The Girl from Away
And its a wrap! The world's still here.
Ah yes, the well documented 'Sunnydale denial sydrome' in full effect- lots of good laughs at that one!
And then Faith said she was going back to jail! :(
I was all angst-y for a bit as Faith decided to go and do her time, even though she was fighting the good fight.
She would give all the happinest up for her shot at redemption...yeah, that's our girl. (Part of the appeal of Faith/Buffy to me is that basically Faith is very similar to Angel in terms of how she sees her past crimes/place in the world)- she's just a little bit more dangerous/sexy with it- plus attainble.
It's why Fuffy works so well as a couple for me (or at least one of the reasons...)
So, luckily Lorne intervened- he just couldn't see great love go to waste!
This was a really great story- a really fascinating universe- with lots of Fuffy goodness.
Thank You.
Author's Response:I love Sunnydale syndrome! Those damned gangs and their PCP. Interesting comment about Faith v. Angel. I do like Buffy/Angel and Angel himself as a character, but I wouldn't say it appeals to me that Faith and Angel are similar in this way. I feel totally on board with Faith's attempts at bettering herself, but Angel's kind of fall flat to me. Partly I guess because while obviously it's good to fight on the side of good, punishing yourself for something you physically had no control over and weren't present for gets kind of old, at least for me as a viewer. Angel doesn't need redemption up through like Angel season 2 because he never actually did anything, he just feels responsible. I'm not discounting his feelings, but Faith being a human being called to save and protect other humans and then doing the things she did... That's a way bigger emotional punch for me. I think after season 2, Angel makes tons of crap choices he should feel terrible about, of course. :p I think Faith for me has depth that the Angel character never did. Not for lack of the writers trying I guess, but I couldn't get into the Darla storyline, or the Connor one, or the big Cordelia love so... Meh. I do love the dark humor from AtS and his friendships there though.
Umm so fuffy. :D I think Fuffy works for me as a couple outside of Faith's redemption arch. Luckily Lorne is a big softy. He was one of the best parts of AtS for me, so I love sticking him in fics wherever he can go. :p Thank you very much for your kind reviews, and I am glad you enjoyed! :D
I really felt bad when I read that Marcy can't be checked by the doctors cause she's invisible. That made me wonder about the rest of the things that she can't do. You've made her likeable in her annoying way hahaha. I wish she didn't have to leave.
And speaking of leaving... Haaaaaaaa!!!! Faith decided to go back to prison. I didn't expect that! And then she goes on and says, "I hope you find someone who gives you everything..."
I've used up that line before, and I know how much it hurts to say it. I wanted to smack her and cry at the same time.
Thank goodness you fixed that mess up. Thank you Lorne!!!
Author's Response:Likeable in an annoying way... Sounds like I based her on someone I know. >:)
Told ya I had to make you cry before I could bring it to the happy ending! I think it was important that Buffy let her make her own choice and support her in that. That made Faith more secure in her feeling that Buffy sees her for herself and respects her. I do love Lorne, and he is a person who so loves love. Of course he's gonna speak up and tell her to run, not walk, toward the one who loves her. :) happy I finally have you an unequivocally happy ending?
thank you! great story, with amuch better ending then flowers. you'll have to bring marcie back in the one shot, and maybe a happier ending to flowers! felt bad for both of them . glad angel and loren made faith see sense. excited for the next story.
Author's Response:Thank you. Glad you enjoyed!
Wow. I go away for a little while and BAM, a multitude of chapters appear. Excellent:) Fantastic as always. The updates are appreciate and I, for one, cannot wait to see how this ends.
Author's Response:Thank you. :) Where've you been hiding out?
The last chapter is up now, and I hope you enjoy. :)
So Faith is apparently not great at motivating. Somehow I am not surprised.
When Giles told her to look around the corner, I totally thought it was a “Go away and pretend to be busy before you annoy everyone” comment. But no, it was just your run-of-the-mill possessed horde.
Eww, eww, and more eww to the eye thing. Yuck. *shudder* Did not need to read that. As if GoT hadn't already grossed me out enough for one year. :( Buffy really should have stuck with the group. I'm surprised she took off without making sure Faith was OK first as well, but I guess magic is more effective than CPR.
