#hnng.

little head canon.

you  don't  want  to  kiss  lex. He  has  chapped  lips.  It's  not  because  he  doesn't  take  care  of  himself, the  guy  cares  about  how  he  looks.  But  maybe  he  can't  stop  --  this  nervous  disgusting  habit  of  lip  biting  &  tearing  the  skin  off  his  lips. Lex  doesn't  bite  his  nails,  kicked  that  habit but  switched  gears,  by  chewing  lips,  he  can't  stop  messing  with them.  Which  is  a shame  because  they  are  nice   or  he  thinks  they  are.  I'm  sure  he  uses  chap  stick  and  moistening  palms,  but  they  do  nothing  to  stop  him.  You  see  it  a  lot,  more  in  the  1A  scene.  Where  he  starts  foaming  from  the  mouth.  and his lips just look worse red  and so dry.. fight me,  this man is a wreck you don't even know…

adding on to say. yes this is just a small actor detail but latching on and making it apart of the characters psyche, makes it feel real. Think about how often he talks -- the torrential speeches, his mouth drying out from the force of arguments or passion. He is speaking himself raw. This nervous compulsion to chew, sometimes conceals   anger. Coping mechanism not as easily hidden. IRONY. The lips are his tool of persuasion, manipulation -- even intimacy and he is damaging that strength with this compulsion. Eroding what is supposed to GIVE HIM POWER.