Sure enough, the door opens as if they're entering the front foyer of Clark's house. He glances around the entrance way and then stops to listen
( Read more... )
Eights might notice a very definite change in Clark's body language right about now, as he straightens his shoulder, pulls himself up to his full height and all but glares at the man. "Lex. What are you doing here?"
"It's my family's wing, Clark. I hardly need an excuse to stop by." The man - Lex - rests his gaze on Anna. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
"We were just leaving," Clark's tone is barely civil. And then he turns back to Anna, intent on ushering her out without another word.
Anna puts a calming hand on Clark's elbow, lightly. It's the same infinitesmally soft touch she used when she first met him: the touch that is all communication and no control.
"I'd really like to see that gemstone exhibit, if it's all the same to you, Clark," she murmurs cordially, her eyes on Lex. So this is what Clark meant when he said he had his sharks.
Clark looks down at her hand briefly, but doesn't say anything or move for a moment. That he is not happy about any of this is beyond obvious, and if Anna were to look behind him, she would notice Lex smirking at them. Or at Clark, more specifically.
Anna quirks an eyebrow at Lex as she continues in the direction of the named exhibit. It's worth noting that she doesn't need to look where she's going to know that it is the right direction, nor to avoid bumping into people or objects as she walks. And she still has on what she might call her society face: an air of grace, majesty, and perfect self-control that surrounds her like a regal cloak.
Clark dutifully follows Anna round the floor, though it would be a lie to say his attention wasn't mostly on Lex.
For his part, Lex maintains his distance, but continues to watch them as well. Although now, he appears far more interested in Anna than he was before.
The smile that alights upon her features when she does so is entirely genuine, but significantly more controlled than the one Clark is used to seeing. She knows that the shark is watching, and she'll put on the proper show for him. Her walk is every inch the dancer's, each foot placed delicately and with care; her hands are slow and graceful as she trails them through the air admiringly, pointing out the particularly beautiful pieces.
It must be said that Clark looks ridiculously out of place trailing behind her and this will only serve to pique Lex's interest in her further. Not only is there the question of "What is Clark doing with a woman like this?" but also "What is a woman like this doing with Clark?"
Of course, it's not like Clark hasn't attracted unusual company in the past. All in all, they make quite an intriguing picture. Discreetly, Lex tells one of his guards to tail them for the rest of their museum stay.
After the shiny things, it's only natural that Anna should drag Clark on to several more exhibits. Paintings, historical artifacts; she has an eye for beauty, this one. And all with her society mask firmly in place.
Within fifteen minutes, however, she excuses herself from Clark's company graciously, ostensibly in search of the restroom.
It should surprise no-one, really, that the instant she's out of sight of her companion she whirls round to confront Lex's guard.
"Why are you following me?" she asks, tone light and innocent, countenance coldly amused.
She really doesn't buy it. It's written plainly on her face. She nods, however, a smooth motion that seems to say I'll give you this one.
"Go and maintain someone else's safety, then."
And Eights turns - sharp, precise, yet fluid - to walk the five steps to the restroom, where she washes her hands and dries them, counts out the thirty more seconds it would have taken her to actually make use of the place, and returns to Clark.
And Clark is waiting right where she left him, as if he would be anywhere else, although he does keep glancing in the direction of the gem exhibit. When Eights returns, he stands and gives her a small smile.
"Ready to go?"
The guard will, of course, be ready to follow wherever she takes him on the museum grounds.
"Just another two," she says pleasantly. "Here, and here." She points to two locations on the map. The exhibits themselves are inconsequential; it's the fact that they're at opposite ends of the museum which is key. An excellent test to determine whether or not that guard is still determined to tail them.
The astronomy wing is the second of the two. Eights takes advantage of Clark's distraction to give their tail a pointed look and a delicate, subtle shooing motion.
The guard is undeterred. Clark is oblivious. It's a wonderful combination.
"Anna, over here for a minute," Clark calls her over to a small piece of green tinged rock inside a glass display box. He leans down to murmur in a quiet voice, "That's part of where I'm from."
Louder, "I believe we're out of time for the moment, however. Let's go."
The guard is given a warning glance and a minute shake of her head, which she covers to Clark as being simply a part of the process of heading for the exit.
Eights might notice a very definite change in Clark's body language right about now, as he straightens his shoulder, pulls himself up to his full height and all but glares at the man. "Lex. What are you doing here?"
"It's my family's wing, Clark. I hardly need an excuse to stop by." The man - Lex - rests his gaze on Anna. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
"We were just leaving," Clark's tone is barely civil. And then he turns back to Anna, intent on ushering her out without another word.
Reply
"I'd really like to see that gemstone exhibit, if it's all the same to you, Clark," she murmurs cordially, her eyes on Lex. So this is what Clark meant when he said he had his sharks.
Reply
"Fine. But let's make it quick."
Reply
Reply
For his part, Lex maintains his distance, but continues to watch them as well. Although now, he appears far more interested in Anna than he was before.
Reply
The smile that alights upon her features when she does so is entirely genuine, but significantly more controlled than the one Clark is used to seeing. She knows that the shark is watching, and she'll put on the proper show for him. Her walk is every inch the dancer's, each foot placed delicately and with care; her hands are slow and graceful as she trails them through the air admiringly, pointing out the particularly beautiful pieces.
Reply
Of course, it's not like Clark hasn't attracted unusual company in the past. All in all, they make quite an intriguing picture. Discreetly, Lex tells one of his guards to tail them for the rest of their museum stay.
Reply
Within fifteen minutes, however, she excuses herself from Clark's company graciously, ostensibly in search of the restroom.
It should surprise no-one, really, that the instant she's out of sight of her companion she whirls round to confront Lex's guard.
"Why are you following me?" she asks, tone light and innocent, countenance coldly amused.
Reply
The guard, however, regards Anna politely, obviously used to dealing with people like his employer and not entirely surprised to have been caught.
"It's my job to maintain the safety of guests, ma'am."
Reply
She really doesn't buy it. It's written plainly on her face. She nods, however, a smooth motion that seems to say I'll give you this one.
"Go and maintain someone else's safety, then."
And Eights turns - sharp, precise, yet fluid - to walk the five steps to the restroom, where she washes her hands and dries them, counts out the thirty more seconds it would have taken her to actually make use of the place, and returns to Clark.
Attention to detail is important.
Reply
"Ready to go?"
The guard will, of course, be ready to follow wherever she takes him on the museum grounds.
Reply
Reply
"That's about all we'll have time for anyway." Plus, one of them is the astronomy wing, which Clark is all too happy to go look at.
Reply
The astronomy wing is the second of the two. Eights takes advantage of Clark's distraction to give their tail a pointed look and a delicate, subtle shooing motion.
Reply
"Anna, over here for a minute," Clark calls her over to a small piece of green tinged rock inside a glass display box. He leans down to murmur in a quiet voice, "That's part of where I'm from."
Reply
Louder, "I believe we're out of time for the moment, however. Let's go."
The guard is given a warning glance and a minute shake of her head, which she covers to Clark as being simply a part of the process of heading for the exit.
Reply
Leave a comment