Well... my prediction wasn't that far off. *cough*
And it could all have been avoided if Willow had been more forthcoming with the grapes. Bad Willow! OK, maybe not, but I do feel a little sorry for Amy now. She just wants to be nuzzled!
What are they going to do with her? I was kinda expecting Willow to turn her back into a rat, which would have been harsh. Maybe they could just keep her occupied with a really big wheel. And possibly a vineyard.
#marcielives
Author's Response:I live to gross you out, as you know. I haven't had any zombies around in a while, so I have had to find other means. I did refrain from trying my gory hand on Marcie though, so you're welcome for that. :p
I think CPR could have been effective, but Buffy doesn't know that Willow's still on their side, and after what happens to Tara, she feels like she doesn't have a choice but to go. There's another option for Faith, but she's Tara's only hope at the moment. I thought it was actually a bit of growth for her. She isn't putting Faith ahead of everyone and everything. They're slayers, and sometimes they have to make tough calls.
I feel sorry for Amy Rat too! One of the reasons I didn't want to turn her back into a rat. It just seemed so cruel after I wrote her sad little life. Nuzzling does solve all the world's problems though. Damn that Willow for being so inattentive. They'll do something with her next chapter. Hint, it is not a wheel. :D
I loved Buffy's funny, rambling thoughts. I find her adorable when she's like that. She hasn't lost her sense of humor even though she's in a really messed-up situation. But running alone all by herself... -_-
In the end, she ended up in the same place as the gang. Hahahaha! That really made me laugh. With a bit of relief. Cause really?
Faith died? Does that mean there is another awakened slayer somewhere? Faith died?!?! I didn't know that happened. What?!?! Ok. She's alive now, but really! Faith died?!?!
The way they handled the possessed Sunnydale residents: I liked how you were mindful of them as still being humans as opposed to zombies. And the random injection of Faith's thoughts about Buffy not approving of her breaking people's kneecaps. Haha. These little things do matter and are very much appreciated.
About the setting: while reading through this chapter and the previous one, I am reminded of Pans' Labyrinth. Have you seen that movie? The images painted you painted in my head is this fantasy world, dark and scary, yet fascinating and magical. Did I mention creepy? You do have a knack for coming up with interesting environments. I love your imagination more than the real you *kidding.
I was trying to figure out how this whole debacle would end. I thought Willow was a lost cause, but that can't be. Because, TARA (and Faith's faith on Willow). I am relieved that the whole thing was not resolved by the death of Amy (or Buffy or Faith doing something drastic and action packed). That would have been copping out (sorta).
That Amy-as-a-rat section really got me sad. I didn't try to reread it cause it sorta threw me for a loop. You know how much of a softie I can be. Also, gullible. It was sad though... really. But in the end, she did end up being evil and vengeful. I wonder what will happen to her after this. I still am reminded of Amy-rat waiting for Willow's return. What sadness and loneliness feels like. I blame you for my sadness!!!
This chapter was looong, and full of details. No wonder you were complaining to me so much. You put a lot of effort into it. I am proud and happy for you. I won't tease you so much (but you have to remind me!!!). *hugs
I did miss the lack of fuffy. *oops here I am complaining again. heh.
Author's Response:Always a complaint with you, eh? *flicks your horns* Buffy's humor is one of my fave qualities about her too. :)
Yes, a new slayer was called. But that's a story for another day. :D I haven't seen Pan's Labyrinth, no. But if my imagination is on par with a movie, I'll take the compliment, haha. I was debating what to do with Amy. I thought perhaps they'd make her a rat again, but it seemed quite cruel, especially given the rat scene I ended up writing. I thought it was best to just defeat her and hand her off to some other authority.
I thought Amy was a much better villain than say, The Trio from the show. I tried to give her some understandable motivation. She was a basically decent person, but she went a little mad in her time as a rat. I did love writing that rat scene. Poor little thing. Enough details for Topak?? I can't believe it. :p
First, I loved the part where we get a glimpse of Amy's life as a rat. I'd always kind of wondered about that and especially liked the part with the kitten. The whole thing shows why she has an attachment to Willow.
I didn't think I would but I like Faith's belief in Willow, even when everyone else has doubts. It shows how much Faith has grown because she really could just take Buffy's side.
