Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic FDK - Wrong Clark (73/??)

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

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Feliz Natal, Joyeux Noël, Buon Natale, Fröhliche Weihnachten! <<My apologies for language errors or if I have missed your language completely.>>

Was Herb right or wrong?

Either way, Clark believes him and won't consummate his relationship with Lois for the foreseeable future. What will the future hold for our romantic duo? Even more so, how will Clark survive the next 36 hours? Or, should I be asking, how will Lois?

Comments?

This is getting more and more complicated. Can they break the curse in this dimension? Or should he rescue the 'real' Clark? Couldn't you argue that Alt-Clark has already made an impact as Lois, just as the first version of her life without Superman? Wouldn't that make things even worse for Lois?

Joan

I was hoping both Lois and Clark would meet Herb, but no such luck.

He really needs it right now.

That is for sure.

I have to agree 100% there.

Rubbish. After Tempus Clark knew he wanted Lois and could not have her.

This is the best news Clark has ever heard.


Lois: I like it better when you use the Portuguese.

Go and get protection.

Technically Herb does not know, but that has not stopped him from saying before.

At least he is being truthful.

Well, it was actually generally within her expected behavior, except maybe not wanting to know at all.

I am really not sure of that.

I have to agree with him here. I just have a fear it will drive her to Luthor and a wedge between them though.

Now I think Wells is just plain wrong. He has no proof the curse applies when it is a different Clark soul.

He has a very good point.

Very good point.

I guess that is a big risk. Hmm, there needs to be some better way to test for the curse applying.

But she was not dead in two weeks. Wells is being duplicitous and dishonest by not telling Clark that he showed up two weeks later and Lois was alive and well. I like Wells less and less. He is constantly manipulating Clark and withholding vital information from him.

This is another thing he should really tell Clark. I am liking Wells less and less. His withholding of information is very disturbing.

Wells just does not get it. Life with Lois is so much better than without. Anyway, in his home dimension Clark is Superman to everyone and has no private life. I do not blame him for not going back.

He should not have even told Wells this much. Realistically he needs to make any such plans with Lois.

I think he should be more open to giving her that option. It would work mostly, and if that is the easiest way for them to marry, why not? Clark needs to start making joint decisions with Lois.

This is where I really start to dislike Wells. I am sick and tired of his plotting to seperate Lois and Clark.

I doubt things would ever get so bad Clark would leave. On the other hand, I have my fears.

He is too trusting of Wells. The evidence to me suggests the opposite.

Now that was just plain rude to leave so quickly.

Knowing Wells, he will go straight to when he thinks the encaging will be, and use his selective revealings of information to try to manipulate Clark into abandoning Lois.

I think Wells is more evil and manipulative than Clark thinks he is.

I guess it is probably best he resists her advances. She would probably be mad at some point about it. Still, I think Wells was dishonest and manipulative. He should at least have mentioned that they were both still alive when he showed up initially two weeks later.

My guess is that this is not a big issue. However, I guess as usually Wells told him absolutely nothing that was at all helpful.

she is in his bedroom.

I doubt it.

Well, if it did wear off, it was with no ill effects.

At least he is not overly optimistic.

More signs she has not recovered.

Lois: Clark is back.

Yep, he won't like it.

This seems exactly what she would do.

Virginia,

And you complain about me torturing poor Alt Clark

You've set up an impossible conundrum.

She's doomed if they do and he's doomed if they don't. Herb sees no way to correct the timeline short of saving Tempus and that appears to be impossible.

You've hinted that she's going to give in to Luthor and that's not good.

Well I guess knowing that Lois is drugged does put a damper on things. Still, I think Wells is just plain wrong.

I love how Lois is reinterpreting the past in a postivie light.

Lois: I listen to you more than you give me credit for, Chuck.

Clark: I need to stall. Lois will go balistic on me if I in any way start to move in while she is under the influence of the pheremone spray.

Clark is really in a tough situation. Of course, how much is Lois really sufering from the Pheremone spray?

