Black Magic White Lies, chapter 4

[moscow_watcher]

Title: Black Magic White Lies
Chapter 4 - In Which Xander Discovers the Sitch Is More Screwed-up Than He Thought
Timeline: BtVS, alternate season 5
Genre: drama, mystery, action
Characters, pairing: general, Xander/Faith
Rating: R (for intense situations).
Summary: Xander thinks he has a little secret. He doesn't know that his little secret is a

Comments

[moscow_watcher]

"radio stations".

Fixed. Thank you!

I think the counselor got it right. Faith is afraid, that's why she hides behind her pride. A bit sad to see that Xander doesn't get that, that Faith's tough facade is a front to protect herself from letting anyone get close enough to really hurt her. Second, sad to see that doctor!Spike isn't that perceptive but then again, he doesn't understand Faith the way counselor!Angel does and Spike never really saw beneath Faith's surface the way Angel did.

Interesting. You know, initially it was just a plot point: I needed a tight situation, so Wesley asked Giles for help after all his own attempts to find out anything about Faith proved to be futile. His request started the chain of events, some of which we have witnessed, and some of which has already happened but will be revealed later (although there are clues to them within the text).

But, when I started thinking about justifying Faith's behavior, I couldn't come up with a single explanation. Was she afraid to show her vulnerability to Wesley, who, in her eyes, was still the Council man? Sure. Did she abhor the prospect of his pity? Sure.
So, in the end, both the doctor and the counselor are right - but Xander wins the doctor a can of beer, because he also sees Faith as the ultimate tough girl. He's still to learn a lot about her vulnerabilities...

[angearia]

so Wesley asked Giles for help after all his own attempts

I'm curious as to where Angel fits in here. Because right around that time was when Angel was the one visiting Faith regularly after her voluntary incarceration. If Faith got pregnant in April of 2000, then Angel would have visited Faith right around September 26, 2000 when Angel visits Faith at the end of 2x01 Judgment. So this would be one week before the monks' spell in Real Me on October 3, 2000. So in this altered 'verse, did Angel visit Faith and now have memories of hearing a second child's heartbeat inside her (a la Offspring with Darla)? What brought Faith to Wes' attention and not Angel's? Or does Angel enter the picture later on?

[moscow_watcher]

So this would be one week before the monks' spell in Real Me on October 3, 2000.

Monks did the spell somewhere in August: in No Place Like Home (24 October 2000) there is a title card that the spell had been made 2 months ago. In this AU the spell had been made somewhere in summer. So only season 5 is AU. Season 4 is 100% canonical.

But the characters don't remember season 4 the way it really happened. Don't forget that in canon they also remember season 4 differently, with the insertion of Dawn.

So in this altered 'verse, did Angel visit Faith and now have memories of hearing a second child's heartbeat inside her (a la Offspring with Darla)?

No. In this story Xander basically plays Angel's role - at least in the flashback. I even pondered upon naming Chapter 2 "Five by Five, Bedroom Version". So having both Angel and Xander in this story would have been excessive.

I suspect I have confused you because I mentioned Angel in the first chapter. A lesson to me: to plan the story more carefully.

What brought Faith to Wes' attention and not Angel's?

I think Wesley felt guilty for letting her down and he wanted to help her. Meanwhile Angel went dark, Wesley felt useless and frustrated because of Faith's refusal to see him, so he asked Giles to help.

[angearia]

Monks did the spell somewhere in August:

Ah okay, gotcha.

I even pondered upon naming Chapter 2 "Five by Five, Bedroom Version".

So the premise is that Sanctuary happened different due to the altered memories? So Angel hasn't been visiting Faith because he doesn't remember being instrumental in her redemption?

[moscow_watcher]

So the premise is that Sanctuary happened different due to the altered memories? So Angel hasn't been visiting Faith because he doesn't remember being instrumental in her redemption?

The events of Sanctuary happened, but since summer 2000 nobody remembers them. Their memories have been altered and they remember a different reality. Is this reality valid? Worth fighting for?

In hindsight I realise that it's a Dollhouse fic with Buffyverse characters...