Only one more chapter? Sad! Can't wait to read how it ends! :)
Author's Response:Thank you! :) I think Faith knows what it's like to have no one believe you can be better, and she sympathizes with that. At the same time, she's also backing up Tara, because Tara believes in Willow absolutely, and Faith trusts Tara's instincts. I think it's really good for Faith that she can be vocal about her own instincts and have them be respected. Buffy believes in her so much that it helps her believe in herself.
Yep, just one more to wrap up the loose ends and answer some fuffy questions... :)
Wow, this was very climax-y (Is that a word?)
Anyway, it felt like there were stakes, that people could get hurt and die, that they were all up against it- I was kinda worried about Tara for a sec there at the end, but I didn guess that it was probably a trap. Nice!
Other things I liked: Marcie getting angry that Faith was hurt (aw, they really bonded),
the whole magical tower/castle thing was really neat- something I wish the'd done on the show, which they totally could've with that castle that Dracula had. :(
Your Amy (a worthy Big Bad imo) is so much better than S6 Amy - the rational for her insanity/evil is so much better- I felt really sorry for her for a sec- that she remembered all her time from being a rat!
Faith trying to get all pep-talky but just coming off as irritated! Girl's got to play to her strengths.
Buffy getting angry at Faith but then trusting her enough to back her play, and Faith's reaction to that- very nicely written.
The ending with Tara managing to reach Dark Willow before she crosses that line. Good going.
Greayt chapter!
Looking forward to the clean-up and tying up of loose ends.
Author's Response:I believe the word you're looking for is climactic. Lol. :p
Ooh, I'm happy to have tricked you with the Tara trap! :D Re: Amy, I gave her a teeny bit of depth with that anger at her mother/burning the statue, but I felt like she needed something more since we've only seen her villainous side. She is definitely attracted to Willow's magical abilities too, but I felt like her time as a rat had some potential to be mined. I think on the show they indicated that she did remember, but her concept of time was different, and she didn't know how long she'd been a rat. I did feel sorry for her too after I wrote the scene. I never really liked Amy too much, but Rat Amy, I can sympathize with. :)
I seem to have blocked out the Dracula storyline. La la la don't tell me I can't hear youuuuuu.
I think the next chapter should satisfy the loose ends tidily. :D Let us pray it doesn't take me forever and a day to do it. Thank you!! :)
very satisfying chapter! as long as will wasn't really trying to hurt tara, all is well. ;) it was nice to see buffys faith in faith (scratch head) believe in her. it would be interesting to see how the people of sunnydale explain this? i would have liked to hear what faith was thinking when she saw marcie for the first time, i was waiting for a snarky comment. great chapter, kind of hate to see this end, but if at some point i get a follow up to omega very BIG GRIN!
Author's Response:Well "at some point" is a very wide window, so I guess I can commit to that. :p
The next chapter has the answer on how the non-in-the-know Sunnydale people explain what happened. Now that you said that about Faith seeing Marcie, I realized that doh, she didn't see why Marcie is now glowing and would probably have asked. Let the ball drop on that one. :p I have loved Girl too, but I'm excited about the next story I'll post. It's light on plot, heavy on fuffy, which is way more fun for me to write. :D Omega is battling for the spot after that with my newest plot bunny. We'll see which one I'm motivated to write. Thank you as always for reading and commenting!
God, that rat retrospective was so very, very sad... and brilliant, of course. This whole tale has been just fascinating and incredibly unique... and creepy as shit!
I loved it.
More so even than Flowers, which you know I cuddled close to my chest every night from the moment you posted the first chapter over on BnF.
You are so very talented. I am in awe. And I look forward to reading the final chapter so I can start this whole journey all over again.
xoxo
Author's Response:Cris! *wipes stray tear* Thank you. :)
Maybe you can already tell, but Girl is the story I really wanted to write, and Flowers was one I felt I had to do first so people would understand Alt Buffy better. I thought it made sense to follow canon Buffy and see the Alt world, so I wrote it, and I did like it once I got into it, but it wasn't the story I was most excited about. :pSo it's okay if you liked Girl better!
The 'rat retrospective' has a nice ring to it. Sounds so classy. :p I was never a big fan of Amy, even before Season 6, but I really liked the idea of the Amy Rat. I liked how the show consistently kept her around in the background, and going back and de-ratting her was a really big payoff. I felt so sorry for little Amy Rat. :( Plus I wanted to explain a bit about her motivation toward Willow. It's not all about her power. Amy's got deeeeep issues re: Willow.
