Business as usual by Lilachigh
Chapter: Chp 30 The Visitor

01/25/2013 08:37 am
  You are great at packing the emotion in. Another good chapter.

cateaux
11/07/2008 06:21 pm
oh, or I should just say, oooooooooouh.  Willow sure is hateful. and the irony is so sad and telling, she exemplifies the careless nature of much of the human race.  Self centered to the point of obliviousness. I winced pretty badly at that scene in the show, but to think it happened because the little fawn had been tamed by a well meaning vampire just  actually hurts.  I'm afraid it has become part of canon for me.
 Sorry! But I always wondered why the fawn just tottered so happily out of the woods!   I wonder about a lot of things....   Thank you for interesting reviews. Very much appreciated.

cateaux
11/07/2008 06:13 pm
 Sadly there were no words on your review, but I do hope you enjoyed the chapter!

sirc
10/16/2008 08:08 pm
Well done!
 Thank you.

10/13/2008 10:11 pm
wonderful read. i can "see" the chapter, as if it was a video. thank you.
 That is so nice because that is exactly the effect I hope to produce when I write.  I admire authors who emote for paragraphs but my stories never seem to work out that way!

10/13/2008 01:53 am
OH where to start?????  Love the foreshadowing with the fawn (and how sweet thinking it had a lovely relationship with a "human" before Willow!).  Have the same love of cemeteries as our beloved Aggie (and still adoring her middle name *g*) and the imagery of the fallen leaves and her musing was excellent.

I was especially choked up with this

"It was sad to think she would never join them in their eternal rest, although she had paid for the space in advance and had even made sure there would be room for her name on the headstone when the time came. Agnes Kathleen Pringle, Devoted Daughter. That was what she had wanted because that was what she had been. She’d never had a chance to be “Much Loved Mother of…” or “Dearly Missed Grandmother”. But Devoted Daughter was still a good title to be remembered by."
Pathos aplenty there and wonderfully written only to brighten with a giggle at her further thought of the epitaph "vampire of the parish"....just splendid!

Love her bringing flowers to Buffy's grave and noting how Spike tended Joyce's but hadn't yet been able to visit Buffy's.  How lovely of her to do this for Spike and Joyce's sake!

Didn't expect to see Angel there but it was perfect for Spike's first visit.  Love Aggie stepping in and reminding them of the girl they both sought to honor that they were not being properly mindful of by fighting on her grave.  All three were written perfectly in character.

I am catching up on all the wonderful stories I've been missing and was as happy as one of Aggie's customers with a lovely cream cake to find this one!  Perfect as always.

Excellent and a rare treat, just like Agnes.

Kathleen

 Hi Kathleen and I am so glad to see you back and well enough to read and review!  Do hope you are feeling much better.  I have really missed your comments - I'm not sure if you saw the chp before this one!   I was going to print it out and send it to you but realised I do not have your real address.

Glad you liked the episode. It was strangely difficult to write because I didn't want the Angel/Spike inter-action to be too angsty and even then the boys ending up fighting!    

The only other things of mine you might have missed are a couple of updates of We Will Remember Them... which I am being so slow with that I am deeply ashamed.

Mind you, I got a review from someone who had just started Future Imperfect and said, "...I see that you are posting every 6 months. Would it be possible to do the next chp sooner?"

Runs away and hides in corner!


10/10/2008 04:22 pm
YAY Agnes!!!!!  Such a great image of her beating them with the shopping bag.  Just way too funny. 
Her reason for visiting Buffy's grave was so poignant. 
I keep wondering how old Agnes was before she was turned. 
So happy to see an update!
 Hi, thank you for taking the time to read and review. Much appreciated.  I've never given Agnes an actual age but although she wasn't elderly, she was probably "past her child-bearing days".  She saw Joyce as someone of her own generation, so perhaps late 40s or early 50s.

All4Spike
10/09/2008 07:48 pm

What a wonderful picture you paint. Typical of Angel to bring an expensive floral tribute, rather than one that Buffy would have liked. Good for Agnes in breaking up the fight, but I can't really blame Spike in the circumstances.

 Appreciate you taking the time and trouble to review.  Makes it seem all worthwhile!

Pin
10/09/2008 02:30 pm
Another wonderful epsiode.  I love Agnes - the absolutely best original character!  Thanks!
 So glad you enjoyed the episode.  Must admit Agnes is one of the nicest vampires I've ever written about.

10/09/2008 02:28 am
Love the image of Agnes whacking the two fighting vamps. And the bit of softness from Angel.  Nicely done.
 Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the chapter.

10/09/2008 01:08 am
Agnes does need a little kitten, but please don't let her deer be the one Willow uses, I don't think I could stand the sadness at the moment.  Great chapter!
 Thank you!   I suppose if that was the deer, then you could say Agnes has played a large  part in getting Buffy back!

