Oh, I've got totally familiarity (if lapses in memory) on HHG. It's the other half of the crossover I'm not familiar with.

I do think that anything concerning HHG really does need either Zaphod or Marvin in it.

What? Not a Firefly watcher? You really should put that right, you know.

I do think that anything concerning HHG really does need either Zaphod or Marvin in it.

For some reason, I'm thinking Zaphod/Inara is interesting. Marvin... Marvin and Kaylee is going to be an interesting meeting.

What? Not a Firefly watcher? You really should put that right, you know.

That's what everyone says, and I expect I will, but honestly, it really does take a mule team to drag me to watch scifi. And since I don't like westerns either? I've been extremely resistant.

But mostly, I just want to see the original pilot, if it ever comes around on DVD or video.

it really does take a mule team to drag me to watch scifi. And since I don't like westerns either? I've been extremely resistant.

puts 'mule team' on list of things to buy

I'm brainstorming for HHG characters, and now I'm seeing Dirk Gently meeting River. I should probably try and avoid mixing the Douglas Adams fandoms, really.

I should probably try and avoid mixing the Douglas Adams fandoms, really.

I would, but then, I'm a purist that way, and while I liked Dirk gently? It didn't kill me the way HHG did.

It didn't kill me the way HHG did.

Nor me. hence the not mixing.

I think I should go and read and maybe sleep, and write more tomorrow.

Sleep is good. I'm an achey mess and going to a reading in berkeley tonight and I need a nap, badly.

How dare you people have fascinating POV discussions when I can't be around to participate? Huh? Huh?

Oh, and, Teppy, thank you. I was thinking of asking you to beta, as you betaed Steam, but the lovely souls Beverly and Am-Chau took up the gauntlet.

So, POVs and changing them and which ones I like. I'm tired of First Person, it seems everyone and their dog does first person, and only a few people do it well. Done poorly, it gets narcissistic and I start thinking to myself, "My god, what a good shrink would do for this person. I know this story is taking place inside your head, but, really, your head is a massively untidy place to be." I know, in some stories that's the whole point, but, dammit, at least let me see some progress towards a tidier mind.

Second person? I may have read a couple of things, but it was with great fear and trepidation. Occasionally it worked. I think there was a Vamp!Xander one that was 2nd Person, and it took a while for me to figure out just who it was hiding in the cemetery saying they were sorry. Still, I remember it.

Third person is my forte, I guess. I want to try first person, but it would have to be multiple first person--see main objections to first person. The POV character would have to be incredible observant and intuitive for me not to get disgusted with living in their head for that long.

Third person limited is my favorite. I know I fall down occasionally on strictly keeping it limited, but when there's only action taking place, no feelings being discussed, I'll let it slide. I compare it to a wide angle with a cameral. If there's just movement across the landscape with some dialogue that's easily interpreted, I'll leave it as pseudo-omnisicient. As soon as interpretation begins, though, I treat it like the ultimate tight shot, with the camera as the character's eyeballs.

"Touch" was tricky, because I had to flash back and forth between Spike and Xander to show the progression. I'm not completely happy with having to have physical breaks, like spaces or lines, to show the POV, but when I re-read it without any kind of breaks I felt a little POV-whiplash.

And everyone's probably out carousing and won't be in to chat. Oh, well, I can type up the next chunk of V!Giles, I guess.

That's what everyone says, and I expect I will, but honestly, it really does take a mule team to drag me to watch scifi. And since I don't like westerns either? I've been extremely resistant.

If it hellllps, deb, before this fall I knew nothing about scifi, and was definitely suspicious of westerns, and still I love Firefly like I have loved no other show before. It's good *art*. It's amazing. I'd like to break each episode down and write about how *exactly* wonderful it is. I luvv this show, and cry copious salty tears because it isn't on every Friday.

Re. POV: I haven't yet met one I haven't found done both elegantly and execrably. That's the story, for me. But if I had to choose, I would probably go with close-loose/switching third perfect, as wld most people.

Lizard! It's the Lizard! She still runs free and occasionally wanders past my view! How lovely.

I was going to post this in my LJ and just put the link here, then I thought, "Come on, it's the Bitches, you've always posted chunks here. Don't get all LJ-smug on them now."

So, the next chunk of V!Giles, here first. Then in my LJ.

Buffy looked at the papers and book, frowning at the odd symbols. "So what have you got?"

Giles arranged the papers for her. "We've found a location that should be safe for all of us. It's a place Anya has been, so we can prepare for the conditions. We just need to go over the words of the spell a few times and we'll be ready to go."

"How long will we be gone? And is this going to be one of those an hour here is like a day there things?"

"I don't believe so. It has to do with the proximity of the dimensional planes in relation to--" He broke off at the look on Buffy's face. "They're close enough that the time flow should be very similar."

"I want to ask how, but it would be like all those times you tried to explain physics to me, wouldn't it."

Giles managed not to laugh. "I'm afraid so. Though Willow would be happy to tutor you, as always."

Willow bounced. "This is so cool, Buffy! And it makes sense. The hard part is to make sure you have the proper name of the dimension and you know what language to use in the spell. The language itself partially invokes the dimension, and the rest of the incantation forms the portal." She settled down a little. "And, yeah, it's kind of like physics."

"We can get back, right? I mean, if the two of you are going to be doing the spell to open the portal, won't you need two to open it coming back?"

"Oh, of course we can get back," Giles said. "I want Willow's help for safety's sake. Plus, I don't think I could stop her." Willow grinned back at him. "But I know the spell for a portal that will bring us back here. Which explains why the Council insists all Watchers learn Sumerian, which is one of the earliest human languages to have a magical vocabulary."

Getting both Giles and Willow back on track when there was fascinating stuff to discuss was like pushing a shopping cart with a bad wheel. "When do we go?"

Willow and Giles looked at each other. "Twenty minutes?" Willow said. Giles nodded. "Twenty minutes."

Buffy blew her hair back out of her eyes. "So what do I pack?"

They quietly spread the word about the imminent departure. When Buffy went up to consult with Xander on the Knights, Spike abandoned his torment-Xander post to track down Giles.

"You're an idiot, you know," he said when he found the other vampire, who was sweeping debris from a section of the courtyard. Willow was shooing the chickens back into their coop, using unladylike language that would have upset the Humane Society.

Giles barely looked up. "No, I'm not. Portal travel isn't done on a regular basis, but the theory is well understood." He glanced around and moved closer. "Though I don't blame you for being leery, if you've had a bad experience. How did it happen?"

"Voodoo priestess in New York. Booby trap in her hougon. She was after vampire parts for a spell. I was for parts, and she sent Dru through the portal as a present for the creatures on the other side. She had a power-sharing deal with them, had to feed them occasionally. I had to go in after her. Dalton and the boys made the bitch keep the portal open, then we chopped her up once me and Dru were back." He studied the darkness for a while. "I kind of miss Dalton. The Judge ate him. I found him in an old bookstore in Manhattan. I called him in for the Du Lac Cross thing." He shook his head firmly to stop the babbling. "Have you ever even seen a portal, Ripper?"

"Yes, I have, actually. In training. They are rather stomach turning, I agree. But Sqaon seems the wisest choice for a place to hide."

"Sqaon? Haven't heard of it."