all right, so you're nonchalant (

runpunkrun) wrote,
2004-04-06 21:18:00

Mood: productive
Music: the long winters - bride and bridle

Fic: Meanwhile, back in Metropolis...

Author: Punk
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Rating: NC-17

Summary: You are not exclusively the brawn, and he is not always the brains.

[Meanwhile, back in Metropolis...]

Feedback: Here or here. Psst: I like feedback.
Website: The Underground

Tags: fan/fiction, men of steel

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104 comments

raincitygirl

April 6 2004, 21:44:47 UTC 8 years ago

This is utterly, utterly adorable. I love everything about it.

April 9 2004, 23:44:43 UTC 8 years ago

That's just what I like to hear. Thanks for commenting!

April 6 2004, 21:53:32 UTC 8 years ago

EEEK!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

I'm very tired right now, but I saved the story to my desktop to read during breakfast tomorrow.

New Punk. *sigh*

April 9 2004, 23:47:08 UTC 8 years ago

I got your e-mail, but I haven't had time to respond yet! This is just a note to say I haven't forgotten you. *g*

April 6 2004, 21:58:13 UTC 8 years ago

Oh, yay! Dude, I just really love your writing, man. This was great.

April 7 2004, 22:48:13 UTC 8 years ago

Thanks, *and* thank you for mentioning me in your LJ, too. It's great to hear that my writing can overpower Smallville burnout. *g*

April 6 2004, 22:20:03 UTC 8 years ago

There were too many fun lines in here to quote, but these are definitely a couple of my favorites.

"This is the gayest snowglobe ever, Smallville."

Lois was great throughout this story, I loved her rapport with Clark.

"Lex asked me to move in with him," you blurt.

"Aww." She tilts her head. "And you blossom like a flower. That's adorable, Smallville."

*bounces around happily*

This story was so, so much fun to read, I was grinning and worried for all of half a minute there, then back to grinning like an idiot all over again.

Also, poor Perry. Awwwwwww.

*goes to bed with happy Clexy dreams now*

April 7 2004, 23:09:58 UTC 8 years ago

Don't tell anyone, but I added that last scene just so I could have Lois say that snowglobe line. *g* Well, I had other reasons, too -- this way I got to have Clark blurt out that he was moving in with Lex -- but mostly I wanted that snowglobe to show up.

April 6 2004, 22:50:06 UTC 8 years ago

EEEEEEEE! What a wonderful way to end the evening.

His lips do that smirky thing that never fails to make you want to smack him and then rip all his clothes off.

Ha! Yes. Understatment of the year and oh so true.

You suspect he wore extra tricky pants on purpose.

For some reason, that cracked me up. Extra tricky pants. Heee.

Lex whirls around from a bank of controls. He's wearing a white lab coat and a pair of your black glasses. What a ham.

Heeee! Your Lex is fantastically goofy. And I love the idea that all the weird stuff he pulls is to protect Clark, not really to take over the world. And they are just so sweet, but there is a still a nice twinge of angst. Oh! And I adored Lex reminscing about Clark as a teenager.

Just. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Heh.

April 7 2004, 23:27:17 UTC 8 years ago

Lex really got to be human in this fic, goofy and sulky and moody. Generally he wants to be lofty and untouchable, but because this story was, in part, about impossible archetypes, it gave him a lot of room to play around. He didn't have to be so perfect. He could wear Clark's glasses and pretend to be a mad scientist instead.

April 6 2004, 23:09:30 UTC 8 years ago

Oh, man, I was so excited to see you'd post this, and then there were even more wonderful things in it than I'd expected.

Too many, in fact, for me to think back on while I still have a pile of work to do, especially since, you know, a lot of it was in the form of complicated things like *layers* and *themes* and all, but I must tell you how much I love that Lex wages war through green food. And Clark's banging through the double doors to see if it'll psych Lex out. And Lex's book on genetic engineering.

Thanks for sharing!

April 7 2004, 23:34:24 UTC 8 years ago

I think Lex must be rubbing off on Clark (mmmmm), because Clark's got a sadistic streak here with the way he torments Perry and teases Lex. I guess he got tired of being good all the time. *g*

permetaform

April 6 2004, 23:44:35 UTC 8 years ago

love this! LOVE THIS! You balance the bunch of sweet and a touch of the angst and laced it carefully on very very delicate misery and beautifully surprising turns of humor.

"Just tell me why you need a particle accelerator," you ask reasonably, or as reasonably as anyone wearing a spandex cape and red go-go boots can. Your people had all the fashion sense of a Swedish disco.

He must be thinking the same thing. "It goes with my outfit."

You shake your head, tuck the metal coil under your arm, and fly off.

"We have reservations at nine!" Lex calls after you, shaking his fist. "Wear a tie!"

