![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Teacher's Pet question
Jun. 9th, 2015 06:20 pmFor those of you wise in the ways of Buffy, do we know Dr. Gregory's first name?
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: I Dream of Spring
Jun. 2nd, 2015 06:33 pmTitle: I Dream of Spring
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: song titles -> k.d. lang's "I Dream of Spring"
Summary: Tara's thoughts after she left Willow
Tara kept the dried flowers. They were delicate, fragile. So tiny and yet they had destroyed her world, but of course the flowers weren't to blame. Willow's grubby fingers had rummaged through Tara's mind, stealing away her soul. Willow had promised to give up magics, but hadn't. Willow who still didn't understand that what she'd done was wrong. Willow who cried and said she'd change. Was the Willow who'd hurt her the real Willow? Tara hoped not. As the dust of crushed flowers drifted from her hand, Tara cried. Her world was dark and cold, but Tara dreamed of spring.
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: song titles -> k.d. lang's "I Dream of Spring"
Summary: Tara's thoughts after she left Willow
Tara kept the dried flowers. They were delicate, fragile. So tiny and yet they had destroyed her world, but of course the flowers weren't to blame. Willow's grubby fingers had rummaged through Tara's mind, stealing away her soul. Willow had promised to give up magics, but hadn't. Willow who still didn't understand that what she'd done was wrong. Willow who cried and said she'd change. Was the Willow who'd hurt her the real Willow? Tara hoped not. As the dust of crushed flowers drifted from her hand, Tara cried. Her world was dark and cold, but Tara dreamed of spring.
Title: Pull Out His Eyes, Apologize
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 463 - Snake's Eye View
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count:1158
( Willow's grin told him he'd said something terribly amusing. She sat onto the ground as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Ah, yes, modern women. Didn't play by the old rules and didn't need his help. Most likely she'd have escaped already if she hadn't had him anchoring her down. As he joined her on the ground, he voiced his thoughts. “I suppose you wish Spike were here.” )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 463 - Snake's Eye View
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count:1158
( Willow's grin told him he'd said something terribly amusing. She sat onto the ground as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Ah, yes, modern women. Didn't play by the old rules and didn't need his help. Most likely she'd have escaped already if she hadn't had him anchoring her down. As he joined her on the ground, he voiced his thoughts. “I suppose you wish Spike were here.” )
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. )
Title: Are You Ready to Rumble?
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 461 - Leash
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1159
Note: Note: The opening quote is from a Barney Miller episode in which a mailman hasn't delivered the mail in over 7 years - yeah, it looks like Seinfeld at the start. They get past that:
( “The mail, it's all junk anyway. Living outta third class garbage, stupid greeting cards, boring letters … to people I don't even know.” )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 461 - Leash
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1159
Note: Note: The opening quote is from a Barney Miller episode in which a mailman hasn't delivered the mail in over 7 years - yeah, it looks like Seinfeld at the start. They get past that:
( “The mail, it's all junk anyway. Living outta third class garbage, stupid greeting cards, boring letters … to people I don't even know.” )
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 30 - Lair of the White Worm
May. 10th, 2015 08:45 pmTitle: Lair of the White Worm
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 460 - Jurassic
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1254
Note: Apologies for Will and Willow. Joss named 'em, not me.
( It felt as if they'd been skulking for hours. Will had wanted to make a run for it but Willow had insisted they take it slow and stealthy. She was a smart one alright. So far they'd snuck past out a good dozen set of guards without being seen. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 460 - Jurassic
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 1254
Note: Apologies for Will and Willow. Joss named 'em, not me.
( It felt as if they'd been skulking for hours. Will had wanted to make a run for it but Willow had insisted they take it slow and stealthy. She was a smart one alright. So far they'd snuck past out a good dozen set of guards without being seen. )
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. )
Fic: Shanshu 28 - Twister
Apr. 26th, 2015 06:09 pmTitle: Twister
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 458 - Twister
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 796
( The idea to practice fighting from the ground had come out of an injury. After one of the Slayers had been tossed five feet by a demon, she'd jumped back to her feet too quickly, leaving her open to attack by a second demon. She'd survived and healed but Andrew had decreed that they'd start training to fight from awkward positions. Tess had thought he was joking when he'd told her to incorporate the game Twister. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 458 - Twister
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 796
( The idea to practice fighting from the ground had come out of an injury. After one of the Slayers had been tossed five feet by a demon, she'd jumped back to her feet too quickly, leaving her open to attack by a second demon. She'd survived and healed but Andrew had decreed that they'd start training to fight from awkward positions. Tess had thought he was joking when he'd told her to incorporate the game Twister. )
just an intro but enough to make me want to read the comics again
Nom, nom, nom
Apr. 20th, 2015 12:38 pm
Shanshu was nominated in the SunnyD Awards in all of these categories: Best Author, Best Post-Series Fic, Best Unfinished Fic, Best Original Character! Wow, many thanks to whomever nominated my story!
