𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

I try to keep it pretty ambiguous whether Lex actually likes Eve as a person, but he definitely likes her as a partner. I do think there are things that attract him to Eve in particular; she’s very expressive and impressed by his lifestyle, she cares a lot about her appearance, she values her public image, they have similar outrageous sex drives, and they look good together. Also, she doesn’t start fights or stand up for herself when he does. He thinks she’s unintelligent. And these things are in her favor!

In my original drafts and planning phases for TLF, Lex was a lot more overtly controlling. More of the stalking bits, cruelty to and about Eve’s friends, enforcement a restrictive diet onto her, forcing her to change birth control methods, that kind of thing. We all know he’s a control freak and has the means to get narsty about that stuff, and I think he would.

I try not to provide backstory for 2025 Lex because I’m sure we’ll get more and I don’t wanna have to retcon anything, but I doubt we’ll get more from Eve sooooooo I’m comfortable building up a little for her. I think she has a poor relationship with her mother (as briefly referenced in her conversation with Jimmy) and I interpret Mama Teschmacher as a kind of apprearance-focused almond mom whose high standards were imparted onto Eve very early on (the kind of mom that doesn’t let you leave the house without mascara, y’know?). And then those values are reinforced by Eve’s “success” at attracting Lex, Lex himself having very high standards for her, and the cycle of control continues.

I like an Eve that grew up upper-middle class because I’m most compelled by her as a character who’s not motivated to stay with Lex because she wants stability or a roof over her head, but because she likes spending weekends in Paris and taking his card on shopping sprees and the view from the penthouse. Sara said in an interview that Eve is not a completely blameless character; her photos prove she knew Lex was up to some terrible illegal shit but she chose to stay because (in addition to fear of Lex’s retaliation) she likes the lifestyle Lex provides for her. Yes, she is kind and has a sense of justice, but she’s also super vain and materialistic and self-motivated.

I can’t wait to see what they’ll get up to in MoT. I think that Lex will obviously be enraged by Eve’s betrayal, but I also think that he might even respect her for it, having previously thought she was incapable of anything like that. And because I don’t think it’ll get written, I can reveal here that I did some planning for a fic where they reconnect while Lex is in prison; Eve’s surprised he’s added her to his visitation list, then he’s surprised she shows up, and they talk things through. There’s a lot of anger from both sides, but just as much residual tenderness and respect. Eventual prison phone sex, Lex pulls some strings and swings a conjugal visit, et cetera. How fun would that have been?