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Well damn. This fairly lengthy entry in the ClexFest (7th wave) starts out great. It’s a future fic, set during the ‘kids’ college years, and begins with Lana and Chloe getting a little drunk. Seems Lana finally decided she’d had enough of waiting on Clark to consummate their on-again-off-again relationship and so gave him a little push. Clark, however, was unable to ‘rise’ to the occasion. A tipsy Chloe is quick to come up with a reasonable explanation. Clark Kent? Total gay boy and totally in love with Lex. Lana has to admit, that does make more than a bit of sense. So, still hitting the beer, the girls decide to enlist the aid of Martha Kent and put Clark on the right track. The one that leads directly to Lex. Now- this whole bit- was wonderful. Just fun characterizations of Lana, Chloe and Martha. Nice writing style, too. And then.... We start getting great big heaping piles of exposition dumped on the story- much of unnecessary. And about that point, the story lost me.
Anyway- to sum it up, lots of angst, because Clark had told Lex he loved him- but he couldn’t be with him because he didn’t want to hurt his parents. Clark goes home, his parents let him know he’s being an idiot, Lex goes to Gotham and gets very drunk and then rescued by his old buddy Bruce. While Lex sleeps it off, Bruce collects Clark- mix in a little bit of action, and everyone lives happily ever after. In short, it was okay, but nothing particularly standout. It’s really a shame- I thought the first part of the story had a ton of sweetness and charm.
Ah, it’s always nice when an old friend comes to visit! This is a story (part of a series) that I’d rec’ed on my old site. However, many moons ago, the author pulled it from the web. Now it’s back, and I’m indulging myself by reading the whole series again. I’ll put my old rec write-up at the bottom of this one, but I figured I’d go ahead and reflect on this one with fresh eyes. It’s always fun to look back on old stories and see how they hold up given changes in canon, fanon, and my own tastes.
This is actually the second book in the series, but as the author notes, the ‘Lex’ in that first story (which is short) is a pretty far cry from the ‘Lex’ that populates the later series. Anyway, I’m starting with this one. It’s a mid-sized read with a very distinctive s1 feel to it- and you can also sense that it was written fairly early in the series. Anyhow, it begins just after Jitters, with Lex having hit on the perfect plan to ingratiate himself with the Smallville natives. He’s going to work on their gratitude and their guilt concerning the events in Jitters. Toward that end, he tools around town, stopping to check on ‘his people’, and subtly letting on that he’s in a considerable amount of pain due to the injuries he sustained. Hee! I really like this conniving version of Lex- it fits with how I could have seen him in s1. He’s cocky and self-assured, and a conniving little bastard who maybe has more of a heart than he thinks. Or maybe not. It’s not clear in this story. Anyway, Lex is milking it, but he is hurting, and the last stop of the day is at the Kent household. Martha isn’t about to let a clearly injured man leave without being tended to- so she sits Lex down and starts issuing orders. As Jon tends to Lex’s back and neck, Clark finds himself growing both turned on and VERY possessive. Now, I should note, this series is also known as ‘the Alien!Clark series’, because Clark is most definitely alien! It seems he has an almost uncontrollable biological imperative when it comes to his mate- and it appears Lex is destined to be that mate! Later, when Clark and his folks run into Lex while Lex is out on a date, Jon has to physically restrain his son to keep him from going on the attack. Lex picks up on the danger, sends his trollop off, and waits for Clark to show up at the mansion. Sure enough, Clark does. The two more or less work things out (and there is a fairly tame sex scene that seriously cracked me up- Clark really is alien!), and the story ends with Lex having to perform a little ‘tough love’ to get Clark to understand that they can’t go around connected at the hips ALL of the time.
This story is really different, but I like it. I particularly like the characterization of Lex- he really is his father’s son, and he’s all about power, and ownership and being in control. But he has a heart as well, and some of my favorite bits are Lex’s responses to the Kents. You can tell that he has an urge to please them, a desire to ‘fit’ in even if he doesn’t want that kind of weakness. Jon and Martha were really appealing in this story as well. I liked how they dealt with the unexpected aspects of Clark’s development and I liked how they dealt with Lex. Even Pete and Chloe get a nice nod in this story- Chloe in particular shines in her scenes as a snappy, inquisitive, overly brash little adventuress. Lastly, there’s Clark. Now, this Clark is just odd. The whole ‘alien’ thing definitely gives him a more forceful, more ‘alpha’ vibe than is often portrayed. Oddly, I think it seems a bit more plausible now than it did in s1. In addition, the sweet, shy boy is still there- he’s just mixed in with the hormones that lead him to go all caveman when it comes to Lex.
All in all, an interesting read. The writing is solid (though pov has a slight tendency to shift), I liked the characterizations, the story is pretty different from the norm, and it kicks off a really long series that… well, while not quite up my alley, is still interesting.
And for the curious- the orignal recommendation is used in the ‘Fanfic Rec’ section!
(Note- by author’s request, the link will go to the home page. I suggest you do a search on ‘Storm Warning’ in the titles to find it. Hey- at least there’s no password required!)
This is my second rec in the ‘Storm Warning’ series, and it’s another mid-sized read set somewhere around s1-s2. It picks up with Clark and Lex beginning to settle into their relationship, and it’s not as heavy on action or plot as I generally prefer. However, it does hold my interest and I continue to find the characterizations fascinating. The story starts with a bit of Alien!Sex, and it’s clear that Lex’s scientific curiosity (as well as other things) is aroused by Clark. However, Lex is not at all comfortable with his growing fondness for Clark- Lionel’s lessons on ‘emotion as a weakness’ simply hold too much sway. When Lex becomes a bit overwhelmed with work, Clark and his own confusion, he lashes out at Clark and sends him away. Before the two can reconcile, Lionel shows up, intent on continuing the game of oneupmanship that he plays with his son. When it comes to Clark, however, Lex don’t play! The story concludes with Clark discovering a new power, Lex and Lionel coming to an understanding, and Lex, Clark and the Kents gaining a moment of peace.
My favorite part of this story was Lionel and his interaction with Lex. On this reading, I wasn’t quite as enamored of the writing technique, where Lex and Lionel can ‘read each other’s thoughts’ (not quite literally). I think perhaps it’s because I now feel that Lex and Lionel too often completely misunderstand each other. I also tend to think the story might veer into ‘technique overload’, as *internal thoughts* are used quite a bit in this series. Still, all my whining aside, I LIKE the actual thoughts and I like the ultimate portrayal of Lionel. As usual for this series, I found Lex interesting and complex, Martha and Jon both appealed, and Clark was… well, a little odd.
