LL.

i question everything and everyone.

[b4kerline]

⸺ i'm the one to fly to ! once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars aligned ( you see, all the wisest women had to do it this way ) . . . if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. i laid the groundwork and then saw a wide smirk on your face. you knew the entire time : you knew that i'm a mastermind ⸺ and now you're mine.

independent, low-activity, retelling of dc's lois lane. loved by ophelia & married to sm4llville ( who so kindly let me recreate her graphics for little miss lane! ) ⸺ mostly inspired by superman & lois and superman '25; verses available for most iterations of lois. if i'm not here ⸺ i'm on @showgal or @alltootal !!!!

⸺ links, icon psd & icon border inspo & base icons

[oftomorrow]

The moment she reaches for him, Clark gratefully takes her hand, before gently pulling her to lean against him. Throughout everything, each up and down and high and low he's ever had, as Superman and as Clark Kent, she's been his rock. He can only pray that never changes.

"I could go for a weekend getaway," he murmurs. "I feel like I've hardly seen the boys lately. That... could be perfect. No saves," he adds, with a little kiss to the top of her head. "I promise."

[b4kerline]

and so they make it work. they book a house, they tell the boys, they pack the car. for exactly twenty-four hours, it's like none of this ever happened, like clark hasn't given up half his soul for the sake of his family. there are marshmallows and a campfire, lifejackets and a lake. there's a creaky, too-small bed that would doom a couple that didn't like each other so much, and the sound of their twins laughing downstairs from the pull-out couch as they put another movie on at three am.

maybe her mistake is believing this will last. lois has always believed in getting through it. in survival. she's never doubted for a minute their survival ⸺ but their peace? it's why she's always been drawn to clark. he sees what she can't.

their life falls apart over pizza. what a ridiculous thing to say. forty-five minutes ago, clark was grabbing the car keys and heading out to pick it up. now, their lives are over. there's a slice dripping grease on lois's hand and she can't even think to put it down.

" what? " she says, staring at jonathan. " what did you just say? "

their boys seem unaware that the world has stopped spinning. jordan just laughs and slides his phone over to her. " you didn't hear? " he asks her. " superman's back. "

she's looking at the screen, but she can't see a thing.

" clark ⸺ "

[sm4llville]

clark kent usually heeds to whatever lois lane suggests him to do. if she tells him to jump, he'll ask how high. if a soft shhh passes between her lips, he will lower his voice and listen. despite his justified neurosis, he quietens at the behest of his wife and returns to the seat he'd not so elegantly jumped right out of.

yeah, okay. there's a small chance he was being dramatic. but this is his hair we're talking about. his real superpower.

" i'm not crying. " yet. " i'm protesting, it's different. " grumbling, maybe. that would be closer to the reality of the situation. " you caught me off guard! i didn't know you were —  " by instinct, he leans forward again, about to move and ruin her work when his wife expertly defuses the situation.

once lois straddles him, clark melts into an enamored smile. " oh . . . hi. " all offenses are forgotten as his hands move to fit around her waist. " y'know, i don't remember you cutting the kids hair like this. " clark teases, cocking up an eyebrow. " if you'd told me sooner, i wouldn't have protested. "

[b4kerline]

" yet. " she gives him a knowing look. she's sure she'll hear about this for the next six months, at least. just as she'd been sure his protests would die the second she settled into his lap. she makes quick work of the rest of his hair; the panic will only recede for so long. she leans back to survey her work, trusting his grip at her waist to keep her from toppling out of his lap. " what can i say? i'm adaptable. and not above bribery. "

lois runs a hand through his hair, knocking the loose strands to the floor, then nods. she's satisfied with her work. his complaints won't faze her.

" don't lie to me, clark kent. " she rolls her eyes, then kisses his nose. " are you okay? "

[sm4llville]

" what? hey, no i'm not! " as per usual, lois has a point. clark will always, as the kids say, be seated for the underwhelming sequel made entirely for nostalgia purposes —  but she doesn't have to throw that a this face right now! " i'm just trying to stay positive, babe! this is gonna happen anyway, might as well try to enjoy it. " though it would be hard, and the thought casts a shadow on his features. he leans back on his chair, crossing his arms, brow creasing. " i don't think he'll be a part of it. " he says offhandedly, concerned with a much greater topic. " i'm worried what they'll do to miranda's characterization . . . she didn't feel the same. was she different to you? meryl wouldn't let them ruin miranda, right? "

[b4kerline]

" you actually do not have to watch it, " she informs him, as if it's brand new information . . . as if they don't have this discussion every time this slop reemerges. she was not pleased about sitting through the new freaky friday ( and she keeps having nightmares about waking up in clark's body . . . look, she's not saying it would all be bad, it's just a lot of responsibility that she doesn't want thrown at her on a tuesday morning. ) " meryl is entering her harrison ford arc. she let them kill donna! " ah ⸺ and here we arrive at the true root of her hatred for these sequels and remakes. she still isn't over 2018. " you are buying me an entire bottle of wine at the theater. "

[oftomorrow]

"No," he immediately protests, straightening up. "No, no, no. God, no. That's... we can't do that to them. Not now, after everything..." Part of him is already convinced Jordan will never forgive him, and that would absolutely be the last straw. Shredding any semblance of normalcy their family has left.

