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From: buffyfic-owner@xmission.com (buffyfic Digest)
To: buffyfic-digest@xmission.com
Subject: buffyfic Digest V1 #3
Reply-To: buffyfic@xmission.com
Sender: buffyfic-owner@xmission.com
Errors-To: buffyfic-owner@xmission.com
Precedence:
buffyfic Digest Wednesday, July 23 1997 Volume 01 : Number 003
In this issue:
BUFFYFIC: Gone...2/3
BUFFYFIC: Gone... 3a/3
BUFFYFIC: Gone 3b/3
BUFFYFIC: "Synchronicity"--Introduction
[none]
Re: BUFFYFIC: Gone 3b/3
BUFFYFIC: Gone... -A Challenge!
BUFFYFIC: Re: Gone
Re: BUFFYFIC: Re: Gone
Re: BUFFYFIC: Re: Gone OOPSY!
Re: BUFFYFIC: "Gone"....
BUFFYFIC: "Synchronicity" (1b/11)
BUFFYFIC: "Synchronicity" (1a1/11)
See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the buffyfic
or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 10:29:42 -0400
From: Anya <anya@interlinks.net>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Gone...2/3
Gone...
by Anya
anya@interlinks.net
Disclaimer: The characters mentioned below are the property of Joss
Whedon and Warner Bros. No infringement is intended.
*******************************************************
Part Two
Giles silently watched Buffy and Xander as they struggled to deal
with their pain, fears and grief. Xander's announcement had
devastated Buffy, just as Giles had feared it would. And as much as
Giles wanted to offer them some comforting words of hope, he
couldn't.
The two bewildered and hurt teens huddled close on the sofabed in
Giles' office. Their eyes, one set just filled with pain, the others
reddened with tears, pinned to the Watcher, and those gazes felt
like knives into him. "It's like they know I'm keeping the truth
from them." The Watcher silently mused, turning so that his back
faced them.
His own pain was no less, and in many ways, was greater. He had
failed Willow, and in doing so, failed Buffy. How would she react
when she found out Angel was gone too? The Slayer needed
emotional stability to function well, and this tragedy could very
well rob her of the calm she needed.
All the preparation, the studying, the researching he had done, and
it had all been fruitless. Willow had suffered so greatly, and her
sacrifice had been made for Buffy, as had Angel's. Giles''s
sacrifice had been the promise Willow had extracted from him. At
the time, it seemed to be so little, so pointless, but now, as he faced
her friends, he began to see why she had apologized for asking it.
"What happened, Giles. You MUST know something?" Buffy's
whisper was fair near desperate. "Willow's not dead...is she? I
mean...they..." Her voice broke off, and Giles could *hear* the
tears she was fighting back. "They didn't..." The voice dropped to
a squeak of a whisper. "...get her...did they?"
Reaching down, he picked up the thin leather book. The black
leather should have been worn completely, the number of times his
hands had picked at it these past two weeks. It was the only out
Willow had left him, before she ...left.
"I'm sorry, Buffy." Giles turned back to them. "I'm sorry for both
of you. Willow...she...disappeared, as Xander said, two weeks ago.
From what I've been able to determine, her disappearance was not
the result of vampires." *No, the vampires had interfered long
before Willow had vanished forever.* His mind added silently.
Xander dropped his head into his hands, shoulders shaking softly.
"God...god! Where is she?"
"Gone." Giles mentally answered. His promise stayed his tongue.
Buffy reached out to wrap her arm around Xander's shoulders. Her
own grief repressed for her friends needs. "Maybe Angel could
help?" She offered softly, knowing Xander's dislike for the
vampire, but also sensing he would accept whatever aid, from
whatever source, if it would answer what had happened in
Sunnydale two weeks ago.
Across the room, Giles grimaced. His hands turned the book over
endlessly in agitation. Schooling his features, he saw Xander nod,
and begin to stand.
Buffy stood too, her eyes catching the rumpled cream envelope
Xander had dropped earlier. Scooping, she swept it up into her
hands, turning it over to see Willow's crisp strokes marking the
envelope cleanly.
"Xander..did you read this yet?" She asked, trying very hard to be
sensitive to him, but needing to scream her own grief at the same
time.
The Slayerette shook his head negatively. He reached out for it,
and Buffy handed it over. For a long moment, he stared at his
name on the envelope, before turning it over and quickly ripping it
open. Pulling out the handwritten missive, he swallowed hard, and
unfolded it.
"Dear Xander,
If my parents are giving this to you, then I guess the worst really did
happen. I can't be too serious about it right now, 'cause it'll make
me hysterical. Living on the Hellmouth is quite the psychological
challenge, isn't it?
I'll just come out and say this. I don't know how I died, I hope it
was quick, and painless, but I really didn't want to die. There was
so many things I wanted to say or do first. And I didn't want to
leave my best bud, Alexander Harris.
