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From: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com (buffyfic-digest)
To: buffyfic-digest@lists.xmission.com
Subject: buffyfic-digest V2 #179
Reply-To: $SENDER
Sender: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com
Errors-To: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com
Precedence: bulk
buffyfic-digest Monday, May 11 1998 Volume 02 : Number 179
In this issue:
BUFFYFIC: Charlotte Sometimes (Part 17)
BUFFYFIC: "Reunion" (16/?) by Ingrid
BUFFYFIC: "Future Imperfect" -- Chapter 5 -- (1/1)
BUFFYFIC: "Sweet Surrender" (1/1)
See the end of the digest for information on (un)subscribing to the buffyfic
or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 18:37:04 -0700
From: LadySun <KBleyle@earthlink.net>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Charlotte Sometimes (Part 17)
Charlotte Sometimes (part 17)
He was actually waiting outside the restaurant, as Drusilla's father
locked up the shop and grabbing a bag from the ground, started on his
way.
Angelus hadn't let him get half way through the night air as he
approached his new victim
"Hello Sir," Angelus began "It's such a beautiful night"
"Yes" Replied the man. "We are having lucky weather"
"A lovely night for a walk" His smile was so cunning. Really the man
should have noticed it.
"Yes." Drusilla's father agreed making quick and pleasant conversation
"I love to walk on nights like these, the airs so peaceful."
There was a brief pause "I ought to be on my way"
Dru's father set forth pass Angelus.
"Excuse me. If I may be so bold" Angelus continued quickening his
stride to keep up with the man.
Drusilla's father turned to stare at this stranger
"I was just wondering, what's in the bag?"
"Oh," Dru's father smiled "just some meats and such, fresh from the
shop."
Angelus smiled.
"For your family?"
The man turned around suddenly feeling uneasy. "Yes" He replied trying
to sound polite.
"I'll make sure that they get them for you" He was still smiling when
Dru's father looked up at him, completely enraged.
But he made the mistake of blinking once. Angelus' eyes turning into
grotesque wrinkles.
Dru's father grabbed under his belt, smacking Angelus across the face
with his knife.
The demon grabbed his arm, listening with ludicrous fascination to the
breaking sounds of his victims wrist was crushed under the impact, in
quite a few places.
He quickly savored the scream of agony that escaped the lips of his
victim "Now look what you did." Angelus yelled turning the man so their
faces nearly met. Angelus' cheek bleed from the wound inflicted.
"Demon!" Dru's father yelled as loudly as he could, under the extreme
circumstances, trying to grab his cross to press it to Angelus' head.
"Oh, no. You've done all you'll do for the night" He hissed. Then
laughed lightly "No, You've done all you'll ever do, how *were* your
last few moments on earth?" Angelus laughed, not waiting for an answer
"I'll tell Drusilla you send your love"
"Drusilla? You demon! Leave her-"
But he didn't get to finish his sentence, though Angelus got the
general idea. And yanking his head back, drank from the frightened mans
blood, jerking his head to the side, he watched as Dru's father, with
his last bit of breath, cried.
Angelus held the dead body of Drusilla's father in his hands, the head
was bobbed backwards. Angelus eyed the two marks his teeth had made. His
eyes followed down the lifeless body, and grabbing the knife from under
his still clenching hands, sliced the mans throat, nearly in two. Easily
covering up any fang marks, and giving off a nice after effect.
Now, off to part B of his master plan.
~
Drusilla lit another candle, as she stood up, watching out the window
for her father to come home.
Isabelle wanted to know more of the time her daughter had spent with
such the handsome gentlemen, but her Drusilla was plagued by an unknown
feeling, worry for her father.
"Any sign of him?" Isabelle asked, donning a long purple nightgown and
shawl. She handed Drusilla a cup of hot water.
"Not yet." Dru nodded her head in thanks for the water.
"Go, get yourself to bed, Drusilla. There's nothing the matter, he's
probably stopped off at the tavern to get some drink"
Drusilla took a deep breath. "I have a bad feeling, mother."
"I'll stay up. It's not good for you to worry so." Isabelle said
running her hand over her daughters' face "You'll get wrinkles under
your eyes, then what will we do with you?" She smiled knowing Drusilla
didn't care for it.
"May I stay up with you then?"
Isabelle sighed, turning to sit in a chair, looking out the window.
"Yes" She smiled at her over reacting daughter. "And you may see your
father come home drunken" She laughed softly.
Drusilla took a seat next to her mother.
