Jossverse morality: updated? (musings on recent IDW comics)

[moscow_watcher]

This is a compilation from my posts on different forums (BuffyForums, SlayAlive, BuffyBoards, IDW Forums) - I wanted to collect my random thoughts in one post

Comments

[sockmonkeyhere]

The problem is, I'm not sure that soulless Fred needs a soul more than Spike. Then again, she's a brilliant scientist, so she could invent something very dangerous without thinking about consequences, putting her own scientific curiosity or pride of a trailblazer above humanity's interests...

True! There's so many ways that VampFred could be portrayed: totally evil; Pylea-crazy to a higher degree; cold-blooded scientist; nice but amoral like Harmony...

In 2007 Nebula wrote a 27-chapter alternate reality AtS Season 5 fic called "Her Saving Grace", in which Fred is attacked in an alley, killed, and turned...and awakens as a very confused vampire. Souled Spike helps her in her efforts to be good without a soul, and to adjust to what she's lost and what she's gained by being turned. I love Nebula's interpretation of how Fred would act and think without a soul, and she writes both Fred and Spike very much in character. The discussions they have are great! Here's a link to the story:

http://www.athenewolfe.com/justrewards/viewstory.php?sid=362

And in a similar vein, kats_meow wrote an alternate reality AtS Season 3 in which an unsouled, grieving Spike is convinced by the Scoobies to leave Sunnydale after Buffy's death (they think he'll be a bad influence on Dawn.) He reluctantly moves into the Hyperion, and the Fang Gang is reluctant to host him...all but Fred, who's just been released from Pylea and is still hiding in her room. Here's a link to that:

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?keyword=Binding+Ties&user=kats_meow&sortby=des

Kat hasn't had a chance to update it for a couple of years, but the chapters she's posted are excellent!

[moscow_watcher]

Thank you for the links!

I vaguely remember reading Nebula's fic very long ago. It's a great piece and I'd gladly reread it!

I haven't read "Binding Ties" - I rarely read WIPs, because of the frustration of not knowing the ending is too big. But I'll try to read it - your description is intriguing.

[sockmonkeyhere]

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back here; I haven't had much chance to go online lately. "Binding Ties" is a WIP that's satisfying to read even though it's incomplete -- it's worth reading for the great dialogue and characterization. Each scene can be enjoyed as a vignette, similar to stand-alone ficlets. :)