Not if he shows proper restraint.

they are touching.

she has lots of fun nicknames for him.

they are still touching.

he is getting through to her.

I love how he is figuring out how to focus her emotions and desires at this point.

I love this description.

On the other hand, if he had a clue how long this would last, he might just give up.

Lois: Clark is so much better than chocolate.

I just love this part.

And now he confronts her with the truth.

I just love this dialogue.

she is way off. She is actually obeying his commands, Lois never does that.

she is really in love. This will be an uphill battle.

He has a good point.

Now Clark is starting to get what was going on.

Clark needs to tread very carefully.

Clark, you need to realize the reality of Lois' feelings.

Clark: Remember, only nightmare. Must not go and punish Ralph, even if he deserves it.

Tell her now Clark. OK, I guess I have given up hope of Lois ever learning CK=SM in this story, at least most hope.

But he has made it easier to avoid a situation where Lois will put him in a no-win bind.

If he only knew that it was of a real event.

Oh, he has no idea.

I finally understand why that happened there, but Jimmy does not try to hone in on Lois here. It is a different Jimmy. I just figured that out.

Now, he is being needlessly harsh on true Clark.

Canon Clark: I came back long before Miranda attacked.

On this part he is totally right.

Lois: Ralph is just distrubing. Does there need to be any other explanation?

Of corse that is because she was not spayed.

That is not going to go over very well when the time comes.

This will make it really hard to explain his real plan.

Lois: Right now, what you are doing is enough.

Yes he does.

Again he speaks the truth.

Lois: I am basking in the wonder of him touching me.

she is figuring it out.

That is what you were going to tell her before Wells knocked.

I just hope she remembers.

Come on Clark, she deserves to know.

she is halfway there.

I think he should trust Lois more though. I guess he might have a point. Still, I think she could handle knowing about it.

I think she really does beleive this.

I doubt that would happen. She might relize the truth, but I don't think she would forget Clark. Lois is not that fickle.

Clark, stop assuming Lois does not really love you.

Not that he needs such at this point.

Right now of course. Hmm, on the other hand, maybe that is how she actually remembers some conversations.

I don't think she is lieing. She is just assuming Superman understood her statements the way she now means to have them understood.

Lois: I can still figure out a way.

Of course he is assuming that things in the dream are what they appeared to be.

Clark: I wish Lois was really saying this, and not just under the pheremone.

Joan: Thanks for sticking with me, despite the

I don't do easy well. <<explains why my stories go on, and on, and on, and on, and on... because I've got to write myself out of plot holes I've developed.>>

Yes. Possibly. Maybe. No. One of those or all of them.

Hmmmmm. Interesting way of looking at it. Probably. According to Herb, reverting back to her true timeline would erase the other possible futures from her mind, but as we've seen that doesn't always work.

Ken: I'm in shock. Total and utter shock. Did you actually use the "I" word?

Complain? Oh, it wasn't complaining, it was more teasing. If Clark has life too easy, it wouldn't be much fun to read.

Oh, my gosh! You DID use the "I" word! You! The Great KEN, lover of all things Herb Wellian!

Ah, but you and I know, that "nothing is impossible". Perhaps there's another answer that doesn't require Herb's assistance.

Let's just say that things aren't always as what they appear to Herb (on that front and others). Thanks for reading.

John: You spoil me. Thanks for the long FDK. I'm glad you're still enjoying my story, despite wanting to bash in Clark's head at times, regarding his wishy-washyness on revealing his most secret and private and earth-shattering of news.

Why would he bring Lois? If he hasn't had time to explain what's going on, who Herb is, it wouldn't make sense to try to bring her into his conversation without having all the facts.

I love Tempus as a character, but like Clark, I wouldn't want him interferring with my life.

HERB: What I meant was, that because without Tempus, Clark would now be married to Lana (and hiding his true self).

Possibly.