Overall, solid writing as long as the technical aspects work for you, some important character development, and it sets the stage for the next story, which is probably my favorite in the series.
(Note- the original rec is used in the ‘Fanfic Recommendation’ section. Also, by author’s request, the link will go to the home page. I suggest you do a search on ‘Storm Warning’ in the titles to find it. Hey- at least there’s no password required!)
My third recommendation from the ‘Storm Warning’ series, and I think this is my favorite. Word of warning- this is DEFINITELY a story that reads best ‘unspoiled’, so go read and then come back if you’re still curious. Do note, it will appeal most to those who’d like to see Clark suffer a bit.
OK, the mid-sized story starts in the future, 2008 to be exact. Clark’s a reporter, Lois is his partner, and Lex is the evil businessman who is finally returning to the states after clearing up some pesky legal issues. The story switches back and forth between the future and the past, and that’s something that I tend to like- a good way to keep the reader interested and guessing. To sum it up, Lex and Clark’s relationship ended when Jonathan accused Lex of trying to take over the farm, collect meteor rocks, and ultimately stick Clark in a lab. When Clark sides with his Dad, Lex cuts him off, develops an addition to snorting kryptonite, and appears to go evil. However, when Martha develops cancer, it’s Lex to the rescue- and his ‘evil’ lab turns out to be a cancer research center. Clark more or less recognizes the error of his ways, kidnaps Lex and forces him to kick his addiction, and they pretty much live happily ever after- at least until the next book.
Now, I REALLY thought the whole reason for the rift was pretty weak- and that feeling was even stronger on this second reading. Honestly, though? It’s not all that inconceivable given s3 canon. Still, given the story thus far, it just didn’t work for me. However, the rest of the story did, so whatever. It really did help telling it in non-linear format, because by the time I was dissatisfied with the plot point, I was already well sucked into the story. What I do like about this one are the characterizations (if you ignore my ‘rift’ issues)- it was really fun for this Lex lover to see ‘Evil Lex’ turn out to be not so evil after all. Which is NOT to say he didn’t have an edge- I LOVED how at the end, it turns out he’d been systematically screwing over those folks who had done the Kents wrong, while helping out his friends. It was sneaky and vindictive and exactly the sort of thing I enjoy from Lex. I also really enjoyed Lois in this story- she was good snarky fun, and made a neat partner for Clark. She was just nifty- take this exchange:
“Clark, you look different.”
“Um, must be the contacts.”
“Maybe, but it’s more than that. You look - “
“Happy?” he offered.
“Well, yes, but more than that. You look - “
“Well fucked,” stated a smooth voice unequivocally.
“That’s it,” she said with delight, then broke out in merry peals of laughter as Clark flushed fire engine red.
HEE! Anyway, this was simply a really fun read for me, despite what are some fairly big flaws. I think it’s the Lex lover in me- I just enjoyed seeing him come into his own.
And for the curious, the original rec can be found in ‘Fanfic Recommendations’.
Cute. Not great. But cute. This is a mid-sized, post-rift future fic told with tongue planted firmly in cheek. It begins with Supes jamming up one of Lex’s (possibly) evil schemes- which results in Lex’s body regressing to 9 years old. Lex is not happy. Lex’s servants are surprised- but highly adaptable. Supes? Feels vaguely guilty, so takes Lex to the Fortress to have him patched up. There’s some interesting bits where Lex warns Supes that Clark really isn’t the best guy to pick for a friend, and then Clark ends up getting jealous when it becomes clear Lex is falling for the man in the cape. When Superman finally comes clean with Lex about his alter-ego, how will Lex react? Hm- quite possibly not well. Fortunately (or not) the AI has a means of coping:
He briefly entertained the thought of going to the Fortress of Solitude but he imagined the following exchange:
“So, Lex now knows that Superman and Clark Kent are one and the same. He knows who I am.”
The AI would chirp, “And that’s when you incinerated him with your eyegasms. Right? Right?” The AI would then lecture with absolutely sincere delight how to make the assassination look like Lex had simply been a victim of spontaneous human combustion.
Hee- that gives you a pretty good feel for the fic. It’s cute and interesting, though neither substantial enough nor LOL funny enough to rec. Worth the read, though.
This is the final book in the ‘Storm Warning’ series, and it’s a bit different from the others. While still a mid-sized read, it spans almost 40 years, taking us from Lex’s initial run for governor, through his presidency, and on until his old age. Clark, of course, is by his side the entire time. In order to cover that much territory, the story skips through the years, hitting the highlights of Lex and Clark’s lives, while giving us glimpses of the people who are important to them (Jon, Martha and Lois, in particular). As a stand-alone story, it doesn’t knock me dead. However, as a summation of the series as a whole, it works. In fact, it’s rather satisfying to see Lex as president and to experience the boys’ ‘happily ever after’. There are some plot points that normally grate on me, but since they were largely skimmed over, it didn’t jam up my enjoyment. If you’ve come this far in the series, I think you’ll enjoy the final chapter in the tale.
And for the curious, my initial rec is used in the ‘Fanfic Rec’ section!
Ah, it’s like Homecoming week! Just tracked down another fic that I’d read ages ago, really enjoyed, and then totally lost the link to. Damn glad to find this Chloe/Lex focused gen fic! It’s set firmly in s1, both canon wise and ‘feel’ wise, and is a good chunk of mid-sized read. It starts with one of my favorite plots- Lex has been kidnapped. Seriously, I can’t get enough of that! Fortunately, or not, this time Chloe is with him. While Lex tries to figure out who was responsible and how to get them out of the abandoned building they’ve been dumped in, he also struggles to keep Chloe from nodding off. Seems the girl suffered a fairly serious bump on the head, and as time goes on, her condition begins to deteriorate.
Really, the vast majority of the story is just Lex and Chloe in the building, but the dialog just crackles and the insights into both characters are dead on. This is great stuff, exactly how I could envision those two interacting. I really wish we got more of them together on the show, and while s1 Chloe was WAY too young for Lex, they really are a pairing I could imagine developing in the future. This story, it’s highly recommended for anyone who loves either Chloe or Lex. Snark, people. It’s all about the snark- with a lot of heart beneath the surface:
He crossed his arms over his chest again, wishing it had been colder out or that his car’s heat didn’t work so well, so he’d have another coat to wear. “I was coming home from a late meeting in Metropolis and I saw you on Main Street. It was dark out, and late, so I offered you a ride.”
