thatotherperv: (spike blaze (by oracleholly))
thatotherperv ([personal profile] thatotherperv) wrote2007-06-16 06:47 pm
Entry tags:

I Burn--the obsession and love of a pyromaniac (Chapter 6)

Title: I Burn
Author: Mel ([livejournal.com profile] thatotherperv)
Pairing: Angel/Spike
Rating: NC-17
Summary: human AU. Spike is a pyromaniac, stalking a fire investigator named Angel. An improbable love story (to say the least).
Warnings: Angst, obviously, from the setup. D/s but not of the usual variety. It’s more…emotional D/s than lifestyle or kink (though there is *some* kink, there’s nothing extreme). Hard to explain, but you’ll see. characterization probably not to everyone's taste, but it all works out in the long run.
infinite thanks to [livejournal.com profile] kitty_poker1 for being my second pair of eyes, giving me advice on plot, characterization, and the occasional spelling error. *squishes her*

Note: I accept concrit. but if you have something to discuss with me in need of improvement or clarification, you should bring that concern to me in this post or in email at thatotherperv@livejournal.com. it just makes my life easier to have it in one place.

“You breathe…I burn.”
—Toadies

Previous chapters here



Chapter 6

Liam rubbed his face sleepily against Will’s belly. His hair stood up in tufts, face flushed. Looked almost endearingly debauched as he watched Will, mouth still slick from the blowjob he’d just given

He’d rubbed himself off against the bed before Will could even touch him.

Christ, they were like a couple horny kids together. Hadn’t been farther than the kitchen in nearly three full days. He ached pleasantly all over, and the place was rank with the smell of sex, but Will loved it.

It was his secret fantasy that they could go on this way for eternity. Sure, the electric would get shut off eventually, but they could shag just as well in the dark…course, then the landlord would come knocking, and that might be more of a problem….

Liam seemed to be thinking along similar lines. He stretched and sighed, turning his face into the hand that was fluffing his hair. (All insistence that it be left perfectly coiffed had been abandoned during a particularly rough bout of horseplay-gone-foreplay. They’d called a hairspray amnesty).

Liam’s stretch collapsed with a groan. “I’m gonna have to go back to work or the chief’s gonna knock down my door. I’m scared to turn my phone back on…he’s gonna ream me for just disappearing.”

Will bit his tongue on the suggestion that he just didn’t. “Funny, I never imagined the fire department to be so kinky.” Liam smirked. “But yeah, me too. Bloke that owns the store will skin me alive if I call in sick again. Without even a hint of a cough.”

They grinned at each other, snickering over the recent dodging of responsibility.

Liam sighed. “Back to the real world.”

“Now now, no brooding, Liam.” He laughed at the distinct pout brought on by his teasing.

“You’d brood too. This case is impossible. Damn firebug.”

Humor fell away and Will paused, feeling an undeniable thrill at presenting Liam with that big of a challenge. “Impossible?”

“He breaks the mold. Tricky bastard.”

He tried to conceal his smug grin. “Is this our mansion-burning friend?”

“Yeah. Pain in my ass.”

“Sorry, luv.”

It was purposefully casual…the apology you gave when the circumstances were beyond your control.

That part wasn’t a lie, actually.

“Not your fault. But if I don’t catch this psychopath soon, every official in the city is gonna crawl up my ass and die there.”

Will tried not to flinch over ‘psychopath’…instead, he focused on the second half of the sentence. He made a face. “Lovely imagery.”

“Yeah, well….” Liam gave him a crooked, apologetic smile.

Something strange burned in Will’s chest. “Still, from what I’ve seen of him on the telly…he doesn’t seem like a complete nutter, yeah?”

Liam huffed a breath through his nose, eyes flickering in thought. “He’s smart. And he has more control over his disease than he should. But he’s mentally ill, Will. And he’s destroying people’s lives.”

He ignored the clench at the assessment of his condition. He knew it wasn’t normal…the impulses, the compulsion that led up to the striking of a match. He’d always been aware of that. But it felt good. Felt right. Who the bloody hell needed normal, anyway?

“I’m sure you’re right, pet, but I’m not sorry for what he’s doing.”

As soon as the words passed from his lips, he braced himself for a sharp, suspicious look. Instead, there was only askance. The kind that spoke of trust and respect. He found himself slightly flustered by the response.

