~ Painted in Flames. All Peeling Thunder. Be the Lightning in Me.~

Heirs to the House of El: Walking In My Shoes (Chapter Twenty-Nine)

2009-11-15T01:11:22Z

Jason was miserable, and Elise knew it. He was sitting in the middle of the bed, staring morosely down at his shoes. If this plan didn’t work, his chances of getting to Nevada were too slim to calculate.

The three kids had retreated here as soon as they got to the Troupes’ house; they all knew the layout, and Jason had figured out which room he need to have to be able to sneak Sebast in later on. Richard, Lana, and Kristin were getting the guest bedroom; Nora, Joanna, and Michelle each had their own rooms; and Loueen and Bryan were staying in what had been Sam’s room. Jason could have taken the sofa, but that made him a little too obvious. Instead, he’d taken what had been the family room when he and Kala had lived here.

Three years ago, Lucy and Ron had converted it into a bedroom for Ella. The downstairs bathroom was right beside it, and adding a door between them had made this room a convenient suite right in the heart of the house. No mother-in-law suite off to the side somewhere for Ella; she had been mere steps from the living room and the kitchen, within hearing distance of the stairs in case she called out at night. Elise thought that was a testament to how much Ron Troupe loved his mother-in-law.

Ella’s room had been cleaned out, most of her personal belongings distributed between her daughters, but the bed and the little couch beneath the window remained. Taking this room was integral to the plan, as it was the easiest way for Sebast to sneak in – the window was low, and out of sight of the driveway where a patrol car was already parked. Jason had told Sebast exactly where to get out of Nick’s car and which bushes would provide concealment between the road and the window. After all, he and Kala had played hide-and-seek on this property many times.

Those memories, which he’d had to call up in the course of their plotting, were depressing in light of the circumstances. Night would soon fall on the third day of Kala’s absence, and none of them had any real assurance that she was okay. Jason insisted she was fine, but she needed him, and Elise was inclined to believe him on both counts. She had seen too many examples of the symbiotic relationship between the twins not to take him seriously.

And with those thoughts uppermost in his mind, to come to the room where his beloved Nana had lived for the last three years before her untimely and recent death … yeah, Jason had a right to be morose. Elise sat down next to him and took his hand, squeezing his fingers lightly as she tried to think of something to say.

The look he turned on her was so bleak that any comforting words would sound like mockery. “Oh, Jason,” Elise sighed, her heart aching for him. He could be as obtuse as any boy, he was distressingly single-minded about certain things, and his whole family gave off a distinctive Not Normal vibe, but she’d never doubted he was a sensitive soul. And his sister being gone was clearly killing him; the hollow grief in those blue eyes was searing in its frankness.

Elise could do nothing but hug him, and after a second’s hesitation Jason put his arms around her and leaned his head on her shoulder. He shuddered once, but wouldn’t cry, though she would have considered tears fully justified. Any girl, even Kala, would have let the tears fall, but boys could be so stupidly macho sometimes.

Strangely, she found herself sniffling, as if she could somehow cry for him. Her whole life had been turned upside down, too; no matter how often you heard about it on the news, kidnappings just didn’t happen to kids you knew. It was always some other kid in some other city, and you felt sorry for them and their families, but your friends were supposed to be safe. Because you knew them, you knew the funny face Kala always made while she painted her toenails, you knew she was like a magpie for anything velvet, and this couldn’t happen to her, because you knew she was real and all those kids on TV and missing posters at Wal-Mart, those kids weren’t really real.

Only, it was real, all of it, and Elise was living it. Not only was her friend missing, but the rest of them had been threatened, too. People she knew and liked had been shot at and stabbed. The illusion of safety in her normal daily life was just gone. True, the adults were being very sane and sensible about it all, taking precautions, but Elise had just had it brought home to her in a too-concrete manner that bad things could happen to people she knew – or to her.

And yet, somehow, she still felt a little safe, because she was with Jason.

She pulled away a bit, smiling at her own foolishness, and Jason looked as though the hug had helped him. That awful emptiness was gone from his eyes, anyway, and Elise was glad to have banished it. “Thank you,” he said, his voice husky with suppressed emotion.

The bathroom door opened then, and Sebast walked into the room. Elise started to pull further away from Jason, but she froze at the sight of Sebast. Beside her, Jason’s jaw dropped open, and Elise yelped, “Oh my God, what did you do to your hair?!”

…

Bryan, Michelle, and Kristin were currently in Michelle’s room, playing in an unusually subdued manner. It was clear that all of the worry and strain on the adults was starting to get to the children, as well. Lana gave the kids a worried little frown as she pulled Lucy and Loueen aside into the kitchen for a few words. “We’ve got a pilot for you tomorrow,” she began, and they both gave her quizzical looks.

“Yeah, I know,” Loueen said slowly, raising her eyebrows. “Isn’t his name Richard? I think we’ve met him a couple of times, Lana.”

Realizing she had gone about that backwards, the redhead sighed. “About that. We wanted to tell you earlier; but we couldn’t, for obvious reasons. Richard and I aren’t going to Smallville.”

This news stunned Loueen, but Lucy was catching on quickly. Her tone was one of awe and amazement. “Oh my God. You’re going after Lois and Clark, aren’t you?”

Taking a deep breath, Lana nodded. “Yes. They’re going to need us.”

“Are you nuts? Haven’t you been through enough for the moment? You haven’t even been out of the hospital six hours yet,” Loueen hissed, the Voice of Reason. “Lana, they’re going up against Luthor.”

“I know,” the redhead replied. “And the way things have been between them, it will take him about five minutes to split them up and kill them both. He’s had spies in the family; he knows how tense things are right now. He might not even have to do anything – I’ve never seen Clark this angry, and I’ve known him since he was three. If they turn their backs on each other, and they’re out of Superman’s sight, Luthor will have them both. And I won’t allow that.”

“And what are you gonna do about it?” Loueen challenged. “Lana, hon, we love you, but come on. You’re a designer, not a ninja or something.”

“I am the only person in this family who will take Lois and Clark to task, and have them both listen to me,” Lana said sternly. “I understand what you’re saying, and I know what I’m doing here. But you have to realize something.”

She paused, and Lucy bit her lip worriedly as the redhead continued. “I am willing to risk my life for them. I’m willing to lose my life if it’s in the cause of getting Kala home. I came very close to dying just by being part of the family. I can’t be in any more danger than I was yesterday, and this way, I’m doing something about it. Lois and Clark need me, whether they know it or not, and they need Richard for much the same reasons. They have to work together, and I don’t think they can do it on their own for much more than a day.”

“You’re right about them,” Lucy whispered, fidgeting and feeling utterly disloyal. “Things are bad for him to yell at her like he did this morning. I hate seeing them fight … but even more, I hate thinking I might never see my sister and brother-in-law again, or my niece. If they’re like that in Nevada, how can they possibly find Kala and bring her home?”

“That’s why Richard and I have to go.” Lana fell silent for a moment; she had prayed over this decision, but hadn’t received any sort of sign to cease and desist. Then again, she also hadn’t received a clear sign telling her to go ahead. Regardless, this was what she felt she had to do, and she’d made her peace with the fact that it might be her last decisive act. The last day had brought Lana to a much closer understanding of her own mortality, and she was determined to do everything in her power to rescue Kala.

Richard felt just as strongly. He had known Kala even before Clark did, and she was still his daughter. Biological paternity was nothing compared to three years of bedtime stories, kissed boo-boos, and constant vigilance against the twins’ fragile health. Richard would strangle Luthor with his bare hands if he could manage it, or leap in front of a sniper’s bullet to save Kala just as easily as he’d done to spare Lana. Though he wasn’t quite as spiritual about it as Lana herself, he knew better than most that love was about self-sacrifice. He had given up Lois, whom he’d been ready to marry, out of love for her and the twins, because he saw that their lives would be better with Clark.

Lana had never told him that that single act of selfless nobility overcame all of her reservations about leaping into a relationship as quickly as they had. Whenever she’d worried that things were moving too fast, or that she might be let down as she had been before, she had remembered not only that he had risked his life to protect Lois, but had loved her enough to let her go afterward.

And having known that charismatic, exasperating, contrary, unladylike, fiery, and oddly vulnerable woman for the last ten years, Lana couldn’t help but love her as well. Lois was like the sister she’d never had, and then some. They were stepmoms to each other’s children, old flames of each other’s husbands, and everything but rivals. Gripped by the worst pain she’d ever known, Lana had sent her husband out of the delivery room and called for the woman she’d spent the past several months alternately being paranoid about and apologizing to. Lois had held her hands and coached her through Kristin’s birth, which had been every bit as agonizing as Lana’s worst imaginings, and she’d held the tiny infant while Lana recovered. Lois’ understanding and forgiveness had been gifts as miraculous as Kristin herself.

As for Clark, Lana had always loved him. He had been her friend first, then devoted follower, and after a long absence and the shattering of an old secret, they’d become friends again. They shared so much history that closeness was inevitable, and there was quite literally nothing she wouldn’t do for him. The fact that he was a superhero didn’t even enter into the equation; the Clark that Lana knew would have found some way to serve humanity even if he’d had no powers beyond his very human heart and soul.

Flying out to Nevada to rescue them both from their personal demons – saving their marriage and their daughter at the same time, most likely – wasn’t something Lois or Clark would ever have asked of Lana and Richard. But it was what they wanted, needed, to do.

Evidently Loueen and Lucy saw those thoughts in Lana’s expression, because they both nodded. “All right,” Loueen said. “I don’t like it, but I get it. And I suppose everyone else will get used to it.”

“They’ll have to,” Lana replied. “Richard’s having the seaplane taxied over here tonight. We’ll be leaving at dawn, just before all of you, and hopefully we’ll be airborne before Maggie gets wind of it.”

“You’d better be, or she’ll have you arrested for something,” Loueen said.

…

Jason was profoundly grateful for Elise’s uncomplicated show of affection. He needed a hug, dammit, and neither Mom nor Kala had been around to provide it. That line of thought would set off the tears he was trying to hold back, however.

