Yup - then.

But it's so very much my girl Buffy in her innocent days that it made me tear up.

Yeah, I noticed that when you quoted it. Is fixed now.

Any other feedback? I'm not trolling for praise, I swear -- I'm just a bit nervous about what I'm doing with Xander, and if I'm making Willow sound Willow-like enough in the narration.

Lyra, her voice is quite Willowy to me - but I expect it will likely evolve, alter a bit, as she grows into Slayerdom.

Xander - he's not my character, but his voice sounds true to me.

It's a bit of a tangential question, but how do y'all feel about your SO's reading your fic? Not allowed? Same way you'd feel about them reading non-fan fic? Somewhere in between?

My husband reads everything - or, wait, I suppose he didn't read Fangs - but I like him to read my stuff for grammar, clarity, etc. He really doesn't much enjoy the m/m stuff, but what can you do...

This morning I forgot the word 'nautical' and instead had to use 'seafaring stuff'. Do you guys often forget words like that?

Lyra, Xander is my character - is my character - is MINE - sorry. Xander is a voice that I can easily hear in my head. I haven't seen enough of your Xander to comment. (I know you dislike the character and/or actor, so it'll be interesting to see how you manage. I, myself, dislike Willow t waits for sounds of shock and horror .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... .. .. . . gets tired of waiting and goes for ice cream but because I understand her I think I did a creditable job of writing her)

This,

My mom would have killed me if she knew I was doing something so violent in such a male-oriented space. She wouldn't even let me have a joystick for my computer because she said they were phallic symbols encouraging male dominance. I think that made it even more fun.

though, is pretty damn perfect. And I like how you're keeping Willow's desire to be special (no matter what the cost?) even in these changed circumstances.

Do you guys often forget words like that?

I lost the word "shelf" once in 1988 and Misha still occasionally mocks me for it.

Xander is a voice that I can easily hear in my head. I haven't seen enough of your Xander to comment. (I know you dislike the character and/or actor, so it'll be interesting to see how you manage. )

Actually, I've come to realize that what I dislike is what ME did with the character after S3. He's still a hard voice for me, though.

But as long as you aren't pissed off Xander's kind of doing an abandon-y thing rather than deal with Willow at this point in the story (which strikes *me* as true to the character's fears about being left behind and the fact he is a 16-year-old boy, but I feared might read like bashing), I'm happy.

I also wrote the scene where Angel comes back. I just need to come up with the bits in the middle...

I can see how Xander would not be able to quite deal. He's used to being able to at least best Willow physically, and he doesn't have that anymore. She was always smart and clever, but this really throws off the dynamic of their relationship.

And, seriously, is there anyone who thinks that Xander was served well of late? Because, man, so much they could have done and didn't, so much they did that they shouldn't. So much gone.

You people hear voices? Are you insane? If so, why aren't more of you writing Dru?

I'm trying to get Paul to read my stuff. I really want his input on Sunrise, but it seems I shot myself in the foot with the self-mocking references to staying home and writing gay porn.

I'm actually quite miffed that he won't read my stuff, damn him.

Thessaly will read my fan fic, but not as serialized here. She wants to wait until it's all done and read it at once.

Which, considering the length of the current one, might be awhile. (Actually, not true. I can see the end in sight.)

Coffee, Doughnuts and Marlboro Reds.

You people hear voices? Are you insane? If so, why aren't more of you writing Dru?

Dru is hard to write. Very intimidating. Yet strangely, also kind of liberating.