“I…. They’re just living a bit to excess, don’t you think? No one needs all that. Almost…have it coming to them.”

Liam frowned slightly. “I don’t love it either, but they don’t deserve to have their entire life just ripped away from them. All of their possessions, all of their memories….”

Spike’s temper flared at the discussion of what they deserved but softened at the reminder of Liam’s own childhood. “Liam. Do you honestly think they didn’t break other people’s backs to get their 10,000 square feet? Those aren’t houses, mate, they’re solid cash, and I’m sure none of them are losing a damn thing anyway.”

“Yeah, they’re well insured. But they’ll never see their kids’ baby pictures again. Their family heirlooms.”

“You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t give a piss, yeah? Been the bloke they spit on for far too long. Spent a good part of my life homeless, so they don’t get my sympathy when they lose their mansions.”

There was a flicker of surprise, or maybe recognition, at the word ‘homeless.’ Will waited a moment longer for Liam to remark on the poverty of his own childhood—and when he didn’t, Will stifled the disappointment.

Liam spared him the awkward change of subject by dipping his head, scraping his teeth lightly over Will’s stomach…making him arch up with a sigh. He pressed his lips there for good measure.

“When can I see you again?”

Anytime you like, luv. How’s now until forever? “Dunno…reckon I’m working every night this week…until Saturday. That’s my next full day off.”

“Mmmm. It’s a date.” Liam crawled up his body, mouthing along Will’s throat till he bared it, turning his head aside.

Will bit his lip as Liam’s hips dropped against his own, cock stroking his. His breath was already ragged. “Thought it was time to face the real world.”

Rough hands slid up his arms until they pinned his elbows to the mattress. Liam’s face loomed over his, an inch from a kiss.

“You’re not going anywhere till I’m done with you.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Angel was hard-pressed to remember the last time he felt this good at the end of a weekend…or any other time, for that matter.

He watched Will wander restlessly around his room as he finished buttoning his own dress shirt. Now that they were dressed again, Will looked, ironically, more vulnerable than he had in days. Nervous. Over-compensating with a swagger. He wandered around touching Angel’s things, looking as though he badly wanted a cigarette. Refused to let his eyes wander Angel’s way, like he had bared his belly to Angel and now expected to be kicked there.

But then again…they’d been so utterly beyond pretense this weekend, and Will definitely hadn’t been the same guy he presented to the rest of the world. He’d been…softer.

A hand slipped towards a neglected cock, only to be caught at the last moment. Angel’s mouth brushed Will’s ear. “If you insist on being willful, I’m going to have to punish you.” Will’s chest hitched and his expression tensed, body caught in a prolonged shudder as he came.

Angel thought about what Will had said to him—that he wasn’t used to soft touches—and his gut tightened as he thought about all the ways someone could take advantage of a man like Will. It stirred up emotions—possessive emotions—that made him startlingly aware that he was already in over his head. This wasn’t just sex.

He’d already known that.

Will jolted a little nervously when Angel slid an arm around his waist from behind, pulling him back against his chest and hooking his chin over his shoulder. It gave him a front-row view of the way Will was intently rearranging the coins on his dresser.

“You know, I’m supposed to have lunch with some friends on Saturday. One of the guys from my old station, and his wife. Why don’t you come? You should meet them.”

Will stiffened and braced his hands on the dresser. He took a deep breath, body slowly going still and relaxed. When he looked over his shoulder he was smirking—the cool mask Angel had thought to be the real Will when he met him. His next words were a bit of a slap.

“Eager to show off the new toy, eh?”

It gave Angel pause…that Will felt the need to put up this front, now. He measured his words. “No. But I think my friends should meet my boyfriend.”

The word felt right when tested out loud. Will gave him a sharp look, caught off guard. “Would expect they wouldn’t take kindly to you rubbing their faces in it.”

Angel frowned. Rubbing their faces in it. “I wouldn’t call it that.”

Will looked away, and Angel let him go, one hand still on the back of his neck, encouraging Will to look at him. “Look, most of the guys aren’t comfortable with what I am. But that’s fine. Gunn has never been weird about it since I came out. You’ll like him.”

And he had a feeling Gunn would appreciate the flippant smart-ass in Will. Fred would want to coddle the rest of him. He knew his friends would take to this man.

Will shrugged off his hostility. “Yeah, luv. Sorry. I’m just…. Sounds great, I’d love to meet them.”

