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Bethlehem Seek This Holy Night
Dec. 20th, 2015 09:20 pmI wrote a short for the Giles Advent Drabble Challenge. You can read it on LJ at Giles Shorts, on AO3, or fanfic.net.
Preview:
He spent the early hours of the evening waiting (hoping) to hear the doorbell, but perhaps carolers didn’t sing at apartments and so Giles - after loading his pockets with a stake, a cross, and Holy Water - went out into the night. Even after four months, he wasn’t used to the weather, which was warmer than London’s by a good ten degrees. The brisk pace he set quickly took Giles into a neighborhood of single family homes.
Instead of the camaraderie of carolers at a door, The Carol of the Birds, sounding as if it had been recorded on synthesized instruments, blared out from someone’s front yard. The house’s Christmas lights blinked on and off in time to the music. Plastic reindeer pulling a sleigh looked about ready to fall from a neighbor’s roof. Looking further down the street, Giles wondered why even an American would display a large plastic chipmunk when the creature’s nose blink red. At least it wasn’t a chipmunk but it was, in fact, the final straw. Giles turned his feet back toward the flat.
The wreath on his front door seemed out of place. The collection of golden jingle bells that had glittered cheerily in the store seemed somehow detached from the traditions of the holiday when hanging on his door. The boughs of evergreen, draped throughout the apartment and topped with red bows, were more traditional and brought forth a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of Christmases from his youth.
Preview:
He spent the early hours of the evening waiting (hoping) to hear the doorbell, but perhaps carolers didn’t sing at apartments and so Giles - after loading his pockets with a stake, a cross, and Holy Water - went out into the night. Even after four months, he wasn’t used to the weather, which was warmer than London’s by a good ten degrees. The brisk pace he set quickly took Giles into a neighborhood of single family homes.
Instead of the camaraderie of carolers at a door, The Carol of the Birds, sounding as if it had been recorded on synthesized instruments, blared out from someone’s front yard. The house’s Christmas lights blinked on and off in time to the music. Plastic reindeer pulling a sleigh looked about ready to fall from a neighbor’s roof. Looking further down the street, Giles wondered why even an American would display a large plastic chipmunk when the creature’s nose blink red. At least it wasn’t a chipmunk but it was, in fact, the final straw. Giles turned his feet back toward the flat.
The wreath on his front door seemed out of place. The collection of golden jingle bells that had glittered cheerily in the store seemed somehow detached from the traditions of the holiday when hanging on his door. The boughs of evergreen, draped throughout the apartment and topped with red bows, were more traditional and brought forth a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of Christmases from his youth.
some thoughts on the BtVS "Halloween"
Nov. 6th, 2015 10:51 amI was thinking about the BtVS Halloween episode where they become their costumes. It reads, particularly for Willow, as a rite of initiation. Before becoming her costume, Willow is hiding behind that ghost costume. Not that it’s a particularly childish ghost costume. It looks much more like a costume a kid, rather than an adult would wear. After, she’s comfortable in the hyper-sexualized costume that Buffy had put her in. WIllow has accepted her sexuality / adulthood.
Buffy defines herself by identifying something she’s not, which is a perfectly valid part of defining whom you are. She’s not the damsel in distress.
Xander doesn’t seem to have been transformed by the experience. He does gain soldier knowledge, but even after having been a soldier, he’s still seen as the Zeppo.
Buffy defines herself by identifying something she’s not, which is a perfectly valid part of defining whom you are. She’s not the damsel in distress.
Xander doesn’t seem to have been transformed by the experience. He does gain soldier knowledge, but even after having been a soldier, he’s still seen as the Zeppo.
Fic: Shanshu 46 - Could It Be Magic
Aug. 30th, 2015 07:34 pmTitle: Could It Be Magic
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 476 - Siddha
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1271
Note: Since Angel's getting what he wants, I took the title from Barry Manilow. How do you think Buffy will react when Angel wants to see Manilow's show on their Vegas honeymoon?
( Spike could remember loving Buffy, but he couldn't quite work out why he'd loved her. Looking back, it seemed like an addiction, loving the worst thing for him. Dru had been like that too, not good for him. First off in the killing and turning and then by invoking his jealousy with her Daddy issues. Millay hadn't been bad for him. He'd loved her. They'd had passion with no dysfunction. Maybe that was a human trick, loving well. Maybe he'd forget how to love wisely, if he survived the spell. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 476 - Siddha
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1271
Note: Since Angel's getting what he wants, I took the title from Barry Manilow. How do you think Buffy will react when Angel wants to see Manilow's show on their Vegas honeymoon?
