The Five Fics meme

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The Rules: Sometimes it's ok to pimp yourself out. Post a list of your top five fic-favorites you've written, regardless of fandom or the reason you love them. This isn't about the BEST things you've written, but what you LOVE most. Then tag five other people to do the same.

I've been tagged by a couple of people to do this and have been meaning to, so here it is.



Tricky. I'm not sure I could say I 'love' any of my stories. I don't think about them that way. So I guess I'm going to have to go for the five ones I'm still most pleased with (or least displeased with). In other words, I'm not really sticking to the spirit of this meme at all. Sorry.

1) An early story: Deja Vu, Part 1 and Part 2. Liam/William, Liam/Francis, NC17.

This is the only all-human au story I've ever written. I don't dislike human au's, but generally speaking, I like my vampires to be vampires. However, I'm quite proud of this still, not because I think it's so great, but because in writing it, I had to leave my (up to that time) comfort zone and try and write about real(ish) people in the real(ish) world. How successful I was - particularly in writing actual gay men, as opposed to omnisexual vampires - I have no idea. Probably not very. But I'm glad I made the attempt. I also like the ending. I like it when things end on a note of uncertainty.

2) Brief Encounter. Spike/Darla NC17.

Okay, I guess I probably could say I love this story, though even so, when I re-read it now, I can see so much wrong with it. I think the post-war ambience is probably reasonably authentic, though, and I enjoyed using the medium of one of my favourite Buffyverse non-couples, Spike and Darla, to explain what struck me as a discontinuity in canon. Another thing I like about it is that it pretty much wrote itself. It's nice when that happens.

3) Family Reunion Spike/Darla, Spike/Angel, Spike/other NC17

I still think of this story as the highlight of my fic writing career. It took me two years to plan and six months to write, and though again, I can see things wrong with it now, I still think it's a pretty good story. Plus, it combines two of my obsessions, which are Spike and the London Underground. It's also my first sustained attempt to write OCs (okay, Annabelle isn't quite an OC, but we learn so little about her in canon that she might as well be), and I'm still quite pleased with the results. I guess this shows some forward progress as a writer?

4) Heroes in Hell. Spike/Buffy, R.

I still like this story a lot. I think that's mainly because I feel it's very close to the feel of the show, with the mixture of drama, angst and humour. I like to write humour. I also felt more confident about my ability to write a reasonably authentic Buffy after I'd written this, though I know I still have a ways to go.

5) Ennui Angelus/Spike, hints of Darla/Drusilla, NC17.

It's no secret I love the Fanged Four, though as peasant_ will tell you, getting them all in a story and giving each of them enough to do is tricky. Not sure I succeeded here, as Dru isn't in it much. However, I like to think her part is still important. Anyway, I'm still pleased with how this came out, and it's my favourite of the small number of Fanged Four historicals I've written. Historical fics - also tricky, but I think I managed to bluff my way through this one reasonably well.

And that's it. Some of the links here lead to flocked posts, which I'm going to unflock for a week, in case anyone chances along who hasn't read those particular stories and wants to.



In no particular order, I tag hello_spikey, shylahmask, peasant_, missmurchison and lyrstzha.

Comments

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for doing this. I, of course, was very glad to see three of my personl favorites also make the cut. The only one of these I haven't read is Deja Vu, which waaay preceeded my involvment on LJ. I'll have to check it out (plus, Obstacles, which I really have been meaning to get to.)

You like writing Darla. We like reading Darla. Hopefully they'll be more of her from you in 2009. I can't wait!

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You like writing Darla. We like reading Darla. Hopefully they'll be more of her from you in 2009. I can't wait!

I love writing Darla. In fact, three of those stories feature her very strongly, the last being in her POV.

And if I can get my head round writing this Darla/Angelus historical, there'll definitely be more Darla from me next year.

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

I just read an excellent gen Darla, Spike fic that I thought you might like. Check out Bloody Unnatural (http://snickfic.livejournal.com/2500.html#cutid1) by snickelish.

