Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Wrong Clark TOC can be found Here

Ah, our love birds have met.

Comments?

Interesting, all the little differences so far. We'll see if they are meant to be love birds. Looking forward to more of this twisted tale. Laura

It will be fun to see this Clark take different steps than the original.

"Chuck"

Joan

Very interesting chapter!

Lois thinks that Clark seems familiar? Why? Because of DreamClark? But in 1993, it's too early. At least I think so...

And what about the first Jimmy (Michael Landes)? He is in the newsroom in 1993 because we are in Season 1. Okay. But will Clark save him this time? Because in Another Lois, we had his cousin, Season 2 Jimmy.

And a question: Lois is calling Clark " Chuck". It's funny but did you choose this name on purpose? I'd hate to miss something because English is not my first language.

Laura: Thank you. I'm twisted? Oh, my tale. Yeah, that's possible.

Joan: You change one thing and lots of little things along with it.

Oh dear, I'm realizing that his "real self" is all Clark, Lois will see him as "all Superman" if he's not careful when she finds out the truth.

I'm guessing Lana probably made him take more practical stories at one time. (And I'll admit that just a wild guess as to why he had other more practical stories that would be too identifiable while Canon Clark wouldn't besides the fact that Alt-Clark's experience at the Alt-DP.)

Wow, attraction on his end at least. I don't remember if there was more than a passing glance from Lois in the Pilot, either.

*snort* I guess Lois letting him introduce himself is something limited to soulmate pairings and not near-soulmates. And Lois "almost" knowing??? Something's off here. I'm sure we'll find out in time.

Wait... what?? I guess because her timeline is in a loop some things just stuck in her subconscious.

Oh yes you have... you just don't (and won't?) know it. For some reason it sounds like there's a better connection between these two than the original. Probably because there isn't the pesky soul-connection gumming up the works. Sometimes it can be more trouble than it's worth.

Well, it's not a soul-connection but it is full on attraction. I guess that counts for something.

*snort* Sounds like she's always going to call this Clark "Chuck."

Huh, is she just joking or does she seriously believe they've met before?

Just the way the other one went. Unfortunately the introduction to Lois went differently and as a result hasn't learned about the theater being torn down.

This is one spot where CanonClark and AltClark seem to have differing motivations. While CanonClark was disappointed in not getting the position it didn't really seem to faze him (probably because he believed he had other options even though he really did hope to make Metropolis his home.)

Boy, does he have the gumption to try and take her out when he doesn't have a job. I can't fault him for his assertiveness, though. I do find it interesting that she paused. I suspect there was a moment in the back of her mind where she was going, "yes!!!" before pulling back.

Ahhh.... so HERE'S where he finds out about the "mood" piece Lois refused to do.

Good Job, Jimmy. Poor Clark, though. He so wants to make her a part of his life and she keeps stomping on his hopes.

He really should have thought about this one a little more seriously. I mean, the CanonLois did get engaged to a reporter (her partner, no less) so that's rather obvious that's not the case.

Hmmmm.... For a second I was thinking there might be a possibility that he would consider the idea of dating her as Superman but thought about that again. I don't know whether he was thinking it was a possibility here or not.

Lois, Lois, Lois, you've really got to think about letting loose some of these stipulations from time to time. You'll never find your "prince charming" otherwise.

Ah, yes they have... sort of.

*exasperated sigh*

Ah, yah.

Not sure if it's a date, really but it certainly sounds like a bet at least.

Thank you, Virginia, I didn't know that Chuck was another nickname for Charles.

Don't you know it. It's much better to fall for someone who isn't your soulmate.

Not 100% soulmate, but 95% soulmate counts for something too, doesn't it?

At first, until she learns it's not really his name.

Here, she's joking.

Here alt-Clark assumes he'll get the job. Canon Clark knew it was a long shot.

Possbily.

Yep, that describes their relationship in a nutshell.

But Clark doesn't know that she's the same Lois (essentially) that made him Superman. Maybe in this dimension she sticks to that rule.

It wasn't a serious thought.

But soon every man in Metropolis will be after her!

True, but as this is Clark's POV, he's going to go with "date".

You're welcome, Sydney. "Charlie" fits Clark's personality better than "Chuck" as Chuck has more of a blue-collar, construction worker feel to it (in my opinion, I could be wrong.)

Yes, I remember now. Did you read Alison Lurie's Foreign Affairs ? It's a very good book. I read it a long time ago, in a French translation, but I'm sure that one very unsophisticated character was called Chuck. For Clark, Charlie is better!

