#Lex is getting validation!

[idontcaboose]

Luthor's Cricket part 8

Previous. Masterpost

Lex thought he managed to scare off the little spirit, it had been about 5 hours since his rant in the conference room, but Lex could not help but replay the entire interview back in his mind.

He could see by his answers and Lane's rebuttals could make one not of this world think he was an evil man. Not to mention Phantom's... odd relations with other rich and... uncouth men over his apparently short life. He could not fully blame the child for projecting his trauma onto Lex.

Lex ran through his list of the child.

He appears to be somewhere between 13-15 years old. He died young, but there is no telling how long he has been dead, if he was ever alive to begin with. Though Lex doubts the latter.

He knew a rich man that tried to force a familial relationship upon him.

He was not killed from a kidnapping, but who knows if the man was the one who killed him. He copes with humor and sass, like any child his age. But his silent reaction to Lex yelling at him made him think that there was something there that had triggered him. Was he killed by a hero gone rogue?

It was an uncomfortably short list, full of speculation, but expected since he has only interacted with the teen for a day and a half, and most of it had been malicious on both their parts.

Lex sighed and rubbed his eyes, leaning back on his living room couch. He had dealt with his randomly assigned essay partners in college better than this.

“Hey…. Mr. Luther?”

Lex violently startled at the small voice for the doorway to the foyer.

“Yes, Phantom?”

“You are right.”

“What?” Lex asked, confused.

Phantom shuffled into the living room, standing on the other side of the low coffee table. “That should always be something you should worry about. Someone that strong should have plans in place to keep them from hurting other people. After I left, I saw that the person he was fighting was able to mind control him briefly. He did some pretty bad damage before Wonder Woman was able to stop him and arrest the guy.” Phantom rubbed his arms in a self soothing fashion. “After he came to, he tried to jump back into the action. He is reckless in his collateral. I can't speak for if he feels guilty about what he did, but he has been around for a while. He hasn't seemed to be more mindful of those caught up in the fights, just those in the direct line of fire.” The teen sighed. “For the few he rescues, more die from the buildings the rogues and himself break.

I still think how you are going about it is the wrong way, but… I can help you workshop some better stuff.” Phantom asked with a small smile.

Next

[mamawasatesttube]

if im being entirely honest i gotta say, people who adamantly insist kon is clark's brother and ONLY his brother are nearly as annoying as people who insist kon is clark's son. the fact of the matter is that there are canon panels both of them calling their relationship more like siblings and of them calling it more like parent-and-child. like why are you guys all so fucking obsessed with nuclear family labels and putting relationships in these boxes? take my hand. free yourselves from the chains of the western traditional nuclear family model. relationships do not have to align 1:1 with these roles. be free

[fairyroses]

did you watch the Shattered/Asylum Talkville episodes? 👀

Yes I did! I'm really sorry, I've been meaning to send you all my notes/highlights from the Shattered pod ep like I promised I would, but my last semester of grad school started like 2.5 weeks ago and I've just been massively overwhelmed since then. 😭

Tbh, you could probably watch the full Shattered pod if you wanted, it was a pretty good ep for Talkville standards. The biggest highlight was probably Michael saying that the moment where Lex sees Clark use his powers for the first time is his favorite Lex moment in the series (especially in terms of his own performance)—he's clearly really proud of this episode and I think that made the pod better in general. Also Lionel gets called an evil bastard a couple of times, Tom points out how we all feel bad for Lex by the end of the episode, and Al Gough calls the Clex relationship "the focal point of the series." Other stuff happens too ofc, but I'd say those were my top moments.

The Asylum pod was... less good, IMO—like, it wasn't bad I guess, but some stuff def left me feeling kinda frustrated, so I wouldn't really recommend that you watch that one askldfsk (I could probably skim through it again and collect some highlights from it if you want, though)

[punkrockisafulltimejob]

Holy shit, thank y'all so much for admiring this deck mod! I've always been an artist striving for truly unique ideas, because of how much my autism (and now witchcraft) feeds into my artistic side, I want to know that what I make is something that no one else would have ever thought to do.

