This was a really fantastic read - I've been out of the fandom for a while now, but I'm slowly finding my way back and I had a lot of fun reading this. Not many stories even reference "Ted," much less use it as a plot point, and the way that Faith confesses to Finch's death feels a lot like the way it should have been. And I'd pay to see season three end with them fighting together! All in all, loved it and thanks for sharing a great story! :)
Author's Response:Hey, a review of this old thing. :)
Thank you very much- 'Ted' is a bit of odd episode in that nobody seems to reference robots again until well into S5, never mind the fact that for a whole day everybody thought that Buffy had killed somebody- a human- and were...kind of okay with it.
I mean, they were shocked but understanding, especially Giles, and then Faith does the same thing (only for real) and Buffy never even thinks to...urgh, its frustrating sometimes. :(
I like Faith's arc but I'll always maintain it was preventalbe right up until 'Enemies', or possibly even 'Choices'...and I too like the idea of Faith and Buffy fighting side by side against snake-Mayor and Mr. Trick.
I'm half-heartly considering a follow up, something nice and light when my main fic gets too angst-y. Possibly a Faith POV trying to woo a college-going Buffy set during early S4. :)
Again, thanks very much for your kind words, it gives me a happy. :)
Here I come to save the daaaaaay, errr, review your fic. :D I have issues with punctuality. Apologies for my slackerness. I read this twice. The first time I was disappointed about the lack of overt fuffy because I love me some smoochies. This time, I picked up more on the subtleties in the ending. It felt more fuffy to me. Which is always good. :)
I echo the other comments on the inclusion of the Ted story and on Buffy's willingness to obscure the truth a bit. I think killing Finch was very much a 'we' thing, but the way Buffy talked about it with Faith didn't always make it clear that she agreed. I liked very much her actions here. I liked her asking Faith to stay too. I would have liked to see that happen in canon.
Liked the recap of season 3 and findings out how things changed with Faith there. Loved the playing cards innuendo. Very good fic overall. :)
Author's Response:And I myself have issues with punctuation, which is why I have a very patient beta. We all have our crosses to bear. :P
I suppose I'm learning, that in regards to my writing, that I'm a fan of the slow-burn approach at the moment. (Although I too love Fuffy smoochies!)
I'm not sure if this trend will continue in the future but it was certainly evident here.
I did want to get across the closer relationship between Buffy and Faith during this alternate S3, and that their friendship would eventually develop into intimacy, so I'm glad that came across. :)
If you watch 'Ted' and then immediately go and watch 'Bad Girls/Consequences' it can an incredibly frustrating experience- because its pretty much the exact same thing that happens to Buffy (only what Buffy did I would actually consider less of an accident- she lost her temper and killed who she thought to be an 'ordinary man') you want to shake Buffy and go 'You know what happens in this situation, you know how Giles will react!' :(
Also agreed on the 'we' thing in the alley, although in Buffy's defence she does acknowledge this to Giles when she confesses all, just not to Faith when it mattered.
*Sigh* Anyway, out of all that, this fic was born. Buffy actually considering her own history, her own mistakes, and how to use it to reach Faith.
The other bit was from the realisation that its pretty much an exact year from when Faith gets all chosen (at the end of Beckoming Pt 1) to when she gets stabbed by Buffy (GD 1)- that's one hell of a year, and if circumstances had been different, a worthwhile anniveresy for celebration. With ribs. :)
Anyway, many thanks for the kind review.
I am still blown away by second place, considering the quality of all the stories I read. :)
Great reimagining of season three. It worked really well to have Buffy prepared to take the hit for Faith, but then gave Faith take responsibility for her actions. I really liked their relationship.
Author's Response:Thanks.
This was just one of those things that i just had to write, it wouldn't leave me alone otherwise! :)
Including Faith in 'Earshot' and 'The Prom' would've been really fun to see imo.
