07/30/2009 07:47 pm
I struggle with season 6 Spuffy because the way Spike choose to try to help her is so controversial. Is he dragging her into the dark to make her love him or does just want her to come to terms with the darkness that is inherent in her nature? Does he withstand her abuse because of his own experiences with torment and abuse in his past with Angel and Dru or because he thinks that fighting her may have the wrong effect and cause her even more pain? Is he just her punching bag or is he her only source of peace? Spuffy is endlessly debatable...the hallmark of a great story.
In your story it seems that Spike is making a stand, fighting back if you will - letting her know what she has become, but in the end he is still taking her crap and enabling, as he doesn't press her to deal with her pain and continues to just get her off (and get her thru her day). The fragile dance of love, always pushing and pulling, giving and taking, usually in a rhythm that takes you nowhere but in circles...until the song changes or the music stops.-
Your stories do them justice...seeing past their brutality and pain and getting to the deeper issues that are hidden from the eye of a casual observer. Is Spike weak because he takes her abuse or is he strong because he allows her the privilege of using him? Sometimes it is easy to blame one or the other...but I feel Spuffy are counterparts...truly...so they are both victim and the criminal. Your stories take on both sides of this romance, and make what we never got to see on screen plausible. Thank you for giving a voice to the parts of the story Joss was not able to tell.
In your story it seems that Spike is making a stand, fighting back if you will - letting her know what she has become, but in the end he is still taking her crap and enabling, as he doesn't press her to deal with her pain and continues to just get her off (and get her thru her day). The fragile dance of love, always pushing and pulling, giving and taking, usually in a rhythm that takes you nowhere but in circles...until the song changes or the music stops.-
Your stories do them justice...seeing past their brutality and pain and getting to the deeper issues that are hidden from the eye of a casual observer. Is Spike weak because he takes her abuse or is he strong because he allows her the privilege of using him? Sometimes it is easy to blame one or the other...but I feel Spuffy are counterparts...truly...so they are both victim and the criminal. Your stories take on both sides of this romance, and make what we never got to see on screen plausible. Thank you for giving a voice to the parts of the story Joss was not able to tell.
07/30/2009 06:52 pm
I struggle with season 6 Spuffy because the way Spike choose to try to help her is so controversial. Is he dragging her into the dark to make her love him or does just want her to come to terms with the darkness that is inherent in her nature? Does he withstand her abuse because of his own experiences with torment and abuse in his past with Angel and Dru or because he thinks that fighting her may have the wrong effect and cause her even more pain? Is he just her punching bag or is he her only source of peace? Spuffy is endlessly debatable...the hallmark of a great story.
In your story it seems that Spike is making a stand, fighting back if you will - letting her know what she has become, but in the end he is still taking her crap and enabling, as he doesn't press her to deal with her pain and continues to just get her off (and get her thru her day). The fragile dance of love, always pushing and pulling, giving and taking, usually in a rhythm that takes you nowhere but in circles...until the song changes or the music stops.-
Your stories do them justice...seeing past their brutality and pain and getting to the deeper issues that are hidden from the eye of a casual observer. Is Spike weak because he takes her abuse or is he strong because he allows her the privilege of using him? Sometimes it is easy to blame one or the other...but I feel Spuffy are counterparts...truly...so they are both victim and the criminal. Your stories take on both sides of this romance, and make what we never got to see on screen plausible. Thank you for giving a voice to the parts of the story Joss was not able to tell.
In your story it seems that Spike is making a stand, fighting back if you will - letting her know what she has become, but in the end he is still taking her crap and enabling, as he doesn't press her to deal with her pain and continues to just get her off (and get her thru her day). The fragile dance of love, always pushing and pulling, giving and taking, usually in a rhythm that takes you nowhere but in circles...until the song changes or the music stops.-
Your stories do them justice...seeing past their brutality and pain and getting to the deeper issues that are hidden from the eye of a casual observer. Is Spike weak because he takes her abuse or is he strong because he allows her the privilege of using him? Sometimes it is easy to blame one or the other...but I feel Spuffy are counterparts...truly...so they are both victim and the criminal. Your stories take on both sides of this romance, and make what we never got to see on screen plausible. Thank you for giving a voice to the parts of the story Joss was not able to tell.
pearlseed
12/13/2008 11:21 pm
Oh.My.Word. You have a unique ability to write from between the lines. You saw the same piece of film I did and you figured out why. I cannot imagine being in so much pain that outside pain at least balances it out. WoW--sorry I didn't find this until today (just read your "Cross" story yesterday). Love Spike in his understanding, know there is no quick fix for either he or Buffy. She's such a sad lost little girl in some ways--very interesting and sad and wonderful story--thank you so much, darlin' one.