I think the reason I find "Chuck" so funny is because of "Charles Bartowski/Carmichael" also known as "Chuck" in the TV series of the same name. He's a nerdy type of character so my mental impression of the name is a geeky-type of person. You do have to admit that Clark fits that profile on occasion (although Jimmy from this series WAY more so.)

So we begin, huh?

Poor old Clark. In any universe, Lois seems to knock him off his foundations. This time he floated up, but he lost control because of her. It amazes me that regardless of the story, regardless of the setting, or regardless of the set-up, Clark loves Lois instantly. Lois in this story seems to have passing interest too! Good place to start!

Happy story-telling, Virginia! I'm here for the ride.
Pat

Vitginia,

Okay, you have me moderately confused. Are you talking about the same universe as in Another Lois?

Are you changing the history of the universe from Another Lois by bringing in Alt Clark when Clark should have arrived as in canon universe?

And this is occurring after the Clark of that universe was killed by Tempus as a child and there is a history already established beyond this point.

With Jonathan injured it looks like the same universe as Another Lois.

I always thought that what was so funny about Chuck's name from that show, was that he sooooooooo not a "Chuck". It instantly showed the audience that it would be dramedy as opposed to a full-on drama. Just like with "Buffy" - the audience knew just from the name that there would be some funny stuff as well. (Please, keep in mind I've only seen a couple of episodes of Chuck, and I LOVE Buffy. It was my first obsession before L&C.)

Well, actually Pat we began back in Part one... <<ducking>>.

Well, since technically, this is the same Lois he fell in love with back in his dimension, it would be quite surprising if he didn't fall instantly for her younger self. (Of course, Tank would probably blame it on the longer hair Of course, if that were the reason, it would mean Clark was quite the shallow man, wouldn't it?)

Thank you. There's a reason for her interest in dear ol' Chuck.

Thanks, Pat. We'll always keep a seat open for you.

SPOILER WARNING FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T Another Lois (and would like to in the future) DON'T READ BELOW AS THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!

Yep. I'm sorry about the confusion. This is explained in the Epilogue from Another Lois and from Part 1 of Wrong Clark

Yep.

Being that 1993 is after 1966, it could only happen afterwards. Do you mean that there HAD been the history from Another Lois established already? Yep, by bringing Alt-Clark to this point and time, Herb is trying to change that previous unhappy ending to this dimension. (Do remember Wells didn't know that Lois was in contact with her Clark; he thought she had gone mad.) Let me see if I can diagram it out for you.

History 1: Same as Canon until they go back in time in 'Tempus Fugitive'.

History 2: Same as Another Lois only it technically began where 'Tempus Fugitive' ended, which is why Lois was able to have memories of her previous life with her Clark. Because it was as if everything else in the universe changed to fit this new history which had been implanted into her mind. As if she had been brainwashed to believe that this was the way it was supposed to be, but since Lois technically hadn't really lived it, the pre-history (pre-'Tempus Fugitive' history) didn't become real until it had been accessed -- in this case, by Herb bringing Alt-Clark and dropping him into it pre-March 17th, 1994 (Perry's B-day when 'Tempus Fugitive' takes place). This dimension / this ending could not change until alt-Clark arrived to change it.

History 3: Now. Same as Another Lois only Pre-'Tempus Fugitive'. Do remember that this new dimension is a damaged timeline. It is the same as canon dimension up until the point when baby Clark is killed. It was at that point that this dimension was created (it created the short arm off from canon dimension, making that timeline look like a "Y"). Everything before that point is still unaccessable because Tempus screwed everything up by erasing himself from the timeline by going into the past to kill Clark. This problem will remain until they fix (if they can fix) the timeline by making it possible for Tempus to exist again in the future at which point this new dimension will be like an "X" with canon dimension with its own past which will parallel canon dimension (unless someone goes even further into the past and changes stuff). The two dimensions timelines will cross at the point where baby Clark is killed (this dimension) or survives (canon dimension). [Alt-Clark and canon Herb at this point don't realize this about this dimension. Herb has an inkling that this might be an alt-canon-dimension, due to similarities to his dimension, but not more than an inkling at this point.] Did I make this more clear, or are you more confused? My apologies if it is the latter.

It is.

Fantastic! I love how AltClark is still managing to do things the same way Clark did in the original canon universe. Almost makes you wonder about canon Clark... hmm... And on Lois thinking Clark's name was 'Chuck'- hilarious!