I am going to try really hard to get that last chapter out sooner rather than later. I know everything that needs to happen, it's just making the time to get it done. :D
First of all, you didn't kill Marcie throughout all of that, so you should give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. Now you just have to keep it up for one more chapter. You can do it; Marcie believes in you!
That was a pretty chaotic second half. Plenty going on. It looks like none of it is good for Buffy and the gang, but I suspect everything isn't as it seems. I'm not sure what Willow, Tara and Faith's plan is, but Willow sent a letter about something, so Tara could be playing possum while Willow keeps up the charade (As it was Willow who cast that last spell), but I doubt Faith's role was to let herself (Almost, hopefully) drown. Ooh, or maybe Willow was borrowing Tara's power so she has enough to take on Amy, and the "Your turn" comment at the end was more a "Your turn to be magic-melted, Amy!", and then Faith's role is to bash Willow over the head once Amy is dead before Willow goes out of control on power (And Buffy couldn't be trusted not to bash too hard because she's currently not pro-Willow). Right? Right?
As for Buffy, she probably wants to get back to that CPRing. She should know by now what a pain in the ass new Slayers can be. :p
So one more chapter and then... Omega Rising sequel, yes? :D
Author's Response:So one more chapter turned into two, since I couldn't squeeze all the things in chapter 14. :p Now I have to keep Marcie alive for two chapters. How the eff am I going to do that?
You know Faith, she's never been one to follow the plan. I don't think you have the plan quite right there... but I did enjoy your speculation. :D Faith has only a very small role, but she did kind of spoil it by going and drowning herself and bashing her head in. Tara will probably forgive that since Faith did manage to keep her alive. I would love any plan that involved bashing Willow over the head. I will write that plan into my next story, tentatively titled, Kill Willow Volume 1.
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Omega isn't next. I have a half completed long fic to finish up. Then Omega's warring with my newest plot bunny...
WTF dude, that was like horrible, I couldn't breath and it was heart wrenching, and totally engrossing. Wow, I hate to see Willow all black-eyed and hopped up on the magicks, ha, where's Anya when you need weird comedic relief. Seriously that chapter had me tense and scared and all the things a good intense dramatic chapter should do. I hope that you are going to fix this cause damn that was rough. I've read other stories by you and I know you have no problem killing off folks if it advances the storyline, but just like warn a reader if that's gonna happen, ok? ok. good. that was intense very intense, dark Willow always creeped me out. yuck.
Author's Response:I never thought I would find 'horrible' to be praise when someone reviewed my chapter... :p Thank you! Where IS Anya anyway? I realize that I wrote her out off screen and never explained it. Whoopsie. :D
I am going to fix stuff! Some of the stuff! At least like two of the stuff! I also hate dark Willow of the show, so it sort of confuses me why I decided to write her in so heavily, but writing her is way better than having to watch her acted on TV. :p Don't worry, the next chapter will start fixing some stuff. It's actually complete, and will be posted soon. I hope tonight. :)
amy gives me the heebeegeebies! shes wicked mean and scary! luv marcie and faiths friendship, their funny together. willow looks at amy and says "your turn", does that mean shes siccing amy on the others or (fingers crossed) that she is going to use taras power combined with her own to finally take amy down? don't make us wait to long! great chapter!
Author's Response:Haha! Thanks. :) I don't think you've got it quite right on what Willow meant, haha. Wishful thinking there! :p I finally finished the next chap and sent it for beta, so hopefully you won't be waiting much longer. :) I love Marcie/Faith too. Marcie is fun to write because all we really know is that she became invisible and she hated her fellow students due to that. She's a blank slate to play with. :D
Holy crap that was awesome! I don't even know what I should be more freaked out by, the fact that Faith is lying there unresponsive or whatever the hell just happened to Tara. Come back soon! Your writing is incredible and addictive as always.
Author's Response:Hey, Evil! :) Thank you so much, glad you liked it! I only planned to leave it on one cliffhanger, but then the Faith thing just sort of happened. And it fit perfectly with a scene I needed in the next chapter. :p The next chapter is probably about 75% done so I hope to have it up soon.
I usually pride myself by knowing when you're bluffing but I honestly can't tell what Willow's up to anymore. Is it a double bluff? A triple bluff? Some form of bluff not meant for mortal minds? Beats me!