Heh. Picked up on that, eh? My favorite fics to write are from between the lines. I've got a whole collection of them over on my LJ with lots of different pairings. I have a background in journalism, so I think I'm just drawn to trying to find the hidden stories and motivation that help explain the actions we saw on screen.
I still really enjoy this fic and I can see how "Cross/Burn Marks" fits as a nice complimentary piece to this one. I explore pain in similar ways. I really like Spike's characterization in this because he doesn't go easy on Buffy, but at the same time he can take a step back and see in what a bad way she is. It's a real balancing act for them. And you're very right - Buffy is the epitomy of sad lost little girl. It makes me feel for her so much. Things are so hard for her. Her search for relief, however misguided, is just heartbreaking. Thanks for reading!
Sarah Aless
11/11/2007 06:34 pm
Hi, I had to review this fic because it is just so breathtakingly wonderful. I love the way you have captured both characters as they were at this point in s6 so perfectly; the struggle in and between them both. I wish Spike had stood up to Buffy in S6 and personally have long been of the opinion that she wanted him to too - even though she probably wasn't consciously aware of it. This broke my heart to read.........but in a good way (nonsensical I know but I think you get my drift!)I make it a rule generally to never demand from authors because I know that r/l and other commitments/plot bunnies/etc etc can really kick your ass but it would be sooo soooo good if you could write more of this. I just can't stand for it to end here!!
Great job!
Great job!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Sarah. You mentioned how RL can kick our asses and this week definately has been a killer for me. Your thoughts and reactions to this piece made me smile.
This particular fic I envisioned as a longer season 6 re-write, but if you've seen most of my work, I generally write one-shots because it's all I have the time for. There is a second chapter of this fic written, but I was never happy with it and never posted. Because I personally find it difficult to sustain longer story arcs - I'm more of the self-contained, big emotional bang for your buck type -if I were to continue this it would likely be in a fractured series of one-shots.
Your enthusiasm is wonderful and encouraging nonetheless. Hopefully there will be time at some point to come back to this, but unfortunately that won't be anytime soon. My next fic on the docet is Giles/Faith, a far cry from Spuffy!
This particular fic I envisioned as a longer season 6 re-write, but if you've seen most of my work, I generally write one-shots because it's all I have the time for. There is a second chapter of this fic written, but I was never happy with it and never posted. Because I personally find it difficult to sustain longer story arcs - I'm more of the self-contained, big emotional bang for your buck type -if I were to continue this it would likely be in a fractured series of one-shots.
Your enthusiasm is wonderful and encouraging nonetheless. Hopefully there will be time at some point to come back to this, but unfortunately that won't be anytime soon. My next fic on the docet is Giles/Faith, a far cry from Spuffy!
08/16/2007 05:19 pm
This was very powerful and disturbing all at the same time. Please do continue at your leisure.
Thanks for reading, Joyce. So many other little projects have kept springing up, but I have been writing a bit more of this on the side. I won't be posting anytime soon though.
zombiegirl
05/27/2007 01:09 am
Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Execellent start. Looking forward to more.
Heh, I'm glad you're so enthusiatsic, zombiegirl! Thanks for reading and reviewing. More to come soonish.
05/26/2007 10:59 pm
Oooo, I really hope you continue with this when you get the time. Very good, providing us with an insight not only to Buffy but Spike as well. Thanks for the read.
Thanks for reading and commenting, GB. I definately will return to this and am plotting the next chapter. As for providing insight, I really love getting into the characters heads and trying to suss out what they're really feeling, especially Buffy since we never really saw what she truly felt about Spike and her emotional state. She was always so stoic on the show and only said to Spike what she wanted him to hear, which often wasn't the truth.
05/25/2007 03:09 am
fantastic beginning. thank you for the powerful read.
My pleasure, vladt. And thank you for reviewing.
lauren
05/24/2007 03:47 pm
why does it end like this why cant it you know be a happy ending with smiles and less flowing off the dark end :(
Well, considering where both Buffy and Spike were at this point in time in Season 6, I think a happy ending would have been impossible and unrealistic in this circumstance. The fic isn't over and it wouldn't be much of a story if they resolved all of their problems in the first chapter. While there will definately be healing, hope and progress for them, you can definately count out a traditionally "happy" ending. I write about angst and dark themes. It's pretty much a given with my fics.