"Something doesn't feel right," Dru said softly, lying in her mothers
lap.
"Shhh, Drusilla." Isabelle whispered, vowing that she was going to have
one hell of a talk with her father when got home, sober or not.
Dru wrapped her knees closer to her chest and leaned against he mother
fearing the worse.
- --
~ ` ~ LadySun ~ ` ~
<KBleyle@Earthlink.Net>
~ ` ~ Spikette ` Mercenary ~ ` ~
SD - http://home.earthlink.net/~kbleyle/SD/index.html
FK - http://home.earthlink.net/~kbleyle/FK/index.html
We look before and After, and pine for what is not;
our sincerest laughter with some pain is fraught;
Our sweetest songs are those that tell the saddest
thought...' The Cure Wish)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 21:03:36 -0400
From: ingrid29@juno.com (Ingrid E Stanton)
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Reunion" (16/?) by Ingrid
DISCLAIMER: The characters of Angel, Buffy, Cordelia,
Willow, Xander, Jenny, Giles & company are the property
of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Productions,
and The Warner Brothers Network, and are used without
permission. The author claims no rights to these characters.
SUMMARY: Willow tells all (sorta).
WELCOME to my story. It takes place ten years
into the future, but IÆm not telling you whatÆs happened in
advance. ThatÆs happening through interludes.
FEEDBACK: I love to get feedback, except when my
mailbox explodes, which is often, but send it anyway!
My address is Ingrid29@juno.com.
REQUESTS FOR PARTS: If you donÆt get this,
thatÆs because you havenÆt read the other parts. If you want
to get this, ask me for them!
*********
"Reunion," by Ingrid
Part Sixteen: "And They All Settled Downà"
*********
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked nervously, leaning forwards.
Just hearing the vampireÆs name again struck a sour cord inside
her. She was on edge.
"I gather that youÆre already aware that the prophesy has
something to do with time, since youÆre already here, Buffy."
"Right. So what exactly is he planning to do?"
"HeÆs found a spell. IÆm not sure of the details, but it looks
pretty frightening. He wants Dru back, and since there isnÆt
anyway to resurrect a regular old vampire, heÆs determined
to stop her death before itÆs happenedà I mean, it happens."
"A time spell?" CordeliaÆs heart shot up into her throat.
Willow nodded gravely, trying to gauge BuffyÆs reaction.
A familiar expression was slowly stealing its way across
her face. She was the slayer again, 16 and back in the
library.
Meeting the steely eyes once more, Willow continued.
"ThatÆs not all," she cautioned, and quickly explained:
"Like I said before, Buffy, heÆs not only out to save Dru.
He wants to change thingsàother things."
"Other things like what?" The nervousness was showing
through again. Angel had crept up behind her, and she
grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. She finally worked
up the nerve to meet his eyes, and all the strength sheÆd
been accumulating during WillowÆs speech left her, leaving
her deflated.
SheÆd thought this was over years ago. Things that she used
to worry over, things like Angel had become solid realities,
and now, unfairly, they were in jeopardy again, balanced on
the edge of a cliff; back in the tug of war.
Willow didnÆt answer at first. "I donÆt know." She knew.
They all knew. And there was to be æa sacrifice.Æ Someone
would die. Buffy felt a wave of nausea sweep over her, and
she sat back on her ankles.
"So weÆve got to stop him. How?" Cordelia broke in when
Buffy had fallen silent. Nobody answered, so she continued
"Well, thereÆs got to be a way to stop him, hasnÆt there?"
Willow sighed heavily. "Portal. ThereÆs something about
a portal. Spike wanted to create a portal that was small
enough so that only he could pass through, but apparently,
that kind of thing is impossible. Portals will show up
all around the location where he casts the spell, some smaller
than others, but all leading to the same time, and the same
place. I know where they are. And I know when heÆs
casting the spell. ItÆs soon."
"How are we going to get there, exactly?" Buffy asked, trying
to stay hard and unmoved.
"IÆll have to take you. ItÆs not far. The hellmouth never opens
up far from where the slayer is. IÆve beenàclose for a long
time."
Everybody was silent, each with their own separate world of
fears. Xander sat down next to Cordelia and whispered
something to her softly.
"I know youÆre worried, but itÆs one oÆclock. ThereÆs no
way weÆre going to be able to pull this off if weÆre all
exhausted. Willow, we still have a lot of questions. Do
you want to sta-"
"ThatÆs alright," the vampire answered awkwardly, hiding
her face, "IÆve got some things to take care of. IÆll be back
tomorrow at sundown with more information."
