From:  "L-Soft list server at Indiana University (1.8d)" <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
To:    "ARTF@MemoryAlpha.nil"
File:  "LOISCLA-GENERAL-L
LOG9807A"

=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Jul 1998 09:56:39 PDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "K.C. Boyd" <miracles4me@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: help-in search of fanfic
Content-Type: text/plain

I think that the fanfic your looking for is called "In the begining."
You can find it on the main fanfic archive.
           K.C.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Jul 1998 16:56:18 -0800
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Nancy <mrspeel@BLARG.NET>
Subject:      From Peace - interim address
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>>X-From_: PEverett9@aol.com  Tue Jun 30 09:20:38 1998
>>From: PEverett9@aol.com
>>Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 12:09:05 EDT
> >Subject: from Peace
>>
>>Hi, all,
>>
>>Just touching base here -- my AT&T Worldnet account has
>>gotten screwed up, and I have been told it probably won't be
>>fixed for a week.  Makes me glad for once that I still have
>>AOL... :S
>>
>>Anyway, just wanted to let you know I haven't died, just
>>temporarily relocated.  I'll let you know as soon as Worldnet
>>gets its act together again, and in the meantime, I'll be
>>checking the mail here on AOL.
>>
>>[Nancy, would you forward this to the fanfic list, so that
>>people there will know where to find me?  I don't really
>>want to resubscribe for just a week.]
>>
>>Peace
=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 1 Jul 1998 22:45:56 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Kathy Brown <kbrown@WEBMART.NET>
Subject:      Timelines (was: was that a *night*club?)
In-Reply-To:  <3.0.32.19980627221959.00699e14@mail.capitalnet.com>
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Catching up on fanfic list mail, as I'm finally semi-moved into my new
house (and this is much more fun than unpacking boxes ;)) ... oh, and I
finally got subscribed under my new email address. :)

At 10:20 PM -0400 6/27/98, Margaret Brignell wrote:
>Trust me, they're *all* like this:P  e.g. in TA, Lana grabs Clark after
>7pm, the Langs and he have dinner and talk wedding plans, then Clark
>rescues Lois and *then* they go shopping for ski suits, boots and cape
>material?  It's the middle of the *night* for crying out loud<g>

Since Clark can fly and Lois knows it (i.e., he doesn't have to hide it
from her), maybe they flew to an earlier time zone to buy the material.  If
this Clark speaks half as many languages as our Clark, I'm sure he could
negotiate a good deal on some European or Asian spandex. <g>

Kathy (who loves being a FoLC -- we can explain away anything ;))

______________________
Kathy Brown
kbrown@webmart.net  <------ Please note new address! :)
KathyB on IRC
______________________
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Jul 1998 23:05:29 +0300
Reply-To:     osangie@spinach.mscc.huji.ac.il
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Angela H. Garmaise" <osangie@SPINACH.MSCC.HUJI.AC.IL>
Subject:      Is list up?
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Hi, just checking to see if the list is still up and running; I might be
having server problems, but I'm not sure!
Sorry to take up your time!  This is just a test....
Angie
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Jul 1998 17:08:48 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      NFIC.... a question regarding legality...
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This is a question regarding nfic... please delete if the subject offends
you...

Hello everyone... long time no post ;)

I have a legality type question.  I am in the middle of a story, a "first
love" type of theme, and it ranges into nfic... heavy R, maybe even NC-17...

Anyway, what are the regulations regarding stories like this.  I have seen
several disclaimers in stories telling us that the characters are over 18
for
legality's sake, and in this case, the characters are a bit underage.  Not
REALLY underage, but they are high school students.  I thought about
changing
their ages, but this story is a followup to an established story, and
waiting
until they are "old enough" would really disrupt the story...

I have seen strange things posted in adult fanfic... ranging from
homosexuality, to groups, to really, really kinky stuff... I'm wondering,
how
much trouble would I get in putting this on a clearly labled adult site??  I
don't want to be in trouble, but I think the story is pretty good, and I
hate
to see it hidden (especially when it was requested by readers following the
first story).

Does anyone know what the rules are??

Thanks,
Crystal
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Jul 1998 17:37:23 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Sandra McDermin <SMcDermi@NAS.EDU>
Subject:      Re: NFIC.... a question regarding legality...
Mime-Version: 1.0
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This is a question regarding nfic... please delete if the subject offends
you...

>>Anyway, what are the regulations regarding stories like this.  I have
seen
several disclaimers in stories telling us that the characters are over 18
for
legality's sake, and in this case, the characters are a bit underage.  Not
REALLY underage, but they are high school students.  I thought about
changing
their ages, but this story is a followup to an established story, and
waiting
until they are "old enough" would really disrupt the story...<<

As I understand it, it's not the characters who should be over 18 in nfic,
but the *people who read the stories* should be adult.  At least, that's
what my provisos have always stated.  Be that as it may, I don't think L&C
stories should *ever* venture into children "making love" -- not that
anybody is suggesting that that is what you want are asking.  However, if
you're talking about  young adults who love each other and are experiencing
their first initiation into lovemaking, I think -- if handled with
sensitivity, care, and with a discussion about the very issue of their age,
as many novels do which choose to tackle such a real life possibility --
that it certainly can be no more objectionable to the vast majority of
readers than other stories which handle these issues with the same amount
of care.

This is my personal feeling and as a concerned adult, I think stories which
handle young love in a responsible manner, can teach lessons about what it
means to be an adult and how important it is to understand all the possible
implications and "dangers" of taking such a delicate step before reaching
legal age as well as the joy of sharing something with someone (when the
time is right --> *big* issue) who loves you, respects you and takes every
necessary precaution.

Frankly, there are people over the age of 18 who should spend more time
thinking about these things.
Sandy
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Jul 1998 16:00:24 -0500
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Gardners@htc.net" <gardners@HTC.NET>
Subject:      Goodbye
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Hello All,=20
        Well I have decided to leave this list. My life is changing and I
have =
decided (sob sob) to move on from Lois and Clark fanfiction. I will =
still be on the main list, and if you want to contact me for any reason =
please feel free to do so. (gardners@htc.net) I really want ya'll to =
keep in contact, so write me and don't forget to visit Brad's World. If =
a season 6 ever starts I might get back on, but don't count on it. I =
hope to hear from some of you soon,=20

Brad Gardner
Gardners@htc.net
http://www.angelfire.com/ga/gardners/brdswrld.html  <--Visit Brad's =
World
Spencer Spencer: You can be my sex slave.=20
Lois: Kill Me.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 2 Jul 1998 22:20:59 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Gary <gar8434@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: NFIC.... a question regarding legality...
In-Reply-To:  <481eee89.359bf6e1@aol.com>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 05:08 PM 7/2/98 -0400, you wrote:

>
>Anyway, what are the regulations regarding stories like this.  I have seen
>several disclaimers in stories telling us that the characters are over 18
for
>legality's sake, and in this case, the characters are a bit underage.  Not
>REALLY underage, but they are high school students.  I thought about
changing
>their ages, but this story is a followup to an established story, and
waiting
>until they are "old enough" would really disrupt the story...
>

>
>Does anyone know what the rules are??
>
>Thanks,
>Crystal
>

I've read the New York State Penal Code, and nfanfic of any type is
completely
legal (on sexual grounds). As long as the works remain words and never
become
visual, or other 3-D representations thereof.

And as long as they're both 16 it should be okay, you can get married at
that age
anyway.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
| Gary A. Rudick mailto:gar8434@rit.edu <http://www.rit.edu/~gar8434> |
| "What's done to children, they will do to society." - Karl Menninger|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Jul 1998 11:34:41 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         No Name Available <Larus2407@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: NFIC.... a question regarding legality...
Mime-Version: 1.0
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In a message dated 98-07-02 22:20:45 EDT, gar8434@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU writes:

<< I've read the New York State Penal Code, and nfanfic of any type is
completely
 legal (on sexual grounds). >>

Now, Gary, I'd be quite surprised if NY Penal Code specifically refers to
nfanfic <g>. Tell me I live in a state that is so cyberaware that it
actually
mentions such things!

--Laurie
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Jul 1998 06:14:55 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Debby Stark <debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
In-Reply-To:  <85256627.005C86AC.00@smtpmta.nas.edu>
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Sorry I'm *so* late in getting in on this thread, but I'm trying to catch
up this weekend :)  I've only read Sandra's reply, but it makes me want to
reply, so...

At 10:18 PM 6/18/98 +0000, you wrote:
>>>I'll also ask the *big* question.  Why was it wrong for Lois to love
>>Superman instead of Clark?  She didn't know they were the same guy,
>>that was the idea Clark had in mind, wasn't it? Create a persona to
>>fool the public?<<

>Why is it "not okay" to love Superman instead of Clark?

>Well, for the sake of argument, because Superman is the disguise and Clark
>is the real person.  Superman is the vehicle through which Clark performs
>his acts of heroism.  Loving Superman, without knowing anything about him
>other than that he shows up periodically and performs heroic deeds is a
>fantasy kind of love.

I agree that it's fantasy, but in Lois's defense (I liked 1st season Lois
because she survived all her trials and got stronger), in Lois's defense,
she had tried "real" guys and found them wanting. She was a hard-working
woman who didn't have time for an ordinary, dull social life. If she was
looking for anyone, it was a man who was her equal intellectually and
spiritually (not in a religious sense but in an approach to the world), a
man who would be her true partner. I think she fell hard for Superman
because he more than fulfilled that dream guy role: he was as super as she
was and more, and she saw him as a real person who might possibly need a
person like her.

Further in her defense, she did want to know more about Superman.  She was
always gathering facts about him for the Daily Planet and she was his chief
cheerleader. But it was more than a "The suit comes off?" kind of knowledge
she wanted, she also wanted to cook for him (salad, noodles), to get
domestic for him--to nest with someone who could fly in reality while she
flew metaphorically. She also unconsciously proved herself his equal when
working along side him and in working to the same ends as he did, to fight
crime and to help people (despite her cynical outlook on life).  She may
have wanted to mother Superman; she definitely protected him (from the
Kryptonite secret getting out) and fought for him (squaring off against
Diana Stride).

She also wanted him to know more about her and was startled to find that he
did ("You read my work?") On the other hand, when he wasn't around she
wasn't afraid to put him in his place when it conflicted with a greater
goal ("Leave the truth and justice stuff to Superman!" I think is the
quote).

In summary, she wanted a more full relationship with the slippery fellow
and about the first half of season two it looked like she might get her
wish as Clark was written into the background.

Fortunately for all involved, the ratings floundered and the only solution
was writing Lois as expanding her viewpoint and seeing you-know-who as a
real person, and writing Clark as getting a kickstart from some off-stage
mechanism.  I found that the second half of season two was a very powerful
growth period for Lois and I'll always like that about that period of the
show. Lois grew up then--she was as resourseful as ever but showed the
mature, interesting emotional stability that flighty Clark needed.

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Jul 1998 22:04:31 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Mercedes Galvez-Arango <MGALVEZ@DHVX20.CSUDH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

good response!!

Mercedes
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Jul 1998 06:25:47 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         The Zoomway <Zoomway@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
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In a message dated 98-07-03 13:39:32 EDT, debby@SWCP.COM writes:

<< I agree that it's fantasy, but in Lois's defense (I liked 1st season Lois
 because she survived all her trials and got stronger >>

I think Lois definitely started to get stronger 2nd sesason, but 1rst season
ened with her switching from almost marrying Lex, to almost confessing
deeper
feelings to Clark, to smirking up at Superman overhead saying "I'm not
finished with you yet either, big fella" (oh I hate that line ;) All that
within the last few minutes of the finale, and she wasn't a clone, didn't
have
amnesia, or a therapist hypnotizing her<g>  She was allegedly in her *right
mind*.  Just too big a trauma I suppose, so let's go to the smaller trauma
that led to the bigger one.  Lois couldn't  have the man (Superman) she
*really* loved, so she was going to marry a man she admitted to not loving,
and she did this because ... well...er, because ... uh ... hmm, let's just
say
it wasn't because she was terribly strong<g>

>>>in Lois's defense,
she had tried "real" guys and found them wanting. She was a hard-working
woman who didn't have time for an ordinary, dull social life.<<<

Actually, I think as Perry said, Lois threw herself into her work like it
was
going to save her.  By her own admission at the time back in first season
she
was a work-aholic. That's not quite the same as 'hard working'.  It created
the perfect dodge when a guy, who could have been a perfectly nice guy (like
Clark maybe ;) showed an interest, she could say "I don't have time for it."
The main flaw in Lois's escapist tactic is that no one was fooled by her
"I'm
too busy" act.  Her zero social life was a running gag.  Lois was not
perceived by co-workers as not having time for a 'dull social life', but
rather Lois *herself* was the one perceived as dull ("Poor, Lois. All work
and
no personality"),  work-centric ("Are you saying I don't know how to have
fun?") and socially inept ("I have dates."  "You have interviews, it's not
the
same thing.")  The good news, of course, is that both Lois and Clark were
socially inept to some degree.  Lois, due to a string of 'federal disaster'
relationships, and Clark due to having zero relationships.  Since IGACOY was
recently brought up, it's a great example of how maybe Lois herself might
easily have created the federal disaster relastionhips.

I mean think about it, right after Clark ruined her cover, threw her in the
garbage and brushed off her anger, she went home, wept into a carton of ice
cream and sobbed "I *am* jealous" boo hoo hoo.  Of what? A guy who had just
treated her so badly?  If she was able to even remotely ascribe affection to
that kind of treatment, then it's easy to see that the *men* weren't the
problem.  It's why when Lois decided to marry Lex, for ... whatever reason,
and took a great deal of humiliation from him,  it came as no surprise.
Mrs.
Cox was draped all over Lex, and she and Lex were obviously keeping secrets
from Lois, but Lois had lost all but the vestiges of her spine by this
point,
and so just 'took' it.  Clark, fortunately, treated Lois worse than Lex in
the
finale, and so naturally Lois started to feel that attraction pendulum swing
towards the worse offender, and thus was thankfully able to say no to Lex at
the altar because her thoughts were all warm and gooey for Clark. It may
have
taken a therapist, but Lois finally had a breakthrough:

"But if I want that kind of man, and I *get* that kind of man, why am I not
happy?"
"You like chocolate, right?"
"How come everybody knows that?"
"But you know it's not good for you, and the older and wiser we get, the
less
tolerance we have for things that aren't good for us."

Lois may have had a history of being attracted to "bad boys", rotters, cads,
users, etc., and so maybe Superman was the first exception to that rule. He
showed her that 'powerful' or 'strong' didn't have to equal negative
personality traits.  That's why I didn't care how many fans screamed that
Lois
was an idiot for loving Superman, or even if the show's creators painted her
love for Superman as wrong, I think loving Superman taught Lois something
valuable, and paved the way for loving Clark. Superman may have been the
only
decent, tender, caring man she'd ever loved up to that point, and so also
allowed her to gradually see that all of those positive traits Clark
possessed, like Superman, made him incredibly strong.

>>>But it was more than a "The suit comes off?"<<

Oh gosh, I hate that line<g>  I know it was just a gag line, but it made
Lois
sound as dumb as Cat when she thought Tsunami was a shrimp and avocado dish
... geez, it seemed like a Scooby-Doo episode where Shaggy would make an
utterly stupid comment and unwittingly end up saving the day<g>

>>>Fortunately for all involved, the ratings floundered and the only
solution
was writing Lois as expanding her viewpoint and seeing you-know-who as a
real person<<<

The reason I will never see just Clark or just Superman as the real person,
or
rather I refuse to just see Superman as nothing more than a disguise, is
because the other night on IRC we were talking about the Superman movies.
In
those movies, Clark saw *Superman* as who he was and Clark Kent was the
*disguiise*.  That was the premise for years and years of the Superman
legend.
If the "just wishing could make it so" policy were applied here, than it's
only because that version of Clark thought of Superman as the *real* guy,
and
*not* because it was the truth.  On  Lois and Clark, that Clark believes
that
Clark Kent is the *real* guy, but could just as easily have decided that
since
Superman represented more of the truth about his powers and alien origins,
then he too could have proclaimed Superman as his *real* persona.   On the
series,  *both* Clark and Superman were disguises. They were both leading
people to believe a lie, or at least leaving out a whole heck of a lot of
the
truth<g>  Essentially Lois was labeled 'wrong' for not picking the preferred
disguise ;)

Zoomway@aol.com (Happy 4th of July Folc, buena suerte ;)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sat, 4 Jul 1998 21:31:04 +1000
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Jenny Stosser <jenerate@OZRAMP.NET.AU>
Subject:      wav files help please
Comments: To: LOISCLA@vm.ege.edu.tr
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi, I'm posting this to both lists in the hope that it will reach the most
FoLCs.  Please accept my apology if you receive it twice.

I'm cataloguing my Lois & Clark sound bites in preparation for creating a
web-page to make them available to as many of you as are interested.
However, I'm having trouble identifying the episodes where many of them
come from.  Out of 348 wav files, I can tell who is talking in most of
them, but I'm lost as to the origins of 92 of them.  I'll list those 92 by
name and content below.  If you can identify them, please email me!
PRIVATELY! at the address below.  If you want copies of any of the ones
I've listed here, also please email me PRIVATELY!  When the list is
complete, I intend to put them up (or at least their names) on a webpage so
everyone will have access to them! =20

