Hi Michael!
Sorry for the delay on this one - I had to go back and read QueenoftheCapes' (delightful) entries in the series that proceeded this one.
This is funny and sassy and the details are densely (wonderfully) packed.
Lois looked around the town square full of cheery Farmer Joes and Janes as the banjo music did its best to evoke a sense of The Waltons’ Day in Town for her.
This is a supreme example of the densely packed comedy. I feel like the banjo music lingers through the rest of the scene.
“What’s the matter, Mistress?”
He's got a really fine line to walk with the rules of Mistress/Miss Lane, doesn't he?
Love it.
Oh god, had she been daydreaming?
I love that Lois daydreams about corruption. Not awards, not Clark (or someone else), not praise from her editor - just potential criminal activity.
Did he just talk back to her?
Get 'im, Lois.
Quickly, she pasted on a smile and made her way over.
I just keep thinking of the line in the show that talks about Lois feeling territorial. This set of circumstances really ups the ante there!
No, this one was—ugh—genuine.
The Lane anathema.
But it's really interesting that you highlighted this aversion to a person being genuine here, since she and Clark are both playing roles with one another in this story - both at work and at home (and I don't mean his Super persona, either, which is interesting in this context, too - and makes me wonder if 'oh no, i hear a cry for help' is just always 'red and blue light, sorry, mistress'). It makes me wonder what the 'resolution' of this relationship looks like.
She winked at Lois. “Would you believe that I caught and arrested him every single time?”
OMG, I love her! And the dramatic irony of this - stop, Rachel, you have no idea what you're saying!
“Miss Lane and I are completely professional, Rachel,” Clark answered quickly. A bit too quickly for her tastes.
Oh! Is one of them now a professional at this?
Actually... are they? If they were both at the club, and Clark was undercover, I wonder if that means one of them was working...?
Always by himself ever since—
Hmm. Plot point, or red herring? Intrested to see if this pops up again.
Her walky-talky squawked something even someone fluent in subway couldn’t make out.
This line transported me directly to a race on the NYC subway. So funny!
We need to swap more Clark Tales next time.
Clark Tales TM. What's Lois going to do when NONE of her stories are PG-13?
Spit OUT my drink trying not to laugh at this one. Caught me off guard, lol
He had smelled caramel apples and getting one for Mistress should help calm things down. He hoped.
There's really a big crossover between their game and just being in a solid, caring relationship.
Dang, dude, I thought you were trying to mollify the situation!
What had he been thinking, suggesting that he and his dominating little secret visit his childhood home?
I know we all dig our own graves in life, but it's really reassuring to see a character like this do the same thing.
“What do you wanna bet that Farmer Joe and his wife are using that spatula for more than flipping burgers?”
Clark froze as her statement formed a mental picture in his head.
That's a cruel trick to play on Clark! This is, again, such an exponentially more heightened moment because of the given circumstances of this story. Really enjoyable.
He looked into her eyes. Remembered how strict they looked back at him when she watched him drink vinegar with tabasco on the rocks.
This is another fun little twist on their usual relationship, where we frequently see them do this to ground enough other with strength and love.
From the sound of her voice, he knew there would be hell to pay. Later.
This punctuation is EVERYTHING.
“You must be Lois.”
‘Lois’?
Ope! She needs to just start a list at this point.
“I don’t know.” He pointed his outstretched hand at Lois. “Ask Miss Lane.”
Point for Clark.
Martha’s eyes flickered between Lois herself and Clark before an eyebrow rose just a bit.
Oh, man. Martha is so good at reading people, but I don't know how she's going to read this! This is even more delicious when you add in Martha's second sight about people.
This while story is such an edgy line to walk - and the humor is really selling it!
And I love that this universe somehow further cements the soul mate thing. In universe, they meet in a newsroom, but if they'd really met in a fetish club, and that lightening hit (for Clark in particular), then... yup, this is what it it would look like! It's a really fun extension of Clark's rolling with all of Lois' plans, no matter what they are. This is what the love of his life is into, so he'll try it out and get on board!
I can't wait to see what's in store for them next!
Evie
But then it's 
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