Can't wait for more! Though I forget- you did mention your posting schedule somewhere, didn't you? Something like you were going to go on break for a while... but anyways. You're posting every other day still other than that, right? Just checking.

Just posted Part 3. Will be posting every other day through the first week of July. Then I'm

First day on the job!



Still am wondering if they show up as coca on the drug test.

Why did his own PW have blood pressure issues with Lois already dead for a quite some time?

Huh, look at.



Duh!

Eeehhh…

Okay, that’s new. Something bled over? Either that, or they’re airing Chuck 15 years early.

Another time. Another place.

Miss the job, get the girl?

How about the Star? Also, I hear Love Fortress is still looking for a male model for their new series.

But it got sure thing headlines and a sure thing blonde ‘reporter’ chick.



OoooH! There you are!

That oddly reminds me of what a Madame might say in a Vegas cathouse. You just need to replace a couple of nouns.

We go dutch?



So, if he were a gopher or a photographer or an editor…?

Really? He never heard of ‘be careful what you wish for’ has he? Then again, losing the steady stream of floozies that helped ruffle his sheets must be a bummer…

Aaahhhmmmm…It’s a *skintight* suit with an focal point.

No. We’re right on schedule.

Right! He really should have kidnapped her, posted an anonymous note in the classifieds section and later sent a picture of her chloroformed body, liberally decorated with ketchup so it looks like she had a red smile. Then he could have asked Perry for a job.

/points to above suggestion/

He could romance her while she’s locked up in his Apollo hotel room?

Yeah. What’s wrong with the fiend?

But she turned said guy down, so wouldn’t have helped her cause, really.

He didn’t know about the lit fuse?



/waits for her to say ‘if he hadn’t been a guy…’

She would have gone out with him? Right. Lois Lane. /wonders if we ever had a story where her nickname was Lois, the fast Lane/

Shouldn’t she be addressing them by name, given she watches it rather consistently?

/hands her a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide/ Being a blonde is no longer an unreachable goal.

She would sell her body to help him?

What about Chuck?

Oh dear!

Which would all be beside the point. Her story. Her territory.

Uh-huh.

Only one. Well, two. But it’s up to her not to confuse them.



She really does have selective perception, doesn’t she? Sure thing, she’s no Sherlock Holmes to Jimmy’s Watson.

Which would interest Perry why?

Michael

Hi, Michael: I have a few minutes before my weekend turns crazy, so let's see what you have to say...

As long as he's a good reporter, why would they check his references?



Fear she might come back? (Since his interview was shortly after she disappeared.)



He REALLY tries not to think of it like that; otherwise it enhances that focal point.

Yeah, but that wouldn't have helped his quest for the girl.

First, he has to get her there.

Mental problems? Inability to keep his feet on the ground?

True.

Oh, was that why canon Lois wasn't interested in Clark.

There's always good old "Hurricane Lane".

Fine, I'll WATCH the Pilot one more time and see if I can catch the names. /grumbles about all the research that takes writer away from writing.../

It was my understanding that Lois is never envious of blonde hair.

/Points to last story/ No? <<ducking>>

She turned him down. He didn't get the job. She'll probably never see him again.

Anything she wants to write about and/or has been told to cover is HER territory.

Well, let's see he currently answers to: Clark, Kent, CK, Superman, and Jerome. (oh, and Chuck.)

Selective memory. Why would Perry assign her the new guy? She's the great Lois Lane!

grasping at straws? No dating in the office policy? To show Perry what a sexist fiend his new reporter that she begged him to hire the day before was.

Both male. Both reporters. It could happen.

To Lois.

Right, and Pilot Lois was sweet as honey. Oh, and the one from Another Lois was a couple years older.

Only the new ones from shoddy workmanship or materials. The historical ones are being knocked down by Luthor to build new stuff all the time.

"But... But... But... I have more experience than her! Shouldn't I be on top?" thinks Clark.

Oh, dear. Luthor will be pleased.

She does like a challenge. Plus, she's part bomerrang.

He could put a picture of Lois on his desk, but that might cause some awkward questions. "Oh, it's not you. It's the other Lois from that other dimension. She's married to the other Clark."

Nope.

Ooooh. But then he couldn't meet Luthor and become his best buddy.



Do you mean my weekend offline? It's only a few days. Nobody's stopping you from reading and catching up.

Oh dear. Like before Lois got committed, crazy?