title                   speaker(s)              dialogue
medicate.wav                                    Are you on any type of
medication, ma'am?
woah.wav                                        woah!
beverage.wav            Bobby Bigmouth, Lois    B: Wait a minute, you don't
have any
crackers? No nuts? L: Ice? B: Oh come on, what am I? A beverage?
forever.wav             Clark                   It's not the M word that
makes it forever for me Lois,
my love is forever because, because it just is.
lex.wav                 Clark                   Clark: So, how was your
date? Lois: Very... interesting.
Clark: What does that mean? Lois: Lex wasn't quite=85 himself. Clark: Well
that must have been a welcome change!
moan.wav                Clark                   mmmm! MMMM! <kiss>
NOT.WAV         Clark                   Absolutely not.
ohjoy.wav               Clark                   oh joy
ooh.wav                 Clark                   <intake of breath thru
teeth> oooh!
SMOOTHIE.WAV            Clark                   How about a smoothie? It'll
only take a second
SQUAGGLE.WAV            Clark                   Uh! =85 Oooh! (grunting)
tellme.wav              Clark                   tell me about it.
UPOOPS.WAV              Clark                   Oop-oops! Here he comes!
askdate.wav             Clark, Lois             CK: Lois, I want you to go
out with me! L: What?
You're asking me out? CK: Yeah, you know, like, on a date. LL: A date, you
mean like a real date, where I take out my good perfume, the one that I got
after I saw Love Affair, the good one, not the remake and I put a dab
behind my ear, I don't know why? CK: Yeah, I guess that's what I'm saying.
LL: Well, that's, Well, I, I just, I don't know what to say!"
crazy.wav               Clark, Lois             C: Can I ask you a question?
L: Yes sweetheart? C:
Are you crazy?!
daymetu.wav             Clark, Lois             I kept waiting for this
incredible feeling of
connection, like I was exactly where I belonged, but that's only happened
once in my life. L: When? C: The day I met you.
dontlve.wav             Clark, Lois             C: I'll find him. L: No!
Please don't leave me!
C: Ok, I won't.  I'm here, I'm right here! I'm right here.
fonekiss.wav            Clark, Lois             mmmhmmm<phone rings> oh!
,mmmhmmm
hard.wav                Clark, Lois             C: It's hard. It's just
hard. It's harder than I
ever thought it would be.  L: We can make it work.  I know we can!
kerth3.wav              Clark, Lois             C: Since we already went
ahead and made plans, I
was wondering if you'd like to go to the Kerth awards? L: You mean, as your
date? C: I was gonna go as yours.  L: So you want me to hang on your arm
and smile and tell people how proud I am of the great big reporter man? C:
Sounds good to me!
lampfall.wav            Clark, Lois             C: I - I, oh! Ooh! L: aah!
C; um... L: sorry!
llbest.wav              Clark, Lois             Clark: Ta dum! Lois:  You=85
are the best!
marryme.wav             Clark, Lois             C: Marry me, Lois. Let's not
plan, let's not
wait, let's not let clonemakers, or psycho psychiatrists, or women who
shrink people into little people keep us apart.  Just marry me. L: You
know, that's precisely what I was thinking.
NOPAIN.WAV              Clark, Lois             C: It could be rigorous and
intensive. L: No pain,
no gain.  Whaddaya say we start =85 now?
prioritz.wav            Clark, Lois             Clark: I gotta prioritise.
Besides I think I
should really spend my time on much more important things. Lois: Mmm. But
I'm telling you that this is really important. And see then Superman would
feel all the good. Clark: Superman's feeling really good. Lois: I know he
does. But I'm your wife, and I think you should take it!
steel.wav               Clark, Lois             Clark: Ah, I am Superman.
Lois: Mmmm! The Man of
Steel!
tornado.wav             Clark, Lois             Clark: honey. Lois:That's
amazing! I like it! I
never thought of myself as a honey. What's happening to me. So you got any
other names in mind?  Clark: Sweetheart? Lois: Mm. Clark: Darling. My
little=85 tornado. Lois: Oh, this is disgusting!
so_so.wav               Clark, Lois, Jimmy      Clark: So. Lois: So.  Jimmy:
Am I
interrupting something? Clark: No Lois: No, no.
PEP.WAV         Clark, Lois, Perry, Jimmy       Clark: I just remembered
that I left=85
ah. Lois:  The name of your friend, the mine engineer - Clark: in your car.
I'll be right back.  Perry: That what I like to see around here. Some pep!
Jimmy: Pep's my middle name
FLYBACK.WAV             Clark, Martha           So what are you saying, I
should go crawling
back on my hands and knees? No honey, fly back.  It's faster.
HOWFEEL.WAV             Dr Friskin              And how did that make you
feel?
ouch.wav                Dr Klein                        ouch?
LTLROOM.WAV             Dr Klein, Superman      K: Well there is one last
test I need to
run, it'll only take a moment S: Great, can we do it right now? K: Well,
right, yeah, ok.  Well then , why don't you just step down the hall into
that little room, and we'll=85 we'll go from there.  S: Which little room?
K=
:
That little room, there. S: Just me? K: Just you. S: Alone? K: Alone. S:
What's in the room? K: Nothing's in the room S: Nothing? K: No, alright, a
couple of magazines, S: oh, OK.<pause> I don't understand.  What exactly is
supposed to happen in there? K: Oh god, get me on the plane right now!
SICKO.WAV               Ellen                   Of all the sicko, psycho,
sexual=85
POOF.WAV                HG Wells                Yes, yes, yes quite. If she
did, she would have been
caught in the, ah, poof! The interdimensional vortex.
comin.wav               Jimmy, Lois             Where you going? Nowhere!
I'm comin' too!
yikes.wav               L&C (together)          Yikes (laugh)
hottime.wav             Lex                     There's gonna be a hot time
in the old town tonight
surprise.wav            Lex                     You surprise me Mr Kent. I'm
not often surprised.
throwup.wav             Lex                     I may throw up.
WAR.WAV         Lex                     This is war!
ANYTHING.WAV            Lois                    Do anything you want to me!
barf.wav                        Lois                    Because they make me
wanna barf!
CDUH.WAV                Lois                    Duh!
COFFEE.WAV              Lois                    <gasp> Get your own damn
coffee!
comefrom.wav            Lois                    Where did *that* come from?
dontcare.wav            Lois                    I don't care. Anything's
fine.
DONTSTOP.WAV            Lois                    don't stop!
DREAM.WAV               Lois                    You know, I dreamed of this.
Spending the night in your
arms. First it was Superman I dreamed of, then it was Clark.
duck.wav                Lois                    If something looks like a
duck, walks like a duck and
talks like a duck, chances are pretty good it is a duck.
fair.wav                        Lois                    Gee that's really
fair.
frisked.wav             Lois                    It is horrible the way
they're treating us.  See that
agent over there?  He frisked me, twice!
galactic.wav            Lois                    L: What do you think I am?
Galactically stupid?
goodtime.wav            Lois                    Well, you know how to show a
girl a good time!
hereitcom.wav           Lois                    Oh boy. Here it comes
hlps.wav                Lois                    Help! Superman
kidding.wav             Lois                    Are you kidding me?
losingit.wav            Lois                    I am *this close* to losing
it!
makeit.wav              Lois                    How are we gonna make it
through the day?
MENHOFLY.WAV            Lois                    ahum. I only marry men who
fly.
notgood.wav             Lois                    Oh, that's not good. No, no
no, that's not good either!
OY.WAV                  Lois                    oy!
started.wav             Lois                    Don't get me started
UPGOOD.WAV              Lois                    It's up! It's good!
whata.wav               Lois                    Lois: What a day this has
been! What a rare mood I'm in!
KISS.WAV                Lois, Clark             l&c kissing
kiss3.wav               Lois, Clark             kissing
grtbody.wav             Lois, Clark             L: Is that why you love me?
C: You have a really
great body
kerth5.wav              Lois, Clark             L: So, how did I rate as a
date?  C: Oh, A-Plus.
L: I hung on your arm decoratively. C: You did, L: fawned appropriately, C:
Absolutely. L: and just faded into the background during your big moment.
C: You were beautiful, yet immutable <?> L: Mmm make me go through another
night like that and I'll rip out your spleen! C: Ok, fair enough. <pause>
It's smaller than I thought. L: Not quite as shiny close up.  You know, you
win a few of these, you find out they don't mean as much. Quick rush, a few
pats on the back then you're back on the beat only as good as your next
story.  C: Where do you think I should keep it?  L: I'm the wrong person to
ask, I keep mine in the bottom of the closet.
nitealon.wav            Lois, Clark             L: I love when you do that.
C: Yeah, how about
this?  <kiss> L: I can't imagine how I slept all those nights alone before
us. C: Mmm.
obsess.wav              Lois, Clark             L: You're obsessing.  C:
Well, it bothers me.  I
mean, a bank robber?  L: Clark, nobody's perfect.  OK, scratch that.
You're perfect.
OHHHH.WAV               Lois, Clark             L: mmmm! C: MMMM! <kiss>
oneway.wav              Lois, Clark             L: I hope you don't do
everything that fast!  C:
Hmm there's one way to find out!
soigrin.wav             Lois, Clark             Lois: So what are you
grinning at? Clark: You.
You are brilliant, you are talented, you are gorgeous, and you are my wife.
So I grin. Lois: Well, you're not so bad yourself!
waff.wav                        Lois, Clark             L: I'm really glad
we talked=85 C: Me too. L: You
know, just when I think I know everything there is to know about you, you
take my breath away with something new.  C: Good, because that's exactly
how I feel every single time I see you!
WORTHIT.WAV             Lois, Clark             Lois: So it was worth it
then?  The wait I mean?
Clark: Lois, it was perfect, mmm, better than perfect
anywork.wav             Perry                   Awww does anybody still work
here?
kerth2.wav              Perry                   Allright everybody let's
gather round, listen up.  The
nominations for the Kerth Investigative Journalism Prize are in and I'm
happy to announce that one of our very own has gotten the nod.
kerth4.wav              Perry                   P: Haha! Oh boy, what an
evening!  I'll tell you now I
know exactly how the Colonel felt when Elvis brought home that first gold
record. C: Yeah. P: Clark, I'm so proud of you, I can't see straight!
lcwoohoo                Perry                   Let's give it up for Lois
and Clark! Woo hoo hoo hoo!
nearthat.wav            Perry                   Ooh, I'm just not gonna go
near that.
closet.wav              Perry, Clark            P: When are you coming=85.
Out of the closet? C:
Soon sir!
excite.wav              Superman                Yeah well don't worry,
you're not the only ones in
for some excitement!
Fall.wav                        Superman                Its all right Lois
I've got you
GOTHERE.WAV             Superman                don't go there!
likelighting.wav                Superman                I like the lighting;
makes them look=85 bigger.
strangev.wav            Superman                As I am a strange visitor
from another planet.
supehi.wav              superman                hi.
thereyou.wav            Superman                there you go!
duh.wav                 Tempus                  Duh.
gstupid.wav             Tempus                  Galactically Stupid!
hello!Duh.wav           Tempus                  Hello? Duh!
irony.wav               Tempus                  God! I love irony!
ohplease.wav            Tempus                  Oh please!
sidesplt.wav            Tempus                  Ha, ha, oh Lois, ever the
funster, stop my sides are
splitting
WHATEVER.WAV            Tempus                  whatever
LOL.WAV         Teri & Dean             <laughing>
WV.wav                  villain                 Maybe next time West
Virginia will take more time coming
up with an original name.
NOBODY.WAV              Wanda Detroit           part of Nobody Wants You
when you're down and=
 out.
oldfish.wav             Wanda Detroit           Trouble sticks to me like
stink on an old fish.
WANDAD.WAV              Wanda Detroit           singing Nobody knows you
when you're down and out

--
Jenny Stosser -*- jenerate@ozramp.net.au -*- (Jenerator or Some1Else on IRC)
-*- My ICQ# is 11477318 -*- This message is umop ap!sdn -*-
Photos of David (5) and Megan (2) on the Stosser Family HomePage:=20
http://geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/4583  Please sign our guestbook!
=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 3 Jul 1998 22:53:16 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Christopher & Kimberly Janecki <ctjane@PACIFIER.COM>
Subject:      Lois and Clark stories
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hello, my name is Kimberly D Janecki Iam new to the fanfic list I just
wanted to tell all of you authors out there that I have enjoyed reading
your stories alot and to keep more of them coming. There is so many on the
Lois and Clark archieves that it's hard to choose which one to read at
times. Which can be hard when your husband or your 11month old son won't
let you have any computer time.
Bye for now,
                           Kimberly D. Janecki
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Jul 1998 12:14:41 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Test Please ignore
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Test please ignore.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 06:59:21 +1000
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Jenny Stosser <jenerate@OZRAMP.NET.AU>
Subject:      update on wavfiles pages
Comments: To: LOISCLA@vm.ege.edu.tr
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my cries into the wilderness for
help <G>
The webpages are now up (with no sounds attached - I don't have room for
them!).  Check them out starting at http://www.ozramp.net.au/~jenerate
If you want to check the 5th page, you'll see a vaguely current list of
sounds which I'm still waiting on ID on.  I won't have time to update the
page every day, probably once a week or so at this stage, so don't worry if
your information doesn't show.  Any corrections are also welcome!

--
Jenny Stosser -*- jenerate@ozramp.net.au -*- (Jenerator or Some1Else on IRC)
-*- My ICQ# is 11477318 -*- This message is umop ap!sdn -*-
Photos of David (5) and Megan (2) on the Stosser Family HomePage:
http://geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/4583  Please sign our guestbook!
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Jul 1998 19:18:15 -0600
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Debby Stark <debby@SWCP.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
In-Reply-To:  <689eda9b.359e032c@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 06:25 AM 7/4/98 -0400, you wrote:
>In a message dated 98-07-03 13:39:32 EDT, debby@SWCP.COM writes:
>
><< I agree that it's fantasy, but in Lois's defense (I liked 1st season
Lois
> because she survived all her trials and got stronger >>
>
>I think Lois definitely started to get stronger 2nd sesason, but 1rst
season
>ened with her switching from almost marrying Lex, to almost confessing
deeper
>feelings to Clark, to smirking up at Superman overhead saying "I'm not
>finished with you yet either, big fella" (oh I hate that line ;) All that
>within the last few minutes of the finale, and she wasn't a clone, didn't
have
>amnesia, or a therapist hypnotizing her<g>  She was allegedly in her *right
>mind*.

She was also being written by some guys who had orders to take the show in
a more action/Superman oriented direction. The 2nd half of season 2, IMO,
was her strongest showing, but I still like how, at least until BatP and
HoL, she managed to bounce back from every insult and become a fuller, more
interesting person in the process, despite sometimes mediocre script
writing.

>Just too big a trauma I suppose, so let's go to the smaller trauma
>that led to the bigger one.  Lois couldn't  have the man (Superman) she
>*really* loved, so she was going to marry a man she admitted to not loving,
>and she did this because ... well...er, because ... uh ... hmm, let's just
say
>it wasn't because she was terribly strong<g>

Let's say the writers were ordered to write something to move the series in
the new direction and no one paid any heed to what it did to Lois's
character. Too, Lois already had a history of being blind to some people's
true selves, so it's not surprising that she--and of course 98% of
Metropolis--didn't see Lex for what he really was anymore than they saw his
polar opposite, Superman, as really being Clark Kent.

[snip]

>The good news, of course, is that both Lois and Clark were
>socially inept to some degree.  Lois, due to a string of 'federal disaster'
>relationships, and Clark due to having zero relationships.

Except, of course, with Nigerian princesses. I suspect he had fine
relationships, tons of friends, and a good, even comfortable grasp of a
worldwide variety of social niceties. He simply [sic ;)] couldn't be
entirely himself with anyone but his folks. He couldn't find a place to
settle down and he hoped, in the Pilot, that Metropolis would be that
place. Now, if you mean close, intense, personal, romantic relationships in
which he would reveal all about himself to the subject of his affections, I
agree.

[snip]

>>>>But it was more than a "The suit comes off?"<<
>
>Oh gosh, I hate that line<g>  I know it was just a gag line, but it made
Lois
>sound as dumb as Cat when she thought Tsunami was a shrimp and avocado dish

I thought it was cute and I could relate immediately. There she was, hoping
to help (like she would later help the fellow in "Ides of Metropolis"),
when she was suddenly reminded that she was dealing with *Superman* here,
not just some innocent unfortunate person wrongly accused and persecuted
and in need of her mad-dog style of assistance. Typical Lois: a true hera
without superpowers.

>... geez, it seemed like a Scooby-Doo episode where Shaggy would make an
>utterly stupid comment and unwittingly end up saving the day<g>

I strongly dislike cartoons with ugly dogs who are smarter than their ugly
human counterparts. Five minutes of that series was more than enough for me.

Debby
Debby@swcp.com
Bugs Bunny and Duckman
are more my speed :)
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 5 Jul 1998 23:49:09 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         The Zoomway <Zoomway@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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In a message dated 98-07-05 21:20:37 EDT, you write:

<< She was also being written by some guys who had orders to take the show
in
 a more action/Superman oriented direction. The 2nd half of season 2, IMO,
 was her strongest showing >>

If you're saying the 2nd season writers wrote Lois better than 1rst
season..well ;)  2nd season introduced John McNamara, probably the best
writer
the show had of any season in an 'over all' sense simply because he could
write an interesting plot and great characterization on a par with Bryce
Zabel, but also had a truly wicked sense of humor, but DJL and her brother
Dan
wrote the 1rst season finale, and so it's not like we're talking "one-shot"
writers here who didn't know the characters.

>>>>but I still like how, at least until BatP and
HoL, she managed to bounce back from every insult and become a fuller, more
interesting person in the process, despite sometimes mediocre script
writing.<<<

I agree, since the episodes weren't connected to each other 1rst season, it
was easy for Lois to 'bounce back' as if nothing ever happened, because
well,
it was almost as if nothing ever did<g>

>>>
Let's say the writers were ordered to write something to move the series in
the new direction and no one paid any heed to what it did to Lois's
character. <<<<

I'd hate to think DJL of all people would have "paid no heed to what it did
to
Lois's character"

>>>Too, Lois already had a history of being blind to some people's
true selves, so it's not surprising that she--and of course 98% of
Metropolis--didn't see Lex for what he really was anymore than they saw his
polar opposite, Superman, as really being Clark Kent.<<<

This has nothing to do with Lois being blind to who/what Lex really was. As
you said, everyone in Metropolis thought that Lex was a 'darn nice guy' and
that Clark and Superman were two separate people.  The issue for me is
*why*?
Why did Lois almost marry Lex? A man she admitted she didn't love.  I could
see her being hurt by the way Clark as Superman treated her, but did that
mean
she *had* to get married to *anyone* at that moment???  I mean even if she
were temporarily traumatized by the rejection from Superman (assuming he was
her only linchpin left after the Planet went 'kaboom' ;) we're talking about
some serious time passing between saying "yes, Lex, I'll marry you" to
turning
him down at the altar (and only because images of yet another man spared her
the fate)  Why did she decide to marry Lex?  Her horoscope said "today is
the
day to accept a proposal from a billionaire"?  She was ready to retire from
reporting and might as well have a wealthy meal ticket?  Oh yeah, I forgot,
it's so that the initials on Lex Lulthor's monogrammed stuff wouldn't have
to
be duplicated, they could just ... share ;)

>>>Except, of course, with Nigerian princesses. I suspect he had fine
relationships, tons of friends, and a good, even comfortable grasp of a
worldwide variety of social niceties.<<<

Which are all swell, but all *very* different from a close, loving
*romantic*
relationships with someone, and that's what the issue is.  He had no
experience in that field by his own admission, so he and Lois were both
'dancing in the dark' but at least they started dancing there together<g>

>>>Now, if you mean close, intense, personal, romantic relationships in
which he would reveal all about himself to the subject of his affections, I
agree.<<<

Why, yes indeedy, I was ;)

>>>I thought it was cute and I could relate immediately. <<<

Believe me, I know most people thought the line was "cute" or funny, but I'd
hate to think Lois would be that stupid, or maybe she thought that was the
natural coloration of Kryptonian males, and when they molt, they have that
hot, tight, black suit ;)

>>Typical Lois: a true hera
without superpowers.<<<

Uh huh, and as thick as a brick<g>

>>>>I strongly dislike cartoons with ugly dogs who are smarter than their
ugly
human counterparts. Five minutes of that series was more than enough for me.
<<<

You thought ole Scooby and Shaggy were ugly?  Aw, I thought they were kind
of
cute..*and* thick as bricks<g>

Zoomway@aol.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 09:26:49 -0700
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Christopher Kiraly <dane_spellbinder@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

---The Zoomway <Zoomway@AOL.COM> wrote:
> The reason I will never see just Clark or just Superman as the real
person, or
> rather I refuse to just see Superman as nothing more than a
disguise, is
> because the other night on IRC we were talking about the Superman
movies.  In
> those movies, Clark saw *Superman* as who he was and Clark Kent was
the
> *disguiise*.  That was the premise for years and years of the
Superman legend.
> If the "just wishing could make it so" policy were applied here,
than it's
> only because that version of Clark thought of Superman as the *real*
guy, and
> *not* because it was the truth.  On  Lois and Clark, that Clark
believes that
> Clark Kent is the *real* guy, but could just as easily have decided
that since
> Superman represented more of the truth about his powers and alien
origins,
> then he too could have proclaimed Superman as his *real* persona.
On the
> series,  *both* Clark and Superman were disguises. They were both
leading
> people to believe a lie, or at least leaving out a whole heck of a
lot of the
> truth<g>  Essentially Lois was labeled 'wrong' for not picking the
preferred
> disguise ;)

I tend to disagree with these entire arguments.  Pre 1986, it was
known that Clark Kent was a nerd and a klutz (to the extent that is
was) from the movies and the comics series, because that was how it
was in the beginning in the comics (the bible of Superman information
if you will, since that is where he began, and continues to be even
after a really stupid movie, and a reneged TV series).

Now, in 1986, a man by the name of John Byrne changed all that.  He
wrote a 6 issue (episode) mini-series entitled "The Man of Steel".  In
this series, Mr. Byrne rewrote the legend of Superman, and how he came
to be among us, etc.  After this series, every comic book that wrote
about Superman used this new concept to show Superman.  (IE Clark is
real, and Supes is a disguise.)

When the writers (and their many faults) began and continued writing
the LnC episodes, they used this fully accepted format for the basis
of their stories.

So Clark is real and Superman is the disguise.
**Period**

Clark Kent is not a disguise.  Clark Kent is Clark Kent.  He is an
alien sent to Earth as an infant, raised by what is probably the best
set of parents in the history of parents (Let's face it, if all of us
had Jonathon and Martha as parents, this world would truly be
incredible, but I digress.)

He does not pretend to be a different person, or to hide his
Kryptonian heritage.  He is *Kryptonian*.  *Period*.

Every look he makes, every way he says things, every fiber in his
being is Kryptonian.  All he does is *refrain*, not hide, not pretend,
but *refrain* from using his more obvious bits of Kryptonian heritage
in front of other people.  (Even this is an exception to the rule,
because in the series, he used his superhearing, his x-ray vision, his
heat vision, his superspeed, his flight while Clark Kent, and, for
that matter, even in front of others at times.)