Buffy nearly raised an eyebrow. Somewhere to stay?
Maybe she had to feed. Maybe thatÆs why she was
embarrassed. She watched WillowÆs retreating back
as Cordelia led her to the door.
Angel stood up behind her and they silently went off to the
guest room. As soon as she closed the door, she felt his
arms go about her.
"Buffy, I-"
"ItÆs not going to be you, Angel. ItÆs taken us so long to
get this far. I canÆt do this again." She was upset, but
determined. "I wonÆt let him take you away."
~~~~~~~~~
Cordelia shut the door softly and walked back to the living
room, where Xander was collapsed on the sofa, his eyes closed,
fingertips massaging his sinuses.
"We canÆt let this happen, Cordy." Her teenage nickname
slipped out inadvertently. "So much happened that night."
And it struck her. She remembered with vivid clarity that night.
The turning point. Crying and waking up in XanderÆs arms.
"So much happened that night."
Fear gripped her. One night had changed all of their lives so
inexorably, and another could erase it all.
"Oh, Xander." She felt on the verge of tears as they walked to
the bedroom.
~~~~~~~~~
Willow clutched at her dress, trying to prevent itÆs getting dragged
through the dirty snow. It wasnÆt much farther. That hadnÆt been
as difficult as sheÆd imagined, but her discomfiture was surely evident
now, if it hadnÆt been before.
She would go hungry again for the greater good. The door squeaked
open.
"Willow, love? That you?"
"Yes, itÆs me, William."
"Why do you have to call me that? Out hunting late again I see.
WeÆre gonna have to do something about that."
She let the blond vampire draw her into his arms, and draw his lips
across her neck sensuously. "We will, will we?"
~~~~~~~~~
Cordelia was balanced and on the verge of dreams when she heard a
gentle tapping at the door. Her eyes snapped open. Giles.
Xander didnÆt move at all as she got up and made her way out into
the chilly foyer. She opened the door quickly, and a blast of cold
air hit her straight on.
He looked the same, polite and gentle as always, but for more
aging, which only made his manner kinder.
"IÆm sorry for arriving so late," was the murmured apology.
"No problem," she returned, "ItÆs just that everyoneÆs asleep.
Your roomÆs all ready."
"Thank you," he replied, as she closed the door behind him.
"That way. Two doors down on the left."
He nodded curtly and disappeared into his room. She went back
to hers.
******
END, part 16. Did you like it? I spent my precious research paper
time on it. Feedback! Feedback!
_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 21:49:50 EDT
From: KylenRevik <KylenRevik@aol.com>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Future Imperfect" -- Chapter 5 -- (1/1)
Please send all comments, questions, and requests for missing pieces to
KylenRevik@aol.com. This is chapter five of thirteen. See prologue for
disclaimers and notes.
~
"Part Five: Comprehension Dawning"
Place: Sunnydale University, Library.
Time: May 22nd, 2012.
Xander collapsed against the bookshelf when the girl, who he
now knew without a doubt had been Buffy, pushed past himself and
Willow. He stared in shock, and from the look on Willow's face he
could tell she had seen it too. "Omigod," he whispered.
Willow's eyes were wide. "That..."
"That was..."
"Xander...?"
"I..."
They stared at each other for a long moment, then both took
off in the direction of their-- they had presumed, apparently
incorrectly-- dead friend. Out through the library, where both were
given odd looks by students, then onto the lawn in front of the
library building, and then--
Then she wasn't there.
Xander took a deep breath and looked at Willow. "She..." Was
he losing his already-infirm grip on reality? But if that was the
case, then Willow wouldn't have been able to see it, her, and...
Willow bit her lip. "I don't know," she said quietly.
"Am I losing my _mind_?" he whispered.
She shook her head. "I don't think so," she said.
There were a few more seconds, then Xander sighed.
"Then...what's going on? And what was she...in that room?"
They had been on their way back to the room where Giles had
kept his books, back when everything had made some sort of sense.
Willow had taken the keys from their ring in the new librarian's
office-- new being a comparative term, since the woman who had
assumed Giles' duties as the head librarian had been working at
Sunnydale U for years now, Xander supposed-- and led him toward the
room.
Xander sighed as they retraced their steps back up through the
library and re-entered the room. He couldn't make sense of what
they had seen, and he was sure Willow was pretty confused, as well.
When she pulled the door shut behind herself, and let him lead both
of them further back into the room, all Xander could do was shake
his head. "This is insane," he whispered.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "Xander, that--"
"That was her," he said quietly.