::points and giggles::

April 7 2004, 23:37:14 UTC 8 years ago

Yay! Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting. :)

virtualinsomnia

April 6 2004, 23:56:40 UTC 8 years ago

*loves on this story lots and lots*

Man, this was incredible! I think I need to go read it again.... :)

April 7 2004, 23:39:26 UTC 8 years ago

Mmm, Rosenbaum squee. Thanks!

April 7 2004, 02:00:23 UTC 8 years ago

I drum my table and say things like yay. Yay! Yay!

April 9 2004, 23:42:53 UTC 8 years ago

Hee! It's performance art as feedback!

April 7 2004, 02:12:31 UTC 8 years ago

Oh so good, yummy goodness rift free ::happy sigh::

April 7 2004, 23:42:15 UTC 8 years ago

One of these days I'm going to write a fic where there IS a rift. No, really. I will!

...as soon as I get up the nerve.

Glad you liked the fic!

April 7 2004, 04:39:22 UTC 8 years ago

This story is so great!! Loved it! (Good idea including the earth worms)

"In that case, you'll be pleased to know there's now a section of the LexCorp budget expressly dedicated to Superman related damages. Knock yourself out, Clark. I've got alien insurance." Alien insurance!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!

He knows how you feel about green food. Hee!

Very very entertaining and the make-up sex scene made me all jello inside.

April 7 2004, 23:52:37 UTC 8 years ago

You know, I had to stop and think which sex scene was the "make-up sex" one, because, really? most of the sex here was for make-up purposes. *g* These two squabbled for nearly the entire fic.

Thanks for the comment!

ratcreature

April 7 2004, 04:47:20 UTC 8 years ago

Great story, a lot fun to read. Oh, and I loved the sandworms.

April 7 2004, 23:56:44 UTC 8 years ago

Thanks! The sandworms just sort of...showed up. I think Lois was responsible for that one.

April 7 2004, 06:24:54 UTC 8 years ago

Eee!

You made me read a whole long story in second person, and like it

This was wonderfully snarky and sweet and in character. I love this version of Clark and Lex, and your Lois is a hoot.

April 8 2004, 00:13:32 UTC 8 years ago

Ha ha ha! I'm MAD with power! *ahem*

When I started writing this fic, I had no idea it was going to be this long, otherwise I might have rethought the second person, but now I can't imagine it written any other way. The trick, now, is remembering how to write in third person.

April 7 2004, 07:00:19 UTC 8 years ago

Oh, this was *fabulous*. Funny and sweet and hot *and* meaty, and I don't just mean the sandworm barbecue. *happysigh*

April 9 2004, 21:15:35 UTC 8 years ago

Thanks, Te! Glad you liked it.

April 7 2004, 07:16:47 UTC 8 years ago

Fantastic - funny and hot by turns, always entertaining.

April 9 2004, 23:47:52 UTC 8 years ago

Thank you!

April 7 2004, 07:36:52 UTC 8 years ago

Wow. This is just amazingly good. I read it all in one sitting this morning. So addictive. It has so much delightful humor in it, I was laughing out loud constantly. Thank goodness there is no one here to hear me. And the tender moments between Clark and Lex are so yummy and not at all sappy. Just the right amount of tenderness. I especially love the scene by the pool when they're cuddling. It made me feel all warm and toasty.

I wanted to go back and quote a whole bunch of my favorite lines, but there are so many! I'd be here all day. *g*

Thanks for this. I *love* your writing!

April 8 2004, 00:22:37 UTC 8 years ago

Mmm. I have to admit, that pool scene is a favorite of mine, too. Clark crawled into Lex's chair all by himself.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

April 7 2004, 08:24:16 UTC 8 years ago

You know, Punk, you are the only author whose manslash does not squick me. And a cool story, too.

j.

April 8 2004, 00:16:38 UTC 8 years ago

Hee hee. "Manslash." I'm giggling now. Thanks for reading! :)

echoskeleton

April 7 2004, 08:30:38 UTC 8 years ago

If I tried to list everything I loved about this fic, my feedback would be longer than the story. Your writing just makes me so very *happy*, that I was practically bouncing as I read it. This is just a perfect use of the second person, giving us a chance to get inside Clark's head, while never letting us forget who we were supposed to be. You have one of the absolute best Clark's out there, and your grasp of the character is strong enough to pull off this incredibly difficult perspective. Plus I loved the central conflict: Clark over-relying on Superman, even though he has difficulty infiltrating him into his 'normal' personality, as well as the way that society at large is beginning to become dependent on him. Especially how you contrasted this with his and Lex's relationship, and how these same conflicts were causing problems in their relationship. And I bet that there's a lot more, that I can't pick up on right now.

Plus, this story is *funny*. Naturally funny, too; so perfectly crafted into the story that there's not one singular 'funny' part, just a twisty sense of humor that permeates the whole story.

