Celebration....

[fajrdrako]

In honour of John Glover's birthday - happy birthday to a talented, admirable, delectable man. And one whom I hope to see much more of in Season 3 of Smallville.





And for adamlizz, who asked so nicely, a birthday fic about Lionel Luthor:

In Celebration

Lionel Luthor poured himself a brandy, and sat in his favourite armchair.

His birthday had been celebrated in various ways throughout the day; over and over. This bottle of brandy was the best thing he had received, given by a man who was either more clever than he had seemed, and who knew his brandies; or who was simply luckier in his guess than Lionel would have anticipated. Whether the gift would earn him any favours....

Perhaps.

The Mayor had toasted Lionel and called him "a magnificent landmark in Metropolis history", a sentiment more lofty than logical. Dominic had given him a tie-clip. Every lacky, gopher, doorman, driver, secretary, receptionist and janitor he had seen all day had said, "Happy birthday, sir."

Most satisfying.

To be fifty-nine years old, and to be on top of the world, and rising still - he could not have asked for more. The domains he had not yet conquered were ready to fall. And after him - Lex would have it all, would do it all, would continue to make the Luthor name proud.

But here in his personal study, surrounded by his own things.... Something was missing.

Lionel was unaccustomed to feeling sorry for himself, but this twinge of regret must have a source. What was he missing - sex? Hardly. There'd been a most satisfactory encounter at Luthorcorp right before lunchtime, and several very attractive possibilities were only a phone call away.

He thought of early days: early in the marriage to Lillian, flying up to New York to take in the latest Broadway hit before a night of dancing and lovemaking in the most luxurious of hotels.

Later.... it had been less felicitous. And Lillian was long dead.

What he wanted was not sex, but someone he could talk to as an equal, a friend. But he had been too busy with work in recent years to cultivate real friends, and the few he had found in the past had betrayed him - stabbed him in the back and then paid for it.

Martha Kent was in Smallville, reproducing, keeping the secret of her remarkable son to herself.

His family, then? Lucas had been mysteriously spirited away by Lex. As for Lex himself....

Well. He was busy in Smallville with Martha Kent's remarkable son, and had no time to spare for an aging father. No inclination, either, Lionel thought, flinching. Too much water under that particular bridge: a torrent. A relationship of love and pain, disappointment and expectation, demands and frustrations on both sides.

If there was any person on this earth he loved, it was Lex. Lex was ungrateful and unforgiving, but he was also damnably clever.

Lionel closed his eyes, savouring the brandy.

The study door opened, and Lionel frowned, though he did not move or look around. He had given orders he was not to be disturbed. Who dared?

"Hi, Dad," said Lex's amiable voice. "I was in the area so I dropped by to say 'happy birthday'. What, no eager starlet on your lap?"

"I sent her home," said Lionel. "After tiring her out. What is it you want, Lex? You never visit unless you want something."

"It's your birthday, not mine," said Lex. "What do you want, Dad?"

"A good challenge." Lionel rose swiftly, with the grace of a much younger man. He took a foil from the rack on the wall and tossed it one-handed to Lex, who caught it. Lex had quick reflexes, getting quicker as he learned to negotiate the battlezones of business. "Still think you can take your old man?"

Lex considered. "At least half the time. So. We fence?"

"We always do," said Lionel.

- end-

Comments

[kelex.livejournal.com]

Now THIS is a birthday. :) I love the ficlet, and the little party graphic. hee.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So glad you liked it!

I shocked myself by writing a piece about Lex and Lionel that *isn't* explicitly slashy. Wonders never cease.

[blackbyrde.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful! I don't normally read/like Lex/Lionel stuff, mostly because Lex gets humiliated or abused so much, but this was really great. I really like the "We fence?" "We always do" at the end. So true.

Are you feeling better?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I like Lex/Lionel stories in which Lex holds his own against his father. That's the kind you'll get from me! I think the two personalities are fun to play with together.

Yeah, I'm feeling better, thanks, tho' still kind of overtired.

[acampbell.livejournal.com]

Wow, Elizabeth!

How wonderful to celebrate JG's real birthday with a "Lionel's birthday" fic.

Great idea!! And, you covered so many of the MB's memories, and surveyed recent events in his life...!! Great work!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the nice comments! It's fun to write a birthday fic when you enjoy the subject as much as I enjoy Lionel.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

This is great. Lionel is such a wonderful character, and this is a lovely look inside his head.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I like examining Lionel - seeing what he thinks, finding out what he feels.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you. That was lovely. I love Lionel stories that give his emotional side too, and I'm glad lex came to visit him. They interact well off each other, better than with others.
CeruleanCat

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the comment, and I'm so glad you liked it. I think Lex and Lionel are each fascinating with anyone, but they are particularly great with their edgy, unresolvable interaction with each other.

You just reminded me of a Lionel comment I wanted to make on my LJ - will do so at once. Thank you!