Sebast provided a welcome distraction by walking into the room. Jason and Elise both looked up, ready to explain away their closeness, but both of them were immediately distracted by the change in Sebast’s appearance.

Jason echoed Elise’s yelp with a muttered, “Holy crap, Sebast.”

Normally the Latino boy had long, straight black hair, a feature that plenty of girls at school obsessed over in vain. At the moment, it was a lot shorter. He put down the pair of scissors he’d filched from somewhere, and fluffed the fresh haircut. “So what do you think?”

“I think it’s a helluva time for a makeover,” Elise said acidly.

“No, really?” Sebast snarked back. “Because I didn’t cut it to be fashionable. I’m gonna be standing in for Jason, right? What if Mrs. Troupe opens the door and takes more than a quick glance at me? She’d notice if Jason suddenly grew like an extra foot of hair.”

That gave Elise pause. It was actually kind of brilliant, considering that the two boys had about the same color hair. Jason examined the haircut with a frown. “It looks kinda … weird on you.”

“Don’t worry, it feels weirder than it looks. As soon as Kala is home I’ll be rubbing Miracle-Gro on my scalp every night.” Sebast rubbed the back of his head, a distressed expression on his face.

Elise had to look away to conceal her smile. If anyone ever doubted that Sebast adored Kala, that he was her best friend in the whole wide world, this proved it. The boy was rather vain about his hair, and that he’d been willing to sacrifice it just to give Jason a better chance of being in on the rescue… Well, if that didn’t prove his loyalty to the twins, nothing would.

Now the only thing that worried Elise was just how Jason would be able to cope when he got to Nevada. Richard was a fairly permissive dad, but Lana was strict, and neither of them was going to be at all happy about Jason tagging along. Lois and Clark weren’t going to be happy, either. She could just envision the poor boy lectured and scolded and browbeaten into taking a plane home the very same day. He was stubborn, damn determined when he got his mind set on something, but could he really hold out against all four of his parents?

…

Lois was unusually quiet and subdued at his side, and perversely, that focused his attention on her even more. His mind was filled with what he’d heard while she was out of the house earlier. Only a fragment, but the words haunted him now that he realized where she’d gone.

Sure, she may have stopped for cigarettes on the way back, but her heartbeat had been at the cemetery. And what he’d heard when he checked up on her – afraid she was betraying him even then – was Lois speaking aloud to her parents. “…I tried to keep them safe, just like you would, Momma, but it blew up in my face. I guess maybe you were right about me all along, huh, General? Some ‘great mom’ I am…” Her voice had been a curious mixture of defeat, sorrow, and anger.

There was something infinitely sad about how sharp her tone had gotten when she addressed her father’s headstone. Even so many years later, she was still justifying herself to him. And still doubting herself as a parent.

A small part of him wanted to hug her and comfort her, knowing her too well not to empathize with her pain. The rest of him was still furious. She had crossed the one line he thought was absolutely, utterly beyond any hope of redemption. It wasn’t so much the lie – ironically, he was unsurprised by Lois lying to him, after the way things had been when he returned to the planet – as it was the fact that she’d cut a deal with his worst enemy, and then lied about that. It was crucial information, as important as the fact of the twins’ parentage, and though she’d eventually told him he was a father, he had no real proof that she would ever have told him about the deal with Luthor, no matter what she’d said she meant to do.

Clark forced his internal struggle deep down inside, leaving it to simmer. There were more important things to deal with. Namely, finding their daughter and liberating her from Luthor’s clutches. But first, he had to make sure that the bald maniac couldn’t strike out at anyone else he loved.

“Lois,” he said, his voice low, and she looked up at him with watchful eyes. The hesitance, almost distrustful, in her expression wounded him, but he hardened his heart against that, too. Duty first. “We have to make a stop along the way, and we’re going to need to make some calls.” With that, he adjusted course for the Fortress, where he would have to pick up a few items, already thinking of the JLA members he should call first to invite them to this impromptu meeting: Bruce and Diana. If anyone could understand what he was about to do and why, it would be them.

Heirs to the House of El: Walking In My Shoes (Chapter Twenty-Nine)

2009-11-15T01:06:16Z

Greetings, all! Before we start the chapter, we have an announcement to make. Both of our poor betas are getting hit with real-life insanity right now and we're doing our part to help make it less so and make it easier for everyone to keep track of the posting schedule. After this chapter, we're going to officially make the bi-weekly post on the first and third weeks of every month. That way, our betas know when said beta is due in and we know that we have to be ready with the chapter earlier that week. I know what you're thinking: doesn't that mean...?

Yes, that means that the next chapter will be posted in three weeks. We didn't want it to fall out that way, but we really don't have a choice unless we rush what's going to be a very important chapter. And there's no way we could churn that out in any quality to make deadlines that close. So, that said, the next chapter will be posted on December 5, which is just before my birthday! :D. That will also give us some headway to maybe start a 12 Days entry for Christmas or at least a oneshot of that sort.

Forgive us, but it was the only way to get things on the right weeks.

And now, back to our regularly-scheduled programming.

Now I'm not looking for absolution,
Forgiveness for the things I do.
But before you come to any conclusions,
Try walking in my shoes.
Try walking in my shoes.

You'll stumble in my footsteps,
Keep the same appointments I kept.
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes...

~ Depeche Mode

The plans they’d made were far from concrete, but Elise was pretty good at making it up as she went along, and Sebast had honed his improvisation skills in theater class. That covered two of them. Jason preferred to work things out a little more specifically, but if everything they were plotting went right, he’d have the least to worry about.

Step one, however, was walking out the door. Taking a deep breath and saying a little prayer under her breath that this would work, Elise hurried to catch up with him in the hall outside the Lane-Kents’ apartment. “Hey, Nick?”

She held her breath until the college boy turned to look at her. His expression wasn't exactly the epitome of friendliness when his eyes lit on her. His tone was even less so. “Yeah?”

Elise supposed he had a right to sound that hostile; she and Sebast and Jason had been giving him the evil eye ever since he showed up. But he had showed up, even knowing that no one really wanted him there, no one liked him, and most of them at least partly blamed him for Kala running away. He could have just as easily disappeared on the family after their first confrontation with him. In spite of all that, though, he had to have cared enough about Kala to need to know what was going on. Elise felt she could respect him for that.

It kind of sucked more than a little that she was about to take blatant advantage of it. Elise took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. “Okay, look. I know we’re not friends or anything, and after the way things have been with you and the Kents in the last couple of days, I know you'd like to be shut of all of us. But I need a favor.”

Nick looked around in disbelief, as if searching for the hidden camera recording this farce. “Yeah, right. You know, I’m almost curious enough about why you think I’d help you to ask what exactly you want.”

Elise folded her arms and stared at him. She should have seen this coming, but she'd been hopeful. Fine, then, she'd have to convince him it was in his best interests to pay ball. “You want to help me, Nick, because you’re also helping Jason and Sebast. And they’re closer to Kala than anybody. Once she’s home, if you want to talk to her again, you need them to owe you one.”

Nick's brown eyes narrowed, but Elise met his gaze squarely. “You sneaky underhanded manipulative little…” He trailed off, and Elise got the feeling that he was just a little impressed by her bravado. Running a hand through his blond hair, he gave a small chuckle. “So what do you want, anyway?”

“Nothing much. Just a ride.” Elise gave him the least information possible for the moment, though they’d have to bring him into their conspiracy later. Right now, she only wanted to tell him enough to pique his interest.

“Where to?” he asked, trying to read her expression. The look on his face said he was not exactly certain she wasn't having him on.

“Home, from Jason’s aunt’s house,” Elise replied, never batting an eyelash or missing a beat. “Sebast and I are going over there with him for moral support, but we need someone to take us back home. Well, to Sebast’s house – I’m going to stay with him. Safety in numbers.”

“How come you’re asking me and not the cops?” Nick still sounded a little suspicious, but he hadn’t said no yet.

“Well, I don’t want to bother them,” Elise said, but that clearly struck the wrong note, as Nick rolled his eyes. She took a couple of hurried steps to close the distance between them before Nick could walk off. “Okay, fine, there’s more to it than that, but I can’t tell you here. I promise, it’s nothing illegal or immoral or anything stupid like that. I just…”

“What?” The blond boy looked at her skeptically, crossing his own arms.

Elise sighed, and lowered her voice to a whisper. “We want it to look like we’re leaving, but we’re actually going to stay. We’ll get out of your car at once we’re around the curve and sneak back in a window.”

“That’s a bad idea,” Nick said immediately, but again not refusing. “Not to mention nuts. Why would you want to risk getting shot by the cops for creeping around the house?”

Elise gave him a displeased frown. “We won’t get shot, Nick. Jason's in on the plan; we all know that house, and there’s a spot where no one will be able to see us as long as we jump out quick. Jason needs us. Nick, this is his twin, and he’s going crazy, and none of the grownups have even really noticed. Besides, we’re safer there with him than we would be at Sebast’s. He already got permission from his mom.”

Nick rubbed the bridge of his nose, and Elise just waited. At last he reluctantly said, “Fine. When do you want to be picked up?”

Elise gave him the time with a barely-controlled sigh of relief. He hadn’t spotted the falsehood she’d snuck in amidst the truth there, and that was for the best. If Nick knew they intended to sneak Jason onto Richard’s plane, he probably wouldn’t go along with the plan.

…

Fifteen minutes since they had left the balcony and not a word spoken between them, only the sound of the wind and a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the weather.

They’d had silence on flights before, but it was usually because they were both too infatuated to string together a sentence. It had always been so easy for Lois to get lost in the sensation of flying. In the years before they were together, flying made her invariably wonder what it would be like to lie next to him. And once they’d been lovers, flying had since always served as a primal, visceral reminder of making love. Moving in harmony with each other, bodies touching, his skin so warm, the absolute trust between them, and her heightened awareness of his strength and tenderness.

Not now. And, she was beginning to wonder, possibly never again.

