Fantastic part!!
So....
“Would you like to walk with me along the beach?” he asked.
I was surprised by this, I hadn't thought of there being a beach nearby, but we've heard about the sea before so I don't know why. I just imagined miles and miles of empty bleakness. Then again, you've also mentioned farms etc so I should have known there were different landscapes and terrain.
Lois quickly changed into another gown, put on her coat, finger-combed her hair and applied a little of Riz’s face cream.
Don't forget the aphrodisiac face cream now Lois!!
“Kal?” Lois said. “Are you sure it is wise for you to be seen so openly with one of your concubines?”
“I don’t know,” Kal said. “But I do know what you mean to me and I’m not going to hide it.”
I like the boldness Kal is showing here, he's doing his best to show he's not ashamed of Lois though he can't have her as his only wife. Even though concubines are accepted, he is showing a great fondness to one and braving the opinion his people may have of this. I know it was the early hours, so he's hardly taking out an ad yet, but the intention was there. He's trying so hard to work out what Lois wants him to do, and I like that he says 'he doesn't know', he's trying to break a little from the restrictions of what the law books tell him.
“What about in private?”
“They usually lead completely separate lives.”
Even when spawning children, Lois thought. “But you’re not a Regal Noble.”
It does seem an odd culture for the nobles to lead separate lives even if an heir is produced. I can see that a lot would choose not to associate as they haven't married for love, but you would think the contact would be a little closer bearing in mind what they're trying to achieve! I know Kal doesn't really know the full story.
“So Za won’t mind?” Lois asked incredulously. “I mean, if you were my husband, I would hate you being out with another woman.”
“If I were your husband,” Kal said gravely. “I would not be out with another woman.”
Good answer Kal.
He'd be ok if asked the question "does my bum look big in this?!"
Lois squeezed his hand. He glanced down at her, looking so happy, the conscientious leader was lost for a moment in the sunshine of his smile.
I sometimes forget Kal smiles so much now and so naturally, little details like that are lovely. Even though he is struglling to get Lois to agree to marriage, his life is still so much brighter just having her around. He'd never even had a companion before.
While they had been speaking, Kal’s eyes had dropped to her mouth and moored there. His fingers zeroed in on her chin and tipped her face towards him. Then, he slowly closed the distance between them and kissed her. With unhurried deliberation, he savoured her.
Lovely imagery!
His hand in her hair felt more like a caress than a mission. His turned off his translator and smiled on a happy breath. “Thank you trust me.”
There's something so romantic about the act of turning off the translator!!
Kal slipped his arm along Lois’s shoulder and pressed her into the warmth of his side. They continued walking along the rough white sand until the rising water threatened to rush their feet. Kal led them from the beach, through a field and back to the more densely housed area. As they walked, Lois chatted, giving him words for the things they saw.
I love this snippet of normality for Lois and Kal.
“I told them I wanted anything I hadn’t had before,” Kal said. “I’d never had beverage; there might be other things I haven’t tried.”
I thought so! In some ways it's as if his life is only just beginning, his appreciation of the finer things anyway!!
Tek didn’t smile, but there was a slight crinkling in the corners of his eyes – enough to tell her he had enjoyed her compliment.
I love that you can also see flashes of what Lois is teaching Kal rubbing off on Tek. Though of course it is likely he is not quite so lacking in emotion as a lot of the Kryptionians, with his happy homelife.
Lois chuckled and bit from the ‘toast’. It was sweet, despite the lack of a spread. “Why did you ask me to come with you to the beach this morning?”
Kal sipped from their coffee. “Because you said you wouldn’t marry me.”
There's someting so endearing about Kal's gaps in logic!
“I asked you to marry me and seven times you said you wouldn’t, so I researched Kryptonian Law and discovered there is no rule preventing me from taking you as my wife.”
Bless him that he's keeping count!
“How very convenient,” Lois snapped. “You have your cake and eat it too.”
Uh-oh, a flash of old Lois, forgetting the saying would be more than a litttle lost on Kal!
Kal recoiled at her tone. “I don’t know what cake is, Lois,” he said evenly. “But I can see you still don’t want to marry me, so I will continue to work through my plans.”
I love Kal's straightforward thinking. I know why Lois is angered (temporarily) by it, but it's so well-meaning.
“How many dates did you think it would take for me to capitulate?” she demanded.
“I don’t understand dates.”
Lois was in no mood for a language lesson. “You’re married, Kal,” she said coolly. “Whatever your plans are, unless they involve me being your only wife, they won’t work.”
Much as Kal was taken aback by this exasperated Lois, I think it was time for her to spell out to him the fundemental reason she can't agree to marriage. I also like that she calmed quickly, reminding herself of the situation, and that Kal isn't being scheming, he's just desperate to find a way to be with her properly.
Lois shook her head. “I know you don’t love her.”
“Who do I love?”