"No it wasn't," she said. "You know what, it's probably just
some student here who _looks_ like Buffy, but Xander, Buffy, she's-
- -" Willow choked on the last word, and Xander bit his lip, looking
up. Tears were forming in the corners of Willow's eyes.
*This isn't only about you, you insensitive clod,* he told
himself, standing and moving to hug her.
Willow let him hold her, but didn't seem to need it as much as
he had originally thought. He sighed, letting her go a few seconds
later, and taking a couple steps back. Then he glanced up.
"Willow?"
"Yes?"
He shook his head. "This is too freakin' weird."
A slight smile formed at the edges of her lips. "Couldn't have
said it better myself," she replied.
They sat in silence for a long moment before either spoke. "If
that wasn't-- I mean, since that couldn't have been Buffy," Xander
finally said, "then what was another student doing with a key to
this room?"
Willow shook her head. "Who knows? Giles let us use this place
when he was the chief librarian-- maybe she's friends with Ms.
D'Angelo."
"Maybe." Xander sighed. He wasn't sure that he wanted to be
convinced of that, but what kind of reason could he have for
wanting to believe what had to be insane delusions? Maybe coming
back to Sunnydale hadn't been a good move.
No, he already knew it hadn't been a good idea. He didn't know
why he had given in to Willow's words. Why he'd come back here, or
what he thought he would accomplish by doing so. All that had
happened since he had shown up was that he■d had argument after
argument, first with himself, then with the demons of long-gone
friends, then with Cordelia, then himself again, then Cordelia
again...it seemed like Willow was the only one he _hadn't_ fought
with, and she wasn't the type to fight, anyway.
What was he accomplishing, he asked himself. The answer came
easily enough: nothing but more heartache and trouble. He could
barely think straight. He was seeing Buffy every time he opened his
eyes, and Willow had already convinced herself that the girl they
had seen was just another student here.
Maybe Anna-Marie had been right, he thought, when she had told
him he needed professional help. But...dammit. He didn't want to
admit something like that. Maybe if he just left now, went home,
called her and begged her to come home and promised that never
again would the words Sunnydale, Buffy, or vampires cross his lips,
she would listen to him. Maybe he could move on, carry on with his
life...
Looking at Willow, who was staying silent and not interrupting
his thoughts, though...Xander knew if he made promises to Anna-
Marie, he would never be able to keep them. And he would lose her.
Just like he had lost everything else.
He sighed, said quietly, "Maybe I should just go home."
Willow raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because," he said. "I don't know. I've lost my mind thinking
about things the past ten years, and now that I'm here it's not
fixing anything at all. And it should be."
"Why should it be?"
Because. Things shouldn't have stayed broken for so much time.
It shouldn't be taking him so long and so much pain to heal.
Mostly, because he should care more about his friends than to
suddenly appear out of nowhere and pull them into a tangle with the
same ghosts from the past that he'd been fighting for a decade now.
"I should know better," he sighed, not speaking the rest and moving
to sit on the table that even after all these years was still in
the room. "Willow, I came here looking for answers...and all I've
done is fight with people and have hallucinations."
She looked at him, her expression skeptical. "But Xander..."
"I know," he said, "I need to get through this somehow. And I
promise I won't shut you guys out of my life. You, anyway." He had
the feeling Cordelia wouldn't particularly _want_ any kind of
contact with him. "But this isn't fair to any of us, and--"
"Xander," Willow interrupted, "what's that?"
"What's what?" he asked, confused.
"That," she said, indicating something that had become
attached to his shoe.
Leaning over, Xander pulled up a sheet of paper-- out of some
sort of book, he was guessing-- that had somehow become stuck to
the sole of his shoe. "Don't know," he said, smoothing it over and
scratching some of the dirt off it.
Willow took a couple steps toward him, looking over his hands
at the paper as he read it.
"The gateway must be constructed of a black candle, which must
be lit at the..." he skimmed down the page, getting to the bottom
and realizing that the text cut off. But the print matched the book
he had been looking at earlier. "It's..." He trailed off, reaching
into the pocket of his coat, which he had slipped the book into
earlier. Then he pulled it open and found the page number in the
corner of the loose piece. "...from Giles' book."
Willow looked at him quizzically. "How did it get on your
shoe?" she asked.
"I...don't know," he said, reading the pages where the piece
belonged. He swallowed. "Will?"
"Yes?"