Kal-El looked straight ahead, never glancing over to see if Lois was all right. His arm across her back was stiff and tense, holding her only as close as was utterly necessary. His face was set in stern lines, and he hadn’t spoken to her at all.

Lois tried not to sigh; he would feel that, and she didn’t want him to think she was making some kind of passive-aggressive comment with it. What she wanted to do was more overtly-aggressive, but she held her tongue. She was in the wrong, regardless of the reasoning behind it, and she knew it – she’d known it since she made the deal with Luthor. Never mind that she’d only had two choices. Deals with the bad guys just weren’t something Kal-El could handle, ever.

They’d had moral arguments before, thrashing out the gray areas and trying to find the narrow, twisting line between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. Even as far back as their first interviews, Kal-El had scolded Lois for breaking the law in pursuit of a story. Whether picking the locks on a senator’s secret apartment to find evidence of his double-dealing, or disguising herself as a valet to gain access to a district attorney’s car, Lois was willing to use foul means to a fair end. She never tried to say her actions were right; with a friend in the police force, she was well aware of her wrongdoing. But the ultimate outcome was right enough to justify the means.

He’d sat at the balcony across from her, cape flung jauntily over the chair, and demanded to know why. Why was she willing to risk her life and freedom, brave any challenge, break any law, in pursuit of a story? Kal-El was the kind of man who had to have firm boundaries, some things he simply would not do, and he couldn’t understand her willingness to not just tread the fine line between right and wrong, but to charge over it at full speed.

Trying to keep her tone gentle, Lois had asked him how he would know who to go after. Without the information she gained from breaking the rules, how would he and the police know where to look before it was too late? People in uniform – cops and heroes – had to obey a certain set of scruples, but the bad guys didn’t follow them. The villains of the world were trying to hide their guilt, not advertising it, and sometimes it couldn’t be discovered through legal channels. Or if they could be found out through ethical means, it would take time, and in that time the evildoers could cause more harm. Laws enacted by a corrupt congressman weren’t automatically repealed just because the legislator had been accepting bribes, and the families of murder victims weren’t consoled by the killer’s capture. Such criminals had to be taken down before they did any more harm than was absolutely necessary, and if that meant that someone had to break the rules and risk getting arrested – or shot at – Lois was willing to dare it. What was that compared to untold lives that hadn’t been ended or ruined, thanks to her efforts?

“Besides,” she had said as she looked him in the eye, unaware of the irony, “one day it might be my family at risk. My mother, my sister. And if it is, you can bet your ass I’ll do anything to save them.” The profanity, which she rarely used in front of him in those days, had startled them both into laughter, but the sentiment had rung true.

And still did. What Kal-El had never really comprehended was that Lois would do whatever it took to secure the continued survival of her family, a family she’d never dreamed possible all of those years ago when he landed on her balcony for the first time. She hadn’t known how far she was willing to go until they had almost been taken from her once before. Lie, cheat, steal, even kill – Kal-El still didn’t know that she’d attempted to kill Luthor aboard the yacht, tried to murder him in cold blood while he stood with his back to her, unarmed, wearing a bathrobe and brushing his teeth.

And she knew it would only make matters worse for him to know that she wouldn’t have felt the slightest trace of guilt if she had accomplished it, either. It was a cold-blooded thing to say, and she wondered if she’d truly have that goal questioned on this quest, but it felt like honest truth. Especially when her mind remembered the way Kala, just a little kid back then, had looked over to catch her eye when Luthor was forcing her into the plane. The fear and pain in her gaze, crying out for Mommy to save her and Jason. If she had just done it then, none of this would have happened. And now, because she hadn’t been watching, the bastard had her daughter again.

No, this time was going to pay for all, no matter what it cost her. He wasn’t going to do this to them again. She wasn’t going to chase the ghosts of their past forever.

…

Sebast stared into the bathroom mirror, contemplating his reflection: a handsome face with haunted eyes. His life just wasn’t the same without Kala. They talked every day; hell, he saw her more often than he’d seen some of the guys he dated. And not being able to pick up the phone and just call her … Sebast felt cut adrift. How could he have been so stupid as to say something like that to her? He couldn’t help feeling personally responsible for Kala running away.

If only he hadn’t believed Giselle … and as it turned out, Giselle had been setting them all up from the beginning. I shouldn’t have listened to her, he thought. I should’ve known she was a liar. Never mind that the adults had all been fooled; like all teenagers, Sebast figured he was a little more in-touch with things than the rest of the world.

Kala was his best friend, his partner in crime, his platonic soul mate. She was also the girl that his parents kept hoping would ‘straighten him out’, but Sebast trusted her not to try something that insulting. He had reason to trust her, after all.

His hopeful parents had allowed her to spend the night, in the spare bedroom, and her parents hadn’t objected – he was allowed to sleep over at her house, too. In the Lane-Kents’ apartment, Sebast normally slept on the couch, but he spent plenty of time ensconced in her room, listening to music or watching old movies while the two of them sprawled companionably on her bed.

Once, they’d fallen asleep like that, after hours of studying followed by a vain attempt at a Godzilla movie marathon. Somewhere in the middle of Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, they had both lost the battle with boredom. Sebast woke up hours later to find himself snuggled up with Kala, her head on his shoulder, her leg wrapped around his knee. Somehow in their sleep, they were even holding hands. Bemused, Sebast had chuckled, “I fell asleep during a monster movie and woke up in a freakin’ rom-com. What the hell, mi Kala?”

Her eyeliner slightly blurry with sleep, she had given a soft snort of amusement before scoffing to him. “Well, good morning to you, too. I think we both know that most guys would kill to be in your position.”

“Hey, plenty of guys would kill to be in your position, too,” Sebast had informed her just as saucily, and they had both broken up laughing. There was no one else he could have been as comfortable waking up with. Kala loved him for who he was, had no designs on him and no ulterior motive, and he loved her for it.

And now he’d betrayed her.

Sebast rubbed his face briskly, trying to ignoring the stinging of his eyes. Helping Jason sneak onto the plane was the only way he could think of to try to atone for his mistake. The boy made a convincing argument, and hopefully his parents wouldn’t kill him for stowing away.

The plan, which they’d refined since arriving at the Troupe house, called for Nick to pick up Sebast and Elise at nine. Sebast would get out of the car and sneak back into the house, where he would climb in Jason’s bed. Jason would go out and hide in the plane. Sebast was the same size and hair color, so even if Lucy checked on him during the night, she would assume that he was Jason. Richard and Lana were leaving very early in the morning, so Jason would be saying his goodbyes tonight.

It was the best plan they could come up with on short notice, and Sebast hoped it would work. But there was one thing he could do to make the ruse a little more believable…

…

Well, that had been awkward. Kala lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Finding out that her father had been the one to crush Zod’s hand – “He meant to instruct me fully in my newfound vulnerability,” the General had told her dryly – had slightly shaken her image of him. After all, Superman was the hero who took scrupulous care not to harm his enemies unnecessarily. Only against a robot or some kind of monster, something nonliving or at least non-sentient, did he unleash his full strength. And here was evidence that he’d intentionally caused harm.

Kala wasn’t a fool; Zod might have been lying to her in an attempt to gain her sympathy and tarnish her father’s image. But he had spoken of the incident distantly and quickly changed the subject, insisting that Kala get something to eat and take a break from their lessons. She had taken the opportunity to leave with some of her dignity intact, and had grabbed food to go from the cafeteria.

Apparently, the word had gotten out that Kala was not to be messed with. She got plenty of nasty looks, but no one spoke to her, and none of the thugs even tried to lay a hand on her. That was fine by Kala; she met their glares with an icy, superior stare, reminding herself that she was fast enough to kick five of their asses before the first guy could land a blow.

She had eaten in her room and put the tray outside her door; let one of Luthor’s lackeys clean up. With her meal settling – she’d barely tasted the food – Kala contemplated what Zod had told her. She felt slightly ashamed that she could have imagined her mother trading her to Luthor. No matter how bad things were between them, Lois loved both her children, and she’d fight to the death before handing either one of them over to someone like Luthor. It was just like Luthor to try and make her think that, though.

It was kind of odd to be comforted by Zod. He didn’t seem to have much to gain by trying to repair her relationship with her mother, besides attempting to ingratiate himself to Kala. And he couldn’t have known Lois very well. Neither parent was willing to talk about it in depth to the kids, but Kala knew that the Kryptonian villains had captured Lois and used her as bait, threatening her life to make Kal-El acquiesce to their demands.

Maybe that had been the reason for the unaccustomed violence. Lois had always glossed over the story, but Kala had the feeling that she’d been in much more danger than even the printed articles alluded to. Had they actually hurt her, instead of just threatening? And what exactly had been threatened? Dad breaking Zod’s hand was wrong, but Zod threatening Lois was wrong first. Besides, Mom was pregnant, but no one had known it at the time.

Kala shook her head; it was a deeper puzzle than she thought she could solve. All of it had happened when she was still just a couple of cells, and she wasn’t naïve enough to imagine she could get a fair and balanced report of what had happened from Zod. She had to base her opinions and actions on what was happening now.

After all, Zod might have changed. He’d been in prison for sixteen years…

Kala tried to imagine that. While she lived her life, learned to walk and talk, lost her baby teeth and fell off her bike, had her first kiss and her first breakup, went from an infant to a child to a teenager, all that time Zod had been in jail. Everyone he knew was dead, or as good as dead – Non was in a special facility somewhere, pumped full of happy drugs, and Ursa had been killed trying to escape prison. Zod alone remained, and when he finally got out, he had found himself in another kind of prison, with Luthor as his jailer.

That sucked.

But what else could have happened? The kinds of crimes he’d committed weren’t things that could easily be rehabilitated. Robbing a convenience store or vandalizing someone’s car was one thing. Genocide and hostile takeover of an entire country – on his way to taking over the whole planet – was something else entirely. Even now, could she really say that Zod had changed?

He seemed like a different man than the one she’d seen in clips from old television shows, a lot more urbane and respectful than the maniac demanding obeisance. Then again, she had Luthor and his prison scum to compare him to, and just about anyone would look good next to them.