Angel gave him a squeeze and let his hand fall away, grabbing his car keys. “C’mon. I’ll drop you by Willy’s on my way to the office.”

“Shit! My bike. Three days! Probably been towed by now.”

Angel shrugged as he locked the front door behind them. “Doubt it. Whole city is one giant parking lot. People tend not to get worried before a week is up.”

Will was silent as they made their way down the stairs, but when they reached the bottom, Angel was surprised to be turned and pushed against the brick.

Will’s face was tense. His jaw flexed in indecision, brows drawn. “Week’s a long time.”

They regarded each other for a long moment, and Angel figured they’d left all discussion of city towing policy behind.

Will backed off and looked out towards the parking lot, drawing a cigarette from the pack and lighting it. Angel watched him, more than willing to wait for whatever it was he had to say. After a moment, clear blue eyes ticked back to his.

“What if I wanted to see you before Saturday?”

Angel’s boots scuffed against the cement as he pushed himself away from the brick. “I’d say, knock on my door tonight when your shift is over.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thus endeth Part One: A Prayer in Every Spark
TBC in Part Two: Never So Alive




A/N: okay, folks, that's what I had written so far, haha. I'll need a bit of time to prepare Part Two...it needs writing all at once before I post, because the arc of that part is pretty damn pivotal. I have to get it right to pull this baby off. I thought I would have more of it done already, but then the Great Writer's Malaise hit and I've been dissatisfied with everything. this was written before my muse went all screwy.


Question. Nobody's said anything about this one way or the other to indicate to me how I'm doing with something I'm concerned about, so I'm just gonna ask. the Spike/Will thing. he does not have a split personality disorder. he's just compartmentalized his emotions, so to speak, and I think especially where Angel is concerned, he doesn't want to show him that "Spike" part of himself. well, he does, obviously, but he doesn't. he doesn't want to be that guy *with* him. I don't know if I'm making any sense at all. and I know compartmentalizing your emotions is sort of what MPD is in its extreme form, but he's still all one guy in there, just playing different roles. *holds head* if this makes sense to anyone, holler. if it doesn't, ignore me. if you thought he was all looney with two people in his head, lemme know.

(ETA: just like to clarify something that's come up in a couple comments. the pyromania is a mental illness, and Will *is* mentally ill in this way...when I say "if you thought he was all looney" that was me being hasty in saying, in case this looks like MPD)

ETA again: okay, it looks like it's not confusing and I was concerned over nothing. I am no longer in need of reassurance :)

[identity profile] ash-carpenter.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Oh wow, I love this fic. Gonna be pulling my hair out before part 2 - argh! Don't be too concerned though, hon, I have a lot of hair... *g*

Just to set your mind at ease, I didn't think that Will had a personality disorder at all (uh, you know, apart from the setting things on fire issue). The human version of him's not so different from the vampire version in that respect: he just seems to divide himself rigidly into different roles and only reveal what he wants to. Hmmm, hope that made sense.

Overall, awesome.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
hee, if you run out of hair I can give you mine :)

thanks for letting me know about the MPD (I think I used the term "personality disorder" kinda loosely in the note...from what I remember from psych101 he probably *does* have a personality disorder, but not MPD.) and yes, pyromania is an impulse-control disorder, and he's definitely got that :)

I'm glad you see the canon link for what I am doing with his character here. that's definitely my thinking.
ext_30096: (Default)

[identity profile] yanagi-wa.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
Makes perfect sense to me. Great chapter. You're doing fine.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
thank you!

[identity profile] spikesfool.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
Well, your muse is right there in the groove with this part, babe. I'll be happy to wait for more of the scrumptiousness. This is just soooooooo good. I'm loving it.

[identity profile] spikesfool.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
Whoops. I missed the last question. I think we all have different personalities within us. That doesn't make us crazy, just living in a society where it's sometimes necessary to protect ourselves.

[identity profile] shay2.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
I'm nervous now. Liam falling for Will the 'psychopath'. What will he do when he finds out? I know...they can run away together. Drat, but theirs still the question of Will's firebug problem.

OK...I'm thinking too much.

More SEX!

Shay

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
all in good time :) *smooch*
vikingprincess: Big girl panties?  I'm putting on my ass-kicker boots and going commando! (Default)

[personal profile] vikingprincess 2007-06-17 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
lovely end to the arc, and I will resign myself to waiting for the next part... reluctantly, resign myself, let it be noted.