“You did?”
“Yes. And that’s exactly the same look you gave me when I stopped. Has anyone ever told you you’re paranoid?”
“Principal Kwan, the guidance counselors, the sheriff, Clark, Pete and grades 6 to 9 social studies teachers.”
“Good. Then I won’t bother.”
Hm, this is pretty slashy for ‘gen’, but no one’s every accused me of being all that consistent in my categorization habits. And am I the only one who hears that music running through their head when they see the title ‘Pompeii’? Eh- I should not drink before writing recs!
This isn’t a particularly long fic, though I wish it were. I think I probably would have ended up rec’ing it if it had been more developed. But it’s not, and it probably never was meant to be. The story kicks off as an alternative s4, with Clark having split into two identities in two bodies- one is the sweet Clark and the other is Kal- think Red!Clark on steroids. Clark, who came out the worse in an unseen confrontation with his alter-self, is dying. Before he does, he confesses all to Lex. Lex is pretty devastated, and vows to bring Kal down. Fast forward to the future, where Lex is trying to do exactly that- and getting quite banged up for his efforts. Of course, leave it to Lex to have a failsafe. Did I mention this is a rather sad story? Well, it is- though sad in that triumphant way that I dig, so whatever.
The story has a lot of elements I like, but it just seemed like there needed to be a whole lot more development here before it would really work for me. The ideas were pretty cool, and sufficient to carry a longer story. Of course, with Clark dead pretty much from the start, maybe not too many folks would want to read a long story, but this just felt more like a framework for a really good story rather than a really good story. Also, I though the mixing of the flashbacks got a little confusing there. All in all, an entertaining read, generally solid writing, cool ideas, but just not as fleshed out a story as I prefer.
This is an interesting, mid-sized read by one of my favorite authors. It’s a time travel fic (which I tend to like) that begins in the future, with Superman preparing to go back in time to save a destroyed world. Now, I should note, the story was written in response to a Thamiris ‘porn challenge’ , and it shows. About half the story is sex. Hot porny sex. Seems once Supes gets back to 2001 Metropolis, he decides to look Lex up- to kill him or to fuck him, he isn’t sure. He goes with the ‘fucking’, hence the porn! But if killing Lex isn’t the way to save the world, killing Lionel might be. So… that’s what Supes does- and then he makes a little visit to ‘Clark’ of s1 and tells him he’d best make sure to be there for Lex, or really bad things might happen. Fast forward to the future, and we find out how it all ends up.
Now, I do like the story. RivkaT is one of my favorite writers in the fandom, and I never mind a little porn, and I do love me some time travel. However, the porn was a bit more the focus than I tend to like, and while I enjoyed the story and the characters, the Supes focus isn’t really my thing. This was a great story to hang some porn on. It was a pretty good story otherwise. Well worth the read, and a definite rec if you’re looking for a little dominant!Clark and light bondage, but not a story that will stick with me.
LOL- this is a cute one. It’s an AU fairytale, told in a fairly distant pov. It’s a quick read, and while there isn’t a ton of plot or character development, it’s clever and fun. Anyway, old king Lionel has a problem. Seems his son, Prince Lex, refuses to produce an heir. Hell, Prince Lex refuses to be interested in women at all, even when King Lionel brings such promising women as Princess Victoria of Hardwick, Lady Helen, daughter of the Right Honorable Dr. Bryce, and Dame Desiree. Snerk. Of course, it turns out the fair ladies aren’t quite as fair as King Lionel had hoped, so he is forced to lock his wayward son up at night, far away from any stable boys who might tempt him. Prince Lex, however, always emerges looking ‘well fucked’. So, loyal minion Dominic is assigned to spy on the lusty prince and discover the secret of his nightly activities. What does Dominic discover, and more importantly, what should he tell the king? After all, there is that handsome young lieutenant in the royal guard he’d always rather fancied, whom he’d long thought would make someone a fine husband.
Hee- did I mention it was cute? Solid writing and it’s a lot of fun to see the parallels drawn. Not a substantial fic, but a very fun fairytale!
This was an interesting, well written, good sized chunk of story that appealed to my enjoyment of serial killer novels. In fact, it’s pretty close to original fic. It’s an x-over with CSI, though the CSI team doesn’t come in until halfway through the story- and actually, those were the bits I liked best. Anyway, it’s set in the past, with Lex around age 11-12, and starts from the pov of a serial killer/pedophile. Those sections were suitably creepy and read ‘real’- reminding me a bit of sections in novels such as ‘Red Dragon’. Once Lex is kidnapped, we see more of his pov, and the author does a good job of showing the serial killer’s manipulation of young Lex- and how Lex’s shaky relationship with Lionel aids the serial killer in his ability to make Lex rely on him. Much of this is fairly brutal, if not overly explicit, and it won’t be for all tastes. Once the CSI team comes in, we get to follow them in their efforts to track down the killer and save the boy.
This was a good story, but it didn’t knock me dead as a Smallville fanfic. Actually, I’d be more likely to rec it as CSI fanfic, but CSI was less than half the focus. Anyway, while I thought the portrayal of young Lex was good- and this sort of backstory could fit into canon, it’s not really the Lex I’m interested in reading about. Aside from the bits with Lionel (and I was less convinced about his characterization), it didn’t have much to say about the dynamics in the SV universe. Solid original fic though- particularly for those who enjoy serial killer novels.
This is a short read set sometime shortly after ‘Asylum’. Basically, it’s Lex making cinnamon toast- largely because it’s one of the few things he actually has control over at that point in time. When Clark shows up with the weekly delivery, it’s the first potentially friendly face Lex has seen. It’s also a face that holds secrets, and at this point, Lex isn’t sure who he can trust anymore. In the end, we find out Clark hadn’t been around much because the one thing he couldn’t lie about was his love for Lex. Ultimately, Clark comes clean- about the emotions, NOT about what happened to Lex- and hopes that by giving Lex something good to focus on, Lex can ignore the desire for some of those ‘less good’ memories.
Well, this is a writer I tend to like, and while it’s a decent enough read, it really didn’t do it for me. In the first place, I hate to see Lex this broken, this… neutered. Well, I love to see that, I just like him to end up reclaiming all he’s lost and them some- preferably with a vengeance. In addition, I still want to smack Clark for holding back about what happened to Lex for so long, so I’m not all that into reading stories where he does it. Eh, not long, plotty or actiony, and not the type of characterizations that really work for me.
