Grrr! Maybe some of us aren't so gentle, Tank! More! More! More!
Seriously, this is an excellent story. You keep surprising me, too. And Clark's bewilderment at Lois's facility in Aunt Opal's house has got to make him accept at least part of her wild tale.
I wonder just how badly her younger self has messed up. Her current situaiton makes me wonder if there might be a drug deal lurking in the background somewhere, or maybe young Lois is running an illegal poker tournament and raking in even more money.
Since she apparently has the older Lois's event memories, why doesn't she realize how stupid it is to put gambling winnings in an interest-bearing account? That's like sending up a flare to the IRS and yelling out "I have money! Come get some of it!" But it does play into her younger self's immaturity and apparent belief that she's bulletproof.
And if someone's been following her bets with ten times the amount, no wonder someone else is really steamed. She may find herself in enough danger that Clark will be forced to reveal himself to her. Would she then help become Superman, or would he turn from her because he's not ready yet to be the world's protector?
Tank is right about one thing (actually, he's right about a lot of things, but this one in particular): Lois has destroyed her life as she once knew it. It's too late to fix things now. Events are spiraling out of control, and she may have precipitated a gang conflict that will turn Metropolis into a darker version of Gotham City. If all you wanted to say with this story is that we each make an impact on others just by living our lives, you've made that point.
And you've done it with such an engaging and powerful story, Shayne! I'm ready for the next chapter, and the next, and the next, until I don't even recognize the world you are so masterfully creating.