I know you have a general dislike of her character so I wouldn't put it past you to make her a backstabber. It certainly keeps things interesting.The vineyard seems like a carnival fun house and I love your imagination with the forest in a glass box and the rapids plus waterfall. It gives a sense that anything could happen and multiple characters have been left in dubious circumstances. I also quite like Amy's odd flirtatiousness with Willow. I get the impression its her magical gifts she finds sexy rather than the fact she's woman-shaped.
The Fuffy stuff is great as always. They come off very protective of one another, connected on a deep level. Basement sex will do that to you. Looking forward to the last chapter (I think?), hopefully it will arrive sooner than this one. :P -fingers crossed-
Author's Response:I can't fathom what a triple bluff would be... She's bluffing Amy. She's bluffing the Scoobs. She's bluffing... herself? I don't know. I'm trying to bluff you like 42 ways and I see I am succeeding, so go me, even if I can't figure out what a triple bluff is! *pats self on back*
The next chapter fleshes out Amy's obsession with Willow somewhat, so I'll be interested to see what you think of that. She does of course lurve her some magic, but for some reason people on this show find Willow attractive, so I guess it's not out of the realm of possibility that she wants to jump her bones. There's that Willow hate coming on again.... :p
So the 'last' chapter actually turned into the second to last. It took me all of chapter 14 to wind up the plotty stuff. Meaning I now have to do a chapter 15 to wind up the character stuff. Chap 14 is done though, and I hope will be posted by the time you wake up in merry old England. Fingers crossed that my friend/beta works at my demanding pace.
HOLY SHITTING FUCKBALL MONKEY CRACK.
That is all I am capable of thinking right now.
Fucking fuck.
Author's Response:Haha! :) I apologize for breaking your brain. :p
Wow, plott-y goodness! :)
Lots of action, which was good.
Plus a few nice, quiet character touches, like Buffy and Faith in the basement, Faith's rememberances of her killings.
Liking Marcie more and more, she's a completely original character- sort of like a snarky Cordelia type, very fun to read!
Liked Faith sticking up for Buffy and arguing with Giles.
And all the Tara/Faith interaction.
The climax was exciting- but aargh! cliff-hanger. All will be forgiven if theres another chapter coming soon. :)
Author's Response:Thank you! love snarky Cordelia types! :p Cordelia's not in the story? Better stick in someone else to snark, I say. Marcie is very fun to write though. I really like her. I have a story for her in my head of how she feels emotionally and why she acts the way she does. She grew on me like a fungus, what can I say?
The next chapter should be coming like... tonight-ish. Is that soon enough? Probably not. :p It's long though. Forgive me, I have not the writing speed! On the bright side, it took me the entire next chapter to resolve the plot stuff, so I have to do one more to resolve the character stuff. It was supposed to be 14, but now 15. :)
Wow! So much happened in this chapter!
I love how close Buffy and Faith are in this chapter. They really show a united front in making the decisions, even teaming up against Giles. It was great to read.
I have so many questions now! All of them seem to be in immediate danger and my mind keeping going over who might not survive. Also curious about what's going on with evil Willow.
Can't wait to read more! :)
Author's Response:Thank you! I loved that scene with Giles because this is a place where Buffy and Faith really get each other, when no one else, including the other versions of themselves, could. Buffy hasn't confided in anyone else here that she killed Finch, but the shared experience of being slayers who've taken human lives really bonds her with Faith. Faith is the only one who senses her grief at the idea of doing it again, and she responds to it by leaping to Buffy's defense. Gotta love her for it. Not that I think Giles was wrong to bring it up, because he has valid points also.
More will be up soon I hope!! :)
I concur with Marcie on this one. Christ on a cracker, indeed.
The opening scene of this chapter is going to be burned into my brain for a long, long time. You've made Amy one of the creepiest villians this verse has ever seen. Have I mentioned yet how much I love your inclusion of the natural world in Amy's spellcasting? It harkens back to Willow's assessment of the UC Sunnydale Wiccan group, with its "blah blah sisterhood blah blah Gaia" love the earth but don't actually practice spells mantra, and kicks it up several thousand notches. Amy's possession of dead animals and chimerizing (I just made that up just now because I couldn't find a succinct verb for "to make a chimera") of living animals to fulfill her whims of evil is so good, and so terrifying.
