Re: Links (Howard)

["Howard Russell" <howardrussell2000@xxxxxxxxx>]

FURTHER DISCUSSION OF CHIMERABLOOM:

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--- In buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, danspector@w... wrote:
> 1.  Chimera Bloom
>
> Yes, it's an extreme concept, but I think it's an interesting
> challenge the author set for herself, to have something that, even
> though explained and excused by the backstory (shall I give
> details?  I hate to spoil people, but I also don't want people
> thinking it's worse than it is) will still cause issues throughout
> the story, but I don't see the series's unfinished status as an
> indication things aren't meant to "get better".  (Then again, I
> haven't read the whole seriesmy fragmented
> cyber-attention span works against long fics.)

SPOILER WARNING! SPOILER WARNING! SPOILER WARNING!

I did read the entire thing.  On the surface it would appear to be 
three fics on the site but upon reading them you learn that they are 
really one.  Two parallel stories and the third is the sequel to the 
one finished parallel story.

The "Buffy Alternate Universe" story that starts with that 
"interesting challenge" that hospitalized Willow?  Well it continues 
with Faith capturing Willow and "challenging" her repeatedly over 
several days.  Buffy saves her and dotes on her and waits for her to 
heal to be ready to resume their physical relationship.  If this was 
the end of it, I wouldn't object to this fic.  But it isn't the end.  
When Willow isn't ready soon enough, Buffy "challenges" her again.  
Tells her that that's the way it will be.  That she isn't going to 
change just because Willow's been repeatedly traumatized.  And 
Willow's support structure in the Alternate Universe all shrug and 
say, "Eh, that's the way slayers are.  Deal with it."

"Passions Realm" is the sequel is to that fic.  Willow's support 
structure decides that Willow just needs to get over her problem with 
being repeatedly "challenged" by Buffy.  So they dump the two girls in 
a third universe where Willow will be forced to depend on Buffy for 
her survival.  Hopefully this will put Willow's little serial 
"challenge" hang-up in perspective.


> That said, I don't think a warning label is merited on the link. 
> It's a B/W story, it doesn't bash either character, and if people
> don't like the premise, they'll discover that and make their own
> decisions.

There's no warning on the site about rape content.  There is a warning 
about violence but there's a lot of violence in the Buffy-verse.  
Plenty of fics use that warning because of slayer fight sequences.  I 
didn't expect it within the Buffy/Willow relationship.  This is a 
story that makes the season six canon Buffy/Spike 'ship look healthy 
and loving by comparison.

I do think that casting Buffy as the serial rapist of Willow is 
character bashing.  I didn't like that universe at all.  Yes, there's 
the initial rape.  Brutal, but not outside the bounds of a 
hurt/comfort fic.  I kept reading to get to the comfort part.  But it 
wasn't there.  It's a hurt/re-hurt/hurt-again fic.  That's why I 
suggest a warning.

The "Buffy Real Universe" parallel fic isn't much better.  Sure, that 
Willow is used to being sexually submissive to her Buffy and is eager 
to start more of the same with the Buffy-verse Buffy.  When they 
finally get intimate, she enjoys being utterly powerless under Buffy 
and wears her bruises with pride.  I don't have a problem with both 
characters enjoying their relationship, however alternative it may be. 
But then Willow encourages a fifth season Dawn to enter into a 
similar relationship with Faith.  Shows Dawn her bruises and hopes 
that Faith will give Dawn some of her own.  Combining D/s and S&M with 
under-age is a little icky for me.  Again, I think a warning is in 
order.


> One note that *is* merited:  there are two prequels set within the
> core universe of the series (the one that begins with "You Used To
> Be Mine") that are not on the latest version of the site.  However,
> they are viewable through the use of the Wayback Machine.

I checked the Wayback machine and did find the prequels you spoke of.  
"Are You Sure?" and the unfinished "The Dark And The Light".  Kinda 
sad that the mostly unobjectionable prequels were removed but the main 
fic remains.


> 2.  Casandra's site, "No Other Way"
>
> The URL on that link is wrong and I left it out of the folders so
> I'd remember to hunt up the correct addy.  Just didn't want to file
> and forget, and I was too tired at that time.

Um, the link works.  That's why I asked about alphabetizing it, not 
moving it to dead links.


> My linkage, and my life, remain a work in progress. :) 
> (Bonus pts to who ever first IDs *that* reference.)

"My life's a work in progress." was the headline of a Parade Magazine 
article about Bruce Willis.

Complainingly yours,
Howard

--
They met again and quickly the kiss grew steamier. Willow's hands 
began to roam across Buffy's back as Buffy entwined her fingers in 
Willow's hair. Time stretched as the embrace grew more passionate. The 
girls broke the kiss but didn't separate, just leaned their foreheads 
together and panted.

"Wow. That was..." Buffy took a deep breath. "You sure you never?"

"Uh-uh. I was just following your lead."



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Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

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