Argh I had a response with quotes and everything all typed up and then my connection fizzled. Bah! Anyway I just wanted to say how blown away I am at your complex and many layered characterization of Clark. Love how we see his vulnerability very step of the way. I love how he's at a loss when Lois clearly expects another answer from him. How he's even a bit angry even though it changes quickly to worry when he tries to fix the situation
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I feel that part of the reason I can't be angry at Clark for his choice it's because it's a sacrifice. Even with Lois he's worried about being needed. Still, in the end when he goes to check on the fire, the point of this being a _self-imposed_ obligation gets brought home. It makes it both hard if he goes and endangers this relationship that has him head over heels and if he doesn't and feels like he should have even though no one outright _expects_ him to.
It's a no win situation and that comes across quite clearly. I just want to highlight one parragraph that left me gasping for it's brilliance:
Suddenly Clark felt weary. He was not needed here, and maybe he never had been. All around him, the emergency workers moved purposefully, doing their jobs and sparing him the occasional curious glance, but no one seemed to expect him to do anything. No one seemed to blame him for the fire, or for not being there while it was raging. It wasn’t what he’d expected at all, and he should have been relieved, but instead he felt tired and a little let down.
Wow. I'm kind of glad I'm always late, because this means there's always more to read. Yum.
alcyone
