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Post by Karen on Apr 7, 2005 18:34:40 GMT -5
sigh....oh Riff...its just all so good. I DO love a happy ending, I DO! And I just clapped my hands with your line about the shell game...oh my, how delicious! It makes everything fit and I'm rambling and its just great. The gang is together, Fred is not gone, the songs were perfect - LOVED Lorne saying 'you do know Barry didn't write that. and the duet between blue and green... so...when Wesley understood the equation - I have a theory about where you are going with that...the vision he had...but I am not going to say in case I'm right. I'm already getting sad there are only four chapters to go. Oh- another thing - I like that there is a mystery here too - that there is some antagonist to be discovered - raises your story yet another level. Oh, I loved the 'shell game' comment, too!! The clues were there all the time - we were just too distracted to see them. I'm really relishing your story, Riff. Love the robot parts and the Spike and Angel snarking. Wesly in newly-tiled shower, Angel singing a Manilow song that was written by another which includes "I am music, and I write the songs.", Wesley not needing to sing for Lorne (! - should I be scared here?) - all the nice little details like that. I especially like seeing Lorne again and his funny nicknames for people. 'Blueberry muffin'. I teared a little when Illyria gave him permission to call her that. *snif* I loved seeing the gang bonding over feeding Wesley donuts in that diner. and giggled at Angel’s speech and body language took on an edge of authority. “Let’s get to it, people. The night is young.” Then he became a little sheepish. “Also, I’m kinda stuck in here until you move.” I'm so looking forward to the next chapter. *She's got a soul!*
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Post by Nan-S'cubie Mascot on Apr 7, 2005 21:04:18 GMT -5
Re Chapter 5, the tale continues enjoyably, with at least a gleam of hope to offset the beige despair. Wes fainting as the hope he's barely dared entertain is validated is a good moment.
I'm a little dubious about introducing a mind-influencing antagonist so late in the game--more than half the story over--but I'm certainly prepared to be convinced by the story's development.
And to be fair, ME did that as often as not on AtS (unlike BtVS)--throw in an "author of our misery" unanticipated and unknown until the end. I think of Sahjahn (sp?) in this context, for instance.
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Post by Aboynamedduke on Apr 7, 2005 23:17:12 GMT -5
Riff, Wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the fic. It's funny because after seeing the final season of Angel, I considered the idea of writing a fanfic very much like this. Wes returning from the dead to fulfill his role in the apocalypse and Fred's soul being merged with Illyria and not truly gone were the two major points that were identical in my idea. Imagine how pleased I was to find that someone had already written one much better than I would be able. But really, I think your fic satisfies me because you seem to have alot of the same concerns about the way things turned out in S5 (The bit about the good fight being not worth it if someone as good as Fred could just be wiped from existence was exactly what I felt while watching the last half of that season). Also, I'm a huge Wes pusher, so its wonderful to hear from a writer who can get inside his head so well. If thats not enough butt-kissin, my final compliment is that as far as I'm concerned, this story IS what happens after the credits role on season 5. Thanks for returning hope to the Angelverse. Keep up the good work. Can't wait to read the next.
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Post by Riff on Apr 8, 2005 6:43:23 GMT -5
sigh....oh Riff...its just all so good. I DO love a happy ending, I DO! And I just clapped my hands with your line about the shell game...oh my, how delicious! It makes everything fit and I'm rambling and its just great. {{Patti}} I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, and I also think the “shell game” line is great – sadly I can’t claim the credit. I’m sure Sara won’t mind me saying that some months ago she and I were discussing Fresley and I said that, having gone through the eps with a fine toothcomb as research for the fic, I was absolutely convinced that what happened to Fred was one enormous con trick for the viewer. I’m paraphrasing, but Sara replied with something like, “A shell game, in effect?” Immediately, the line, “One doesn’t see the misdirection in a shell game,” dropped from Wesley’s mouth into my mind. A shell game. Of course. That one phrase drew the whole jigsaw together. After having a tantrum and cursing myself ( Why didn’t I think of that? Why?), I went to Sara cap in hand to ask if I could use it. So, the laurels belong to her. I’m sure that discovering Fred still exists would bring the FG together. They both seemed like the right songs, to me. “Respect”, for example, felt appropriate for both Illyria and Fred, for several reasons. Lorne just joined in by himself (well, it is Aretha) – it was his idea, but since his voice is ideal for backing vocals on that song, I didn’t mind. *smiling* It will be interesting to see if you’re correct. *smiling again* They’re all quite longish chapters. ;D I like mysteries. There’s more plot-thickening next week. Thank you again. Riff.