( Spike could remember loving Buffy, but he couldn't quite work out why he'd loved her. Looking back, it seemed like an addiction, loving the worst thing for him. Dru had been like that too, not good for him. First off in the killing and turning and then by invoking his jealousy with her Daddy issues. Millay hadn't been bad for him. He'd loved her. They'd had passion with no dysfunction. Maybe that was a human trick, loving well. Maybe he'd forget how to love wisely, if he survived the spell. )
Fic: Shanshu 45 - When You Have Neither
Aug. 23rd, 2015 05:25 pmTitle: When You Have Neither
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 475 - Titanic
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 2470
Note on scene title: When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler. - Al Gore
( Millay didn't argue when Xander and Dawn had commandeered one of the vans so they could return to LA immediately. Anything that got her to Will sooner was okay in her book. The Slayers were staying to close the Hell-thingy, assuming there even was a Hell-thingy, but Millay had seen the creatures that had climbed out of the crater. Those monsters would put even Nosferatu to shame. She'd also seen them turn to dust when killed. If Hell-thingys did exist, then the more people making sure they were properly closed the better, but Xander said the Slayers had it covered and that was good enough. Millay might not believe in Hell-thingys and vampires, but she did believe in Will, who might or might not be in LA. If he was, she wanted to be there with him. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 475 - Titanic
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 2470
Note on scene title: When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler. - Al Gore
( Millay didn't argue when Xander and Dawn had commandeered one of the vans so they could return to LA immediately. Anything that got her to Will sooner was okay in her book. The Slayers were staying to close the Hell-thingy, assuming there even was a Hell-thingy, but Millay had seen the creatures that had climbed out of the crater. Those monsters would put even Nosferatu to shame. She'd also seen them turn to dust when killed. If Hell-thingys did exist, then the more people making sure they were properly closed the better, but Xander said the Slayers had it covered and that was good enough. Millay might not believe in Hell-thingys and vampires, but she did believe in Will, who might or might not be in LA. If he was, she wanted to be there with him. )
Fic: Shanshu 43 - Fight. Fight. Fight.
Aug. 9th, 2015 09:01 pmTitle: Fight, Fight, Fight
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 473 - Feculent
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1118
( If there was anything Willow hated, it was being frozen in place as the big scary came at her with a weapon, and, okay, the woman, Ash, wasn't all that scary and she certainly wasn't very big, but she did have a sharp-looking dagger aimed straight at Willow's chest. “Have you really thought this whole stabbing idea through, because as a lifestyle choice, major carnage isn't as satisfying as you might think.” )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 473 - Feculent
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1118
( If there was anything Willow hated, it was being frozen in place as the big scary came at her with a weapon, and, okay, the woman, Ash, wasn't all that scary and she certainly wasn't very big, but she did have a sharp-looking dagger aimed straight at Willow's chest. “Have you really thought this whole stabbing idea through, because as a lifestyle choice, major carnage isn't as satisfying as you might think.” )
Fic: Shanshu 42 - Finding Spike
Aug. 2nd, 2015 04:42 pmTitle: Finding Spike
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 472 - Picaroon
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1161
( The desert was hot in a hotly hot way but at least the vamps were dusted. Buffy looked over the edge of the crater. Plus the Hellmouth didn't seem to be spewing out any other monsters at the moment. “Okay, Dawn. Turok Han are dusted. You're up.” )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 472 - Picaroon
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1161
( The desert was hot in a hotly hot way but at least the vamps were dusted. Buffy looked over the edge of the crater. Plus the Hellmouth didn't seem to be spewing out any other monsters at the moment. “Okay, Dawn. Turok Han are dusted. You're up.” )
Fic: Shanshu 37 - Turok-Han
Jun. 27th, 2015 11:07 pmTitle: Turok-Han
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 467 - Snowflake(s)
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1255
Note: After I posted the last chapter, I was asked how the Turok-Han could be out in daylight. Ooops. Going back and fixing.
Note: Quark. I loved this for the short time it was on.
Note: Sue Ellen's yell
Note: The Dukes of Hazzard
( First an ancient punk rocker appeared out of nowhere and placed one of those 'this is a sign of evil' flowers on the altar, and then Dawn cut herself and let the blood drip into the mouth of that selfsame flower. This could only lead to badness. Combining blood and any kind of mouth was a bad idea at the mouth of Hell. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 467 - Snowflake(s)
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1255
Note: After I posted the last chapter, I was asked how the Turok-Han could be out in daylight. Ooops. Going back and fixing.
