Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic FDK: The Write Stuff 9/10

Another excellent chapter, Terry! Of course, after reading it, the first thing I must talk about is Karen's homosexuality. (See, I'm calling her Karen, which means your portrayal of her in this chapter didn't make me dislike her!)

Since you had hinted at Karen's homosexuality before, having it confirmed wasn't a shock in any way. But I really, really liked the way you treated this sensitive topic. Karen did not come out like a monster in any way; on the contrary, I could feel for her very much for being made the scapegoat for the murders that had happened during her watch. I loved the way you showed us how much she personally mourned the deaths of Ben and Maria Zimmerman:
Though I have actually never been really drunk in my life (the things a religious background can do to you) I could certainly sympathize with Karen's wish to drown her sorrows in alcohol. And Lois's choice to stay the night in Karen's quarters - because she still needed to have her "necklace" removed by the Major, and because she might not be let in the following morning by a very hungover Major - would certainly seem suggestive to Karen, particularly if she thought that Lois knew she was gay.

So I loved it that you had Karen voice - tentatively and hesitantly - her hopes for a relationship with Lois. And I loved it even more that Lois was not shocked, scared or disgusted by this. Lois is strong enough in her heterosexuality, sure enough of her right and ability to make her own choices, certain enough of her love for Clark, and sufficiently used to the idea that many people are attracted to her, that she did not feel threatened by Karen's feelings for her.

I very much liked it that Karen found Lois particularly attractive when she, Lois, was angry! That observation actually made me giggle. Isn't that exactly the way Clark feels, too?

Ann

P.S. Harpo was always my favorite Marx brother, too, and by far the cutest!

I just loved this chapter of the story. I felt REALLY bad for Karen that she would be treated that way especially after all she had done to help solve the murders. Yes she was sort of upstaged by Lois, but she did her best under the circumstances. Ahh well. I loved how Lois refused to resign her position as Inspector until Karen took it back. And I really enjoyed the tactful way you handled Karen's admission of her feelings for Lois and Lois' response to them. She wasn't freaked out, or angry by it, but she was firm.

And her response to the kiss...very well done. Great job!

Hi,

Interesting part.

I'll hide first. Not any body can go to space!


:rolleyes: I think NASA have better food for their astronaut.


Why is the purpose of destroying the Karen character and the work she did with this back and forward of being gay? And Karen knew Lois had a relation with Clark.

Quote

Before Lois could ask another question, Vukovich spoke again. “You sent several e-mails to a guy named Kent. He your husband, boyfriend, chiropractor, what?”

The major’s abrupt manner made Lois uncharacteristically cautious. “We’re – dating, I guess.”

“Seriously dating?”

Lois shrugged. “I think so. Why?”

If Karen was to be punish for being gay they won't send her to a space station, a desert or an cold place are best as punishment, a space station is a reward.


This also doesn’t make sense.

I bet Matt knew Lois was a reporter. Karen knew that Lois met Claude and his profession and also knew that she had contact with the Planet and she had to promises that she'll read everything before is printed. Lois have interviewing everyone around seems she is the space station.


If someone is guilty for the murder of all dose people I'll start for the ones who did the clearing check I'll include the publisher that is responsible for putting all does people at risk by letting a person with out a hint of knowledge work with computer in a space station that runs mostly on computers.

Even Edprad is guilty but is easier getting rid of Karen.

I was wishing this was tank story.


MAF

Terry, you've given us another brilliant chapter that I absolutely *loved.* This has been such a fantastic ride, and I'm so sad that there's only one more part to go!

Your writing is stellar as always, and (eep, I know Ann's already quoted this, but I just can't help myself — it's too lovely and wonderful and perfect not to mention again) I so so so enjoyed the interaction between Lois and taser-wielding Matt Walker:
*hearts* Brilliant.

I wasn't surprised when Karen told Lois about her sexuality. You wrote it in wonderfully, and Lois' reaction to the kiss was so appropriately tactful.

Again, you've woven a terrific story, Terry — I can't wait to read your wrap-up, and to see what happens when Lois gets back to The Planet and to Clark!

Great story, Terry, I'm looking forward to the wrap up!