Like Clark, Herb is mostly truthful. The only time he's really lied to Clark (not including omissions) was about alt-Lois. Actually, that was omissions and half-truths.

Clark's referring to opening Lois's shirt and kissing down her chest.



Herb doesn't want to take that chance with Lois's life. He's working within known parameters of Lois and Clark's relationship.

Herb is basing his hunch <<assumption>> on history (his dimension's Lois and Clark where Lois died of an unknown illness the next day). He's trying to pre-emptively save Lois's life. True, his assumption may have been wrong, but his heart was in the right place.

Clark is basing his conclusions on the belief that Herb wouldn't have come to him, having visited the future, without concrete proof that Lois died as a direct result of their coupling.

Herb's not trying to manipulate him. Clark HASN'T made love to Lois. It's always possible that by telling her that he's Superman, that they wouldn't have made love, until their possible wedding day two weeks later. It's always possible that her reaction to him telling her that he's Superman made Clark realize that she wasn't acting like herself enough that he checks out what she could have been exposed to to make her act like that. There is no proof that they would have made love.

True, Clark's no in full possession of the facts, but Herb isn't one reveal too much of one's future, now is he?

Herb doesn't feel like it's fair to this Lois. If Clark were to know that this Lois could be an alt-version of canon Lois (which she is) would that have an impact on how Clark treats her? Would that have an impact on Clark's decision to save (or not save) Lois's True Clark being that he's met THAT Clark (or a version of him) before? Herb doesn't want to bias Clark's decisions in that regard. <<PSsst. You don't have to like Herb, just explaining his motivations better>>

Herb thought that Clark had already made the decision to leave this dimension, and only decided to stay when he discovered that they couldn't save Baby Kal-El. He figures now that Clark knows that they cannot consummate a marriage (should they reach that point), Clark wouldn't want to torture himself by staying in this dimension and would want to return to his dimension. It's a wrong assumption, but a fair one.

He hasn't made any plans yet, nor would he bring Lois to alt-dimension without telling her so in advance. He's NOT that much a lunkhead.

If Herb is correct about the curse still affecting them, wouldn't that also be true in alt-dimension?

Herb's not plotting against Lois and Clark. He's going to check back in case Clark has changed his mind. Maybe he will, knowing that he and Lois cannot have a fully initmate relationship.

It's always darkest before dawn. Clark still has some lessons to learn. And Lois has some facts to learn.

I always thought that was a flaw in his relationship with most people, especially this time traveler.

Why? Clark said 'bye' and turned to return to his aparment.

I guess you'll have to wait and see what happens.

I'm thinking that John didn't realize that this evil writer would pull the rug out from under his nice and party-filled PML episode.

Why tell Clark that he and Lois were to be married? Wouldn't have that been extra cruel, having just told him that they couldn't consummate said marriage? (or that Clark would have killed her on their wedding day?) Don't forget that Herb comes from another time, when it was the accepted norm not to consummate until after one was married.

Herb told Clark more than canon Clark knew. Canon Clark had to figure it out for himself.

He's just had his hopes and dreams bashed against the rocks. Not much optimism left.

You don't know that.

Glad to hear that she's not that much out of character.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

So does Clark, in a way.

-- Response to John's FDK - Cont.

This is a true assumption. Now that he knows, he needs to act accordingly <<curse or no>>.



Oh, dear.

LOIS: He's so easy to nickname.

He's trying to still act loving so not to incur "drunk Lois's" ire. He doesn't want to suddenly act differently than he was before his meeting with Herb. He doesn't want her to wonder why he's changed his tune and doubt his true affection for her, when she thinks back upon this episode.

That's debatable.
TRYING to.

CLARK: Um... erm... technically, she kissed me.

But is it sustainable?

Thank you.

Is that in his vocabulary?

Hmmmmm. John likes flirtatious Lois.

He's working his way there.

LOIS: What do you mean, 'my mind is off'? It's still here. It just is thinking about what I'm going to do with you once I get you into bed.

Thanks.

