(no subject)

[bagheera_san]

Questions (for fic):

1. What is the name of Lex's unnamed, but good-looking minion? Do you have any SUGGESTIONS? What do you think is official JOB description was - bodyguard? Personal assistant? Competent henchperson?

2. When did Clark learn of Lana's "miscarriage"?

3. Do you think Jor-El is back online again? Has Clark talked to him?

4. Do you think this

Lex has been suspecting the possibility of an alien invasion since at least the start of S5, and been working on possible weapons since then. Level 33.1 is a project inherited from Lionel, but also part of this plan, as well as the underwater weapons of "Aqua", the cyborg/supersoldier technology of "Cyborg" and "Prototype" and the vaccine developed together with Fine. He's doing unethical stuff, believing that the end justifies the means. He doesn't have proof that Clark is an alien, but might or might not suspect it.

Lex genuinely loved Lana when he proposed to her. He initially trusted her, as shown in "Vessel", when he showed her his powers. After "Zod", though, she started to distance herself and Lex in turn started to get secretive again, because he suspected that she wasn't telling him everything about "Zod". It was Lionel, and not Lex, who faked the pregnancy to get Lana to marry Lex and paid off the doctors. Lex suspected that something was wrong with the baby, hence his nightmare in "Promise". (Maybe that it was Zod's or a meteor mutant, or another phantom.) After he killed Dr Langston, though, Lex found out about the baby-fake and in turned staged her miscarriage to stop her from finding out about it. By the end of S6, he already suspects that Lana is spying on him (he definitely knows in "Phantom".) His feelings for her have cooled down considerably, but it was Lana herself who faked her death.

works?(Beware: it is strongly Lex-apologist)

So far, the next part of Elseworlds has 9885 words, and is looking to get *very* long (about the size of the Bat-Elseworlds or longer.)

Comments

[mahaliem.livejournal.com]

The minion's name was Bartlett, played by Ben Ayres. (I looked it up a couple of weeks ago because I thought he was cute. Yes, I am that shallow.)

I'd go for personal assistant since who knows what all that implies. :)

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I tried to look his name up, but didn't find a list. (Well, okay, I googled and went to wikipedia. That's not trying very hard.)

PA it is, then, he certainly seems to have more duties than a bodyguard.

[ladydey.livejournal.com]

1. What is the name of Lex's unnamed, but good-looking minion? Do you have any SUGGESTIONS? What do you think is official JOB description was - bodyguard? Personal assistant? Competent henchperson?

I think that good-looking minion is more personal assistant then bodyguard. He's definitely a competent henchperson but I honestly can't think of where Lex got him - maybe he outsourced, because LuthorCorp henchpeople, are not really that good.
I don't really have a name but he kinda looks like a Max or Michael.

2. When did Clark learn of Lana's "miscarriage"?

Maybe during Moira. Lana was in the hospital. It doesn't look like anyone came to visit her, but maybe Clark did.

3. Do you think Jor-El is back online again? Has Clark talked to him?

Jor-El might be back online, but Clark doesn't think he is and as such hasn't gone to talk to him or you know get any confirmation that F'ing Lionel Luthor is a Jor-Elian emissary (BAH!)

4. Do you think this

Lex has been suspecting the possibility of an alien invasion since at least the start of S5, and been working on possible weapons since then. Level 33.1 is a project inherited from Lionel, but also part of this plan, as well as the underwater weapons of "Aqua", the cyborg/supersoldier technology of "Cyborg" and "Prototype" and the vaccine developed together with Fine. He's doing unethical stuff, believing that the end justifies the means. He doesn't have proof that Clark is an alien, but might or might not suspect it.

Lex genuinely loved Lana when he proposed to her. He initially trusted her, as shown in "Vessel", when he showed her his powers. After "Zod", though, she started to distance herself and Lex in turn started to get secretive again, because he suspected that she wasn't telling him everything about "Zod". It was Lionel, and not Lex, who faked the pregnancy to get Lana to marry Lex and paid off the doctors. Lex suspected that something was wrong with the baby, hence his nightmare in "Promise". (Maybe that it was Zod's or a meteor mutant, or another phantom.) After he killed Dr Langston, though, Lex found out about the baby-fake and in turned staged her miscarriage to stop her from finding out about it. By the end of S6, he already suspects that Lana is spying on him (he definitely knows in "Phantom".) His feelings for her have cooled down considerably, but it was Lana herself who faked her death.