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Post by Riff on Apr 8, 2005 6:43:48 GMT -5
I’m in a rush, sorry, but I promise to respond to everyone’s kind posts later.
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Post by Aboynamedduke on Apr 8, 2005 13:43:21 GMT -5
Just thought of something specific that I really liked and thought I'd bring it up. The part where Wes notes that he forgot to shave this morning and it seeming to be a bad omen. Very cool detail, definitely a nice memory of the series and how Wes's fate seems to be tied to the length of his facial hair. ;D Also, I wanted to know for sure what the deal was. From the boards I seem to have picked up that this story will be 9 chapters and you release a new one every thursday. Is that at all correct? Let me know, please, cause I plan on following this one till the end.
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Post by Queen E on Apr 8, 2005 14:01:43 GMT -5
Just thought of something specific that I really liked and thought I'd bring it up. The part where Wes notes that he forgot to shave this morning and it seeming to be a bad omen. Very cool detail, definitely a nice memory of the series and how Wes's fate seems to be tied to the length of his facial hair. ;D Also, I wanted to know for sure what the deal was. From the boards I seem to have picked up that this story will be 9 chapters and you release a new one every thursday. Is that at all correct? Let me know, please, cause I plan on following this one till the end. Our English friend (Riff) is most likely asleep already, so I will answer this one for him: Yes, it is 9 chapters, to be release every Thursday for 9 weeks.
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Post by Riff on Apr 8, 2005 15:32:27 GMT -5
Oh, I loved the 'shell game' comment, too!! The clues were there all the time - we were just too distracted to see them. *smiles* See above. Yes, the clues were there. The viewers and the characters seem to have been lost in a slide to the dark at that point. I’m so pleased you like it. It’s good fun writing that sort of thing. It was my good luck that “I Write the Songs”, with all its (I’m feeling reckless and think I’ll throw in a silly word) metatextual implications for Angel, happened to be one sung by Barry Manilow. I’m sure we all miss Lorne. I certainly enjoyed trying to characterise him. It was very entertaining for me when Illyria and him began to interact. I’m glad people have picked up on that sense of bonding. This chapter represents a shift, I think. Although the characters have been very slowly re-integrating up to this point, the events of the chap have accelerated the process. Angel - ;D And I’m looking forward to reading what you think of it! Riff.
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Post by Riff on Apr 8, 2005 15:34:43 GMT -5
Re Chapter 5, the tale continues enjoyably, with at least a gleam of hope to offset the beige despair. Wes fainting as the hope he's barely dared entertain is validated is a good moment. There always has to be some hope somewhere, I think. Poor Wes, it was all too much for him, especially since he was already severely stressed and suffering physical and nervous exhaustion. I’m glad Spike was there to catch him. I honestly can’t say whether it works or not, of course. We’ll just have to see. Very true. I’m going off on a slight tangent, but I’ve read before a theory that seasons of BtVS are based on setting up a false Big Bad (Spike/Drucilla, Mr Trick, Walsh, the Troika/Warren) and then introducing or revealing the real Big Bad later (Angelus, Mayor Wilkins, Adam, Evil Willow). This can be applied to other examples in AtS: the real danger is Connor, not Holtz (directly); the real danger is Jasmine, not the Beast, Angelus, or Evil Cordy. It’s not exactly relevant, but you just reminded me. Riff.