That's my passion in life, being 100% authentic to my self, and I see my art as a reflection of that.

I wish each and every one of you happiness, in the smallest of things, for ever and ever. I know this small thing made me happy.

Spent the last week or so finding the perfect gradient of sharpies to color the edges of one of my tarot decks in a rainbow. I think it came out pretty damn good if I do say so myself lol

[lady-griffin]

There are plenty of reasons for why Clark wants to find and save Krypto.

Clark simply just cares about others, from people to animals (from a squirrel to a fire breathing kaiju) and it’s the right thing to do. Sure, Krypto isn’t a good dog but he’s still a good boy who Clark cares about, and he doesn’t want Krypto to be alone and scared.

All valid motivations that make perfect sense for Clark and who he is.

But I can’t help but think he also didn’t want Kara to commit mass murder to get her dog back. I’m just saying, if she had come back to earth still decently buzzed only to find out that Lex Luthor stole her dog...

Lex is very, very lucky that’s not how things went down.

[may-chaos-reign]

Keeping up with the Waynes

(Mission Report)

Bruce: So, let me get this straight. Lex Luthor was in Gotham.

Damian: Yes.

Bruce: And you found him.

Damian: Yes.

Bruce: And confronted him.

Damian: Yes.

Bruce: And you found out that he was doing experiments with Kryptonite serum on puppies?

Damian: Yes.

Bruce: So you got mad. And then?

Damian: And then I shot him in the ass five times as he ran from my sword like a coward.

Bruce: Where did you get a gun?

Jason: To be fair, that was a completely valid response to a report of tortured puppies.

Bruce: Oh.

[fazedlight]

Superman vs. Supergirl

The Superman movie did an interesting thing: It gave Clark an arc that would never work for Kara.

Here's what Clark says as he faces off against Lex towards the end:

"I love, I get scared, I wake up every morning - and despite not knowing what to do, I put one foot in front of the other, and I try to make the best choices I can. I screw up all the time. But that is being human. And that's my greatest strength."

Clark is human. While he's always had this dual identity based on his biology, the fact is that Earth culture and human parents are the only existence he's ever known. In his head, to love and to fear is to be human. It's not about personhood or sentience - he wants to be seen as belonging with mankind, because that's what he is inside.

He's grown up wondering about the family he never met, who sent him away because they loved him and didn't want him to die with the planet. He spent decades looping a broken clip over and over again, imagining this world he never knew. But when cold reality hit - and he realized his parents weren't good people - he was able to cast that aside for the family he actually knew and loved.

His heritage isn't in being kryptonian, and he's content with that.

Our girl Kara can't do that.

People often call Kara "female Superman" - and to some extent, it's true. She was imagined as a character who could capitalize on Superman's popularity to grow a larger female audience for DC comics, and a lot of her personality traits in the Silver Age (and the CW show) are very close to Clark's. She's the girl next door, sweet and caring like her cousin, with maybe a bit more youthful impulsivity.

But the thread at the heart of Superman 2025 would not work for Kara. For her, Krypton and her kryptonian heritage aren't just a clip on a screen. They're memories of the people she loved - who cared for her when she got sick, who taught her how to navigate through life, who sent her away when her home was about to die.

In her comic or show iterations, she was loved and cherished by people who may have contributed to a fascist kryptonian culture. That's not a dream that she can erase - that was her identity-defining existence that she would need to wrestle with.

She loved real people. And indeed, her sense of being able to love or fear wouldn't be associated with mankind at all.

I've worried before that, in Kara not being an established hero before this story, she might lean more party girl than sad drunk. I really hope it doesn't result in some arc about taking responsibility, because I think it'd be a disservice to her character to make her compassionate drive into something she needs to learn rather than something she is.

We know Gunn will make changes. He's already hinted at using her pre-Crisis origin, because a Kara who doesn't remember Kal's parents is highly likely to be the Kara born on Argo City after Krypton's explosion. It wouldn't take much wrestling to fit the WoT storyline into this (WoT uses her post-Crisis origin, where she was born and raised on Krypton, but survived a short time on Argo City before it too died). There will almost certainly be more changes - that's how adaptations work.

