dragonyphoenix

I am excited to see where you go with the idea. Hey, if Gwendolyn Post can be an evil Watcher, why not Giles?

Gabrielle

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Yeah I had thought about her. That's probably why I discarded the "wanting the power of the Hellmouth" idea. I want to do something different.

This question has definitely gotten into my head!

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Yes, Hellmouth and Glove aren't the same thing, but going after either feels like the same thing to me. I want more of a background for why Giles would go bad. I need more than power for powers sake.

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You could use Eyghon. Perhaps Giles didn't actually break off his whole "demon possession" fun.

Gabrielle

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I didn't think so at first but, oh yeah, that works.

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Delighted to be of service.

Gabrielle

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You could use Eyghon.

This idea is frighteningly AWESOME.

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*curtsies*

I can't wait to see what

dragonyphoenix comes up with! It should be fantabulous!

Gabrielle

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I want it like, yesterday (no pressure, no pressure...) Since I post that original request for recs back in February I still have not come across any that play with that notion. (PeaceHeather writes stories like Distress Signals that features a very manipulative Giles a la LMPTM, but not outright "Big Bad".)

It strikes me as such an obvious idea that I'm shocked no one else has jumped on it.( I mean, Helpless? The Gift? LMPTM?) Adding the Scythe and Ethan to the mix? Oh yes PLEASE

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I'm sorry but yesterday is completely off the table. ;-) You know, unless I stumble across a time machine or suchnot.

I'm not sure how quickly it'll happen. I definitely need to review season 1 and I'm planning to do the Na No Wri Mo in November, which could cut into my fanfic writing time. But I had planned to take a break and focus on fanfic in December so perhaps it could be done in time for Yule.

I've never written about the Scythe before but I do love throwing Ethan into the mix, especially when I'm writing Giles. ;-)

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A time machine is TOTALLY do-able!

Dom't worry I'm far more patient than I sound. If 17 years of a relationship teach you anything, it's patience. I'm just really excited about what you're planning. Connecting the early and late seasons is a huge kink o'mine when it comes to the Buffyverse (you may have noticed.)

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Maybe I noticed just a little. Oh, and I'm reading that Distress Signal story you recommended. It's awesome!

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I have my reservations about the story in terms of Buffy being enraged at Giles and repeating it over and over (ok, we get it) but it's one of the few stories I've read where buffy gets to be the hero and save Spike; I've seen hundreds of fics that are about him rescuing her. And there's an unexpected appearance by a canon character whom I rarely see Buffy interact with in fic; and a good OC.

My favorite story by PeaceHeather is actually a short one "Remember, Believe and Rest", which is simply about what happens after the end of Showtime - Buffy getting Spike home. It's lovely and "just right" in terms of characterization of Buffy and Spike (i.e. doesn't over do it with the tears and breast beating and "OMG Spike what did I do to you...bitty blah" that drives me nuts in fic.)
http://dark-solace.org/elysian/viewstory.php?sid=3405&chapter=1

Oh goodness does Heather dislike Giles, though. But she loves Buffy, so I can deal.

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I'm on chapter 9, of over 30. Giles was there early on but I haven't seen him since but, yes, I also thought Buffy went a bit overboard. Haven't run into the canon character yet, but Figg is well-written.

You see unexplained character dislike in fanfiction. Lit Gal will occassionaly tear into Willow more than I'm comfortable with, but her stories tend to be very good.

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Um not to give any spoilers but - you really won't see Giles again except for a very brief scene in the last chapter (which is really funny though); but you do have another scene of Buffy pouring out the Giles-hate near the end.

And it's weird because I can see why Buffy would but I'm not sure that's in character for her, any more than her falling to her knees and begging Spike's forgiveness is. But fanfic is fanfic, it's always a way of "correcting" canon, isn't it? Or filling it in, or whatnot.

What's interesting is conversely Heather gives Xander a pass - or rather, Heather likes his character, even though he's been responsible for dumping a lot of shit on Buffy. There's a short fic of her's, post-Showtime, that's entirely Xander giving a long speech about how he never got until now what Buffy went through, and how they tended to want her to be what they wanted, etc. Which is all true, and Buffy tears up and it's not OOC; after Selfless Xander becomes more supportive, less judgmental of Buffy. but - long speeches like that without the actor delivering them are...long. And if that had really happened on the show, then the events of EP would only be that much more painful.

But god I just want to run and give Buffy a big hug anyway, so...not objective myself.

I think you'll really like the scene with the character I'm referring to and yes, Figg is well-written. I was thinking also of Cathy, Xander's new girlfriend (it doesn't spoil anything to mention her); she could be a Mary-Sue but just veers to this side of it. (ie she isn't entirely fearless and perfect, she gets a little freaked by things that would reasonably freak out a normal person.)

Good OC's are another one of my benchmarks for good fanfiction btw.

You see unexplained character dislike in fanfiction.

And of every single character. I think that Spuffy fiction on the whole is more respectful or fond of Angel (a lot of Spuffy writers are also Spangel shippers, and I'm starting to lean that way myself); whereas I've run into Bangel fans who HATE Spike. But a lot of Spuffy fans seem to hate Buffy, there are people who hate Spike and love the SG or the other way around, etc etc.

I don't think I've seen Lit Gal's work? But I could be wrong (my memory sucks, basically), but I have seen other writers tear into Willow. I get frustrated with how some of her actions seem minimized (as a human she should go to jail for killing a man as Faith did, and Buffy tried to do and Jonathan was ready to, right? Instead she goes to England - she's Joss' favorite character ergo, "special snowflake".)

But I can't go along with hatefests either - I do understand where all these characters are coming from FOR THE MOST PART. (Not the same as condoning.) I read Willow's resurrecting Buffy as genuine concern - she really believed Buffy's soul was in a Hell dimension, and as has been the case from S1 on, she has a "hey I can fix this!" mindset. She doesn't yet have a moral code that she's worked out for herself.

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There do, so far, seem to be random bits of Buffy being pissed at Giles. I wasn't sure if he'd show up again or not though. And the author has made a point of making Xander into supportive guy in this one. THere was a bit about it earlier. Oh, there's already been mention of Cathy and that she's Xander's new love interest. It makes sense that we'll be seeing more of her. Tenebrae (http://archiveofourown.org/series/2261) has a Mary Sue character but it's still pretty good. I think I feel about it the way you feel about Distress Signals; there are good and bad things about it but after reading this story it's difficult for me to see Giles with anyone other than Elisabeth.

I've never noticed the Spike-hate but I read very little Bangel so I could easily have missed it. I haven't read all that much Spuffy either although more than Bangel. Do read a lot of Spander though.

As for Lit Gal (http://lit_gal.livejournal.com/), I'll be reccing her Kin of the Heart (http://www.litgal.org/Kin/Bumbling.htm) during the BtVS Top Five. It eventually becomes Xander/Angel but in the sequel. I've recently reread two of her stories and they each were delightful until I got about half-way through and then I had a "okay, I'm done now" reaction. *shrugs* I'm not sure I'd say she goes all hatefest on Willow, but she emphasizes Willow's weaknesses in ways she does not do for the other characters. And yeah, Joss does have a big warm spot in his heart for Willow. Even I know that! ;-)

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I do like it. ;-)

My idea is that Eyghon has been sort of in the back of Giles' mind for the past twenty-ish years (however long it's been; that's a guesstimate on my part), corrupting him and turning him evil. *claps hands in wicked glee*

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