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Ooh, thanks for the link!

[only-passenger.livejournal.com]

i love this meme. thanks so giving us the insight!

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Thanks for reading. I enjoyed yours too.

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:blinks:

I'm sorry. I was sure I remembered you doing this meme, but now I can't find the post. Maybe I was just thinking I enjoyed that Faith/Giles story of yours so much and hoped you'd finish it one day and just imagined you'd done the meme.

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

Sorry to butt in, but she did do the meme. It's HERE (http://only-passenger.livejournal.com/212872.html) if you want to see it again. Looks like you commented, too!

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Thank you. I obviously didn't look back far enough.

[only-passenger.livejournal.com]

i did do it, and the faith/giles was in my top five, and i think you commented and said something about being excited about me working on the faith/giles. *grins* it's not all in your head. i just post a god-awful lot.

xoxo

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Thanks for that. I honestly thought I'd dreamt it.

[cozzybob.livejournal.com]

Brief Encounter was brilliant, I think it fits into canon near-perfectly and it explains one of the things that had bothered me in the series--that is, Spike not knowing about Angel in the sub. (Not to mention there needs to be more Spike/Darla in the universe!)

And Family Reunion--omigawd. More Darla gloriousness, though I have to say, Connor terrified the heck out of me in that one. In a good way. Especially when you find out Dru's fate. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah! (I reach for my neck every time *that* scene with Spike and Angel rolls around. That fic really is intense.)

Deja Vu, I have to admit not to reading. Mostly because, yes, I don't like human AU's. Though I keep hearing wonderful things about it, so I really must check it out. *clickors*

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I'm glad you liked Brief Encounter and yeah, it bothered me too that Spike didn't have a clue Angel had a soul on the sub and yet obviously knew in School Hard.

Am also glad you liked Family Reunion. Am still proud of that, though I know it's dark. Believe it or not, though, it's not as dark as it would have been had I written it when I first thought of it.

Human au's aren't really my thing either, but I've read some I've loved. madame_meretrix below, for instance, wrote a terrific story called Street Hassle which not only has human au versions of Spike and Angel, but takes the Jossverse metaphor of a vampire with a soul being like a recovering addict and makes it literal. I thought it was terrific.

[cozzybob.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! I'm gonna look that up too! It sounds fabulous, especially the metaphor thing, you got me curious now--I've read a few human AU's I've enjoyed, especially from toobusy2write (among others). It's just, having been in a fandom that was entirely non-fantasy and high-action oriented, my brain is all "bring on the vamps!" now. It's probably all that kink. You can't beat a classic spangelly feeding scene! :D

/fangirly

OMG Family Reunion was very dark--I can't believe it had the potential to be darker. Well, I can, but I'm too scared to contemplate. What you did to Dru was... was... and Spike... even Darla, really. And, again, OMG Connor. You write some of the most seriously scary versions of Connor, ever. (But I have to say, the way you tied in Connor with The Master was absolutely brilliant. Part of me wishes it actually happened that way on the show, it'd make more sense. ^^)

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here is a link to Street Hassle. I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it.

I can't believe it had the potential to be darker.

Oh boy, yes! I'm glad I didn't go with it, though. It would have been too gruesome for words. Evil Child Connor was fun to write. I'm glad you -er, liked him.

[shylahmask.livejournal.com]

I feel like I should have more fic in my arsenal before attempting this meme. Or rather, more completed fic.

Human AUs are definitely not in my palate. Which is a bit sad because it restricts me from reading/enjoying what I'm sure are some very well written and interesting fics. But I think that about non-Spike fics, too. Anyway, I'm massively impressed that you were able to go outside your comfort zone and write something like that.

I also think it's amazing how much effort you put into your fics. Family Reunion was excellent. Definitely one of my favorites of yours.

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But I think that about non-Spike fics, too

Heh! I know what you mean. Non-Spike fics have to be absolutely exceptional for me to have an interest in them.

