Chutes & Ladders
Gosh, I really do hope you might write another fic soon!
I'm on a marathon with all your stories, I'm crazy about the twist and turns of your stories!
I'm really enjoying the story, and how various people (especially Faith and Wes) seem to be in better places than in canon. Still plenty of drama, of course, but less of a sense of wasted potential. Still, I find it hard to believe that Buffy would take off the necklace, and that Faith would let her. I mean, it's not like you can't have sex with a necklace on! And they've both been obsessing over this issue for hours, and the necklace is a critical part of their ability to have even a semblance of peace of mind.
Author's Response:I'm like equals parts thrilled and embarrassed when someone finds this story and reads it after all these years (originally wrote it 2009-2010).
For a minute I thought that faith was going to share her experience of sex in a public space! XD And what a great outcome that Faith got her GED! (she does need it to be honest...).
Overall, the story is pretty good... or I shall say very good considering it was your first fic ever :) I never got bored and, as you have noticed, I went through the chapters at a significant pace ;) Well done and thank you for the entertainment :D
Btw challenge completed, I managed to read it before the end of the week hehe (but I've been busted reading it at 6 am this morning instead of sleeping... :/).
The fic is very interesting, it explores different relationships, in particular F/Wesley and F/Cordelia and we see positive changes through time that mitigate some of the insecurities that Faith have from the start. The fact that the whole scooby gang is kind and supports Buffy's choices helped too!
I loved the snappy exchanges between Cordelia and Faith, Cordelia could almost qualify as Faith's BFF I think!
I had a great time, hope you enjoyed my comments, thanks and see you on the next story :D
Author's Response:I loved your comments, thank you! And sorry for my response delay, I got sucked into holiday stuff. I'd love to do another fic with more Cordelia and Wesley. It's not easy because these days I'm writing a lot of post-Chosen stuff, so obviously Cordelia's out of the picture. Wesley is a possibility but for whatever reason I don't usually borrow the characters out of the later Seasons of AtS. I'll have to brainstorm!
"I think we'll leave the chore distribution as is" - XDXDXD Joyce is a good mom!!!
Author's Response:I love getting to use her, and I love her little sarcastic moments!
So basically Buffy broke the only rule enacted by Joyce: not under her roof ^^ (unless I missed something?) Ok she's got a point, who could resist temptation of mild domination game with Faith??!! XD
Author's Response:In Buffy's defense, they're teenagers. Lol.
Angsty but nice outcome... or at least I like to think it is ^^
Author's Response:It is! "Angsty but with a nice outcome" is like my entire style! Lol.
Well that's the thing you see, if you tease people with something new in your story such as the Mayor (and if you keep writing hot scenes ^^), you're kind of bound to continue (and finish) it! Thank you to all the previous readers who harassed you to get to the end of it :D
Although I do have a bad feeling with this one, I just hope that Faith won't end up stabbed in the gut. The paranoiac demon could trigger a dangerous path :/
Author's Response:I am def grateful for the harassment although it was weird getting back into this one! :)
I hope Faith learnt the lesson: never leave with your loved one after a fight or you might regret it :/ Ha but this may be presumptuous, we don't really know yet if she loves Buffy (*thinking*).
Yes I couldn't stop at the previous chapter, somehow this glowing thing was intriguing :p
Author's Response:I'd say that's safe to presume... haha.
A gym and an appartment just for herself, a watcher who now seems to really care about her, and a hot girlfriend who is very good in bed - I think I'll stop reading the story here, this is exactly where I wanted Faith to end up.
Author's Response:Me too! I want her to have everything!
The more I think about it, the more I realise that I am actually really thrilled by the F/C growing friendly relationship, maybe (*grin*) more than the F/B loving relationship! OMG what did you do to me Aliceinwonderbra??!!
I guess I'm happy that Faith has found someone who is (or at least behaves like) a true friend and who is reciprocating the banter.
Ok, I also admit that I do like where this is going between Buffy and Faith. To quote my fav singer, if it's not rough it isn't fun (when it's love, that is :p). Wait a minute, is this what you meant when you said your first series was rough?????
Author's Response:Lol! Wow I converted you to the F/C friendship that thoroughly?? I'm impressed with myself lol.
Hehe I thought this would never happen! Thank you for not playing too hard with the nerves of your readers XD :P
I would almost say that it doesn't matter what happens next but that'd be me being carried away again, plus Faith does deserve some of it too! I liked how she handled the whole night, being so careful and making a conscious effort not to rush things. I can imagine how painful it was not being released from the tension but equally I think it's for the best!
Thank you for this sweet and tender chapter... is it really rougher than your new stories? Hum not so sure... or at least I enjoy equally ;)
Author's Response:I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as the new stuff!
Finally!! Wesley makes a *real* effort to be a decent watcher, opening himself to Faith and showing some vulnerability might pay off... better late than never!
Finally!! I *knew* it, definitely in this story Cordelia knows how to fix things! Can't wait to read the next chapter hehe XD
Author's Response:I wanted Wesley to have his time to shine too. The backstory we get for him on Angel shows that he had a lot of potential and I think he could have developed a real friendship with Faith if they'd had more time. But I also think he's very full of himself initially and he needs to come down a leg or two before he's ready.
