Lex Luthor

For his part, Lionel was far, far too cheerful when he finally made an appearance in the doorway. "Why, Lex, whatever are you doing?"

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hasadestiny

Oh, great, Lionel was going to drag things out just to hammer home the lesson. Like being forced back to Excelsior wouldn't do that. "Exactly what it looks like, Dad. Packing."

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"Why on Earth would you want to do that?" Lionel asked, all innocence, coming over to lean against Lex's bed. "You just got settled in."

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hasadestiny

Lex eyed his father, they were really going to play it like that?

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"Oh, don't look so glum, Lex," Lionel clapped him on the shoulder. "You have a unique opportunity here."

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hasadestiny

Okay, who was this and what had he done with the real Lionel Luthor?

"I do?"

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"Of course you do." Why you'd almost think it was Lionel's idea to send Lex here. "I've been talking (http://halfman-lion.livejournal.com/3067.html?thread=44795#t44795) with your (http://sith-happened.livejournal.com/118825.html?thread=8725801#t8725801) teachers (http://charming-thief.livejournal.com/2057.html?thread=14345#t14345) and they seem to think you're doing passably well. Not to mention that Principal Winchester (http://bigdamndean.livejournal.com/72677.html?thread=1668837#t1668837) seems a capable administrator."

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hasadestiny

And suddenly it all became clear. "You've been talking to the Principal?" Please tell him he hadn't...

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He hadn't, but not from lack of interest on Lionel's end. "She's a charming and intelligent woman, I look forward to speaking with her again."

Translation, Lex should be very grateful Lionel enjoyed the idea of a challenge.

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hasadestiny

Oh, yes, Lex was ecstatic that the future of his education now rested on the fact his dad wanted to bang the hot principal. That mental image wasn't scarring at all.

"I assume this means I'm staying?"

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"Of course it does," Lionel told him, before momentarily dropping the joviality to add "You won this, but don't ever try something like it again."

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Lucrezia had spent a great deal of her weekend with Cesare, catching up on all that they had missed, if not more. A month was too long. Any time was too long.

Cesare did have to leave soon, but he was insisting on visiting her room again, and she had to confess, she was reluctant to see him go.

Perhaps he was stalling for time. She would not hold such matters against him.

They stumbled into the room, laughing over some ridiculous matter, but Lucrezia stopped when she saw ... the boy, packing.

"Lex," she said. "You aren't leaving."

It was a question, even if it did not sound like one.

A half-second too late, Lucrezia realized that her efforts to keep her brother from discovering her roommate's identity (or, more specifically, gender) had, at this late hour, been foiled.

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hasadestiny

"Not by choice," Lex replied. "But my dad came to visit and I don't think I'll get much say in the matter."

He noticed Lucrezia wasn't alone. "Is this your brother?" This could hardly end well. On the upside if he was in traction, he'd get to stay on the island a while longer.

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"But that is terrible," Lucrezia said, frowning. "Does he disapprove of the school? Why did he send you here only to withdraw you again?"

She was being rude, and so she drew herself up properly.

"Lex, this is my brother, Cesare," she nodded. "Cesare, Lex, who shares my quarters."

Inspiration led her to add, "He is quite the devout monastic, though he does not wear his monk's-robes while in civilian life."

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"I see," Cesare said, holding out his hand warily. "What is it that brings one of your order to this institution, Brother Lex?"

He did not quite believe his sister's story. The boy was attractive, and young. His sister was charming, and had not mentioned a monk in her sleeping-quarters. Cesare was not slow.

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hasadestiny

Lex shook Cesare's hand, grateful for Lionel's lessons on not letting nervousness show.

"It's kind of a log story." And he doubted mentioning the whole 'I kind of forged his signature to come here' would do much to convince Cesare of the truth of Lucrezia's monk lie.

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"This school is excellent for quiet reflection and meditation," Lucrezia said. Cesare was not carrying weapons, was he? "I suppose it is our mutual interest in the church that made the school feel we would be fitting roommates."

Yes. They were very devout, in room 426.

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"This school seems excellent for quite a number of things," Cesare said. "It would seem, sis, that you are growing skilled at keeping your own counsel."

She had not told him of Lord Sforza's abuses. She had not informed him of her roommate's maleness. What else was Lucrezia concealing?

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hasadestiny

Extremely devout. In fact Lex was mentally praying right this moment.

"It's not her only skill," he said. "Just the other day she gave an amazing presentation in class on how chastity improves concentration. Which I already knew." Since he was a monk.

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Lucrezia coughed, lightly, to cover a creeping smile. "I thought it not quite so good as your speech, Brother Lex," she said lightly. "The one in which you extolled the virtues of self-flagellation as a means to enlightenment."

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Cesare did not look nearly as amused.

"Clever," he said, his voice light. "I am pleased that you find the topic to be funny. Because had I reason to think you had ... ungentlemanly designs upon my sister's good nature and pure heart, I would be forced to remove your head from the rest of your body."

"Cesare," came a sharp reproach from his sister.

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hasadestiny

Lex liked his head being on his body. Where it was meant to be.

"No, no designs. Most of the time I forget she's even a girl." This was a lie.

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"Your poor memory may prove useful in the future," Cesare said. Particularly in Lex having one at all. "I should cultivate that, were I you."

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