Like Topak, I, too, love the odd couple that is Marcie and Faith. The snark between the two of them is off the charts. As is the exhibitionism. Heh.
Popples! Ha! I used to have a Popple when I was a kid! They were so cuddly! I love me a good obscure pop culture reference. :) Though the image of those things floating gently along the breeze reminded me of all of the seeds and pollen balls of several types of trees in my area that are blowing around in the wind right now, and I might be a little worried about getting to my car to go to work later. Hmm...
I hope there's no character limit on reviews, because this is fast becoming "bobina's stream of consciousness while she re-reads chapter 13."
It's interesting, after everything Amy has put them and the residents of Sunnydale through, knowing what she's willing to do to get her way, that the thought of killing her hadn't come up before. I like, though, that there's discussion about it, and that Buffy and Faith are entirely on the same page about it. It's easy to forget, at this juncture, that this Buffy and this Faith haven't known each other all this time. Buffy's experiences are not what everyone else remembers, and it was important to bring that up here. She and Faith have both taken human lives, and they're not willing to do that again. It's a strong conviction in both of them, and at this point in the story, it's a necessary one. I just hope it's worth something to both of them when Amy pulls out all the stops, as I'm sure she will.
The second half of this chapter is insane. INSANE. But I think you knew that while you were writing it, because, at least from Amy's perspective (I'm leaving Willow out of this for the moment) it's also insanely fun. Have you been reading The Hunger Games? Or House of Leaves? Or both? Yikes, I think I just gave myself nightmares mashing those two together.
Anyway.
Amy's lair is ridiculous. I love that Buffy goes into it knowing right away it's a trap, but going ahead with the plan anyway. What other choice do they have? I also love that Amy and Willow are right there waiting for them, and that their first action is separating the group, forcing Buffy and Faith to make a choice over whether to stay and help Ayan and Dawn and Xander, or beating the bad guys. And I especially love that Tara is the one to make that decision for them. It really makes me wonder what was in that letter from Willow, especially at the end of the chapter. Was Tara anticipating this side of Willow? Was Willow seemingly sucking the life force from Tara part of the plan? Or has Willow really gone off the deep end? Because if she has, I don't see any of them surviving this.
Speaking of surviving, Faith better not be dead. The way you wrote the group pulled through the surprise rapids and down the waterfall was way too realistic (I almost drowned once getting pulled over the falls while surfing - not fun), and even just that would be enough to exhaust even the most superhuman among them. Add a bleeding head wound to that? Faith better not be dead.
I don't know how patient I'm gonna be waiting for the next chapter after all of this. Good God, woman!
Author's Response:Chimerizing it is! I'm with you, let's chimerize! :p Evil Amy is super fun, both for the eeeeevil component and for the Scoobies feelings reactions of like, 'Really? You? Rat girl? I don't believe this shiz.'
Is it really exhibitionism if they can't see you, tho? :) I love writing Marcie in general, but especially with Faith because she's gravitated toward the other odd one out in the group, and Faith has a high tolerance for asshole antics. After Sunnydale, I think Marcie learned to put the past behind her somewhat, but she's never going to quite forgive her former classmates for what happened to her. Willow, Xander, and even Buffy and Giles who came later but saw the conclusion of her storyline, are reminders of that. Faith's a clean slate.
Popples for the win! I had popples sheets, popples dolls... Actually I initially wrote the little fluffs as just random magic fluff and then realized I needed to stick to Amy's theme of using insects and animals. Fortunately, there was an insect that looked just like I needed. :p
I think the Scoobies in general throughout the series are reluctant to kill humans, even when those humans do terrible things. Everyone is horrified when Willow kills Warren, and they go so far as to protect Jonathan and Andrew. Giles kills Ben because he knows Buffy would never be able to. They manage to find creative solutions that don't involve killing the baddie when it's people like Marcie, Amy's Mom, Ethan Rayne, and even Faith. They allow her to live and Buffy basically skates by on that one. I also think they suffer from a myopic world view in which they don't ponder really doing the hard things that make them uncomfortable until they are personally impacted and it forces their hand. Angelus and Faith for instance. Now that she's hurt Tara, here's where they start to ponder the possibilities. I thought it was interesting to pull this in here, because I don't imagine that Buffy would have confided in anyone else what happened to Allen Finch at home. She had past opportunities to bring it up with Willow drinking the Faith haterade, and she never did. I think it's something that while takes responsibility for it, she doesn't want to think about or acknowledge aloud any more than she has to. She did it to make a point to Faith, but that's the only time. So Giles is well meaning, he's only trying to do what's best, but he doesn't understand why the idea throws her so completely. Only Faith does, and I liked them having that secret connection.