Clark sighs, with fifteen years of weariness behind it. "I don't know what to do," he admits quietly. "It feels like every time I have to choose between my family and the world, I get it wrong."

[b4kerline]

" because there isn't a right answer, clark. " but they'll figure it out together, as they've always done. she reaches for him, slipping her fingers in between his. " this is awful. "

they could lobby. find a sympathetic face in congress, see how much room there is to push ⸺ but sam keeps a pulse on all of this from inside the dod, and lois already has her answer. there's public support. flipping the narrative from property damage to life lost. that, she thinks she could do. she keeps track, of course. all the people that have died because no heroes have come to save them. she hasn't told clark that she counts. won't add any more weight to his shoulders ⸺ has never once blamed him for any of this.

so, what, then? she writes the article? she names every tiny baby, every parent, every person whose death could have been prevented by superman. she lets it fly and she hopes that the public will be outraged enough to demand something changes.

and all the while, she watches her husband drown in his own guilt. she's been writing this article in her head for fifteen years, but she hasn't ever put a word to the page.

" fuck. i've never felt helpless in my life, but this . . . " lois lane has never not had a plan. she tips her head back. closes her eyes. " we should go somewhere. this weekend. just the four of us. rent a cabin, argue over a board game . . . " be normal.

she won't say it, but it's plain enough on her face: i have a bad feeling about this.

[oftomorrow]

Clark exhales slowly, rubbing at his eyes under his glasses. She's right, of course. She usually is. How can he put his sons in danger like that? His own parents had never taken such stupid risks with him... though neither of his parents had ever been the world's foremost hero.

"...I'm sorry," he finally manages. "I... will just call 911 next time. I promise." Not that it would have helped. Superman's a lot faster than a fire truck.

[b4kerline]

" i don't want this. for you or for us. when the boys are older ⸺ " when it's their choice, too, when they can understand the weight of it. lois sighs, shifting her weight, leaning her head against the railing of the steps instead of against clark's shoulder.

the sun is starting to set, casting a golden glow across a neighborhood that's been the backdrop of all of their most important memories. she can still see jordan's triumph the first time he rode his bike down this street. can see jonathan beaming on these steps after pulling a loose tooth.

" can you? " she asks after a minute. " stop? "

if he had stopped, then there'd be a mother who'll never get to make another happy memory in her life. a woman who starts to look at her neighborhood not with fondness, but with horror.

but if he doesn't stop, is lois giving up the same?

" we could run. pull the boys out of school. they'd hate us, but they'd be alive. "

[championoftheoppressed]

SUPERMAN & LOIS — "Closer" (3.01)

[b4kerline]

massive thanks to @sm4llville for letting me copy her graphics ♡ did not have time to come up w/ something from scratch but already feeling better about being here!!!!!! ♡

[sm4llville]

" i guess i don't see the merits of a sequel to an already perfect movie either, but it's important for us to stay optimistic about it. i mean, shrek two is pretty good, right? maybe the devil wears prada will be too. "

@pressriot

[b4kerline]

" you! you are why they're getting away with marketing nostalgia! " people do a lot when they start dating people they really like. exhibit #1 : lois lane sitting through the devil wears prada on a fifth date, so many years ago ( hello?! why don't these people just talk to each other?! ) and keeping her commentary to herself. " i hate the boyfriend. i hope they kill him in the sequel. " natalia's shrek 2 phase tried her.

[b4kerline]

i like when you call me 'babe'.

" yeah? " she grins at him, a glass of wine in each hand. she balances them carefully as she settles into his lap, one knee on either side of his. as she lets him catch her full weight, she wrinkles her nose ⸺ it's not quite as comfortable as it was in her twenties, sitting like this. she leans forward to press a quick kiss to his lips before she rearranges himself, handing him his glass as she turns sideways. her back rests against the arm of the chair, her legs spilling over the opposite arm. she clinks her glass to his. " i'll keep that in mind, babe. "

[b4kerline]

[ TUG ]: sender pulls receiver away from them.

" don't go back. " it reeks of desperation, as does the way she won't let go of eve's arm. lois hates herself for the way it twists her tongue, reminded of every conversation she's had with her sister for the past year and a half. for a woman who makes her living from words, she hasn't gotten any better of that. " your life doesn't have to be like this. "

she'd never betray clark's secret. there's so little that's sacred to her, but trust and truth are. still, she wishes eve could know. she doesn't know how to make her understand, otherwise.

