Wow, I really enjoyed this story! It was heartbreaking due to the time period it was placed in, and just so sad to think of Clark working at the DP beneath a bossy, cold-shoulder Lois, but I love how even with all that angsty atmosphere, you were able to convey the easiness that's between them, the banter and the way they understand each other and can talk to each other. For all that Lois is closed off and Clark has a secret, they were able to connect incredibly quickly, and that came across SO WELL here in this story.
I was frustrated by Lois, but then, I always am when she's dating/engaged to Luthor, so that was completely in character, and I love that out of everyone she could have asked for help from, she chose Clark because she knew she could trust him. I also really enjoyed all the moments/scenes/dialogues with Jack, Jimmy, and Perry. Even though none of them were around for long, they were perfectly described so that I felt as if I could see them right in front of me.
Clark's sarcasm and humor are perfect here! I love it in the show, but it's one of the things I struggle with capturing when I write him, so I'm very much in awe of how well you are able to convey it in your stories!
Above all, though, my favorite part of this story is the conversation about the pheromone and how it did or did not affect Clark. As Lois herself pointed out, everyone affected behaved in a certain way, and I LOOOOVVVVEEE Clark's response that maybe he was affected, and he just displayed it in his own way -- and Lois's immediate translation of that to kindness and patience. He had the perfect response when he said that he'd been wooing her from day one -- though I admit I laughed out loud when he said "I woo differently." (It also makes sense when you think about what Lois did: basically, Lois woos by going over the top and making a fool of herself? So...really, Lois has been wooing both Clark and Superman from day one too?
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Very intriguing story -- I was hoping Linda was the seller -- and the ending conversation left a lot of hope for a story that started out looking so hopeless!