I don't see Will as crazy, or split personality. We all have different faces at work compared to with our friends or lovers. It's a matter of how far to let someone in, really. Layers, not a split.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
hee. tis noted. :)

thank you, babe. I'm glad he's coming across as layers and not crazy jekyll and hyde. I was concerned.

[identity profile] darkspace99.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, it's so great to come back from vacation and find so many new chapters of this! Anyway, about your questions, I think Will is very normal and I understand what you're trying to say. In a way, I think everyone's like that. Everyone has sides of themselves that are hidden. I mean, my parents say that sometimes they think I'm two different people - I'm either too serious or too crazy. No one's here to cart me off to the loony bin...yet...so I'd say I don't think Will is loony at all...well, he does have some problems with the whole setting fire thing but that's not like all out craziness. I hope I'm making sense. Anyway, great job and I eagerly anticipate the next part, whenever you finish it. =)

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
hee, glad I could entertain you!

thanks for your comments on my concern. good to hear.

[identity profile] icemink.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
I'm a bit tapped out right now, but I wanted to let you know that I'm still loving this story, and I never thought that Spike/William was any kind of multiple personality. I assumed it was more a secret identity kind of thing. William trying to visualize himself as the person he wants to be.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
thanks sweetie. and you're right on with Spike being the guy he wants to be...for better or worse *g*

[identity profile] nyghtpet.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
Kayyyy I'll address your question first while it's on my mind here *has to handle things directly in this state*

I don't think he's coming off at MPD. We all have different facets that we show to certain people and things we feel more comfortable showing at different times. And I think anyone knows at least one person who has a mask on to the world, but you get under it and there's a giant teddy bear there.

That being said, onto the chapter.

*loves that they spent three days fucking and not even stopping to breathe* Mmm
And so delightfully sweet and hot, riding the knife's edge of Will letting something terrible slip.
Awesome work, girl. Still the best thing you've put your hand to in my opinion.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
you readed! I wasn't expecting you to get to this so soon, considering how you felt when I went to bed!

thanks babe. glad he doesn't come off as mpd. the mask thing is def more what I was going for.

hee, the beginning of a relationship is so fun that way.

riding the knife's edge of Will letting something terrible slip
yay! so glad I did that well.

thanks so much, sweetie. I think it might be too, but I don't wanna jinx it until it's all done.

[identity profile] acacia5.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
This is a fabulous story and I can see why you need time with the second part, there relationship with each other is so complex ( I don't just mean the boyfriend part, I mean the whole thing). Angel seems very insightful and I assume he has studied the psychology of Spike's problem but still the level of betrayal is huge. When your ready I'll be eagerly awaiting my next fix.
As for the character of Spike, he didn't come across to me as having a personality disorder. I said before that I think he has been damaged by his past and it seems natural that he would have developed a lot of defensive mechanisms as part of his personality.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you feel I'm getting the complexity of their relationship right!

Angel seems very insightful and I assume he has studied the psychology of Spike's problem but still the level of betrayal is huge.
I think he's a smart guy, and yes, insightful. it's probably hard to be those things when someone close to you betrays you to this magnitude though, I imagine, so I agree with you there.

I'm glad you don't think he comes off as MPD. and yes, it's definitely a defense mechanism.

thanks!

(deleted comment)

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:05 pm (UTC)(link)
glad it comes off as defensive...definitely the case. and yeah, he's a really complex guy, and I'm so relieved I'm getting that right!

hee *hugs and spins* thanks!
shapinglight: (Default)

[personal profile] shapinglight 2007-06-17 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
I'm happy with the Spike/Will thing. I think you wrote it fine - and I do love this story. Your writing always has this earthy gritty quality that I do like very much.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
thanks babe, I'm glad I'm pulling him off. and pleased you like this fic!

Your writing always has this earthy gritty quality that I do like very much.
that was sort of surprising for me to hear! in a good way. it's not normally how I think of my own stuff, but it's really cool to hear you feel that way.

thanks!

[identity profile] chlare.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Great chapter. :) Love that ending with Will being clingy without trying to be clinging and a week being a long time. :)


“What if I wanted to see you before Saturday?”

Angel’s boots scuffed against the cement as he pushed himself away from the brick. “I’d say, knock on my door tonight when your shift is over.”


Mmm.