I like this author, she produces very readable stories that tend to draw me in. The flow is nice and natural and I find her stories more interesting than I normally would given their focus. Omiai is a good example. It’s a nice long AU that begins with Clark’s first year of college. Actually, it begins with Clark getting married. To Lex. Who he has barely met! Hee- the beginning of the story is strong, and if you’re interested in reading it, I’d suggest you do so unspoiled.
Hm- and so to spoil you.... Turns out Lex has been disowned by Lionel and has struck off on his own, forming LexCorp. In order to fund the venture, he needs the trust fund left to him by his mother. As a condition, however, he must be married, and stay married for a year. Enter Clark, who Lex (seemingly) met while interviewing him for a scholarship. Clark takes the deal in order to fund college, but insists they keep things a secret. It should come as no great surprise that over time, Clark begins to feel the attraction of ‘the Sexy’ (and to question his own sexual orientation) who is like no one he has ever known before. When the press does discover the secret wedding, Clark chooses to stick with the bargain, even when Lex volunteers to give him a divorce and still pay him the money. Of course, this necessitates coming clean with Clark’s folks, who are less than thrilled, but somewhat comforted by the fact the marriage is a sham. More complications arise when Clark begins to question Lex’s involvement in some very questionable experiments involving meteor mutants.
Now, like I say, I really like the writing and the details in this story are very nice. It’s a strong AU, particularly with how it examines the ramifications of the changes to canon (Lex never going to the SV plant; Lana moving to Metropolis with Nell- and thus Clark and Chloe dating all through high school; Clark’s Red!K summer involving a meeting with Lois- which cracked me up). Anyway, it was all very interesting. I generally liked the characterizations- most of the story is from a fairly tight Clark pov. He’s a nice guy, but far from perfect and I liked that the author made that clear. Lex too, comes across fairly well. He’s guarded and self-protective, and it’s much fun to see how Clark breaks down those walls.
However, this story is more relationship focused than action focused; it’s a bit more Clark-centric than I prefer; and the story relies a bit more on ‘soap opera’ cliches than really works for me. Now, all this is a matter of taste. The story is just a half-click off for me, but for others, I have a feeling they’ll love it.
Cute, short, pre-slash, future fic set during Lex’s first term as President. Unfortunately, not even being the leader of the free world prevents him from being bonked on the head by numerous passing mutants, freaks, aliens and robots, so VP Pete suggests that Superman act as his bodyguard. Snerk. It’s just a little snippet of story, but fun and humorous and worth the 5 minutes it will take to read.
Hee! Cute, fairly short future fic told from Clark’s pov. Most of the story takes place at a picnic, where Clark hangs out with the newly engaged Lex Luthor and Lois Lane! Seems just the day before, young Clark had hinted that he might be interested in Lex- and Lex responded by proposing to Lois! Snerk. It’s a humorous little story that fed my love for ‘jealous Clark’. While not a substantial story, it’s happy and sweet and funny, and it has an excellent ‘Clark voice’:
Lex is wearing a fedora, for god’s sake.
Clark suspects the hat once belonged to Lionel, and has a moment of desperate hope at the possibility that some evil genius/mad professor type has been messing with time or… uh… reality, or something, and therefore none of this is actually happening.
This is a grim short story, a future fic that gives us a version of the rift that I can believe. Which kinda sucks, because I don’t want to believe. Anyway, very well written, and it starts with the aftermath of yet another of Clark’s rescues. Once again, he tells Lex not to believe what he’s seen with his own eyes- and Lex takes it to heart. Fast forward to a future where Lex has proven himself willing to shoot his dad to protect a ‘mortal Clark’, and where even Clark has tired of keeping secrets from the man he loves. However no matter how many hints Clark drops, Lex still refuses to see. It takes an obvious rescue before the truth is out, and the response is not what Clark had hoped for:
Lex stared at him, and the terrible thing (a terrible thing) was that he was never thereafter able to tell whether the sanity leached out of Lex’s face, or into it. Or maybe it was just insanity, switching channels.
Too sad and too bloody stupid for me to enjoy- but stupid in a way that could totally fit canon. I can imagine Lex choosing to be that blind in order to keep Clark. I mean, hell, Lex fooled himself into believing he was responsible for his brother’s death- it’s really not a stretch. And Clark, yea, Clark really is dense enough to turn a blind eye to what’s going on. In short, this is a scenario I could imagine, even if it’s one I don’t want to.
Cute, short, funny future fic in which Clark is a big dumbass. In other words, it’s pretty close to canon. It starts with Lex about to get married (told you it was close to canon) and Clark is jealous (ibid) and then Lex’s fiance goes to see Clark because she thinks they should be friends and Clark thinks she has shiny hair and should die. Snerk. Good characterizations of Lex, Clark and Lois, and I dug the little hints of darkness that crop up amidst the humor. I also like the style, the short little scenes that flit back and forth through time, and the insights into Clark’s thought processes. While there’s nothing really new to it, the story has a lot of panache. Cool fic, worth the 10 minutes it will take to read. I laughed out loud more than once.
He suddenly noticed there were dirty plates on the sideboard, he’d created a small mountain of shoes by the window, and there was a wet towel hanging over the back of his computer chair.
Clark wondered if she would notice if he just… superspeeded and tidied up.
“Um. Please. Take a seat.” He praised his mother. Because without her, he would have had the Kent manners of How to Grunt and Moralize.
A mid-sized future fic that starts with a disheveled Clark Kent showing up at Lex’s penthouse. Despite the fact they’d drifted apart over the years, Lex takes him in when Clark asks for a place to hide from the world. I liked the tight Lex POV and the way the author portrays Lex’s knowledge of his own obsession with Clark. I also enjoyed Lex’s reactions to the news that Superman has gone missing- the hints that Lex is aware of the connection between Clark and the ‘Man of Steel’. Lastly, I liked the bit of tension that’s created concerning what’s wrong with Clark and why he’s chosen to hide himself away from the world. All in all, a good read. However, ultimately the story boils down to a relationship piece. It’s about Lex and Clark coming together as a couple, and I tend to prefer stories that go beyond that. Still, an interesting read with a very nice portrayal of Lex.
This interesting future fic begins with Lex getting a wedding invitation. Despite his rather scattered memory, he still recalls Clark and Lana with somewhat fond regard, and decides to attend. Over the course of his journey back to Smallville, it becomes very clear that Lex’s memories are shot to hell- and what he thinks are truths may not be. Lex believes his scattered memories are the result of his own mental instability and his problems with alcohol. The reader knows enough to suspect more sinister mechanisms are at work.
