The Bite Whore - part one

[hello_spikey]

This starts just before the episode "As You Were". As always, bits from episodes are used from memory with mangling (and editing to fit my own personal worldview!) This first installment is more PG-15 than anything, but next will get a tad more... yeah

Comments

[isildae]

Needs and wants more plz!! This fic rocks my world!!

[shapinglight]

I think this is the last fic of yours you've posted that I haven't read yet and it's truly excellent. Beautifully observed and painful. Buffy's behaviour seems appalling yet I still feel very sorry for her. Spike isn't making it easy for her to do the right thing because he really doesn't understand what that is.

Terrific story and writing.

[hello_spikey]

Thank you. I'm really proud of this one - it was a lot of fun to write. I wanted to show how Spike and Buffy's screwed up relationship was both of their fault... and I always wanted that screwed up relationship to last longer and get more screwed up. Because I'm a sadist like that. :)

[shylahmask]

I really enjoyed this first part. Your characterizations are great and I love how you allow Spike to have his own faults. At the same time, you kept Riley in character with the situation.

And I love the bit at the end with the pictures. Brilliant idea.

Off to read the next part!

[hello_spikey]

*glow* Thank you! I'm kind of proud of the Riley part - I felt like I was getting away with something throwing in just a touch of intimacy between Riley and Spike. *blush* I kinda always liked Riley, in a corn-fed Iowa boy sorta way.

The thing with the pictures at the end was almost a writer's block. I couldn't think what to write next, and then I thought, "I can have Buffy upload a picture." Describing pictures is such fun. I don't know why.

[thisficklemob]

Followed the link back from your new fic, and I'm impressed. You've made a improbable scenario evolve organically, intuitively, keeping everyone in character.

Despite a slightly ominous challenge, you didn't make Buffy heartless, more thoughtless... Her cruelty is in how she doesn't know what it really is she's making him do. His timid objections are drowned out in her head by the roar of all the responsibilities pressing down on her. This is a Buffy whose sin is not seeing, rather than seeing but not caring; even as I wince, I know I will be able to forgive her eventually. And it was quite clever of you to make her his online-pimp -- as I started, I wasn't sure I'd be able to picture her trolling for clients, but this is a credible -- and for her, distancing -- option.

And while I'm not sure Spike hasn't hated Riley a bit, this:

“I think you’re a joyless pillock who probably alphabetizes his sock drawer. Hate would require too strong a feeling between us, yeah?”Was a delightful nugget of how he feels about him now (that he's

[hello_spikey]

Glad you felt it was organic. I confess, reading over this (as I probably should have before starting the sequel, huh?) I cringe a little bit at how clunky it is, forcing the situation.

Does Spike hate Riley just a little bit? Eh. I rather like him not deigning to give Cornfed that kind of space in his head.

I confess I've got a soft spot for old Ri and loved writing the Spike/Riley bite. It might be as close as I ever get to Spiley. :)

[thisficklemob]

It's a little -- convenient? -- but so were things on the show, sometimes, everything lining up just so, so I don't mind the same in fic. From the tone of the challenge, I was a little worried it would be, Buffy: "I know! You can be my vamp!ho!", and it wasn't. I'm glad I gave the fic a chance anyway.

Oh, I don't think Spike hates Riley anymore, but I'd wager he spared the brainspace for an occasional hate-on (that was really jealousy) back when Riley was with Buffy. Especially with the plastic stake, and the Initiative chipping. But you're right, I don't think he ever registered as worth much attention with Spike -- so few people do.

I actually don't have much of a Riley soft spot. I don't like it when he's bashed, but I also don't like when his flaws are ignored as they were in AYW -- so you having him be bite-addicted, but still good at the core, worked perfectly for me.

[goldenusagi]

Ooh, I love Buffy's thoughts about the photos. Pictures of your own funeral is creepier in a way than being brought back...

[hello_spikey]

Thank you! Had to bring the creepy. I'm quite fond of that little scene myself. :)