I hope you'll do the meme one day anyway.

[shylahmask.livejournal.com]

I hope you'll do the meme one day anyway.

Eh. I'd have the exact same problem with the not "loving" any of the fics I've written. Also, fics I tend to hate at one point I can for some reason come back to and decide I like them a little more. And fics I like I can end up hating. I don't know if it has to do with letting the fics sit and getting away from all the effort/stress that went into writing them or what.

It's a pity about the non-Spike fic thing, eh? All of the fanfic in all of the internet and I'm stuck down here in a tiny narrow corner with one character of one fandom. Not that there haven't been excellent times in this little corner, but sometimes I wish I could branch out.

It looks like I've been irreversibly superglued to this particular corner, though. Oh well.

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It looks like I've been irreversibly superglued to this particular corner, though. Oh well.

Me too. And there are plenty of others. It seems to still be quite a roomy corner, which is nice.

[madame-meretrix.livejournal.com]

i love your answers. i love hearing about what you liked about writing a certain fic, and what inspired you. i certainly agree that these five are wonderful, among others you've written. i remember that your hau was the first i'd ever read, and it was a very nice introduction, at a time when i'd never heard of them. the characters remained authentic.

why are some of your posts flocked? i like to keep a list of recs, and these are among them, i hate to think that there are lurkers out there who won't get a chance to read some of your work.

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the characters remained authentic.

That's nice to know. Am so glad. And glad you enjoyed reading this.

As for why some of my posts are flocked, it's complicated, but recently I had a bit of a security scare and my response has been to take down all the more 'adult' (by which I suppose I mean kinky) stories off my site. I'm slowly uploading them to my other LJ and once they're all done, will link to them from my website. That way, anyone who wants to read them will have to ask to be friended to glassdarklyuk.

I know it seems a bit paranoid but unfortunately I feel it's necessary. Of course, a lot of the stories are posted on this LJ too, so people who are friended to this one can read them here if they want (once I unflock them, that is - there are several more I can unflock, though others not so much because I posted them to members only LJ comms in the first place). Also, there are still quite a few stories up at the website. I haven't taken them all down.

[hello-spikey.livejournal.com]

Annabelle wasn't an OC? *blink* Oh. Uh... Where does she show up?

Anyway, I adore "Family Reunion" to death and it would definitely have made any list of my top five You-fics. As would "Heroes in Hell" though actually I think they would top my favorite fics of all time, ever, anywhere.

(Am I piling the praise on thick enough? Are you blushing? You are too modest, you know!)

I read "Family Reunion" on "distorted mirrors" and I /think/ it wasn't complete there? Must check your link and be sure. Unless I did read the whole thing and forgot... either way I get to read it again! Yay!

Thanks for doing the meme, and having nice linkies so we can peruse.

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Annabelle wasn't an OC? *blink* Oh. Uh... Where does she show up?

She's one of the three first Potentials that Giles brings to Sunnydale in Bring On the Night - the one who gets killed. So though she's not quite an OC, we learn so little about her (English and meant to be posh) that she might as well be.

Am glad you liked Family Reunion, though it was definitely all up at my website until recently. It's down at the moment and link thorugh to glassdarklyuk eventually.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting this! I now get exactly what you mean about Spike/Darla. Guess I'd best get going on that 50's in Sunnydale fic, then, shall I?

I had read Heroes in Hell before, but it can be hard to unearth the non-Spuffy goodness from the archives, so the others were new to me. I still have to read Deja Vu, but first I must tell you that I am blown away by Ennui, Brief Encounter, and especially Family Reunion. Really wonderful stuff. This is one meme I'm glad I didn't skip!

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Thank you so much. I haven't had the chance to answer your individual f/b comments yet, but I appreciate them enormously.

And yay! for 50s Spike/Darla! Yes, please!

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Oops! Seems LJ didn't eat my comment after all.