Comments | moscow_watcher: Black Magic White Lies, chapter 8

moscow_watcher

Black Magic White Lies, chapter 8

Jul 20, 2009 11:39

Title: Black Magic White Lies
Chapter 8 - In Which Xander Confronts Buffy... Sort Of
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 part of a big fat conspiracy ( Read more... )

bmwl

Comments 41

keith5by5 July 20 2009, 07:44:37 UTC

Buffy was typically hypocritical, selfish, and arrogant here, very well written.

You go Xander, stick up for the under-dog Slayer.

moscow_watcher July 20 2009, 08:24:50 UTC

In Buffy's defence I can say that she is nervous and exhausted, because she just has gone through her own small apocalypse with her mother being operated. Also, she feels guilty - and when a person feels guilty, he often becomes agressive. Besides, Buffy admits, albeit somewhat elliptically, that she can't be objective ("Faith is my sore spot").

I have to confess that this chapter was very hard to write. On one hand, I adore big, juicy conflicts. On the other hand, I was afraid to make Buffy too unsympathetic. I debated with lusciousxander, my "voices beta" - and I softened some sharp angles. In no way I want it to be a Buffy-bashing fic. *hugs poor Buffy*

But, of course, yay for Xander who sticks up for Faith! :)

keith5by5 July 20 2009, 08:27:22 UTC

Lol. I don't doubt we have as different opinions on Buffy as we did on Spike.

But yeah, yay for Xander! :D

a2zmom July 21 2009, 00:16:42 UTC

Right.

Because the girl only tried to murder Xander, stole Buffy's body and had sex with her boyfriend (which in my book - pretty close to rape.) I just can't understand why Buffy doesn't trust her. (That's sarcasm, in case you didn't get it.)

Thread 5

xc_runner50 July 20 2009, 08:14:23 UTC

Very nice. Buffy was perfectly voiced. I like seeing people from a different perspective. Willow is staying true to covering her friends back and also heavy on the magic. I think Giles might be close to understanding the truth. Buffy might not believe it even if it smacks her in the face, too much other stuff is going on in her life.

moscow_watcher July 20 2009, 08:42:13 UTC

Thank you!

I was afraid that people will find Buffy too harsh and unsympathetic. Of course, she is *very* uncomfortable with the prospect of Faith being back in Sunnydale and she tries to avoid it at any cost. And - she is genuinely concerned about Xander's safety.

jgracio July 20 2009, 11:02:41 UTC

I've been following and enjoying, no idea where you're going with the story, though knowing your shipping preferences, you'll be drawing parallels I might not be too confortable with. :D

Just a note, IMO when you wrote "Sure, protect. You want to use a pregnant woman as a bait.", the "as a bait" should've been "as bait".

moscow_watcher July 20 2009, 12:03:17 UTC

Thank you - I fixed the error. I stopped trying to *understand* the intricacies of English language and I just try to remember then without asking "why". :)

knowing your shipping preferences, you'll be drawing parallels I might not be too confortable with.

I think the parallels are inevitable, because Xander has an affair with a person who tried to kill them in the past. But, hopefully, the parallels will be servicing the plot and the characters journeys, not the shipper preferences.

Glad you're enjoying the story!

jgracio July 20 2009, 12:14:54 UTC

Well, as someone who also doesn't have English as a first language, I think that's the spirit.

Most people I know go with the "It doesn't sound right" rule. "Why do we say it this way, and not that way?" "Dunno, it just doesn't sound right." :D

But in this case, you could've used "using her as a piece of bait" too.

moscow_watcher July 20 2009, 12:29:37 UTC

"It doesn't sound right" rule.

Heh. So true. Alas, to know what sounds right and what doesn't, one have to hear English speech constantly - and it's not my case. Although I watch downloaded TV shows in English regularly.

Thread 9

(The comment has been removed)

moscow_watcher July 20 2009, 12:40:30 UTC

Yes, poor Buffy. Her Slayer intuition tells her there is something fishy about this whole business, but she can't nail it - so she grows more and more frustrated with each turn of events.

I have to admit, killing a person is worse than stealing a weapon, especially considering that said weapon was used to save the world.

When Xander is playing the devil's advocate, he may go too far...

Buffy should have returned it after she was done using it.

But then we'd never had the funny scene in "Him" when she tries to kill the new Principal with it :)

mulder200 July 20 2009, 13:04:52 UTC

To say that Buffy & Faith have some unresolved issues would be a HUGE understatement.

I really feel for Xander here. He is stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to defend the woman who may be the mother of his baby and trying to be loyal to Buffy who is keeping secrets of his own. Sooner or later, all this is just going to blow up.

Spike leers. "Your wish is my command, luv. Spike's always ready to service a girl."

"Shut up, Spike," Buffy and Xander say in unison. Both involuntarily smile at their simultaneous reaction.

LOL! Trust Spike to use inappropriate humor to diffuse a situation albeit unintentional. In this AU does Spike have a obsessive crush on Buffy or he is just bored?

moscow_watcher July 20 2009, 13:15:24 UTC

I really feel for Xander here.

*Joins you* :)

Sooner or later, all this is just going to blow up.

Oh, trust me, it *will*. The shock wave will be huge.

In this AU does Spike have a obsessive crush on Buffy or he is just bored?

I'd rather say it's complicated. Spike loves annoying people in any reality! :)