I never said this to you, 'cause I was sure that I would die waiting
for your response, (I won't have to worry 'bout that now...so..) but
I love you. I always did, and I hope I always will.
You've been my best friend, despite everything. You believed in
me, supported me, teased me, played with me when we were kids,
you were my big brother, my confidante, my enemy, my hero, and
the most wonderful person alive. And I loved you. I was always so
scared to say that, 'cause I need you around, and you cared about
someone else.
I hope you can forgive me for leaving you. And I hope you can
remember me with a smile. Right now, it's probably very painful,
and I wish I could hug you and take all the pain away, but I can't.
I'm sorry Xander, I'm so very sorry. Please, be well, live well and
be happy, for me? I love you now, and I'll love you later.
Forever,
Willow
P.S. I even forgive you for the Beach Blast Barbie thing!"
Xander's howl filled the room, and he collapsed to the floor
pounding his fist down, shoulder's heaving. "Noooooooo!" The
grief was so raw, and so anguished, he could feel nothing but pain.
Buffy grabbed the note from a lax hand, quickly reading it. Tears
filled her own eyes. Sitting down beside Xander, she pulled him
into her arms, rocking him like a small child, and smoothing the
hair back from his face.
Giles watched silently, the book in his hands no longer moving, but
clenched in whitening knuckles. He knew what was in that letter,
from Xander's response. In retrospect, Willow should have
destroyed it. If the boy discovered the truth, it would make the
words of that letter even more painful.
And Giles had to believe that despite the precautions that had been
taken, and the promise he had made, that they would discover the
truth. It would hurt, but also give them hope.
And having hope was better than having nothing.
*******************************************************
End Part Two
Comments, criticism and general thoughts are welcomed.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 10:29:50 -0400
From: Anya <anya@interlinks.net>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Gone... 3a/3
Gone.... 3a/3
by Anya
anya@interlinks.net
The characters mentioned below are the property of Joss Whedon, Warner
Bros, and co. No infringement is intended.
********************************************************
Part Three
Buffy wandered around the deserted apartment in stoney silence.
Her face set in a mask of stoney calm, but the eyes were haunted.
The furniture was all gone, and dust had settled on the concrete
floors. It was a barren, lifeless place now, although, nothing living
had dwelt there before.
Aimlessly, she drifted into the bedroom, then the bathroom, and
final the kitchenette. The fridge was unplugged and properly
defrosted, and the water disconnected. The former resident was
not coming back.
Anger seethed through her, a rage like nothing she had ever known
before, turning swiftly, her foot smashed through a cupboard,
weakening the entire counter structure so that the one side
collapsed entirely. And still she felt fury.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!" Her scream echoed off the
walls around her. There was nothing and no one to provide an
answer. Closeing her eyes tightly, she shook her head slowly, and
looked down at her clenched fist. "What happened to them?" She
whispered, sinking down to her knees.
The grief she had repressed for Xander's benefit overwhelmed her
now. Before, it had been containable, she had hope that Angel
could help them find Willow, or prove she wasn't dead ...they could
still save her. But now, even hope was gone, and with it, Buffy's
heart.
The attraction she had felt for Angel was the one constant in her
universe she had denied so faithfully. Or, at least, had tried to.
They hadn't become overly close, that was their mutual decision,
and yet, somehow, she had fallen in love with him. And never told
him.
"I envy Xander..." She realized, wiping away a tear from her face
with a dusty hand. Despite the pain he was feeling, at least Xander
knew that Willow loved him. And that Willow forgave him for not
returning the same level of devotion.
Buffy didn't even have that. Another wave of anger swept through
her, a fury directed at herself, at fate, and only a little at Angel.
She
ached to cry like Xander had, but the anger wouldn't let her. Later,
perhaps, but not now.
Throwing her head back in a silent scream, her fist pounded into
the floorboards by the cupboard. It buckled suddenly, a long stretch
of board flying across the room in response the the inertia against it,
and startling Buffy back to her senses.
Looking at the hole, she cringed to think what the landlord would
say. She scrambled across the floor to grab the wood, and returned
to replace it, or at least to cover the whole. Examining the edges of
the opening, a small white coilbound book caught her eye.
Quickly, and with a squeamish grimace, she fetched it out of the
hole, half expecting a rat or something to jump out of there too.
Buffy slid the piece of wood back ontop the hole, startled to see
how well it fit. "It's not broken!" She realized. "It's a panel for a
hiding spot!" Grabbing the book again, she jerked it open. Her
eyes briefly touched on the name on the inside cover before flying
wide. "Oh. My. God." She whispered.
Buffy licked her lips anxiously, and weighed down her options.
She could read it here, or take it to read with Xander. Curiousity
ached in her, the desire for answers, but her compassion won out.
Closing the notebook, she left the apartment, turning on the
threshold for a final look before locking the door.
