I'm just catching up on this story, and just read all of 1-29 in one go! This is such a suspenseful, high-octane ride! I love the new Phoenix plot, and it's such an imaginative use of the underlying soulmate story, paired with the season 3 soul exchange plot. Such a smart combo! It's been really clever to see the way you're handling keeping Lex out of the picture so often so that you can concentrate the scenes on Lois and Clark. The way you're elevating the ensemble characters, especially Gretchen, but even Jimmy and Henderson, Nigel and Asabi, is so satisfying.
Most importantly, he shouldn’t have been hurt by doing that, and there was no doubt that he had scraped his knuckles and blood was oozing from the wounds. He was running out of time, and Luthor knew that, too, he realized.
This is such a great demonstration of Lex's futility and rage. Literally hitting a wall physically and mentally.
A crawling sensation in the back of his neck warned him before he heard it. A woosh. Then feet hit the ground, hard.
One of my favorite parts of this fic has been seeing how scary Superman is from the point of view of his prey. When I read other things/rewatch L&C now, Superman's politeness will make more an an impact on me. Nice moment here in particular, and so crisply phrased - very evocative.
“Boo!”
Clark gasped in shock, realizing too late that the monster was teasing him.
This is so cruel, and such the antithesis of Superman. It's even worse than the clone.
Nigel and Asabi ducked, but there was no escape.
Luthor always underestimates people and then disposes of them cruelly when he's finished. I always thought that this sort of hubris was one of his more villainous traits, and it's interesting to see in play here, amped up 100 with Superman's powers. I hope Nigel and Asabi survive long enough to see his comeuppance.
He'd never been this close to the crystal without being in agony. It was both chilling and fascinating.
Totally! Such a fun detail!
“Don’t…do… this … to me.” He panted. “Lois… it’s me… Super… Superman.”
The manipulation of this is wrong on so many levels, given their history. He's just such a monster. Nice touch.
The weakness seemed to swallow him and he gasped for breath. The pain in his shoulder was replaced by a fire burning in every cell. It pulled him under until he knew no more.
This is such a uniquely difficult set of circumstances for Clark. We've all felt nausea, etc., before, regularly enough. He's felt it 2-3 times? And he's still in a kyptonian body in daylight when it happens. So putting him in a human body to experience all that has to really wear on him double. I think that puts him at an even bigger disadvantage as he tries to claw back to his own body. I know that damaging Lex's body is probably part of the A plot, but it's just used really nicely here in terms of Clark's psychology, too.
Can't wait to see how this one ends!
