“Into the Abyss”, End notes

[aadler]

[ Endnotes posted 22 Nov 2020 ]

Where did the idea for the story come from?

The earliest whisper of concept probably (but not certainly) predated my entry into Buffyfic: what if there were a serial killer who actually had a good reason for engaging in acts that most people would consider monstrous? Then there was another idea I never really followed out totally, but would have consisted of a basic “What I did on my summer vacation” approach that showed what each of the Scoobies — Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Giles — were doing separately during the summer Buffy was missing in Los Angeles following the end of Season 2. (I only ever did two of those, widely separated: “Oaxaca Nights”, and now this one.) The combining of those two elements, plus maybe a few other stray thoughts from here and there, led to this story.

Is there any particular significance to the title?

Already covered in the narrative itself.

What is the thing I like most about this story? the thing I like least, or about which I feel most doubtful?

Like most? Jane’s final statement at the end. I knew how that was going to go before I ever wrote the first word of the beginning. It simply couldn’t be anything else.

Like least? Well, looking back on it, the whole thing feels maybe a little … rushed. I got everything crammed into, what? parts of three days? maybe two full days bracketed by partial days? I think the story might have profited from being approached from a less headlong pace. Except, the nature of the story itself seemed to call for things to go quickly once Giles had made his appearance. I’m not sure there’s any way around that.

Is there anything I think I could have done better, or might do differently if I had it to do over?

The growth of what looked like it might have been the beginnings of a relationship was, I think, adequately done, but a few more things that indicated Giles’s involvement in the idea would have maybe done things to add a bit more solidity to the narrative.

Do I have any plans to follow up on this story, or to use the character(s) or situation in a subsequent fic?

No plans to use Jane, or elements of this situation (though, as we’ve seen, things can change when a character takes hold of me). As usual, however, there are internal links to other works of mine:

The Dichaltus Compendium, mentioned here, was also referenced in “Notes on an Opera Program”. The Tyristhean rites Giles cited would tie into a similar citation in “Ex Post Facto” and to mention of a ‘Tyristhes cabal’ in “X-Factorial”. Finally, both VampHarmony (“First Do No Harm”) and Cordelia (“Oaxaca Nights”) wore shoes designed by the now-deceased Danica Carlisle.

Any observations to add at the end?

I wish I had something insightful to say about this, but I don’t. I thought about this story for a long time before I ever began (years, which is of course not uncommon for me). I not only wanted it to go a certain way, but end with a certain … feel to it. And, ultimately, I find myself sharing Jane’s sentiments regarding those she rooted out and exterminated so pitilessly:

People like this don’t get to keep living.

Nothing more to say beyond that.