The thing I like most about the story is the way it plays out. The author does a nice job of showing rather than telling, and it takes a while for the reader (and for Lex) to figure out what’s going on. It’s slowly revealed that Lex’s memories were purposefully damaged by Lionel. It’s only now, months after Lionel’s death, that the drugs have worn off enough for Lex’s mind to begin to repair itself. Like I say, I enjoyed the way Lex puts the pieces together, the little hints that things aren’t as he believes them to be. Lex does come across as a bit of a victim, but because the story is set during the period where he starts to figure everything out, he doesn’t come off as weak. I also liked Clark, and how he feels guilty for not knowing what was happening- and how he comes through for Lex once he does. The secondary characters- including the Kents, Lana and Pete, were also nice additions. Lastly - big spoiler- I really loved the fact Lex was completely off concerning the whole marriage thing. That was a cute reveal and a nice ending with a very slashy vibe. Not as hard core action as I tend to like, but a well told story that kept my interest all the same.
Just marking this WIP for a further look once it’s done. The premise has Clark meeting Lex for the first time during the summer after his first year of college. Clark takes a job as an intern for LexCorp, and Lex takes a shine to the friendly young man. The story isn’t my usual type, given that it’s told from Clark’s POV. However, it’s a great Clark voice. It has the sweetness and somewhat self-conscious dorkiness that I loved about S1 Clark, but in a grown up package. There’s also mystery and danger, involving corporate plots and assassination attempts. Pete and Chloe make nice additions, with their growing romance a backdrop to the larger story. The also work as ‘scoobies’ in Clark’s efforts to clear Lex’s name in a murder investigation. Strong writing, nice charactered integration, a great Clark voice, and Lex/Lionel conflict- this looks to be a good one. I’ll check back when it’s done.
This short fic appeals to my love of ‘geek’ Lex, good writing, and good story telling. Set somewhere during s3-s4, Lex gets tired of being ‘grown up’ and takes a breather with his dolls. Excuse me. His action figures. I find it rather touching that Lex plays the hero, Warrior Angel, and casts Clark in the role of the dishonest Devilicus- which from Lex’s perspective makes perfect sense.
Did I hit you with my car?” Lex had Warrior Angel ask, in his authoritarian voice.
“I told you, Warrior Angel,” Devilicus answered, in a whiny falsetto that sounded like Clark would if he had a severe head cold that was pinching off his air and testosterone supply. “I’d be dead if it had.”
“Liar,” Lex muttered under his breath as he gently flicked the tip of his index finger against the side of Devilicus’ plastic head, causing a series of wobbles that nearly toppled him over onto his shapely plastic ass.
It’s funny and geeky and sweet, and I think it does a nice job of giving the reader some insights into Lex’s character. Of course, there’s also an underlying sadness, as it seems clear that things between Lex and Clark will not be as easily resolved. Short read, but I enjoyed it.
HEE! This short future fic gave me a happy. It begins with Clark stuck in Singapore, his flight derailed by a monsoon, and his ability to use more ‘super’ means of transport jammed up by the need to keep his reporter cover intact. When a mix-up at the hotel results in his having to share a room with Lionel Luthor, things get amusing. At least they do for Clark’s husband, Lex. Seems the elder Luthor has an odd sleep disorder. I won’t go into the details, out of good taste (snerk) and an unwillingness to spoil the surprise. Happily, Lex does offer up this bit of advise:
“It’s better to sleep left,” Lex advised in his almost-hysterical voice. “Sleep left and maybe build some sort of pillow fort--”
Snerk. It’s cute, and funny, and well written. Well worth the time it will take to read. As an added bonus, I really enjoyed the idea that Lex, Clark and Lionel might eventually enjoy a future in which they are at peace with each other- as unlikely an event as that may be. Enjoy!
Set during s2, I liked the Lex voice in this mid-sized read. I thought it did a nice job of highlighting the bitterness Lex must feel when constantly confronted with Clark’s lies and lack of trust. It’s a very tight POV, and it works here, even if I was left slightly confused concerning some of the actual events in the story.
And what are the events in the story? Well, it begins with Clark coming into the mansion in his usual way, but Lex is a little too weary to want to deal with him. And then… well, this was the part that was a little confusing to me (and I thought some of the logic was a bit vague), but Lex gets shot and passes out. When he comes to, Clark and Martha are there and Clark takes him up to his bedroom to recover (I’ll assume it was a minor flesh wound!). From there, things get a bit heated- until Lex gets zapped with a dart and passes out again, this time to awake in a sealed box with no way out. Luckily, good ole Clark shows up to free him, but at that point, Lex is sick of the lies and tells Clark to get the hell out of his life. Things don’t improve once Lex gets back to the castle, where Lionel shows him a tape of the kidnapping. It’s just one more insult in a highly insulting day- particularly the fact that Clark was clearly unwilling to do anything ‘unusual’ to save Lex due to the hidden camera that was taping the events. Fortunately, Clark shows up- floating outside Lex’s window and intent on making amends. Finally, he has decided to reveal his secrets rather than lose Lex for good. In the end? The live happily ever after!
Now, I did like the story, even if I had some quibbles with the whole way the ‘getting shot’ bit played out. I simply think Lex has to be insulted on some level by Clark’s really blatant lies. It also has to hurt that Lex is not deemed worthy of trust. So the internal bits worked well for me. All in all, a satisfying read and a good example of s2 fic.
This is a seriously AU future fic that has Lex, Clark, Lois, Chloe and Whitney all working as CSI investigators/technicians in the Metropolis office. I did mention it was seriously AU, didn’t I? This is a nice long read, told from a Lex POV, and right off the bat, you know something’s different about our favorite Luthor heir. He’s known as a very eccentric, very nice guy. One who lays low, supports charities, doesn’t date, has nothing to do with his father’s corporation, and who pops pills to keep from having panic attacks. Don’t worry, it’ll all make sense in the long run.
That’s one of the things I like about this story, it’s told in a way that keeps you guessing for a while. It’s close enough to the SV characters to make you wonder about why and how they ended up so different. Now I did guess the cause for Lex’s mental fragility pretty early on- partly because I’m very familiar with this author- but that didn’t dampen my enjoyment. There’s also a pretty good story being told, in addition to the fun of figuring out the backstory and getting a handle on this AU characterizations. Mostly it’s a story of friendship/romance, with CSI investigator Clark attempting to draw technician Lex out of his shell. As on the show, Clark’s innate goodness is a real draw for the damaged Lex- and it doesn’t hurt that Clark’s father is the one who pulled a drowning Lex from a river years ago, profoundly impacting the course his life would follow. Anyway, the whole bit with Clark drawing Lex back into the ‘normal’ world, with the help of the whole Kent clan, was just really sweet and a nice contrast to the show itself.