I thought that happened in canon. Just another reason for her to be humiliated when the perfume wears off. True, but that's not what she meant.



I'm sorry, did you think Lois was the only blind one in this relationship?



CLARK: <<sarcastically to EW>> Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Actually right now it is more Wells I want to bash.

OK, I was mainly hoping that he would open the door and let Wells in. OK< that would have required waiting for Lois to get a bit more presentable, but I was still hoping it would happen. I guess I have to admit that what Clark did makes more sense, but still.

Hmm, well, she might be mad. Still, he does have the excuse that she was flirting with him that morning, and he was not there when Lois got sprayed with the Pheremone. I think if he keeps things under control for the next 36 hours, Lois will mainly forgive him. Of course maybe I am being overly optimitic about how honest Lois will be with herself about the whole thing.

Except he is assuming that they did not consumate their relationship based on no death. Now I am thinking he should have gone and tried to talk to them at the Lexor. I mean what if he shows up tells Clark "you can not have sex with Lois or she will die" and he says "we already did that two weeks ago, I wish I could undo it, because she is still mad at me since she was under a drug, but it does not look like she is about to die." I still think Wells should at least tell Clark what he knows. Although since Wells may be wrong on what he thinks he knows it might mess with Clark's mind by giving him too much hope.

Hmm, so in canon Wells actually at some level allowed them to consumate and create the proof of its negative impact while here he wants Clark to go on not really explained or proven examples. I guess the easiest way to explain this is it is what the story needs, but I still think alt-Clark should demand proof. He is far too trusting of the reality of curses.

Thus, Clark is trusting Wells to have more information than he really does. It is about time he stopped believing that Wells really knows anything.

True, I still think that Wells should provide Clark with the knowledge of what he really does know.

Maybe that makes sense in some cases, but I think here he is just coming across as manipulative. Although I think Clark is in some ways better off not being told that he and Lois married on Valentine's Day, since I do think that that is false information.

It of course ignores many things. Such as they could consumate the marriage if they jointly returned to his dimension. Hmm, that gives me an idea. They could live in this dimension but only have relations in alt-Clark's home dimension after they broke the curse there. OK, maybe that would be hard, but I am trying to think of possible solutions.

Yes, but in alt-dimension they can go back in time and remove the curse. Alt-dimension does not have a broken time, so they can go back in time.

I guess you do have a point. I still feel that Wells is being manipulative, and will stand by that view.

I guess that is true. OK, maybe I am being needlessly harsh against Wells. I guess the pheremone does help. Still, he realizes that his theories about what will happen if the universe resets do not agree with what he knows actually happened. He should at least have told Clark that Lois' memories of the past might be even more complexed than he pewviously thought.

Still, I think if he does not repeat that. Also, he can argue that he did not know until warned by his informant. OK, she probably will still be mad, but at least she will not be mad at her for not being attracted to her, well hopefully.

It makes sense. Of course, it is going to be a very tough balance indeed. I am not sure there is any win situation, since at some level she will just be mad that she was drugged and acted this way.

On the other hand, I think it will really, really help that he was not sprayed. At least then he does not have to explain not reacting and have the added burden of Lois being mad that somehow he restrained himself when she did not. I at least hope that that will lessen her ire.

I am also hoping the fact he offered to tell her the truth will be counted as a plus on his side.

Clark: That is why I am not sure I am even thinking in hour blocks of getting through this anymore. This is really, really, really tough, so I have no easy solutions. One moment at a time.

Clark: Exactly Lois. Normally you don't think about that.

Lois: No Chuck, that is where you are wrong. I have thought about that a lot at least since you first told someone I was your wife.

Clark:What, you knew it was just a cover.

Lois: OK, maybe I first thought about it before then. The thing is I try to hide the thoughts from myself, and definately from you. It is not that my thoughts have changed, but that I have finally decided to open up and tell you about them.

Lois: Two can play at the selective truth game.

Clark: But Lois, you don't know it is true.

