hackthis_archive | So much for the porn.

Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: Matt Nathanson ‘Miracles’

So much for the porn.

If you wake up at a different time in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?
-Fight Club

Smallville
Metamorphosis

The skin on Lex’s nose is flaking off. He can’t see it, but when he brushes his hand over the bridge of his nose, layers flutter off before his eyes, and he wonders if his immunity to illness extends to cancer.

Lex knows the odds are in the smallest percentile that he’ll get skin cancer just from his extended sun exposure on this island, but still. Anything is possible. Lex always believes that. Why else would he be waiting for Clark to come and save him when he doesn’t even know where he is? Why else would Lex believe in Clark when he doesn’t even believe in God?

But maybe that’s why Lex is stuck on this island in the first place.

The more Lex’s skin flakes, the more he thinks.

He’s watched the sun set six times so far.

*

The skin on Lex’s arms is freckling and peeling. When he brushes his arms, the skin floats away like snow, and Lex thinks of the winter in Smallville. He thinks of blizzards and hot chocolate and the time that Clark tried to teach him how to ice skate.

There are a lot of things that Lex does well, but ice-skating is quite clearly not one of them. He doesn’t mind, but the sand on the beach is hot under Lex’s feet and the balls of his feet have blistered in the heat. The weather is not conducive to daydreaming, and the reality of the island makes winter seem like a myth.

At least Clark is real.

*

The skin on Lex’s shoulders is tight and dry. It’s been a long time since Lex has had sunburn, but he knows that this is what it is. He also knows that he should apply aloe vera, but seeing as the only fruits Lex has come across are mangoes and bananas, and his knowledge of botany could be called sparse at best, he continues to muddle through best he can. Perhaps he shouldn’t have laughed off that Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook that Clark tried to give him as a wedding present.

Still, Lex has never been one to complain.

Instead he swims three, four, times a day, and relishes the cool relief from his shedding skin.

At night Lex’s skin flakes off, and when he wakes up in the morning, his skin is new and pink. He thinks of molting snakes and his father.

He’s seen the sun rise thirteen times.

*

The longer Lex is stranded on the island the less his skin burns and flakes. Instead it changes and becomes more durable. The rough spots are sanded away, made smooth, and his soft, pale skin becomes something tougher. Harder.

Lex is changing.

His desire for revenge smoulders instead of burning hot. He doesn’t want Helen dead; he wants her to suffer. He doesn’t want his father destroyed; he wants him humiliated.

Lex is evolving.

*

During the day Lex tries to stay in the shade, but if he does that then he can’t circle the island looking for ships and planes and ways off this godforsaken island. If he’s not moving then he can’t be found. If he’s not moving and walking then Clark might not see him.

Lex doesn’t know how Clark is going to save him, but he knows he will, because Lex believes in Clark. His belief is unwavering and strong. It’s layered and complex.

Sometimes it flakes, like Lex's skin, but it's always there.

-finis-

Ending edited at 4:14 pm, because I changed my mind.

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Lex doesn’t know how Clark is going to save him, but he knows he will, because Lex believes in Clark. His belief is unwavering and strong. It’s layered and complex.

It doesn’t flake.

Unlike everything else, it doesn’t change.

*weeps* Quietly achy and wonderful, sweetie.

*weeps* Quietly achy and wonderful, sweetie.

*hugs* I'm glad you liked it.

This was very well done! Love the imagery!

This was very well done! Love the imagery!

Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Wow. Just, wow. That was so strong and sharp, exactly and the kind of thing that makes you really think after you're finished.

This line was my favorite:

Why else would Lex believe in Clark when he doesn’t even believe in God?

God. You're a great writer. You really are.

Wow. Just, wow. That was so strong and sharp, exactly and the kind of thing that makes you really think after you're finished.

This line was my favorite:

Why else would Lex believe in Clark when he doesn’t even believe in God?

God. You're a great writer. You really are.

Aw, Sarah, you say the sweetest things. I'm glad you liked this, thank you.

Ah. Zahra-fic in the best tradition . . . sharp and tangy, with a hint of sweetness and the slightest bitter notes.

Sounds like a wine. :) Good job, you!

Ah. Zahra-fic in the best tradition . . . sharp and tangy, with a hint of sweetness and the slightest bitter notes.

Sounds like a wine. :) Good job, you!

I'll drink to that myself!

This is beautiful! The description and mood are lovely. Great job. :)

This is beautiful! The description and mood are lovely. Great job. :)

Thank you so much, Meret, I'm glad you liked it.

Perfect. Perfect, perfect, fucking *perfect*. This is just about how I imagine him right about now, except you've kept him wonderfully sane.

Which is quite a shock from you, baby girl. Still, damn. I'm going to rec this, now.