********************************************************
None of the parental units were at home at the Harris residence. If
either of Xander's Mom or Dad had heard that Willow was
presumed dead, they would have never left their son alone. But,
their ignorance gave Xander time to sink into a fabulous
depression.
Sitting in his the living room, he just stared at the letter in his
hands
unseeingly. Willow had loved him, and he hadn't known. She had
felt so much for him, and all he had done was rant and rave about
how crazy he was about Buffy. He had practiced asking Buffy out
on Willow...how cruel was that?
And she had still loved him.
It made Xander want someone to hit him around for a few hours.
To give him a physical pain that matched the emotional. She had
loved him, and had been so insecure she couldn't tell him in life.
She had LOVED him, for Christ sake. She could have been that
part of his life that people always hoped for, a best friend and a
lover..the perfect other half!
And now, she was gone. And he was alone.
Again.
Always.
His mind kept reminding him of what kind emptiness his life would
now have without Willow. Jesse's death had been painful, he was a
bud. But he hadn't been like Willow. Willow was everything. She
was his soul's sister, his pal, his study-buddy, the person he had
whispered all his secrets to, and who had held them for him.
And she was gone. Forever.
It was self-pity, but he felt abandoned. He wanted to be angry at
Willow, but couldn't, since he betrayed her first. He had went
away when she needed him here.
And he hadn't even sent a post-card. What kind of friend did that?
"A lousy one, that's what kind!" His mind yelled at him. "One that
can even see the most incredible woman alive when she IS alive
and right in front of him! A MORON!"
His head was once more in his hands, and shoulder's shook with
silent dry sobs. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..forgive me, oh God..I'm
sorry!"
So lost was he within his pain, he didn't hear the door open and
close, and he didn't feel the arms slip around him. It was several
minutes before Xander realized that Buffy was again holding him.
Her own eyes seemed red, and reflected much of the same pain he
felt.
"He's gone too." She whispered softly. The 'he' was understood,
and despite Xander's long-standing dislike of Angel, he
instinctively knew that Buffy was hurting as much as he was.
He couldn't offer sympathy, it took all his strength to not fall apart
again. Angel had been their only hope for answers. If Giles knew
something, he wasn't forthcoming. "What are we gonna do?"
Xander heard his voice break, and yet, didn't feel his ego protest it
with shame. The ego was so trashed, it didn't exist anymore.
Buffy snuffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I...it
may be nothing, but I found this at Angel's apartment." She pulled
the small notebook off the ground. "I..I'm hoping it'll tell us
something. I don't know how it got where it did, unless..." Her
voice trailed off. Forcing herself to stare directly into Xander's
eyes, she whispered, "It's Willow's journal."
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 10:29:55 -0400
From: Anya <anya@interlinks.net>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Gone 3b/3
Gone...3b/3
by Anya
anya@interlinks.net
continued from 3a---------------
Buffy snuffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I...it
may be nothing, but I found this at Angel's apartment." She pulled
the small notebook off the ground. "I..I'm hoping it'll tell us
something. I don't know how it got where it did, unless..." Her
voice trailed off. Forcing herself to stare directly into Xander's
eyes, she whispered, "It's Willow's journal."
*****************************
August 12, 1997
Dear Diary,
I can't believe Xander and Buffy have been gone two weeks! It
feels like YEARS! I've been so lonely, and so bored, I've taken to
helping Giles set the library back up. They finished reconstruction
last week, and he's needed the help.
The new fixtures are amazing. And Giles even made sure that the
new computer had every gadget I've every dreamed of. I think it's
his way of ensuring that I do his computer research for him! Oh
well, whatever the reason, I love my new toy! (Did I say mine?
Oops! I meant, the school's new toy. That's right! ;-) )
Well, I guess that's it, diary. Life's pretty boring, without Buffy
around.
Bye!
*****************************
August 14, 1997
Dear Diary,
I hope someone will be able to read this one day. I hope it's me,
and that I'll be able to laugh about all this.
But I can't right now. I'm scared. I don't know what's happening
to me!
I left the library Monday night a little late. Giles packed me with
holy water and a stake, despite the fact there's been no ACTIVITY
for three weeks. We thought it was safe, and we were wrong.
I don't remember the who, just the what. Four vamps grabbed me.
If it had been two, I'd have been okay. But..it wasn't..and now..I..
I'm sorry..I can't do this! I'm scared. I'm so scared. I don't
understand what's happening, Giles hasn't been able to find out
much about this...CAUSE IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!
Angel is trying, but he doesn't know either. If he hadn't found me
when he did, God knows what else Colin would have done to me.
God. Oh, I do hope there is one. And I hope He takes pity on me.
I'm so scared. And I'm so alone. I just want a chance to say
goodbye, and I'm not going to get it...am I?
*****************************
August 16, 1997
It's happened. We rather suspected it would, and I'm surprised at
how calm I am. Is this part of the changes? Is this a real calm, or
artificial?