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Post by Riff on Apr 8, 2005 15:42:17 GMT -5
Riff, Wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the fic. It's funny because after seeing the final season of Angel, I considered the idea of writing a fanfic very much like this. Wes returning from the dead to fulfill his role in the apocalypse and Fred's soul being merged with Illyria and not truly gone were the two major points that were identical in my idea. Imagine how pleased I was to find that someone had already written one much better than I would be able. Aboynamedduke? I hope that isn’t as in the Archduke Sebassis. Hello and welcome! It’s a good place here, you know. As for us sharing ideas for a fic, great minds think alike. ;D But also, there’s a certain logic to the ideas that seems to be right there in the series itself. And, by the way, thank you. The final eight episodes of Season Five were very difficult and bleak, weren’t they? But there’s much to indicate that, had we had a Season 6 (it may still happen – let’s pool resources and hire the actors ), we would have seen Fred come back and alternate identities with Illyria. Amy Acker said so herself. It may be that AtS seasons 5-7 would have followed a similar path to BtVS seasons 5-7. As for Wes, it’s actually simple to see several scenarios for his return and also some excellent suggestions that his death was actually an illusion. That is foreshadowed in NFA. I had him die and return in this fic because I wanted to see the grief 2 that would come from him truly realising Fred’s soul was (apparently) destroyed, and the implications of that for his own soul. *smiles* It’s been suggested here that the real series finale was Smile Time. All the episodes after that happened in a another dimension somewhere, possibly Quortoth. That really is a compliment, and I’m not sure how to respond to it, except to say thank you! During the writing of this story the events became, in my own mind, what did happen next. Thank you again, and thank you for stopping by to post. Riff.
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Post by Riff on Apr 8, 2005 15:58:31 GMT -5
Just thought of something specific that I really liked and thought I'd bring it up. The part where Wes notes that he forgot to shave this morning and it seeming to be a bad omen. Very cool detail, definitely a nice memory of the series and how Wes's fate seems to be tied to the length of his facial hair. ;D Also, I wanted to know for sure what the deal was. From the boards I seem to have picked up that this story will be 9 chapters and you release a new one every thursday. Is that at all correct? Let me know, please, cause I plan on following this one till the end. Erin has already answered your question about the fic. Now, on to Wesley's facial hair... *rubs his own face and realises an appointment with a razor is needed before venturing out to the pub* It was just one of those accidents. Wes had left the appartment and was driving to work when I thought to myself, He hasn't shaved, has he?Of course he'd forgotten. That (as you point out ;D) is a symbol for his character.
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Post by Riff on Apr 8, 2005 16:00:05 GMT -5
Our English friend (Riff) is most likely asleep already, so I will answer this one for him: Yes, it is 9 chapters, to be release every Thursday for 9 weeks. Hello there, Erin! I deny all responsibility for using the word "metatextual" in my reply to Karen. ;D
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Post by Patti - S'cubie Cutie on Apr 9, 2005 14:21:01 GMT -5
Hello there, Erin! I deny all responsibility for using the word "metatextual" in my reply to Karen. ;D too late. I saw the commentary for Conversations with Dead People (how appropriate) last night and Tom Lenk used that word - first time I'd heard it - and here it is again. How often that happens!
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Post by Queen E on Apr 10, 2005 2:23:19 GMT -5
Hello there, Erin! I deny all responsibility for using the word "metatextual" in my reply to Karen. ;D Hello my friend! Besides, you know how I love it when you go all lit crit on me. *grin* And on that note, sounded at exactly 2:20 am, I should really go to bed.
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Post by Riff on Apr 10, 2005 15:48:03 GMT -5
too late. I saw the commentary for Conversations with Dead People (how appropriate) last night and Tom Lenk used that word - first time I'd heard it - and here it is again. How often that happens! That's true. The whole thing is so intertextual. ;D
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