The later bits of the story bring in more CSI work, and an investigation into Dominic Senatori’s murder raises ghosts from Lex’s past. Lionel, Lucas, Morgan Edge, child pornography and a cross-over case with CSI: Las Vegas all come into play. I won’t say there were too many surprising twists, but it was still a very interesting read. The secondary characters were also fun- I particularly enjoyed the depiction of Lois as a complete barracuda in the interrogation room. While I won’t say the plot, the characterizations or the writing stand out individually, the whole thing comes together in a way that’s both satisfying and entertaining and a giant leap above the norm.
One word of warning- there aren’t any delimiters between sections, and it’s disconcerting to leap from scene to scene without warning. Nothing wrong with the writing itself- just a formating issue. However, it took me by surprise the first couple of times, so be ready for it.
While this fairly lengthy future fic really isn’t my type of story, I did get a real kick out of it. It’s set in Metropolis, with the ‘kids’ in college. As the story kicks off, Clark goes over to hang with Lex and is confronted with the happy news that his friends are finally starting to come around and see what a great guy Lex is. In fact, Chloe seems to be as comfortable hanging out with Lex as Clark is. Hm. Maybe this isn’t such happy news! Yep, I do love me some jealous Clark, and we get a big dose of it in this tale.
Clark would have killed for this to happen five years ago. Now he just wanted to kill.
Which only made him feel instantly guilty because those sentiments weren’t completely true. He didn’t want to kill Chloe. Just, maybe, stuff her into a dark closet for a few years until she didn’t have any more ideas about horning in on his Lex.
Snerk. So Clark, big gay drama queen that he is, throws a passive aggressive hissy fit that leaves Lex thinking he has the hots for Chloe. Lex, being Lex, attempts to give Clark what he wants. Since Clark has just figured out he wants Lex, this results in a very confused Clark and an amused Chloe. It’s all rather cute and sweet and there are some truly funny lines in this story. Grant you, the premise is every bit as ‘soap opera’ as it sounds, but it was still fun. Then again, I get a kick out of petulant, doofy Clark. Chloe was also a blast in this fic- seriously one of its highlights. On the negative side, there’s a lot of exposition. A whole lot. It bogs the read down a bit, and dulls some of the wit and humor. This probably would have worked better after a heavy edit to pare it down.
All in all- fun, sweet, sappy, and well worth slogging through the denser bits of exposition. Underneath it all, this story has a very sweet heart.
An oldie but a goodie, this mid-sized future fic plays on one of my favorite themes- judgmental Superman versus a morally ambiguous Lex. Best read unspoiled- don’t say you weren’t warned.
We begin with a suave and sophisticated Luthor, one who has put away the fast cars and fast women of his youth in order to pursue his political aspirations. While the city seems willing to embrace him, Superman isn’t buying it. That’s okay, Lex has reservations about the ‘Man of Steel’ himself, and is more than willing to share them with the press. I guess that’s why ‘business interests’ who are concerned about the all powerful alien running around town come to Lex, looking for funding in a plan to take Superman down. Six feet down, to be precise. What interests Lex is the fact they might just pull it off.
Now, I like a lot about this fic- it’s tight, and concise, and the writer gives you just enough to tell the story and leave you wanting more. The secondary characters, including Chloe and Lois, make nice additions and serve to flesh out the world and give us insights into Clark and his history with Lex. Clark and Lex are both characterized in ways that I could easily see evolving from canon, and I like the fact that I wasn’t certain exactly what Lex’s intentions were until the very end. Of course, Lex’s intentions are the real reason I dig this story so much. While he may have issues with Clark, and he may not like Superman, this version of Lex is not the evil Lex of the comics. I dug how it played out, I loved the calm, cool, sarcastically assy ‘Lex under fire’, and I really loved Clark having to reassess his understanding of who Lex is and what he’s after. That’s not to say Clark’s completely in the wrong, or that this is grovel fic (which I dislike)- it’s more a shift from the simplistic morality of youth to a mature understanding of the complexities of the adult world.
I liked everything about this fic- the tight storytelling, the action, the characterizations and dialog. A good read, well worth your time.
This is one of the most complex fics I’ve read in a while, and I wanted to give myself time to fully digest it before I wrote it up. It’s a long future fic, by one of my favorite authors in the fandom. The focus is on Lex, Clark/Superman, and Bruce/Batman. In case you were wondering- all 3 men have issues with secrets, trust and obsession, and I’ve rarely seen it expressed as clearly as it is in this dark and twisty story.
If Superman and Luthor were more than simple nemeses, Batman would have to be aware of that. Obsession, especially reciprocated obsession, was more dangerous than any rational villainy or heroism.
If you’re going to read it, do so unspoiled- and I’m getting into the nitty gritty on this one, so you’ve been warned. [lj-cut]
The story is broken down into 3 parts and 3 PoVs: Metropolis- Bruce pov; Gotham- Clark pov; Smallville- Lex pov. We start with Bruce, who’s enjoying a casual ‘encounter’ with reporter Clark Kent. It’s a nice break from partners with secret identities and multiple agendas (snerk). Of course, if Bruce has any interest in continuing such encounters, he’s going to have to do a little research into the background of young Mr. Kent. As soon as he does, he’s warned off in no uncertain terms by business rival Lex Luthor.
Do you think this tweaks the Bat’s interest? Damn straight it does. Well, lord knows, Bruce can obsess with the best of them, and the rest of ‘Metropolis’ follows him as he tries to unravel the secret of Lex, Clark and Superman. ‘Gotham’ picks up from Clark’s PoV, and it skips ahead a bit in time- just enough to leave you wondering what the hell is going on. I like that- I enjoy playing ‘catch up’ with a writer and being forced to figure things out on the fly. What you figure out is that a new and devious threat has arisen in Gotham, and the only clues suggest Luthor might be involved. Given that Lex is apparently dead, this is problematic. But Supes and the Bat team up, and when they do, they discover a tortured Lex in the ‘care’ of some of the Joker’s goons. The conclusion of the story is set partly in Smallville, as Lex heals up and deals with both Bruce and Clark- oh, and a bunch of government special ops who aren’t too comfortable with the idea of super-powered aliens running around. Given the supplies of kryptonite that became available while Lex was dead, they’ve decided to do something about it. Since Lex doesn’t particularly like sharing his kryptonite, he decides not to let them.
