Hi Author!
Disclaimer: there’s guesses all throughout. If you haven’t guessed yourself yet, beware!
Dancing With Superman
*****
“Please, Lois.”
“Why does it have to be me?” I ask in response to Perry’s plea.
I won’t be guessing that one in ten words in. But, I do like the setup
They need a celebrity, and you’re our most famous reporter.”
Is that… Dancing with the Stars?
“I’m sorry, darlin’. Cat always filled in for us and I neglected to inform the selection committee that she’d moved last summer.
Ah, season two. And sounds like it’s more of a charity function.
They assigned the Planet to fill a ladies spot for the event and it’s too late to change it.”
Jimmy could wear a dress!
Though given the gaudiness of the tie, it could be some of his lunch that dribbled, or part of the pattern.
Nice tie reference.
“I can’t, I’m busy that night.” I am not doing this charity event.
No kiddin’… wait for it…
“Perry hasn’t told you what night it is yet,” Clark helpfully points out.
LOIS: I will be kidnapped that night. /there, that should cover it/
“You’ll get to rub shoulders with Metropolis’ elite-”
Like she did last year with Lex Luthor.
Also, it’s a funny start. And the length would be queensized. But no, the formatting and style isn’t exactly right. And Mary would never try to trick us.
“I’ve done that before and it’s not anything to get excited about,” I quickly interrupt Perry.
See?
Not to mention some great oaf stomping on my poor toes.
Lex would kill himself over that remark. Say, could Lois get steel cap heels?
and you’ll be taught a dance-”
Danger! Danger!
See?
“You won’t know until you arrive for your first rehearsal.”
/ Points at title/
“You’ll be fine, darlin’. I’m sure the committee will find you the perfect partner.”
COMMITTEE: Lois Lane? Perfect. Now, anyone know Superman?
I swear Perry winks at me as he walks away. I glare at Clark who finds something fascinating on his desk, and turn to face Jimmy, who has taken a page out of Clark’s book and vanished.
****
There’s a hint! /checks/ the story keeps using four stars. Toomi. Need to check if Toomi does comedy shorts. Also, it’s in first person present tense. I don’t think Queenie does that style. The wording, not the comedy or shorts, I mean.
I am running a little late, but only thirty minutes,
Tied up at work.
and considering my dance partner has backed out twice so far,
Now, who does this remind you of?
LOIS: Clark?
The two cancelled rehearsals have annoyed me as while I’m sure I can hold my own, I’d like to take advantage of all the rehearsals to have the best chance at winning.
Hehehe
It’s not much to look at, an inconspicuous door in between two storefronts, and as I open it, I can hear piano music coming from upstairs. The studio occupies the floor above the shops and I climb the narrow stairs, the music getting louder with each step.
A lot of scenery. Another hint. Will need to check in more detail with Toomi’s fic.
/edit/
Hmm…can’t find ‘proof’, but I did find Toomi doing First Person present tense.
I can already feel my poor toes protest some oaf stomping on them while he learns his steps.
It will be like she’s dancing on air. Oh, I, wait, that’s about the rehearsal now.
“That is not a problem. You are here! And so is your partner.”
Oh?
“Hello, Lois.”
Sitting in a chair, his cape brushing the floor, is Superman.
Superman is *sitting*?
/imagines Superman sitting in a waiting area with a magazine open while Lois gets her hair done or buys shoes/
. I’ll have to thank Perry tomorrow I muse as I pick my jaw up from the ground.
Nice phrasing. Also, not Bakasi. So far it all points to Toomi.
“I’ve been reluctant as I wouldn’t want to leave a dance partner behind in the event I have to leave in an emergency. I was assured my assigned partner would be understanding.”
LOIS: I can be understanding. You will be taking me with you to that emergency, so I get the exclusive, right?
“I see you know each other.”
Not a newsreader, that one?
We are so far apart, you could have parked a city bus between us.
Lois, it’s just Superman. You have danced with him before.
Why is this weird? We’ve danced before, albeit for one song and it was less dancing and more floating.
I need to stop not reading ahead.
jarringly so as he pushes Superman and I closer together. I think a mosquito would have struggled to fly between us.
:evil.
If you dance like wooden soldiers, you will not win. You must hold one another as though you care, though first we must learn the steps.”
I’ll go ahead and read this with a French accent, oui?
. I find myself determined to practice and not let my dance partner down.
Maybe she could ask Clark to help?
. I try to not be annoyed with Superman’s absences as he’s doing needed rescue work, but it is frustrating.
Perhaps it would help if she imagined Clark instead?