Always appreciate a review! :D
This was a nice read, Declan. I don't think I've ever read a story where Buffy offered to take the fall for Faith when it comes to Finch, and it was even cooler when Faith manned up to it in the end. Sometimes all it takes is a gesture like that to build a little trust. And hey, three months later and it looks like that trust could be growing into something even more than friendship. I'll take it!! lol
Good job! :)
Author's Response:Aw, thank you! :D
Had the idea kicking around my head for a while, and I liked the idea of Buffy of making that big gesture, because ultimately she trusts Giles. And then having that trust rewarded by Faith doing the right thing just makes sense to me.
And I do imagine that the two of them became a lot closer after, Faith would have had with fewer defenses and Buffy would've been a bit more open and sympathetic to a less 'rampage-y' type Faith. :)
Also wanted to give a little hint at something possibly in the future, a bit of flirty-ness from Buffy for a change.
Who knows, I might do a S4 follow up and run with the idea!.
Thanks for the response, it means a lot!
I may have winced when Buffy started talking about Ted. I was expecting Faith to react... err, badly, when Buffy got to the twist, and I wasn't too far off, but luckily Buffy turned it around. I think going to Giles behind Faith's back was the worst decision she made (Or at least the one that most drove them apart). I can understand where she was coming from though, but that only makes the whole thing more sad. So it was a realistic choice for a turning point.
I'm glad that Faith came clean in the end though (And that Wesley wasn't skulking about). Letting Buffy take the fall wouldn't have been a healthy foundation for much of anything.
Oh, and I laughed at the appliance killer comment, especially with Buffy's immediate follow-up; it sounded like she was going to complain to Giles that Faith was being mean to her. "Giiiiles. Make her stop!" :p
Author's Response:I'n not a big fan of 'Ted' as episodes go, its a bit of a cop-out from what could've been a original idea. (Joyce gets involved with a different kind of monster- a human one) and turn into a really silly MotW.- Although I always enjoy John Ritter's performances. :)
But it happened, both Joyce and Dawn refer to Ted much later on, so I always thought it was strange that Buffy never would, especially in eeriely similar circumstances.
I glad you found the whole thing realistic, as turning points go I think Faith is still savable, but it needed a big risky gexture by Buffy to do it. (Plus Wesley being kept in the dark this time)
And darn it, now I can't read that 'I'm telling Giles' line without seeing a pouty Buffy-sulk! Damn you.:p
'Giles, Faith was mean to me, and she also totally killed a guy and doesn't even care, and she laughed at my robot story!' :)
Thanks for reading and responding, always welcome.
Very much enjoyed this story. Simple but engaging.
Author's Response:Thank you! Just a little idea thants lingered in my head ever since I watched Ted a while ago, where Buffy pretty much does what Faith does and kills a man. Only he's not really dead so she just forgets about it?
Buffy should've known exactly what Faith was going through, and also how Giles would've reacted if they'd confessed (in other words, be supportive and sympathetic, like he was in 'Ted')
*sigh* Anyway, just a bit of fun really. I'm half considering doing a fluffy romantic follow-up to this set at the start of season 4. College hi-jinks and Fuffy romance, but it depends on how this is recieved I suppose. :)
Thanks again for the kind words.
I always felt that Buffy was so close, SO CLOSE to getting through to Faith in the series.
I always felt that one more attempt would have gotten through to her.
I always enjoy the stories where she gets through.
And ooo, buffy gets saucy at the end, that was a surprise. :)
Nice work :P
R
Author's Response:Thanks for the feedback.
Just a little idea tha's been kicking around my head for a while. I always got frustrated with Buffy after 'Consequences'- when she pretty much stopped trying with Faith. I mean, we knew that she was now working for the Mayor, but did Buffy?
Maybe if Buffy handn't been so cold towards her Faith would've been more conflicted about turning traitor. In the end, she probably thought that she wasn't giving up anything significant. :(
Anyway, thanks as always!