Boys in high school & men going to pre-marital counseling should be required to read this fic as a manual!
First, I'm not sure if anyone has every mentioned this, but I just gotta tell you, how much I appreciated the length of your chapters. They are like a meal onto itself and there are only a handful of writers who actually flesh out their stories. (Usually the ones who win awards.)
And second, I'm curious. Can you give us some insight on how you 'write' your stories. Do you outline, or just let it flow? And have you always written or did you "pick up the pen" to defend Spike? <G>
Alright back to the regularly scheduled program: Like the others have commented season 6 was the pits, but your Buffy's voice is sheer perfection. (Are you or have you ever been a psych major?) You nailed so much of the 'trial and tribulation' poor Spike endured. I loved how you address the abuse heaped on him. Someone once wrote out the season with Spike treating Buffy the way she did him. It was ugly and we would have lynched any man who acted and did the things she did. It always made me cringe when I heard Geller say, "Buffy was a role model for young girls." Scary!
Sorry for the diatribe... your stories always provoke such feelings in us readers... we do go on.
So, once again another great chapter, an I know you have either finished this story or are a ways a head, but please support "our" local vamp and his moral dilemma. I know 'angst' makes stories more... But I'm gonna campaign to give poor Spike a break. (Purdy Please)
Ta!
Chapter length? A lot of fic writers write a scene and call it a chapter. But a chapter is built out of scenes and each chapter should be like a mini-book, rising to a climax. The climax of each subsequent chapter should hopefully be higher than the one before until the final one that ends and resolves the story. That's the way published books seem to me. And stories should always be fleshed out so that readers believe that they could be real! Anything else cheats the readers.
I wish I could outline, but doing that kills the story for me. I usually have a vague idea of where things should go and just start writing. And I have to write from start to finish, because only the story knows where it's going and does what it wants. I think my subconscious does the plotting. This is not the proper way to write! :D I can get a huge block and lose days before I realize that, hey, that should have been through Buffy's point of view or why am I wasting time with Dracula when Glory would make a better villain? Very unhandy, but it's the only way that works for me.
I'm not a psych major, but like all writers I find people fascinating. And I completely empathize with Spike and hate how canon treated him. All the stories are wish fulfillments :)
I did warn that this one was going to be a little angsty. But, hey, hopeless romantic here. Have I ever let you guys down? :D
It's offical- I love your Buffy. She's understanding and open and nice...everything she never was in the show.
All the internal Spike thoughts make me so sad . When he's all 'I was a monster' is make me want to give him a big hug and tell him he's not. Thank God you have your Buffy doing that. Again, it's nice for a change.
And I'm glad Spike's getting what he needs- that sense of absolution. He deserved that a long time and never got it. I hate that he went through blaming himself for so much when the blame was on both their shoulders.
Also, the part you mentioned about the whole thing between him and Anya, thank god someone finally sees it the way I do! Xander adn Buffy treated Spike and Anya like crap, break up with/leave at the freaking alter, and then freak out when they have comfort sex with someone who understands. They gave up their rights to have any say about who they were with the minute they ended it. There's no excuse for being pissy that they 'moved on'. Not gonna lie, after Entropy I developed a mini love of Spike and Anya as a couple. Still prefer Spuffy, but I think those two were suited to each other and could have made each other happy.
I have many season six issues, that is one of them. Can you tell?
I was wondering when Dawn would show up. Since Spike knows all about Glory now, wonder if anyone'll even have to find out she's the key. That would save some Dawn shaped angst.
And wouldn't have Buffy2 but something in her binder about Ben being Glory, that being the only way to stop her and all? Giles killed him before because it had to be done, so why is it any different for Spike? As horrible as it is, the only way to stop Glory is to kill Ben. Kill Ben, problem solved. Spike's way of thinking is so much easier.
Anyway, can't wait for the next chapter!
Glory's spell about no one being allowed to retain the memory that she is Ben is still in effect in this dimension since she hasn't died here yet. Only Spike is immune, as he always was. And the Scoobs always have problems about killing humans. I agree with Spike, like you do, but they don't.
I'm so glad you're liking this! Thank you!