Title: Let's Do the Time Warp Again
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 457 - fugacious
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 27 of Shanshu
Word Count: 1022
Note: When he says fugacious, Will is quoting a poem: ' [ Late August ] ' - Poem by Ency Bearis
( “Spike? What's wrong?” Granted, they'd been kidnapped by demons and dumped in a dungeon, but there was no reason, as far as Willow could see, for Spike to curl up in a corner. Oh, wait, Spike was human now and had amnesia. Maybe human Spike wasn't comfortable with weirdness, which was weird in and of itself given that whole devoted to Drusilla for a hundred years thing he'd had going on. Of course if he didn't remember Drusilla and he didn't remember demons, this would all seem kind of strange, but he'd lived with strange for so long you think it'd be ingrained into his psyche or something even if not his memories. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 457 - fugacious
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 27 of Shanshu
Word Count: 1022
Note: When he says fugacious, Will is quoting a poem: ' [ Late August ] ' - Poem by Ency Bearis
( “Spike? What's wrong?” Granted, they'd been kidnapped by demons and dumped in a dungeon, but there was no reason, as far as Willow could see, for Spike to curl up in a corner. Oh, wait, Spike was human now and had amnesia. Maybe human Spike wasn't comfortable with weirdness, which was weird in and of itself given that whole devoted to Drusilla for a hundred years thing he'd had going on. Of course if he didn't remember Drusilla and he didn't remember demons, this would all seem kind of strange, but he'd lived with strange for so long you think it'd be ingrained into his psyche or something even if not his memories. )
Fic: Oh, but You're a Pretty Thing
Apr. 15th, 2015 07:51 pmI've been playing around with rewriting some of my shorter stories. The variants of this story can be found on AO3.
He'd follow Darla anywhere – oh, but you're a pretty thing – even into a dark alley, even when he knew he shouldn't shut his eyes, even when he knew he should run like Hell.
He didn't think twice when she'd offered him the dark-haired gypsy girl, even when the lass' curses had rained down like a flood from Heaven itself. Curse me? Ah, but you’re a stupid thing. Can’t you see I’m already cursed?
He'd follow Darla anywhere, even into the worst mistake he could make. What kills you makes you stronger, not smarter.
He'd follow Darla anywhere – oh, but you're a pretty thing – even into a dark alley, even when he knew he shouldn't shut his eyes, even when he knew he should run like Hell.
He didn't think twice when she'd offered him the dark-haired gypsy girl, even when the lass' curses had rained down like a flood from Heaven itself. Curse me? Ah, but you’re a stupid thing. Can’t you see I’m already cursed?
He'd follow Darla anywhere, even into the worst mistake he could make. What kills you makes you stronger, not smarter.
Fic: Shanshu 26 - Misunderstandings
Apr. 14th, 2015 04:48 pmTitle: Misunderstandings
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 456 - consanguineal
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 26 of Shanshu
Word Count: 990
( After Xander had hung-up on her, Dawn stared at her cell. Andrew's kidnapping she could understand. It sort of seemed like every other week some, well, thing took Andrew. But Willow? Miss mega-powered witch? And how did someone take Spike? He wasn't even supposed to be alive or he wasn't supposed to be undead or whatever, but still. He pops back into existence and, pow, he's kidnapped? That was worse than Andrew even. Was she the only one who could take-out a kidnapper? )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 456 - consanguineal
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 26 of Shanshu
Word Count: 990
( After Xander had hung-up on her, Dawn stared at her cell. Andrew's kidnapping she could understand. It sort of seemed like every other week some, well, thing took Andrew. But Willow? Miss mega-powered witch? And how did someone take Spike? He wasn't even supposed to be alive or he wasn't supposed to be undead or whatever, but still. He pops back into existence and, pow, he's kidnapped? That was worse than Andrew even. Was she the only one who could take-out a kidnapper? )
Fic: The Road to Hell is Paved with Muzak
Apr. 8th, 2015 09:47 pmNote: Written for a prompt at Open on Sunday: the road to Hell
“So, an escalator huh?”
Willow had stopped responding. She wouldn't even look at him and, wait, was her hair getting darker? He really didn't want to have to flee to Mexico again especially since there was no Jonathan to flee with this time.