Still, as near as Kala could tell, Zod had been completely honest with her. And what he said he wanted was not only very plausible, but it jibed with what she needed: escape from Luthor. For that, she’d be more than willing to put in a good word with her father. Kal-El had had sixteen years to cool off, maybe he could judge whether or not Zod had truly reformed.

And if he hadn’t, he’d go back to prison. She only needed to suggest leniency to her father, and her word alone wouldn’t guarantee Zod’s freedom, not even if he helped get her out of Luthor’s clutches. She could discharge her obligation without double-crossing Zod or worrying about the fate of the world…

Kala sighed heavily. This was too much for her to worry about and too far in the future. Only the present mattered; she could figure out what to do after they’d escaped once she had actually gotten free. For now, she had to keep a watchful eye on Zod. He was her best chance as an ally, but she knew she couldn’t trust him.

…

One of The Halloween Pics Starring Me and the always fabulous glitter_my_glam

2009-11-14T19:09:35Z

Still haven't gotten the SV!Lana pics off Anissa's camera, but this was taken at Lush the next day. It's me and Alley! *snugs her*

Okay, so the chapter is running late after a mishap involving Yahoo and the fact that their attacher doesn't always attach. *makes face* Expect it later this afternoon, I hope. Alley, do not kill yourself getting home. *loves*

Too High On Canon To Do A Whole Post, But.... (SV 9x08: Idol)

2009-11-14T06:48:19Z

The opening with canon Clois, reminding me just a bit the famous pics from For Tomorrow.
Clark calling Lois on running away after the kiss and Lois blushing beet-red and totally not ready to deal.
Jayna and Zan and the Gleek phones, complete with the monkey sound-effect. I was dying!
Undercover Lois and the 'interview'. XD
All of the footage at the shrink's office.
Canon indecision between Clark and the Blur.
The Holding Out for a Hero ring-tone.So glad they kept it.
The fact that I actually LIKED the Twins. They did a great job of making them believable in my opinion. I wouldn't mind seeing more of them. IF Jayna gives Kala back her clothes. XD
The Blur finally calling Lois and Lois giving him what-for. Now THAT'S Mad Dog!
Annnd the voice-changing device dying on the last few words of the phone call. "Clark?" *SCREAMS*
Lois agonizing over knowing the Secret and not knowing what to do about it.
Lois' impassioned speech at the press conference. And the way Clark reacted to it.
Getting excited after it when we see the red rose and the note.
Even more excitement when she gets to the roof, sees the sleazy DA, and goes hard-core canon Lois on the bastard.
Canon moment of being thrown over the side of a building by a villain.
Followed by another canon homage in that Clark is on the street when he sees Lois dangling from around the rooftop.
Clark climbing down to rescue her and Lois telling him to let her go when she slips. Willing to be selfless to keep him safe.
Clark's expression throughout the scene.
Hated that she wasn't allowed go on believing that he was the Blur without interference, but it was to be expected. I also don't know that she's totally blown it off for good. Only time will tell.
The visit to the Twins was so great and I love that he's shown them his face and that he's a fairly normal guy. *snugs him*
Loved the mug. Too damn funny. I don't get why the mug with primary colors when he's not wearing them yet, but I'll live.
THE GLASSES! THEY SHOWED THE GLASSES! OMFG!
OMFG! THEY PUT ERICA IN THE STM 'INTERVIEW SCENE' HAIRDO FOR THE FINAL SCENE!!! Wait until after she tries on the glasses and they show her in profile. *SCREAMS* It's just like that moment in 'Metallo' when she looks up. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the outfit Lois is wearing look an awful lot like the one in this image?

I can't even go into the kiss right now. I'll go on for hours if I do.

Oh, show! PLEASE don't change! We've all waited so long!

SV Ratings Continue To Rise?

2009-11-11T19:17:47Z

Suck it, haters. I think Smallville will be just fine without you. ;)

And has anyone seen this yet? This is going to the year that canon rules the world, you guys!

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has revealed that The CW has decided to air the upcoming Justice Society 2-parter as a two hour movie special on Friday, January 29, 2010.

Sadly, that's still a Friday, but the "movie" aspect of it all should get the show some huge promotion.

Ausiello also promises another, bigger scoop later today so stay tuned....

Also: Researching 'Action'? THE CAPE! THE FREAKING CAPE! *screams*

ETA: PANDORA CLIP! PANDORA CLIP! *breathes into a paperbag*

Let's hear it for the power of good story-telling and the Clois!

Spoiler Day!

2009-11-09T17:47:18Z

<- To the left, my darlings! Getting a little time with the kids as we prepare for take-off. And it seems Ms. Thorne has a plan...

Uh-Huh...

2009-11-09T16:52:28Z

Okay, soooo. My bandwidth was over for five days? How...random. So yeah, my pics and gifs and mood theme are back. Sounds good to me. Saves me $25 this month that I can spend on Christmas presents. YAY ME!

In other randomness, the final baking tally for the weekend is at:

2 batches of Candy Corn cookies (which turned out delicious, but I need to add less butter to the mix next time)
1 batch of Ghiradelli brownies (too thin with just one box, but too fabulous for words)
1 batch Peppermint Chocolate Chip scones
1 batch Sherry-Spiked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies
1 batch Candy Corn Brownies (these are what I baked Mom for her birthday)
1 batch Chocolate Fudge Tarts
1 batch normal brownies
1 batch Pumpkin Spice cookies

I think that's all of it. And, yes, some of it is going to work with me tomorrow. No way I want all of it in the house. Sooo dieting in the new year. Salads until summer.

As One H/Hr to Another, I Could Seriously Kick Your Ass...

2009-11-08T22:11:48Z

Okay, anyone who knows me on here knows I'm an H/Hr girl. Nothing really against Ron and Ginny, but I really didn't love the DH epilogue. This isn't to say that the H/G and R/Hr shippers don't have a right to their pairings, but I just didn't find the ending realistic. That, again, is just me. It was written to give readers the ultimate happy ending.

My version that lives in my head goes differently. But that's it. It's fanfic. JK's world is JK's world. I just play in it.

So, again, H/Hr shipper. Not batshit, doesn't play in the Harmony sandbox on the 'net, but loves her ship like WOAH and DAYUM.

Now, that said, if I ever find this person, I'll string them up. Seriously. And this is why I don't play in the HP fandom. JUST...*pauses, then beats their ass* chickadilly, thanks for pointing out a fine example of what I'll never be. They just give us a bad name. JUST. SICK.

Fighting My Way Back To You

2009-11-08T21:35:00Z

After the Immune System Lockdown that was last week, I'm finally up and around and trying to get caught up on things. Still tired, still achy, but I don't feel like a zombie anymore. Which is good. I also found out I have tomorrow off, which gives me one more day to recoop. Guess who's spending a little more personal time with her pillow? Although I need to find out what going on with rizny. Haven't heard from her all week.

What else is good? After Anissa finished dinner last night, I started the first baking of the Fall season: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Scones and Ghiradelli Brownies with Walnuts. This afternoon it's been Sherry-Spiked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Pumpkin Spice cookies (the last with cinnamon icing). I have to bake another batch of brownies to go with Momma's birthday package (her birthday's Wednesday, but I have to work) and this is going to be my first year making Candy Corn cookies. No, not just sugar cookies with candy corn on top! Doctored sugar cookie batter with Hershey's Candy Corn Kisses melted in. I'm praying that they're a hit. I only have one bag left and I'm sacrificing a portion to the first try. *crosses fingers*

Also, after discussion with the betas and ourselves, Anissa and I have decided to put Heirs on an official twice-a-month schedule. That way it makes life easier for our betas (one in college with a heavy workload and one with multiple stories she's writing as well as betaing for) and for us (since it occasionally gives us an extra week). Also, readers will know exactly when to look for it the chapter. There will still be spoilers and everything else, but this makes things a little more stream-lined and will give us some breathing room.

*glares at PB* I ended up having to spend the money to upgrade on my Mom's birthday, so I'm trying to decide what to do able the bandwidth. I do know that it's making me crazy looking at these signs. Really crazy. I've got to find a way to get that money. It's making my LJ look ugly and I can't stand that. *kicks PB again*

Have to go check on the cookies, but one more thing before I go: having seen the Idol promos, raise your hands if you think Jayna has been raiding Kala's closet? And the pic with her wearing the 'Blur' uniform top? PRICELESS! Although Kala's pouting. *LOL*

Stupid Freaking Immune System! kicks it

2009-11-06T02:26:39Z

When It Rains, It Pours...

2009-11-03T17:57:23Z

First, I get sick on the far end of Halloween, ruining the rest of the day (glitter_my_glam, totally not your fault! I was getting sick on Thursday, anyway). I sleep something like 13 hours after coming home, despite serious body aches.

Then, I get to the point on Sunday that I'm so sick, it's totally like Zombie!Lois 24/7. I get sent home from work with orders to get better. I promptly sleep about 16 more between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

Feeling lousy enough of Monday that my Ops manager (who had this last week) doesn't even give me a hard time when I call out. Back to bed for another twelve or so hours.

Which brings me to this morning. Still feeling pretty lousy, the body aches and the lack of coherency being the worst of it, but I'm going to try to work the shift since it's only a five-hour one and I'm off tomorrow. I'm trying to get myself going for work, trying to check my email and all so you guys don't think that I'm dead. Then I see it.

Bandwidth exceeded.

WTF?!

Since when?

I've never gotten that notice before. And I'm not really using the account for that many things!

*sigh* I'll pay the upgrade on Friday, I guess. The ugly little signs will have to stay for the moment.

On My Way Out The Door...

2009-10-31T12:14:54Z

...with 0 hours of sleep, I want to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

Halloween Comments

Heirs to the House of El: Distant Storms Rising (Chapter Twenty-Eight)

2009-10-31T08:51:36Z

Luthor watched the surveillance screen, scowling. The girl was up to something, but he couldn’t tell exactly what her game was. She’d seemed sincere in her efforts to convince the hologram, but Luthor could hear the difference between the way the girl spoke Kryptonese and the way Jor-El and Zod sounded. It would take lots of practice for Kala to sound like a true Kryptonian. And Luthor didn’t have that kind of time.

