Five Fine Fics by elviswhataguy
Jan. 4th, 2014 08:25 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
punch-kicker15.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
buffyversetop5Originally, I was going to include one story by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
elviswhataguy in the fanfiction.net list, but I realized that there was so much great work it deserved its own post.
elviswhataguy writes thoughtful, subtle Buffyverse stories that offer fascinating insights into the character's minds. I love all of the little details about what demon-fighting tasks they're working on, the books they read, the odd little incidents that they remember.
1. Let It Bleed Willow/Faith, Rated M.
The first story in the Wickedgeekyverse trilogy. There's an intriguing plot, and along the way both Willow and Faith are struggling through the hard work of redemption--and find themselves unexpected allies, friends, and eventually lovers.
The way we see the relationship through the point of view of the other characters (Kennedy, Buffy, Dawn and Xander) is also terrific. Nobody is in the story just to be a one-dimensional cheerleader for the relationship, or a jerk about it. Xander in particular is well-drawn in this story; the story explores both his worst qualities and his best. He's a complex person who has his reasons to be less-than-thrilled about a Willow/Faith relationship.
The thing that takes it over the top for me is Faith: she is alternately hilarious, idiotic, aggravating, endearing, and insightful, and her journey to something approaching a real relationship is a joy to read. The sequel, Beggar's Banquet, is less plotty, and includes a Giles point-of-view chapter where Faith and Giles hunt a dragon in Cleveland.
2) (No Need To) Be Aggressive Larry, Rated T.
A short look at what's on Larry's mind, circa Season 3. I really like the nuanced treatment of a character that was mostly used for comic relief on the show.
3) Here Today, No Future Fears Dawn, Cordelia, Rated T.
I'm a sucker for pre-Season 5 "Dawn was always there" fics, and this is an angsty tale about Dawn's interactions with Cordelia and other Scoobies. The ending packs a big emotional wallop.
4) Kings of Nothing Joyce, rated T.
Five 100 word drabbles, each about Joyce from the point of view of a man who loved her. I'm really impressed how she makes each man recognizable with so few words.
5) In Stereo Willow/Faith, rated T kind of.
This one is best without much of an intro, so I'll stick with the author's description: "On the fringes of the Wickedgeekyverse. Nice and orderly."
elviswhataguy in the fanfiction.net list, but I realized that there was so much great work it deserved its own post.elviswhataguy writes thoughtful, subtle Buffyverse stories that offer fascinating insights into the character's minds. I love all of the little details about what demon-fighting tasks they're working on, the books they read, the odd little incidents that they remember.1. Let It Bleed Willow/Faith, Rated M.
The first story in the Wickedgeekyverse trilogy. There's an intriguing plot, and along the way both Willow and Faith are struggling through the hard work of redemption--and find themselves unexpected allies, friends, and eventually lovers.
The way we see the relationship through the point of view of the other characters (Kennedy, Buffy, Dawn and Xander) is also terrific. Nobody is in the story just to be a one-dimensional cheerleader for the relationship, or a jerk about it. Xander in particular is well-drawn in this story; the story explores both his worst qualities and his best. He's a complex person who has his reasons to be less-than-thrilled about a Willow/Faith relationship.
The thing that takes it over the top for me is Faith: she is alternately hilarious, idiotic, aggravating, endearing, and insightful, and her journey to something approaching a real relationship is a joy to read. The sequel, Beggar's Banquet, is less plotty, and includes a Giles point-of-view chapter where Faith and Giles hunt a dragon in Cleveland.
2) (No Need To) Be Aggressive Larry, Rated T.
A short look at what's on Larry's mind, circa Season 3. I really like the nuanced treatment of a character that was mostly used for comic relief on the show.
3) Here Today, No Future Fears Dawn, Cordelia, Rated T.
I'm a sucker for pre-Season 5 "Dawn was always there" fics, and this is an angsty tale about Dawn's interactions with Cordelia and other Scoobies. The ending packs a big emotional wallop.
4) Kings of Nothing Joyce, rated T.
Five 100 word drabbles, each about Joyce from the point of view of a man who loved her. I'm really impressed how she makes each man recognizable with so few words.
5) In Stereo Willow/Faith, rated T kind of.
This one is best without much of an intro, so I'll stick with the author's description: "On the fringes of the Wickedgeekyverse. Nice and orderly."
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Date: 2014-01-05 05:09 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2014-01-06 05:38 pm (UTC)Which is to say, I love the rec posts you've done here. More, please?
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Date: 2014-01-07 03:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-07 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2014-01-07 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-07 04:43 pm (UTC)I'm working on an AO3 list, and if I can ever winnow it down to 5, a sort of catch-all "stories I liked" list as well.
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Date: 2014-01-07 06:09 pm (UTC)Absolutely. I've been in this fandom less than two years and I didn't expect the emphasis on "shipping". My prior fandom was Moulin Rouge back in the day; and a romance/ship IS the center of that story, it's what it's about. BtVS has plenty of 'ships (in contrast to other series such as, say, a lot of traditional sci-fi series, or Crossing Jordan which was utterly allergic to 'ships); but that's not the only thing; the friendships and family relationships are just as important.
So it was strange to me to discover that a lot of fandom "factions" tend to be very narrowly focused, at least as evidenced by fics. To me it's a bit like going to an ice cream parlour that advertises 31 flavors and finding they only serve 3; or having mashed potatoes at all every meal, every day.
I was amazed that for a couple of these stories, I was the first person to post a review.
I've often remarked on the same when leaving a review. That said, I don't leave reviews for every story I read; for me I don't think it's possible. (I want to leave reviews for several - most - of the ones you've rec'd here as I make my way through the lists.) I want to leave something more than "I liked this", something that actually tells the writer something useful or helpful, such as why I liked the story.
I admit I like the "kudos" function on AO3 and that probably sounds awful but at least the reader is letting the author know that someone is reading and enjoyed it with the click of a button. I sometimes wish that function existed on ff.net rather than leaving the generic "I liked/loved this!"
I'm working on an AO3 list, and if I can ever winnow it down to 5, a sort of catch-all "stories I liked" list as well.
OMG I wouldn't know where to begin with AO3 because so many of my favorite authors and flisties from here at LJ also post there, and it's usually an easier place to find their stories.
I sometimes notice that stories may have existed first on LJ or other archives and been reposted at AO3 later, so the AO3 dates don't necessarily reflect what year a story was actually written.