This new chapter is fascinating as always, and it is a beautiful continuation of what is, as LabRat has pointed out, one of the most original and moving alt-versions of Lois and Clark ever.
For all of that, I need to begin with my gripe. All over the world, young people in love are ripped apart because of all kinds of stupid principles. This boy and girl can't have each other because their parents are related; this other boy and girl can't have each other because their parents are *not* related; this boy and girl can't have each other because their skin colors are different, or because their religions are different, or because there was an ill wind blowing the day they met, or because of a thousand other reasons. I find it all so cruel. So unnecessary.
And when Clark is prepared to leave Lois, to move from Metropolis solely to *get away* from her, I feel upset. Clark is honoring his belief in the taboo against incest more than he is honoring his love for Lois. Actually it is worse than that. Clark doesn't *know* that he and Lois are brother and sister. It's equally possible that they are cousins, or that they belong to the same large clan and are quite distantly related. Or maybe a lot of Kryptonian parents tried to send their babies to the Earth, and maybe all the little ones were dressed in blue, red and yellow, and maybe all of them wore the same 'S' crest. Or maybe Lois and Clark were similarly dressed because they had indeed been joined in birth marriage.
I'm upset that Clark would be willing to consciously avoid Lois simply because she *might* be his sister. I'm sorry that he would keep wondering if his attraction to her is "tainted" because there is a possibility that they are siblings. I'm sad that his fear of *possible* incest would be stronger than his love for Lois. I'm disappointed that he would prefer the certainty of losing Lois over the possibility of disobeying a rule which has been interpretated quite differently in different times and different cultures.
I loved the fact that Clark had the globe, and that it had "spoken" to him. And I felt as thrilled as Lois - maybe more so - when Clark showed it to her. And I was at least as disappointed as she was when it didn't speak to her.
I really liked the fact that Clark showed Lois his apartment, and that they flew together. I loved it when he explained to her how he had been able to renovate his place and make it look spick and span, even though she wouldn't be able to do the same thing to her apartment. And I loved this:
He smiled at her. “Lois – I had an advantage. I had two parents who knew all about my abilities, and encouraged me and helped me explore them. From what you’ve told me, you had only yourself. Without a mentor or really, any guidance, it’s far more impressive what you’ve done so far with your life.”
That was so beautiful. It was quite true, too.
And I loved this, when Clark explained how he saw Lois's Mama in her:
“You never really lost her completely, you know,” he continued. “Because she’s always been in your heart. And… she passed her loving heart on to you, Lois. Her strength and courage – and love – live on in you. I know she would be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”
And this is just incredibly moving:
“I know what I see, Lois. You wear Mad Dog Lane like armor, and you fight dragons. But underneath all that? I see a beautiful and courageous young woman who has fought dragons in the form of corruption and dishonesty, greed and evil, so well that she is at the top of her profession. And I see – although you keep it well-hidden – how much you care. You may not think you have a soft heart; you may not think you know how to love, or that you’re worthy of love. But you do, and you are.”
Except for the part about being at the top of her profession, he was describing Mama. She had to swallow hard around the lump in her throat. He saw all that in her? She had to… she wasn’t going to cry again. She’d done enough of that.
This is where I almost wanted to cry, too, Janet.
I'm very glad that Lois is going to meet Martha and Jonathan. They could be so very supportive of her, and she needs that so very much.
I'm also wondering about Lois's globe. Shouldn't she have one? If so, where is it? And what would happen if her and Clark's globes were brought together?
As always, I'm very much looking forward to the rest of this. Meanwhile, though, I hope you'll have a good time hiking in the majestic mountains of Colorado!
Ann
I can't wait to find out what happens next.