Am I losing my soul?
Angel says the blood in my system is artificially induced. I can't
loose my soul 'cause I never accepted it. He says it's the same
principle as a vampire needing 'invited' across a home's threshold.
Without acknowledgment and agreement, the demon has no power.
And he and Giles both agree that since the blood was forced into
me, and not by my ingesting it, a demon cannot enter my being.
So, why am I changing? Why can't they answer that? Why am I
having bloodlusts?
Why is my reflection fading?
*****************************
August 17, 1997
Dear Diary,
I have to leave. I can't stay here. I wanted to KILL that man. I
ached to drain him entirely and hear his heartbeat stop!
What kind of monster am I becoming? I didn't diary, I didn't even
touch him. But I learned something horrible today. If I hadn't had
supplies here, supplies that Angel has been providing, I would have
cheerfully ripped that poor man's throat out.
Angel says I'm wrong. I don't 'change' like a vampire does. My
features remain constant, and I can move easily within the sunlight.
Does that make me a supermonster then? I can hunt during the day,
and my alleged prey would never suspect it?
I feel guilt, and fury at these urges. I'm glad. It means my soul
hasn't left..yet. But it still might.
I hate Colin. I hate him with all my being. And if I drink ANY
vampires blood, it will be his heartblood!
HE did this to me! He captured me, he tortured me, he drained me
of all my blood!
And then he tried to make me drink his. The little child-shaped
MONSTER! He taunted me, said he'd make a creation the Slayer
could NOT slay. Damn him.
He's right. The Slayer will not slay me. I'll do it. It won't take
much to shove a stake through my own heart. My willpower is still
mine, and my survival instinct is not so strong as to refuse my souls
desire. I won't just leave Sunnydale, I'll leave this unholy
existence entirely. The way I should have in the first place.
I should have died. I should have been allowed to die by that little
bastard. I guess I'm living proof that you can make a vampire, of
sorts, by injecting blood directly into their stomach.
It's funny, I was never afraid of needles before then. I am now,
although I'll never need another shot after tonight!
Angel and Giles are planning on doing more research tonight.
Works for me. 'Cause tonight, me and my stake are having a
bonding moment.
And I still won't have had the chance to say good bye. I hope Buffy
and Xander will realize how much I love them, and that I'm doing
this to spare them even more pain.
I hope they forgive me.
And God, I hope you take me in.
Goodnight, and Goodbye.
Forever and Always,
Willow Rosenburg.
*******************************************************
They were both bawling by the end of the journal. Horrified,
anguished and intensely saddened. It was the confirmation of their
worst fears. That Willow had died. And it was compounded by an
even greater tragedy, she had died alone, by her own hand, and
intensely scared.
Closing the coil book gently, Buffy set it down with reverence on
the floor before standing. Her eyes were puffy, and face strained,
but the set of her jaw spoke of purpose.
"Let's go Xander." She said, her throat raw from all the crying.
"We have most of our answers, but...I want more. And Giles' has
them."
********************************************************
He had been expecting them. From the moment Buffy had left for
Angel's, Giles' had known she would return wanting answers, or
just plain comfort. He hadn't been sure about Xander, but had
conceded it a likelihood.
They were showing wear from all the bad news. Their faces were
far too haggard for their tender years, and the burden's on their
souls fair near shone through. It was a burden Giles' was all too
familiar with, but could not lift from them.
He sat down heavily as they stalked over to him. Buffy held out a
coil notebook as if it was proof. Taking it from her, and flipping
quickly through it, he realized it was just that.
Proof of his compliance in a conspiracy of silence.
Sighing, he mentally apologized to Willow and Angel. It was a
promise that he would be forced to break. And in the long run, he
was sure that Willow would forgive him.
"She's not precisely dead." He offered softly. "She did try to stake
herself. Angel stopped her." Giles had been there, he had watched
in absolute horror as Angel raced to grab the stake from Willow's
hands.
It had taken the entire night to convince her of their plans. And
another day and night to stage the evidence of her death. After
that, the two of them and quietly left Sunnydale for Europe, and
hopefully the Rom.
It was Willow's fears for her soul that endangered her most. So, if
a curse could restore Angel's soul, surely a blessing should anchor
Willows.
"She will never return here, Buffy, Xander. Not in our lifetime."
They were sitting now, seeing the exhausted weariness in his face,
and hearing the pain in his voice. "I couldn't find anything to
reverse what the Anointed One did to her. And she can't live like
that, not here. Not near you. The love she bears for you both won't
let her become a constant reminder of what YOU will see as your
failure."
"You didn't fail her. You never could. Neither one of you." Giles
sadly pinned his gaze on them both. "Angel and I bear that
responsibility, not you."
"I should never have let her stay here as late as she did that night,
and Angel should have gone looking for her the moment we knew
she was missing." His shoulder's slumped. "We failed her. And in
failing her, we owe her."