But adaptations live or die on the basis of the validity of those changes - how they speak to new aspects of the characters, how they intersect with the current dynamics of the world (something Superman 2025 did well).

So it's an interesting choice to hammer so hard on Clark's human sense of self, knowing that the next story was about to be Kara. What will her thread be?

It could be a cheap "learn to take responsibility" arc. But if Gunn uses Clark's thread as a jumping point - if Clark is everything Kara will never be on Earth - maybe the story could center around the audience's assumption around what being human is.

I think that'd be a real treat.

[frownyalfred]

Jason whose only ever known roy while in the mask doing hero work and has always had a small admiration for him (they never really talked much as hero’s, but knew each other), and then they’re working together more when Jason is filling in for Bruce/finding his own identity and he’s just smitten with Roy being this calm collected confident alpha whose so stably HIMSELF. And he’s never pushy with being an alpha- he’s just. There. He’s just in tune with the exact right things he needs to be to be a hero.

And then he meets roy outside of the mask for the first time- and his scent is fully pulled back, almost neutral. He’s a little skittish and won’t ever meet his eyes, and probably apologizes way too much. Jason would think he was a completely different person if he isn’t so in tune with scents due to lex’s teaching, and for the first time he considers that maybe roy wears a mask in a way that’s more than just the literal sense. But now he’s unsure if Arsenal is the mask personality or if it’s Roy and he’s so much more curious about him.

But also I think roy won’t even consider Jason possibly being into him at all at first. Bc Jason is so good at scent control now, and most of the time he acts basically just like a slightly more mini Batman until he figures out his own identity, and they don’t really talk about anything personal at first.

I wanna know what the first thing is that starts them wanting to be together, but also I assume we’re going to get to read about it Later

Oh man yeah! Maybe Jason and Roy don’t quite get along out of costume (yet) because Jason is trying to figure out wtf is going on with Roy and why he’s doing this but Roy reads it as “oh god he’s mad at me” and at a certain point Jason does get huffy because WHY do I get along so well with the masked version of you but getting you to look me in the eyes like this is impossible? Am I not valid outside of my mask either?

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for Ceswest behind the cut; “love is being stupid together”. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“Yes, well, I only have so much patience for lipreading with someone who isn’t even facing me,” he says dubiously, steepling his fingers on his desk and eyeing the other. He should’ve made himself a mimosa before he let him in. 

Or a tequila sunrise, more like. And he definitely means a double when he says that. 

Possibly he’s going to need some alternate coping mechanisms to manage his cortisol levels, because the alcohol is getting expensive. And, well, at this rate liver damage might become a concern. 

Also, unfortunately, Lennox being eventually invulnerable to the effects of Earth-based alcohol does not actually mean Lex can’t still set a bad example for the impressionable physiological four year-old in terms of stress regulation and self-medication and the concept of–ugh–”healthy” coping mechanisms. 

Ugh. 

This is somehow Superman’s fault, Lex reflects accusingly. Which it in fact demonstrably is. 

“Good morning, Kon,” Superman greets, turning towards Lennox’s wall and smiling warmly at him. Lennox ignores him, but Lex finds himself increasingly certain that even if Superman actually isn’t doing it intentionally, he has some sort of latent mental power that inclines people to respond positively to his presence. 

He has an eidetic memory and enhanced intelligence and can think faster than just about anyone on the planet who isn’t wearing lightning bolt earmuffs, and, as the process of making Lennox has made obvious, passive telekinetic abilities. Further mental powers would not exactly be a stretch. Especially one that, arguably, would not be particularly different from the passive telekinesis–just a passive sense of let’s just all do as I'd prefer us all do, instead. 

Definitely that would explain why no one just dislikes Superman. Either they feel positively about or respect him or outright revere him–or they absolutely despise him. One would have to absolutely despise the man to actually feel anything negative about him, under those circumstances. 