Um- yea. I did mention this was a complex story! Now, I’ll admit, this isn’t my favorite RivkaT story, but it probably ranks as one of her best. It’s not my favorite because I’m her bitch based largely on her Lex. Her characterization of him (both in general and in this story) is how I view him. He’s flawed, he’s dark, he’s dangerous and he’s so wrapped up in Clark that there is very little he wouldn’t sacrifice for him. Thus I am jealous of Lex’s PoV when written by RivkaT and I hate to see it shared with Bruce and Clark. What can I say- I have Lex issues.
Now, ‘Lex issues’ aside, I do think the fic is about perfect. The three PoV’s WORK. The story would not be as good if only viewed through Lex’s eyes. In fact, much of my enjoyment in the ‘Metropolis’ section was getting Bruce’s perspective on Lex, Clark and Superman. Not only did I enjoy the characterization of Bruce, but I loved what was revealed about Clark and Lex. There’s this bit where Bruce goes to see Lex, and the two end up boxing- circling around each other like a couple of alpha dogs going at it. Of course, a lot of their animosity centers around Clark- I swear, if the boy had been standing there, they’d have been competing to see who got to piss on him! When Bruce lands a blow that cracks ribs, Superman comes busting through the windows and gives him a Pa Kent style dressing down. It’s brilliant- Lex and Supes all hating each other and being protective of each other and poor Bruce standing there wondering WTF is up. HEE!
Of course, my favorite section was the ‘Smallville’ section, because it is pure, unadulterated ‘Sexy’. Damn, Lex is at his best as both the ‘guy who’s going to conquer the world’ and as a woobie who has totally gotten his ass whipped by the Joker and who then has to deal with Clark’s rather nefarious AI at the Fortress of Solitude. He’s everything I love about RivkaT’s version of Lex, and the multiple climaxes at the end of the story really kept me guessing. [/lj-cut]
To sum- a seriously kick-ass story with an interesting and complicated plot and compelling characterizations. The way the story was woven together was different and showed a real mastery of the art of storytelling. All three of these guys really are batshit insane, and I love reading about it!
It took a TWoP rec to remind me of this mid-sized read. It’s an AU, first person Lex PoV, that does a nice job of emulating a noir/old style detective story. Lex is the detective. Martha Kent is the beautiful redhead who comes to him for help. Clark is the missing son who took off after a tragic accident caused his mom to miscarry.
I quite enjoyed the fic, but then, I always did have a fondness for the genre. Lex’s world weary characterization worked for me, and the story has a sparse style that moves quickly and fits this type of story. The read is a bit detached at the start, but I liked it. I also liked how it managed to stay close to canon with regard to most of the relationships. One of the reasons I tend to be drawn to a fandom has to do with the circumstances surrounding the characters. This means AU’s tend to be ‘hit and miss’ for me - it’s not merely a matter of characterization, but the extent to which they play on the same dynamics that I love in canon. One thing I love about Smallville’s Lex is the way he measures himself against his father. That element holds true in this fic, even if it is a background detail:
I was weak. I wanted to fuck him. It would be so easy. But that’s what my father would do. And I’m not my father.
Clark- well, he’s a little on the weepy side, but the author doesn’t go overboard with it and it makes sense in the context of what’s happening. This is very much the 16 year-old Clark who is trying to escape the pain of what he’s done.
Overall, this isn’t a massively complex story, but I dug the style, the way the plot unfolded, and the characterizations (Lex’s growing understanding of Martha’s cleverness and strength was a particularly nice detail). Good read, with some nice smutty bits for those who want them and an interesting take on the detective genre for fans of the style.
Alien Overlord Kal-El vs. feisty, beaten but unbowed rebel leader Lex is one of my uber kinks. Seriously. It’s like fanfic crack. So, happy me, finding this fairly short read, which kicks off with a perky blond presenting ‘Alien Overlord Kal-El’ with a chained up Lex Luthor.
“I could make you beg.” Again, there was the casual tone, but this time there was a smooth air of menace layered over it.
Luthor just straightened as much as he could and glared defiantly.
Kal-El ran a fingertip over a cheek and watched the muscle ripple as Luthor did his best not to flinch. “I’ve heard of you, you know. That you’re some sort of meteor mutant. That you heal remarkably fast.”
The finger slid down Luthor’s neck and caressed the band of metal that lay there. “It would make things interesting. To experiment. To see how long it takes you to heal from certain injuries.”
Yum. I love that sort of thing beyond all reason. However, the story isn’t nearly as dark as the above suggests- and things are a bit more complicated than they first appear. I’m going spoilery here- you’ve been warned. [lj-cut]
So, when Kal-El asks Lex for a reason to spare his life, Lex pulls a Shaharazad on him and begins telling a story instead. It’s the story of ‘Richboy’ and ‘Farmboy’ and a destiny that began on a bridge. Do you see where this is going? Hee! It’s all rather cute, and if I didn’t particularly buy the whole basis for how ‘farmboy Clark’ ended up as ‘Alien Overlord Kal-El’, well I don’t think the plot was really meant to withstand close scrutiny in the first place. It’s a fun little read that isn’t without some plot holes, but they really don’t detract from the fluffy sweetness that’s at the core of this tale. Well worth the 10 minutes it will take to read.[/lj-cut]
I decided to write this fic up partly in response to a discussion of it on TWoP and partly in response to the ‘Criticism/Fic Mocking’ discussion v.80000.1. I’d read the story a while back, and when someone on TWoP asked about post-Asylum amnesia fics, ‘Pyrrhic’ came up (TWoP discussion). Now, I had some quibbles with the story, which I’ll get into. What’s interesting, in the TWoP discussion someone else guessed what my main quibble was before I’d finished typing it up. When I asked how they guessed, turns out two other folks (independently) had problems with the same scene. [lj-cut]
Well, W00T! Where was all of this interesting discussion of SV fic going on, I wondered? Um- private email. Cause God forbid anyone actually discuss fanfic in a way that might hurt someone’s feelings. At least- God forbid they do it in public. Cripes- that just pisses me off. Anyway, this very brief, non-wanky, mostly positive critical discussion of a specific fic was unique enough that we congratulated ourselves for having it! Apparently critical discussion, in even the most benign sense, is rare enough to be worthy of comment simply for existing. Hell- in truth, we were lucky. The last time I made a critical comment about a fic on TWoP, the author showed up and violated the board rules by starting her own post to rant about my three line comment where- in response to a direct question- I admitted I’d found her story ‘cheesy’. If you’re wondering, the rant did nothing to make me think the fic was less cheesy.