"Angel is with her. He will not leave her. The hope is to find
more of the Rom. Perhaps they can save Willow. If so, she'll
return. Until then..." The Watcher let his voice trail off.
"Until then, they are both lost to us." Turning back to Buffy, he
extended the slim black book. "This is my journal on those events.
You are free to read them. It won't be gentle, or nice, but it is an
honest account."
Standing slowly, he let his hands rest flush on the table top, head
bowed. "I promised Willow to keep this information from you.
Please, respect that I can tell you nothing more. I have betrayed her
twice now, do not make me betray her three times."
The library was silent, as the Watcher left two sad, lonely friends to
grieve a lost third.
***********************The End**************************
<VBG> I know. I left this finishing with NO RESOLUTION! It's
cruel, and I feel no shame.
This entire brief story is the result on the "who would like to see
Xander with Buffy". I can't picture it either, without Willow and
Angel being out of the scene. Now they are, can you still picture it?
Cheers!
Anya
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 12:50:11 -0400
From: GILBERTK@MTC.MID.TEC.SC.US
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Synchronicity"--Introduction
"Synchronicity"--Introduction
by Katherine Gilbert
Okay, let me give you a brief introduction to the following
story. It's a Buffy-VR.5 crossover ("Not original, I'll grant
you, but. . ."). It also follows up, sort of, on the events of
a previous VR.5 story of mine, "Pasts Imperfect" (if you'd like
a copy of this, write me, and I'll send it, or you can find it
at Worstwitch's VR.5 site).
As in Buffy (or VR.5), some violent things will happen here, but
you'll get almost nothing in the way of gory details. You also
won't get any really strong language. Consider this a PG or PG-14
(at the *absolute* furthest), if you like to be warned about such
things.
To catch you up on where the VR.5 people are (and, if you need
an introduction to VR.5, see below): Sydney is out of her coma,
and she, Oliver, Sam, Duncan, Joseph, Nora, and the Keeper (Bill)
have been running from the Committee for two years now. There
won't be too many allusions to my previous story (or another I'm
planning), so please be patient. :) Much of my characterization of
Sam, however, will come from my previous story (as we really
saw little of her in the tv show).
As far as Buffy goes, I've compiled together aspects of both the
film and tv Buffy (expect mentions of Hemery High and Merrick--her
previous Watcher, among other things). The characters and setting
are tv Buffy, but I take bits of the movie as her background.
This is also set between the events of "Invisible Girl (Out of Sight,
Out of Her Mind)" and "Prophecy Girl." Here, there are two days
between these two episodes; this story begins later on the day
IG ends and ends a few hours before the events of PG.
The characters in this story are not mine, and no copyright
infringement is intended.
Please send any comments to: Gilbertk@mtc.mid.tec.sc.us.
Special thanks to my sister, Armida, for listening to the story
as it was in progress and for always encouraging me.
VR.5 INTRO. (Skip if you know it):
VR.5 is a computer realm which reads the electromagneticism of the
brain to create a very dream-like environment, where the person
running the session is open to all of the information in the mind of
anyone they take in, although the operator's mind is also open
to be searched (as the opening of the show says, "Anything in
your subconscious can be pulled into VR.5, anything in anyone
else's subconscious"). The session only takes a few seconds,
although it can seem like *much* longer (much like a dream).
The person who is taken in secondarily to VR.5 will not clearly
remember the session, however; they only know that the phone rang
and no one was there. They are left with impressions only. You
have to be retinal-scanned into the system to be able to run it
or remember.
The main operator of the system in the series is Sydney Bloom,
whose father created the system. Also appearing in this story
with her is Oliver Sampson (played by Anthony Stewart Head--the
same actor who plays Giles, in case anyone didn't know). Oliver
was once Sydney's Keeper--her protector--assigned to her by the
Committee. The Committee is a shady, super-powerful group who
seem to have their fingers in all sorts of metaphorical pies.
They have a tendency to kill anyone who gets in their way.
Oliver was a Keeper as well as an agent for them (and a few
other unnamed espionage groups).
Sydney's fraternal twin sister, Samantha, was (along with their
father) kidnapped by the Committee and held for 17 years. Duncan
is a childhood friend of both sisters.
Jackson Boothe, who will get mentioned here as well, was an
assassin (whether wholly for the Committee or freelance was never
entirely clear). He was taken into VR.5 several times by Sydney,
who unwittingly helped him. He ended up killing her first
friendly contact in the Committee (before Oliver)--Dr. Frank Morgan.
As I said earlier, this group is on the run from the Committee
now, which Oliver (obviously) no longer works for.
Hopefully, anything else you need to know will be covered in
the story. Enjoy!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 13:09:18 -0600
From: owner-buffyfic@xmission.com
Subject: [none]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 16:30:16 -0400
From: Virginia Eveland <dscully@erols.com>
Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: Gone 3b/3
Anya, cruel is not sufficient! Surely there will be some sequel?
