| Yesterday: Creamed Corn is Boring | |||||
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| What: The Justice Society of America recognizes its newest Honorary Member: Superman. Which, of course, is cause for a celebration... courtesy of some awful punch and Duke Ellington records. | |||||
Where: Headquarters, Justice Society of America
When: 1942
"... in recognition of his assistance against Per Degaton, and his continued devotion to Truth, Justice, and the American Way, I'm proud to make Superman an Honorary Member of the Justice Society of America. With all the privileges and responsibilities such a title entails..."
The speech isn't overly long, and it's followed by an even shorter acceptance speech from Superman. Lots of boyish blushing and earnest appreciation from the Man of Tomorrow. In the company of so many of Earth's greatest heroes, he looks very much like an awkward farm boy.
When the short speeches are over, and the toasts have been made, the evening takes a much less formal aspect. The heroes begin letting their hair down, so to speak, though all of them leave on their costumes and masks, if their costume came with one.
A brand new General Electric 78 RPM record player is turned on, and the sounds of swing music fill the JSA's Brownstone. Some of the heroes have brought dates, or come with their female heroic counterparts, and so the Brownstone's converted 'living room' becomes a wildly raucous dance floor. As raucous as a dance floor can get when the music in question comes from Duke Ellington, that is...
But at least one of the JSA's members isn't dancing. Their newest addition is hanging out near the punch bowl, doing his best to avoid looking uncomfortable. Instinctively, his foot taps along with the music, but that's about all the reaction that anyone is able to get out of him.
Poor Superman. He really must feel out of his element here. But, if truth be told, he isn't the only one to feel like an outsider here. Diana - Wonder Woman - also has yet to get used to feeling less than a sore thumb in situations that involve things of a social nature, Man's World still new to her. Enough so that she does not do overly-well in crowds and all that. At first she stands against a wall, politely refusing any requests for dances from would-be partners, but then she notices Superman from across the room, looking very much like how she feels. Smiling, she makes her waay around the party-attendees, humming along to the song, while approaching the JLA's newest member.
"Are you alright," gets asked of him once she's close enough to be heard over the music and laughter, Diana's voice sympathetic as is the look on her face. "You don't look like you're doing so well at the moment." Turning to face the party, now, she watches those who are enjoying themselves before adding as an uttered aside, "I still do not understand such... ways of celebrating."
Nobody is trying to exclude Superman, but he has a tendency to take care of that all on his own. But in this instance, he doesn't feel awkward because he's from outer space. Rather, he feels awkward because he's from Kansas. Swing music still hasn't quite made a splash out in Smallville, and won't really for another decade, at which point it will already be outdated everywhere else in the country.
He looks a bit startled to be spoken to, turning away from the punch bowl to get an eyeful of the woman brave enough to strike up a conversation with Superman. "Hm? Yes, I'm fine. I..."
But when he sees who it is, it's all he can do to act normal. "Er... oh! Hi there... Wonder Woman, was it? I... er... no... I don't quite get it either."
Okay, so maybe he isn't acting 'quite' normal. But surely this isn't the first time that Wonder Woman has seen a man get noticeably flustered by her appearance. After all, she's wearing less clothing than anyone else in the room.
"I... think it's supposed to be fun. But I'm kind of a super-klutz."
The boyish charm is strong with this one, Diana realizes, it enough so that it makes her smile. A hand gets lifted and set upon his shoulder, her expression softening. Yes, she is a warrior and an immortal, but she still finds her heart going out to Superman. "Yes. I am Wonder Woman. I meant to offer my congratulations but I felt you might have been feeling overwhelmed by everything and waited. I hope my doing so does not bring offense." The hand is removed from his person after that and is instead busied along with its mate as she gets herself a cup of punch.
Glancing back towards the Kryptonian once she has her refreshment held carefully between both palms, she tries to offer what reassurance she can. "I am told I will get used to everything and can only assume the same is true for you, Superman. Do not worry. Just watch and enjoy the sight of our fellow heroes as they have fun." Those blue eyes of hers sparkle as she says that.
As for his fluster? Yes, Diana is indeed used to such, so much so that it's easy to pay it no mind, something he might be thankful for.
His posture is still rigid, and he still looks a bit bashful whenever his eyes drift over to the Amazonian, but the awkwardness is starting to dissipate slightly. The ice has been broken, and apparently Wonder Woman is far more approachable than he'd have ever imagined. And displaying some level of solidarity with him? Surely she doesn't really feel as much of an outsider as he does?