What he did have was Zod. Perhaps the general hadn’t been quite honest with his old enemy; it was possible that he’d been holding out. If the hologram would speak to anyone who approached, how could it tell if Zod wasn’t one of its heirs? Perhaps a little competition would inspire the Kryptonian to his best effort. After all, if it looked like Kala might unlock the information, Zod would become superfluous – and since he hadn’t even tried to ally himself with Luthor, Zod knew what his fate would be.

Right now, Zod and Kala seemed to be circling each other, each uncomfortable in the other’s presence. That was to be expected; they both knew the significance of the other. Her conception had been his destruction, and his brief reign had ultimately led to her father’s absence. Luthor chuckled. The general was too arrogant, too cold-bloodedly aloof, to cultivate an alliance with Kala, and the girl was too temperamental, too young and hot-headed, to think about such things. The possibility of them uniting against him was remote, but even so, Luthor already had plans to address the issue.

Regardless, he had to keep the pressure on. Kal-El would be coming, and though Luthor had hidden his tracks well, even the most obscure trail would eventually be unraveled. It was simply a matter of time, and he had to be ready to spring the trap when the alien did arrive. Hopefully all of his efforts had borne fruit, and the family was now in disarray, mistrusting each other. It would make them much less effective and easier to pick off one by one.

Leaning back in his chair, Luthor pondered the many strategies open to him. One item in particular loomed large in his calculations: the kryptonite gun he’d fashioned, which was locked in a lead vault just outside this office, along with some other samples of kryptonite. It was the ultimate answer to so many problems: Zod’s recalcitrance, Kal-El’s discovery of the facility, Kala’s defiance. If the thing hadn’t leaked radiation at levels Stanford said were unsafe for humans, Luthor would have carried it at his side all the time.

But even if he couldn’t keep the lethal kryptonite gun close to hand, Luthor was never unarmed. In the desk drawer beside him was a .357 magnum Ladysmith revolver, the five-shot model with a rosewood grip. A woman’s gun, his security staff would have scoffed, but Luthor knew it was designed for maximum man-stopping power. The hollow-point bullets in its cylinder would not blow through their target, instead intended to lodge deep in the central body mass and deliver all of their force to internal organs. A gun meant not to threaten, not to impress, but to kill.

Luthor smiled. He would have expected no less from the weapon he’d taken from Lois Lane.

…

Kala’s head was swimming in history. She’d learned more in the past hour – or was it two? – than she had in a year’s worth of lessons with Jor-El. Not just the events, but a little background on the principal people involved in them, as well as detailed descriptions of the locations where they’d taken place. Zod had a gifted memory, at least for things that interested him, and history certainly interested him.

Jor-El usually wanted her to memorize a list of historical facts, and he would discuss the broad political and cultural importance of some of them. Zod could spin out at least five ramifications of each event, and track the trends in society that had led to each. That was exactly the kind of in-depth information Kala craved.

Along the way Zod would occasionally correct her pronunciation, or suggest a more elegant way of phrasing something, but she’d forgotten about language. This was simply too fascinating for anything else to hold her attention. And Kala hadn’t even gotten through half of the things she wanted to ask; she kept getting sidetracked by some new detail, some seemingly unrelated circumstance that Zod would patiently explain to her.

Zod paused for a sip of water, something he’d been doing frequently, and Kala leaned her head back to ease her stiff neck. She looked slowly from one side to the other, trying to ease her tense muscles, and caught a glimpse of the clock. Which seemed to be wrong – it couldn’t be that late, could it?

Seeing the direction of her gaze, Zod said, “Perhaps we should pause briefly.”

“It’s really that far into the afternoon?” Kala asked.

“Yes. The perception of time is relative, and you have been preoccupied.”

A fancy way of saying ‘time flies’, but accurate. Kala looked back at the clock, and was struck by a sudden wave of homesickness. If she’d been at home, right about now she and Jason would be browsing the fridge, accustomed to snacks after school. Likely as not, they would have been pushing each other, calling names, and generally behaving like a couple of heathens as they squabbled over who got the hummus or the leftover curry. She longed for that little slice of normalcy so much that tears stung her eyes, and she got up hurriedly, trying to hide her sudden weakness from Zod.

He remained seated, and she could feel the weight of his silent regard as she struggled to regain her composure. Kala couldn’t help sniffling a little, arms crossed and hands gripping her own shoulders as if to keep herself from flying apart with the yearning to simply go home…

“You miss your home,” Zod observed quietly. “It is a feeling with which I have considerable acquaintance.”

Kala turned to look at him, wondering how it would feel to know your home was gone, destroyed, and the fragments that were left had turned lethal to you. To truly never be able to go home again, to have to live out the remaining years of your life on an alien world whose inhabitants feared and despised you. And then to have some adolescent half-breed pick through your recollections with all the excitement of an archaeologist, never even recognizing her own callow disregard for the fact that these were your memories of a world that no longer existed. His expression was hard to read, that typically Kryptonian air of cultivated detachment, but she thought she saw the echo of loss in his eyes.

“If you will accept advice…?” He trailed off, and Kala nodded, not trusting her voice. “I have found that, at times, the memory of Krypton gives me strength and courage and comfort. At those times I cherish it, and I am grateful for the clarity of my recollections. Often, though, to think so much on what is lost beyond any hope of recapture brings only despair.”

Another long pause and Kala realized that this was probably one of the latter times. Betrayed and imprisoned by Luthor, reliving the glory of Krypton had to be bittersweet at best. She began to feel guilty for her curiosity, and grateful that Zod had been so patient with her. He continued, “At such times, when memories bring me only pain, it serves no purpose to hold them close. If it wounds you so deeply to think of home, here where you cannot afford to seem vulnerable to Luthor, then I advise you to do as I have done for so many years, and put these reminiscences aside for the present time. If I have learned nothing else from so many years of imprisonment, it is that such memories do not dull with age, becoming clearer the more distant they are. Should you need them, they will always be there, just as I can still clearly recall the sight of Great Rao rising over the Sea of Banzt.”

Kala considered it seriously. Right now, it only hurt to think of Jason laughing tossing a pomegranate at her, his hair falling into his eyes, and maybe Dad sighing in defeat from the living room. Or maybe Mom getting fed up with them both and chasing them out of the kitchen, scolding in mock fury that left the teens snickering helplessly…

The thought of Mom was another blow to Kala’s fragile psyche, bringing back the memory of Luthor’s laughter. Lois had made a deal with him, and for an instant Kala had suspected that maybe the deal was trading her for Jason. After all, the spy in their house had been Giselle, so the logical target was Jason. But at the last minute, Mommy’s favorite had been spared, and Kala found herself trapped here instead.

For most of her sixteen years, Kala had never doubted her mother’s love. Lois was fiercely protective of both of her children, and it had always been plain that she adored them. Only in the last year or two had things begun to sour between mother and daughter. The arguments had grown more frequent and more vicious, escalating from simply trading snide remarks to outright yelling matches. For every sweet moment between them in the last year, there seemed to be two or more uncomfortable ones. And though Kala knew in her heart that she hadn’t exactly been helping things go smoothly, she couldn’t believe it was all her fault. She wasn’t that bad, was she?

Meanwhile, Jason never seemed to put a foot wrong. Even when they were little, he rarely got yelled at. When both twins got into mischief, Kala was usually the one blamed. Jason had perfected an angelic, wounded look that convinced most adults he was utterly innocent, when in fact he’d been just as much of a rascal as Kala was. He had never taunted Kala about getting away with things, and had always tried to make whatever punishment she had to endure more bearable, so she’d never really blamed him for always getting her in trouble. When it counted, Jason was always by her side – until recently. When she and Mom fought, Jason kept trying to intervene, and more and more often he took Mom’s side. That only widened the rift between Lois and Kala, while strengthening the already close bond between mother and son.

If forced to choose which of her children to surrender – and Luthor was damn good at making people choose between two things they didn’t want to do, Kala knew from experience – wouldn’t Mom choose Jason? Kala knew she’d made some kind of choice, and Jason sure wasn’t the one stuck here.

Kala had turned away again, not wanting Zod to see her expression while such painful thoughts burned in her mind. But he read the set of her shoulders accurately. “What troubles you, daughter of the House of El?”

“Nothing,” Kala whispered, and then gave a bitter little chuckle before continuing in English. “I don’t know. I think… I shouldn’t believe Luthor, but … it’s hard not to.”

She heard Zod rise from his seat and approach, but he stopped a few feet behind her. “Luthor is false, and has always been so. Even when he speaks the truth, he shades it to his own advantage. Trust nothing he has told you unless you confirm it yourself.”

“I know, but it makes a sick kind of sense,” Kala said, arguing half-heartedly.

“What poison has he spoken?” Zod asked.

“Well, he said…” Kala broke off, recognizing the absurdity of her situation. Zod was not her friend; her ally, maybe, out of desperation on both their parts, but not someone she could trust so easily. Still, who else could she talk to? Schecter, who seemed nice but willingly worked for Luthor? Some random scientist she’d never met before, who for all she knew might be in charge of determining the fatal dose of kryptonite to a Kryptonian hybrid? One of the security guys, who would probably beat her up and rape her given half a chance? “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

Zod heard her scoffing tone and waited without comment. He had to know he was the only person in the compound who’d shown himself to be even slightly trustworthy, and Kala literally had no one else to confide in.

She sighed, figuring that at worst he could confirm her dark suspicions. “Luthor called my father – he wanted to taunt him, frighten him. I wouldn’t beg for rescue. Instead I told Daddy to stay away, that I was fine, that Luthor was trying to force him to walk into a trap.”

“Courageous of you, and most wise,” Zod said. “Few can think so clearly in such circumstances.”