Note: Quark. I loved this for the short time it was on.
Note: Sue Ellen's yell
Note: The Dukes of Hazzard
( First an ancient punk rocker appeared out of nowhere and placed one of those 'this is a sign of evil' flowers on the altar, and then Dawn cut herself and let the blood drip into the mouth of that selfsame flower. This could only lead to badness. Combining blood and any kind of mouth was a bad idea at the mouth of Hell. )
Fic: Shanshu 36 - The Sunnydale Crater
Jun. 21st, 2015 09:44 pmTitle: The Sunnydale Crater
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 466 - Anthomancy
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1654
Note: After two hours on the phone with Dad for Father's Day, I didn't read through this again. I hope it's okay.
( Big Rico had refused to join them at the Sunnydale crater. “I have a business to run.” Mona, who'd never been afraid of anything as far as Millay could tell, had begged off as well citing some kind of an attack. William was still missing and yet they couldn't be bothered. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 466 - Anthomancy
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1654
Note: After two hours on the phone with Dad for Father's Day, I didn't read through this again. I hope it's okay.
( Big Rico had refused to join them at the Sunnydale crater. “I have a business to run.” Mona, who'd never been afraid of anything as far as Millay could tell, had begged off as well citing some kind of an attack. William was still missing and yet they couldn't be bothered. )
Fic: Shanshu 34: Extra-curricular
Jun. 8th, 2015 07:11 pmTitle: Extra-Curricular
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 464 - Coltish
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count:1057
( For all that Andrew's office was lined with walls of books, it didn't even come close to all the Watchery tomes held by the LA branch, which Andrew called the League of Extraordinary Watchers. At first Buffy had tried to squelch the name because it was far too long to say each time. Andrew and Xander had gotten it down to the League as a nickname although Buffy was still holding out for LA branch even though pretty much everyone else was fine with calling it the League. But back to the books. They took up an entire building. Buffy couldn't quite work out how anyone found the ancient tome or scroll or whatnot they were looking up. Granted modern books were hooked into the Dewey Decimal System but none of the tomes piled high on table or cart had call numbers. Not that she had to worry about finding the books. Andrew had a team of Slayers working on the research although it was sort of a mystery how a girl with seven piercings – and that was only her face – could stare at a book so long without going bonkers. Still it made a nice change from Giles expecting her to stare at dry and dusties, tomes that is, without pulling her own hair out except Andrew's approach sort of left her with nothing to do while everyone else was getting all extra-curricular. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 464 - Coltish
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count:1057
( For all that Andrew's office was lined with walls of books, it didn't even come close to all the Watchery tomes held by the LA branch, which Andrew called the League of Extraordinary Watchers. At first Buffy had tried to squelch the name because it was far too long to say each time. Andrew and Xander had gotten it down to the League as a nickname although Buffy was still holding out for LA branch even though pretty much everyone else was fine with calling it the League. But back to the books. They took up an entire building. Buffy couldn't quite work out how anyone found the ancient tome or scroll or whatnot they were looking up. Granted modern books were hooked into the Dewey Decimal System but none of the tomes piled high on table or cart had call numbers. Not that she had to worry about finding the books. Andrew had a team of Slayers working on the research although it was sort of a mystery how a girl with seven piercings – and that was only her face – could stare at a book so long without going bonkers. Still it made a nice change from Giles expecting her to stare at dry and dusties, tomes that is, without pulling her own hair out except Andrew's approach sort of left her with nothing to do while everyone else was getting all extra-curricular. )
Fic: Shanshu 32 - Big Rico's Pizzeria
May. 24th, 2015 09:44 pmTitle: Big Rico's Pizzeria
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 462 - Magnum Opus
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: AO3 says it's 1377; fanfic.net lists it ast 1381; Open Office (which I know is wrong) as 1432
Note: The end is in sight. I've been plotting out my future scenes. Two to three more months unless I start adding scenes.
( “Let me get this straight.” Buffy had taken the centermost of the three leather chairs in Andrew's office. After listening to Angel whine all the way from Rome, she wasn't about to be stuck on the couch with him except that wasn't a problem. Even after the shades had been drawn down, Angel wouldn't enter the office. Fine, if he wanted to brood by the door, he could just do that. “Not only is Spike missing, but Willow has been grabbed by somebody, Xander just got out of jail, and Andrew has vanished.” )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 462 - Magnum Opus
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: AO3 says it's 1377; fanfic.net lists it ast 1381; Open Office (which I know is wrong) as 1432
Note: The end is in sight. I've been plotting out my future scenes. Two to three more months unless I start adding scenes.