Thank you for not leaving him on the island while you chased witches. *g*

This is just about how I imagine him right about now, except you've kept him wonderfully sane.

Which is quite a shock from you, baby girl. Still, damn. I'm going to rec this, now.

Thank you for not leaving him on the island while you chased witches. *g*

Wizards, man, not witches. I wanted to get him off the island weeks ago, but he...I... we're having issues again, if you can't tell. Which I know you can.

He is quite sane, too - do you want me to drive him crazy, because you know, I will. You know he talks to himself though. A lot.

I'm so glad you liked this. *hugs*

You know, words fail me with your fics. I don't think I can convey how much I enjoy reading everything you write and this is no difference.

Lex's evolution reminds me of a snake that has to shed its skin to be able to grow. Ah, serpentine!Lex ;)

Love it!

You know, words fail me with your fics. I don't think I can convey how much I enjoy reading everything you write and this is no difference.

Oh, wow, thank you so much. *grins stupidly*

Wow. *Really* thought-provoking.

Wow. *Really* thought-provoking.

Thank you, I'm glad you thought so!

Lex is changing.

His desire for revenge smoulders instead of burning hot. He doesn’t want Helen dead; he wants her suffering. He doesn’t want his father destroyed; he wants him humiliated.

Lex is evolving.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I just had to add my praise as well.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I just had to add my praise as well.

Thank you so much, I'm glad you thought so.

Mmm. Smallville goodness. So is Lex tan now? 'Cause that would be a bit of a shock. Tan!Lex. >_> *mind boggles* Mmm, this kind of slightly choppy, conscious-verse, bittersweet fics are my favorite of yours. Just because they flow so well and wrap up and mmmmm. And then I always want more and I get bitter that they're short. *sighs* Apparently I'm never pleased.

Love this very much and how Lex is still hopeful even though.. he's stuck. Alone. *depressed for Lex* And RedKrypto!Clark is at large. I liked the evolving line. Sorry this comment is so random.

I'm friending you, just to let you know. So, if you happen to look at your 'friend of' list, you're not all 'wtf?' that the number has changed.

Mmm. Smallville goodness. So is Lex tan now? 'Cause that would be a bit of a shock. Tan!Lex. >_> *mind boggles* Mmm, this kind of slightly choppy, conscious-verse, bittersweet fics are my favorite of yours. Just because they flow so well and wrap up and mmmmm. And then I always want more and I get bitter that they're short. *sighs* Apparently I'm never pleased.

My fics reflect my attention span. I make no apologies, they just are what they are, you know? I can't imagine a tan Lex either, but you know with all that sun, he's not going to be Casper any more either.

...wonderful peek into Lex's evolving mind, beautifully described as his body reflects that. Just, wow! Thanks so much for this.

...I just had to friend you. I hope you don't mind. I've been enjoying your writing for the longest time and just don't want to miss any more of it.

wonderful peek into Lex's evolving mind, beautifully described as his body reflects that. Just, wow! Thanks so much for this.

I'm so glad you enjoyed this, thank you!

Lex believes in Clark. His belief is unwavering and strong. It’s layered and complex.
It doesn’t flake.
Unlike everything else, it doesn’t seem to change.

*heart breaks for Lex*

*heart breaks for Lex*

Yeah, Lex is having a crap time recently, isn't he?

He certainly is. If I were him, I'd have already flipped the lightswitch to "evil".

That's quite the set of images there, and I love the analogies with the skin and the desire for revenge and the belief in Clark and the thinking. Talk about layered & complex!

That's quite the set of images there, and I love the analogies with the skin and the desire for revenge and the belief in Clark and the thinking. Talk about layered & complex!

Layered and complex, that's Lex. I'm so glad you enjoyed this, thank you!

Really great. It seems as if you so easily can add layers and complexity but still keep descriptions so vivid. The ability to do that takes great talent -- of which you have plenty.
SweetDee

Really great. It seems as if you so easily can add layers and complexity but still keep descriptions so vivid. The ability to do that takes great talent -- of which you have plenty.
SweetDee

You're very kind, I'm touched that you think so.

This is lovely, Z. I'm continually awed by how you weave such complex themes into such tight prose. *nubs you*

So... we get the porn later, right? ;)

This is lovely, Z. I'm continually awed by how you weave such complex themes into such tight prose. *nubs you*

So... we get the porn later, right? ;)

*adores* Thank you so much, sweetie, yes! There will be porn. *grabs random bunny* So it shall be done!

*hugs you until you can't breathe and then lets go because really, I want you to breathe so that you can write more*

Wow. I just..Thank you for writing that.

I'm struck by how few words you had to use to just impress *the hell* out of me. This is layered and complex and sophisticated, and there's almost a serenity to it that mirror's Lex's almost calm acceptance of the fact that Clark will save him.

