(Untitled)

[hero_farmboy]

Clark doesn't help all that much with the food. Cutting bread doesn't really count and frankly, Anna not only seems to have things under control, she likes it that way, so he figures staying out of her hair is the best option

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[downsidedarling]

The couscous was, sadly, unsalvageable. But Clark was quite helpful in cleaning it off the floor.

The table's set, the food is ready to be served...

"Are you sure this is the right place, Chloe?" comes a voice from the door.

Looks like the guests have arrived.

[downsidedarling]

"Yeah," replies Anna, "thanks for that, Chloe. I must admit the extent of my acquaintance on this planet is pretty much summed up right here in this room, barring Lex Luthor and a month's worth of would-be rapists with broken wrists." She grins shyly, clearly unsure if her particular brand of black humour will be well received; Jimmy, at least, seems to think it's mildly amusing (if not the pleasantest of topics).

[hero_farmboy]

Neither Clark nor Chloe appear particularly amused and Chloe even gives Jimmy a look that stifles his expression.

"Yeah, Jimmy mentioned your Lexcapades in passing, but he didn't have a lot of details." This time, Clark is given a look. "Others failed to mention it at all."

"I didn't really think it was important," Clark offers, lamely.

[downsidedarling]

Jimmy looks contrite. Anna shoots Chloe a look that says, more or less politely, that she thinks it was funny and won't have anyone else reproached for agreeing with her. (It's amazing what you can do with a quirked eyebrow, a faint frown, and a tilt of the head, really.)

Then she shrugs nonchalantly, returning to the topic of Lex. "Well, it's not all that important. Long story short - he hit me with his car, I beat him up, he had me followed, I shouted at him, he kidnapped me, I kidnapped him back, we're pretty much on even ground now with no hard feelings." Bright little grin. "Of course, as I understand is his way, he completely denies having had anything to do with the guys who kidnapped me, but let's just say I have a damn good reason to think he's full of shit on that account."

[hero_farmboy]

"Lex generally is and while I'm perfectly willing to climb on board with him being behind it all, do you have any hard facts to back it up?"

"Chloe," Clark warns again, stronger this time. "Chill out. She's not a story."

"If she's got proof, Clark, it's the story of the year."

[downsidedarling]

"I haven't got anything solid," says Anna with a shrug. "But come on. When I escaped he was in the building, watching it all on video. The 'I just showed up and was choosing my moment to rescue you' excuse just doesn't hold water. Not with the way he was looking at that screen."

She grins suddenly, and seems about to relate something more, but flicks a quick glance either at the woefully neglected vegetables or at Clark, and falls silent. Really, it could be either, because she gets herself a second helping of veggies immediately afterwards.

[hero_farmboy]

Chloe sighs. "It doesn't matter by now. He's had plenty of time to perfect his cover story and do away with any evidence there might have been." She looks at Anna hopefully, though. "But maybe I could jot down a few details anyway. Just in case."

"Not happening, Chloe," Clark says firmly, shaking his head.

"Clark..."

"No."

And that seems to finally shut her down. And plunges the table into an awkward silence.

[downsidedarling]

Anna raises an eyebrow delicately at Clark, then flicks her eyes at Chloe and winks ostentatiously, indicating that she would be quite amenable to continuing this discussion at a later date.

Jimmy, meanwhile, breaks the awkward silence by commenting on the food.

"This is really good stuff, Anna. Where'd you learn how to make it?"

"Oh, y'know," Anna responds cheerily. "Five thousand years next Wednesday'll give anybody a fair advantage in the kitchen. This particular, bit, though, I - ah - learned from a friend, as it happens."

[hero_farmboy]

Chloe offers a small smile back, but it's more or less apologetic in nature, clearly indicating that in certain cases - this being one of them - Clark's wishes mean more to her than getting a story.

Clark, however, raises an eyebrow at the food before turning it to Anna. "Your friends didn't strike me as being overly domestic."

[downsidedarling]

Anna pales abruptly, as she remembers which friend it was exactly who taught her the secrets of this particular dish.

"This one wouldn't have," she says in a very case-closed tone of voice.

Well. There goes that awkward silence again. How 'bout that.

[hero_farmboy]

The insinuation may have gone over Chloe and Jimmy's heads, but Clark gets it immediately.

It's enough to make him stop eating.

[downsidedarling]

Anna bites her lip, shoves back her chair, and retreats to the bathroom in a hurry.

Jimmy looks from Anna to her empty seat to Clark and, for good measure, to Chloe, an expression of pure puzzlement on his face.

From the bathroom, Clark may be able to hear Anna berating herself furiously in profanity-laced whispers. The rest of the dinner guests certainly won't.

[hero_farmboy]

Chloe more or less mirrors Jimmy's confusion for a minute before breaking the awkwardness with a tentative, "Clark?"

"Don't ask." He can hear Anna, hardly without even trying. Instead of going to her, though, he just picks up his dishes and takes them into the kitchen.

[downsidedarling]

"And she's certainly not your fucking friend anymore, you dumb cunt. Fuck, why couldn't you have made waffles? Or that lovely little thing with the lamb that Chickpea's so proud of? No, it had to be bliny. Fucking bliny."

There's a quiet thump, as of someone smacking their fist frustratedly against a wall; the sound of a tap being run; some splashes and the occasional clink; an oceanic rushing which should be familiar to Clark. Then, looking much more composed, Anna reemerges and helps to clear the dishes without another word. She can't quite manage to look at Clark, but she does shoot some apologetic glances at his hands and feet as they cross her line of sight.

[hero_farmboy]

It's quite familiar to Clark, actually, and he's not at all happy to hear it now. Dinner, he thinks, was a really bad idea. If there's dessert, it's just going to have to go to waste.

Chloe, very familiar with Clark's current mood and body language, gently urges Jimmy toward their coats.

[downsidedarling]

Jimmy obeys, still feeling utterly lost.

Anna... well. Anna will be cleaning up the remains of dinner and silently mourning the chocolate mousse that is now very unlikely to be eaten.