The House of the Earth Part 2 (7/8): Understanding

[jij]

Title: Chapter Seven:  Understanding
Pairing/Characters: Kal-El, Bruce Wayne, Lex Luthor, Selina Kyle, John Henry Irons, Lois Lane
Notes: " The House of the Earth" is an AU in which a few thousand Kryptonians escaped the destruction of Krypton to flee to Earth and enslave its people.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2450
Summary:  Kal meets the leaders of two

Comments

[batfan_sarah]

yay! i can't wait for more of this.

i love how delightfully in-character they all are in reacting to this situation of being invaded and enslaved. it all makes sense in the greatest and most tragic way.

*lurve*

[jij]

I'm glad to hear you think they're still in-character! It's a tough one because they're also so young...Lois seemed really young here to me, somehow, and nowhere near as brassy as I'd imagine her to be, so it surprised me. I'll have to talk to her more about where and who she is. :)

[icarus_chained]

Oh, I loved this chapter! Who we got to meet ... or meet again, as the case may be. That was a gorgeous piece of interaction between Kal and Selina, by the by. Her pain is so clear, the part of her that recognises what she is and what life has done to her ... so beautifully done.

As was Lex. Oh, Lex was so perfect here.
"You seem to think I care whether humans are better than Kryptonians. I don't give a damn about that. I just want them gone and I don't really care how." There's just something so brutal and practical and almost ... heroic about that. That he doesn't care how he's viewed, or the cost for his own morality, he just wants to get the job done, and done fast

[jij]

Her pain is so clear, the part of her that recognises what she is and what life has done to her ... so beautifully done.

Selina is one of my favorite characters in this series, she and Kara, actually. She seems very self-aware to me, and I think she accepts that Kal really is basically good...but it doesn't make any practical difference for the path she's on, really.

There's just something so brutal and practical and almost ... heroic about that. That he doesn't care how he's viewed, or the cost for his own morality, he just wants to get the job done, and done fast.

I'm on pins and needles in preparation for reading your take on that, by the way! And yes, there is a certain brutal heroism in saying we'll do what has to be done, and deal with our reputations later.

Except ... I sincerely hope someone figures out how to show Lex what Krytonite does to humans, or he'll have a double genocide under his belt.Bruce's faction has an alternate plan that's less risky for humans, but is more risky in that it has less fatalities among the

[ranger_girl0301]

This whole story is just fantastic. Sat down and read it this afternoon. Keep it coming!

[jij]

Thank you so much and I'm glad you're enjoying it! The last chapter of this arc should be up by this weekend at the latest, I believe... *crosses fingers*

[bradygirl_12]

Excellent chapter, Jen!

Kal did a good job at the meeting, and Lex was his usual caustic self, though in this situation I can't quite blame him for his anger and hatred. Or Selina.

I do hope that Lex and Selina can finally learn that there aren't all bad Kryptonians, but even if they don't, there's people like Bruce and Lois who do.

Lois as a freedom fighter is perfect, of course. :)

Bruce saying nothing to defend Kal is understandable, but I'm glad he explained. :)

Kal should be very afrid of Lex's plan. He and Kara will have to leave Earth for good if it's successful (like recent canon) and there is the possibility that humans would be affected, too.

Very interested in seeing how you wrap up this arc! :)

[jij]

Kal did a good job at the meeting, and Lex was his usual caustic self, though in this situation I can't quite blame him for his anger and hatred. Or Selina.

It's definitely a nightmare scenario for canon-Lex, like proof that he's always been right about Superman and his motivations.

Bruce saying nothing to defend Kal is understandable, but I'm glad he explained. :)

Yeah, I realized after writing the scene that Kal did deserve some explanation for his silence, because it's pretty painful that he just stands there.

Kal should be very afrid of Lex's plan. He and Kara will have to leave Earth for good if it's successful (like recent canon) and there is the possibility that humans would be affected, too.

I saw those scans and laughed! I suppose it's a fairly standard Lexian plan, isn't it? So yeah, Bruce's alternate plan would have the benefit of saving Kal and Kara's lives as well...

[bradygirl_12]

It's definitely a nightmare scenario for canon-Lex, like proof that he's always been right about Superman and his motivations.

True! As it is in SV as well. He didn't want to destroy Clark, still loved him (said so!) but felt he had to do it!

Yeah, I realized after writing the scene that Kal did deserve some explanation for his silence, because it's pretty painful that he just stands there.

I'm sure Kal will understand. Still, I'd like to see him assert himself a little more. As technically 'the slaver' he has to take some abuse from the humans, but I wonder if he'll ever lash out and show his pain in a more aggressive way? Because while it's understandable that no humans should trust him, he's risking a helluva lot, too. If he's discovered, House of El or not, his future doesn't look bright.

What's scary too is what if someone from the Rebellion is capture? *shudders*

Eh, just some ramblings. It's late! ;)

I saw those scans and laughed! I suppose it's a fairly standard Lexian plan, isn't it? So yeah, Bruce's alternate plan

[jij]

As technically 'the slaver' he has to take some abuse from the humans, but I wonder if he'll ever lash out and show his pain in a more aggressive way? Because while it's understandable that no humans should trust him, he's risking a helluva lot, too. If he's discovered, House of El or not, his future doesn't look bright.

You mean lash out at the Kryptonians or at the humans? The former is pretty risky (though he's going to manage it next arc), the latter seems kind of a waste of energy, as long as their caution and distrust isn't hurting the rebellion. I think if Bruce were to get so cautious he passed up opportunities to aid the larger rebellion, that would be something Kal would have to call him on--preferably not angrily though. He's not just "technically" a slaver, after all. His family owns a lot of human beings and he's the heir of that family.

will we see Dick or any of the other Robins show up? Or the Gordons? :) If Tim is a newborn, Dick is probably between six and eight...I kind of think he was there on Oswald's

[stinglikeabee]

Lex's deep disdain for the Kryptonians is quite evident, but my favourite part would be his statement of 'allowing' Kara access. Kal and Kara are not part of the underground, and Lex doesn't let them forget it

[jij]

Lex's deep disdain for the Kryptonians is quite evident, but my favourite part would be his statement of 'allowing' Kara access. Kal and Kara are not part of the underground, and Lex doesn't let them forget it.

Lex is always very careful to remind them they're here on his sufferance. There's information they haven't been given access to yet as well, and Lex doesn't intend they ever will be. Bruce has other plans. :)

I must confess to like Lex as the anti-hero much more than the villain, no matter how amusing it is in the DCAU. Before reading this chapter I re-read the omnibus Our Worlds At War, and the stone-cold sacrifices Luthor readily makes is chilling, cruel and yet oddly heroic.

I started off the AU assuming that Lex would be working with the Kryptonians as a Quisling, and a Lex-muse I didn't even know I had threw a major...well, it would be a "hissy fit" in anyone else. As if, he informed me quellingly. And that was that. :)

Kal's and Selina's exchange is heartbreaking, though his heartful wish Selina will find what