In both the comics, and the series, 'Superman' is the *disguise* if
you will, but even that is inaccurate, because 'Superman' is Clark
Kent, in gaudy clothing, *refraining* from using *least* obvious bits
of his Kryptonian heritage (his personality, his laugh, his sparkling
eyes, his mirth, etc; and there were several occasions (especially in
the series) where 'Clark' showed through even in the 'get-up').

Now, is it wrong for Lois to love Superman and ignore Clark, even
though they are the same person.  Depends on what she fell in love with.

If your working from the Love at First Sight theory, then no.

Test this, and then we can argue about it later!

Lois falls in love with Clark Kent before she ever met Superman.  Lois
was a person who was strict in her work, didn't trust anyone, and had
'interviews', not dates.

Within hours of meeting Clark Kent, she is shocked by what he looks
like ("It's nine o'clock, I thought you'd be naked, er ready!), allows
herself to be consoled by him (when the find the dead body of Dr
Platt), and even conveys some of her deepest secrets and fears (when
they are captured by Dr Baines).

However, like most of us mere mortals, she listens to her head and not
her heart (or she just lets her fears overrule her true feelings).
She tells Clark "Don't fall for me farmboy, I don't have time for it!"
 Not "I don't like you," or "Your not my type," but "I don't have time
for it."

This says to me that her heart has thought about it, but her head says
it doesn't fit into her scheme of what she wants in her life, or what
she wants her life to be (even though she truly doesn't know!)

So she falls in love with a Kryptonian being who refrains from using
his more obvious bits of his heritage.  However, she is scared to
death of how to deal with it, so she ignores it, pretends the feelings
don't exist, and continues with her life.

Next, she meets 'Superman'.  And she experiences Love at first sight!
Why!  2 reasons!

She falls in love with a Kryptonian being who refrains from using his
least obvious bits of his heritage.

She falls in love with someone she feels comfortable with, like she
has already met him.

What she doesn't recognize is that she already has met him.  Does this
in anyway change her feelings of falling in love with Clark. No.  They
are still there.  They are what she is feeling, only now, she can't
ignore them, and better yet, doesn't want to ignore them.  She just
lets her judgement be clouded by the Kryptonian who keeps switching
which bits of his heritage he is refraining from using.

At least, that's my $218.02 worth!!!

==
Christopher Kiraly - Da Krazman - Dane Spellbinder

Words of Wisdom:
"There is no such thing as failure if one is willing to
learn from his experiences!"
"The only way to truly achieve failure (and you must work
at failing) is to stop trying!"
_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 12:59:02 -0400
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From:         Gary <gar8434@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
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At 09:26 AM 7/6/98 -0700, you wrote:
>
>However, like most of us mere mortals, she listens to her head and not
>her heart (or she just lets her fears overrule her true feelings).
>She tells Clark "Don't fall for me farmboy, I don't have time for it!"
> Not "I don't like you," or "Your not my type," but "I don't have time
>for it."
>
I think this is even more significant, when you consider this exchange
from P,ML:

LOIS:   I don't get it, I mean Dr Freedman said that it should only work
if you're already physically attracted to the person and then it just
overrides your normal restraints.
CLARK:  Right. There has to be some animal magnetism there to begin with.
All this substance does is inhibit that part of the brain which acts as
an intellectual defense mechanism, leaving that person helpless to control
themselves.
LOIS:   But that would mean that I found you... Clark, you were sprayed,
how come you didn't fall for me?
CLARK:  Guess I'm just not attracted to you Lois.
LOIS:   Liar! You are so attracted to me!
CLARK:  I Guess not.
LOIS:   Guess so!
CLARK:  Guess not!
LOIS:   Guess so!
CLARK:  Can we get back to the story now please?
LOIS:   Fine by me!

Hmm...all that's missing is for Clark to pull on Lois' hair...

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
| Gary A. Rudick mailto:gar8434@rit.edu <http://www.rit.edu/~gar8434> |
| "What's done to children, they will do to society." - Karl Menninger|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 16:06:01 EDT
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From:         The Zoomway <Zoomway@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
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In a message dated 98-07-06 12:27:32 EDT, you write:

>>>I tend to disagree with these entire arguments.  Pre 1986, it was
known that Clark Kent was a nerd and a klutz (to the extent that is
was) from the movies and the comics series, because that was how it
was in the beginning in the comics (the bible of Superman information
if you will, since that is where he began, and continues to be even
after a really stupid movie, and a reneged TV series).<<<<<

'Clark Kent' *was* seen as a disguise.  This is established in the very
*first* appearance of Superman in Action comics from 1938.  Lois is being
pushed around by a gangster at a dance. Then here's the telling line
"Reluctantly Kent adheres to his *role* as a weakling"  He is playing the
Clark Kent persona as a *role*, and he wears glasses so we won't look so
much
like Superman, and *that* is a disguise. The gangster wants to dance with
Lois, but she doesn't want to dance with him. Clark, who was her *date*, not
only doesn't help her with the gangster, he says "Be reasonable, Lois.
Dance
with the fellow and then we'll leave right away."   Lois says to Clark, "You
can stay and dance with him if you wish, but I'm leaving now!"  The gangster
says to Lois, "Yeah? You'll dance with me and *like* it."  Lois smacks the
gangster's face.  *Mentally* Clark says 'Good for you, Lois!'  but *aloud*
he
says "Lois--don't!"   Later Lois sums up her feelings for Clark in that
first
issue "You asked me earlier in the evening why I avoid you. I'll tell you
why
now!  Because you're a spineless, unbearable *coward*!"  What am I missing
here?  Sounds like Clark is a disguise to me from the beginning.

<< He does not pretend to be a different person, or to hide his
 Kryptonian heritage.  He is *Kryptonian*.  *Period*. >>

Ya mean if someone walked up to old Clarkie boy and said "hey, are you a
Kryptonian?"  He'd say "Why yes I am, and thanks for noticing"<g>  You *bet*
as Clark Kent he was hiding it.

>>>Now, in 1986, a man by the name of John Byrne changed all that.  He
wrote a 6 issue (episode) mini-series entitled "The Man of Steel".  In
this series, Mr. Byrne rewrote the legend of Superman, and how he came
to be among us, etc.  After this series, every comic book that wrote
about Superman used this new concept to show Superman.  (IE Clark is
real, and Supes is a disguise.)<<<

Yup, I have every single issue from 1986 to the present.  I was glad Byrne
established this, however, as long as he picked up some glasses he didn't
need
so that he would look different from Superman, it's still a disguise at
least
on a visual level, and making people believe he's human when he's not
(talking
physically here) then he's a disguise as Clark Kent too.

>>>So Clark is real and Superman is the disguise.
**Period**<<<<

Hardly.  They are *both* not the truth, and therefore they are *both*
disguises to one extent or another.  Clark may identify more with 'Clark
Kent', and he should, since that's the name he grew up with and he did try
and
*hide*  the truth and that's why he couldn't get really close to anyone
until
Lois.  But *that's* the truth ...****period****<g>

>>>Clark Kent is not a disguise.  Clark Kent is Clark Kent.  He is an
alien sent to Earth as an infant, raised by what is probably the best
set of parents in the history of parents (Let's face it, if all of us
had Jonathon and Martha as parents, this world would truly be
incredible, but I digress.)<<<<

Do you see the contradiction here?  First you say "Clark Kent is not a
disguise. Clark Kent is Clark Kent..."  then go on to say that he's an
*alien*.   Do people know that Clark is an alien? Do they even *suspect*
he's
an alien? Does he tell people he's an alien?  Don't people *believe* him to
be
just as *human* as they are? Just as vulnerable?  That he's from..I don't
know...*Earth*!?<g>  If you're talking about how he *perceives* himself,
that's swell.  He was raised by humans, went to school with humans and is in
love with a human and so I'm sure that he's quite human psychologically just
like the men we've seen on talkshows who say they feel like they're trapped
in
a male body but have always felt like a woman psychologically. However, one
thing that does make people angry on those talkshows is when a transexual
allowed a man to fall in love with 'her' and neglected to tell that person
that physically 'she' spent most of 'her' life as a *man*.

I don't doubt for a moment that transexuals genuinely do believe they're
trapped in the body of the wrong gender, no more than I doubt that Clark
believes that he is a 'regular guy' from Kansas. What we believe of
ourselves
psychologically is more or less who we are (to ourselves anyway) despite the
physical evidence to the contrary. If a guy is in a home for the 'reality
challenged' believing he's Napoleon, despite the fact that Napoleon is long
dead, it doesn't matter.  To that person, he *is* Napoleon no matter who
else
believes him. Who knows, maybe he's a reincarnation ;)  So if you're saying
that Clark psychologically is Clark Kent, I'd never disagree.  It's part of
the whole charm to me.  I watched 'The Mask' last night (a collective groan
from the Jim Carrey haters rises ;)  The mask in the title is from Loki of
Scandinavian myth who was into mischief and being a trickster.  Donning the
mask brought hidden or suppressed character traits to the surface. When
Ipkiss
(Carrey's character) speaks to a psychologist who wrote a book about the
metaphorical masks people wear, he asks the doctor if he should meet with a
woman he's falling in love with wearing the mask, or should he just go as
himself.  The doctor tells him to do both, because they both represented
everything he really is/was.

>>>Every look he makes, every way he says things, every fiber in his
being is Kryptonian.  All he does is *refrain*, not hide, not pretend,
but *refrain* from using his more obvious bits of Kryptonian heritage
in front of other people.  (Even this is an exception to the rule,
because in the series, he used his superhearing, his x-ray vision, his
heat vision, his superspeed, his flight while Clark Kent, and, for
that matter, even in front of others at times.)<<<<

Ah, so 'refraining' is the word for Clark "hiding" who/what he is or can
do?<g> Actually, Clark called it "controlling himself" but we'll go with
'refraining' if you like.  The things he did with his super powers whether
dressed as Superman or Clark Kent seemed to define whether or not he was in
a
'refraining' frame of mind, no? ;) Even as Superman he had such power that
he
could have killed any human with little effort, buy "that's not how I work".
He wasn't into killing, and so he wasn't so much 'refraining' as he was
being
Clark Kent, or being Superman a person who does not believe in killing as an
option.  A person of great power who wouldn't use it to pretend to be a god,
or to force people to worship or pay him tribute, or to mine his own gold
and
diamonds (though if Lois had mentioned 'the world's biggest diamond' instead
of the 'perfect pearl from Japan' then he might have mined it for *her*  but
thankfully Lois didn't want him to do that)  The point is, if someone asked
Clark Kent point blank if he was from Krypton would he tell the truth, or
would he ... refrain? ;)

>>In both the comics, and the series, 'Superman' is the *disguise* if
you will, but even that is inaccurate, because 'Superman' is Clark
Kent, in gaudy clothing, *refraining* from using *least* obvious bits
of his Kryptonian heritage (his personality, his laugh, his sparkling
eyes, his mirth, etc; and there were several occasions (especially in
the series) where 'Clark' showed through even in the 'get-up').<<<<

No, in both the comics and the series Clark, as Lois astutely pointed out,
led
people to believe he was *two* separate people, and he did that by
lying...er
I mean by 'refraining'  or declining to tell the truth. If you looked like a
famous movie star and someone mistook you for that movie star, would you
tell
that person right away they were mistaken, or would you lead them to believe
you really were that movie star by 'refraining' from telling them the truth?
Your response will depend on how you view yourself, or how honest you are.
If
you don't think of yourself as that movie star and you're not into lying,
you'd have no problem saying "No, I'm not that guy"  On the other hand, if
you
truly believe that's who you are, you wouldn't be lying or refraining by
leading the person to believe you're that movie star, because you're just
being who you believe yourself to be, just as Clark believes himself to be
that regular guy from Kansas.  It may be delusional, but at least it
wouldn't
be lying ;)

We can also take the reverse tactic.  You *are* a famous movie star, but you
don't want to be loved for being a movie star, so when you're not doing a
movie, you don glasses you don't need and paste on a mustache and bag
groceries at the AP hoping you'll be loved for *who* you are as a person and
not some glammed up movie idol.  Sigh, doesn't that sound like it has the
makings for a made-for-TV romantic comedy?<g> The problem is, as would come
out in the movie, is that the movie star isn't really a boxboy and unlike
his
co-workers, he's not living from paycheck to paycheck and even if his
'disguise' went so far as to have him paying for a crummy apartment and
leasing a lemon of a car, none of it is permanent.  He doesn't even have to
think in those terms, or dream of one day being the manager in the deli
section.  If he lost his boxboy job, his apartment burned down, and his car
threw a rod through the oil pan and needed hundreds of dollars of engine
repair, so what?  He's got millions of dollars and doesn't have to worry
about
it at all, and because he doesn't, then his 'boxyboy' disguise is no more
than
that, a disguise that has no substance behind it whatsoever.  At least with
Clark, even if his 'regular guy' from Kansas persona, he at least *believed*
that's who he was, so he was a few strides ahead of the boxboy movie star<g>

>>>What she doesn't recognize is that she already has met him.  Does this
in anyway change her feelings of falling in love with Clark. No.  They
are still there.  They are what she is feeling, only now, she can't
ignore them, and better yet, doesn't want to ignore them.  She just
lets her judgement be clouded by the Kryptonian who keeps switching
which bits of his heritage he is refraining from using.<<<

I knew Clark's 'refraining' and or 'lying' would end up being Lois's fault
when I got to the end of this<g>  Wasn't it the Kryptonian the one who was
doing the "clouding"???  Oy<g> She loved Superman, but no, that wasn't
permitted because Clark didn't reeeally believe that's who he was, so, she
falls in love with Clark, but guest what, Lois finds out *that's* not who he
reeeeally is either<g> She had to learn to love the *truth* and the truth is
a
guy I'll call Clarkent (not a typo ;) He's the guy who psychologically
believes himself to be a regular guy from Kansas but who can also make love
to
Lois on the ceiling or in midair and then make instant coffee for them
afterward with his heat vision!   Clarkent is the Clark that only Lois
knows,
even his parents don't know this guy.  He's stronger than than the Clark
they
raised (though they raised him to be strong and confident, this version
outshines that one) because he has somoene who loves him for all that he is
and for all he believes himself to be, and Lois had to learn to love all
that
he is, it wasn't a *given* as parenthood often is when it comes to that kind
of love and acceptance.  Believe me, as great as it would be to love
Clarkent,
Lois paid her dues and it's only fair she gets the credit.

>>>At least, that's my $218.02 worth!!!<<<<<

Zoomway@aol.com (is who I am, but excessively long posts is what I can do ;)
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 20:34:42 -0400
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From:         Pellis <pellis@BIGFOOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
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-----Original Message-----
From: The Zoomway <Zoomway@AOL.COM>
To: LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@listserv.indiana.edu
<LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@listserv.indiana.edu>
Date: Monday, July 06, 1998 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"

>In a message dated 98-07-06 12:27:32 EDT, you write:
>
>>>>I tend to disagree with these entire arguments.  Pre 1986, it was
>known that Clark Kent was a nerd and a klutz (to the extent that is
>was) from the movies and the comics series, because that was how it
>was in the beginning in the comics (the bible of Superman information
>if you will, since that is where he began, and continues to be even
>after a really stupid movie, and a reneged TV series).<<<<<
>
>'Clark Kent' *was* seen as a disguise.  This is established in the very
>*first* appearance of Superman in Action comics from 1938.  Lois is being
>pushed around by a gangster at a dance. Then here's the telling line
>"Reluctantly Kent adheres to his *role* as a weakling"  He is playing the
>Clark Kent persona as a *role*, and he wears glasses so we won't look so
much
>like Superman, and *that* is a disguise. The gangster wants to dance with
>Lois, but she doesn't want to dance with him. Clark, who was her *date*,
not
>only doesn't help her with the gangster, he says "Be reasonable, Lois.
Dance
>with the fellow and then we'll leave right away."   Lois says to Clark,
"You
>can stay and dance with him if you wish, but I'm leaving now!"  The
gangster
>says to Lois, "Yeah? You'll dance with me and *like* it."  Lois smacks the
>gangster's face.  *Mentally* Clark says 'Good for you, Lois!'  but *aloud*
he
>says "Lois--don't!"   Later Lois sums up her feelings for Clark in that
first
>issue "You asked me earlier in the evening why I avoid you. I'll tell you
why
>now!  Because you're a spineless, unbearable *coward*!"  What am I missing
>here?  Sounds like Clark is a disguise to me from the beginning.
>
><< He does not pretend to be a different person, or to hide his
> Kryptonian heritage.  He is *Kryptonian*.  *Period*. >>
>
>Ya mean if someone walked up to old Clarkie boy and said "hey, are you a
>Kryptonian?"  He'd say "Why yes I am, and thanks for noticing"<g>  You
*bet*
>as Clark Kent he was hiding it.
>
>>>>Now, in 1986, a man by the name of John Byrne changed all that.  He
>wrote a 6 issue (episode) mini-series entitled "The Man of Steel".  In
>this series, Mr. Byrne rewrote the legend of Superman, and how he came
>to be among us, etc.  After this series, every comic book that wrote
>about Superman used this new concept to show Superman.  (IE Clark is
>real, and Supes is a disguise.)<<<
>
>Yup, I have every single issue from 1986 to the present.  I was glad Byrne
>established this, however, as long as he picked up some glasses he didn't
need
>so that he would look different from Superman, it's still a disguise at
least
>on a visual level, and making people believe he's human when he's not
(talking
>physically here) then he's a disguise as Clark Kent too.
>
>>>>So Clark is real and Superman is the disguise.
>**Period**<<<<
>
>Hardly.  They are *both* not the truth, and therefore they are *both*
>disguises to one extent or another.  Clark may identify more with 'Clark
>Kent', and he should, since that's the name he grew up with and he did try
and
>*hide*  the truth and that's why he couldn't get really close to anyone
until
>Lois.  But *that's* the truth ...****period****<g>
>
>>>>Clark Kent is not a disguise.  Clark Kent is Clark Kent.  He is an
>alien sent to Earth as an infant, raised by what is probably the best
>set of parents in the history of parents (Let's face it, if all of us
>had Jonathon and Martha as parents, this world would truly be
>incredible, but I digress.)<<<<

You're both only seeing things in black and white while the world is in
shades of grey.  Even in the early comics, Clark Kent was a klutz only
because he had to prevent people from associating him with Superman.  Jim
Byrne created a "cooler" Clark Kent who could be an athlete and brave but
still was able to hide his superhero identity.  The "real" person is, of
course, Clark Kent.  Kryptonian or not, that's who he was raised as.  That's
the person who's value system he has.  He lived his whole life as Clark and
found these amazing abilities thrust upon him.  Still trying to maintain as
normal a life as possible, he also has to find a way to use his powers to
help the world.  Hence the creation of Superman.

Superman is a costume Clark can put on and be able to do good while still
maintaining his privacy.  Granted, his powers are as much a part of him as
you or me walking is a part of us, but while he can use his powers and still
be Clark, the Superman persona must be used in public to avoid exposure.

But neither identity is the total of his being.  Due to the nature of his
life, he can't be entirely open in either identity.  If we take Lois and
Clark as - at least - part of the Superman bible, then the real man is a
superpowered Clark Kent using his powers in everyday life to paint a room in
10 seconds or read a 500 page novel in the same time.  Since, however, he'd
have zero privacy if he lived that way openly, Clark has to separate his
actions to private expediencies and public superfeats (as Superman.)  Both
identities are real (though Clark's was the original) and both serve as a
cover for the other.  As Superman, Clark can do the good for the world he
feels driven to do.  As Clark, Superman can find peace and relative
anonymity - and love.

Paul
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 17:33:20 -0800
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              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Leanne Shawler <volterra@SD.ZNET.COM>
Subject:      Re: "The Chicken and Egg Debate"
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>
>Clark Kent is not a disguise.  Clark Kent is Clark Kent.  He is an
>alien sent to Earth as an infant, raised by what is probably the best
>set of parents in the history of parents (Let's face it, if all of us
>had Jonathon and Martha as parents, this world would truly be
>incredible, but I digress.)
>

Hey Christopher,

A fresh insight into an overworked, rather repetitive thread :) Thanks. I
agree with your Lois falling in love with Clark and then Superman ... but
then I pull from Zoomie's post in that she stayed in love with and married
the whole enchilada :)

Anyway, I wanted to make a comment about the paragraph above ... If we all
have Jonathon and Martha as parents .. would the world be truly
incredible??? Or would, perhaps, would the world's denizens be going into a
fit of sulks every time something didn't go their way! *grin*

I'm just kidding -- please do *not* reply to this idea seriously :)

Leanne
(coming soon -- a real, live fanfic thread --- as opposed to a LOISCLA
thread like this one)

Leanne Shawler aka Volterra on IRC (volterra@sd.znet.com)
Web Design: http://www.znet.com/~volterra/design/webdesign.html
Home Page: http://www.znet.com/~volterra/leanne.html
Midnight Dreaming: The Original Anthony Warlow Home Page:
http://www.zweb.com/volterra/anthony.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 19:40:28 -0500
Reply-To:     peabody@mcs.com
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Pat <peabody@MCS.COM>
Organization: Amarna House
Subject:      Re: deathfics
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Hi FOLCs,

I'm back home and using my regular ISP and return address.  Mike and I
had a great time in DC, and especially enjoyed getting together with
Genevieve, Sandy, Craig and Michelle to discuss (what else? <g>)
fanfic.  Thanks for being such a good hostess, Genevieve!

