Goodness gracious. This fic is so dark, so complex, and so well-written. I feel like I'm torn to shreds.
There are so many aspects to this fic that makes it great. First of all, the not knowing if it's Angel or Angelus is riveting and nerve-wracking. The first installment is hot and juicy and so wrong.
Angel's actions make us want to hate him, and yet you throw in the bits about his pain and confusion (that scene in the shower was jarring). We can't completely rule "Angel bad" which makes the piece especially disconcerting.
Adding Willow into the mix was a shock, but I think it was well done. The interaction between her and Xander really rings true.
After Xander is released, the reader hardly feels relief; you keep us in that place of isolation and discomfort so well. Announcing Buffy's death takes us further into the dark place; our hopelessness becomes even more profound.
In the end though, Xander is Xander. He's going to be the strong one, taking the hits for the team, and put this world of nonsense right again. He will ignore his pain for the good of his friends, as he always does. Beautiful.
The one thing in this piece that gave me a grin was when Xander mentions Spike as a potential "get horny" tool. Gotta love Spander.
This story is fantastic, but not in the same way as so many of your other fics. Hostage and Strength in Numbers are naughty, dirty, fun, and brutally hot, and although they show emotional depth (especially SiN) they did not leave me as effected as this short piece did. I see you had some trouble getting it out, but it was worth it. Thanks for sharing it with us. :-)
Congrats on your wins at the Forbidden Awards! They are well deserved.
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Date: 2007-08-04 09:51 am (UTC)There are so many aspects to this fic that makes it great. First of all, the not knowing if it's Angel or Angelus is riveting and nerve-wracking. The first installment is hot and juicy and so wrong.
Angel's actions make us want to hate him, and yet you throw in the bits about his pain and confusion (that scene in the shower was jarring). We can't completely rule "Angel bad" which makes the piece especially disconcerting.
Adding Willow into the mix was a shock, but I think it was well done. The interaction between her and Xander really rings true.
After Xander is released, the reader hardly feels relief; you keep us in that place of isolation and discomfort so well. Announcing Buffy's death takes us further into the dark place; our hopelessness becomes even more profound.
In the end though, Xander is Xander. He's going to be the strong one, taking the hits for the team, and put this world of nonsense right again. He will ignore his pain for the good of his friends, as he always does. Beautiful.
The one thing in this piece that gave me a grin was when Xander mentions Spike as a potential "get horny" tool. Gotta love Spander.
This story is fantastic, but not in the same way as so many of your other fics. Hostage and Strength in Numbers are naughty, dirty, fun, and brutally hot, and although they show emotional depth (especially SiN) they did not leave me as effected as this short piece did. I see you had some trouble getting it out, but it was worth it. Thanks for sharing it with us. :-)
Congrats on your wins at the Forbidden Awards! They are well deserved.