And it would also explain Lennox not responding positively to his presence, because Lennox is Kryptonian enough that he’d likely have the same power, and as a result could easily be minimally affected by or just outright immune to Superman’s version of it. 

Though it doesn't seem that Superman is minimally affected by Lennox, still.

. . . Lex might need to get Cadmus on that, he thinks. Just . . . maybe taking another look or two at the DNA they have on file, just to see what they see in there. 

“I brought you something today, kiddo,” Superman says. “I should’ve sooner, I’m sorry, but I hope you’ll still like it.” 

Lennox does not in any way acknowledge the statement, just sorts through his collection of highlighters and arranges them in some mystifying presumable-organization that is definitely not any method of organization that Lex is personally aware of. 

“You brought him something,” Lex says, eyeing the man skeptically. Superman glances back at him, looking mildly surprised for some baffling alien reason or another. Lennox spares an unimpressed glower for the back of his head, which Lex finds very validating, parentally-speaking. Superpowers or not, he very much appreciates that Lennox doesn’t fawn over every little swish of Superman’s cape the same way the rest of this damn city tends to. 

“Are you finally done calling Kon ‘it’?” Superman asks. Lex gives the man his own unimpressed look. What, does Superman think he misspoke? Of all people? 

“Lennox decided to have a gender, so yes,” he says. “Apparently that’s all the rage with the children these days, they just come up with their own.” 

Superman . . . tilts his head, still looking at him. 

“‘Lennox’?” he repeats. Lex remains unimpressed. 

“He also decided he wanted a human name,” he says. “Something about immigrants typically giving their children localized names in addition to cultural ones. Don’t ask me who told him that immigrants do that, mind; statistically it was Wendy. And I certainly have no interest in hacking every single computer system he ever needs to have his name in to input whatever Kryptonian glyphs ‘Kon-El’ involves.” 

And Superman . . . blinks, slowly, and tilts his head just a degree or two farther. 

“Does he talk to you?” he asks. “Does he–talk?”

[witherby]

two completely unrelated asks

bc of the 'littlest villain au' ask, what about the opposite, where in kon goes villain-mode (but mouse is alive, i can see mouse dying as a villain origin for him) how are they dealing with that?

and second, bc i just got back from my last final exam this term, how do the batfam handle mouse failing a class or exam? do they try and find the issue and fix it immediately, by helping study even in a slightly overbearing way, or do they let mouse learn to work thru failure/just listen to them if they need to vent without trying to fix it right away? (if that wording makes sense, i'm brain fired)

If Kon decided to become a villain, it could go either way for Mouse I think. One of those ways is for Conner to become a yandere, which I don't write, so let's assume he managed to convince them to join his cause legitimately.

He's spitting straight fax, no printer. All of his reasons for crashing out seem perfectly valid for some reason. Mouse is throwing question after question at him and he's got every single answer locked and loaded. With the help of some puppydog eyes and a quiet "you don't have to like it. I'll understand if you have to see me as an enemy now, but I will never hurt you," Mouse sighs and nods their assent. As long as he swears off hurting any of the bats, they're in.

From here, we have to make a choice. Is Conner trying to take over the Earth, is he trying to conquer other planets, or is he only "evil" because he isn't obeying the No Kill rule? That'll determine how much resistance he's facing from the JL and general civilian populace. He'll find the most success by ignoring the No Kill rule. If Jason gets a pass, and the JL is comfortable slaughtering invading alien species coming to earth, why doesn't he get to snap a few necks?

"If you kill a killer there's still just as many killers in the world!" Shut up. Just kill more than one killer and your reasoning falls apart. Besides, how many people will he really have to off before Earth's quality of life sees a huge increase? Ten? Twenty? Kick the Joker and there's already a significant improvement. Pop off Lex and 3/4 of Superman's problems vanish immediately. Stop giving these idiots ten thousand chances to amend and take the goddamn shot.