As far as Will/Spike goes, I didn't see it as MPD. Everybody's got their work side and their leisure side, so to speak, and how he is with Liam is just...how he is with Liam. And Spike is how he is when he gets that itch. He just happens to have two names.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
yay, I'm especially glad you liked this ending, because I rewrote that part completely before I posted. originally it was Angel realizing Spike didn't want to wait that long and asking him to come over, but even though Spike likes Angel domming him in bed, I don't think he's passive, so I changed it, and this version rang far more true to me. so thank you for taking note of it!

thank you for your comments on Will/Spike. I was just concerned that especially with the two names, people would think of them as two separate personalities. glad to hear folks don't seem to see it that way!

[identity profile] danna7000.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Eek, I feel a little on the spot now to make thoughtful comments. So my very, very long and rambling comment below is not me trying to be thoughtful, it’s just what I think. On other days, if all that comes out is “Guh!”, I hope you will see it as an equal acknowledgement of your fic. :)

I never thought Spike had a split personality – that would almost be too simple. But I do think he has a psychological disorder. I haven’t read a lot about the subject, but what I know is that for many crimes such as serial murder, stalking, etc., the criminal often has a very screwed up view of himself and the rest of the world. He sees his crime as the perfect way to be someone, to right some wrong, or to get love, attention, revenge, or something else that he has not been able to obtain through normal methods. While reading this story, what has come through to me is that something about Spike’s past has caused him to have that distorted perspective, and his crimes are his way of dealing with his anger. Also, his ego and his fascination with Angel are strongly tied into it. The fact that his crime has become so important in Angel’s life and has actually “stumped” Angel is clearly giving him some sense of pride and satisfaction. Now that he is in an actual relationship with Angel, he is well able to work it out in his mind so that he can be Angel’s lover and also continue his crimes, and it all makes perfect sense to him in some pathetic way. When Angel calls the criminal a psychopath, it snaps Spike into the real world for a brief second, but he is able to quickly recover and continue in his original thought process. Obviously, he also has a very clear vision that all rich people are bad and deserve misery, so his crimes are not only justified, but perhaps warranted. Spike’s ability to be so deceptive to Angel and cause Angel so much anguish, and to cause so much anguish to his victims without seeing how wrong it is scares me and fascinates me. Like the proverbial car crash. I think you’ve done an excellent job of setting all of this up. The conversation that they had in bed, and Spike’s thoughts as he reveled in his secret were so telling – but of what?. And the fact that Angel didn’t react more strongly when Spike said he wasn’t sorry for what was happening really caught my attention. I am very interested to find out what is motivating Spike. I am sure that as always, this story will take a turn that I never expected.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Eek, I feel a little on the spot now to make thoughtful comments. So my very, very long and rambling comment below is not me trying to be thoughtful, it’s just what I think. On other days, if all that comes out is “Guh!”, I hope you will see it as an equal acknowledgement of your fic. :)
oh gosh, no, don't feel on the hook! no one can make thinky fb all the time. I don't want you to feel pressured at all.

that said, your comment on Spike's personality was very illuminating and helpful, and it expressed some things I was having trouble articulating to myself, though I obviously have them in mind when I'm making characterization choices. he does indeed have a very distorted perspective that allows him (for now) to be Angel's lover and enemy all at the same time, and he assumes Angel shares his view of the rich. I love everything you said here, thanks so much.

Spike’s ability to be so deceptive to Angel and cause Angel so much anguish, and to cause so much anguish to his victims without seeing how wrong it is scares me and fascinates me. Like the proverbial car crash. I think you’ve done an excellent job of setting all of this up.
yeah, you're hitting on something here that's sort of...fundamental to their relationship, and it'll be make it or break it...I was about to say something else but it was a little too coyly spoilery. heee. no spoilers for you.

but yeah, don't feel on the spot. just be you. that's more than good enough for me :)

[identity profile] dark-hunterjenn.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Wonderful end to part one, and I will wait patiently for part two. Oh, and I got the Spike/Will thing...that should tell you how well you got it across (lol).

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
thanks babe! I'm so glad you've liked part one. *hugs*

[identity profile] angelstoy.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
That was just a superb chapter!!!! I'm so in love with this story!!!!!!!!

Can't wait for more!!!!!

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
thanks sweets.