Please? I can beg really really well....
- --
Virginia Eveland dscully@erols.com UIN 1517244
Pretender,Slayerette, Bab5, X-Phile
SYX, AGML, LGW, BLA, OBSSE, GASP
Keeper of Giles' Inner Child
Keeper of Buffy's Three Gold Hoop Earrings
Keeper of Little Buffy's Dogeared Copy of 'Horton Slew a Who'
- --
Visit the Buffy ICQ List
http://www.erols.com/dscully/buffy.htm
- --
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 22:09:44 -0400
From: Anya <anya@interlinks.net>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Gone... -A Challenge!
A Challenge!
Hi! This is primarily directed to those people who read my story
"Gone..." and were seeking a sequel.
I can't believe the volume of response this story evoked! It blows me
away! To all those who wrote, thank you. All your comments meant a
great deal to me, and I tried to answer most of them!
I have no intention of writing a sequel to that story. Sorry! In my
mind, it ended just where I wanted it to. It was a sudden inspired
response to the "I would like to see Buffy with Xander, but ONLY with
Willow and Angel gone" line of thought produced by Cat! I wasn't
interested in putting Buffy with Xander, but, I couldn't resist removing
Willow and Angel. So I did. However, as I said, the responses craving
follow-up to 'Gone...' were overwhelming, so..I thought of something
rather different to try.
I would like to set a Challenge for all those who would like to
participate. And the Challenge is: to write a sequel to Gone... Write
it any which way you wish, but take the story as I finished it, and move
it to where you would like to see it go!
Unless you have objections, all responses to the Challenge will be
archived on my fanfic site (of course) in a 'Challenges' section. If
you decide you'd like to try this, then please let me know. I really
would like to see how this goes!
Cheers!
- -Anya
anya@interlinks.net
http://SlayerFanfic.alz.com
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 22:27:25 -0700
From: Matthew Hammond <Mhammond@yesic.com>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Re: Gone
A most excelent story! As a guy you'll be surprised at me saying this
but this story brought a tear to my eye, a lump in my throat, and a
acke in my heart! I fealt as if I was Xander or Buffy and my best freind
had gone away due to a tragic sercumstance! Keep up the good work!
I think You could have a future in writing. Weather it be story's movies
or whatever. Hope we'll see more from you in the Future!
--
Mhammond@yesic.com
Keeper of Buffy's Quick Thinking and Ingenuity..........Matthew Hammond
"Reality is a Crutch for People Who Can't Handle Science Fiction"
Finaly my own page at http://www.angelfire.com/ca/estefazpage/index.html
P.S. My picture is on my page!
- --
Mhammond@yesic.com
Keeper of Buffy's Quick Thinking and Ingenuity..........Matthew Hammond
"Reality is a Crutch for People Who Can't Handle Science Fiction"
Finaly my own page at http://www.angelfire.com/ca/estefazpage/index.html
P.S. My picture is on my page!
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 23:31:28 -0400
From: Anya <anya@interlinks.net>
Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: Re: Gone
buffyfic@xmission.com wrote:
>
> A most excelent story! As a guy you'll be surprised at me saying this
> but this story brought a tear to my eye, a lump in my throat, and a
> acke in my heart! I fealt as if I was Xander or Buffy and my best freind
> had gone away due to a tragic sercumstance! Keep up the good work!
> I think You could have a future in writing. Weather it be story's movies
> or whatever. Hope we'll see more from you in the Future!
> --
Hi!
Well, thank you very much! I'm glad that Gone... was enjoyable, or
powerful enough to move you!
Actually, I'm surprised by how MANY people said I had them with tears in
their eyes as they read it! And quite a few of those folks were males!
In a way, it's very flattering, since it means that story evoked a
tremendous amount of emotion, and had a grace to it to make that emotion
sincere.
I am planning on writing more, and actually, I have a novel that I'm
slowly working on. Who knows, you may find yourself buying a book by me
from a real bookstore!
Cheers!
Anya
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 23:33:08 -0400
From: Anya <anya@interlinks.net>
Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: Re: Gone OOPSY!
I'm so sorry!
Me and my send button bonded too soon! I was intending to send that
privately! It will NEVER happen again! Honestly! I swear it!
- --Anya
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 23:41:21 -0400
From: koch@northnet.org
Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: "Gone"....
Hachy-machy! Girl, you are the queen of sorrow. I think I'm gonna cry...
*sniffle*. That was, quite possibly, THE saddest story I've ever read. I
bow before the mistress of all angst.
As for your challenge, I for one, will not be taking it on. First of all,
I really don't think I could write I sequal capable of doing your wonderful
piece justice. Second, it's just not really my thing. I specialize more
in the area of high fantasy/action, with the angst entwined. Basically,
I'm saying I'm not good enough to take your challenge. I'm not really sure
of anyone is. "Gone" is, and I say this honestly, quite possibly the
*best* Buffy FanFic I've read so far. Bravo.