“Yeah, well, then Luthor told my dad that Mom made a deal with him. He never said what the deal was, but he winked at me when he said it.” Kala’s throat seemed to close, choked with tears, and she lifted a hand to rub at her eyes. “I don’t know, but … what if the deal was Luthor took me instead of Jase?”

Zod was silent again, considering, and he took a few more steps to stand at Kala’s shoulder. She found his proximity more comforting than disturbing; Zod was a true Kryptonian, with all of their social taboos about touch, and she was safe with him in a way she wouldn’t be safe around any other man in the compound. Perhaps by approaching, he was trying to offer the same sort of sympathy that a human would express with a hug.

“I do not think your mother would have traded you to Luthor,” he said slowly. “I did not know her well, but she did not strike me as the sort of woman who compromises easily. It would be more in her character to offer herself to Luthor, rather than endanger her children.”

Kala exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing a little. That did sound like something Mom would do. But doubt lingered. “Jason’s girlfriend and her mom were Luthor’s spies. It sure looked like he was going after Jason, but switched to me at the last minute. What would make Luthor change targets?”

From beside her, Zod asked, “How were you captured?”

She shuddered all over, remembering the stench of the cloth pressed to her face, the world going black. “I … I was in the subway, and they came up behind me. Someone half-smothered me with something, ether or chloroform, and knocked me out. The next thing I knew I was being carried in here.”

“Was the subway part of your normal route, or were you doing something unusual?”

Laughing bitterly, Kala replied, “Well, considering that I’d just run away from home for a dumbass reason, it was pretty unusual.”

He nodded. “And these spies, did they know of it?”

“Probably,” Kala mused. “Jason probably told Giselle as soon as he knew. Actually, Giselle was at the party the night before – she probably knew I was gonna be grounded.” She gasped as realization struck. “Holy shit, Giselle was probably the one spreading the rumors about me! She’s the only one who could’ve known… That bitch probably manipulated me into running away!”

“By ‘ran away’, you mean you left your house without your parents’ knowledge or permission.” When Kala nodded agreement, Zod elaborated, “So these spies had knowledge of your starting location, and may have known what route you would take as you left home. Your mother, on the other hand, could not have known those things. Therefore, your mother could not have given Luthor the information that led to your capture. It seems you were a target of opportunity; they planned to take your brother, but they had too perfect a chance to pass up.”

Kala took a deep, shuddering breath. She hadn’t realized until the weight rolled off her heart just how much she dreaded the possibility that her mother had given her away. Trembling, she fought to hold back tears of relief.

Perhaps Zod misunderstood her reaction. “Your mother did not abandon you to Luthor,” he reassured, and placed his hand lightly on her left shoulder.

With a half-choked sob, Kala let the tears flow. It was bad luck that had landed her here, not a deliberate choice of her mother’s, and whatever deal Luthor was talking about had to be something else entirely. Of course, it would amuse the bald bastard to let Kala think she’d been given away, and her hatred for him flared even brighter.

Anyone else would have embraced her, but Kryptonians didn’t do such things. Zod left his hand on her shoulder while she struggled to regain her composure, a gesture of support that spoke louder than any words. Kala turned her head to look at him, trying to find the words to thank him without sounding too personal or too indebted. She glanced down, biting her lip as she searched for the words.

That was when she noticed his hand was slightly crooked, the fingers stiff. Caught off guard, Kala spoke without considering the implications. “Oh, ouch! What happened to your hand?”

Zod lifted it to the light, and Kala could see that his hand had been badly mangled at some point in the past. Just as she was blushing with embarrassment at her thoughtless question, Zod answered wryly, “Your father.”

Heirs to the House of El: Distant Storms Rising (Chapter Twenty-Eight)

2009-10-31T08:46:43Z

Happy Halloween, all! Wanted to get this up before we needed to get a couple hours sleep before heading to Orlando. Here's hoping that this week's chapter is considered more treat than trick!

Much to her own surprise, Kala didn’t have to fake her frustration and disappointment. Because the crystals Luthor had used to create it were missing a few tiny pieces – the ones that had been used in research, and to create New Krypton – this version of Jor-El created lacked certain features of the fully-functional AI in the Fortress. One of which was apparently the ability to understand a human accent. And that was her problem; she’d quickly stopped trying to purposefully deceive the projected image, trying to enunciate clearly in Kryptonese, but all she kept getting was a reminder to work further on the intricacies of her native tongue.

Damn annoying, actually, considering she’d always prided herself on speaking the language better than Jason. Daddy was more fluent, but he’d had many more years of conversing in Kryptonese in which to practice. It stung her to realize she wasn’t as proficient as she’d thought, even though that was exactly the impression she’d been trying to give.

“Is there a problem, Miss Lane-Kent?” Luthor growled, as one of his technicians reset the crystals.

One good thing about this outcome: she also didn’t have to fake her annoyance and anger. Rolling her eyes toward him, Kala snapped back, “I don’t know. Why don’t you try coaxing him into giving you the weapons information? Oh wait – you can’t, or you wouldn’t need me. It has to be an heir to the House of El.”

He stiffened slightly, staring at her, and Kala crossed her arms with a confidence she didn’t feel. “Apparently the version of Grandpa Giant Floating Head that I know and loathe is a little more adaptable than your half-baked version. He can allow for human mistakes and mispronunciations.”

“Those mistakes wouldn’t be deliberate, would they?” The madman’s voice could be soft and coaxing when he wanted it to be, but Kala knew there was more danger in that honeyed tone than in the snarl a moment ago.

“How stupid do you think I am? I want out of here, the sooner the better, and if I don’t try to help you, you’ll kill me.” It hurt to state that so baldly, but Kala had a lifetime of brazening out confrontations to draw upon. “There’s no contractions and no slang in Kryptonese, Luthor. It’s a highly formal language. And the cadences weren’t meant for a human larynx to reproduce. I’m better than you’ll ever be, thanks to Dad, but I still sound a little too human.” She paused, for effect, and added in a low mutter, “It’s not like I get too many chances to practice Kryptonese, you know. I am in high school, I’ve got tests and homework…”

The reminder of her mundane life was suddenly painful, her throat closing on the memory of slogging through endless algebra equations with Elise brilliant and sharp-edged as a diamond. Had she really hated those times, been bored out of her mind by repetitive problems? It felt like paradise just now.

“Well, aren’t you lucky,” Luthor snarled poisonously. “We just so happen to have a native speaker of Kryptonese on hand to tutor you. But I expect to see some progress, fast. Or else…”

Kala flipped him the bird as she stalked out. She could insult Luthor as long as he needed her for this, and if she got too cooperative he would suspect deceit. This sort of stereotypical adolescent disrespect should convince him that she was doing what he asked, just protesting as much as any teenager would.

Once out of the room, and unnoticed by security, Kala looked down and gripped her elbows tightly, suppressing a shudder. Luthor’s goons scared her, his white-coated scientists creeped her out, and the man himself terrified her. Having to attempt to pry the information he wanted out of a damaged version of her grandfather while under their eyes was awful.

And what she was walking toward was, perhaps, no better. Zod at least had not threatened her, but Kala remained wary of him. He was Zod, after all. And now, thanks to her accent, she was going to be spending more time around him. Luthor wouldn’t accept ‘he’s a creepy bastard who tried to enslave my dad and kill my mom’ as an excuse for lack of progress. “Great,” Kala sighed to herself.

She didn’t want to linger out in the corridors, with security guys and technicians eyeing her. It seemed that Luthor had a sizable presence; she hadn’t explored a tenth of the compound, and couldn’t begin to guess how many people were down here, but both figures looked depressingly high. Or perhaps not so depressing – it was really hard to hide the presence of a lot of people, so maybe it would help Dad find her sooner.

He had to find her. She could only play Luthor and Zod off each other for so long. And Luthor would start to get impatient quickly, especially with how vehement Dad had been on the phone. Everyone knew her time was limited, and Luthor would want results now, knowing she’d be trying to stall. Kala didn’t even want to think what kind of obstacles he could place in her father’s path…

…but she already knew about a big one. Her mother’s deal with Luthor. Kala felt ice creep over her heart at that thought, and she shivered, finding herself in the corridor between her room and Zod’s. She looked at his door apprehensively. Luthor hadn’t quite ordered her to go start language lessons right away, but if she did so, it might make her seem more willing to go along with his plans, and he might back off a little. On the other hand, if she started anticipating his orders he might decide to push her around even more; plenty of kids in school were like that, and Luthor seemed like a bully at heart to Kala. She had always stood up to bullies, always.

While she debated, the door slid open in front of her. Light spilled out, the closest thing to sunlight that could be found here, so far beneath the ground, and it felt as though Kala’s skin cried out for it. Just how long did she have, anyway, before she started losing her speed and strength to the lack of sunlight?

Still, she hesitated; Zod had not spoken, but the open door was a clear invitation. I have to choose; I can’t hold both of them at bay. And he is the lesser of two evils. For now. After a moment, Kala stepped inside, still wary.

Zod had been seated, facing the door, but he rose to acknowledge her. The door slid shut silently, leaving them facing each other. When the silence spun out, Kala unsure of what to say, Zod finally spoke. “Good day, Kala Kal-El.”

Kala spent a moment trying to figure out what she should say to him, and finally settled on a fairly innocuous question. “Do I really have an accent?”

“Slight,” Zod told her in Kryptonese, pulling out a chair for her. “I assume that Luthor insisted you attempt to gain access to the encrypted information?”

“Yes,” Kala said, taking the seat cautiously. She remembered what he’d told her yesterday about Luthor listening in, and fell easily into the language’s cadences after having spoken it all morning. “At first I intentionally held back, but even when I tried to speak correctly, the hologram told me I must continue my studies.”

Zod sat down across from her at the table where she presumed he took his meals; the entire room was so spotless as to be antiseptic, and the light pouring down reflected off the predominantly white surfaces. “Consider this,” the older Kryptonian said after a moment. “Jor-El expected his son to undertake an extensive period of tutelage, perhaps as much as a decade. During that time he would have developed more fluency in our native tongue than you have.”