I'm taking a break in reading the 468 posts that accumulated while I was
gone, to add to Crystal's comments on Deathfic.

Crystal Wimmer wrote:
><snipped first part of Crystal's post... As for the fics where Lois loses
Clark > (either on New Krypton or to
> Kryptonite)... I see her character as going back into the painful, lonely
> existance that she had before she found Clark, and I don't see much to
write
> about there.
>
> I know in our enormous wealth of fanfic authors out there that there must
be
> good stories written regarding these situations, and I'm sure I just
haven't
> run across them yet.

Like Crystal, I've never been much of a fan of the deathfic genre.  IMO,
for
every insightful, well-written, sensitive exploration of the issue, I've
found
at least three stories who's authors have used either Lois or Clark's
death
as an easy way to create drama and manipulate the readers' emotions.  (I
suppose all of us who write fanfic attempt to manipulate the reader's
emotions,
in one way or another; I just find exploiting the death of one of the
main
characters for that purpose to be unimaginative, and usually pretty
depressing.)

Now, after having expressed a very negative view of deathfics, I'll
mention that
there are a few that I've found to be creative, thoughtful, and
emotionally
satisfying.  One deathfic that particularly impressed me was "Three
Grandmothers,"
written, I believe, by Piper (if I'm wrong on this, I hope that both
Piper and
the actual author will forgive me) Commenting on what I like about this
particular
treatment of the topic will give away the plot of the story, so those
readers
who like to be surprised should stop reading now.

The story deals with Lois's life after Clark fails to return from New
Krypton.
Lois, with help and support from the Kents, attempts to deal with
Clark's loss
in a positive and life-affirming way.  Rather than going back to the
"...painful, lonely existence" she had prior to meeting Clark, she
allows herself to love again.  Lois's relationship with Clark has helped
her to grow into a more loving, open person; hurt, but willing to take
another chance on love.  I think that's what
I like most about this story--there is a positive, upbeat ending to a
very sad situation.  While Clark is to lost to Lois (and to the
universe) the universe is a better place and Lois a better, happier,
more-loving person, for having been touched by his love and caring.

The author's characterizations are very on-target, which is probably
essential
to working successfully in this genre.  She also managed to avoid the
temptation to wallow in angst; another pitfall that writers in this
genre
can very easily fall prey to.

Okay, that's about all of the posting I have time for this week; (lucky
you!)
back to the 467 e-mails still in my in-box <sigh>

Pat
--
peabody@mcs.com
pattijean@aol.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 17:57:11 -0800
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Leanne Shawler <volterra@SD.ZNET.COM>
Subject:      Lost words without dots and dashes
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Now, one of the things that came up whilst we were editing each others
episodes in S5, was the use of punctuation: to comma or not to comma (or
hyphen or semi-colon)? That was frequently the question.

While hunting for an old fanfic outline for The Big Valley (don't ask, I
still haven't found it) I came across this article by Kenneth Tynan, who
may be familiar to some of you as a great English critic (etc...) This was
originally printed in Punch in 1953, but it turned up in my then local
paper about 10 years ago.

words bracketed in * are italicized

********

"Lost words without dots and dashes" By Keneth Tynan

Punctuation is more powerful than we think. It can help you to make friends
and influence people. What follows is a preliminary guide, designed to show
how a working knowledge of dots and dashes can disguise almost any lameness
of brain and make it look as stylish as all get out.

* The Exclamation mark. Unfashionably nowadays [my note: obviously IRC
wasn't around then], the E. Mark can still occasionally do good service by
infusing a shot of bright astonishment into the greyest platitudes. "Aha,"
by itself, is dull news; but by adding an E. Marl ("Aha!") you evoke a
circle of raised eyebrows and a whole penumbra of fascinated incredulity.
The margins of borrowed books are true E. Mark territory. "!" is the
correct comment on hanging participles in the ntest. Resever "!!" for such
statements as "Shelley was the first anarchist" or "I never finished *War
and Peace*".

* The Question Mark. Two principal usages: (a) to build up suspense.
Variations of this are in frequent journalistic us, hopefully following up
a limp and quite pointless anecdote: "The little boy's name? Mahatma
Gandhi." (b) More advanced, the rhetorical question which the writer
himself cannot be bothered to answer. Example: "Who will deny that
Bankhead's Camille outshone Bernhardt's?"

* The Semi-Colon. Here we arrive at the prize-winning supporting crutch of
English prose. The semi-colon remains a boon to the weary; a hammock in
which any sick sentence (this one, for instance) can convalesce and start
afresh. It enables yuo to snuff out a statement and begin again without
recapitulation or apology; for example, "Everything he did stripped
strength of its arrogance; his pride foreswore cruelty; it mingled iron
will with mercy; he had, it might be said, compassion." Four sentences for
the price and sense of one and a splendid tribute to the semi-colon's
genius for extending a half-thought into a paragraph.

* The Comma. Particularly helpful to novelists working against time. For
example: "Nobody noticed she was there, and nobody stared at her, and
nobody laughed, but everyone senseed her, sense her special chill, and felt
a pang, and everyone shifted a little, and changed the subject, and was
suddenly ashamed." Here the comma has come to the rescue with a posse, like
the cavalry at the end of a western.

Note: The difference between the comma and the semi-colon is Pride.

* The Three Dots (...). Another haven for the tired novelist. If, having
begun to write a novel, you keep falling askeep at the foot of page six,
simply add three dots and sell it as a short story. The dots will have
given you "mood" and "an indefinable flavour of your own".

* Quotes. These are unrivalled as receptacles for (a) opinions you are
chary of admitting to, and (b) little epigrams of your won whose brilliance
genuinely frightens you, since they stand out like obelisks from the desert
of your normal style. But quotes demand toil. Their use involves the
invention of fictional characters. Any writer of profiles will testify,
however, that the results are well worth the labour, for example: "Several
critics pointed out that Rokesby's style would be imnproved if he borrowed
from the best writers, instead of the second-raters. At a cocktail party
given in his honour a jaded voice was heard to remark: 'Rokesby? He's just
a wagonload of manques!'" You will note, as a point of technique, that the
author had to get his mouthpiece a little sloshed to get that one off.

* Parentheses. In expert hands these are identical with quotes. Use them as
a shroud of unsupported opinions you want to throw in without being
challenged. For example: "His much underrated speech at Toronto (superior
in many respects to the Gettysburg Address) caused a sensation in what was
then a prairie township."

* Italics. Never fail to act like a tonic on a moribund paragraph.
Italicise any word (any word) in the last sentence, and your worries are
over. What had been numb with inanity will look fresh and sensitive. To
take a complex instance: "Wordsworth was not only a good poet, but also --
and in a very real sense -- a *good* poet."

* The Hypen. Seen at its best in such triumphantly cryptic phrases as "the
new-old sophistication of baroque" or "the curious classical-romantic
quality of Fiesole". (If queried, explain that you didn't have space enough
to develop the idea).

* The Capital Letter. Old friends are best: this still comes in handy for
the writer wishing to imply enormous respect for certain jumbo-size
abstractions (Death, Nation, Dark Gods) which he would prefer not to
define. Here is an opportunity well taken: "The poet's task is to
disentangle the frail, perishable sinews of Beauty, and to plait them into
the durable vine that is called Art." In a limited edition you may even get
away with "Poet".

Note: the difference between pride and Pride is pride.

That seems to cover most of the ground. Quite intentionally, I have left
one gaping omission. It concerns the least versatile symbol of all. There
is no joy in discussing the single, unalterable function of the full stop.

FINIS

Leanne
PS. I hope y'all caught the sly humour :)

Leanne Shawler aka Volterra on IRC (volterra@sd.znet.com)
Web Design: http://www.znet.com/~volterra/design/webdesign.html
Home Page: http://www.znet.com/~volterra/leanne.html
Midnight Dreaming: The Original Anthony Warlow Home Page:
http://www.zweb.com/volterra/anthony.html
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 21:26:44 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         "Georgia E. Walden" <gwalde14@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Chickens ... eggs... how about an omelet? ;)
In-Reply-To:  <1c37684e.35a12e2a@aol.com>
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Not so much a response as a comment on this debate - particularly the last
couple that managed to get through - finally <g>

In a message dated 98-07-04 06:26:42 EDT, Zoomway writes:

<<  On the
 series,  *both* Clark and Superman were disguises. They were both leading
 people to believe a lie, or at least leaving out a whole heck of a lot of
the
 truth<g>   >>

After about a million words (well, okay, maybe not a million but "a lot"
<g>), this seems to me to be the essence of why the show worked for me for
four years and continues to provide food for thought <g> - while the comics
seem to keep repeating themselves and the movies fell apart, for me, in the
middle of Superman II (I *really* dislike that movie <g>).

The seed of the idea that "Superman" is an inextricable mix of the alien
Kal-El and the Kansas farmboy is present in the very earliest strips, but
not really faced.  In the early stories, there was no interest in pondering
the psychology of the superhero. He was a tough, rather down-to-earth ;)
vigilante who saw a problem and fixed it with absolutely no doubt or
hesitation.

Later (after WWII destroyed our innocence, according to Mark Waid - he
could be right <g>Superman could no longer be so unthinkingly hands-on), he
was an alien demi-god who walked among us but yearned for his lost planet.
When the goofiness got too much for even the comic book audience, he
morphed again and he became self-appointed policeman of the galaxy, who
also worked as a journalist and occasionally took a moment out of his busy
schedule to go out on a date.

There are other wrinkles in the story - 60 years is a long time and a lot
of writers have tackled the character.  Throughout them all, he *pretended*
to be a regular guy. Sometimes he seemed to be sort of laughing up his
spandex sleeve ("Ah, if they only knew..."); other times he was the 'man
who has everything' and nothing, the tragic hero of that Fitzgerald quote
that Zoom is fond of ;). The Clark Kent persona varied to a greater or
lesser degree as often as the Superman half, but always, always, he was
split.

Sometimes the importance of being grounded by his human upbringing was
given more emphasis by writers.  It was the source of his moral code and
his reason for being so devoted to the Earthlings he protected.  Very nice,
but what condescension.  Despite this affection for Earth, the idea that he
might ever have a genuine personal life always seemed to run up against the
difficulty in dealing with his 'true' nature and his job as defender of the
planet.  The writers would get so close and then back off, going for the
noble sacrifice. I love you, Lois, too much to commit to you.  Uh-huh. ;)

In Superman II (which was written and shot at the same time and by the same
people as the first Superman movie), he loves his parents and values their
teachings, but once he learns about his origins, his 'Clarkness' is nothing
but a facade, and an irritating one at that.  He loves Lois though it's not
really clear why and she loves his Superman persona.  It's pretty much
first season L&C without the depth. ;)

Even the 1986 re-structuring drifted into an extension of that attitude.
Byrne threw out the Kryptonian clutter and brought Ma and Pa Kent back to
life, but when push came to shove, the "new" Clark Kent wasn't all that
different from the old one. Most telling to me in this latest version of
the story was that despite the emphasis on his Kansas roots, it wasn't
until he thought he'd lost his powers permanently that he proposed to Lois
and he was conveniently powerless when the two of them finally tied the
knot and went on their honeymoon.  It wasn't the old 'woman of kleenex'
argument either - the writers didn't seem to balk at Superman having a
sexual relationship with a woman, they just couldn't seem to deal with the
idea that their superhero might need a wife or that such a relationship was
a source of strength, not a problem, or as has often been the case since
the wedding, an inconvenient little detail.

Just recently, the comic book based on the animated series, which is not
part of the regular continuity, did a story about the difficulty of leading
two lives, and had Superman asking himself - why bother?  The answer was
that Clark Kent, the reporter, could do things that the Kryptonian couldn't
do and that it took both sides of him *to do his job.*  I found that a
rather chilling resolution.  Though it stressed the love Clark and his
parents share, it seemed to me to once again leave out the real person, who
just might want something from his life that isn't work-related, or as Zoom
noted in another post, can be provided by a parent.

"Lois and Clark" tried to make the duality *work.*  To make it plausible
that a being like Superman could or would have an on-going life with Lois
Lane, they had to abandon the either/or thinking. They tried to present us
with a character who could reply to Lois' question: "Who's answering, Clark
or Superman?" with "I'm answering" and we would believe it could be true.

To be fair to the other versions, television is the best format for this
take on the story.  A big budget movie has only a few hours to dazzle its
audience; a superhero comic book is limited by its perceived audience and
the fact that it's 22 pages of drawings and sometimes minimalist writing.
No matter how good they are, these are restrictive formats.  But television
offers the best of both worlds - the visual flair, the emotional
involvement of live actors, the frequency of a weekly comic book title,
plus the smaller scale and intimacy that puts the people, not the spfx, in
the foreground. Despite the comic book look and light-hearted style of L&C,
we got quite a lot of character development, broad strokes and subtle
touches, in the visuals and in the acting, over four years.

Even more than the form, the creators of "Lois & Clark" somehow figured out
as they went along, perhaps accidentally, that Lois loving Superman wasn't
just a adolescent crush that had to be put aside, but an essential element
in making the marriage work, and that Clark's idea that 'Superman is what I
can do; Clark is who I am' just might not be the last word on the subject.
The characters created a wonderful life together because they were
*completely* in love with each other:  Clark Kent and his alter-ego, the
Man of Steel, and Lois Lane, award-winning journalist, and her alter-ego,
the woman who married Clark Kent AKA Superman and sustains him - *all* of
him.

Georgia (romantic to the core, and very sorry about the really long post)

gwalde14@mindspring.com
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 22:11:38 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Gary <gar8434@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU>
Subject:      Re: deathfics
MIME-version: 1.0
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At 07:40 PM 7/6/98 -0500, you wrote:
> One deathfic that particularly impressed me was "Three
>Grandmothers,"
>written, I believe, by Piper (if I'm wrong on this, I hope that both
>Piper and
>the actual author will forgive me) Commenting on what I like about this
>particular
>treatment of the topic will give away the plot of the story, so those
>readers
>who like to be surprised should stop reading now.
>
>
I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly don't consider that
story a deathfic.

>
>
>The story deals with Lois's life after Clark fails to return from New
>Krypton.
>Lois, with help and support from the Kents, attempts to deal with
>Clark's loss
>

Yeah, but Clark isn't necessarily dead, you may want to think that death
is the only thing that will keep him from Lois, but he could be alive and
<shudder> well.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
| Gary A. Rudick mailto:gar8434@rit.edu <http://www.rit.edu/~gar8434> |
| "What's done to children, they will do to society." - Karl Menninger|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:32:06 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk
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Hello,

I am very happy to say the The SoulMate Chronicles:  Sea Hawk is finished.
Due to work schedules, summer vacations and a few other obstacles.  It is
finally
ready to be distributed.

I want to thank Julie (Macteach) for having faith we would finish this
story.
This has been truly a 'Labor of Love' for us both.  We both loved the
characters and have had a good time telling their story.  In fact, we are
even
discussing a possible sequel to this one.

I hope you like this episode in the continuing saga of The SoulMate
Chronicles.
Let me know your thoughts.

Happy Reading :)

Annie Lansbury
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:32:41 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk (2/7
Mime-Version: 1.0
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**********
<Lansbury>

Carlos looked from the two women to the small strangely dressed man standing
now beside the carriage.

"Dona Marta, who is your traveling companion?   I don't recall ever seeing
him
on the island."

"He is someone we met on the road, Carlos.  He said his horse threw him and
ran away.  I could not leave him along the roadside for bandits to find him
-
he looked so helpless.  See that he gets what he needs to continue on with
his
journey."

Carlos turned to Wells as the two ladies walked into the house, approaching
him with an outstretched hand of welcome.  Wells took the hand and was
amazed
at the gentle strength he felt in the handshake.

"As you heard from Dona Marta, everyone calls me Carlos.  I would be honored
if you would do the same.  Now, Senor, what should I call you?"

Wells looked as the smile playing around the mouth of the tall, dark,
handsome
young man.  It moved with lightning speed to his eyes, eyes which for all
the
world were the same as Clark Kent's.

"I am H. G. Wells from London, England.  You could say I am a writer and
explorer-at-large."

With his free hand he waved it in a half-circle to emphasize his statement.
Carlos gave a loud laugh and slapped Wells on the back, sending the little
man
flying forward.  Carlos immediately caught him before Wells lost his
balance.

"Forgive me, Senor Wells, I did not mean to hurt you.  I sometimes don't
know
my own strength."

"That's quite all right, my boy.  No harm was done.  You are a very solidly
built young man,"  Wells said as he straightened his black suit coat.

"Where are you from, Senor Wells?  From your speech, I detect an English
accent."

"Quiet right.  I am from London to be exact.  Have you ever been to England,
Carlos?"

"No, but my father had been there once as a young man.  When I was a child,
he
would tell me tales of street after street lined with stones and each filled
with tall buildings.  He delighted in telling stories of the many different
kinds of shops you have there.  I loved to sit and listen as he described
the
sights, sounds and smells of your city."

Wells could tell by the tone of his voice it wasn't just stories of England
Carlos enjoyed, but that he loved to hear his father's stories of any kind.

"Where is your father?  I would like to meet him.  Much has changed in
England
over the last twenty years."

Carlos stood still for a brief moment, facing the direction of the ocean
close
by.

"My father is dead," he said quietly.  "It has been some time now, but I
like
to think of him being out to sea.  He loved the time he spent on the sea and
it brought him great joy."

Wells was touched by the young man's love for his father.  Softly he said.
"I
am sure you gave him more joy and happiness than any voyage he ever took."

Carlos gave Wells a searching look which went passed his outter
trappings but one which seemed to go straight into his soul.  He nodded
approvingly at what he saw.

"That is very kind of you to say so. I like you, Senor Wells.  I sense you
are
a person of integrity and I envy you the opportunity of exploring the
world."
Gesturing towards the house he motioned for Wells to enter.

"Now, why don't I see to your needs.  May I offer you something to drink?"

"Yes, thank you, Carlos  I would love to have a touch of brandy to ease my
parched throat."

"Certainly," said Carlos as he led Wells towards the front salon.

Carlos was secretly glad to take him into the salon.  He wanted to be close
by
if he were needed to throw a certain Russian out on his ear.  Earlier, he
had
greeted Alexei Alexandrovich and led him into the house.  He was one man
Carlos had disliked instantly.  He had a feeling that Alexandrovich made his
fortune in an illegal manner.  He just needed to find proof of the illegal
dealings of this slick weasel to put him in a dark dungeon where he
belonged.

Mackteach]

The two women refreshed and tidied themselves.  Dona Marta studied herself
in
the looking glass for a moment before deciding that she and Lolita were
presentable.

"Come, Lolita.  We cannot keep our guest waiting."

Lolit looked like she was going to her execution.  "He calls himself a
nobleman, Mama.  Carlos has more honor and nobility in his hand than this
Russian does in his entire body."

[Lansbury]

Wells and Carlos stood beneath the staircase near the entrance of the salon,
the main room. Dona Marta and Lolita descended the stairs and passed through
the doors to the salon without observing them.  Wells could not help but
hear
what was being said in the room in front of them.  He was a little surprised
that Carlos let him remain and be a witness to what was about to transpire.

"Carlos, perhaps I should take my brandy and retire to another part of the
house?"

"Shhh!" was the only sound that came from Carlos.

Wells knew in a flash something important was about to take place and came
to
stand closer to Carlos.  They both listened intently as the conversation
began.

<chrispat>

As Dona Marta and Lolita entered the salon, a distinguished looking
gentleman
rose to his feet and slowly regarded the two women, his thoughts going over
the plan he was about to set in motion.