Lois: You play selective truth your way, I play it my way. You tell truths in tones where I won't believe them, I tell truths I don't actually know are true. We both speak the actual literal truth though.

Lois: I am sure that Superman should have understood from our conversation on the flight back from looking at his spaceship that I was more attracted to Clark than to him. I mean I mentioned sneaking a peak at Clark's body and learning he had been shot. Of course that shows I care about Clark more than Superman, right?

Herb, if you had only known what had nearly gone on in Canon Clark's apartment would you be nearly as adamant about jumping on Alt-Clark for just about the same thing?

Yeahh... an unhappy Clark is probably not that conducive to the future of Utopia.

Clark:
Wells: Now just hollld your horses mister.

Maybe you should Wells. You rarely interacted with her in a non-dangerous situation. Maybe you might find her a little bit not what you were thinking she was.

Telling a superpowered being that he is not allowed to have intimate relations with someone could well be bad for your health.

I could see how this Clark might be offended by the insinuation that he wouldn't (or couldn't) do it with Lois.

When I first read that I couldn't understand what old wives' tale you were talking about. It took me a bunch of reads to realize you were talking about the "Man of Steel: Woman of Kleenex" myth. I can't imagine how he knew of that one.

Alt-Clark: It was a running theme in my world. Apparently I was deemed a "sex-threat" and someone decided to spread the rumor that I had to be celibate so that no one could be hurt.

Me: Ouch. (Ok, that above is just my postulation of why it would be an old wives' take in his world... unless there's a Superman variant comic that received the same treatment by a sci-fi writer.)

Herb, are you trying to be Mr. Know-It-All?

Herb, your mouth is gaping a bit there. Close it or you'll catch some flies there. Don't forget, different and yet the similar universe. DIFFERENT and yet similar. NOT the same.

This is an interesting point. Would Clark have to go back in time before he brought Lois over to his universe? (I know, I know, you address something else that makes this question moot.)

A pretty good point I would think. I would also think he should have done the same with Lois and Clark BEFORE they got married... unless by undoing the curse before they got married they would have found themself married even EARLIER (say, around the clone arc?)

Yeah, an pretty angry Clark/Superman is not someone you want to deal with lightly.

This one's the point I think Wells should have done. It's not like he hadn't done so before. I mean, he had to do it when Lois and Clark consummated the marriage in a different timeline (i.e. his own).

*puts on my crazy hat* I think I have something of an idea for that. I think that when Tempus died, he blanked out the slate prior to that. That INCLUDES the curse. Of course since Wells can't go back further than when Tempus died there is no way to know that.

I think he underestimated her attraction to Superman counteracting the (outwardly) negative attraction to Clark. It's that triangle effect of his soul that balances out those perceptions.

Wells! I can't believe that you believe this to be true. You yourself TOLD him that nothing is impossible!

You know, I was thinking on this. If I remember correctly, isn't his world different from the Canon/this one's world due to a robbery? If it's the one that happened in Smallville then maybe there's some hints in his own as well.

Clark: Gotta have as much of a fall-back plan as possible. I want to make sure everything is in place to bring her to my world if there's even a CHANCE we can be together.... And she'll have me.

Could Lois still be a reporter? With Clark without a secret identity in that universe, that'd be extremely problematic. She could be his PR person but she would absolutely HATE that.

I'm sure he knows.

You know, I had a second thought on this one. Maybe he mistook his soulmate as Mary (of Nazareth) in death and thus translated it to a religious/agape love. (and I think I've just gotten myself twisted in knots.)

He has no need to, quite honestly. He's content where he is and doesn't really need to go elsewhere.

That'd be a pretty go time to make that sort of decision. If nothing else, you could be a clarion bell to Lois.

(if Clark's still in the cell)
Wells: *to Lois* My dear, Superman needs your help.

*cue VirginiaR Whistling*

I'll split this one into two. It looks like the break before Clark heads into the apartment's a good spot to cut out temporarily.