So, in short, he'd play fast and loose with ending lives vs sparing them much like Jason. But I don't want a Jason copycat, so Mouse is the true villain between them and Conner is the loyal lapdog.

Oh, unless we think he might want to make a Krypton Vers. 2. The first planet's downfall was because of resource mismanagement. He could do better. Yeah, that's an interesting idea...

And, to your second question, they'd do their very best to help you, perhaps overbearingly, but overall they want you to know that your academic weaknesses do not make you less worthy of love and adoration. Just do your best! That's all they can ask of you! Whatever the result, they're proud of you for trying!

[idontcaboose]

Luthor's Cricket part 5

Previous. Masterpost

Lex was able to distract the teen with a different documentary in the living room of his Penthouse. Said teen, however, made it loudly known that some of the information they were using was false, stupid, and downright biased. Granted, Lex was not paying attention when selecting the first documentary on the list. Apparently, it was a supernatural one called ‘All but Paranormal’ or something of the like. From the shouting, Lex could gather that they were able to interview Zatanna and Dr. Fate, Phantom took great exception to whatever Dr. Fate had to say about Ghost, Demons, and other supernatural creatures. Lex did bark a laugh at Phantom's remark of “Fate's biased view is just as blatant as that glaring beacon of a head!” and “If Fate is a Doctor, then I fear for the intellectual competency of the rest of the world! This means you too, Mr. Luthor!” Lex simply ignored the last part.

Oddly enough, even with the obnoxious commentary from Phantom and the absolute frustration of his magically inclined contacts ignoring him, it was not as tiring as he thought it would be.

“Phantom.” Lex called as he left his office. 

 “Yes, Boss?” Phantom paused the TV and turned to him with a small lopsided smile.

“Do you eat?” Lex asked. 

Phantom clearly did not expect the question with how his face displayed shock and confusion. “Uh, ya. I can eat human food. It's not needed, but it's nice to have. Why?”

“It is about time for dinner, I am thinking Foie Gras-” 

“Do all rich people eat such pretentious sounding food? Seriously, what is wrong with just burgers, burritos, and mac n’ cheese?” Phantom said with derision.

“Some people like to experience the finer things in life-” 

“When was the last time you enjoyed a “finer” thing that wasn't the direct cause of flaunting your power?” Phantom asked seriously. “Just one time.”

Lex…. He found himself at a loss. When Was the last time he actually enjoyed food for its taste alone. Most food prepared at the Galas were pretty cardboard at best. The high-end restaurants were better quality, but Lex only went to those as a power display, and even then, it was for a business deal or a ‘relaxed’ meeting of sorts. Even when he is home alone, he would order high value items so the staff wouldn't spread gossip about his ‘actual’ tates to the papers. The cooks he employed were fantastic at their jobs, the food was always flavorful and filling. 

But….

Probably the last time he actually enjoyed a meal was when his younger sister visited. She brought with her some greasy, cheesy mess of a burger wrapped in foil from a truck from the park across the street. She had laughed at his disgusted face and said “If it was good enough for Bruce Wayne and his kid to stand in line for, it's good enough for us!” 

That was about eight years ago.

After that meal, they had fought, and she stormed out. She has only contacted him through email for Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas. 

Lex ordered pizza from his cooks that night.

Next

[lynzishell]

Prev // Next

Transcript below the cut:

MARCH

Megan: How did your appointment go? Asher: Good. It was just a consultation, but she walked us through the whole process and let us know what to expect and everything.

Megan: So, what’s next? Atlas: I go back next week for a physical. Blood work, sperm sample, the whole nine. Megan: Okay, great. I assume they’ll do some genetic testing, but are you aware of any medical issues that run in your family?

Atlas: [shrugs] Dawn inherited a disorder from our mom that affects fertility, but I don’t think that’s something that could affect me. Otherwise, I don’t really know. That’s the hard part about not being in touch with our family. I can’t exactly call them up and ask about their medical history.

Megan: You don’t think it’s worth trying? Atlas: [shakes his head] Megan: Okay.