" superman ⸺ superman. " but it's too late, or the wrong thing to say. eve pulls away and lois can't hide her flinch. " wait. stay with me. he'll never expect it, and it'll give you time to clear your head. if you still want to go back after that, fine. "

[oftomorrow]

"They won't," he insists, too quickly. "I... I'll..." Except what will he do, exactly? Stop helping? They both know it's virtually impossible. It's practically in his DNA.

The whole thing had been his choice, for the most part. A careful decision to hang up the cape in exchange for his family's safety and security. It had seemed worth it at the time. Usually, it still does. But when there are children screaming for someone to save them...

"I wish I could turn my hearing off," Clark admits, almost under his breath. "I don't know how to listen to that and just... ignore it. But I know. I know, I... I have to."

[b4kerline]

" they will. pretending won't change that. " not that planning will, either. there was a time when the kent-lane team was impossible . . . but they've given up that along with their right to privacy. " you're superman. they'll make an example of you in a way that they wouldn't for, i don't know, joe flame from cleveland, ohio. " thank god the boys aren't outside to hear that . . . she's never been good at coming up with names on the spot.

she sighs. " but you know that. " they've both understood this from the start. lois drops her head to his shoulder, slipping her arm underneath his.

" i know. i know that it's awful, clark. " if it were her in his shoes, she'd never have made the choice to begin with. but there's no good in knowing that now. " but they'll take the boys away from us. we have no idea what they'll do to them. "

[kingsmemes]

「   RP MEME :   NONVERBAL PROMPTS.  mix of violent, caring, touching and non-touching prompts.  」     SEND PROMPT '+ REVERSE' for the inverse to happen. for example 'bandage + reverse' for the receiver to bandage wounds on the sender.

[ BANDAGE ] : sender bandages a wound on receiver.

[ GUIDE ] : sender puts a hand on he receiver's back to guide them somewhere.

[ WAVE ]: sender waves down receiver to get their attention.

[ SIGN ]: sender raises their hand to sign to receiver. what follows can be anything the sender desires.

[ LIFT ]: sender lifts receiver's chin to look at them.

[ LIGHT ]: sender lights receiver's cigarette/candle/etc.

[ FIND ] : sender finds receiver beaten and/or bloodied.

[ PIN ]: sender pins receiver against the wall during combat/sparring.

[ GET DOWN ]: sender tackles receiver out of the way of danger.

[ TAKE ]: sender takes a hit meant for receiver.

[ CAUGHT ]: sender finds receiver somewhere they aren't supposed to be.

[ TRAP ]: sender traps the receiver somewhere they don't want to be.

[ DARLING ]: sender touches receiver's cheek.

[ SNATCH ]: sender snatches receiver's wrist as they turn to go.

[ STAB ]: sender stabs receiver.

[ DRAG ]: sender drags receiver from point a to point b.

[ SIT ]: sender sits on receiver's lap.

[ EN GARDE ]: sender and receiver get into some kind of fight.

[ DRUNK ]: sender finds receiver drunk.

[ BLOOD ]: sender walks into receiver's room covered in blood.

[ FLOWER ]: sender offers a flower to receiver.

[ HOLD ]: sender reaches to hold receiver's hand.

[ BRUSH ]: sender brushes a strand of hair out of receiver's face.

[ NOTE: ] sender writes a note for receiver. the contents are whatever the sender decides.

[ EYES ]: sender notices receiver looking at them.

[ STOP ]: sender raises hand to signal the receiver to stop in place.

[ TAP ]: sender taps receiver on the shoulder to get their attention.

[ WAKE ]: sender gently wakes receiver from a nap or otherwise.

[ MORNING AFTER ]: sender and receiver wake up together for the first time after a night of passion.

[ BLANKET ]: sender drapes a blanket over receiver's shoulders.

[ HUDDLE ]: sender and receiver huddle together in an effort to stay warm.

[ TUG ]: sender pulls receiver away from them.

[ PUSH ]: sender pushes receiver away from them.

[ BULLET ]: sender shoots receiver in a non-lethal area.

[oftomorrow]

Clark blinks, confused, before her light touch keeps him outside. Right. They have two fourteen-year-old boys still reeling from the revelation that their father used to be a superhero. And the house isn't that big.

He sighs, leaning back against the stair railing. A hand drifts up to his face, pinching the bridge of his nose and rubbing at his eyes underneath his glasses. Obviously, Lois is far too smart to actually believe his ridiculous excuses. Part of him wonders why he'd even tried. Maybe because she might try to stop him. Or worse — encourage him.

"It was a fire in Central City," he finally admits, voice barely above a whisper. "Two kids were stuck on the top floor. No one saw my face. I made sure."

