I know they don't have to ahve sex, and I think that's where I'm goign with this. No sex for Xander, even though he knows he's attracted to Spike and wants him, because he doesn't like Spike, because he doesn't want to become Spike.

Very good. Nice and grayish, I think. Or at least off-white.

It's worth it. I can remember when she first started this stuff... Damn, it was forever ago. But we kinda joked around until it became the DE -- Damned Epic. And then she started Route 66 -- Imposters in this Country -- as a little sidelined PWP from a list challenge. And then that ate her brain.

It was not forever ago! It was just, umm. Late June! So, you know, only kind of forever ago.

It was fun to watch.

Mmm... Spicy brains! I think the top sign when something has eaten my brain is when I'm wandering around the house thinking about other things, and suddenly, I'm dashing to the computer and typing. Fucking brains. I miss them.

I'd say that the writers have purposefully started to reintroduce elements of William into newly-souled Spike.

I so totally called that. Hahahahaha!

I can't wait to read askye's story. Panting with eager, here.

And he's letting Spike STAY in his apartment because Buffy asked and maybe Xander's afraid of where Buffy might let Spike live if he said no.

Oh, I really like that interpretation. It makes a lot of sense.

Dude, Imposters is done.

Whoa.

Finally.

Can somebody help me? I have the first two lines of a filk of Rudyard Kipling's If, but I don't have a copy in any of my poetry books, and I need to check I'm remembering the thing right. I feel sure there should be somewhere I can go on-line, but I don't know where. Any thoughts?

bartelby.com? I'm gonna start the Oz, Willow, Veruca, fic today, I think.

Thanks erikaj- but I found a copy at everypoet.com. Anyone intrested in seeing the end result?

I'll take a look, but I'm still new to The Beta. I did it for Ple once.

Well, I'm doing well today, cos here it is. Comments welsome, escpecially about the metre- I think it's kind of crackly in places. In 'quotes speech' becuase I couldn't get it to format properly otherwise.

If- Angelus version

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and turning into dust,

If you can trust yourself when minions doubt you,

While avoiding losing them likewise to dust,

If you can hunt- and enjoy the hunting,

Or, feeling hunger, quickly sate it,

Or, needing loving, get on to fucking,

And yet not get so much that your Sire hates it;

If you can drink- and not make blood your master;

If you can think- and still crash stupidly on;

If you can meet with Slayers and Disaster

And not let either render you truly gone;

If you can bear to see the Childe you’ve Sired

Staked by a Slayer for he was a fool,

Or see the death of a demon you’ve hired,

And somehow keep your plan, your cool;

If you can make one heap of all the bodies,

And leave it- unguarded- at your perimeter,

Where it can be found by anybodies

Who want to lay your body to a beater;

If you can force your blood and brain and sinew

To serve your turn long after you are dead,

And so hold on when there’s only demon in you

To the ‘I’ that’s you within your head;

If you can rule an Order and keep your post,

Or fight with Slayers- nor lose the bar brawl touch

If neither foes nor family send you running to the coast

If all men will count you, but none as such;

If you can fill an unforgiving township,

With pillage, rape and mayhem wild,

Yours is the Earth and every maiden in it,

And- which is more- you’ll be a vamp, my Childe!