<Mackteach>

No one could ever accuse Alexei Alexandrovich of a lack of self-importance.
He was Russian, one of the "exiled" Russians whose bloodline was currently
not
in favor with the Emperor.  Luckily, no one in Cuba had discovered exactly
how
"unfavored" his family was.  Alexei Alexandrovich had passed himself off as
a
wealthy noble when in actuality he had no title, no land, no family to speak
of.  He had made his way to the Americas, intent on making his fortune,
returning to Russia in triumph, and building his own army to overthrow the
Emperor.  Lofty plans for a man, but Alexei Alexandrovich did not think of
himself as a "mere" man.  He thought of himself as the savior of Mother
Russia, possibly the world.

He had spent his monies creating an aura of nobility about himself, and, he
silently rejoiced, these "peasants" had fallen for his charade.  He had been
welcomed into the homes of the landed gentry, had charmed his way into the
right social circles, and had quickly amassed a great deal of wealth.

He laughed to himself, if only these wretched people knew exactly *how* I
made
my money.  He already had most of the storekeepers in town under his
control.
He knew that there were some among the aristocracy of Cuba that would
condone
the practice of slavery.  But, he also knew that there was one person, one
who
held a great deal of respect among the people, both wealthy and poor, who
would not.  He had to neutralize Don Juan De La Fuenta Vasquez in some way.
His devious mind had concocted the perfect plan.

In spite of his charm, in spite of his air of sophistication, there was one
thing that eluded Alexei Alexandrovich.  Respectability.  The working-class
Cubans feared him.  The wealthy landowners tolerated him as a "foreign
oddity."  Thanks to his coin and a few ladies from Senora Gonzalez's
establishment, he knew what was said about him.  And how many secretly hoped
that The Sea Hawk would rid their island of his presence.

He would teach them.  He would teach them all.  He would gain
respectability,
by force if necessary.  And how better than to *marry* respectability?  He
would marry the lovely Lolita and, as an added bonus, gain some leverage and
control over Don Juan.  The hacienda would be the perfect hiding place from
which to oversee his illegal activities.  And who would question the comings
and goings of Lolita's husband, the son-in-law of Don Juan?

*******
<chrispat>

Dona Marta extended her hand. "Senor Alexandrovich, I am so sorry to have
kept
you waiting, but here we are ... at last."

Alexei Alexandrovich bowed and kissed her hand. "Your apology is accepted,
Dona Marta.  I've come to expect rudeness in this backward community." His
attention turned to Lolita. "And this must be your lovely daughter."

Lolita glared at him. That snide remark had not gone unnoticed, and she had
to
bite her tongue to keep from uttering a sharp retort. Her mother frowned at
her warningly, but went on with the introduction. "Yes. This is our
daughter,
Lolita."

Lolita nodded, but stayed near the door. There was no way she was going to
let
him kiss her hand. She had to admit to herself that he was a handsome man,
but
she could sense something repellent about him. An aura of evil?

She shook her head. This was no time to be fanciful. Her father was counting
on Alexandrovich to invest some much needed money into the family estate.
She
gritted her teeth and greeted him politely.

"Senor Alexandrovich."

<Demi>

Alexei smiled.  "She has a fire in her. I *like* that!"  His powerful voice
echoed in the dining room, and Lolita couldn't help but feel a cool shiver
of
dread pass through her body.

She narrowed her eyes only slightly and inclined her head, hoping that it
would be respect which was conveyed, rather than the icy disgust she was
feeling.

"Senor, you are welcome in our hacienda.  What is ours is yours."  Dona
Marta
warmly nodded and tossed her daughter a quick, warning glance before
continuing.  "But I know you will be anxious to discuss business ..."

"Yes, where is your husband?"  Alexei's tone changed as the subject of
business came up and Dona Marta had to quell her angry retort.  Little did
he
know that in most matters, including the business of the hacienda, she and
Juan participated equally.  He would know soon enough.  She decided to bide
her time, and smiled instead.

*******
<Lansbury>

Carlos led Wells to an alcove near the salon as they watched Dona Marta and
Alexei leave the room.

"I must hear what Alexandrovich wants from Don Juan.  He is like a father to
me.  I cannot stand by while I know what an evil ..."  He stopped as he
realized what he was about to say.

Wells put his hand on the young man's forearm.  "You told me you sensed I
was
a man of integrity. I, too, sense you are a man of loyalty and truth.   One
who could not and would not stand idly by as his friends or loved ones are
about to be hurt in anyway.  I would venture to say you would not even stand
by to see a stranger harmed without coming to his aid."

Carlos looked at this man who seemed to know him all to well.  He stared a
few
seconds, looking deeply into the eyes of the older man.

"Senor, have we met before, you and I?  I can't help but get the impression
we
should be more than mere acquaintances."

Wells, too, looked into the eyes of man before him.  He thought of the
saying,
"A person's eyes are the window to his soul."   For the second time in the
course of a hour he had the most uncanny feeling.  For all intents and
purposes, he was gazing into the eyes of Clark Kent.

A deep sigh came from Carlos.  "Maybe you and I have met in another place
and
time," he said, but before Wells could reply, Carlos laid a hand on his
shoulder.  "I am going to trust you.   Come, let us follow where The Dona
leads."

They came to a stop outside Don Juan's study.  A small gust of wind
prevented
the door from completely closing and they both listened to what was being
said.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:32:22 EDT
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Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk (1/7
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The SoulMates Chronicles: The Sea Hawk

A group writing effort by Lansbury1@aol.com, Mackteach@aol.com,
chrispat(cp13607@aol.com), Demi(Demi22@aol.com) and peabody

Characters:
Carlos/The Sea Hawk/Clark
Lolita/Sea Hawk/Lois
Jefe Pedro/Perry
Jaime/Jimmy
Alexei Alexandrovich/Lex
Dona Marta De la Fuenta Vasquez/Martha
Don Juan De la Fuenta Vasquez/Jonathan

<Lansbury>

H.G. Wells sat at his desk looking down at the journal in front of him. The
memories were still fresh in his mind of the beautiful Lolita, the handsome
Carlos and the tropical island of Cuba.

Ah, Cuba, he thought.  The seaward isle, located just south of the Tropic of
Cancer in the Caribbean Sea, was still a colony of Spain in the eighteenth
century.  Its citizenry spoke Spanish and their ways of living reflected the
Spanish background.

One aspect of that way of life which many in that time took exception to was
the import of Black Africans. They had been first brought to Cuba in 1522,
mainly to work on the sugar plantations and in the tobacco fields.  Since
the
island was close to the new nation of the United States of America it was
also
a stopover for some of the slave vessels headed there.

Slavery!  Just the thought of it now made his heart ache for the humans who
were taken from their homes to never return.   The Sea Hawk had also
detested
slavery and took special issue with it.  This incarnation of one of the
souls
he was tracking saw it as a personal affront to humanity and, Wells had
learned through his observations, had pledged to free as many of the
captives
and destroy as many slave vessels as possible.

He leaned back into his chair.  "Now where do I begin?" he said aloud, not
expecting to get a response.  In a flash of inspiration his eyes started to
glaze over as he began to write in his journal.

I,  H. G. Wells, found myself transported in an instant through time back to
the year 1793 ...

*******
Wells quickly removed himself from the time machine.  He pulled it out of
sight and covered it with leafy branches for safekeeping.

"There, that should do for now!   I wonder where exactly my two soulmates
might be?"

He took the Soul Tracker from the inside pocket of his black suit coat.
Holding it in front of him he began turning, scanning the beautiful island.
A
small golden light began to pulsate on the Soul Tracker as it located one of
the souls he had set it to find.

"Ah, wonderful! That didn't take long at all."

Without hesitating, Wells moved to the center of the dirt road and held up
both arms.

A black-lacquered carriage pulled by two white horses came to a sudden stop
in
front of him, missing him by only a few feet.  The driver, being an expert
at
the reins, avoided the collision without bringing harm to his passengers or
to
the little man standing in front of the carriage.

Wells stood in the middle of the road with the horses snorting their
disapproval at being abruptly stopped.  He shouted above the heads of the
beasts at the people staring down at him.  A beautiful raven-haired woman
with
dark, inquisitive eyes stood up to look at the person who had stopped their
carriage, only to be pulled back into her seat by a regal older woman
sitting
next to her.

"Lolita, be careful!  He is a stranger.  He may be a bandit.  We know
nothing
of him."

Wells heard the younger woman laugh softly at the words of the older lady.

"Mama, I don't think we have anything to fear from this man. He is not
dressed
as a bandit and he is no bigger than Carlos when he was but twelve."

Before she could make any further comment, Wells spoke.

"Please excuse the interruption of your journey, but I am in a spot of
trouble.  Would you mind helping me?  Perhaps give me a lift to the nearest
ah
... hacienda? It seems as if my horse has thrown me and I am now without
transportation."

The younger woman looked at her mother expectantly, waiting for her to make
a
decision.

"Mama, Papa would never pass a person in need on the roadway without
stopping
to offer assistance.  We have Pedro here to protect us if the need should
arise."

"You are right, my daughter. Juan would offer his help and in his name I
will
do the same.  Besides, this man does not look harmless."

Without hesitation, the older woman stood up in the carriage and ordered the
driver to make room for him on the front seat beside him.

"Senor, you are more than welcome to join us as we are returning to our
home.
There you will receive what you need to continue with your travels."

Wells walked to the side of the black carriage and looked up at the lady.
He
removed his hat, placed it on his chest, and gave a slight bow.

"Thank you, kind lady, for your most gracious offer.  Allow me to introduce
myself.  I am H.G. Wells, a writer and traveler."

The older woman smiled serenely at him.  "No thanks are necessary, Senor
Wells.  I am Dona Marta De la Fuenta Vasquez and this is my daughter,
Lolita."

Lolita nodded her greeting, a soft smile playing on her lips at Wells'
impeccable manners.  Her instincts had been right about this stranger.  They
had nothing to fear from him.  Beyond that, she felt an immediate connection
with the little Englishman.  "Senor Wells."

Wells bowed slightly again.  Behind her natural beauty and grace, Wells had
recognized the intelligence and natural curiosity that marked the soul of
Lois
Lane.  "Senorita Loi ... er, Lolita."

His attention returned to Dona Marta.

"As Lolita has reminded me, my husband, Don Juan, would have done the same
and
in his name I am most honored to help someone who is in need."

Wells, with no help from the driver, struggled to make his way into the
carriage, stumbling before he was finally seated beside him.   One glance
from
the driver let him know he was not happy with the intrusion but would
tolerate
him on the seat.

They were quickly on their way again and the new passenger was soon
forgotten
as mother and daughter began to talk.

<Mackteach>

Wells took the opportunity to study the countryside.  The green rolling
hills
were covered with a luscious rug of green even as the warm earthy brown of
the
road led towards a sprawling ranch house.  Wells had recognized the souls of
Lois Lane and Martha Kent.  Apparently, as when he had met Lulu and The Lone
Rider, Lois was the daughter of Martha and, he assumed, Jonathan Kent.  He
smiled at the variations on the same theme that occurred.  He was curious to
see how the other souls intertwined with Lois and Clark manifested
themselves
in this lifetime.

As the carriage passed through the gates that marked the beginning of their
property, Dona Marta turned to her daughter.  "Now, Lolita, *promise* me you
will be polite to our visitor.  This Alexei Alexandrovich has become quite
the
influence in the short time he has been on our island.  Your father has some
business to discuss with him."

Lolita sighed in exasperation.  "I will, Mama. It's just that I don't know
*why* I can't be out riding my horse or out on the sea."

Dona Marta gazed sternly, but fondly, at her only child.  "I know, querida.
I
know that it is in your blood, but even as a sea hawk must be landlocked
once
in a while, so too must you attend to your duties and responsibilities."
She
patted Lolita's hand.  "Besides, with the recent activities of The Sea Hawk,
you know Papa doesn't like you out at sea."

<The Sea Hawk?> Wells thought.  <Well, well.  As always, a secret identity
makes its appearance.>

Lolita smiled at her mother's last statement.  "That's only because he can't
join me out at sea himself.  You forget that he told me about his days on
shipboard."

<Not all of them, my darling daughter,> Dona Marta thought.  She sighed,
partly in relief that her husband's secret was still a secret and partly
because of the fond memories that came to her.

"And how I regret that he did.  Filling your head full of ideas.  I still
remember when you were seven years old and announced that you were going to
be
a swashbuckling pirate!"  She shook her head in mock distress.

Lolita smiled, wishing that she could tell her mother exactly how much of a
swashbuckler she had become.  Instead, she smiled softly and reminded her,
"Mama.  You know that if it weren't for Papa's adventures, you would never
have met him."

Her mother smiled.  "Yes, and those were some of the happiest days of my
life.
Falling in love with your father ... marrying him ... having you."  She cast
a
loving smile on her daughter.  "I thank God every day for the two of you in
my
life."

Lolita leaned over and kissed her mother's cheek.  "I know, Mama.  I know."
Her gaze grew thoughtful.  "But yet, I can't help but wonder if there isn't
more to Papa's stories than just two youths off to see the world ..."  Her
voice trailed off as she thought of her own adventures, adventures that
would
surely outrage her mother if she ever knew.  Lolita's heart had skipped a
beat
when her mother had mentioned a sea hawk earlier.  She wondered just how
much
her mother had guessed or actually knew.

Dona Marta looked anxiously at her beautiful daughter.  <It's time to tell
her
the truth> she thought.

Wells turned in his seat and cleared his throat.  "Excuse me, Dona Marta.  I
couldn't help but hear.  The Sea Hawk?  Should I be worried about him as I
continue my travels?"

Lolita smiled.  "Unless you are a slave trader, Senor Wells, the Sea Hawk
will
not bother you."

"My daughter is right, Senor Wells.  The Sea Hawk has made it a personal
mission to stop as many of the slave ships that he can from completing their
ungodly route."

Wells smiled.  "So, the Sea Hawk is a defender of the weak and the
oppressed?"

Dona Marta further explained.  "Many would call The Sea Hawk a vigilante,
and
one that ignores our constabulary."  As she saw Lolita about to protest, she
turned to her daughter.  "Now, mi hija, you know that there are many on the
island that do not believe, as we do, that there is anything immoral about
slavery and the trading of humans."

Lolita sighed.  "Yes, Mama.  I know.  I am just glad that our family does
not
share this belief.  I cannot comprehend the owning of another person.  Where
is the truth and justice in that?"  Her eyes blazed with anger.  "The slave
traders will have to answer to a higher authority eventually.  But, for now,
The Sea Hawk will do what must be done."

The three of them fell silent as they lost themselves in their individual
thoughts.  As the carriage slowed to a halt at the main house, Dona Marta
adjusted her countenance.

"Here we are.  Now, Lolita.  Remember."

"Yes, Mama."

Their foreman, Carlos, stepped forward to assist the two women from the
carriage.  As he held Lolita's hand, a small jolt of electricity passed
between them.  Their eyes locked for a moment.

"Thank you, Carlos."

"My pleasure, Senorita 'Lita."

A soft smile played upon both their lips.

*******
Lolita and Carlos had known each other all their lives.  Carlos and his
family
had been employed by Don Juan's family for generations, but over the years
and
generations the line separating employer and employee had blurred between
the
two families. In fact, Don Juan and Carlos' father, Simon Montoya, had
served
on the same ship during their youth, sharing adventures and bonding to the
extent that Don Juan considered Simon his brother in spirit.  Each was
godfather to the other's child, a position that brought along with it a
great
deal of trust, respect, and honor.  Carlos was, for all practical purposes,
considered by Juan and Marta a member of their extended family.

What the exact nature of Juan's and Simon's adventures at sea had been,
neither Carlos nor Lolita had ever been able to discover.  When they were
children and asked, a conspiratorial look and smile was always exchanged
between their fathers. "Just doing what men our age did, eh, Simon?" was all
the answer that they ever got.

As his father before him, Simon had been foreman of the hacienda and upon
his
death, Don Juan had named Carlos to replace him, entrusting Carlos with the
well-being and health of their home and those who lived on the hacienda.
Don
Juan did not believe in slavery, and therefore employed many of the
townspeople, having them work on the hacienda during the day and returning
to
their own families at dusk.

It was a huge responsibility and one that Carlos never took for granted.
Under first his father's and then Don Juan's tutelage, Carlos had learned
everything that the two friends could teach him.  From Simon, Carlos had
learned how to defend himself and the hacienda as well as all the little
details that went into overseeing the daily activities at the hacienda.
From
Don Juan, Carlos had learned how to keep accurate books and ledgers, how to
deal with merchants, and how to trust in his instincts.  From both men,
Carlos
had learned about honor, truth, and justice.  Both Simon and Don Juan had
watched with pleasure and pride as the young man channeled his youthful
energy
into his studies.

Everyone loved Carlos.  He was a hard-working, dependable man.  He didn't
drink and he didn't swear.  And, unlike some of their other employees, he
didn't indulge in the local "scenery" down at Senora Gonzalez's cantina.

Don Juan,  especially, had been pleased that his daughter, Lolita, had found
a
friend in Carlos.  Unlike many of his peers of the time, Don Juan believed
that education should not be restricted to the male members of the
aristocracy, that knowledge was important to a person's self-worth.

And so Lolita took her lessons side-by-side with Carlos.  Lolita had
followed
Carlos everywhere, doing what he did whether it was mucking out the stables
or
tending to a sick horse.  And, from the tutor that Dona Marta had employed,
Carlos learned the same subjects that Lolita did, sitting next to her and
forming a lifelong friendship .

Where Carlos excelled in geography, mathematics, and the sciences, Lolita's
forte was languages and the arts, especially writing.  The tutor had once
told
the Don and Dona that Lolita had a talent for writing, for telling a tale so
vividly that the reader or listener was immediately drawn into the imaginary
world that Lolita had created.

He had also commented that Carlos hung on every word that Lolita spoke,
willingly giving his assistance when needed.  That comment had brought a
smile
to the Don's and Dona's lips.  Dona Marta and Don Juan had always harbored a
secret dream that Carlos and Lolita would fall in love and marry each other,
further strengthening the bond and closeness between the two families.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:33:44 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk (4/7)
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*******
<chrispat>

Carlos was just reaching for the trademark plumed hat, mask, and cape of The
Sea Hawk when he heard someone in the stables.  He walked forward stealthily
and hid in the shadows as Lolita entered.  Some instinct made him hide
deeper
in the shadows as she went to the tack room.

She opened a tack box and then a hidden bottom to the tack box.  She pulled
out the full coat, gauntlets, a plumed hat,  ... but first, the mask.

Carlos was about to reveal his presence when, to his stunned amazement, she
started to remove her clothing.  His face was burning with shame, but he
couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight of her graceful body. He had
spent
many long nights tossing and turning in restless sleep as his dreams had
pictured a similar scene. He closed his eyes for a moment and pinched
himself,
but when he opened them, she was still there. This was no dream.

After a moment, he managed to turn away. An endless few minutes later, he
heard her talking to her horse, and turned back to see a masked stranger
buckling on a sword.  If he hadn't heard her voice, he would never have
guessed she was female, let alone his Lolita. What on earth was she doing,
and
where was she going, dressed as a man?

He watched as she swung nimbly into the saddle and rode off. As soon as she
was out of sight, he hastily snatched up his sword and bridled Don Juan's
prized stallion.  Stuffing his own hat, cloak and mask into a bag, and
without
taking time for a saddle, he took off in pursuit.

<Lansbury>

In the early dusk of the warm evening he followed her, being careful to stay
far enough behind so she wouldn't be alerted to his presence.  Carlos was
shocked when her horse turned to go down the long roadway which led to
Alexei
Alexandrovich's home.  He paused just long enough to open the bag he had
quickly put his disguise.  He quickly donned the mask, cape and plumed hat
as
he kept Lolita in sight.

<What is she up to now?> he thought as he watched her tie her horse out of
sight of the huge mansion.  Carlos hid in the tall bushes and watched as she
crossed the lawn and crept slowly towards an open window on the side of the
house. Just as she was about to climb into the window there was a sound as
two
workers came from a wagon parked near the rear of the house.

She quickly hid in the shrubs nearby.

Carlos at that moment chose to quickly make his way towards her hiding spot.
He reached her as the men entered the house.  A wave of anger swept over him
as he placed a hand on her arm.