I have read the Hunger Games, but not the other. What's it about? Should I be reading?
The contents of the letter will be revealed next chapter, so I shall remain mum about that. :) I think Tara would be gung ho with or without any letter from Willow. Her thought process is basically: 'There goes Willow, why are we not moving?'
Faith is not dead because I didn't put one of those handy dandy character death warnings on the fic! :p She is out of commission though. I often wonder when putting them in situations of peril, am I giving them TOO many near death experiences? And then I say nah, let's almost kill them again! Faith being out cold is set up for pay off on a little seed I planted some chapters ago... I hope the next chapter goes up tonight. :) Pending receipt from beta now.
whew, awesome effing chap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Author's Response:Thank you!! :)
Faith should have thrown those cups full of coffee at Amy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damnit Faith. Why didn't you even try scalding that bitch?
I'm loving the strange friendship that's developing between Marcy and Faith. Marcy's brattiness is a compliment to Faith's brashness. As much as Willow and faith developed some form of understanding last chapter, Willow will always be Buffy's friend.
The whole time Amy was making those unicorn fart under her robe, I was half-expecting for her to open her robe and expose herself. *i know I have a weird and perverted brain. But it was a weird thing to see someone in a robe!!!
Ok *breathes in and out. Now my fever is back again.
There's so much happening in this chapter. Aside from the action-filled last section (which is still bothering me cause it's a complete fuck-fest of failure!), them arguing whether or not they should kill Amy was the best part. I have no problem voting for Amy's death, but yeah... No one knows how much killing a human affected both Buffy and Faith, except for Buffy and Faith.
OMG that ending?!?! What the heck!!!
Author's Response:Did you want Faith to be touched by the unicorn farts? Lol! She couldn't get close. Amy was wearing a dress, not a robe. She was wearing a very slowly dress with layers, so she was gathering the layers and releasing the bugs.
I love Marcie too! She's good comic relief and she has a unique skill set in that people can't see her. She is good with Faith. Hopefully you'll like that one shot of her. :p Assuming I write it.
What's interesting about the discussion of killing Amy is that no one other than Faith actually knows that Buffy also killed Finch. It's not something she would want to talk about. So Giles doesn't know how his suggestion is eating her up, but Faith sees it instantly.
The prospect of Faith and Willow alone for a night together was really exciting to me, and you did not disappoint. The open disdain between them was like watching a tennis match, but I love that they're both able to begrudgingly ally themselves with each other for Tara. Tara really was the anchor of this little group, and you've captured that perfectly in this series.
On one hand, I wish there had been more of the Willow and Faith show, but on the other, I'm glad you didn't let the chapter get bogged down in magic mumbo-jumbo. You're awesome at keeping the story flowing. Now I'm really intrigued to see how Willow is going to make it through faking being Amy's sidekick, if she'll be able to reign in her dark side long enough to take Amy down.
(Sidenote: The dead animals as conduits for Amy to spy on the Scoobs is and always has been SUPER CREEPY. Glad somebody finally figured that out. Well done, my friend.)
Again, the parallels with canon, and the parallels between this Buffy and Faith, and the Buffy and Faith in "Flowers For A Ghost" (who's confused yet?) are amazing. In FFAG, Buffy and Faith's time together in that motel room is frantic and rushed and neither are thinking with their heads until all is said and done. Here, it's still a rushed, frantic affair, but it's so grounded in love and respect and communication. There is nothing to regret here for either of them except maybe bruised knees, and it is such a contrast to any other iteration of Buffy and Faith we've seen so far.
And now after a few days of binge-reading this series, I'm all caught up and will have to wait like everybody else to know if Willow can successfully fake out Amy, if the Scoobs will take her down once and for all, and how Buffy and Faith will move forward together. Don't keep me waiting too long, okay?
