I'm so sorry I haven't replied sooner.
RL got hectic after the holiday last week and I wanted to be able to reply at length to all the lovely, lovely FDK.
First, to answer the general question/pondering about Lois' footwear (or lack of it). She lost one shoe outside the bar:
The toes of her shoes bounced across the sidewalk as she fought the black vortex that seemed to be sucking her under. A ripple of pain shot up her leg as one shoe came off and her foot smacked erratically against the concrete. Later in part 1 she wakes up in the dark and she's missing both shoes:
Her entire body felt cold, especially her feet. She wiggled her toes and wondered where her shoes had gone. I don't have her remembering losing the first shoe because she was pretty out-of-it when it happened. The last thing she can remember clearly is flirting with Clark before he excused himself to "visit the restroom". Since the story is called "The Other Shoe", I have to think that other one is going to pop up sooner or later.
Now, for particulars.
mozartmaid - Thank you! I'm so pleased you liked the rain scene so much. Yes, we all know what she wanted, but since this is on the PG side of the boards, it was pretty doubtful they were going to get that far.
Lynn - I definitely think Lois doesn't always need Superman to rescue her. After all, she did manage to survive for over twenty years without his help. :p
Kathy - Yay! It's wonderful to see you again! I was worried I had lost you.
Emily - Awww - thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the couch scene. You're absolutely right that Lois was just as distracted as Clark. She even acknowledged that she wasn't sure which one of them was thinking the least clearly.
(Emily, I owe you a long email - don't think I've forgotten you!)
Vicki - I thank you for your heroic efforts at feedback! I also appreciate that you persevered and tried again in a much more conducive format.
Now, where is she and how can she reach Clark/Superman? I get the idea she won't be reaching Superman any time soon, though.
We're only halfway through the story so she probably won't be finding Superman anytime soon. As for Clark's non-planned plan and its result, that's in the next part.
Jackie - It's so good to see you again! <hugs> I laughed that you started in the middle and I'm very pleased to hear that it made you want to read the first four parts.
Iothan - I was worried I had lost you, so it's very reassuring to see you again! You're right about the prolonged foreplay, but sometimes it does heighten the tension to just the right level.
BJ - The fact that you'll still read the rain scene makes me want to weep with happiness. I've inflicted that part on you so, so, so many times over the past few months. Thank you for being so generous and enthusiastic! I'm still futzing with 7 and 8, but I'm hoping to have something to send you by the end of the day.
DW - Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!
Andreia - Hi!
Thanks for joining in - I'm so happy to see you again! Thank you for all the fun and funny comments. Clark's lap
is a better choice over her uncomfortable sofa. What he's trying to tell her is definitely not what she's thinking. I loved the mental image of them generating enough heat to dry their clothes. But, most of all, I loved that I'm going to have to add "shoeless and smutless with a popcorn-only diet" to the list of ways I've tortured Lois.
I'm still tweaking one little piece of part 6 and then I'll post. Many, many thanks to everyone who's sticking this out with me. I appreciate (and live for) your comments.