God, you're good. *hugs you again*

*hugs you until you can't breathe and then lets go because really, I want you to breathe so that you can write more*

Wow. I just..Thank you for writing that.

*hugs back* Thank you, just keep on writing 'A Deeper Season' and all will be right with the world.

i love how different this lex is. like, he suddenly needs to use all that stuff he's been learning all this time; like, everything is suddenly real. and yet there's always clark *g*.

this is short and sharp and gorgeous, zahra.

i love how different this lex is. like, he suddenly needs to use all that stuff he's been learning all this time; like, everything is suddenly real. and yet there's always clark *g*.

this is short and sharp and gorgeous, zahra.

the more think i about it, i probably should have had lex start reciting some kafka, and wondering if he was turning into a giant roach. dangit. i hate it when the good ideas come too late. *winks* i'm glad you liked this, jess.

This is like the slap a fed up friend gives to you when you're drunk and making an ass of yourself. It doesn't hurt and you're better for it, but it's startling.

This was a good slap!

This is like the slap a fed up friend gives to you when you're drunk and making an ass of yourself. It doesn't hurt and you're better for it, but it's startling.

This was a good slap!

*shows comment to muse* see, i told you the pain was worth it! he's such a character, all that complaining over a little sunburn.

I don't watch TV so I have no idea what this fic is about. HOORAY. But I drew you a HP picture:
http://refrigeratedcake.com/other/vsketch/pdump/honesty.jpg
I honestly don't know what's going on in it. Your h/d characterization makes me draw strange things.
*is in a wierd h/d slash mood...does not know why*

I'm working on it now. Thanks! *winks*

There's been a lot of 'Lex trapped on an island, waiting for CLark to save him' fics recently, but you took it in a different direction. You focused on Lex evolving and his unwavering belief in Clark, whereas I've read some fics lately where he's just on the island thinking of impractical ways to make Lionel & Helen pay for their treason. You made it much more surreal than the other fics and it's a change I really like. Good job!

Also, I new restaurant opened near my apartment called "Zahra" and so anytime I go by, I think about you. It's got really cool music and a disco ball in the middle of a little dance floor. It's really cool.

There's been a lot of 'Lex trapped on an island, waiting for CLark to save him' fics recently, but you took it in a different direction. You focused on Lex evolving and his unwavering belief in Clark, whereas I've read some fics lately where he's just on the island thinking of impractical ways to make Lionel & Helen pay for their treason. You made it much more surreal than the other fics and it's a change I really like. Good job!

Oh, my Lex is very much thinking of stringing up people be their toes and removing body parts with a blow torch, absolutely, it's just not the only thing he's thinking about. All that heat, you know, it makes him hallucinate a lot.

Also, I new restaurant opened near my apartment called "Zahra" and so anytime I go by, I think about you. It's got really cool music and a disco ball in the middle of a little dance floor. It's really cool.

I have my own restaurant? Dude, where are my royalties? *calls solicitor*

Oooh, that was great. Just, with the brooding Lex and the sunsets and The Worst Case Scenario handbook. Heh. I gave that to my dad for Christmas a few years ago.

Lex is evolving.

Love that. Like, a lot. And the ending. Aieee. So good, man. So good.

Oooh, that was great. Just, with the brooding Lex and the sunsets and The Worst Case Scenario handbook. Heh. I gave that to my dad for Christmas a few years ago.

Lex is evolving.

Love that. Like, a lot. And the ending. Aieee. So good, man. So good.

*hugs* I'm glad you liked it munchkin.

Munchkin?! I'm like five ten! How tall are you, eh Miss?

*hugs you back anyway*

write more HP fic. </ subliminal message>

Munchkin?! I'm like five ten! How tall are you, eh Miss?

*hugs you back anyway*

write more HP fic. </ subliminal message>

Yeah, real subliminal there. I have dents from the anvils. I'm thinking on it, really. And it doesn't matter if you're taller, you're still a munchkin to me, ha!

o_O

I go to the beach and come back to Lex-on-the-beach. Nice symmetry.

Lex is evolving.

This line gives me the creeps. In the good way. The way it's set off and encapsulates everything about the story all at once. I picture Lex changing under the skin, rippling and shifting subtly, like if you scraped far enough you'd find the reptilian skin underneath.

And now it sounds like Lex is a refugee from V, which isn't what I mean at all. But I hope you get what I did.*g*

This line gives me the creeps. In the good way. The way it's set off and encapsulates everything about the story all at once. I picture Lex changing under the skin, rippling and shifting subtly, like if you scraped far enough you'd find the reptilian skin underneath.

And now it sounds like Lex is a refugee from V, which isn't what I mean at all. But I hope you get what I did.*g*

Think of Kafka, I did... okay, like three days after I wrote this but still.

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