Communication is definitely not their strongest quality! Maybe it needs a little Cord-intervention during the evening at Willow's... Provided that she's invited of course!
Author's Response:Haha! Willow would invite her out of guilt.
Cordelia: I really do like that she is offering her friendship to Faith. They are quite similar in a way, being blunt and always voicing out what other people don't want to hear XD I somehow think this friendship could have happened in canon... although what may be missing is why is Cordelia behaving this way? What does she want in return?
Wesley: he's pretty true to himself for the time being, bringing the (un)necessary disruption in both slayers' lives :/ Can he really turn things around at this stage??
Lastly: who wouldn't be pissed off to be awakened while sleeping? I sure would be!!
Author's Response:I think Cordelia, as written, sees herself as a bit of an outsider now, and identifies with Faith in a way. This is after Xander betrays her, which I think really shook her, and then there's problems at home. Faith isn't one of the Cordettes, she's not one of the Scoobies, and a connection with Faith also gives Cordelia an attachment to the demon fighting stuff (which I think she does care about in spite of herself).
Ahhh I knew I had a good feeling about Cordelia, I like how perceptive she is - she is probably in canon but somehow her character is not being given enough space to explore that side of her.
Friends... a long way to go I suppose... next chapter it is then!
Author's Response:It was a long way to go with these two (hence the story title I guess). Glad you're enjoying Cordelia! She was so much fun to write.
Christmas is definitely not a good day for Buffy and Faith! (on this basis, I am wondering in which direction your new ongoing fic - the one where Faith get a xmas present - is going to go... hum...)
Interesting development with Cordelia... I am keen to see where this is heading (although I strongly hope that nothing is going to happen between her and Faith).
And OMG - Faith is older than Buffy! (ok I could have commented before but it just struck me in this chapter) For whatever reason I had always thought that Faith was of the same age or younger o_O thanks for making it obvious here!
Author's Response:Haha! No spoilers on the new fic (which I hope I actually finish, motivation wise I am struggling).
The actual show never gives an age for Faith but it stands to reason she would be younger than Buffy. Her birthday that I'm using here comes from Go Ask Malice, the Faith origin book in the expanded universe. I still think it doesn't really jive with the universe as presented in the show, but obviously it served my purpose here.
ahhh Buffy finally got the gut to kiss Faith, what can happen to the two of them now?? ^^
Author's Response: :) :)
Arghhh I just want to scream at Giles for being so careless about Faith!! He's probably going to hope he had died that night, as I suspect he will now have to deal with a very angry Buffy.
It's good to have Cordelia at her best (or nicest, rather,) and willing to help Buffy. We don't get to see her often but she is pretty smart when she wants!
Well done Aliceinwonderbra, can't wait to read the next chapter!
Author's Response:I am a Cordelia lover, as you probably figured out from this story! I have a soft spot for Wesley too.
Fuc*ing rat bast*ards of councilmen... It is going to be interesting to see how this goes as Buffy now clearly care A LOT about Faith. Ah I wish there were as many keywords here as on AO3 to be ablt to anticioate a bit whether this is going to be a full angsty story or not. Fortunately I can go to sleep after this chapter hehe (would that be a sign that you did improve on your ciffhangers over time? XD :p)
Author's Response:You can get some idea of the content from the tagged genres! Although I can't promise anyone other than me used them correctly. I didn't tag this as angst, which in thinking about it, I do think it's accurate. I don't think this one is too angst overall!
On a misunderstanding it could happen and it did happen... for about the length of the kiss :/
This chapter is an emotional rollercoaster for both B and F! Buffy being so immature is annoying (because she IS, what does she think she's doing by sending mixed signals? Oh wait she's a teenager afterall.) but at least she managed to crack Faith's wall so I won't hold it against her just yet :p
Author's Response:Immaturity is definitely alllll over this story. As you say though, they're teens, and both are pretty inexperienced in relationships. Buffy had Angel but I wouldn't say she really learned much about having a healthy, mature relationship. She was not a great communicator (nor was he). So I do think it makes sense for B/F to stumble, but also like I said... I'd probably scale back the drama if I did this over haha.
First chapter, first comments (1- this will slow me down and 2- I keep my word). Actually it does look like a good realistic challenge, to get to the end of Chutes by the end of the week :D
I have to say that I'm already thrilled by the way you are setting the scene, despite you thinking that it is not as good as your latest work (which I disagree with for now). Or maybe it's because this first chapter is already full of banter and teasing so maybe I'm not so fair anymore :p
Picturing Faith in a bananas pajamas made me laugh really hard and I fully understand why she would want to get rid of it asap! I loved the threat of losing fingers and somehow if Willow was not around events may have turned differently? It's good to see that despite the previous eventsvFaith is giving Buffy a chance for redemption and I can't wait to see where this goes.
So... See you soon!
Author's Response:I know I owe you approximately one million responses, and I'm here to start working on them! I do appreciate you taking the time to leave all these comments on the back catalogue, so to speak. It truly has been making my day each day watching you go through each story. Nothing an author likes more!
Oh damnnnnn no rest for the slayers I guess
Author's Response:Hahaha. I like to leave the story on a weird ending note of dread I guess... :D
Thank you for continuing this fic. I love seeing Fuffy together even if they have the big bads to worry about
Uh oh