Yes this is more or less the way I think things shake out. My only problem is figuring out why Lex would kill the dumb blackmailing doctor. If he wasn't behind the initial fake pregnancy - and what with Lionel doing all the wedding day physical abuse and belittling and seeming to know about things that hey he should know about, I'm willing to believe that Lionel faked the inital pregnancy. (Although the remorse about Lana seems then out of character if Lionel was willing to use her as a honeytrap for Lex) - why would Lex bother to kill the doctor. It seemed that he knew about the fake preg, during the Kal/bent pipe episode - what with all the whispering in the hallway crap.

I'm willing believe, okay let's say accept, that Lex loved Lana as the start of all this. But when she took months(weeks, generously) to decide whether or not to marry him; when she told him that he was an acceptable settling alternative to the true love of her stupid little life ('I love both of you Lex, but I guess I'll marry you since Clark is being a douche this week...' - to paraphrase) he started to fall out of a functional love with her. Then she lied to him about not only the briefcase, but coming to look for him - she became no better then any of the other women in Lex's life who lie to him and use him to their own ends. Couple that with her working with his evil F'ing father, Lex should have killed her, but did not. Lana totally framed him.

Weeeeeeeeee - Long Else-worlds! You write the best else-worlds.

[miss-tress.livejournal.com]

. When did Clark learn of Lana's "miscarriage"?
Maybe during Moira. Lana was in the hospital. It doesn't look like anyone came to visit her, but maybe Clark did.
Yep. After Clark ran Lana to the hospital after she was attacked by the guy looking for Lex she tells him after he asks if the baby is alright. Clark is the first person after Lex to find out.

[acampbell.livejournal.com]

Yes, and it's so sweet how Clark is so concerned about Lex's baby. :D

[miss-tress.livejournal.com]

Clark knows that if Lana is all preoccupied with the baby, it'll mean more time for Lex to sneak away for secret, sex rendezvous with Clark.

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was too lazy to watch all those Lana scenes again.

[miss-tress.livejournal.com]

Hee! I didn't remember the exact details so I just clicked through the review on TWOP. I find it's the best way for getting the details that have slipped my mind.

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

Huh. He does look like a Michael. Michael Bartlett... yeah, that sounds about right.

Well, Lex killing the doctor depends on what information the Doc has fed him before that. If Lex was already suspicious about the baby, then maybe all it took was for Langston to mention something being wrong to set Lex off - he already was nervous to begin with. And making Lex think that something was wrong with the baby makes sense for Lionel in so far as it would keep Lex from changing doctors in case he suspected that Langston might not be entirely trustworthy. Better to risk a shady guy who is already in the know than go to someone who might not at all go along with lying to Lana...

The Lexana love was definitely on the decline as of Zod. I can see Lex clinging to it, though, and trying to force it to become true.

[lexii314.livejournal.com]

Yes, He should have killed her. I wonder how favorably everyone will look on at Lana once it's discovered that she set an innocent man up to go to jail. Knowing this show they will lamely justify it.

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

Very few fan-people look favourably on Lana *now*, but I suspect that she will always be a saint for the characters on the show.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

1. I was told "Bartlett" too, seems like it wasn't given in the show but was on a cast list or something? And I'd say 'personal assistant' (gnine has this theory that the reason Lex has such lousy personal security is that all his competent security he immediately transfers to 33.1, as that's more important than the safety of his own person. They're at least loyal there; all those guards and not a one has gone to the papers or anything.)

2. No idea. Um, he knows? (I sorta have been fastforwarding through Clana scenes, so...)

3. I'm not sure if he's actually online or still waiting for a recharge from Raya's crystal. I don't believe Clark is talking to him in either case. (If he's still powered down, maybe that's Lionel's deal; Jor-El is possessing him again because he's got no other way out?)

4. The first half of this you know I follow! ;) And I think Lana did fake her own death (possibly with Lionel's help), and agree that Lex did love her but has started to suspect her. If the fake preggers was initially Lionel's plot, I think Lex must've found out by "Promise" as I can't see why else he'd've killed Langston (Langston says something about "after what you've done to her" and if Lex didn't know you'd think he'd just go, 'what, my sperm is that dangerous?' He seemed to know what Langston was blackmailing him for). I have no problem thinking Lionel got the ball rolling, though.