[identity profile] treadingthedark.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Love this story.
Very very hot, and I'm not trying to pun either.
Love the plot, the layers, the intracacies, and of course the sex.
You write good dom. Subtle but serious. Love it.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
thank you so much! I'm really pleased you see all that in it. also really happy you like my dom!
ext_6368: cherry blossoms on a tree -- with my fandom name "EntreNous" on it (spike punk boi (shagalote))

[identity profile] entrenous88.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Finally caught up on this fic, yay! I don't know if I have given fb to one part of this before, though I think not, so I'll just squee my way through some general reactions:

LOVED the scenes in the bar, both of them, the opening flirtation and then the hot and heavy UST leading to the bathroom blow job.

Very interesting that Will (or are we calling him Spike? -- and I totally agree that he's more compartmentalizing than suffering from MPD) has a justification to his pyromaniacal strategy, though it seems like he's similar to other very smart mentally disturbed criminals in that he thinks he knows all the whys and wherefors of what he does, which I can't imagine can actually be the case.

I liked in this last part how some of the ways that Will is off (in the fact that he knows way more about Angel than he's letting on, in the way he's fishing for Angel's reactions to the fires) comes out in his seeming hostility about committment or making things more serious in meeting Angel's friends. He seemed a little self-sabotage-y in this installment, and I think in part it's because he's so damn vulnerable at the moment after spending the weekend with Angel.

I'm curious to see how the next whole part plays out, and I'll look forward to when you begin posting this again!

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
thanks babe, I'm glad to be on the receiving end of your squee :)

I'm glad you liked all the flirtation and UST leading up to their sexual relationship. that was really fun to write.

mm, we can call him either. he's, you know, both (and I'm glad you see it as compartmentalized!) and yeah, he definitely has a self-reinforcing worldview. and I think you're spot-on that he's self-sabotage-y because he's feeling vulnerable, and I'm glad that came across

thanks babe!

[identity profile] ex-dark-ami.livejournal.com 2007-06-17 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Wonderful chapter!

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
thank you!

[identity profile] 1more-sickpuppy.livejournal.com 2007-06-18 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
About the Spike/Will thing, I think us Buffyverse readers are quite used to seeing that polarity and it comes natural to us to see Will as the softer side that gets hurt, and Spike as the defense mechanism. Guess it's usually not that extreme in real people, but yeah, it works just fine here. In fact it's part of what I like with the wonderful interaction between Will and Liam. They're good together, and it's good reading them toghether. I think this fic is better and better.

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
I think us Buffyverse readers are quite used to seeing that polarity and it comes natural to us to see Will as the softer side that gets hurt, and Spike as the defense mechanism. Guess it's usually not that extreme in real people, but yeah, it works just fine here.
ah, that's very true! it's pretty much fandom convention, so there we go.

thank you, I'm glad you enjoy this fic!

[identity profile] bunnyohare.livejournal.com 2007-06-18 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh my! I've just read all 6 parts and am now totally jonesing for more. Mmm, why did no one ever write Pyro!Spike and Fireman!Angel before? Anyway, you've fixed it all by being the first in this oeuvre. *purrs*

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
yay!!

hee. because no one has my twisted little brain but me? could be *g*

thank you!
laisserais: kiss (spike - cool as shit)

[personal profile] laisserais 2007-06-18 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
ah. first? i just want to tell you how nice it is to be able to kick back and finally open up this post! it feels like i just cracked open a beer on a long day, lol. i've been looking forward to this since i saw it pop up.

okay, enough of that.

*snerk* hairspray amnesty. i love it.

Will waited a moment longer for Liam to remark on the poverty of his own childhood—and when he didn’t, Will stifled the disappointment. Aw! I don't know why [ok, maybe i do: i'm a sick little gal] that just was so sweet. I love that he wants Angel to open up and empathize more... it's like he's so greedy for connection... like he almost can't take all the hoops he has to jump through to get to the prize. that just was really an awesome little snip. Very fucked up and unhealthy, lol.