"Lolita!  What in heaven's name are you doing?" His anger was about to get
the
best of him when he said, "Why are you dressed as you are?"

Seeing only the mask, Lolita demanded, "Who are you and why have you
followed
me?"  Her eyes grew large as recognition came to her at the same time it
came
to him.  In an instant everything came into focus.

"No, nooo..." they stumbled with the words. "You can't be! You can't be
the...." Each was pointing at the other.

Carlos recovered first.  "Yes, Lolita.  I am the Sea Hawk.  I have known for
a
while someone was out there pretending to be the Sea Hawk but I would never
have guessed it was you."

<Mackteach>

Carlos smiled at Lolita.  "This explains The Sea Hawk being seen both at sea
and on land at the same time.  I had often wondered about that and had just
assumed that they were exaggerations.  But then again, there were too many
sightings, too many different stories for it to be just an exaggeration."

"The Sea Hawk?   Is it true, Carlos?  *You* are The Sea Hawk?"

He smiled at the stunned look on her face and began to softly chuckle.
Lolita
couldn't help the soft smile that came to her face as she remembered her
mother's words from earlier.  "It appears that at this moment *both* Sea
Hawks
are landlocked."

She knew they both had questions and wasn't surprised at his next words.
"So,
what are we doing here?"

She looked into his eyes.  In the moonlight, Lolita saw the usual respect
that
he always had for her.  Beyond that, she saw something else.  She didn't
want
to think about what that "something else" could be.  At least, not right
now.

She smiled tightly.  "There is no 'we' in this, Carlos.  *I* have to do this
alone."

She turned away from him, intent on entering the mansion.  His grip
tightened
on her arm.  She turned back to him as she spoke.

"Don't you know, 'Lita?  There has *always* been a 'we.'  You have been my
best friend all my life.  Let us do this together."

"No.  I must do this alone, I have used the name of the Sea Hawk before and
--"

Carlos's eyes shone with suppressed anger.  He interrupted Lolita's
explanation.  "I know what he wants, 'Lita.  And I know why you have to do
this.  I cannot let him do this."  The anger in his eyes dissipated,
replaced
with a look of determination and stubbornness that matched her own.

Lolita sighed.  "All right."  They stood up, Lolita drawing her sword from
its
scabbard as he also drew his.

Carlos stood back, a bit awed.  If he hadn't believed it before, he believed
it now.  Lolita *was* the other Sea Hawk.  And he had no doubt that she
could
take care of herself just fine.

*******
"... and so, you see, it is important that no one know who The Sea Hawk is.
After all, there are many that still hold to the idea that women are weak
and
helpless.  I have suspected for a long while that she is The Sea Hawk.  But
today, when I looked into her eyes ..."

Dona Marta's voice faltered as she remembered the look of grim determination
she had seen in her daughter.  "I was sure of it.  She has always had a
strong
sense of honor and justice as well as an independent streak in her, one that
both her father and I encouraged and allowed her to indulge to a large
extent.
I just pray that no harm comes to her."

Dona Marta clasped her hands tightly together, her eyes pleading with Wells.
"I trust you, Senor Wells, although we have only known you for a short time.
I know that Lolita trusts you as well."

Wells didn't speak as he digested the information that Dona Marta had just
disclosed to him.  There were *two* Sea Hawks!  <My word,> he thought, <this
is quite a revelation.>  As he thought about it, the more he realized that
many of the same qualities that Clark Kent's soul had were shared by Lois
Lane's.  They both, in their own ways, fought for truth and justice.  They
both, again in their own ways, tried to help the weak and oppressed.  It
seemed inevitable that in at least one incarnation a secret identity would
be
used by both.

"Senor Wells?"

Dona Marta's voice broke into his musings.  "Oh, my dear, I am quite sorry.
Please forgive my lapse of attention."  He patted her clenched hands.  "Rest
assured, Dona Marta, Lolita's secret is safe with me."

Reassured, she smiled.  "Somehow, Senor, I knew you would say that."

Their attention was caught by raised voices in the main study.

"Never, Alexei!  I'll burn this hacienda and the land before I let it fall
into your evil hands!"

Decorum pushed aside, Dona Marta and Wells entered the study.

"Juan?"  Dona Marta stopped abruptly and gasped.

Alexei stood over Juan, a dagger at his throat.  He turned and bowed in mock
politeness to Marta.  "Your pardon, Dona Marta.  Your husband and I are
having
a slight  ... disagreement."

Wells stepped in front of Dona Marta.  "Unhand him, you scoundrel!"

Alexei guffawed.  "Or what, little man?  I don't know who you are, nor do I
care."  He turned his cold stare back to Don Juan.  "Still won't agree?"

Don Juan stared back at him, refusing to bow before him.  "Never."

"Well, perhaps we can find another way to ... convince ... you of my
sincerity."  Releasing Don Juan, he stepped back and pulled a gun from his
waistband.  Dona Marta and Wells rushed to Juan's side.

"Juan?"  "Don Juan?"  they both asked.

Don Juan gestured that he was all right.  The three of them turned to face
Alexei.

Aiming the pistol at them, Alexei smiled a tight, feral smile.  "Shall we
take
a short carriage ride?  I do so want to treat you to some of my special
brand
of hospitality."  He stared at Wells.  "You too, little man.  I can't have
you
running off and alerting the authorities, now can I?"

The smile faded and he stepped aside.  Don Juan escorted Dona Marta from the
room, followed by Wells and Alexei behind them, the revolver aimed at their
backs.

*******
<peabody>

Carlos thought that Lolita would attempt to enter through one of the French
doors that opened onto the airy courtyard, so he was surprised to see her
circle around to the trellis at the side of the house.  He followed closely
behind her, careful to stay in the sheltering shadows of the house.

Even though it was night, amazed, he watched as she scrambled nimbly up the
trellis, unencumbered by the sword in her hand.  He followed more slowly,
trying not to make any noise that might betray their presence by disturbing
the vines that clung to the wooden latticework.

Carlos had little difficulty moving up the trellis, he was strong and well-
built.  Concentrating on finding handholds and moving silently, he failed to
notice a protruding nail.

The sound of fabric tearing seemed to reverberate loudly, at least to his
startled ears, splitting the silent evening just as the nail had split his
shirt.  Lolita looked down, having heard the soft sound of fabric tearing.
She motioned him to stop, at least for a moment, to see if the noise brought
any curious occupants running to investigate the source.

Lolita  had always thought of Carlos as her confidante, partner in juvenile
adventures, and now, her best friend.  She'd recognized that he was
attractive, but she'd never quite realized just *how* attractive she found
him
until this moment.  Looking down at the expanse of chest the errant nail had
exposed, she found she was having a hard time keeping her mind on the
mission
she needed to complete.

Carlos was having similar problems looking up at Lolita, her slim figure
covered but not completely concealed by the mannish clothes that she wore.

<Lansbury>

As she reached the top of the balcony, Lolita pulled herself free of the
trellis, turned, and grabbed Carlos by the shoulder. She pulled with all her
might and he came over onto the balcony with a sudden force that knocked
them
both off their feet.

Carlos reached for her and pulled her to him as they fell.  For an instant
they were eye to eye and chest to chest.  He could feel her firm round
breasts
rub against his bare chest. His arms encircled her as they lay on the
balcony
floor both speechless, lost for words for the first time in their lives.
The
moment was broken when Lolita lifted from him and started to rise.

"We had better hurry and search for the proof that Alexei has been stealing
from my parents."

Carlos loosened his hold on her only to pull her back against him.  Placing
his lips on hers, he kissed her.

At first she was shocked and tried to resist but then a small sound escaped
from her, coming from deep in her soul. The sounds of pure sensual pleasure
could be heard from both of them as the kiss deepened.  Time stood still;
neither was aware of anything on this planet except the feeling and urges
which the kiss had kindled.  Carlos shuddered as he felt Lolita's hands move
across his bare chest.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:33:23 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk (3/7)
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*******

Marta led Alexei into her husband's study.  Don Juan rose as they entered
and
offered his hand to Alexei.

"It is very good to see you again, my friend," Alexei said as he took the
outstretched hand of Don Juan.

"I am honored to have you visit my home.  Sit ... sit,"  Don Juan told the
younger man.  As the Russian sat in the chair in front of the tall older man
Don Juan stated, "I have heard rumors in the town square of an assault on
one
of your vessels by The Sea Hawk."

"Yes, that black pirate did seize one of my vessels and relieved me of my
cargo set for the Americas."

"Perhaps such cargo was never meant to reach its destination," replied the
Don
in a voice just short of anger.  His tone left no doubt where he stood in
the
matter of human cargo.

To stop the argument the Don knew would follow, he looked at both Alexei and
his wife.

"But let us not speak of things before you have quenched your thirst.
Surely
my beautiful Marta has offered you some refreshments?  Bring him some wine,
Marta."

Marta did not miss her husband's comments.  She too hated this concept that
so
many had embraced.  She looked lovingly at her husband and felt a great
sense
of pride that he did not defer to the wealthy Alexei.

"No, No! Please don't go to any trouble.  A nice cool glass of water would
be
most appreciated."

Dona Marta, ever the gracious hostess, went to the cabinet and poured her
husband's visitor a tall glass of water.  She placed it on the small table
in
front of him.  She moved across the sitting area and sat down on the settee
opposite her husband's chair.

Alexei looked at Don Juan and back to the water but chose to keep his eyes
focused only on the Don as he talked.

"What we are about to discuss is not a subject meant for the delicate ears
of
the Dona.  Perhaps she would be more comfortable in the kitchen or sitting
in
her parlor needlepointing?"

Anger rose in the Dona at the demeaning tone of Alexei's remarks.  <How dare
he think I am a brainless twit!>  she thought indignantly.  She was about to
tell him of all her responsibilities here at the hacienda but decided
against
it after looking at her husband.

Without giving Don Juan a chance to answer, Marta rose and placed one hand
on
her husband's arm. "It is all right, my husband. I will retire so you and
Alexei may discuss the future of our home."  She gave him a reassuring
glance
as she left.

Dona Marta came face to face with Carlos and Wells as she left the room.

"Carlos, have you been here the whole time listening?" she questioned him.
Without waiting for an answer she walked over to him and placed a hand on
the
side of his face.

"Thank you, my son, for caring what happens to us.  Alexei is a man we may
need to fear. But it scares me to think what he is truly after.  My darkest
fear is that he is not only after the properties of  Don Juan but after our
... "

She stopped as they heard the conversation begin again in the study.  "I
must
go to Lolita.  Stay and watch over my Juan, Carlos.  He may need you."

"I will not leave.  That you can be assured of, Dona Marta."

Satisfied that Juan would be safe, with a nod to Wells, Dona Marta left.

*******
Alexei picked up the glass and took a sip of the water.  "Don Juan, I am a
man
who knows what he wants and you have something that I want."

Juan prepared himself for what was to come next.  He knew Alexandrovich had
the means of taking his family home of many generations.  He had lain awake
nights with this shame. But the words he expected to hear did not come and
first in complete shock and then anger, he heard Alexei's offer.

<Mackteach>

"The one thing I want is your daughter, Don  Juan.  If she marries me, I
will
give you the money you need."

Juan stood up straight, his eyes burning with anger.  "My daughter is not
for
sale, Alexandrovich!."

Alexei took another drink from his glass.  Smiling smugly, he ran his finger
along the rim of the glass.  "Everyone has a price, Don Juan.  Even you.  I
know that in spite of your best efforts, you have had some ... difficulty
...
in keeping up with the rising prices at the stores."

Don Juan shrugged.  "A temporary condition.  My foreman, Carlos, and I have
talked to the store owners ..."

"Who have agreed to extend you credit.  Yes, I know."

Don Juan looked at him in surprise, before quickly settling his face to a
more
neutral gaze.  "As I have said, Senor.  A temporary condition."

Alexei waved his hand in the air as if to dismiss the notion.  "There is
talk
in the town that unless The Sea Hawk stops stealing from the stores, prices
will continue to rise.  If that happens, your 'credit' will soon reach its
limit."

Don Juan said nothing as Alexei continued.  His voice turned low and
dangerous.  "Don Juan, I know that you have worked hard for your wealth and
that your family has lived for many years on this same land.  It would be a
shame to not pass on this heritage to your daughter ... and her husband."

Don Juan looked at Alexei and saw the evil glint in his eyes.  "Diablo!" he
spat out.

Alexei smirked and settled back into his chair.  Swirling the water in his
glass, he stared at Don Juan.  "Think about it, Don Juan.  Poor Lolita ...
penniless ... forced to work ... in Senora Gonzalez's 'house'."

<Lansbury>

Wells and Carlos did not hear or see Lolita as she listened from the patio.
Carlos' only reaction to the news was one word which spoke volumes.

"Never!"

<Mackteach>

Entering the salon, Lolita reached for the brandy bottle. The liquid fire
burned her throat, but did nothing to extinguish the anger that was building
inside her. How dare he!  The audacity of that ... that ... The words
escaped
her for a moment.  Then one jumped to the forefront.  She smiled as she
uttered it, thinking that it was so fitting and so descriptive of Alexei.

"Pendejo," she muttered.

"Lita!"  She quickly turned around, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment
as
she saw that her mother had heard her utter the expletive.

Lolita stood straight.  "I only said aloud what we were both thinking,
Mama."

Marta walked towards her and led her away from the study door, leaving it
slightly ajar so she could hear if Juan needed her.

"I understand, querida.  But, we may need this man's assistance if we are to
save our home."

"I'd rather marry the town drunk than that blackheart!  There must be
another
way."  An idea sprang to her mind.  "Mama, I must go on an errand.  Will you
make my excuses to Papa and our guest?"

"Li-ta!  What do you have in mind?  I have seen this look on your face
before.
Although, it has been several years since you and Carlos decided to run Jefe
Pedro's underwear up the flagpole in the town square."

Lolita smiled briefly at the memory. Carlos had always gone along with her
schemes.  Reluctantly, many a time, but always willing to be talked into
helping her.  Her face grew serious as she realized that this time it wasn't
just a practical joke that she was thinking of.  And no one, not even her
parents or best friend, the people that she loved, could ever know about
this.

"Mama.  Trust me when I say that this is something that I must do.  Alone!"
Her eyes pleaded with her mother to understand.

Marta searched her daughter's eyes and saw a maturity and responsibility
that
went far beyond Lolita's years.  It was almost as if she had found her
calling.  Her destiny.  She sent a silent prayer to the Blessed Mother to
watch over her daughter, just as she had many times before.

"Do what you must."  As Lolita turned to leave, her mother's voice stopped
her.  "But first, you must make your excuses to your father and our guest."

If not always the perfect child, Lolita was an obedient daughter most of the
time.  She straightened her back and knocked on the door.  At her father's
reply of "Enter," she took a deep breath and calmly entered the study.
"Papa...."

Her voice faded as she entered the room.  Marta left to find Carlos.  She
had
seen the seriousness in Lolita's eyes.  She knew what her daughter was going
to do.  She again sent a silent prayer toward heaven.

*******
Keeping her eyes focused on her father, Lolita began.  "Papa, forgive me for
the interruption.  I must run an errand for Mama.  I should return shortly,
but did want to extend my farewells to Senor Alexandrovich."  She inclined
her
head towards Alexei.

Alexei studied her through half-closed eyelids.  She was a beauty and he was
determined to have her.  He smiled,a smile that only extended as far as the
edges of his mouth.  He noticed Lolita's slight shiver, mistaking it for
excitement.  "Take your time, my dear.  Your father and I have ... much ...
to
discuss."

Lolita looked steadily at Alexei for a long moment.  The phrase "snake in
the
grass" leapt into her mind.  Keeping her face neutral, she nodded to the
men.
"Papa.  Senor."  She kept the door slightly ajar as she left the room.  She
left the main house in the direction of the stables.

***********
Alexei rolled the glass between his hands.  "Now, Don Juan.  Where were we?"

"My daughter is not my property, Senor.  I have no more right to sell her
than
I do the air that we breathe.  She is not a prize thoroughbred to be sold to
the highest bidder."

***********

<Lansbury>

Carlos turned to Wells.  "I must go.  But you are welcome to be my guest
tonight in my humble home here on Don Juan's property.  You have been most
helpful in my quest of knowledge this afternoon.  I appreciate your being
here
with me."

Wells was touched by the young man's offer and by his words.  "I will be
happy
to accept the offer of a night's lodging.  Is there anything else I can do
to
help you?  I will be very discreet and not reveal any information I might
uncover."

Carlos held up his hand and shook his head gesturing he would not need any
further assistance

"I must go to the stables.  Anyone here will guide you toward my home."

Wells watched as he disappeared out of sight and began to follow.

<Mackteach>

Carlos paused at the stable door and looked about. He turned at the sound of
footsteps, frowning slightly as he watched the hacienda's guest walk toward
him.  "Senor Wells, this is not the way to my house."

"Well, yes, my boy, I know that.  But, you see, I think that I may be of
assistance."

Carlos looked at him skeptically.  Catching his look, Wells smiled.

"Do not always believe what you see, Carlos.  Often, you must look beyond
the
exterior to see the person."  He paused for a moment.

"It's almost like donning a ... disguise."

At Carlos's look of surprise, Wells knew that he had assumed correctly.
Along
with what Dona Marta and Lolita had told him in the carriage, he had heard
the
conversation in Don Juan's study about The Sea Hawk.  He had also heard
Carlo's gasp of surprise and mutterings, "Stealing?  How is that possible?
I
was dealing with that slave ship at the time ..."   Wells was convinced that
he was indeed looking at the incarnation of Clark Kent's soul.

Wells tried to catch Carlos's eye.  "That *is* what you are about to do,
isn't
it, Carlos?  Don a disguise?  Perhaps as ... The Sea Hawk?"

When Carlos didn't answer him, Wells continued.  "As you yourself have said,
you can trust me."

Carlos made a decision and pulled Wells into the stable with him.  Speaking
in
hushed tones as they walked to the far side of the stables, Carlos
explained.
"Don Juan has been like a second father to me.  He and my father taught me
to
stand up for my beliefs as much as possible.  I have always found it
difficult
to walk away or ignore someone who needed help."

He smiled slightly.  "Especially when that person was Lolita.  She followed
me
everywhere when we were children, but I never minded that.  All she had to
do
was ask me for help, and I would do everything I could to help her."

He looked at Wells, the earnestness and sincerity in his eyes speaking
volumes.  "When the slave ships became more frequent, I could no longer
ignore
my heart, my beliefs.  I could no longer remain uninvolved.  I had to do
something.  But what?  It couldn't be known that the foreman of Don Juan's
hacienda was taking matters into his own hands.  I would sooner die than
bring
shame on Don Juan and his family.  So, I became The Sea Hawk.  I have done
what I can to stop this particular inhumanity."

His gaze lowered.  "The Sea Hawk has been called a hero by some, a lawless
vigilante by others.  If anyone ... especially the Don and Dona ... were to
discover my secret ..."  His voice trailed off.

"Then, all that you have, all that you love would be lost to you forever."
Wells finished Carlos's thoughts.  Carlos' shoulders slumped in assent.

<How like Clark he is,> Wells thought, <in both character and beliefs.>
Wells
cleared his throat.  "Clar ... er, Carlos, believe me when I say this.  You
have a noble heart, a noble soul.  What you are doing is the right thing,
the
just thing.  Don Juan and Dona Marta would not only understand what you do,
they would approve."

At Wells' words, Carlos' shoulders began to straighten.  His head raised in
surprise at his next words.

"Even Lolita would approve."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I have seen many things in my travels, seen many people, known many causes.
There is nothing more honorable than righting what is wrong.  Believe me, my
boy, when I say this. You were born to do this.  This is your destiny."

Carlos looked at Wells, determination and certainty springing into his eyes.
"You are right, Senor Wells.  This *is* a job for The Sea Hawk!"  He went to
the back of the stables and began to change into his disguise.

"That's the ticket!"  Wells said enthusiastically, his fist pumping in the
air.  As he saw Carlos disappear into the shadows at the back of the stable,
he left in search of Dona Marta.

Wells saw her approaching the stables.  "Ah, excuse me?  Dona Marta?"

Slightly startled, Dona Marta stopped at the sound of his voice.  Placing a
smile on her face, she turned.  "Ah, Senor Wells.  Has Carlos seen to your
needs?"

Wells stood before her and noticed her eyes darting about.  He cleared his
throat and caught her attention.  "Yes, quite.  A remarkable young man, that
Carlos."  As she nodded her agreement and began to move away, he hastened to
add.  "By the by ..."

