darkfic: Promises to Keep

[xparrot]

Okay, I take back what I said about Lex in "Promise." This is what's really going on. Major props to jakrar for inspiring us to peer deeper into the mechanism, and to gnine for hashing out more of the details.

This is a fanfic and episode meta in one. I could have written yet another essay, but this was more fun and only took a couple hours to dash off. The characterization might make more sense if you're aware of our current interpretation of Lex.

Smallville: Promises to Keep {2,063 words}
PG-13. Warnings for meteorfreak!Lana and mastermind!Lex. Well, less warnings for the latter, more reassurances. He's been sorely lacking of late in the show proper. Also massive spoilers for "Promise." The dialogue and action are all from the episode's script; the words in between are mine.

( Lex Luthor is used to desperation. )

Comments

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

Just found this, and wow, does it work beautifully in melding your theory and an otherwise-terrible episode! I love Lex having come up with Lana-resisting drugs to protect himself and his ability to think clearly, yet still being slightly affected at the wedding because the effect is heightened along with Lana's emotions. Love Lex playing his father while letting Lionel think he's the one pulling all the strings. Love Lex remembering Clark's blood in "Mortal" and seeing it as a lie. Love him viewing his bride as a heroine, albeit not for the reasons she might think, and seeing Lionel and the crooked doctor as too small to even look up and see the storm clouds overhead (such a great image).

One tiny thing I did notice:

Lines will be crossed, but Lex doesn't have to rush across them. This is a race, no one knows that better than him, the invisible clock counting down above all their heads. But he's nowhere near the finish line and he'll need to save something for the final stretch.

It should be 'no one knows that better than he' (because it's short for 'no one knows that better than he knows that').

Brilliant, brilliant story! *squees wildly*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

So glad it worked for you! Especially since it is partly your fault I came up with it at all. ^_^ This Lex freaks me a little, but I love him, so wrapped up in the big picture that he's lost all track of people as anything more than pawns...

(the "he/him" issue is one of those tricky grammar points where standard usage is changing, and in the name of progress I'm inclined to side with what sounds natural more than what is grammatically correct...viva la ongoing linguistic revolution!)

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

Especially since it is partly your fault I came up with it at all.

*huge grin* I refuse to apologize.

viva la ongoing linguistic revolution!

*snickers* Though, if we're going to have a revolution, we ought to start with overthrowing AlMiles and the Lana-worshipping SV staff writers....

Re: He/Him

[stitcher2ficcer.livejournal.com]

Just for the record, I'm with jakrar on this one. I don't like the confusion of I/me, but I don't find it as jarring as the confusion of he/him or she/her. "Him" in the place of a clear subject pronoun sounds illiterate to me. JMHO... but you know I wouldn't enjoy myself with you half so much if we didn't debate the finer points of grammar and comma usage now and then. ^__~

Love you.