“I have been taking lessons at the Fortress for ten years,” Kala informed him haughtily.

“Daily?” The question gave her pause, and Zod continued quietly. “It is one thing to learn a language to passable proficiency. It is another entirely to use that language every day, acquire its idioms and linguistic quirks, to come eventually to think in another tongue than the one with which you were raised. That is the level of fluency which the artificial intelligence demands.”

“So Luthor’s screwed,” Kala muttered in English.

Zod tilted his head. “If you mean to say that what he wants of you is virtually impossible to accomplish, particularly in a limited time frame, then yes.”

“But he doesn’t have to know that,” Kala mused. “At least, not for a while.”

“I presume Luthor sent you to me for further lessons in Kryptonese?”

“Not exactly. I came here on my own. I’d rather make my own decisions than let Luthor order me around.” It was better not to let him know she’d been fraught with indecision; Kala didn’t want Zod to know she feared him. Let him, and Luthor, see her bold and unbowed.

“Proactive.” Zod leaned back in the chair, steepling his fingers together, and considered. Kala watched him while trying not to show it, thinking know thine enemy. Besides, she could learn from him; this was supposedly Krypton’s premier strategist, and at the moment he looked every inch the general plotting his next tactic. Only this war would be fought with minds and misdirection instead of weapons and troops, and their opponent already possessed the means to destroy them both.

Yeah, Kala was definitely in over her head here, and she could use his expertise. He knew Luthor better than she did, too. If anyone had a chance of escaping Luthor’s plots, it was Zod. She had to put her hopes somewhere, and Zod was better than Luthor. But Kala reminded herself that part of the reason he could help her was that he could think like Luthor, and that should stay uppermost in her mind. He can think like Luthor because he is like Luthor: amoral, self-serving, willing to sacrifice others. Zod might be able to get me out of here, but I can’t trust him.

“We must appear to comply with Luthor’s plans, while in truth defying him,” Zod murmured. “If he thinks us docile, he will turn his attention elsewhere; that is how I acquired the light bulbs which mimic sunlight. He believes me tamed, and did not think that I might be working to increase my powers.”

The thought of Zod with more power sent a tendril of unease down Kala’s spine, even though he had already told her about the light bulbs. He was quite powerful enough to threaten her now, though he hadn’t done so. She shrugged off the disquieting thought with a reminder that he could be stronger than he seemed. “So, language lessons,” Kala said in English. “Ever taught Advanced Kryptonese?”

Zod’s saturnine features were skeptical, and Kala reminded herself he’d had little exposure to teenage sarcasm. “No. But I presume myself capable of the task. That is well, considering it has already been assigned me.” He considered for a moment further, then continued, “You already have an adequate foundation in our language. I suppose the best way to proceed is to simply use Kryptonese as much as possible.”

Kala sat up a little straighter when she switched to Kryptonese to reply, completely unconscious of the fact that she associated proper posture with proper speech. “In other words, talk. With you, since you are the only source of correct pronunciation other than the hologram itself.”

“A dire fate indeed,” Zod said, raising an eyebrow. Kala gave a wry smile; so he did have a sense of humor. Enough of one not to take offense at her not-precisely-respectful comments. That was good to know. It made him seem less like her family’s oldest nemesis and more like an actual person, someone she could understand.

“Forgive me. I am … under a great deal of stress,” Kala apologized.

Zod inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement. “As are we all. In any case, I am certain you have some unanswered questions about Krypton. All of your knowledge of your ancestral home comes filtered through the lens of one man’s observations. Perhaps I can enlighten you further.”

And that was the one thing Kala could not have been able to resist. Even before Luthor demanded that she get language lessons from Zod, she’d wanted to talk to him about Krypton, to speak with someone who had actually walked its streets, been inside its buildings. Jor-El was not usually patient with her desire to learn more; he had an agenda to teach his heirs, and nostalgia wasn’t on it. Unless the topic could be related, however indirectly, to the hero’s quest, Jor-El was unlikely to spend much time on it.

But here was Zod, who hadn’t been able to reminisce with one of his own people for over a decade. Non and Ursa had been held in separate facilities ever since their capture. He likely would have been willing to talk even if Luthor hadn’t compelled them into this situation. His perspective on Kryptonian life was probably a bit different than Jor-El’s, too, and Kala had always been taught that to see anything completely, you had to look at it from more than one point of view.

Leaning forward on the table, her hazel eyes alight with curiosity, Kala tried to decide what to ask first.

…

In a long day filled with bad news and the suspicion of worse to come, Maggie simply wanted to go home, curl up on her sofa, and drink some scotch on the rocks. Tobie, Cat, and Jamie would all be safe in the apartment with her. Very shortly, those who were heading to Smallville would be at Ron and Lucy’s place, where they’d have police protection. And the rest were doubling up, watching each other’s backs. She could relax a little, once everyone was home for the day.

Of course, Lois and Clark were headed right into trouble, but they would have Superman looking after them. You couldn’t ask for better protection than that. He’d already saved Richard’s life and hers in the past twenty-four hours. Maggie still remembered, all too clearly, how she’d felt the instant that Lois had screamed at her to get down. It wasn’t the first time she’d been fired upon, and likely wouldn’t be the last, but Maggie had discovered then that she hated snipers. Some punk with a Saturday Night Special aimed at her, she could handle; she could read body language, make a guess about whether the gunman would really shoot or not, and if he was going to fire, she could often see it before he even began to move his trigger finger. But a sniper was out there somewhere, so far away you couldn’t even see the person trying to kill you, far enough that you had no chance to negotiate or defend yourself.

Maggie gave a little shiver at the turn her thoughts had taken. She cast about for something to break her mood, and when she saw Jason walking toward her, she was at first relieved. “Hey there, Jason,” the policewoman said. “How’re you holding up?”

The boy sighed, his serious blue eyes looking into hers steadily. A lot of kids his age were nervy around cops, but Jason had an utterly clean conscience and it showed in his bearing. So very much his father’s son… “Aunt Maggie, I need a favor from you,” he said quietly.

“And what would that favor be?” Maggie’s voice had gone careful, wondering what he could want. If Jason was being quiet and relatively secretive about it, it couldn’t be something good.

“I want to see Giselle.”

He’d barely gotten the words out when Maggie retorted, “No. Absolutely not.”

Jason looked at her reproachfully, which was comical enough that Maggie let him try and talk her into it. “Aunt Maggie, she was my girlfriend for the last four months. I talked to her every day, had her visiting our apartment almost every week, and I never even guessed she was a spy for Luthor. Or that she was twenty-two. It’s … it’s a serious head trip for me, okay?”

“I imagine it must be,” Maggie replied cautiously. “So why do you want to see her again, Jason?”

“I want…” He paused, looking away for a moment, his hands balling into fists and then relaxing. “I want to see the actress with her mask off. I want to know who she really is, who I’ve been kissing all this time. I want to know if she’s actually a bad person, or just someone who got mixed up in the wrong things.”

Poor boy – poor sweet, noble boy. He would have made a great cop, if he could develop a thick skin over those sensitive feelings. “Jason, even if you were able to see her again, I can’t guarantee you’ll get answers to any of those. She has no reason to tell you the truth.”

“She has no reason to keep lying, either,” he pointed out. “Besides, if I never talk to her again, I can guarantee I won’t get answers. It’s worth a try, at least.”

He was an optimist, too, something Maggie had never claimed to be. “She might just as easily try to hurt you. She knows you well enough to know just where to stick the proverbial knife in. Jason, it’s not worth it.”

The boy shrugged. “She’s in jail, isn’t she? You wouldn’t let me see her without a glass wall between us, anyway. The only way she can hurt me is with words – and sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Jason grinned half-heartedly, as if the old rhyme were actually true.

Maggie knew better than she wanted to that it was false. Some words – ‘unfit mother’ for example – hurt worse than any broken bone she’d ever had, and left scars on the psyche that lingered far longer than scars on the skin. For further proof, she could look no further than Lois, still trying to prove her father wrong after the man had been in his grave almost twenty years. All she said to Jason, however, was, “You’re a smart enough young man to know that isn’t true.”

“I’m smart enough to know I probably won’t get what I want,” Jason countered, “but I’d be a coward not to at least try. Besides, Aunt Maggie, the city jail ought to be safe. It’s controlled-access and full of police and corrections officers, right?”

She crossed her arms and stared at him. The boy had a point, and she found herself considering the request as if it came from an adult, and not a sixteen-year-old boy. Jason had often seemed more mature than his age.

There was one good thing about the situation – he was still young enough that she could fob him off with ‘because I said so, that’s why.’ Maggie sighed. “I’ll think about it, Jason, but no promises, okay?”

“Thank you,” he said gravely, and contented himself with that answer.

…

Smallville 9x06: Crossfire (AKA: In Which SV Wins The Free Freaking World!!!)

2009-10-31T08:21:57Z

WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?1

WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT?!?!?!

WAS THAT JUST SMALLVILLE I WATCHED?!?!?

FR SRS?!?!?!?

When was the last time that SV OWNED an entire episode? I mean, seriously? Every plotline tonight made me scream my head off with the sheer force of its awesome! How long has it been since we could say that? The canon, it was mighty! And the canon being made for SV as we speak? Irresistible!

Have I mentioned yet how thrilled I am to have our snarky, sunny Ollie back? An Ollie who's determined to make a difference in the world? Other than making the fangirls squirm with glee over his lack of shirt? (Yes, I am aware that this could be his only reason for existing for some of you, but still...) And I love watching him seek out a quest to keep him focused and that's just what Mia will be. I already love the girl; a little thing with so much fight in her and a troubled past? Fun times ahead, I see. This is going to be a fun ride.

Oh, Zod. Zod, Zod, Zod. You really have no clue of the enemy you're making, do you? You thought you were so smart, crashing her presentation in front of the shareholders and then having the conceited notion that Kandorians are so high above humans? That's quite hilarious, since she took care of your little goon all by her little red-headed self. After that ending scene at the cafe, showing just how he underestimated our favorite villainess and just how much of a force to be reckoned this little human is, I have to agree with Anissa; I'm more than a little mad for her, too. I think we're going to have fun watching the Waltz of Treachery these two will be dancing the rest of the year.