Dona Marta again turned her attention to him.  "Yes, Senor?"

"Dona, would you mind terribly if I spoke to you on a rather ... um,
delicate
matter?"

Dona Marta frowned at his choice of words.  "Delicate?"

"Yes.  Concerning ... the Sea Hawk."  Wells gauged her reaction.

Her eyes widened in surprise and understanding.  Recovering, she moved to
link
her arm through his.  "Perhaps it would be best if we spoke in the main
house."

Wells allowed her to lead him away from the stable, relieved that Carlos'
secret was protected.  Turning back for a moment, his eyebrow arched as he
saw
Lolita slip into the stable through a side door.

"Oh my word ..." he whispered.  He sensed Dona Marta about to turn back and
look.  Turning to Dona Marta he smiled, "So tell me, madam, what other
stories
have you heard about The Sea Hawk?"  Their voices lowered as they entered
the
main house.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:34:10 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      The SoulMate Chronicles:  Sea Hawk (5/7)
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<Mackteach>

Carlos broke off the kiss and whispered, "I have wanted to do that for such
a
long time, mi corazon."

"Carlos --"

"I love you, 'Lita.  I've loved you for a long time."

Lolita raised her hand and cupped the side of his face.  "And I love you
too,
mi amor.  But, now is *not* the time to  declare our love for each other.
We
have to get inside this pescado's house."

They smiled at each other for a moment longer before Lolita's attention was
drawn away by the sound of carriage wheels approaching the mansion.
Catching
Lolita's reaction, Carlos loosened his embrace and they both scrambled to
their knees and looked over the balcony edge.

Lolita gasped as she saw Alexei approach the house on horseback, leading a
carriage. Her parents were in the carriage, bound and gagged.

"Madre de Dios!  The bastard has Mama and Papa."

"Not only that.  He has Senor Wells, also!"  Lolita directed her gaze where
Carlos was pointing and saw the little man in the peculiar clothing that she
and her mother had assisted earlier in the day.  He too was bound and
gagged.

Carlos felt the anger rise in him until he thought it would turn him into a
crazed person. Glancing at Lolita, he heard the barely contained anger in
her
voice as she muttered under her breath, stood and strode inside the room.
Carlos followed, stopping just inside the balcony doors.  He looked around
at
the ornately decorated room before locking gazes with her.

They immediately noticed the change in the other.  She was no longer *his*
Lolita and he was know longer *her* Carlos.  They had become partners in
stopping the evil Alexei.  They were the Sea Hawks.

"We need to find something ... anything ... that proves he is deceitful ..."
they said in unison.

"Papers ..." he said.

"... or documents," Lolita finished.

They both smiled at how easily they completed each other's thoughts.

She shuffled some more papers and opened the desk drawer.  "Aha!" she said
as
she removed the bottom panel of the drawer.

"What?" he quizzed.

She gestured to him.  "Look at this."  She drew some papers from their
hiding
place.

Carlos came to stand next to her and looked at the papers. "This is a ledger
sheet.  I recognize some of the names.  These are all store proprietors.
They
all do business with Don Juan."

Carlos looked at Lolita.  "For the last few months, prices have been going
up
for their goods.  They said it was because of The Sea Hawk's thievery."

Both Sea Hawks shook their heads.

Lolita's eyes blazed with anger.  "I don't steal from my own people nor do
you.  I only attack those that need it.  Especially the slave ships."

Carlos smiled brightly.  "That I can understand.  We both abhor slavery.  As
do your parents."

Carlos studied the ledgers and charts before turning his gaze on his beloved
Lolita.  "According to these, store owners have had to pay 'protection
money'
to Alexandrovich.  If they were unable to pay, their homes were foreclosed."

He put the papers on the desk.  "So *that's* how he makes his money."

A particular paper caught Lolita's eye.  She picked it up and read from the
list.  "300 this cargo ... 100 males ... 100 females ... 100 children ..."
Her eyes widened in shock.  "Carlos!  The slave ships.  *Alexei* is using
the
protection money he has acquired to finance the fitting of the slave ships!"

Carlos nodded his agreement.  "That would make sense.  Remember how our
fathers would tell us how much it cost to outfit a ship?  And the slave
ships
that The Sea Hawk ..."  he paused and smiled softly at Lolita before
continuing.  "That is, you and I, have stopped from reaching their
destination
..."

"... are much bigger than the ships Papa described."  The female Sea Hawk
indulged her need to reach out and caress his face.  "The Sea Hawk is very
smart."

He held her hand to his face.  "And as brave as she is beautiful." He turned
his head to kiss her palm. She shivered slightly from his touch.
Reluctantly,
she removed her hand from his hold.

Gathering up the papers, she turned and handed them to Carlos.  "Here.
These
must get to the proper authorities so Alexei can be arrested and brought to
justice."

As Carlos opened his mouth to protest, she hastened to add, "And, of the two
of us, you were always the swifter rider."  Lolita smiled.  "I remember
wondering if you could really fly."

Carlos chuckled.  "It would be appropriate for a Sea Hawk, wouldn't it?  One
problem, mi amor.  Jefe Pedro *disapproves* of what the Sea Hawk does.  How
can we get him here without revealing my identity?"

Her smile brightened with a sudden thought.  "Jefe Pedro will come quicker
if
he is in pursuit of The Sea Hawk.  Especially if he is at the receiving end
of
the Sea Hawk's brand of ... humor."

Understanding brought a wider smile to Carlos's face.  "I'm sure he will.
If
nothing else to join the rogue in a good laugh."

He found a satchel bag and stuffed the papers into them.  Slinging it across
his shoulders, he leaned in and kissed her gently.  Growing serious, Carlos
cautioned her.  "Be careful, prometida.  Stay safe for me."

Lolita nodded, her face solemn.  "You also, querido.  We have much to talk
about."

Carlos walked towards the balcony and the trellis.  Looking back toward the
female Sea Hawk one last time, he blew her a kiss, smiled, and went over the
side.

She came out onto the balcony and watched Carlos carefully steal away from
the
compound.  Satisfied that he was safely away, she turned her thoughts to her
parents and Wells.  Alexei wouldn't dare to kill them.  They were the
leverage
he needed to make her bend to his will.

She smiled grimly.  She would never do that.  Picking up her sword, she went
to the door of the study.  Opening it a crack, she listened for a moment.
She
heard voices downstairs.  Stealthily, she made her way along the upper
hallway
and toward the winding staircase.  Her sword drawn, she shrank against the
wall as she heard Alexei's voice.

"We'll just see how long Lolita holds out once she knows that you are my
'guests.' "

Alexei closed the door of the room that he had spoken into, locking it.
Pocketing the key, he went out the front door.  Reaching the foot of the
stairs, The Sea Hawk heard the retreating hoof beats of Alexei's horse.

Lolita went to the door of the room she had seen him exit and tried the door
knob.  As she thought, it was locked. Reaching into the sash at her
waistband,
she pulled out a small dagger.  Inserting the tip into the door's lock, she
twisted the dagger until she heard the lock click.  Smiling in satisfaction,
she opened the door.

She ran towards the three people, a lump rising in her throat.  Disguising
her
voice, she addressed them.

"Don't be afraid, Don Juan, Dona Marta, Senor Wells.  I am The Sea Hawk.
I'm
here to rescue you."

Dona Marta closed her eyes in relief.  Wells and Don Juan stared at their
rescuer.  Lolita paused for a moment as her eyes locked with Wells, a look
of
recognition passing between them.  Slightly frowning as she used her dagger,
The Sea Hawk made quick work of their bindings.  They went toward the door,
but stopped as they heard a voice.

"I forgot.  Don Juan--"

Alexei reentered the room and stopped.  Anger quickly replaced surprise as
he
saw his "guests" unbound.  He turned and faced the focus of his anger.

"The Sea Hawk, I presume?"  With a flourish, he bowed slightly. "An honor."

Keeping her voice pitched low and dangerous, The Sea Hawk answered. "And the
pleasure will be in seeing you brought to justice.  You are through, Alexei
Alexandrovich.  The proof to bring you down is now in the possession of Jefe
Pedro."

Alexei blazed in anger.  "*If* I am caught.  I have enough money to leave
this
backward island.  And there are other islands, other places that I can use
as
my base of operations." He eyed the sword in The Sea Hawk's hand.  "Tell me,
are you as good with that sword as they say you are?"

The Sea Hawk grinned dangerously.  "Why don't we step into the courtyard and
find out?"

Dona Marta spoke out.  "No! Lo --" Wells placed a hand on her arm as she
caught herself before she exposed her daughter's identity.  The Sea Hawk
whirled to face Dona Marta.  Alexei looked at Dona Marta and saw the fear
and
concern in her eyes.  His eyes widened in surprise as what she had almost
said
registered.

"Lo?"  He turned back to The Sea Hawk.  "Lolita? *You* are The Sea Hawk?"
He
began to laugh.  "Oh, this is too good!"

"Don't think that because I'm a woman that I won't defeat you, Alexei."

Alexei stood with his shoulders thrown back.  "How dare you talk to me like
that?  You.  A mere woman."

"This 'mere woman' will see you rot in the town jail for the rest of your
miserable life."

"Over my dead body," he sneered.

"If you prefer." She walked over to the fireplace and removed one of the
swords from its setting.

Tossing it to Alexei, she watched as he deftly caught it. "Shall we take
this
outside?"

Alexei bowed and stepped aside. "Ladies first."

"Don't think of me as a 'lady' right now, Alexei.  Think of me as The Sea
Hawk." She stood tall before him, proudly ready to do battle.

"Then to hell with formalities!"  With that, Alexei lunged forward, his
stroke
swiftly parried by Lolita.

Dona Marta screamed and hid her face in Don Juan's shoulder.  Wells stood
near
the couple, watching and memorizing every detail.  He heard Don Juan comfort
his wife.

Don Juan patted her shoulder and whispered,  "Don't worry, mi vida.  Lolita
will win."

Dona Marta raised her head, her eyes bright with tears.  "How can you be so
calm?"

Don Juan kissed her forehead.  "Because, my love, *I* taught her how to
fight
with a sword."

Dona Marta and Wells both looked at her husband incredulously.  "You did?"

He nodded.  "When Carlos's father taught him, 'Lita begged me to teach her
as
well.  I decided that 'Lita should be able to defend herself as well as be
defended."

Dona Marta smiled an almost predatory smile.  "He doesn't have a chance,
does
he?"

"Not a one.  Shall I pour you a brandy?" he asked her calmly. Marta relaxed
and accepted the brandy that Juan offered her.  Don Juan turned to Wells.
"Senor?" he offered.

"Yes, quite."

The clanging of the swords echoed behind them.  Don Juan studied the two
combatants for a moment.  "'Lita!"

Keeping her focus on Alexei, she answered. "Yes, Papa?"

"Keep your guard up, remember what I taught you."

Lolita grunted.  "Yes, Papa."  She again pressed her attack, forcing Alexei
to
retreat into the foyer. Lolita followed him.

Dona Marta and Don Juan followed at a more leisurely pace.  Wells stood in
the
doorway of the study.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:34:30 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk (6/7)
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Alexei reached for the candelabra that sat on the end of the banister and
threw it at Lolita.  As she ducked, Alexei ran into the courtyard.  Lolita
followed.  The sword fight continued.  Wells joined Dona Marta and Don Juan
on
the patio as they watched the two combatants.

Sweat poured down Alexei's face, a look of desperation beginning to appear.
Lolita, grim and determined, concentrated, a slight grin on her face.
Finally, she saw the opening she had been looking for.

With a quick flick of her wrist, she disarmed Alexei and brought her sword
point to his neck, forcing him down to one knee.

"Well? What are you waiting for?  Finish me!"  Alexei's eyes stared at
Lolita
with hatred and contempt.

Dona Marta looked toward the gates at the sound of hoof beats.  "The Sea
Hawk!?!?!" she exclaimed.  All eyes turned to the entrance of the courtyard.

"Two?" Alexei gasped.

Lolita grinned tightly.  "Don't you know, Alexei?  Sea hawks may swoop down
on
their prey individually, but they always travel in pairs."

Keeping her sword point at Alexei's neck, Lolita watched as The Sea Hawk,
cape
flying in the wind, came thundering into the courtyard.  He dismounted and
quickly assessed the situation.  He saw the grim satisfaction in Lolita's
eyes.  Looking directly at her, his voice was slow and steady.

"Jefe Pedro and the constabulary are behind me.  They have the proof they
need."  He grinned widely.  "He would have been here sooner but he had to
retrieve his underwear from the flagpole."  He chuckled softly as he saw her
smile.  Their gazes locked and for what seemed an eternity, no one moved.

Hearing the Sea Hawk's words, Dona Marta and Don Juan smiled as they
recognized who was behind the mask of the male Sea Hawk.  Don Juan whispered
to his wife, "It's almost like old times, eh, Marta?"

Smiling up at her husband, Dona Marta whispered back, "Almost."  They both
turned their attention back to Lolita, Carlos, and Alexei.

Lolita pressed the sword point into Alexei's flesh, causing him to yelp in
pain.  She turned back to look at The Sea Hawk.

He held out his hand.  "'Lita ..." he softly whispered.

Turning back to Alexei once more, the female Hawk removed her sword from
Alexei's neck.

"I don't kill, Alexei.  And I don't steal from my people.  That's not the
way
*I* work."  She looked again at Carlos, a smile coming to her face.  "That's
not the way *we* work."

Sheathing her sword, Lolita turned and walked back toward her parents. Her
mother's sudden gasp alerted her.

Before she could throw her dagger, she watched as Alexei crumpled to the
ground, a dagger dropping from his soon-lifeless hand, another one in his
shoulder and a third one protruding from his chest. She knew that the dagger
in Alexei's shoulder was Carlos's.  As she recognized the hilt of the dagger
in Alexei's chest, she whirled around and ran into her father's arms.

"Papa?"

Don Juan held Lolita tightly to him for a moment before holding her at arm's
length.  He looked at his daughter, love and respect shining in his eyes.
"I
couldn't let him kill my daughter."

The hoof beats got louder.  "Now, get out of here, before Jefe Pedro is
forced
to arrest *one* of The Sea Hawks."

Quickly embracing first her mother, then her father, she ran toward the side
of the house and the shadows.

"Lolita!"

She stopped and turned.  "Yes, Papa?"

"Remind me to tell you and Carlos about my *other* adventures with his
father."

Lolita grinned and blew her parents a kiss before disappearing into the
night
and shadows.

Dona Marta looked at her husband.  "Are you going to tell her?"

Don Juan warmly embraced his wife. "That in our youth, Simon and I were the
secret guardians of this town and of our beautiful island?  That Simon was
my
brother in every sense of the word except by blood?  That he was the most
noble and honorable man that I ever knew? Yes, mi amor, I will tell her. And
Carlos.  They both have a right to know."

Dona Marta smiled.  "I think they love each other. As I went back to the
main
house with Senor Wells,  Jaime, the new stableboy, told me he saw Carlos
racing out of the ranch on our prize stallion.  Bareback."

"Bareback?"

"Bareback."

Don Juan laughed.  "Calm, steady, dependable, never-out-of-control Carlos!
The only time he is not himself is when he is with Lolita ... not even when
he
is in disguise as The Sea Hawk.  I know Simon would be proud of the man he
has
grown up to be.  Nothing would make me prouder than to call him son."

"From your lips to God's ears, my husband."

They both smiled as they watched Carlos stride toward them.  He had removed
the plumed hat and mask that identified him as The Sea Hawk.  The cape was
held loosely in his hand, its edge dragging in the dirt of the courtyard.
For
now, he was Carlos, their trusted foreman and the man in love with their
daughter.  "Are you both all right?"

"Yes, Carlos.  We are."

Don Juan saw the unspoken questions and concern in the young man's eyes and
chuckled as he watched Carlos look around.  He clamped his hand on his
shoulder.  "Why don't you head home?  I'm sure that what you are looking for
is safe and waiting for you there."

Carlos looked from Don Juan to Dona Marta.  He saw no censure, no
disapproval.
Only warmth and love and acceptance.  His handsome features broke into a
wide
grin.

"Yes, Don Juan.  I will head back to the hacienda right away."

As he headed for his horse, he heard Dona Marta speak to Don Juan.

"Juan?  I believe you will be resuming more of the day-to-day supervision of
the hacienda."

"Why do you say that, mi corazon?"

Happiness and laughter echoed in her reply.  "I suspect Carlos will be
spending less time being landlocked."

Carlos grinned as he got on his horse and headed toward the hacienda.
Toward
Lolita.  Toward his destiny.
=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:34:47 EDT
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              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk (7/7)
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<Lansbury>

Wells moved to stand in the dark shadows of a tall tree in the courtyard.
He
watched as the older couple nodded approvingly while speaking to Carlos.
Unable to hear what was being said, he could tell the older couple were
relieved to have the truth finally out in the open. Wells smiled to himself
and gave his surroundings one more glance before returning to his time
machine.  As he was about to turn, a small hand touched his shoulder.

"Senor Wells?  It is I, Lolita."

Wells jumped at the touch of her hand and the sound of her voice.  He
whispered, "Lolita?  What are you doing here, my dear?  You should be on
your
way to your hacienda."

Lolita grinned at the little man's questions.  Ever since meeting him she'd
had the strangest sensation that she had met him before but she just
couldn't
recall where or when.  In fact, it was right on the tip of her tongue now.
Staring into his eyes, the memory was about to come into focus but faded in
a
flash as he continued.

"Dear child, are you harmed in anyway?  Should I get the Don and Dona to
come
to you?"

Lolita shook her head to clear her thoughts at the sound of concern in his
voice.

"No, I am perfectly fine.  The world has never seemed more promising as it
does at this moment.  Carlos has declared his love and *we* together have
vanquished Alexei.  My family's property is saved and I am in hopes that
Alexei's shipping business will soon fail, also."

Wells smiled.  "You have been very busy in the last several hours."

"Yes, it has been a busy time.  A life-altering time for all I love.  Who
would have thought that in less than twenty-four hours so many changes would
have taken place."

Wells nodded and smiled.  "Ah, but they have been good changes, haven't
they?"

"Yes, they have.   That is why I wanted to speak to you.  In some unknown
way,
I feel you have helped in bringing about the changes.  I have known many
people longer in my life but only a few of them have touched it as I feel
you
have."

Wells felt a lump begin to form in his throat as he spoke once more.

"You and Carlos are two very special people.  I have been only an observer
here.  It was all your own doing.  Both of you were meeting the challenge
and
fighting for your destiny.  In fact it is *I* who want to thank you for
letting me be a part of your lives."

Lolita took a step forward and leaned in to give Wells a kiss on the cheek.
"You too, are a very special man, Senor Wells.  I am honored to have made
your
acquaintance.  Now I must go.  As you just said, my destiny awaits me at the
hacienda."

She turned to leave but stopped.  "There will be a wedding soon at the
church
near my home."  With a smile she continued.  "Knowing my parents, it will be
a
grand celebration.  All the townspeople will be invited and I would like for
you to be there, too."

Without giving him time to answer, she disappeared into the shadows.

Wells stood looking up into the heavens filled with brilliant stars.  He
loved
the feel of the gentle warm winds coming off the ocean.  One word could be
heard as he too disappeared into the shadows.

"Maybe."

*******

H. G. Wells closed the journal, took off his glasses and sat forward at his
desk.  A satisfied smile was on his face as he placed the journal inside the
middle drawer and locked it.

He rose and walked to the front door of his home.  Stepping out into the
cool
evening he stood and looked up into the clear star-filled heavens.

"Ahhh! Tomorrow will be another adventure."

THE END
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 00:57:03 EDT
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         The Zoomway <Zoomway@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Chickens ... eggs... how about an omelet? ;)
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Oh, truly great post, Georgia, well said, and I agree, the comics even after
the Byrne revamp have this cowardly approach to big events in Lois and
Clark's
lives.  He has been without power when he proposed, married and had the
honeymoon.  It wouldn't surprise me if Lois got pregnant while that Superman
Red/Superman Blue boring bilge was going on, because when he was Clark in
that
story line, he was completely human. If he has his powers when the baby is
born, it'll be a first<g>  The series handled it so well and came to a
conclusion that the other media that deal and have dealt with Superman have
been able to avoid, that after a while Superman came to mean a great deal to
Clark (we even saw that in Ultra Woman today)  A feeling that Superman is as
good for and important to Clark's well-being as 'Clark Kent' is. ("I've
never
felt so good about being me", "I love being Superman") I think the main
reason
is this is the only version of the Superman legend that made Lois as equally
important.  Superman is both of them, and they both protect him.  Lois also
protects and covers for Clark, and is the only one who knows his truest
self,
that 'Clarkent' guy ;)

What's kind of amazing is that in the most recent comics, it seems like
they're parroting some of the series' philosophy.  Talking about the
unbreakable "bond" they share.  Aside from Clark feeling a 'spark' when he
met
Lois, the idea that they had some mythic bond was not really a part of the
comics.  If it does become part though, I'll be glad to see the addition.
Lois has all but faded into the background in a lot of the stories the past
couple of years.

