“First Do No Harm”, End notes

[aadler]

[ Endnotes posted 31 Jan 2017 ]

Where did the idea for the story come from?

I believe the original concept — the hint of an idea that wound up following a different path — was of someone impersonating Buffy as a bluff: that is, facing a vampire threat and using the Slayer’s reputation as protection. I may still use that first notion eventually, but in the meantime it went first to Harmony impersonating Buffy.

Is there any particular significance to the title?

Just a play on words, one that was later more-or-less duplicated in canon (“Harm’s Way”, Angel S5-09). And, of course, two of the male characters did indeed wind up ‘doing’ Harm, both to their eventual regret.

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

The thing I like most, of course, is Harmony. I just plain enjoy writing Harmony, the combined optimism and foolishness, flavored with vampHarmony’s blindness to ethical norms. And, of course, it was fun to watch her idea of what ‘acting like Buffy’ looked like, including the anti-Buffy barbs she couldn’t help periodically tossing out.

(I also got something of a kick out of the fact that Harmony was never explicitly identified as Harmony throughout the story. One of my little affectations, letting something become apparent through context and reference, but it still tickles me.)

There is no least favorite part. This story went where I wanted it to go, did what I wanted it to do. Any improvement would require greater imagination than I possess.

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

The thing I would probably do differently, if I were starting now … I would have given ‘Doc’ Ballard a different nickname. I hadn’t forgotten Joel Grey’s character Doc in BtVS Season 5, but very much underestimated how much the nickname would resonate back to him, even in my own mind. A small thing, but it could have been avoided.

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

There are already links with other Backstage stories. In “Bitter From the Sweet”, it was in Cromwell that Buffy and Angel had their never-shown-in-canon post-resurrection meeting. Dustin made an appearance in “Kirlian Logic” (and commented on Katie and her ‘stepmother issues’, indicating likely good news for Doc and Judith). The DarkSun Index website mentioned in this story was also referenced in “Learning Curve”. Cordelia in “Oaxaca Nights” was wearing shoes of the same brand (Danica Carlisle) that Harmony had here, and in “Into the Abyss” we learned something about Carlisle herself. That’s not the end of it, either, I have other ideas that will be manifesting soon.

[ In fact, Katie made another appearance in my 2019 story, “Jack Be Nimble”. ]

Any observations to add at the end?

This story was basically done as a long, fun lark, an unashamed self-indulgence. It certainly worked as that (I regularly go back to re-read it for the sheer pleasure of it), but got some fairly widespread respect from other folks as well, winning awards from Shades of Grey and No Rest for the Wicked. I’m my own main audience, but favorable reception from elsewhere might tend to show that I did okay this time out.