She stared into the coffee. “Me,” she mumbled.
Awww! This was so sweet. Lois was easily won over, out of her anger anyway.
“Drinking beverage with you. Ordering more interesting food for us to share. Learning to speak your language – without the Translator. Planning things for us to do together. Showing you that I don’t intend to hide my feelings for you.”
I just love it!! His simplistic view of 'courting' is so adorable.
“I thought I should kiss you ... and hug you.” He glanced away, before turning back with a small smile. “Although that isn’t just because I want to marry you - that is also because I really like doing that with you.”
I love his honesty. I've said before, the refreshing honesty of this realationship is one of the best things about this fic. Of course, there are still things to come out, but mostly L&K are honest with each other.
The possibilities filtered through Lois’s mind. Was he going to tell her he had never slept with his wife? “Why are you going to tell me?”
I think he's as good as admitted that already!
“Because I am very concerned about how you will react ... what you will think of me when you know, so I hope that by telling you in your language ... maybe you will understand.”
I hope she does understand straight away. I get the feeling she will. It may not be as bad or as shocking to Lois as Kal percieves it to be. Of course, we aren't in on this particular secret so I imagine we will find out when Lois does - can't wait!!
“I will always like being with you,” Kal said. “But I will never stop wanting to marry you.”
Kal has become fixated on Lois' description of the ideals of earth marriage. He can't give up on the idea of what she described they would have. Thankfully, as this is a beautiful love story, I'm sure one day, somehow, they will find a way.
“I will ask you to tell me about Earth Marriage Ceremonies,” Kal said. “I will ask Tek to officiate and try to make it as close to your dreams as I can. Then ... I will do everything I can to make you happy for as long as I live.”
Awww again! It would be so easy for Lois to give in, but I can see why she doesn't.
Did you see the diagram? “Didn’t you know?”
“I was instructed to read the entire Law in the months before my Investiture – and I thought I had - but I didn’t remember that bit and I haven’t looked at that part of the Law since.”
Did you understand the diagram? “Because you weren’t interested in a second marriage until now?”
“Yes ... and because there are no Disputes requiring me to research the part of the Law dealing with marriage of the Supreme Ruler.”
Have you thought about doing that? “How many wives are you allowed?”
Kal looked uncomfortable. “More than one,” he admitted.
Have you thought about doing that with me? “How many more than one?”
I know this has been quoted before, but this passage was just perfect. Showing what Lois was thinking behind what she was saying. It's what we were thinking also! Wherever they go in talking about marriage etc, it always comes back to the diagram and the question she still hasn't quite had the courage to ask!
“Lo-is,” he said on weary sigh.
This was very Clark!
“But any time you’d like to agree to marry me, please tell me and I will ask.”
I could just feel Kal's shock!! He must feel so relieved but so embarrassed. And most of all, it doesn't take a second for him to realise he wants to do it with Lois. I agree, as it is a natural act, it isn't surprising that he realises it is sonething he wants to do with the one he loves. It will also make sense of some of the reactions he's been having around her no doubt!
*That* was how he could get closer to her.
Well yes, in a sense that's true!!
*That* would be ... there just weren’t words to describe how incredible *that* would be with Lois. The inherent intimacy shattered his mind. Would she want to do *that* with him?
That's the key - intimacy!! He already knows how wonderful it is to hug Lois, so it's no wonder he sees a diagram of a hug (and more besides!) and is certain that would be wonderful. I just wonder if he is meaning he just wants to be close to her, or if he means he wants to get her pregnant at this time.
Had she even thought about it?
Oh Kal, she's thought of little else!!
If she married him and slept in his bed every night, would they do so much more than hug and kiss?
He hoped so.
Because that would be beyond incredible.
Again, I love how you get us inside Kal's head and portray his thoughts, so we can see the simplicity of his thought processes.
Kal could feel his face heat as he recalled telling Lois about having to give the sample each month. She had not been able to hide her surprise. Had she been surprised by the method, or had she comprehended his lack of knowledge and been surprised by that?
Was that why she wouldn’t stay in his bed? Because she was scared he would do that to her?
But, he was sure it wasn’t supposed to be something one person did to another; it had to be something two people did together.
I can see why it would be a little scary for Kal too, but his conclusions are well thought out. He isn't stupid after all, it's easy to confuse naivety with a lack of intelligence. And he's considerate enough to realise it has to be a mutual thing.
If she deduced that he hadn’t known about this, she was going to suspect his secret.
Hmm - so intrigued!!! So don't have a clue what it could be!!
It was vital that he tell her the secret before she worked it out for herself. Then, at least he would have the opportunity to try to explain.
Sounds familiar - get in there quick Kal!
On the edge of my seat for part 18. Hope you're still having an amazing time out there Corrina.
Em
)
"Dessert" would, indeed, be Lois's word to parallel "meat", "vegetable", and "beverage", if that's what was intended.