Lynn, just finished playing catch-up. Your writing is wonderful. Your settings are fantastic, really drawing the reader inside. I love the way you've drawn the various inhabitants of the village.
But I really, really do not like Gillian.
She's manipulating Clark as badly as alt-Lana ever did. Good intentions notwithstanding, she dishes it out but won't take it; she scorns the idea of his allowing himself to recharge his batteries elsewhere, or even go on some kind of rudimentary patrol to see if anyone outside their (I wanted to say
dalet amos, but only Rivka would understand that one) immediate vicinity needs them. She has him pathetically grateful for a pillow, or even the vaguest hints of approval for her. And Heaven forbid he should show any signs of unhappiness, or resentment -- he's clearly having a bad day, so she pushes him away. We don't need you, so there!
I won't take away from Gillian's altruism, but she's so clearly on a power trip that it hurts.
Clark's enchantment with the village also seems a bit off to me. He's traveled worldwide and he's surely been in similar spots before. Is it because Lois made him so emotionally vulnerable that his heartstrings are getting tugged so strongly?
I will say that I intend to keep reading. I'm not familiar enough with the offical marriage ceremony (the wording at mine was very different, not to mention in a different language!), but I am correct in thinking that Clark only waited long enough to hear
Lex's "I do"? If so, you are clearly a member of the Wendy Richards School of Angst.
And naturally, Clark is so far away from news and things that he won't even know about the wedding break-up, right? Or can we at least hope that Jon and Martha will call him up to let him know?
Clark is running away from not only his feelings, but his responsibilities. Surely Lois taught him better than this after Lex's tests. I don't like his behavior here, nor Gillian. Jeff I do like.
We obviously need a lot more very soon, Lynn, so I can start to like your main characters more!
Hazel