Tamara
10/08/2008 10:19 pm
I can see Angel bringing a big showy bouquet for Buffy's grave with flowers she didn't like. After all  he only saw what he wanted to see , he never bothered to help her off the pedestal he had her on and get to know her.

I love Agnes breaking up the fight. Too bad she didn't have a frying pan to whack Angel with.
 Thank you!  Yes, I felt a big glossy bouquet would be just what Angel would have brought to a grave. And, sadly, he wouldn't have seen anything wrong with that.  Oddly enough, I was toying with a frying-pan idea but that will appear later...... Oops, spoiler!

10/08/2008 10:13 pm
Thanks for another wonderful glimpse into Aggie's head. Her wistful musings about her headstone was very touching, I liked how she closed her thoughts with a smile. “Agnes Kathleen Pringle, Vampire of this Parish” wouldn’t have looked right at all... gotta agree with Aggie there.
The Spike/Angel/Aggie scene was great too. While bopping Angel on the head was fun (great imagery by the way), it was Aggie's little talk with Spike afterward that was the highlight for me... I just love how these two interact with each other. :) Fantastic chapter!
 Thank you so much. Always interested to hear your comments.   Glad you felt the Agnes/Spike talk was OK.  Let's face it, in the months ahead, their friendship is going to be severely tested!

10/08/2008 09:06 pm
Good old Agnes, whaling in with her shopping bag - she's brilliant.  Spike's confrontation with Angel was oddly touching.
 Thank you for commenting, especially your remark about Spike and Angel as that is exactly the tone I was aiming for and wasn't sure if I should have made it more obvious.  I always worry about over-writing - one of my biggest crits of some other fics!

sammywol
10/08/2008 08:40 pm
I sit up here sometimes and when it’s very quiet, a little deer comes out of the wood and I feed it apples and buns. - oh dear God! Poor poor Agnes!

Love the way she still honours Joyce's memory.

Pity she wasn't carrying bricks in that bag. Damn Angeland his damned assumptions anyway. Grrrr!
 Sorry for the sadness.  I almost cried when I realised why the fawn was so tame.  But then again, perhaps it was a different fawn?  Not that I suppose it makes much difference to the fawn!   Yes, Agnes plus heavy shopping bag is a formidable adversary.  As she says, 'nothing wrong with her arms'!

10/08/2008 08:30 pm
Wonderful and pleasant surprise to have a new chapter - I Just LOVE this Spuffverse story - thank you so very much for bringing a very nice noontime moment into my day.    After all the hours of political news I watch everyday, your Aggie is such a great diversion.  I love your lovely Brit - and I love her wonderful and mature understanding of life.

Great cemetery scene - both the poignant memories and care that Agnes brings and her perfect reprimand to the two love struck vamps - very bad behavior from both Spike and Angel/Angelus.

Please "make my Spuffy day" again real soon - once again, I admire your work so much on this piece - things just come together without diversions that do not contribute to your story - well done!
 Thrilled to have your review and know that Agnes still holds a place in your thoughts.  I sometimes feel she is writing this and not me and I get worried about  her and what lies ahead!

Sibb
10/08/2008 08:30 pm
I don't believe that I've reviewed this story before but I have eagerly awaited each update. I just have to congratulate you on writing an absolutely charming story and creating such a lovely character as Agnes. This fic is so original and a delight to read. I'm going to continue looking forward to each and every update.
 Hi, and how very nice to get a new reviewer's opinion on this story.  I am delighted you are enjoying Agnes' story.  Secretly, between you and me, i sometimes forget she wasn't actually there!  I do hope you continue to read and like what happens to her in the future.  I am dreading the next few months!

10/08/2008 06:59 pm
Oh, the poor little fawn! *snifff*

If only Liam and William would spend some time with Anges, together, I'll bet a lot of their problems would be resolved. Nothing like a sensible perspective to clarify things.
 Sorry about the fawn, but perhaps it isn't the one.......

Would Agnes ever be friends with Angel?  No,  Spike is her friend and she would never trust Angel.

IT
10/08/2008 06:53 pm
You've worked your magic way with words again!  I just can't tell you enough how delightful Agnes is.  Her inner dialogue is precious!  "Vampire of the Parish," indeed!  :)  I love how she put Angel and Spike to shame at the end.  And then you just had to add the kitten - you don't miss anything out, do you?  Great work.  As always, looking forward to more (and more of We Will Remember, too, please!).
 So pleased you enjoyed the last chapter.  Yes, Agnes has a very strong idea of what is "proper" in life and death!  Being Spike's friend won't stop her telling him if she things he is wrong.  Oh dear, she is in for a load of grief in the next few months!