talking to Zod. Kid or not, I don't really trust him.

[andaway]

What? The Zod that's been texting me in here?

But he seems to nice. He sounds a lot like my father, actually.

[boobwindow]

That's what concerns me; he could be playing you.

[ She's not going to stop giving this kid version grief until she's certain he isn't a danger to Clark. ]

[andaway]

Uh.

No offense, but. I mean, I'm not dumb. [Yes, yes you are Clark. At least in that regard.]

[boobwindow]

I don't think you are!

[ A deep breath. ]

But you... you have a big heart. I don't want anyone taking advantage of it.

[andaway]

[That's a compliment, isn't it? Or at least it's supposed to be a good thing. And yet Clark feels like he's done something wrong. He shrugs, biting his lower lip as he looks down.]

Is he bad? In your world, I mean.

[boobwindow]

[ That looks is almost heart-wrenching. She's not sure why this is so awkward for her to face, but it is. ]

I have my reservations about anyone named Zod.

[andaway]

Wait... this is about his name? Because that's really unfair. Do you have some sort of beef with his family?

[A pause.] Do I? In the future, I mean.

[boobwindow]

It's hard not to.

... I don't know if I should be telling you much about the future.

[ In the off chance this isn't temporary. ]

[andaway]

[He makes a face because that feels really unfair. But he knows she's right.]

The league said the same. But it's different in here, right? I'm going to forget as soon as I go home. I think. People have told me that anyway.

[boobwindow]

I don't want to keep anything from you. I know it must be frustrating, though you're already dealing with a lot, aren't you?

I'd rather you take a breather before anything else is dumped on you.

eek that was supposed to be legion not league

[andaway]

[She makes a lot of sense. And she's right, he knows she's right. He hates having to be reasonable when all he wants is to investigate a little further, and he shows it with a bit a frustrated groan even if he nods.]

Thank you, I guess. I probably don't want to know that much anyway but I hate not knowing.