And your Lois is just a jewel. So many people in SV tend to write Lois the same way, and yours is both true to character (as far as I know, at least) while brining a fresh perspective into play.

The worms! That confused the hell out of me when I first began reading, but eventually it became (somewhat) clearer.

God, I really could go on like this, but I would probably keep babbling forever. Instead I'll risk exposure by printing this out in the computer lab, because this is the *best* reading for a long, boring bus trip.

April 8 2004, 13:47:30 UTC 8 years ago

Oh, yay, you nailed it! It's so satisfying to know I got my point across. Especially since it took me a while to figure out what my point even *was*. I was having the same problems as Clark: trying to figure out how to separate him from Superman, which parts were the costume and which were the man.

I've written Lois only once before, but I knew I wanted a different take on her for this story. This Lois is a lot calmer than my other one, more capable, plus she's actually nice to Clark. Um...nicer, at least.

As for the sandworms, I just wanted them to be a part of this universe. I didn't want to overexplain them. For this world, sandworms just are. They just provided some texture, one more sign that Superman doesn't really live in the same world as we do.

Thanks for the *great* feedback. You've made me all giddy and grinny. *g*

echoskeleton

8 years ago

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burnitbackwards

April 7 2004, 09:25:33 UTC 8 years ago

oh god, i really just cannot even begin to tell you how excited i was when i opened up the SSA and found this story at the top of the list. to be honest, my first thought was that i was going crazy or something, because it's been quite a long while since you've written anything! but of course i read and immediately fell in love, just like i have with every other thing you've ever done. this is so sweet and fabulous. i have a total soft spot for a lex who only appears evil and is actually a little bit off his rocker. anyway, i'm friending you just in case you happen to post some other totally amazing story in the near future :)

April 8 2004, 13:54:26 UTC 8 years ago

Hee hee! Lex *is* a little off his rocker. But we love him anyway.

Friending is good, just be warned that I am a slow, slow writer. I'm here, though, working slowly away! *g*

April 7 2004, 11:01:09 UTC 8 years ago

Sandworms!

You hate 'em, I hate 'em, we all hate 'em, right?

Fabulous story, with just the right balance of snark and shmoop.

And hey -- I made this icon two years ago!

April 8 2004, 13:58:40 UTC 8 years ago

Mmm, Beetlejuice. And Clark seriously needs a better self-help book, one tailored to his needs. *g*

Thanks for the note!

April 7 2004, 11:36:21 UTC 8 years ago

<3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333.

That is all.

April 8 2004, 14:01:20 UTC 8 years ago

So much love! I'll take it.

lastscorpion

April 7 2004, 11:57:23 UTC 8 years ago

That was a wonderful story! Thanks for writing it and putting it up! I enjoyed reading it enormously, and I like your evil giant sand worms!

April 8 2004, 14:03:02 UTC 8 years ago

Glad you liked it! I totally didn't plan on those sandworms, they just showed up and started eating people. *g*

April 7 2004, 12:49:10 UTC 8 years ago

I love this story! Everything feels right -- the whole story clicks in a way that gives me a happy high that will probably last for a week and will happen with every reading. :)
...I'm going to go read it again. And pump my fists and yell "Yes!" for the rest of the day. Woohoo!

April 8 2004, 14:07:10 UTC 8 years ago

Mmmm, that's so much happiness. Thanks for commenting. :)

April 7 2004, 14:12:11 UTC 8 years ago

Bweeee!!

Just the perfect mix of humor & angst with a pinch of hotness and a savory underlying plot pulling it all together. A downright tasty Punk!Gumbo.

I love pretend!Rift fic, and I especially enjoyed the continuous current of tension, even with that damn noisy cluebus that kept zooming by Clark every now and then. Poor sweet, pretty, tired Clark.

I want to take this fic home with me and bake it cookies. Shall I send some home with it for you afterward?

April 8 2004, 14:11:37 UTC 8 years ago

Re: Bweeee!!

I do like cookies. *g*

And yes, Clark continually misses the cluebus here, but he's just got so much to worry about. Luckily Lex knows that about him and doesn't give up easily.

rageprufrock

April 7 2004, 14:50:37 UTC 8 years ago

Punk, it is of INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE that you answer this question honestly, aside from having put together a masterfully funny, wonderfully honest, and brilliantly written story: is your deep understanding of (a) journalism (b) the wank that goes with journalism and (c) choice in the name "Daily Grind" pertaining to your institution of higher learning, past or present?

April 8 2004, 14:21:33 UTC 8 years ago

How intriguing! Yes, I'm a recovering ex-journalism major (I escaped before it could kill my soul!) and my school had a coffee shop called the Daily Grind. But as far as I can tell we are on opposite coasts.

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104 comments

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