05/24/2007 03:45 pm
wow that was painful...and beautiful....you fully captured the sorrow and need and just the general air of season six spuffy....poor spike, poor buffy, both so broken and hurting....i'm very much looking forward to seeing where you take this, when you get back to it, love :)
As always, I'm tickled pink when I receive a review from you, DoS. I'm really pleased that you thought I captured the tone of the season effectively. It's just music to my ears when I see the words painful and beautiful together in a review too. Thank you, hun. I gotta catch up with FSP!
05/24/2007 03:10 pm
Awesome. Very beautifully done. i get so tired of reading Spuffy fics where the author obviously hates Buffy, yest still pairs her with Spike, and completely trashes and rehashes everything little thing she did wrong, while putting Spike on a bloody pdestal.
But by adding those last few parts, you helped to remind the readers what Buffy was in seaon six. A lost little Slayer girl, with major emotional and psychological problems. Coming back from the dead would do that to a person. Thank you for remembering that, and making the story more believable.
But by adding those last few parts, you helped to remind the readers what Buffy was in seaon six. A lost little Slayer girl, with major emotional and psychological problems. Coming back from the dead would do that to a person. Thank you for remembering that, and making the story more believable.
Thank you for your insightful review, dice. I'm glad you thought I did Buffy's characterization justice here. I really love getting into her head, especially during Season 6, and trying to suss out her motivations and why she is acting and feeling the way she is. It was not an easy time for her. And my depiction of Spike here is a bit more aggressive then most are probably used to seeing him. But he's an emotionally volatile character and had he stood up to Buffy's abuse, I think perhaps it might have looked something like this.
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you read only_passenger's latest Dawn fic "Departure" at her LJ. It is fantastically written and delves into some really original thoughts on Buffy's character. Definately not a happy fic, but it's riveting. And go give her some love if you do read it. She's a gem.
If you haven't already, I highly recommend you read only_passenger's latest Dawn fic "Departure" at her LJ. It is fantastically written and delves into some really original thoughts on Buffy's character. Definately not a happy fic, but it's riveting. And go give her some love if you do read it. She's a gem.
05/24/2007 02:27 pm
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I usually don't like to feel so much sadness when I read--I have a secret yen for happiness, however unrealistic it might be in the Spuffyverse--but for you I can't help but make an exception. The intensity and pain in your stories is almost unbearable for me, but the beauty and passion and incredible, incredible writing keep me right there with you, hanging on every stabbing word. I hope you continue with this, whenever life allows.
Aw, Alia, you made me feel all special *blushes*. Thanks for stepping out of your comfort zone and braving my angst. It can be hazardous terrain. But I never leave my characters in the ditch. Their will be healing and hope, but life is hard and full of pain and they'll have to work through it together. Thank you so much for the lovely and thoughtful review. And I definately will continue this, hopefully in the next few weeks.
05/24/2007 01:40 pm
Great opener -- I always longed for Spike to try to make things better with Buffy, make some sort of stand. Can't wait to see if he does it.
With this fic I wanted to explore what Spike would have done if he had stood up to Buffy, in a manner of speaking, and hadn't let her just walk all over him. As for the next part...Spike will have some surprises up his sleeve for us ;)
B
05/24/2007 01:10 pm
Ooh, I do hope you do end up continuing this. I'll be waiting anxiously but patiently. It was very good, and I love fics that change just one little thing from an episode and show how much can change!
It was very well written and heartbreakingly fitting to their characters and the relationship then.
It was very well written and heartbreakingly fitting to their characters and the relationship then.
I'm glad your on board, B! Thanks for commenting. I will come back to it soonish. Promise. The next part will be a re-write of the social worker conversation. Spike will have some interesting things to say. He just doesn't know when to put his foot in his mouth ;)
05/24/2007 08:25 am
I really liked this story. You have captured the ugly, raw, and rarely tender relationship between Buffy and Spike in season six. When you finally continue this story, I'll certianly be reading it.
Oh yes, I likes the hurt so good. Glad you're on board with it. Lets see if I can make my way back to this in the next three weeks or so. *crosses fingers*
05/24/2007 05:25 am
Awesome. I like the bits you added. You do a really great job of capturing both the taunting, violent Spike from Smashed/Wrecked, and the tender Spike from After Life.
Glad you liked the additions. The bit where Buffy wants Spike to feel the pain too so she won't be alone in her hurt actually was mentioned in a few reviews as the readers favorite part. I'm really glad you suggested I revise that. It seems the explanation made it a bit more compelling. Teamwork! *high five*