I can count on one hand the number of webmasters who discuss the negatives when it comes to stories they’ve read, and I can count on the other hand the sites that encourage honest discussion (pros and cons) of specific fanfic. No, I’m not counting the numerous Mary Sue bashing sites. They don’t generally discuss fic, they make fun of it. There’s a difference. I don’t count fanfic_hate, either. Those types of sites really aren’t any more insightful or interesting than the typical ‘fangirl squee’ that you see in response to BNF’s latest PWP- though the suggestion that such sites arise in part as a reaction to the lack of comfort when it comes to critical discussion is one that makes a lot of sense to me. Well, it would if I personally felt any such discomfort- which obviously I don’t. What I do feel is irritation that this fear of hurt feelings curtails public discussion or warps it into anonymous one-liners on ‘hate’ communities. I wish I could have had a public discussion with the four people who were obviously interested in talking about ‘Pyrrhic’. The fact that three out of the four had issues with the same scene is one that interests me and it’s something I think is worthy of discussion. This is not a case of ‘fic bashing’ or ‘author bashing’- it’s about writing and characterizations and ... well, I don’t know what it’s about because the conversation never occurred. That’s a damn shame.
OK- off the soapbox and on to the fic- very spoilery discussion ahead! This is long and angsty and fairly dark future fic. It begins with Lionel’s funeral, which reporters Clark and Lois are attending. Lionel was killed in a car accident- while on his knees giving head to his son! Understandably, Lex is feeling particularly vulnerable, and Clark has to virtually pull Lois off of him when she starts asking whether Lex had anything to do with his father’s death. Well, as the story spins out, we discover that during the ‘Shattered’ arc, Lex shoved Martha and nearly left her paralyzed. Clark said some harsh words to Lex, and Lex ended up in Lionel’s tender care- where he was brainwashed and used as his father’s bed partner and general corporate whore. With Lionel gone, the brainwashing starts to unravel, and Clark is there to help Lex get through it. Turns out the one thing the brainwashing didn’t erase was Lex’s knowledge of Clark’s abilities. When Clark finds out, he offers to take Lex to the Fortress of Solitude and have his injuries from the accident heeled in order to head off any publicity concerning the nature of Lex and Lionel’s rather unusual father/son relationship. Unfortunately for Lex, the press isn’t his only worry. Seems Morgan Edge and a number of Metropolis’ business community are unwilling to lose their fuck toy. When Lex tries to assert himself as the CEO of LuthorCorp, the businessmen throw themselves a gang bang. Luckily, Lex had the place wired and he uses his own rape as a means of bringing both the press and the law down on his father’s former associates.
Now, the whole ‘gang bang’ scene was the one I (and two other folks) had issues with. Actually, the more I thought about it, the more I realized my issues were in part a matter of characterization- but I’ll talk about that in a moment. Anyway, it just seemed too far beyond the bounds of reality for me. I like violence, I love Lex getting his ass whipped, and I don’t mind rape used as a means to break a man down- but it just seemed unlikely. It took me out of the fictional world. I’d have bought it in an AU like ‘Freak’ and I’d have ignored it in a PWP, but this is a story set pretty firmly in ‘Smallville’ reality and I have trouble imagining a room full of mostly reputable businessmen gang banging a competitor. Eh- it was jarring and felt gratuitous.
The second half of the story involves some hurt-comfort and focuses on Lex building himself back up. There’s some nice action as Morgan Edge attempts to take Lex out once and for all, and there are sweet scenes at the Kent farm as Lex is once more accepted into the fold. Lex truly starts to come into his own, moving LexCorp into the future, getting rid of his father’s shady dealings, working as an equal with Bruce Wayne and co., and even test piloting a jet. The story comes full circle when it’s up to Lex to take the Justice League to task for their tendency to take Superman for granted.
All in all, the story had a lot of elements I like. I really am a fan of Lex abuse, and I love to see him come back with a vengeance. I also like seeing the Kents revise their opinion of him and really bring him into the family. There’s also plenty of action and plot to the story, and the writing itself is solid. However, as mentioned, I have quibbles. Looking back on ‘Pyrrhic’, and Kat Reitz’s stories in general, I think it really boils down to a matter of characterization. I like my Lex as a (potentially) scary monster. I DO want Clark to save him, but the main person Lex needs saving from is himself. The Lex I like best is the one who could potentially stand there with a smile on his face as the sky rains blood and the earth burns. In a lot of Kat Reitz’s stories Lex is pretty horrifically abused. Now, these stories generally work for me in that Lex IS strong. He isn’t a passive victim. He makes his own life. However, he never really goes psychotic on Lionel’s ass and it’s generally up to Clark to make him whole. This is fundamentally different than the way I prefer to see Lex. Honestly, it’s probably healthier, but I don’t want healthy. I want psycho Lex who will beat his head against the wall until either the wall breaks or we see brains.
It’s interesting that it took me 4-5 fics before I realized that the reason this author doesn’t perfectly ‘ping my buttons’ is due to a difference in preferred characterizations. Actually, I think it was the comments on TWoP that sort of led me to the conclusion- which leads me back to my soapbox! I wish fandom was more open to frank discussions of fanfic. Sometimes it’s really not about the individual story or even the canon. Sometimes our preferences boil down to the archetypes that color our perceptions. I had an interesting (and rare) discussion of mistressace’s story ‘The Prometheus Project’ where I touch a bit on the issue of Lex’s characterization. In the discussion, I bring up RivkaT’s approach to Lex. I think she consistently writes my favorite Lex. Hm- I need to write a review on why that’s so. Anyway, point being it’s really a matter of my personal taste- it’s not a slight against the writer or even a cry of ‘OoC’! Hell, I view canon Lex and my preferred version of Lex as being slightly different. I think with canon Lex, he would NOT end up a scary monster without Clark’s intervention. I think he’d be a mildly unscrupulous businessman, sort of like Lionel but without the trail of bodies. I like to think that according to canon, BOTH Lex and Clark’s destinies are a result of their interactions with each other. However, when it comes to fic, I prefer a madder and badder Lex- someone who is tempered by Clark, though in some ways made all the more dangerous by the depths of his love. [/lj-cut]
Well, I suppose that ramble is the subject of another post. This post was supposed to be about Pyrrhic- a story I found interesting, but one which did not quite ping my buttons. Still- worth the read for those who enjoy angst and plot and a Clark/Lex that is meant to be!