Catherine, huh? It was SOOO good to see them go with a gentler Cat Grant. It really amazes me just how much this version looks and sounds like I imaged my Cat would have at this age. *LOL* Thank you, SV, for making her a LOT better than the L&C version and the comics one. I looove you! I knew she was going to beat them out for the position. Canon; sweet, sweet canon. I would love to see her again, especially if they don't wreck her personality in this version. I always felt a little sorry for what the writers did to her.

And Chloe, OMFG! CHLOE!!! Where the hell have you been? How long has it been since you acted like the character you are meant to be? Why the hell does she have to have to be Chlois when she's all too awesome just by being herself? I'm trying to remember the last time she looked like she was having as much fun as she did when she and Stuart were sparring behind firewalls! She was having a great time and this is the most brilliantly alive I've seen her since mid-season last year. Hmmm... I wonder if this guy is who the spoilers where pointing to? :D I could see it. Another plotline that may to prove to be a lot of fun.

Awww! The final closure of the Lollie hurt to watch, what with Ollie being so open with her and with all he's overcome, but I love that they seem to be playing this without the angst. I love them as friends. It makes me think of why my Lois and Richard have such a great relationship. They know each other so well and are totally capable of call each other on their bullshit. And this way, they never have to lose each other. The Lollie is dead; long live the Lollie.

Yes, I deliberately left the Clois for last. I'm not even sure if I have the language skills to tell you just how in love I am at this moment. I'll have a heart-attack if I freak out over it one more time. From the canon newscaster position from the 70s, to the barbs about the Clois' dating history, to watching poor Clark struggle with his feelings throughout the episode to the moment when Ollie and Lois discuss Lois' feelings for Clark in a way that made it clear once and for all that she's sure how she feels. And when Chloe finally told him baldface to stop thinking of everyone else for once, it did my heart SOO much good to see where he headed next.

And that kiss! Now THAT was a kiss to wait five seasons for!

Video made by shalala_go_rawr , who is totally my hero!

Literally swooned and bawled while it was happening. THIS is what we're been waiting for.

There are so many individual moments for them this time around that I'd be all night detailing them. :D Needless to say, it can only get better.</div>

Happy Halloween Eve, All!

2009-10-30T18:05:48Z

Chapter is finished and off to beta. Polished off at 6,000 words. And not what you're expecting. :D
New vidlet here. Despite the fact that it's Clois, the band totally makes me think of Jase. Considering making up playlists for both Kala and Jason soon, just because. :D
Currently plotting last-minute additions to the Halloween costume of EEEEEVIIIIIIIIL! Want pure terror? This is the nail polish I'm wearing and it's the least girly thing I'll have on. *dies* I just realized! I'm dressing as SV Lana! Complete with black hair!
Must pick up some of the Halloween limited editions at LUSH tomorrow. Ghost body wash, the Jacko bath bomb, The Great Pumpkin soap, and the Cobweb bath bomb are all on the top of my list. I hope that they're not out. :( We totally missed the fall and Halloween stuff last year.
The sheer amount of scary stuff on my DVD-R is mind-blowing. Saw Shutter the other night and, while I really enjoyed it, I would rather see someone in Japan make an actual Fatal Frame film. American remakes totally suck by comparison. Good example? Go see the difference between the American version of One Missed Call and their Chakushin ari II (I can't say for sure about their first film, Chakushin ari since I haven't seen it yet) . No question about it; when the sequel from them is better than the remake by us, you need to stop. PERIOD.

Well, I think that's it! Enjoy your All Hallows, kiddies! I'll be heading down to Orlando for the Lush party and plenty of decadence! I promise pics of the outfit later! Love you! Stay safe!

Yes, Another Vid! A Happy One, This Time!

2009-10-29T18:31:32Z

I've had the bug for this one for a while; it's absolutely on my Clois playlist and totally suits them. Short, sweet, and bouncy.

Reeveverse-Me-Clois-Heartbeat

giggles evilly

2009-10-29T04:26:26Z

Why does it give me an inordinate amount of glee to know that I'm going to scare the hell out of my co-workers on Friday by dressing like Mary Freakin' Sunshine? Complete with bows and pink? XD This is going to be SO fun.

And then I'll be back to normal on Halloween! I still have to decide my costume. YAY! XD Maybe a vampire for the fifteen time!

winces at the Leaning Tower of Backlog looming over her head

2009-10-28T18:07:59Z

Yes, I'm still alive. Fighting like hell with the Muse to get the chapter in on deadline, trying to get enough sleep to keep my inner Zombie!Lois from reappearing (I feel totally rundown this week), and I'm pushing myself forward with promises of LUSH Halloween items, SV's Crossfire, and Halloween on Saturday.

I... I will survive...

nire135, I hope the spoiler in the sidebar was enough. Any more than that would give too much away.

Captain Bonnie, Rockstar!

2009-10-27T04:47:29Z

Is it just me or has Kala's potential future stardom gone to a certain pet ferret's head?

Not sure who's playing the Cap'n here, but it was too precious not to be shared.

Hmmm. Decisions, Decisions...

2009-10-26T18:01:23Z

Can't decide if I want to vid to Pink's I Don't Believe You or David Cook's Come Back To Me. Yeah, you know I love songs with just a hint of angst. Blame it on the nature of the Clois.

Things are moving along pretty well with the chapter, as the Muse finally made up her mind as to what she wanted to do, content-wise. 2,500 words thus far. This chapter should definitely be insightful. And yes, your spoiler is to the left.

Busy week ahead, but thankfully serious Cloisness at the end of it. A perfect reward, I would say. :D

Have a good day, all! *blows kisses*

Guess Who Got Tagged For The 'Marry.Fuck.Kiss.Kill.' Meme?

2009-10-26T04:19:53Z

Okay, so I have a girlfriend that I love very much, but it's not like I'm blind. I know pretty when I see it. Note also that I write a lot of straight women. VERY straight women. *LOL* So... let's see who repmetsyrrah put on the menu.

Stop giggling. :P

Marry

Christopher Reeve

Oh, yeah, everyone just gasp in shock at once. Pleeeease! I wanted to marry this man when I was 9; who expected that to change? I mean, geez, just look at him!

Fuck

James Marsden

Oh, Jimmy Paul (yep, James Paul), you pretty pretty boy. Again, look at this guy. Is there any wonder that my Lois spent so many years with him? Can't make herself get married, but live with the boy? HELL YES! Raise your hands if you can blame her. *pauses* Yeah, that's what I thought!

Kiss

Tom Welling

A part of me winces when I place him here, seeing as how I write his Mom (well, Jason's mom, but still) in one 'verse, but I also write Elise and the Rewriting Destiny version of teenage Lois, so I don't feel so bad. A part of me could seriously marry him, but a kiss would be enough. Just too pretty for words. *loves*

Kill

Hugh Jackman

Oh, Hugh, what an impossible place to be put in! I love all of your movies, fell for you in Kate and Leopold (yes, I liked Kate and Leopold!), and adored your stage work. But... *looks up at the others and then looks pleadingly at him* Forgive me one day? Know that I do even this with love. *closes eyes* Such a shame; he's so pretty, too.

What Makes a Great Saturday?

2009-10-25T00:20:57Z

Mango juice, ube cake, and a scary movie marathon?

Does it get any better?

So Pissed From The Last Entry That I Forgot To Post This

2009-10-23T18:36:31Z

The video, it is done. Please God tell me that I did something right with it. *prays*

Reeveverse/Smallville Crossover-Me-Goodbye Again

Bitter, Bitter, Bitter...

2009-10-23T17:05:04Z

It's a truly sad day when things in the SV fandom reach this level. Seriously. If you don't like the damn show anymore, do what the rest of us do and stop watching the thing. While I realize that part of the fun seems to be raining on our parade, it's pretty damn low when you'll attempt to get fired a woman who's only wrong-doing is telling us the truth about what's coming for the Clois fans. I have news for you; trying to get her fired isn't going to change the storyline. Do us all a favor and just let it go. Thanks to duskwillow for posting the news.

pattylaurie, thanks for all the wonderful good news you've given us, but now's the time to hide for a bit. Don't let these people win.

ETA: What the hell is this fuckery? shelly505, I'm so sorry, honey.

~ Painted in Flames. All Peeling Thunder. Be the Lightning in Me.~

Heirs to the House of El: Walking In My Shoes (Chapter Twenty-Nine)

Heirs to the House of El: Walking In My Shoes (Chapter Twenty-Nine)

One of The Halloween Pics Starring Me and the always fabulous glitter_my_glam

Too High On Canon To Do A Whole Post, But.... (SV 9x08: Idol)

SV Ratings Continue To Rise?

Spoiler Day!

Uh-Huh...

As One H/Hr to Another, I Could Seriously Kick Your Ass...

Fighting My Way Back To You

Stupid Freaking Immune System! *kicks it*

When It Rains, It Pours...

On My Way Out The Door...

Heirs to the House of El: Distant Storms Rising (Chapter Twenty-Eight)

Heirs to the House of El: Distant Storms Rising (Chapter Twenty-Eight)

Smallville 9x06: Crossfire (AKA: In Which SV Wins The Free Freaking World!!!)

Happy Halloween Eve, All!

Yes, Another Vid! A Happy One, This Time!

*giggles evilly*

*winces at the Leaning Tower of Backlog looming over her head*

Captain Bonnie, Rockstar!

Hmmm. Decisions, Decisions...

Guess Who Got Tagged For The 'Marry.Fuck.Kiss.Kill.' Meme?

What Makes a Great Saturday?

So Pissed From The Last Entry That I Forgot To Post This

Bitter, Bitter, Bitter...

Stupid Freaking Immune System! kicks it

giggles evilly

winces at the Leaning Tower of Backlog looming over her head