“Let’s go in for lunch,” Martha said, her concentration on the apples.
That's such a lovely little human detail, for Martha not to be looking the scary thing in the face as she suggests it!
Inside, she was celebrating. And she couldn’t wait to share the news with Clark.
Awwwwww
The final two words were crisp, with an edge of dismissal.
Good girl! Love protective Lois!
“Tell me about their clothes.”
It's just SUCH a clever twist to pivot Lois' interviewing skills to grief counseling (like with Clark in the last chapter) and calming methods (like with Martha here). It's such a natural move and works so well.
“Not a chance.” They shared a smile and continued their lunch.
Yay!
She closed her eyes and kept her ears wide open.
Really nice trick of the trade popping in here!
“Can’t wait for another wedding.”
Nooooooooooooo. I was so worried about all the issues on Lois' side I didn't even thiiiiiink about Lana. Nice place to drop this in - great structuring!
She picked up her clock and set the alarm for 3:30am.
Yes! I love her making good choices! This is such a Lois Lane move.
In the past, Clark and his dad would have celebrated with lemonades on the front porch, enjoying the satisfaction of a productive day.
Your version of Jonathan is so nostalgic, and it's really once of my favorites. I love that he's taught Clark to celebrate successes and enjoy the little things like this. Such a great detail.
And that felt like a huge dark cloud just waiting to descend onto Clark’s colourless life.
Ugh... this is so crushing. So well phrased!
“It’s the farm manager,” she said with a grin.
Love this callback!
It was obvious she was pleased about something. Clark’s heart rate accelerated. Was she about to tell him she’d decided to leave? To return to her life in Metropolis? “Go on,” he said.
I love that you work in his fears and worries like this, even when we know what's really happening.
His heart soared with sweet anticipation. “Are you offering?”
What a Casanova, lol.
“I would not be a good farmer,” she said. “I like to control everything.”
I sincerely wonder how much of this is a trauma reaction to her childhood, and how much control she'd still really want to hold onto after a few months on the farm with Clark.
“Perry – my editor – always says there is no room for sentiment if you want success.”
“Maybe there’s a little room.”
Darn right. And such great characterization coming from Clark.
“Like you dream of being a corrupt businessman, doing shady deals. Or a career criminal. Or a drug dealer. Thief. Murderer.”
He would be dreaming of being Lex Luthor?
The ‘Farm Boy’ had been the final straw.
Awwwww.
"I knew that time spent away from the farm was time not spent with my dad. And one day, I knew I might regret that.”
That's just this character all over.
“But I honestly couldn’t say if that would increase your chances of getting the job or utterly destroy them.”
Leaving Clark grappling with the certain knowledge that whether he farmed or whether he worked at The Daily Planet or any other newspaper – it was immaterial.
The only thing that mattered was being with Lois.
I love how sure he is. This whole chapter is so sweet, as we rise and fall with his hopes. But I do wonder if Martha will still factor in here, even as besotted as he is now.
Can't wait to read on! This story is somehow at once calming and compelling!