I also think Lex must be playing Lionel to an extent, though I don't know how or why. But his "Lana loves me, she'd never do this!" makes no sense in the context of Lex faking the pregnancy, or for that matter his boasting to Clark way back when of "she'll marry me, she's carrying my child." Lex has known Lana's feelings are questionable, so he must have some other reason for talking to Lionel like he's an idiot.

...umm, at least in my mind he has a reason. It might just be the show being dumb, but I prefer to see a deeper mechanism than idiocy, on Lex's behalf...

Yaaa~y for Elsewords! Can't wait!

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

Lex transferring his loyal security to Level 33.1 makes a lot of sense! It's a wonder no one involved with the project has betrayed him yet.


4. The first half of this you know I follow! ;)
I consider your Lex meta the gospel of truth :D

I think Lex must've found out by "Promise" as I can't see why else he'd've killed Langston
That's likely. Either that, or Lionel/Langston fed him lies about the baby's freakishness to keep him from changing doctors. If Lex was already suspicious about the baby, then maybe all it took was for Langston to mention something being wrong and Lex's fault to set Lex off - he already was nervous to begin with.

I hope Lex was playing Lionel, otherwise I fear for his sanity. Lana practically hit him over the head with evidence that she doesn't love him.

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

If the fake preggers was initially Lionel's plot, I think Lex must've found out by "Promise" as I can't see why else he'd've killed Langston (Langston says something about "after what you've done to her" and if Lex didn't know you'd think he'd just go, 'what, my sperm is that dangerous?' He seemed to know what Langston was blackmailing him for). I have no problem thinking Lionel got the ball rolling, though.

Maybe, at some point before "Promise," Lionel had Langston hint to Lex that there was something terribly wrong with the fetus (or Langston accidentally slipped up and said something he shouldn't have, and Lex took him to mean that the fetus was abnormal), which is why Lex had his 'alien baby' nightmare. So when Langston tries to blackmail Lex, Lex assumes that Langston is threatening to tell Lana the baby will be a monster, and Lex wants Lana safely married to him before he tries to arrange for a miscarriage.

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

So when Langston tries to blackmail Lex, Lex assumes that Langston is threatening to tell Lana the baby will be a monster, and Lex wants Lana safely married to him before he tries to arrange for a miscarriage.

Yeah, I could imagine it having gone like this, too.

[jakrar.livejournal.com]

gnine has this theory that the reason Lex has such lousy personal security is that all his competent security he immediately transfers to 33.1, as that's more important than the safety of his own person. They're at least loyal there; all those guards and not a one has gone to the papers or anything.

I love that idea! And it makes so much sense.

[lukita.livejournal.com]

I'll get behind Lionel faking Lana's pregnancy and Lex faking the miscarriage, it neatly ties the loose ends of Lex thought Lana's actually carrying his child for several episodes. I'll maintain that Lana failed faking her death and actually died Lionel helped out afterwards. He was also the one who called in the cops to Lex's whereabouts.

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

That would be the best thing ever, if Lana died trying to fake her own death (gosh, I'm vindinctive.) But seriously: killing her off and admitting that she is capable of failure in one strike? Hell yeah. Also: teh irony.

Of course that's too good to be true.

[ladydreamer.livejournal.com]

2. During "Freak."

3. If Jor-El IS back online, it's been since "Fallout," but Clark hasn't talked to him.

4. I buy that whole hog. :)

Lex may have started pulling back at "Zod" but things were good between them after he tested her and she passed in "Arrow." They got worse as soon as she betrayed him in "Fallout" with her petty little "secrets and lies!" regarding that dumb black box. I'm not sure what she expected research protecting the planet Earth would entail, but I assumed weapons. :P I think at that point, Lex had to keep his world saving business under wraps because Lana is not to be trusted to lie and steal and manipulate him with it, even if she's seen first hand how much danger the world is in.