"It's...a description of how to retrieve someone's soul." He
swallowed again, hard, trying to fight down the sudden feeling of
nausea that was rising in his stomach. "Oh, God..." he whispered,
as he reached the end of the page that was still connected to the
rest of the book. "Willow, it's..."
"What?"
"Giles. Made a couple of notes."
'Pg 92, fix', were the notes scrawled in the corner of the
page. Xander quickly flipped and found himself staring at the same
chant he had read, half-jokingly, the night before.
Willow watched intently. "What's it say?" she asked.
Xander looked at the page, shaking his head slowly and laying
the book, open-faced, on the table between them.
//Let us speak across the divide of time
Without concern for it's ebb and flow
And take us to the hearts of those we love
Bringing us closer to the ones our memories best know.//
Below the lines, which were italicized, there was a brief
paragraph of explanation.
The meaning of this passage, though never pinned
down exactly, seems to be a call across time and space
for a way to communicate with the dead or fondly
remembered. By reciting the passage, the chanter may call
across time to the one who is foremost in their
thoughts.*
Xander quickly skipped down the page to the footnote, which
directed him to another page. This chapter, when he saw it, was
titled "Explanations of the Mechanics of Space and Time". An odd
thing to see in a book like this, he thought privately, but at this
point he wasn't going to raise the issue.
Willow, unable to follow as he moved quickly from page to
page, finally spoke up. "Xander, what is it?"
He shook his head, standing and moving toward the doorway. "I
need to talk to Cordelia," he said quietly.
"Xander, I don't know--"
But Xander didn't wait around to hear her finish the sentence.
~
Please send all comments to KylenRevik@aol.com.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 22:30:50 EDT
From: KylenRevik <KylenRevik@aol.com>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Sweet Surrender" (1/1)
I just wrote this one off...jeezu. ::swallowshard:: Listening to Sarah
McLachlan and got posessed. If you've got "Sweet Surrender", her song, on CD
or tape...listen while you're reading. It might enhance things a little. I had
it playing the whole time I was writing. If I say much more I'll ramble, and
I'm a shaking mess right now. All disclaimers apply. Comments to me, here,
please. And yes, I'll send out more of "Future Imperfect" tomorrow morning,
provided I wake up early enough to convert the files. ::smallsmile::
~
"Sweet Surrender"
By Rachel Brody
//It doesn't mean much
It doesn't mean anything at all.//
*It doesn't mean much.*
Her thoughts were cold and cruel. Stark. Empty.
*Doesn't mean anything at all.*
Their deaths had been the same.
*Worthless.*
Pathetic excuse for a Slayer. She hadn't been able to stop
him. Hadn't been able to do anything but stand by and watch as
people had been slaughtered. Helpless. Meaningless. Useless.
Worthless.
Their eyes had stared up at her, dead eyes in dead bodies.
Dead to the world. And she was alone.
The streetlights shone too brightly as she walked, pouring
through her irises and burning her retinas. Her flesh hurt. Was
this what it was like to be one of Them? To be like Him? Did
sunlight hurt so much when it was the only safe place to hide? Or
did the mere fact that her last refuge was fast becoming a place of
deeper haunting mean only that she had run out of time?
Their eyes still watched her. Still burned. Still asked why
she had failed them.
//Sweet Surrender
Is all that I have to give.//
The darkness was a thick blanket around her. She was a child
once more, helpless and mewing for some sort of vindication.
Evidence that she had done anything worthwhile. Because the deaths
had been on her head. Her fault. She'd been the one who was there
to save them all. Instead, she'd brought Armageddon to her world,
her home, her family, her friends.
And now, she was going to offer them whatever sort of
retribution she could. For the dead ones. For those who had lost
any hope of a future, because of her.
She was too young, too weary, to carry the weight of the world
on her shoulders. And so, tonight, it would end. Tonight, she would
give him her surrender. For everyone who had gone before.
//Are you an Angel?
Am I already that gone?
I only hope that I won't disappoint you
When I'm down here on my knees.//
She fell roughly, the dirt striking her shins. Moist, wet
earth. Fresh grave. Rain fell. He was there. Her curse, her savior.
She looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes. His own met
hers without reproach or sign of victory showing in them. He looked
as weary as she.
Lightning cracked overhead, thunder ripping through the air.
Their eyes had locked. His were cold.
Hers, pleading.
//Take me now.
No questions asked.//
Sweet surrender.
THE END
Copyright 1998
Rachel Brody
------------------------------
End of buffyfic-digest V2 #179
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