( “Let me get this straight.” Buffy had taken the centermost of the three leather chairs in Andrew's office. After listening to Angel whine all the way from Rome, she wasn't about to be stuck on the couch with him except that wasn't a problem. Even after the shades had been drawn down, Angel wouldn't enter the office. Fine, if he wanted to brood by the door, he could just do that. “Not only is Spike missing, but Willow has been grabbed by somebody, Xander just got out of jail, and Andrew has vanished.” )
Obsession, part 1/?
May. 19th, 2015 10:36 amThis is a birthday present, if I remember correctly for Niki1988. The request was season 3, Angel proposes to Willow.
Rating: Worksafe (probably overal but at least for now)
( “Gee, patrolling Jurassic Park. What fun.” The branch, hanging across her path, was heavy with lush dark leaves. As she pushed it up and out of her way, Buffy wished she hadn't been drawn back to Angel's mansion. It wasn't like a bunch of demons would be skulking in its gardens. Okay, Spike, Drusilla, and Angel. Angelus that is. Angelus had set up home in the mansion but … But nothing. There was nothing here for her anymore and the sooner she figured that out, the better it'd be. She didn't need to be here. She should stick to cemeteries. )
Rating: Worksafe (probably overal but at least for now)
( “Gee, patrolling Jurassic Park. What fun.” The branch, hanging across her path, was heavy with lush dark leaves. As she pushed it up and out of her way, Buffy wished she hadn't been drawn back to Angel's mansion. It wasn't like a bunch of demons would be skulking in its gardens. Okay, Spike, Drusilla, and Angel. Angelus that is. Angelus had set up home in the mansion but … But nothing. There was nothing here for her anymore and the sooner she figured that out, the better it'd be. She didn't need to be here. She should stick to cemeteries. )
In a Corner of My Soul
May. 11th, 2015 10:42 pmI've posted Chapter 3: The Witch of In a Corner of My Soul. Or you can read it scene by scene - being posted over the next 18 days - at fanfiction.net.
Fic: Shanshu 29 - Kokopelli
May. 6th, 2015 07:39 pmTitle: Kokopelli
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 459 - Kokopelli
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 984
( She didn't go find Wes but she did move off by about fifty feet, far enough away that she couldn't hear Angel grumble, but she stupidly looked back long enough to see that he'd gone into a major brood-fest which was, of course, why she hadn't shut him up sooner. As she raised her eyes to the giant screen hanging one level up and showing an ad for The Sound of Music, Buffy thought about how Spike would have handled the sitch. Spike wouldn't have cared. Instead of bitching all the way from Rome to LAX, he'd have been busy making lewd suggestions about joining the mile high club or playing the innocent with the stewardesses while his hand stroked up Buffy's thigh. She could almost feel Spike's eyes on her. The way he used to look at her, it went beyond adoration. It was like he was gazing at the Holy Grail or something, which was sort of creepy given the whole religiousness of that image. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 459 - Kokopelli
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 984
( She didn't go find Wes but she did move off by about fifty feet, far enough away that she couldn't hear Angel grumble, but she stupidly looked back long enough to see that he'd gone into a major brood-fest which was, of course, why she hadn't shut him up sooner. As she raised her eyes to the giant screen hanging one level up and showing an ad for The Sound of Music, Buffy thought about how Spike would have handled the sitch. Spike wouldn't have cared. Instead of bitching all the way from Rome to LAX, he'd have been busy making lewd suggestions about joining the mile high club or playing the innocent with the stewardesses while his hand stroked up Buffy's thigh. She could almost feel Spike's eyes on her. The way he used to look at her, it went beyond adoration. It was like he was gazing at the Holy Grail or something, which was sort of creepy given the whole religiousness of that image. )
Note: Written for the last-line-first-line prompt at Giles Shorts.
Note: And I got this one down to 100 words althoug I had to mess with the first line a bit.
Note: And I got this one down to 100 words althoug I had to mess with the first line a bit.
“What? I'm supposed to say I didn't come home because my Watcher had a dream?”
“I don't see how requiring your assistance with research constitutes a dream.”
“As in dream-on?” Buffy dumped the book on the table.
“I know! You can say you're staying overnight at my house.”
“Willow!”
“Hardly any of your books are in English, right?” Xander asked. “I'm pretty sure Buffy doesn't read ancient geek.”
“I will be reviewing the non-English materials myself.” Before Buffy could get too excited, he tapped the book on the table. “You may start with this.”
“Spontaneous Human Combustion. Gee, what fun.”
