lynnevitational FIC: If You Drive Me Back (B/A, PG-13)

[carlyinrome]

TITLE: If You Drive Me Back
RATING: PG-13
FANDOM: BtVS/AtS
PAIRING: Buffy/Angel
SPOILERS: Post “NFA.” There are some aspects of the S8 comics-namely, location-but this story contains none of the comics’ original characters or plotlines.
SUMMARY: Maybe you can start over.
PROMPT: Written for germaine_pet’s lynnevitational. Thank you so much for having me, and thanks chrisleeoctaves for

Comments

Re: New Carly fic, great way to start a Sunday :)

[carlyinrome]

Thank you! I'm pleased you liked it; it was kind of a stretch as per my usual writing style, so I'm really glad it worked for you.

Dude, I may have some S7 issues. One thing that's always bothered me about the series: Buffy's friends leave so much up to her. I mean, okay, demon stuff, sure; that's her area of expertise. But she handles a lot of other grown-up stuff-- like in S7, when everyone's living at her house and she's providing financially for them. Just because she's the Slayer doesn't mean that she should be everybody's mom. I mean, from a strictly character-based standpoint, it doesn't make much sense; Xander is the Working Guy, and Willow is the Responsible One; so why is Buffy taking care of everybody?

Re: New Carly fic, great way to start a Sunday :)

[carlyinrome]

Dude, seriously. I pretend everything after The Gift is . . . a suggestion. I'm so much happier that way.

[trixiefirecra]

I have a catch in my throat. That was so beautiful. So indescribably beautiful. Angel, normal but still knowing, somewhat. The most base of feelings, the most inherent of emotions, love, desire, trust. Love not fade away. Ok, great, now I'm tearing up. Just a gorgeous, graceful, sad and lonesome tale.

I loved it.

[carlyinrome]

Thank you so much, honey. I'm glad this worked for you. <3

[trixiefirecra]

Ok, so like, three ppl have told me you recced "The Doldrums" and either I'm blind, or you did this to their faces, or err, over message? haha. Cause I ran over all conceited, and it's not here... hahahahaha. Oh, god, writers. We are a silly bunch, aren't we?

But while I was here, I did re-read this tale and its even more specific in its perfect details than ever. I especially adored this:

He had to-but then she remembered that he essentially had no past; to his mind, he was a virgin, and when their positions had been reversed she’d strung him along for over a year-God, that’s not what was going to happen here, was it?

Oh, hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha infinity. No longer a virgin, our Buffy!

[carlyinrome]

Haha. Oh, no, it's actually in the comments to this post. Here it is.

We writers love a good ego stroking. *purrs*

:D Hee. I love all Buffy's, virgin or no.

[lynnenne]

Beautiful and lyrical, and I love the ambiguity of the ending.

A half-smile turned up the corner of Angel’s mouth. I have a friend?

Oh! This just about broke my heart.

Really gorgeous language in this, and you capture the complexity of the B/A relationship so well. Thank you so much for a wonderful contribution to this ficathon.

[carlyinrome]

Thank you for the kind feedback! I'm glad the story worked for you; it was kind of a stretch for me artistically, which is always scary.

Thanks for having me!

[helygen]

Oh hun this is absolutely gorgeous. The language is exquisite and the whole story has such a tone of melancholy hope, it's brought tears to my eyes.

[carlyinrome]

Oh, thank you, darlin'. I'm glad you liked it. :)

[ba4ever]

This indeed is a fantabulous way to start a Sunday, though it's been Sunday for quite some time now lol. But I..I have no idea I wanted to say something clever but obviously it's sucking right now. Hee!

This was beautiful and you don't know how many times I had to try and swallow the great big lump in my throat.

First off though, I absolutely LOVED how you did the dialogue here it just worked so well, as if it has this sense of past and present colliding (which I think is sort of a theme here, past vs present).

The thought of Angel just saying "hi" to her (and everyone) is both heartbreaking, and also gives that schoolboy heir of innocence, I like the juxtaposition of experience vs innocence, which I suppose was always evident between in the start of their relationship, but it's the role reversal of that really makes this story. I think both being able to experience both sides would only make their relationship stronger, knowing what it was like, knowing what you had to do.

But you look familiarGAH. I always thought that

[carlyinrome]

THAAAAAAAAAAANK YOU, KARLA! I am very happy you enjoyed it, and I'm always thrilled to get feedback from you, because you are so enthusiastic and specific. It makes me very happy.

Angel has amnesia, but he has EYES.

HOMIGOD. I may never stop laughing. Heart you big, lady. <3