Asher: Dr. Reede also said they have an agency they use for matching couples with a surrogate, and we can make like a video and a profile and all that if we want. Megan: Is that the direction you want to go? Asher: I think we’d prefer someone we know, but that has its own complications. And I’m not sure if anyone would be willing or able to do this for us. So, it’s best to keep all options open at this point.

Megan: Makes sense. Do you have anyone in mind that you’d ask? Atlas: [shrugs] Asher: We haven’t really talked about it yet.

…

Lex: Please don’t ask me. I’d feel like shit telling you no. Asher: Don’t worry, I know you well enough not to ask. Besides, you’re disqualified anyway. You have to have given birth at least once before they’ll let you be a surrogate.

Blair: Well shit, I was going to offer. Asher: You’re just saying that because you know you can’t now. Blair: That’s not true. I really would do it for you guys. Asher: Aw, well, that’s sweet, thank you.

Lex: So, who do you know that’s already had a baby? Atlas: Dawn, but she wouldn’t be able to. Lex: What about Iris? I’m sure she’s just waiting for you to ask her. Asher: [rolls his eyes] Absolutely not. I don’t need her getting in one of her moods and suddenly deciding she’s anything more than an aunt. Lex: Valid.

Atlas: Yeah, it’s going to be a lot more expensive, but I think we should contact the agency and see if they can match us with someone. Asher: It feels so weird, like some kind of bizarre dating service. Atlas: Right, like before there were apps and people would get VHS tapes and watch five-minute clips of people talking about themselves.

Lex: Was that really a thing? Atlas: It was! Blair: Would you ever submit a video clip for something like that? Atlas: Oh god no, I’d stay single.

Asher: I would! I’d do it just so I could watch everyone else’s. Lex: You’re such a shit. Asher: What? Curiosity. It’s not like I’d make fun of them or anything, I’m not a dick. And who knows, maybe I’d meet someone. You never know if you don’t try. Blair: That’s the only reason I ever sign up for apps. You never know who you might meet.

Lex: That’s true. Blair and I never would’ve met if I hadn’t decided on a whim to try speed-dating. Blair: See, Atlas, it’s all about putting yourself out there. Atlas: Luckily, I never have to deal with that shit again. I am married, in case you’ve forgotten. Blair: Oh yeah, you two really are into the whole monogamy thing, aren’t you?

Asher: A hundred percent. Blair: Fair enough. I’m getting hungry, are you staying for dinner? Asher: No, it’s Sunday. Lex: Oh yes, Dinner at Dawn’s. Atlas: Yeah, in fact we better get going.

[janedoerising]

All these posts where Danny rips Supes a new one for his treatment of Kon el, conveniently leave out that maybe, just maybe Superman had very real justification to be wary of clones.

Does ANYONE remember Bizzaro?

How about Cyborg Superman?

No?

We’re all supposed to gang up on the guy who probably has some clone related PTSD or at the very least, some well earned paranoia. Why would Clark want anyone like that anywhere near his family or personal life, if he couldn’t be sure of their intentions. For all he knew, Lex made this clone a child ON PURPOSE, so clark would have a harder time fighting him.

And Danny would probably get it, He would understand Superman if nothing else. All of Danny’s clones tried to kill him too, INCLUDING DANNI. He could also understand the feeling of being violated by a creepy billionaire that’s obsessed with them, but thats another can of worms.

And obviously Danny could vibe with Connor, because he too, knows the feeling of being seen as less than a person.

If anyone is to blame here it’s Batman and the rest of the League for setting up both my Super Bois for failure. This clusterfuck of a relationship really could have and should have been avoided by almost everyone in the Young Justice/ Teen titans team and JLA members associated with said team.

One, by acknowledging Clark’s fears as valid and not trying to force Conner on Clark before trust could be established. None of them have an excuse, anyone in the Hero biz has and/or knows someone with an evil double/clone/doppelgänger story of some kind. It just comes with the job.

Two, by not getting Connor’s hopes up for a relationship that may never happen because of Clark’s previous trauma.