“I'd always thought the road to Hell would be more of a water slide than a road. You know, once you get on then you're sliding down and you can't stop even if you want to, not until you hit bottom except that in this case the bottom would be Hell instead of water but water slides are sort of fun so I'm not sure that works. Maybe it's more like an elevator. You don't think anything about it when you get on because you're busy ignoring the other passengers and listening to the Muzak – sort of like Zach on B5, except he didn't listen to Muzak, when he accepted the Night Watch armband, not realizing they're all evil and stuff – and then you realize that you're on an elevator straight to Hell – again like Zach because he started seeing that Night Watch was bad but he couldn't get out, not until the Captain and Garibaldi asked him to turn on the Night Watch, but that doesn't work either because in an elevator you can always push a button and stop at the next floor. So maybe it's more like a cartoon, like when Wile E Coyote runs off the cliff but he doesn't fall because he doesn't know there's air under his feet but then he does see there's no ground and that's when he falls.”
Willow didn't look any happier. As Andrew held on tightly, the handrail rumbled in his grip. He glanced behind and up and then back down again. The escalator vanished off into the distance both above and below them. “So, an escalator huh?”
Fic: Shanshu 25 - Testosterone
Apr. 5th, 2015 08:45 pmTitle: Testosterone
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 455 - Smirk
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 25 of Shanshu
Word Count: 932
Note: Cell phone tune is “The Gates of Dawn” by Heartless Bastards.
( Xander didn't have enough of a warning to stop Willow. Ever since Kennedy had dumped her, or no, it went further back than that. Ever since Willow had realized Kennedy couldn't replace Tara, she'd smirk this 'I am powerful and you cannot harm me' grin just before doing something terribly reckless. He'd had just enough time to shout “Willow. No!” before she'd taken a big gulp of the tea that other girl, that Ash, had brought her. That left him with Morgan who was glancing around the cafe as if he thought the girls would pop out from behind one of the ubiquitous sunflowers. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 455 - Smirk
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 25 of Shanshu
Word Count: 932
Note: Cell phone tune is “The Gates of Dawn” by Heartless Bastards.
( Xander didn't have enough of a warning to stop Willow. Ever since Kennedy had dumped her, or no, it went further back than that. Ever since Willow had realized Kennedy couldn't replace Tara, she'd smirk this 'I am powerful and you cannot harm me' grin just before doing something terribly reckless. He'd had just enough time to shout “Willow. No!” before she'd taken a big gulp of the tea that other girl, that Ash, had brought her. That left him with Morgan who was glancing around the cafe as if he thought the girls would pop out from behind one of the ubiquitous sunflowers. )
Of Pepperoni and Cocoa Nibs
Apr. 3rd, 2015 02:01 pmTitle: Of Pepperoni and Cocoa Nibs
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 454 - Outcast
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 24 of Shanshu
Word Count: 1325
Note: Cell phone tune: Dragon Age: Inquisition "The Dawn Will Come"
( The Slayers must have ordered pizza. It made sense. Andrew might not be a teen anymore but even now he'd live on pizza if he could. Well, okay, maybe not all the time because Chinese or Thai made for a nice change of pace, but pizza was really good, and quick, and convenient to split up with the grabbing at the slices and not having to figure out who ordered which little box of food. But what he couldn’t get was why they'd piled the empty boxes into a maze. The boxes towered above him and he had to squeeze himself through. Something was after him, something fast, something big like a bear although he couldn't see how a bear could squeeze through such tiny passageways. Every turn showed more pizza boxes piled as high as the eye could see, leaving only one path to follow. Behind him Andrew could hear boxes tumbling. Was that how the bear was moving so fast, by shoving boxes out of its way? Why hadn't he thought of that but it was too late. He'd run into a dead end and the beast was just around the corner. )
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 454 - Outcast
Rating: PG
Summary: Part 24 of Shanshu
Word Count: 1325
Note: Cell phone tune: Dragon Age: Inquisition "The Dawn Will Come"
( The Slayers must have ordered pizza. It made sense. Andrew might not be a teen anymore but even now he'd live on pizza if he could. Well, okay, maybe not all the time because Chinese or Thai made for a nice change of pace, but pizza was really good, and quick, and convenient to split up with the grabbing at the slices and not having to figure out who ordered which little box of food. But what he couldn’t get was why they'd piled the empty boxes into a maze. The boxes towered above him and he had to squeeze himself through. Something was after him, something fast, something big like a bear although he couldn't see how a bear could squeeze through such tiny passageways. Every turn showed more pizza boxes piled as high as the eye could see, leaving only one path to follow. Behind him Andrew could hear boxes tumbling. Was that how the bear was moving so fast, by shoving boxes out of its way? Why hadn't he thought of that but it was too late. He'd run into a dead end and the beast was just around the corner. )