His next words were a bit of a slap. Oh nice. You did that narrative thing again that i have such a kink for. *is weird* I just love that a lot, and i have no idea why, lol

and hee! fred and gunn. i can't wait to see them. :) i loved how will's all worried and self-rejecting with the 'toy' comment, and feeling like being gay is part of what makes him wrong.... hm... *g*






[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
glad to give you that, babe *squish*

haha I'm conflicted about whether the hairspray line breaks the flow, but I liked it, so I left it. glad to make you snerk

I love that he wants Angel to open up and empathize more... it's like he's so greedy for connection... like he almost can't take all the hoops he has to jump through to get to the prize. that just was really an awesome little snip. Very fucked up and unhealthy, lol.
hahaha, I love it too. we can be fucked up together. we're speshul. I love the way you described it here, because yes. that's it exactly. you read my mind so well *smooch*

i loved how will's all worried and self-rejecting with the 'toy' comment, and feeling like being gay is part of what makes him wrong.... hm... *g*
I think...I've juggled with this concept, about whether or not he thinks being gay is wrong. I think he *wants* to believe everyone can fuck off, but he has a lot of abuse in his past, and his sexuality has definitely never been a source of respect for him, or anything other than heartache, so yeah. he's totally self-rejecting here. poor little defensive woobie. *pets*

(no subject)

[personal profile] laisserais - 2007-06-21 02:07 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] darkershadeof.livejournal.com 2007-06-18 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
Another great chapter! I really love how intense their feelings for each other are getting. The conversation about 'Spike' was pretty chilling to read, especially because it's written in such a light tone. To think what kind of trouble lies ahead! Oh dear.

And also: I didn't think he was all looney. :)

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
thank you! I'm glad their conversation about "Spike" worked for you. it's definitely a bizarre and uncomfortable situation.

[identity profile] denied-heaven.livejournal.com 2007-06-18 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
god i just
i love them so much haha
they fit so well and i'm so scared for later even as i'm soooo anticipating later *shiver*
i love angels protectiveness and dominance and guh
and will, i just adores will and his need for reassurance and just everything *sigh*
on a side note, nothing to do about the story per se but in semi response to the question at the end and yours and someones comments, multiple personality disorder is really called DID for disassociative identity disorder now cuz they've decided it isn't a personality disorder at all and the name was misleading.. i haven't a clue really where pyromania falls in disorders, whether he Does have a personality disorder or not, i've never covered that

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-18 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you're enjoying it sweetie *hugs*

*that's* what they call it now. I knew they'd renamed it, but I was too lazy to look it up for an author's note, and laypeople call it MPD still anyway. yeah, DID. thanks.

and yeah, every time somebody said "he doesn't have a personality disorder" I cringed, because actually, he does, I think. from what I remembered I thought he probably had borderline personality disorder and/or antisocial personality disorder, and I looked it up and I think I was right: antisocial pd, borderline pd

[identity profile] of-too-minds.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Excellent chapter! Just amazing. You really know how to ratchet up the tension in really subtle ways. You know how the air changes just before a big thunderstorm? Well that's how I felt reading this chapter. You can tell the lightening is coming, you just don't know when it's going to strike. Brrr.

Re: the split personality issue... I'd say you're on the right track. It's not MPD based on the fact that Will/Spike is aware of both sides of his personality and can consciously control it. He's just extremely good at compartmentalizing - which is something every person does to some extent. We (typically) don't show all the same parts of our personality to our bosses as our best friends, at least not to the same degree. We present ourselves differently in different contexts - Spike is just an extreme form of this. Will has found a way to compartmentalize his illness and keep control so that it doesn't take over his entire personality. Yes, he has a mental illness. No, he doesn't have a split personality. Good job walking that line! :)

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-21 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
wow, thank you so much! I'm so glad you think I'm doing a good job of handling the tension, that's really crucial to this fic *hugs*

and thanks for your two cents on the compartmentalizing thing.

[identity profile] spikeslovebite.livejournal.com 2007-06-25 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
okay somehow i must have missed you posting this at darker spike *pouts* so since i hadn't seen an update in a few days i decided to check here and *hooray!* found it. annnnnnnd since i'm your new biggest fan and don't want to miss any more updates, i'm gonna friend you, k? :D

[identity profile] thatotherperv.livejournal.com 2007-06-26 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
thank you! I'm so glad you love it, and I actually hadn't gotten around to posting it at DS, that's why you missed it, haha. *ducks*

sure, I'll friend you back. I uh...never told you this *ducks head* but I love Goodnight, Saigon! and I actually am pretty rare to read spuffy these days, but yeah, a friend recc'd it. funny you asked to friend me now, because I was going to contact you...a friend and I are starting an invite-only human AU archive, and I was wondering if we could have Saigon to archive there. the archive doesn't exist yet, so I got nothing to point you towards, but if you have any questions, let me know.

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