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crack_van2006-04-15 10:52 am
laceymcbain.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2006-04-15 10:52 am
Entry tags:
A Mad Season by Dolimir (R)
Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dolimir_k
Author Website: Dolimir's fics on the Smallville Slash Archive
Why this must be read:
Let's talk about Bruce Wayne. Although he never appears in Smallville, is never even mentioned in Smallville, it always seems reasonable that Lex would know him--especially since we know Lex went to an exclusive boarding school called Excelsior Prep. It seems reasonable that Bruce and Lex might've gone to the same school, been friends (or more - or not). If Lex can be best friends with Clark, he can certainly know Bruce, or so logic tells us.
The problem lies in deciding where these stories fit. Smallville people see Bruce Wayne and say, "That's DC universe." At the very least it's an AU, if not a crossover. The DCU people tend to keep Smallville stories very separate from comics-verse or cartoon-verse stories. However, in many cases, Bruce is both recognizable as the DCU character, and yet also uniquely Smallvillian because of his association with a different version of Lex Luthor. Often he's a Batman who doesn't exist within any particular continuity. So a lot of good stories with Bruce Wayne (or Batman) fall through the cracks. Because I also tend to write mixed universe stories, I feel a special affinity for them.
"A Mad Season" is one of those stories that bridges Smallville and DC, but clearly isn't a crossover because Bruce belongs in this world. It creates a solid backstory for Lex and Bruce's friendship, and deals with repercussions of events in the Smallville episode "Shattered," where Lex is institutionalized and loses some important memories. The story shifts between past and present - the history of Lex and Bruce's complicated friendship at school, and Lex's present where he's trying to sort out lies from truth. Clark, guilty over his role in Lex's present situation, tries to help by giving him back his memories. Bruce gets involved when Lex needs someone he can trust to help him sort it all out. The three of them have an interesting dynamic--complex and tense--and it's got the best kind of "everyone's a little in love with and wants to protect Lex" feeling. It's brilliantly executed and interweaves canon so seamlessly into the plot you'll think it's only natural that Bruce is there.
"I don't want any trouble," he said in his calmest voice.
"Then you probably shouldn't have come to Gotham." While the message was menacing, the delivery wasn't. It sounded more resigned. "The warehouse district at midnight is not the safest neighborhood for a displaced billionaire."
Lex frowned slightly. There was something about the voice that tickled his brain. It sounded familiar.
"You know who I am then?"
"I would venture to guess that even the homeless in Gotham would recognize someone as famous as yourself."
Lex's eyes widened as he finally placed the voice.
"Or infamous," he said, not even attempting to keep the humor from his tone.
The shadow, however, was not amused. "You're not wanted in Gotham, Luthor. Go back to Metropolis."
Lex took a step closer to the figure. "Or what?"
The shadow appeared to puff up in agitation.
Lex dared another step closer. "I thought you vowed to keep the streets of Gotham safe. Or are you selective about whom you chose to protect?"
The voice cut like glass. "Since when does demon spawn need protection?"
"Since I stopped drinking tap water."
Before he could take another breath, Lex's world went black.
In my circle of friends, this is simply known as the "Don't Drink the Tap Water" story, and has the best explanation for Lex's constant supply of bottled water. Read it and let the author know: A Mad Season
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author on LJ:
dolimir_kAuthor Website: Dolimir's fics on the Smallville Slash Archive
Why this must be read:
Let's talk about Bruce Wayne. Although he never appears in Smallville, is never even mentioned in Smallville, it always seems reasonable that Lex would know him--especially since we know Lex went to an exclusive boarding school called Excelsior Prep. It seems reasonable that Bruce and Lex might've gone to the same school, been friends (or more - or not). If Lex can be best friends with Clark, he can certainly know Bruce, or so logic tells us.
The problem lies in deciding where these stories fit. Smallville people see Bruce Wayne and say, "That's DC universe." At the very least it's an AU, if not a crossover. The DCU people tend to keep Smallville stories very separate from comics-verse or cartoon-verse stories. However, in many cases, Bruce is both recognizable as the DCU character, and yet also uniquely Smallvillian because of his association with a different version of Lex Luthor. Often he's a Batman who doesn't exist within any particular continuity. So a lot of good stories with Bruce Wayne (or Batman) fall through the cracks. Because I also tend to write mixed universe stories, I feel a special affinity for them.
"A Mad Season" is one of those stories that bridges Smallville and DC, but clearly isn't a crossover because Bruce belongs in this world. It creates a solid backstory for Lex and Bruce's friendship, and deals with repercussions of events in the Smallville episode "Shattered," where Lex is institutionalized and loses some important memories. The story shifts between past and present - the history of Lex and Bruce's complicated friendship at school, and Lex's present where he's trying to sort out lies from truth. Clark, guilty over his role in Lex's present situation, tries to help by giving him back his memories. Bruce gets involved when Lex needs someone he can trust to help him sort it all out. The three of them have an interesting dynamic--complex and tense--and it's got the best kind of "everyone's a little in love with and wants to protect Lex" feeling. It's brilliantly executed and interweaves canon so seamlessly into the plot you'll think it's only natural that Bruce is there.
"I don't want any trouble," he said in his calmest voice.
"Then you probably shouldn't have come to Gotham." While the message was menacing, the delivery wasn't. It sounded more resigned. "The warehouse district at midnight is not the safest neighborhood for a displaced billionaire."
Lex frowned slightly. There was something about the voice that tickled his brain. It sounded familiar.
"You know who I am then?"
"I would venture to guess that even the homeless in Gotham would recognize someone as famous as yourself."
Lex's eyes widened as he finally placed the voice.
"Or infamous," he said, not even attempting to keep the humor from his tone.
The shadow, however, was not amused. "You're not wanted in Gotham, Luthor. Go back to Metropolis."
Lex took a step closer to the figure. "Or what?"
The shadow appeared to puff up in agitation.
Lex dared another step closer. "I thought you vowed to keep the streets of Gotham safe. Or are you selective about whom you chose to protect?"
The voice cut like glass. "Since when does demon spawn need protection?"
"Since I stopped drinking tap water."
Before he could take another breath, Lex's world went black.
In my circle of friends, this is simply known as the "Don't Drink the Tap Water" story, and has the best explanation for Lex's constant supply of bottled water. Read it and let the author know: A Mad Season