Author's Response:Eeek, you're caught up. Now the pressure is on to actually complete the next chapter. Damn it. :p
B/F here have the advantage of time, which I think makes a big difference. The reason I put the time jump in was so that they'd be in a totally different place than Flowers (and because I didn't want Faith to give up on her rehabilitation). I think also their experiences just made them into different people, even without the time time jump. Buffy needed the steady partnership from Faith to learn how to share and rely on someone else, rather than becoming the 'I AM THE LAW' Buffy of canon. Faith needed to completely break down and learn to build herself back up. AltFaith did learn to be trusting and develop strong relationships with people, but she retained some of that kind of wild Faithness of canon Faith, which didn't always help when trying to communicate with Buffy in Flowers. Obviously Buffy in Flowers had her own issues with Faith. :( I like writing them in Girl though, precisely for what you said about love and respect and communication. I love having them bring out the best in each other. :)
Now let me go see what creepy shit Amy might be up to... :D
Daaaaamn! THAT is an update! Tara's hurt, and as far as we know, it's by Willow's hand? Willow, who's been attempting to regain control of her powers and has now possibly gone off the rails again? Willow, who says it was Amy, not her, who hurt Tara? That's a whole damn story, and yet you've woven it all seamlessly into just one chapter. Holy hell.
I love the way you blend canon into your universe. We don't know all of the details of what Willow did last year, but we know enough. I can't be the only one who's glad that Warren and a gun had nothing to do with it, though.
The best part about this chapter, though, is the ending. Buffy and Faith have made huge strides in rebuilding their relationship, and figuring out how they fit in each other's lives in the futures. Faith on a first date? Friggin' adorable. But we kinda knew that was going to happen from the get-go. This Buffy has no bad history with this Faith, as out of whack as everything now is. Buffy was always going to at least try to connect with Faith and help her however she could. Willow and Faith, though? If there's anyone who hates Faith more than she hates herself, it's Willow Rosenberg. And now that you've thrown them into this situation at the end of this chapter, with Willow on the lam and asking Faith for help in proving her good name? Oh boy. Here we go. :)
Author's Response:Thank you! :D I didn't have the heart to kill Tara, hence alternate Season 6, haha. Hey, you didn't make a prediction about whether Willow was guilty or not! No fair. :p I think it's the law that either Buffy or Faith has to be adorable on their dates. Sometimes both. Your assessment of the Willow/Faith sitch here makes me wonder if I should have had more antagonism in the next chapter, haha. Willow is definitely NOT happy to be turning to Faith, but desperate times and all that. :)
Aaaaand you have taken creepy to a whole new level. Holy crap, Amy makes a good villain with you at the helm. JFC.
I can't even begin to list everything I love about this story. Marcie?! Like, who remembers frickin' Marcie Ross? Genius! And you get these relationships so damn well. Buffy and Dawn, Willow and Buffy, Tara and Buffy, Faith and Tara, Faith and Buffy. Just never stop writing these characters, okay?
I want to keep reading but at the same time, I want to savor the few chapters I have left because this is so good.
Author's Response:Marcie has been such a good edition here--I think she's doing a bit of the early season Cordelia role. Actually I tentatively plan to write a little Marcie one shot later, because I fell in love with her. :p Okay, i will work on forsaking sleep so I can go ahead and never stop writing. :)
I was a little put off by the time jump at first, and it's still a little disorienting to be jumping straight back into the story without much explanation as to who Selima and Ayan (which I thought was a typo for Anya at first) are, and why Willow moved out of Buffy's house, and who this new big bad is. At first, I thought (and was kinda hoping) that Willow was this big bad witch, but bringing Amy back into the mix is a welcome surprise. And how fitting, after spending a few years as a rat, that she's making her own animal army. Creepy stuff!
Author's Response:Haha, someone else thought Ayan was a typo too. I included the two witches to have some additional firepower, but I agree so didn't develop them much. Perhaps I should have spent more time with them. Although to be fair, they are at least as developed as the Potentials who weren't banging Willow in the real Season 7. :p The Willow part I deliberately left out so it could be explained later, but I see what you're saying on how it was disorienting. I thought about Willow as Big Bad, but I liked the idea of her being part of the fold but estranged from Buffy. Then I got the Amy idea and I was sold haha. Amy annoyed the crap out of me on the show, but I think she had some potential to be explored. I kind of like her now that I've made her a not totally there evil witch. :p The final showdown isn't written yet, so maybe she lives to antagonize another day. :D