Story 1 - Where There’s a Costume Party…
This was a really enjoyable read! I loved the sheer amount of ecstatic detail that Chloe provided while musing over her love for the library. It’s something that I can relate to with great ease and fondness. I especially liked her inner comment about leaving her cell-phone behind so she can get some truly private time all to herself. LOL! I can certainly relate to that! I find myself also ‘accidentally’ leaving my cell-phone behind and then ‘forgetting’ to check for messages, just because I get fed up of being too available and on-call sometimes.
And considering how Chloe has been ‘on-call’ for YEARS as Clark’s side-kick, I can certainly understand why she would need some quiet and privacy all to herself.
I didn’t quite understand how the fic transitioned from Chloe craving privacy to Chloe desiring to attend a costume party. I guess she just wanted the ‘right’ kind of company, eh? In any case, the fic had a lovely, happy Chlex ending that I enjoyed.
Story 2 - À la Carte
This was a hilarious fic, and I think this one was my favourite from the bunch! I loved the description of the exhilarated thrill that CHloe gets from ‘hunting’. I suddenly have a deeper understanding for her love for investigation and deduction and puzzle-solving. It’s not ‘just’ all about truth-seeking… but it’s also from the thrill of the hunt for truth, answers and solutions. From the risk of danger associated with the hunt, as well as the primal satisfaction one gets when one achieves a ‘kill’ or a target goal. The description of Chloe’s excitement was just so… visceral! I loved it!There’s nothing like the thrill of the hunt, the exhilaration that comes with risk-taking, the surge of energy provided by the adrenaline pumping and filling both muscles and sinews. It makes her feel alive, that while the world’s moving fast around her and everyone in this leafy little hamlet is either sauntering in slow motion or standing still, she’s actually doing something to move forward and get closer to her dreams and the city which has never really left her.
LOL! It was hilarious hearing about how Chloe was running the mission in her sorry excuse for a ‘stealth vehicle’. I even liked how Chloe herself ruefully admitted that her car wasn’t really built for jobs of discretion like this one. Despite all that, I sensed a great fondness for her car in Chloe, and it was clear that she would never trade in her vehicle for something ‘more suitable’… no matter how much Lex begs her to let him buy her a new car, lol! And I’m sure he HAS begged!
ROTFL! Stealing an invitation from Lana? Pure genius! Very nicely done! I also find myself wondering how Lex is going to explain sending an invite to Lana but NOT to Chloe. I wonder whether he sent it to Lana knowing that Chloe would find some way to steal it? Perhaps Lex likes to indulge in Chloe’s thrill-seeking escapades, because he knows it excites her so very much… and he likes to see her happy (and getting her horny and excited is a decided bonus!).
The trick at the end of the ficlet was delightful and FUN! I loved that Chloe had gone through all of this stealth, sneakiness, recon and infiltration… all for the purpose of getting a secret family recipe. I loved how Chloe very nearly got the recipe, only to be caught by a very amused and indulgent Lex.
Most of all, I loved, LOVED how it was made clear that Lex and Chloe were intimately involved. Lex’s comment about Chloe’s mole was the perfect way to suggest, not only that they’ve been intimate, but also show how much obsessive attention he always pays to her. Whether she’s in her normal wear around him, or naked in bed with him… or ‘disguised’ in a maid’s outfit, he’ll always obsessively aware of her. Perfect!
Story 3 From Hell
Quite honestly, I didn’t even think of anything ‘off’ about this submission to the challenge. I thought a story based on the story of the world’s most famous serial killer was the perfect piece for Halloween! And I loved the Chlexy twist given to this old legend.A/N: Yes, I am aware that the AU challenge was last months’ but please try and enjoy it anyway.
First of all, I loved the way that the atmosphere was built up… about London, and about that particular period in London. The set-up was very nicely done… just enough details to give us a hazy picture of the place, without overwhelming us with too much information to distract us from the main plot. The insightful and interesting details about ‘street justice’ and riots and lynch mobs being incited because of the pervading FEAR caused by Jack the Ripper was fantastic. Are these details provided in the ‘From Hell’ graphic novel?
And I also liked the imaginative idea of turning Lex into a police detective. I never really imagined Lex as the civil servant kind of person (I always thought of him more as a industrialist and politician), but he fit quite nicely into this role.
LOL! The meeting with Chloe was fantastic! I loved how she drew out a pocket knife when she felt Lex grab her. She might be a small, petite blonde… but Chloe is quite vicious when she needs to be. However, Lex appears to be the more domineering and ruthless between the two of them, since he made it clear that he would, without hesitation, arrest her for ‘drunkenness and loitering’ if she didn’t cooperate.
LOL! I’m choosing to see those threats, from Lex, as signs of his fondness, affection and feelings of protectiveness for Chloe. He wanted Chloe OUT of this place, and did not want her fighting him while he was dragging her away to safety. And he knew that Chloe would struggle the moment she saw an opportunity for a lead or a clue in her sights.
Casting Chloe was a reporter was just perfect!!! I loved it! I especially loved getting the details of her past stories, making it clear that she was a hard hitting investigative reporter, who went looking for difficult stories in risky situations. No wonder Lex seems to be in a constant state of anxiety about her well-being. He’d probably prefer her to be one of those fluff-piece reporters who wrote articles for the society page. Instead, he finds himself enthralled with a reckless investigator who is, currently, on the track of a serial killing psychopath.
I loved the discussion about Chloe’s theories about The Ripper. Those were some very clever deductions made by Chloe… and I liked that quite a lot of her theories were agreed with and corroborated by Lex. This shows that Chloe is probably on the right track. Not only that, but Lex’s general agreement with Chloe’s theories shows that they two of them think alike enough to work together on finding this killer.
I think I see the potential for a full length epic being built from this ficlet. Any chance of this story being continued? I’d LOVE to see how it develops… especially considering that the killer now seems aware of Chloe and Lex getting closer to his trail *shudder*
Story 4 - Motivations
This was a great story with an excellent twist at the end. I have to admit, that I half-suspected that twist that was coming… mostly because this IS a Chlex forum after all. If this had been published on KryptonSite or some other generic Smallville fanfic site, then I probably would have been left guessing until the end. But over here, it was pretty obvious that we were receiving Lana’s point of view.
I do find it VERY interesting to examine my own mind and attitude by examining my reaction to this fic. I’m quite sure that I would have felt great sorrow, pity and outrage if it turned out that it was Chloe who had been driven to becoming a psychotic killer by the end if this story. Instead, finding out that it was Lana who had been left as the alone, friendless, isolated and insane narrator of this fic filled me with a sense of savage satisfaction.
I liked the idea of Lana being trapped in a lunatic asylum, because she had killed Lex and Chloe in a jealous rage. But I would have despised, hated and loathed the idea of Chloe being the narrator of this ficlet. Does this mean that I’m a two faced hypocrite who only feels sorrow and pity for the suffering of people that I personally like only?!? Or can I justify to myself that I have a valid reason for enjoying the image of Lana in the lunatic asylum?
Thanks for the great fic. It really made me think!
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