I feel a sense of relief as I see Clark in the peephole.
“Are you busy?”
“No,” I laugh. “Not really.”
“It sounded like you could use a break.”
He really got bad timing. The one time she needs Superman, Clark shows up.
Just like Clark to offer, even though he has no idea what it could involve. Though… Clark is a good dancer. Maybe he can help!
No singing involved!
My dance partner has had to miss a few rehearsals,” I state carefully. There’s always the chance that Superman told Clark that he was involved in the charity event this year.
Awwwww, look who suddenly a stickler for rules.
LOIS: Superman stands for order and justice.
“Ok.”
There are some things about Clark that make me want to scream in frustration, but this makes up for it, almost. Some days it feels as though I can say anything to him, ask him any favour I can think of, and he’ll calmly say ‘ok.’
Oooh, Toomi just discussed AE and BE spelling the other day on Discord. Unless there’s a really sneaky FoLC involved (and I’m not playing, which darn, I should not try to be sneaky because that would be a giveaway), this is so Toomi. Guess I can skip to the end now?
.
.
.
Jk!
With ample space between us, we focus on our steps until I turn, and bash my ankle on a leg of the coffee table.
It’s comfortable, and relaxing, while we laugh every time I step on his toes.
Funny how it’s now Lois doing the stepping on.
that this dance is a sensual dance. It was hard to feel that with the instructor, but with Clark, I’m on the verge of succumbing to passion.
/cocks eyebrow/
“Again?” Clark asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
I can’t find my voice and nod instead.
Awwwww
Dancing with Clark has been wonderful, but I still want to win. Who has Superman been rehearsing with? Has he had time to rehearse?
I watch as he flew away wondering how on earth I got to the point of dancing with Superman but daydreaming about Clark.
Heresy!
I’m somewhat relieved that I’m sequestered backstage as I don’t have to deal with magicians, or small talk.
Yes, those lying creeps in their fancy suits.
The crowd cheers for us, though I’m sure it’s for Superman’s benefit,
MC: Announcing, Superman and guest!
. I want to laugh at myself. I’m in Superman’s arms, and all I can think of is Clark again.
I’m guessing there will both be a reveal and a date. Only question is, which will come first.
The music ends as Superman, to my surprise, dips me, much like Clark had done. Curiously, Superman looks a little startled, as though he hadn’t intended to, as that wasn’t the rehearsed ending to the dance, just something Clark and I had done.
Hadn’t planned that one, had he?
. I’m floored when Superman and I win first place.
And with only two rehearsals. Or was it one?
Perry, Alice and several others from work stop by to congratulate me, but there’s only one person I’m looking for, and I wave as I spot him near the bar.
I like how lively this is with the ensemble there. It’s not easy to weave in background material.
but keep hold of my chocolate rose. Can I keep it? Will it go bad if I don’t eat it?
Awww. Bad, no, but it might melt eventually if it’s too warm. Also, chocolate, so it might end up getting eaten when Clark dumps her for her own good.
Yes, with a special lady friend.
How had Clark learned that dance so fast? He’s a quick learner but he picked up all the moves, even the ones that weren’t in the book I’d tried. Plus there was the dip at the end of the dance, a move he had done with me, and one that Superman had used tonight.
If you go with Bek’s explanation…
“Clark?” I ask after several minutes of silence.
“I’m sorry, Lois.”
I have no idea what he’s apologizing for.
“I did think you’d be more upset though,” he continues when I don’t react.
Oooh, that’s a new one, Clark thinking she already figured it out.
Bewilderment is replaced by wide eyes and relief, before he smiles at me. I laugh and kiss him again, only this time he returns the kiss.
Awwwww… simply sweet
This is how Superman rehearsed, and why we seemed so in sync.
Okay, for we have a revelation or do we have Superman’s boyfriend?
and the times Clark has saved me.
Revelation it is.
As he spins into the Suit, scoops me into his arms and we fly towards my apartment, I remind myself that there are two fragile hearts involved, even if one is made of steel, and our conversation tonight could break either one
Awwwwww
Despite the unanswered questions and betrayal I feel, we will tread lightly, and hopefully find a way to move forward together.
Very well crafted! Lots of WAFF.
This will be marked down as
Toomi8Want:
-Someone figuring “it” out
-Chocolate
-A Book
Oooh fun how ‘it’ was not specified.
Don’t Want
-Villains
-Ex-love-interests
-Ralph
Unfortunately, I can’t pin down the requestee from the prompts. Years ago, Female Hawk requested chocolate. But these days. *sigh*
Michael