Three, let Connor know that he is wanted and there are people there for him, even if not by blood (Batman of all people should know how unnecessary blood ties are in family).

So I guess maybe instead of Danny wiping the floor with Clark, MAYBE, reconciliation might be more his thing. Cuz, you know, he’s been there too.

EDIT: went back try and clean up the post a bit.

[nightfall-in-metropolis]

what do you think lex's motives were in the movie?

Lex in the movie that's a great question!

I think the ultimate tragedy of Lex is how nothing is ever enough for him. He might be the smartest, richest, most successful man alive, but the only thing he wants is more. Superman doesn't represent an existential threat to humanity, he represents an existential threat to Lex's ego.

I think we see this unfold the most clearly during the first fight with Ultraman. By studying Superman close enough to counter his every move, Lex shows that if he were super strong and super fast, he'd win every time. He needs that validation. Without it, he'd have to admit he's lesser. But he can't do that, because being the best is the only thing he cares about. I do think he is xenophobic and that allegory works well. It ties in that he's trying prove (mostly to himself) that Superman isn't better than him.

Ultraman works as a surrogate, but the high of that victory doesn't last. Because Superman gets back up. He might have lost, but he isn't defeated. Lex needs to see him destroyed, because is very existence is a threat to Lex's sense of self.

To me, that's why he cries at the end. Because he did everything. He tried everything. And Superman was still better. Lex will always be second best and he will never be able to overcome the difference. So that's why I'd call it tragic, because that kind of emotional deficiency isn't something he can easily fix. He will continue to suffer knowing he lost and knowing all his hard work amounted to nothing.

All that to say his motivations are mostly caught up in the narratives he tells himself about himself. Anyway, I rambled more than I expected! But I'm sure there are other good takes around ❤️ These are just my light thoughts.

[squisim]

Now that Arcane has ended and everybody is caitvi this, jayvik that. All the discussions I see here are: Is Jinx alive? Is Vander getting resurrected for the third time? Why I'm so afraid of Singed's daughter? Was Vi really a Top in the sesbian lex scene?, etc.

All very valid questions, don't get me wrong, but I've not seen anyone asking the really important question of the whole series:

WHO IS TAKING CARE OF THIS GOOD BOY NOW??!!

[mayixmas]

honestlyyyy

what makes Lex Luthor such an effective villain to me in the 2025 Superman movie is that

he's realistic imo

in a way

without losing his pure evil supervillain self which I and many other people appreciate and missed from media

(more under the cut)

because, I'm very mentally ill and have deep-seated issues, okay. and all I can say is that I hope someone gives Lex Luthor the therapy I currently can't get because the way he hated Superman for no valid reason other than that he's jealous and a pissy bitch about him and just HATES the fact that he is Superman, is reminiscent of the way that I feel for this girl I met online years ago. older than me smarter than me more accomplished happier more successful more popular than me with a complete happy family and a seemingly permanent home and with access to the things I ddon't have like a good community good church and a great highly reputable university and a full fucking scholarship for something like medicine. I looked up to her and wanted to be her and wanted her validation and approval so much. but it turns out when we tried to become friends, we were actually so different, and our personalities clashed so much, with her cold and straightforward personality versus my highly emotional personality, it became a mess and all failed eventually. and even though I know it's non-sensical and honestly I know it's wrong and I feel bad about it yet due to me having ISSUES like I can't control it and so I just blocked her everywhere and try to avoid her and avoid thinking of her because I hate her so much that thinking of her a bit too much just angers and overall triggers me.

am I saying Lex Luthor is mentally ill? no. not really. I'm not so sure. I'm new to this dc universe anyway. and I'm not a psychiatrist nor a psychologist. and I don't want to be one of those who push the "mentally ill people are evil" etc stigma bullshit even by accident.

but he is, to someone like me, realistic and makes sense and understandable and heck, even relatable. granted I wouldn't actually go as far as him to the point of destroying the world and possibly murdering many people in the process all because wah wah wah I hate this person. but. I get him. I just get him. while still condemning him for being purely evil.