I have a fic, A Reporter's Work, (http://ladydreamer.livejournal.com/236530.html) (you don't have to read it), where it's uncovered that the doctor fulled his fears about the baby being a freak (like him), so Lex kept this from Lana. Langston was blackmailing Lex with the threat of spilling THAT lie to Lana, and Lex was panicking because Lana will likely abort or leave him. Of course, Lionel was in league with the guy from the start, paying him even more than Lex and instructing him to do the blackmail, and arranged for Lana to be given hormones originally. In my view, Lex didn't know about the fake baby until Lana started throwing it in his face during "Phantom" (I believe he was surprised, and the events until then aren't really clear that he knows. I don't think the 'miscarriage' in "Crimson" was clear enough to say that he did it for sure.), but I'd be willing to be convinced that he knew sometime along the way, mourned the loss of that potential child at the end of "Crimson," and tried to cover it up to keep her with him and ease her pain. But in that case, he'd be trying to figure out who had done it or perhaps assume that LANA had faked the pregnancy.

So basically I'm agreeing with you. :)

[bagheera-san.livejournal.com]

I agree that Lex and Lana were still mostly okay at the beginning of the season.

It's because of Fallout that I'm asking about Jor-El, because we saw the lights turn back on at the Fortress at the end of the ep, but we never found out whether the Fortress was actually working again.

[herohunter.livejournal.com]

You're assuming the writes DO have a plan and it's all going to make sense in the end. I wouldn't.

:P

[lerah1.livejournal.com]

4. Do you think this

I agree that Lex is definately trying to save the world by any means necessary and that he did care for Lana in the beginning. But I think he killed the doctor so he couldn't tell Lana that that the baby she was pregnant with wasn't hers. I know, I know, but follow me here.

Lana sleeps with Clark. Krypto-sperm can't fertilize a human egg but they don't just die off like a human's would, or at least not nearly as fast. Krypto-sperm would naturally be flushed from her system though, like normal. But what if one of the hardy little buggers stuck around.

Enough time passes that no one questions that Lana could be pregnant by Clark, because they assume he's human, and Lana then sleeps with Lex. Clark's Krypto-sperm meets Lex's krypto-mutated sperm, they merge, as they do, Clex-sperm then kicks Lana's DNA out of an egg, just like standard cloning techniques, and voila - Conner their canonical love child from the comics.

Lex is surprised and excited about the baby. But then the DNA tests show something is different, the baby isn't completely human. Lex thinks the baby is Zod's and either Lana lied about not sleeping with Zod/Lex or doesn't remember. At that point I can see Lex viewing the baby as a potential weapon or new source for alien-peptides.

Then Lex finds out that the baby's human DNA came from him and not Lana. That's when he has the baby nightmare because he thinks his baby has been "infected" by Zod.

There's no way Lana's carrying a half-alien baby to term without artificial help so as soon as he finds out the baby is half alien Lex starts giving her the drugs to stop a miscarriage, drugs to keep her pregnant, drugs that if she were not pregnant would make it look like she was. Being Lex he also starts working on incubation facilities because even with artificial help the probability of Lana carrying to full-term was next to nil, either because the baby would die or she would. But then either the drugs aren't enough and she starts to miscarry or Lex induced a supposed miscarriage to take the fetus and save her life. He tells Lana she lost the baby because (a) he can't tell her he took the half-human fetus that wasn't her biological child anyway, (b) Lex knows the odds are against the baby being born viable, much less healthy, so he might as well let her down easier now, and (c) no way would Lex ever let the groundwork for a custody battle be laid for this baby.

Lex killed the doctor because the doctor was going to tell Lana that the baby was half-alien, the human half wasn't hers, and Lex was keeping her pregnant by artificial means for nefarious purposes.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it until i'm bitch slapped by canon. But I can't decide whether Lex has the fetus/baby or Lional stole it and let Lex think his baby died because it was either not viable or too premature.

If there's one thing that I can see Lex finally killing Lionel over it's messing with his child.

Either way I won't be surprised if mid-season Lex suddenly has a little boy from an affair of his youth whose mother tragically died off-camera.

Lex knows he didn't kill Lana. He'll find out pretty quick that she faked her own death but he won't go after her because he stopped truly loving her when she proved she couldn't be trusted and he's got what he really wants, the baby.

Anyway, I think you're analysis of Lex's actions to save the world in S5-S6 are brilliant and I can't wait for the Elseworld fic.