One never knows with

Michael

Let's see, trapped in a hotel room without my computer and with two easily bored kids who hang off me for every second and there's nothing (repeat NOTHING) on the TV for them to watch (I mean, come on! What hotel DOESN'T carry the Disney Channel standard, anymore? PLEASE PEOPLE!) During the whole weekend I had 45 minutes to myself (I'm not counting when everyone else was asleep) and that wasn't all at the same time and 15 minutes of that I was fetching fast food... So, yes, like Lois before she got committed. Worse. Let's just say, it's good to be home.

His ride won't be back for 3 months.

He'd probably think it was romantic, tasteless, but romantic.

Um... I'm sure that's against the Superman credo somewhere and is mentioned on the "DO NOT ATTEMPT" Page of his handbook.

Really? Hmmm. But that sounds like a funny epilogue to MozartMaid's "European Vacation"... wait, that's the wrong title... it just posted on the Archives recently... Ah, here it is... The European Adventures of Lois Lane

Nah, I never have to time to watch an entire episode in one sitting anymore. Thank goodness for DVDs!

<<cough, cough>> WORK experience, Michael. He did work 4 years at the DP in alt-dimension.

Exactly.

Michael

Thank you, Michael.

Don't worry, now, I'm behind on my FDKing too. Hope Ken, Sue, and SQD aren't too disappointed. Trying to catch up by typing in what I wrote in my notebooks this weekend. Sadly, not much ME time to write. So, I think I only got barely a part done. So, now, I've fallen behind my 20 part cushion.

Strange, I can only see Lois' shocked expression when he attempts to do this.

/hugs Virginia and gets ready to distract her with part 5 FDK/



Michael

EDIT: Oh, wait. That wasn't a 5 part FDK, you meant Part 5 FDK.

Michael

Sorry for chiming in so late on this but I just finished Wrong Lois (LOVED it) on the archive and rushed over to see if the next volume in the trilogy was available - yay!

I'm getting the biggest kick out of the way Lois keeps calling Clark "Chuck." What IS the guy's name anyway?? Really enjoying the creative and seamless mixture of canon from the show and your clever and subtle variations.

One small constructive criticism which I hope you won't mind - I noticed a tendency to repeat certain phrases a bit too often (to me) in Wrong Lois, and that had a tendency to pull me out of the flow of the story. The two phrases were "Lois pressed her lips together" and "...waved the comment out of the air." Perhaps those phrases could be modified somewhat in Book 2 so that they aren't repeated too often?

Loving this, Virginia, and on to part 3...

V

I'm glad you enjoyed "Another Lois."

Thanks. Sometimes it's those subtle differences are what makes it difficult to keep the story on track (not this far in, but later on.)

Oh, dear. I try to show what a character is thinking or feeling without using dialogue. Yes, I have a bad habit of repeating key phrases. I believe that in "Missing Lois" my G.E. cut out a whole MB or two of sighs alone. LOL. I don't believe this Lois gestures away dialogue as often as she does in "Another Lois", but the lips pressing together... er... hmmmmm. I'll try to come up with other phrases to express displeasure. I don't often realize I'm repeating them as often as the Reader does, so please keep letting me know if do this and I'll work on changing up the descriptive phrases. <<She types with a wry, skeptical eyebrow arched.>>

I have begun my re-read, and I noticed two typos that are just getting to me.

I am pretty sure it should be "a hit".

I am pretty sure this should be "was the closest newspaper".

So far things flow well, but I am not that far in, so that does not say much.

Thanks, John, I'll get those corrected.

*Gets out my Beta Wacking Stick*

Oh... wait...

Don't you dare wack my Betas! They're the best.

Hah! Story of my life!


Sounds like a date to me too.

MrsLuthor:

I hope not. Then again, perhaps you haven't found your Clark Kent yet.

I wouldn't know. Sounded like a date to me, three.
LOIS: A date doesn't have anything to do with business and ends with a kiss.
CLARK: I say, it's a date.

I've always wondered why it was so important to Lois to arrive with a date, whom she ditched shortly thereafter to stalk Lex Luthor. Jimmy, Perry, and Cat all seemed to be there without dates (although, I'm sure Cat was planning on leaving with one). Any theories?

Thanks for being will to re-read this insane (in length) story and give me pithy comments. You're the best!

It's completely acceptable for a guy to show up to an event alone. It's considered pathetic when a woman does it. #DoubleStandard

I once made my very recent ex still attend a wedding with me because I had already RSVP'd for two and don't want the chair next to me to be empty. Apparently, I still had control even after the relationship.

So sad that Lois bought into this Double Standard.

Yes, but that was a wedding, not a work-related event. Those rules are completely different. And YES, you totally rocked the power in that relationship.