[b4kerline]

she understands. lois lane has never been capable of looking away when somebody's life is on the line. she chases down every story regardless of the risk ⸺ has thrown herself off buildings just to change something. if she could do half of what clark can, she'd never have stopped.

but that's the problem, isn't it? he chose this, and now they're all vulnerable.

" clark, " she says, hands bridging over her nose and up her forehead. " if somebody sees you . . . "

but he understands. the government is an abstract threat to their boys. these children would have died without him.

how could she, as a mother, condemn those children? but how could she, as a mother, condemn her own? this is exactly why she begged him not to put them in this position, in the first place. they could have fought the law. now, their hands are tied by it.

what good does it do, to tell him what he already knows?

" fuck. somebody is going to see you. "

[oftomorrow]

@pressriot | Incredibles AU

Clark hovers several hundred feet above his apartment, peering down through the clouds. He has to make sure no one's around before touching down. The last thing his family needs is for someone to suspect that their neighbor is — or was — Superman.

It would be a lot easier to hide that if it weren't for his super-hearing. Or more accurately, his drive to help. Every time, he tries to tell himself that being Clark Kent is enough. That he's doing plenty of good in the world, that devoting all of his time to reporting has let him shed light on some incredibly stories. But it's a lot harder to believe that when he can hear people in Central City screaming in terror.

Some days he resists, and doesn't do anything. Some days he places a discreet call to 911 on their behalf. And some days, like today... he flies over. It's just a fire, after all. He can be in and out before anyone even notices.

Maybe he'd stuck around a bit longer than necessary. Maybe one of the firefighters had caught a glimpse of his back as he left the scene. But it's fine. Surely.

When he's sure the coast is clear, Clark drops down in the alley behind the apartment, adjusts his tie, and heads to his front door. Very cool. Very nonchalant. There's definitely a very good reason he's several hours late from work.

Though when he opens the door to immediately see Lois watching him, that reason completely leaves his head.

"...hi." For someone who lies about himself constantly, he has a shockingly terrible poker face.

[b4kerline]

most women would assume the worst if their husband kept coming home late from work. at least, lois assumes they would. she doesn't keep a pulse on her married friends. or on any of her friends. there's enough to manage at home, between the twins, jordan's new powers, and the fact that her husband is the greatest threat to national security, at least according to the us government. lois doesn't have time for chatting.

she's starting to wish she did. she needs someone to tell her she's not crazy. maybe she'll call lucy, pretend she is worried about an affair. it's a good enough stand-in, even if she knows clark would die before thinking about it. she's starting to wish he would. that, she could deal with. that, she knows how to handle.

but how do you look the man you love in the eyes and ask him to stop doing the one thing he needs to do, was born to do? and how do you do that when you're the one who told him to keep going for years?

like this, she supposes.

" perry called. " she holds up a hand, stopping him from coming into the house. she's terrified jordan's super-hearing is going to come in soon, and she doesn't need him hearing this. lois steps out of the house, shutting the door behind her. her arms fold over her chest, her lips pressing into a thin line. " another story? he's working you hard. "

how are they here? how is she trying to trap clark fucking kent in a lie? this isn't what their marriage is. she sighs, brushing her hair off her forehead before she sits on the top step leading up to your door.

" actually, " she cuts him off. " i don't want to do this with you, clark. we work together . . . and i know you don't think i'm stupid. so i have to assume you want me to ask, because you have to know that i know that you're not at work. "

it's enough to give her a headache. actually, she does have one. clark's never done that to her before.

[oftomorrow]

@pressriot | continued

" it's chemistry, clark. how hard could it be? " says the woman who almost set their house on fire with jordan's sixth grade science fair project. " they put the recipe on the back of the box! and we have that little cooking scale i got you last christmas⸺ " pride cometh before the fall, and her face shifts in a split second. if it's as easy as she says it is . . . and she still fucks it up . . . " i contribute to this family in other ways, you know. " as if he doesn't. " fine. can you go to that thai place i like? do not let jonathan talk you out of it. "

"For you? Impossible." It's said in the gentlest of teasing tones while he leans in to kiss her forehead.

"So you're assuming you'll beat me home?" Granted, it is a fair assumption — the odds of a Superman save coming up are pretty high. (Especially if he flies the wrong way around the globe on his way back. After all, he likes the Thai place, too.)

[b4kerline]

" lead foot, " she says with a smile, eyes crinkling as she does. there are many things that are better in smallville, not least of all that she's gotten zero speeding tickets since moving. it's saving them a small fortune.

she tilts her head up, waiting for an actual kiss. " will you see if they have the mango sticky rice? " she'll assume he has the rest of her order memorized.

[toomanyf4ndoms77]

Superman (1939) Issue #702.

Clark and Lois on the phone, you love to see it. Their dynamic, effervescent.