Paul said:

>>>>Since, however, he'd
have zero privacy if he lived that way openly, Clark has to separate his
actions to private expediencies and public superfeats (as Superman.)  Both
identities are real (though Clark's was the original) and both serve as a
cover for the othe<<<<

Exactly. lf neither is the whole truth, then both are disguises to some
extent. I thank you ;)

Lastly, Leanne said:

>>>coming soon -- a real, live fanfic thread --- as opposed to a LOISCLA
thread like this one<<<

In fairness I should point out that LOISCLA-GENERAL was cooked up not just
for
fanfic, but also to take on discussion threads when LOISCLA crashes, and the
list *did* crash.  So this was a fair thread, but now that the other list is
running, it can certainly be posted there.

Zoomway@aol.com (anyway, interesting thread regardless of what list it end
up
on;)
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 01:43:17 EDT
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From:         Lansbury 1 <Lansbury1@AOL.COM>
Subject:      The SoulMates Chronicles:  Sea Hawk
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Hello,

If you have any problems receiving the Sea Hawk let me know and I will email
you the story in its entirety.

Annie Lansbury
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 10:08:55 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         "Atcliffe, Phillip" <Phillip.Atcliffe@UWE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Chickens, eggs, omelettes and comics
In-Reply-To:  <9def64f6.35a1aaa1@aol.com>
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On Tue, 7 Jul 1998 00:57:03 EDT The Zoomway
<Zoomway@AOL.COM> wrote:

> Oh, truly great post, Georgia, well said, and I agree:
the comics, even after the Byrne revamp, have this cowardly
approach to big events in Lois and Clark's lives. He has
been without power when he proposed, married and had the
honeymoon. It wouldn't surprise me if Lois got pregnant
while that Superman Red/Superman Blue boring bilge was
going on, because when he was Clark in that story line, he
was completely human. If he has his powers when the baby is
born, it'll be a first <g>. <

This is so true. Frankly, this simply reinforces what I
wrote some time ago -- that L&C was responsible for the
whole marriage, and without the series, Lois and Clark
would _not_ be married at all. It is a possibility, but IMO
a minor one, that DC would have had the wedding this year
as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations, but I
wouldn't put any money on that, given the way the
characters have been treated even while the series was on.
That whole break-up thing, for instance <gags>

The idea seems to be that only when Clark is powerless does
he have _time_ for a relationship with Lois. It's only as a
"normal" human, doing what normal humans do (and _only_
that), can he devote any effort to being part of a couple.
Frankly, the series did this much better -- of course,
L&C's world didn't have the huge number of costumed types
running around making (and dealing with) trouble.

> What's kind of amazing is that in the most recent comics,
it seems like they're parroting some of the series'
philosophy. Talking about the unbreakable "bond" they
share. Aside from Clark feeling a 'spark' when he met Lois,
the idea that they had some mythic bond was not really a
part of the comics. <

Nor as much of the series as it should have been.

> If it does become part though, I'll be glad to see the
addition. Lois has all but faded into the background in a
lot of the stories the past couple of years. <

Interestingly, elements from L&C are becoming more and more
prevalent in the comics. The first issue of the mini-series
"Superman: A Man for All Seasons" features Lois dating
Luthor, something that was not part of the original Byrne
revamp -- at least, not explicitly. Sure, he wanted her,
but Lois wasn't interested (I _love_ the scene in MoS #3 in
which Lois takes off the $5000 dress that Luthor has
tricked her into wearing, using Clark for cover -- and his
tux as clothing. That issue is also the only example of
Rambo-Lois that isn't over the top).

And then there's the final scene, in which Superman tells a
child who likes his costume that his mother made it for
him. It's not Amy Platt, and space shuttles are nowhere to
be seen, but this can hardly be considered as anything
other than a direct take from the pilot.

Let's hope this, and the "bond", is the start of a more L&C
feel to the comics. To be honest, L&C has spoiled me for
Superman stories -- what I want is tales of Lois and
Clark/Superman, working together and being together. The
odd WAFF or two, like the hotel room scene in the recent
Lois Lane comic (best part of the story, IMO), would be
icing on the cake.

Phil
------------------------------------------------------------
"Sic Transit Gloria Barramundi"
   (Or, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!)
   -- not Douglas Adams, but me: Phil Atcliffe
                         (Phillip.Atcliffe@uwe.ac.uk)
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 07:41:36 -0500
Reply-To:     eed2@Ra.MsState.Edu
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From:         Elizabeth Eve Davis <eed2@RA.MSSTATE.EDU>
Organization: Mississippi State University
Subject:      Re: Chickens, eggs, omelettes and comics
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Slight correction on the wedding in the comics idea.  DC had planned to
marry Lois and Clark just before the series began. They decided to wait
until the series got to that point so that L&C could get married in the
series and the comic books at the same time.  Instead of marrying them
when they originally intended, they introduced Doomsday and killed
Superman, at least for a while.
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 14:23:34 -0400
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From:         Pam Jernigan <jernigan@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      Re: the Sea Hawk
Comments: To: Blind.Copy.Receiver@compuserve.com
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Wonderful! <g>

You guys did a terrific job on this!  I loved the sword fight <g>  We've
been waiting for this one for a long time, but it was worth the wait.  I'=
ll
get it up on my webpage today...

And I have to congratulate you (Annie & Julie) on the work you put into
this in post-production.  I had read an early version of this story, and
while it had a lot going for it, it was somewhat incomplete.  You guys di=
d
*excellent* work in building it up around the bits you started with; I wa=
s
very impressed.

PJ
Now if only we can get the Tai finished... (Georgia, I do mean to do
some edits to my parts, I just haven't done them yet...)

!^NavFont02F01FA0007MGHHHFB452B

  E-mail from: Pam Jernigan, 07-Jul-1998
  jernigan@compuserve.com / ChiefPam on the IRC
~~~~~
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jernigan/folc.html
Find all the IRC roundrobin fanfic / Featuring recommended fanfics
~~~~~
"Women and cats will do as they please and men and dogs =

should relax and get used to the idea." -- Robert A. Heinlein
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 16:33:46 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Sandra McDermin <SMcDermi@NAS.EDU>
Subject:      Fanfic Review: Paradise Lost
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If you don't want to be spoiled for this story, don't read this post!

"Paradise Lost" was written by Genevieve and Pat as episode 19 of the TUFS
virtual fifth season.  I had read it some weeks ago and promised the
authors I would post my thoughts (and perhaps stimulate some conversation)
but I got caught up with other things (like visits from Chicagoans<g>).
Anyway, just to have the story fresh in my mind, I reread it last night.

As I remembered from my last read through, I was immediately struck by some
general similarities in theme and even little asides to my own virtual
episode, which, by coincidence, was also episode 19.  I think -- though
this might horrify Genevieve and Pat -- that we've rubbed off on each other
since we've worked so closely on other stories<g>.  For instance, both
stories had as a sub-theme the issue of money, both used the imagery of the
sun, both made a joke of the Titanic film as well as junk food such as Ding
Dongs and Ho Hos....  The psychic friends network has nothing on us!

Seriously, I thought the story was very well written, and -- no higher
praise -- the interweaving of the A and B plots was seamless.  I never felt
a jarring note when the story went from L&C's personal moments to public
moments.  In fact, just as in real life, they stepped all over each other
fairly often.

I think the weaker part of the story was the A plot, however.  This is not
surprising since most of us have become experts at writing B plots, and,
just as the professional writers found, have had greater difficulties
coming up with credible Superman threats.  Wisely, Paradise Lost, had
Superman dealing with the aftermath of a problem, which is sometimes harder
for him to put right, than stopping a finite event happening in the
present.

Still in all, I did have questions and found myself not quite buying into a
few developments.  For instance, when Rebecca was kidnapped 20 years ago,
wouldn't you have expected the FBI to have gone over every nook and cranny
of the Sowerby farm and surrounding areas, possibly coming across the toxic
waste that had already been dumped?  Not only that, I could also see where
the parents might have come under some sort of suspicion and, so, it would
not be unusual to investigate any business or other dealings that they had
had -- including deals that had gone sour.

Secondly, why were the perpetrators still hanging around?  I got the
impression, at the beginning of the story, that they were making their last
visit to the Sowerby farm.  Shouldn't they have been long gone?  No one
would have been able to trace them as far as I could see (more on that
later).  Shouldn't they have covered up the hole where they dumped the
toxic waste?  Furthermore, why, when confronted with Lois Lane, did Medlock
explain everything he had done:

>>Suddenly it all made sense to Lois.  "You kidnapped Rebecca Sowerby."

Medlock nodded.  "Twenty years ago, her father leased us this land.  When
he found out what we were doing, he threatened to go to the police.  We
couldn't have that, so we kidnapped his daughter. We met him later.... <<
etc.

I know that this type of thing often happens in mystery/suspense stories,
but I always thought that there should be another way of getting to the
truth without the bad guy stupidly and unnecessarily confessing to
everything.  And, of course, they always do this while waving a gun.
("Hey, Mr.  Villain!  Just shoot them and be done with it!")

Thirdly, Lois' interest in the Sowerby farm seemed above and beyond.  I
know that she supposedly has a nose for news, but she seemed almost
obsessed to the point of taking pictures and doing library research
(without Jimmy!) for no apparent reason.  Of course this is a very
important plot development, but I would have liked a more practical, Lois
Lane reason for her interest in an old abandoned farm in Smallville.

Fourth, why was Frannie aka Rebecca Sowerby in Smallville?  I don't recall
her explaining this. I was willing to suspend all disbelief, but not when
she proceeded to rattle off the names of her kidnappers.  She was a
traumatized 4 year old when snatched.  I can't see how she could have
remembered them so readily.  (Of course, this would help in identification.
Lucky she was there.)
Not only that, at the end of the story, I felt it wrong of the Kents to
"strongly advise" her to contact her parents.  After all that she's been
through, I can see her harboring a lot of misgivings and anger --
especially knowing that her father was culpable.  I thought it better of
the Kents just to be supportive without pushing one way or the other.

Fifth, when Superman helps the EPA clean up the site by flying all the
barrels to the sun, isn't he, in effect, destroying evidence?

Other minor points (not necessarily A plot):

1) At one point, when a storm occurs and the lights go out in Smallville,
you write:

>>Superman wouldn't be putting in an appearance to repair the power lines
anytime soon, because the storm would most likely knock them out again.
Besides, who was he to deny the Small County Power Company the opportunity
to test their disaster plan?  He'd involve himself only if the plan failed
or the power company found itself overwhelmed by outages.<<

I thought you should have said here that Superman would not be involving
himself at all.  Considering all of the crime in Metropolis and crime and
disasters everywhere else in the world, why *would* Superman help Small
County with a power outage?  That seems mighty suspicious in light of the
fact that Clark just happens to be there too.  Of course, Superman does
show up to rescue Lois and help the EPA but I am assuming that, by that
time, L&C have already involved him in their investigations -- so it seems
much more plausible.

2) The Kent farm:  I wonder about the concluding developments here.  Would
it really only take one to two years for the chemicals to disappear from
the soil?  Even so, wouldn't Jonathan have to jump through a lot of hoops
to get back in the market?  Wouldn't he have a difficult time finding
buyers later considering that the poisoning of the area soil was big news?

Little Observations:

I must admit to chuckling one or two times upon seeing certain references.
For instance, the description of the airplane as a "tin can with wings"
that the "passengers would have less chance of surviving a disaster [in]
than the passengers on the Titanic."   Or Clark's comment: "the farm is
worth it to me.  I may have moved on, but I always come back.  It's not the
red earth of Tara, but it *is* where I draw my strength.  The yellow sun
may recharge me, but my roots are here in Kansas,..."  These are definitely
Pat-isms, right?  (I can't identify Genevieve so easily, except when Lois
talks about getting rid of her doctor<g>.)

I also laughed at Clark's response to Lois when she asked if he was
"offering to show a city girl a Kansas good time."  Pretty funny.

Finally -- despite what I enumerated above -- I take my hat off to you guys
for trying to build a complicated, interesting A plot.  I was never bored
by it and the fact that I analyzed it so closely meant that I was very
engaged in it.  As I said, this is downright difficult to do, and I
remember sweating every conceiveable glitch in the A plots I've tried to
come up with:  "If the villain did this, then Superman could do that ....
So, he *can't* do that.  etc. etc.

Good work guys -- especially the writing.  It really flowed.
Sandy
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 16:54:53 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Sandra McDermin <SMcDermi@NAS.EDU>
Subject:      Story Idea: Martha and Jonathan as new parents
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Considering that some of you may not read the review I just posted of
Paradise Lost because of not wanting to be spoiled or because of its length
which only an author could love,<g> I thought I'd send a separate message
about a fanfic idea I derived out of the story.

Has anyone done a fanfic which covers, in detail, the very first days,
weeks, or months of Clark's time with the Kents?  I think this an untapped,
interesting story, showing their fears and their hopes regarding the child
they just found.  Also, dealing with the officials who come sniffing around
as well as with curious neighbors.  And finally, dealing with something
many of us have done (or are doing) in relation to writing stories about
L&C's kids:  How did the Kents, who had never had children, suddenly adjust
to being instant parents.  Remember they had no warnings; made no financial
or other preparations.  Nada!  I thought about this when, in Paradise Lost,
Martha tells a story about Clark as a toddler and how Jonathan and she had
installed child proof locks.  Or, how they had come running when he was
having a screaming fit.  Just those comments made me think how difficult,
exciting, *and* fearful it must have been for Martha and Jonathan over
those first few weeks and months.  Also they must have made some funny
mistakes as well....  Even if both of them had babysat along the way, it's
not like having your own kids 24 hours around the clock.

Sounds like a great little story to me.

Sandy
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 16:59:29 EDT
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Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Crystal Wimmer <JCWimmer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fanfic Review: Paradise Lost
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Hi There...

Gee... if this is like most of the other reviews, "conversation" will soon
abound, so I thought I'd throw in my two cents worth early :)

In a message dated 7/7/98 1:34:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time, SMcDermi@NAS.EDU
writes:

> Still in all, I did have questions and found myself not quite buying into
a
>  few developments.  For instance, when Rebecca was kidnapped 20 years ago,
>  wouldn't you have expected the FBI to have gone over every nook and
cranny
>  of the Sowerby farm and surrounding areas, possibly coming across the
toxic
>  waste that had already been dumped?  Not only that, I could also see
where
>  the parents might have come under some sort of suspicion and, so, it
would
>  not be unusual to investigate any business or other dealings that they
had
>  had -- including deals that had gone sour.

Even as recently as 15 years ago, the FBI did not become involved in the
disappearance of children.  You may have seen the movie Adam, which showed
the
true story of Adam Walsh's kidnapping (in 1981... or around this time), and
his parents received little effective help (and this was in a city, when the
child had disappeared in a public place).  In a small town, with a very
small
police force, and virtually no reason for involvement of the FBI, it doesn't
surprise me that they wouldn't have found something that they never knew to
look for.

>  Furthermore, why, when confronted with Lois Lane, did Medlock
>  explain everything he had done:

Okay... this always happens... just as the villian (in most stories) is
about
to achieve his immortal escape, he blabs all that he did to a convient hero.
It's an old tool, used for decades by writers, to let you know what the
villian is thinking.  It also makes for a convienient way to kill time until
said hero could be rescued :)  It's classic, absolutely classic.

<  Not only that, at the end of the story, I felt it wrong of the Kents to
>  "strongly advise" her to contact her parents.  After all that she's been
>  through, I can see her harboring a lot of misgivings and anger --
>  especially knowing that her father was culpable.  I thought it better of
>  the Kents just to be supportive without pushing one way or the other.

The Kent's were classic for giving unconditional support, and their opinon,
in
the same breath.  Remember them sending Clark back to Lois?  "So, I should
just crawl back to her?", "No, Sweetheart, Fly back, it's faster."  It would
have been out of character for them to remain neutral when they knew how
much
her parents had missed her, loved her, and wanted to see her.

>  Fifth, when Superman helps the EPA clean up the site by flying all the
>  barrels to the sun, isn't he, in effect, destroying evidence?

I think that the evidence could have been effectively documented and still
allow him to protect the earth from it's effects.  He has thrown bombs and
such into the atmosphere quite regularly, and the criminal usually ends up
behind bars.  I don't think this was much of a problem.

Actually, I loved the story (although, I tend to go with stories that have
less A-plot, regardless of how well it is done).  I agree with you, it was a
terrific story that was both well written and engaging.

Crystal
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 18:05:33 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         Sandra McDermin <SMcDermi@NAS.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Lost words without dots and dashes
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>>Leanne
PS. I hope y'all caught the sly humour :)<<

Yeah, you used the slangy-American "y'all" and the British-variation of
"humour" in the same sentence, *right*?  Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!...  Clever.
Just kiddin'; loved it Leanne.  (I better quit while I'm ahead.)

Sandy -- "Think poetry; write prose"
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 18:29:25 -0400
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
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From:         Gary <gar8434@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU>
Subject:      Fanfic Vignette:
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It's been awhile....enjoy.

Lois: Mmmmmmmmmmm! Ooooooooooooooooh! Clark!

Clark: Mmm. I know, Lois, I know.

Lois: Oh, wow!

Clark: Mmm-hmm...I told you it would be great.

Lois: I never knew it could be like this...

Clark: Would you like some more?

Lois: Yes! I most certainly would.

Clark: Hold on...while I...

Lois: Oh, it's so big and beautiful!

Clark: Yeah, but you can handle it.

Lois: I'm going to be sore tommorrow.

Clark: I'm sorry. I don't want to cause you any pain.

Lois: Don't worry Clark, this chocolate cake is worth
a few more hours in the gym.

Got Milk?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
| Gary A. Rudick mailto:gar8434@rit.edu <http://www.rit.edu/~gar8434> |
| "What's done to children, they will do to society." - Karl Menninger|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
=========================================================================
Date:         Tue, 7 Jul 1998 22:54:57 EST
Reply-To:     "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
              <LOISCLA-GENERAL-L@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Fanfic"
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From:         goldengrove unleaving <kubitc@KENYON.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Story Idea: Martha and Jonathan as new parents

Sandy wrote:

<< Has anyone done a fanfic which covers, in detail, the very first days,
weeks, or months of Clark's time with the Kents? >>

Actually, I've been thinking of doing a story like this for a little while.
Right now I'm working on a story about how Jonathan and Martha met/married.
It
started out simply as a way to reconcile Martha's line in Ides of Metropolis
where she says that Jonathan was the first man she kissed, and will be the
last, with her character. Martha has always reminded me a bit of Lois, and I
didn't think the IoM line fit with her character at all, and I also couldn't
believe that she'd lie just to stroke her husband's ego and assure him that
she
wasn't having an affair. Now the story's become a 70 pg monster that isn't
nearly finished <g>

But, moving back on-topic, the Martha/Jonathan story got me interested in
Martha's character and, consequently, made me wonder how she handled her
infertility and finding Clark. I've actually done a very tiny bit of
preliminary
research about infertility and, specifically, infertility in the 60s. (These
Martha stories are requiring a TON of research.) Hopefully some day I'll
finish
the Martha/Jonathan meeting story and be able to actually *use* some of my
research. :)

BTW, does anyone know of stories in which Lois's or Clark's parents are the
major characters? I know some stories that have been very well done with a
parent of Lois or Clark as *a* main character (Sandy's nfic Love as a Blonde
comes to mind), but I can't think of any that use the parents as *the* main
character. One reason I ask is because my story seems very removed from Lois
and Clark (neither of them are mentioned at all in the story) and at times
I've
even wondered if my story could be considered *Lois and Clark* fanfiction.

-Christy
 kubitc@kenyon.edu
 Attalanta on IRC