Totally off this topic, I'm just wondering if anyone caught the teeny bit
of foreshadowing I did in "Pyromancer: Endgame" which connects to one of
the events in "The Weapon Part IV". Anybody?
- --Viashino, Crying his Eyes Out--
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 7:34:21 -0400
From: GILBERTK@MTC.MID.TEC.SC.US
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Synchronicity" (1b/11)
Introductions, etc. in (surprise, surprise) the Introduction.
I only repeat that these characters are not mine, and no
infringement of any sort is intended. Please send any comments
to Gilbertk@mtc.mid.tec.sc.us.
*******************************************************************
Synchronicity (Part 1b)
by Katherine Gilbert
About 15 minutes earlier, Sydney, Duncan, and Samantha had been
wandering the dark streets of Sunnydale looking for Oliver for about
45 minutes. So far, they'd had no luck.
As they got closer to the town's mortuary, however, they saw car
headlights approaching. "Hey, what d'ya know?" Duncan commented.
"There is life in this `burg."
The vehicle stopped about 20 feet away. "That is one God-ugly
car," Sam noted before stopping to stare at the person who got
out of it.
Sydney let out a sigh of relief. "Oliver!" she called, as she
ran over to him.
The man didn't seem to notice her, until she was very close.
He looked at her, a bit startled, and fingered the cross in his
pocket. "Pardon?" he said.
Duncan and Sam joined them. Sam examined the car more closely.
"I thought you weren't going to steal a car here. Why would you
pick such an obvious one?"
"Hey, Oliver, that is a seriously ivory-tower outfit," Duncan
noted, looking at the man's wire-rimmed glasses, tweed pants and
jacket, check shirt, sweater vest, and mismatched tie.
Syd smiled. "He's dressed like this before," she noted, remembering
his previous travelling disguises. She reached up to stroke the
maroon paisley scarf he had tucked in his jacket. "I haven't seen
this before, though."
The faux Oliver, who was more used to being addressed as Rupert
Giles, stepped back from her touch. "Do I know you?" he asked.
He was trying to remember if this was some weird American holiday
- --Halloween or April Fool's Day--one of those days when Americans
seemed to act even more strangely than they were usually wont to.
He didn't think it was.
Sydney looked back at Duncan and Sam quickly. She was getting
worried but was trying to hide it. "Cut it out, Oliver," she
smiled. "Don't play games."
Giles eyed them all slowly. They didn't *look* dangerous,
but looks were deceiving where evil was concerned. Maybe, too,
they were the messengers Buffy was after tonight; there were only
supposed to be two, but one could never be sure about these things.
He pulled the cross out of his pocket and held it out at them.
The three Americans just stared at him. Sydney was getting
frightened. "Oliver, what's wrong with you?"
Duncan raised an eyebrow at him. "I think you've seen one too
many Hammer horror films, Dr. Van Helsing," he muttered.
"Um, sorry," Giles said sheepishly. He was about to put the
cross away, when he heard growling from behind him. He turned
with the cross, as a vampire came toward him. The vampire reeled
back at the sight of the symbol. "Run!" Giles yelled.
The three Americans had been staring at the strange attacker,
but Sydney decided that flight probably was the best plan and
took off with Giles. Duncan backed away. Sam, however, pulled
out a gun.
"No!" Giles called, stopping a bit behind her. "It won't work!"
Sam stared at him. Giles could see that flight wasn't part of
her makeup. "Here," he said, tossing a stake to her, "aim for
the heart."
Sam was convinced that Oliver had lost his mind, but she took
the stake. The attacker lunged toward her, past Duncan. The
vampire had decided that Duncan would make too easy a meal. Sam
looked like much more fun; he liked a challenge.
"Grab his arms!" Sam yelled to Duncan, who was now behind the
vampire.
Duncan, a bit tentatively, did so, as Sam ran toward the attacker
to build up momentum with her stake. With a dim sort of pleasure,
she managed to stake the attacker in the heart.
Duncan screamed, "Sam--no!" horrified to be part of a murder.
As soon as he got out the words, though, the attacker disappeared
in a shower of green, most of which got on him and Sam. Duncan
blinked.
"Okay," Sam said, turning to the man she thought to be Oliver,
"what the hell is going on here?"
Giles swallowed and started to approach her, while Sydney stood
near him, stunned. "It's a rather complex story," he began but
was distracted quickly by the sounds of gunfire and yelling.
Heart-rending terror took hold of him. "Buffy," he whispered
before running in the direction of the noise. His new companions
followed.
By the time Giles and the Americans reached Oliver, Buffy, and
the others, the action was over. Oliver was staring dumbfoundedly
at Buffy, when he saw Sydney running up to him. He looked relieved.