"Ah. So I take it you're not from Gotham, either? I just assumed you were a local." Superman starts to smile, but not because he's making a joke. In fact, it's meant as an earnest compliment, as beautiful as Gotham is right now. Its quasi-Gothic architecture is mingled with glistening new construction, and it's rapidly becoming a fashionable place to live.
Of course, this is probably why several of the members of the Justice Society call it home, and why they've headquartered the JSA right near the heart of the city.
"Let me guess... if you're not from Gotham you must be from... is that a Greek accent?"
"Oh no. Not a local at all. I am from Themyscira, actually." Her attention is diverted from her conversation partner when a group of partiers laughs, their happiness very contagious. "I have not been in Man's World very long, myself. Their customs are alien to me and I find them difficult to get comfortable with." Not many would find it easy to admit to that but here is Diana, confessing to such with as much ease as one might give their name.
The punch is good but entirely too sweet for her liking, her pallet used to fruit and wine and similar things, the heavily-sugared drink cloying to her tongue. Sighing, the cup gets set down, her hands once again free which allows her the ability to be able to fold her arms under her chest. "So. Tell me about yourself, Superman. What do you think... well, everything."
It might surprise Diana to find out that not everyone in Man's World has any idea of what a Themyscira is. Unfortunately, Clark is no exception, having only barely covered Greek myths during his stints in Smallville High and Metropolis U. So all he can really do is nod and pretend that he knows what she's talking about. At the very least, he gets the gist: She's not from around here.
But he's not exactly as comfortable with sharing as she is, and looks as if he'd rather change the subject almost immediately.
"I don't think I can tell you everything about me, Miss Wonder Woman. After all, this is supposed to be a party, and my story is really really boring. I'm from a place that's proud to call itself 'The Creamed Corn Capital of the World.' Which is exciting, I guess, depending on how much you like creamed corn."
No, not many have heard of where it is Diana calls home, the island hidden from outsiders. Only a few have ever been invited, those the Amazons consider to be their most trustworthy of allies, and that hasn't happened in many years. THe subject is dropped as soon as Superman starts talking about himself, however, and she listens raptly for as long as he speaks. When he finishes she finds herself made all the more curious thanks to the lack of details he provides. "Creamed corn?" Like Kal-El and his knowledge of anything pertaining to Greece and its mythology, Diana has no idea what that is and her confusion is obvious.
Clearing her throat, she pauses to think, Wonder Woman not sure what to say for a moment. Silence lingers, maybe awkwardly so, before she whispers, "I understand that we all have our secrets to keep. But if you ever find yourself able to share them, please do so." Not pushy, not bossy. Just a simple request made as she is curious about the one they call Superman.
"It's a... uh..."
Superman lets the thought die off in mid-sentence. Nobody has ever won points with a girl by telling her interesting facts about creamed corn. But most of the other things that he knows a lot about are similarly boring.
"I'd like that. Someday, maybe. I know we just met and everything, but I get the feeling you might be the only person here who might understand my... er... secrets."
Although he's hanging out near the punch bowl, Superman hasn't had even a single sip of punch yet. Ma Kent would certainly not approve, whether or not the alcohol content in the punch would be able to affect him (It wouldn't). But when a slightly-sloshed boxer in a cat costume approaches the table, Superman takes a half-step away from the punch bowl, and finds himself standing a bit closer to Wonder Woman.
"You know, maybe we're both being silly? I mean, look at them. The Atom is a good four inches shorter than his date, Green Lantern is trying hard to act interested, Wildcat is mostly just drinking, and Red Bee is... dancing with a bee."
A bit nervously, he holds out his hand, palm upturned. "If they can do it, I'm sure we can figure it out. May I have this dance, Wonder Woman?"
Creamed corn is not the most exciting thing when compared to other things in the world but that wouldn't matter to Diana, truly. She does want to learn all about Man's World, after all. But it is left alone when it is noticed that he does not seem interested in discussing whatever it is. It, along with secrets, can be saved for discussing at a later date.
The semi-intoxicated cat-themed man bumps into Diana on his way to get more to drink, causing her to then bump into Superman who gets looked at while she shakes her head. "Forgive me, Superman. I should have been more careful." With how she's acting it's almost as if she feels the collision was her fault and not someone else's.
The hand and his offer is mulled over before Diana tentatively slides her own into his, her gaze holding steadfast to his face when she accepts by doing so. The music has slowed down some, making it the perfect chance for those paired off to get a little close, including the two who have yet made their way to the designated dance area.
Poor Superman. Hopefully he won't blush himself into oblivion before the song is over.