Ok, I'm gonna edit my post just throw a quick two cents in. As far as Karen is concerned, that whole scene doesn't bother me at all. And I don't know if it's just because I have quite the entertaining round of homosexual friends, so it's like an old hat to me if a situation like that comes up. As far as the kiss goes, if Karen kept it up or tried anything else, then of course I would expect Lois to get extremely put off, keeping in mind that that's exactly what happened to a couple of friends of mine last year. As it is, Lois just seems weirded out, which is the way I would totally feel if one of my girl friends kissed me spur of the moment, no matter if I had just met them or if I was friends with them for five years. If it was a guy that had done it...well, most guys I know have a bullseye drawn in the bedroom, but I don't think that was Karen's intention, and I sort of think Lois would know that here. So the fact that she isn't irate doesn't bother me. Personally, I don't think one quick kiss by anybody is enough to label it nfic, but that's just me. Maybe just a warning at the top in case there are people bothered by these types of situations? But no matter what happens, I thought it was a well-written scene, and it did a pretty balanced job of handling the situation.

JD

Hi Terry,

I'm sorry I'm slow with commenting on this chapter. It was lack of time and not lack of enjoyment.

You've created a very interesting world on a space station with its diverse and sometimes very odd characters, and yet everyone was believable.

I felt for Karen and her hopeless attraction for Lois. I think she always knew Lois was out of her reach, and you wrote her very sympathetically.

I also enjoyed this Lois. She's still fiesty and courageous, but perhaps a little more thoughtful than she once was when we met her in Season 1.

I have so loved the exciting ride you have taken us on with this story. I too will be sorry to see it end, and can only hope you'll give us some more of the same wonderful exciting A-plots in the future, but perhaps next time with a little more of Clark.

Yours Jenni

Ooh, another great plot twist! Although, as others have said, you did hint at Karen's sexual orientation in earlier parts. I love how you handled it - no cliches (thank god), and no stereotypes (thank god again!) Just plain, good writing w/ a lot of care for and understanding of the characters. But of course in this, she'll forever be that season 1 Clark, because Clark gets to keep Lois!! And I have to smile at that (not that I don't want Karen to have some OTHER kind of happy ending of her own - I really care about her now!!)

Terry, this continues to be a fast-moving, well-told story and I really do love it I'm sorry my posting fdk has been so erratic - RL is quite busy at the moment!

But I cannot WAIT for the conclusion to this~

Nicole

I agree with everyone here, Terry's story is excellent and very well written. However, and you knew there had to be one, am I the only one who felt uncomfortable with the introduction of lesbianism into this story?

I have to say that I feel the kiss, and the resulting conversation, were totally gratuitous to the story. Nothing positive for the plot was gained by the addition, at least in my opinion I feel that Karen and Lois were friends, nothing more, and Lois spent the night in Karen’s room because she wanted to keep an eye on her friend. As such I feel that Karen stepped over the line when she decided to inject sexual tension into the mix. These two had only known each other for two weeks, that’s certainly not long enough to allow the kind of liberties Karen took with Lois. I wonder what changed Lois for that matter. If it was a man who kissed her after only two weeks of knowing each other I seriously doubt she’d behave in the same manner. I doubt she’d have taken it so calmly and I feel the offender would have had a close encounter with her hand and his cheek.

While this may be considered “stretching” the characters I wonder if this isn’t going over the line, at least on the G—PG side. I wouldn’t want some guy coming on to Clark and kissing him in a moment of weakness and I’m not comfortable with this exchange either. Can’t we keep sexual issues out of our fantasy world? If an author wants to experiment with homosexuality for Lois or Clark then I ask you to please do so on the nfic side so I can avoid the issue if I so choose.

I agree with Maria and Ray. I'm following this story since the beginning and liking it, but this chapter seemed disjointed. I couldn't imagine Lois in this part. The dialogue and scenes don't fit her. For me, it was totally out of her character. How couldn't she see Lois was a reporter? She read Lois's emails. Lois knew everybody in The Planet. She made direct contact with Perry and Clark. It was obvious she was a reporter!

Andreia

Stepping in before this becomes an issue. What Terry wrote is perfectly within the PG13 guidelines as far as this forum is concerned. Kisses are considered PG and don't have to be on the nfic side (the fact that they're between two women is irrelevant).

Kaethel
Fanfic Forum Moderator

Hey!

I'm been reading this story from the beginning, though I think it's the first time I comment. At first I thought I'd skim through it, as I tend to get bored with stories that are pretty much only A-Plot, but this one is so well-written, that it just kept me wanting to read on (and skimming was out of the question; I couldn't do it!)

As for Karen, I was seing that coming. I probably hadn't imagined that she'd go as far as kissing Lois,but I certainly don't feel that this part of the story came out of the blue, and I didn't feel uncomfortable with it.

Dying to see how you wrap it up

Cris