"At least the entire world isn't insane," he thought.
Sydney looked back at the man in tweed, then at her old protector.
"Oliver!" she called, running up to embrace him.
Oliver breathed a sigh of relief. "Sydney," he said, kissing the
top of her head before releasing her.
Buffy raised an eyebrow. This was very un-Giles, at least as far
as she knew.
Giles, then, ran up to her. "Buffy, are you alright? We heard--
gunshots?"
Buffy shook her head, staring at him. "That was him," she said,
pointing at Oliver. "Giles, what's going on here? Who are they?"
Giles turned to take in Oliver for the first time, as Oliver
released Sydney. Their eyes met, and they both raised an eyebrow at
the other. Then Giles answered Buffy's question: "I haven't the
faintest idea."
[End of Part 1]
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 10:35:47 -0400
From: GILBERTK@MTC.MID.TEC.SC.US
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Synchronicity" (1a1/11)
Arrgh! Sorry, this is the 3rd time I've tried to post this.
Hopefully the parts will prove digestible this time. Sorry for the
confusion. Introductions, etc. in (surprise, surprise) the Introduction.
I only repeat that these characters are not mine, and no
infringement of any sort is intended. Please send any comments
to Gilbertk@mtc.mid.tec.sc.us.
*******************************************************************
Synchronicity (Part 1a1)
by Katherine Gilbert
It had been almost two years since they had started running from
the Committee. In that time, they'd pulled off a few minor coups,
exorcised a few inner demons, and learned to work together better
as a team. There had been some close calls and some truly
terrifying moments. Even with their victories, though, the
Committee still survived; the labyrinth had only gotten deeper.
And they were still on the run.
Memories, emotions were assaulting Sydney Bloom, as she paced
in her cheap motel room. Oliver had left her to wait for her
sister and Duncan, who were scheduled to have arrived hours ago,
while he scoped out the town in search of a lead they had picked
up on--their reason for being here. Hours had passed; night had
fallen, and, still, Sam and Duncan hadn't arrived, and Oliver
hadn't returned.
Sydney stalked over to the bed, plopped down on it, and hit a
nearby pillow. "God!" she muttered to herself. "I *hate* waiting!"
Sydney was beginning to stew badly when she finally heard a soft
tap on the door. Too much experience had taught her not to just
fling it open. She checked the peephole, then, thankfully, let
in Duncan and Sam.
"Syd, God, I was beginning to think we'd never see you again,"
Duncan said, hugging her, as he entered. Even though they'd
been splitting up to travel in couples for a few years now,
occasionally switching pairings to keep anyone following them
on their toes, Duncan's heartfelt relief at seeing Syd safe at
each new place never dimmed. The thought which still gave him
the most nightmares--even more than having the Committee catch
up with them--was the idea that he might arrive at a meeting
place one day, and she'd never show up. As deeply in love as
he was with Samantha, it was the thought of having Sydney
harmed which terrified him the most.
Sydney's exasperation died down slightly upon seeing them, but
she was still agitated. She returned Duncan's embrace and then
hugged her sister. "What took you two so long?"
"Do you have any idea what the bus service to this town is like?"
Sam answered. "It's like going into a blackhole or something."
She looked around. "Where's Oliver?"
Sydney shook her head. "I don't know! He left hours ago, but I
haven't heard anything since."
"Hey, no wonder you're so tense," Duncan said, coming up to
put a hand on her arm.
"It's not just that," Sydney returned, putting her hand on his
upper arm but then pulling away. "I can't believe how close to
L.A. we are. I mean, this has *got* to be one of the *stupidest*
moves we've made in the past few years." She sat on the bed
and slouched over, with her elbows on her knees, looking down
at the floor. "I'm just glad Mom and Dad--and Bill--didn't come
as well."
Duncan sat down next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll be okay, Syd. . . I mean, it's not like Sunnydale's that
dangerous a place." Sydney looked up at him. "And we should
be enough out of the city to be safe," he smiled.
"I guess," she returned. "I just wish Oliver would come back."
Sam seemed to be assessing the situation. "How long ago did he
leave?" she asked.
"About five hours," Sydney responded.
Sam and Duncan exchanged a brief look. "Have you two stolen a
car here?" Sam continued.
"No, Oliver thought it might be too obvious, in a town this
size," Sydney told them.
"So, he's on foot?" Duncan asked.
"I guess," Sydney replied.
"Well, let's go look for him, then," Duncan suggested. "It
didn't look like there was too much town to cover."
"What if he comes back here?" Sydney asked.
"I'll leave a brief note," Sam responded. "He can wait, if
he gets back first."
Sydney wasn't entirely sure this was a good idea, but waiting
any longer, she decided, would probably drive her insane. She
agreed.
[End of Part 1a1; move on to part 1a2; sorry for the confusion!]
------------------------------
End of buffyfic Digest V1 #3
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