Payback
i'm glad things went well
The reactions from the scoobies are very realistic, especially the ones coming from Willow and Xander. I like that Faith reminded them that they were never really friends.
Buffy's response is interesting. I like that she didn't try to fight Faith and actually listened. Loved what happened with Joyce, too!
Great chapter! :)
Author's Response:When I watched the S4 episodes again, I felt that most of the fight came from Faith's side. With Faith in 'talk' mode, I am certain that Buffy would talk, too. I also feel that she would be the quickest to forgive. Maybe it's just me reading into what I saw in S3 and S4, but I think Buffy felt some genuine friendship for Faith, and I can never forget Buffy's look of complete shock just after she stabbed Faith. There was no other reason (imo) to put that look in other than to convey that the fight went somewhere that Buffy never intended it to go, knife in hand or not.
Also, I think canon Faith is a bit of a masochist. I'm not sure how much, if at all, I'll play with that - in this story, at least.
Joyce came easy. I have to look no further than my own mother for how a compassionate, concerned adult would behave. Mama Bear is Mama Bear. Mama Bear always wins.
Xander came pretty easy - just dial for angry victim. Willow is every bit as elitist as Cordelia is; the only difference is that Cordelia is an plutocrat (rule by wealthiest) while Willow is a technocrat (rule by most intelligent/specialized). Faith never did fit in Willow's world view until S7. Buffy, by contrast, fit Willow's ideal of a ruling specialist.
Just for the sake of saying it, Buffy and Faith are both autocrats (rule by one) that clash on morals and ethics.
~OW
Forgot to say on the ither chapter I like Faith doing spells because slayer are supposed to be magic too. Still feeling the same way about Faith I guess, she doesn't feel that right. She's really rough and kind of money obsessed which some people are after they were poor, but it seems weird for Faith. I'm not sure about her giving them money. I agree with Xander that's she's getting away with murder without eve time spent in a coma. Her redemption on the show is part of what makes her so good as a character and without it she feels idk stagnant. Buffy forgave and forgot really fast. Then again Faith hasn't stolen her body and I think that's the thing that she was most mad about later in the show. Joyce's reaction felt totally on though Ican see her doing that.
Author's Response:We agree on the magic. I can't ever be super-realistic with the money thing, because I have no idea what it's like to go from having nothing to never having to worry about money again. Some people adapt well; then there's a lot of horror stories about them going bankrupt right away because they have no sense of value for the money. In any case, Faith is a practical person, and sharing the Mayor's wealth with his (and her) victims seems appropriate. This will be covered more as the story progresses. You're right: Faith is getting away with murder. I'm writing from Faith's POV, which puts us in her frame of mind. She's not feeling very guilty over killing two random men she didn't know. There's a good reason why Xander and Willow are apprehensive about Faith - simply put, she's not that good a person. Buffy has indeed forgiven, but I acutally feel that, between the kiss she gave Faith in Graduation Day Pt. 2 and her early dialogue when Faith first wakes from her coma that, assuming Faith was willing to talk, Buffy would have been okay with her. Again, there's obviously more to come on that. I'm glad you like my Joyce - I tried hard to get her right. ~OW
I like this view of Faith. I like this story .It's nice that she doesn't go down that road of begging Angel to kill her or being in his debt etc. Looking forward to updates.
Author's Response:I started writing Faith based on two things: First, that Wilkins really cared for her; second, that she didn't suddenly lost her backbone or turn into a saint. So far, so good, I think. ~OW
I agree with faith that its best to go back to cleveland, that her territory and she has worked hard to make it her home, even Buffy shouldn't be able to get her away from it. an independent faith is an awesome faith. While she is in LA, she should come across Kate too, that would be a funny exchange.
Author's Response:We agree completely. I do have Kate pencilled in for later, around the time she discovers that Angels' a vampire. ~OW
I'm hooked, cant wait for more.
Author's Response:Thanks! I'm happily writing away! ~OW