buffyversetop5 | Five Memorable Fics From 2011

A list of five fics I enjoyed in 2011.

1. Closure by

local_max (Willow, PG)

Summary: Willow has one last thing to take care of before the upcoming Apocalypse.

This ficlet could be a slice of canon. Willow's characterization really stuck with me.

2. The Wight by

antennapedia (Giles/Xander, teen)

Summary: The business cards say "Supernatural Investigations & Curse-breaking". They don't say anything about being rained on, soul-sucked, shot at, snowed on, or fed dangerous spicy drinks.

Giles came to a halt. Xander ranged up behind him to see what had startled him. Their breath plumed out in front of them, eerie in the light from the headlamps. And in the blue-white light from the chamber that opened in front of them, which was wrong in a million ways. The wrong color. Wrong for existing at all, this far underground. Wrong because of what it lit up.

I really enjoyed the author's depiction of England, the gently eerie atmosphere of the neolithic barrow, and the adult relationship between Xander and Giles.

3. Upon The Edge Of No Escape by

beer_good_foamy (Faith/Lilah, R)

Summary: Lilah and Faith seal the deal to kill Angel. Only one way out now.

But Lilah had walked into that club like she owned everyone in it, and for some reason, Faith really needs to put a chink in that armor.

This is Faith. This is Lilah. This is sexual tension. Perfect.

4. The Shady Side of the Hill by

brutti_ma_buoni (Wes/Illyria, PG-13)

"It’s quite extraordinary that an Old One using another’s hollowed-out body can not only be fertile but also adjust the biology of others through sexual reproduction. It’s... well, it’s unthinkable. And it’s bloody well happening to me!”

Considering the track record of bodily violations against women in AtS, I have to snicker a little (ruefully) at Wesley's disbelieving indignation. An interesting and probable (in-verse) look at mpreg.

5. Doritos on the Slippery Slope by

drsquidlove (Giles/Xander, R)

Summary: Giles' standards have plummeted since he discovered unemployment. Budweiser may be the newest low, but he draws the line at Doritos.

As usual, the author puts a finger on the insecurities and misunderstandings between these two very different men and makes it work for them.

P.S. Mods, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tag my entry, but either way it won't allow me to.