Third Wheel

[shapinglight]

My story for the iwry_marathon is up, in case anyone's interested.

Setting: During Surprise in BtVS season 2.
Pairings: Buffy/Angel, Angel/Darla
Rating: PG-13
Beta: Beta'd by rebcake to whom many thanks for that, and for ideas brainstorming. All mistakes are of course mine.
Disclaimer: Not for profit. Please don't sue etc.

Third Wheel

Comments

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

That was bloody brilliant! An excellent idea beautifully executed. :D

[ex_peasant441]

Very neat.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I just read it and it is SPLENDID! I resisted at first (I'm really not a Bangel) and thought it might be "cute" and then you absolutely pulled me in to the point that I was hanging onto your every word. (And imagining far worse outcomes than you painted - I was half expecting Angel to fully vamp out and actually attack Buffy. Which I guess wouldn't be very IWRY-ish, but the point is that you wrote something brilliant and disturbing and it's going to sit with me for a while. You balanced Buffy and Darla's voices here but Darla is truly the force of nature in this one (Buffy is a little girl after all - and kudos to you for pointing out the "statutory rape" aspect as well as the fact that such laws differ from state to state.

I can't imagine this wouldn't be an awful thing, having that "other voice" in your head. Darla seems like she can take it but Buffy? I can't even imagine; it seems like that would be enough to drive someone mad.

Bonus points for the use of "publican" and "ostler", seriously.

[shapinglight]

Thanks, Sue. I'm glad you thought so. Was a bit worried about this one, as you know.

[shapinglight]

You really think so? You're not just saying that?

:Is needy:

[shapinglight]

Thanks so much. Glad you liked the story. I did actually find writing teenage Buffy very difficult, so it's probably not surprising that Darla comes over more strongly.

[ex_peasant441]

I don't just say feedback, not even for my friends - I don't want to debase the currency.

It is neat - The characterisations are good while still adding something to the show. The emotions are believable for the two teenagers and the two ancient vampires without being trite or annoying. The plot is clever and the way you pace out the reader's understanding of what is going on is very well done. And the ending is nicely paced as neither a sudden ta-dah! nor a clunky duh! but a gradual realisation on the part of the reader, that still retains a real twist of bitter sweet emotion at the end. As I said - neat.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

If you had difficulty it doesn't show. What I read this as was simply the fact that Darla is already, what, 100 - 200 years old vampire by this point? vs a 16-17 year old girl. No surprise that Darla has the more powerful personality. (That said it would be a mistake to underestimate this little girl, as more than one Big and Little Bad discovered.)

I'm surprised more writers don't delve into the parallels with (and contrasts between) Buffy with both Darla and Drusilla.

[shapinglight]

Wow! Thank you. :)

And sorry for inadequate f/b to your f/b.

[shapinglight]

I'm surprised more writers don't delve into the parallels with (and contrasts between) Buffy with both Darla and Drusilla.

It's possible that Bangel writers do. I don't know. I don't really read much Bangel fic.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I don't read bangel either except here and there (leni_ba for instance) but from what little tI've seen I'd say no.