Independent 39: “In the Misty Moonlight” – Story Index

[aadler]

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Independent 39: In the Misty Moonlight
Copyright July 2022

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Season: post-Seventh (Buffy)
Rating: G
Spoiler(s): “Chosen” (Buffy, S7-22)
Genre: Some action, mostly introspection
Length: 6,228 words
Main Character(s): Giles, Buffy
Teaser: On a dark desert highway, Watcher and Slayer must — once again — do a spot-check on destiny.
Acknowledgment: This story was done for the 2022 summer_of_giles.

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End Notes

Comments

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

This was a much more contemplative piece than I expected. Even the brief staking was more thoughtful than action packed. I did appreciate the hearkening back to the first episode and the opening with Darla. But the tone suited the maturity of their relationship and their changing roles. It's nice to see a more mature Buffy.

[aadler]

I spent so many years seeing myself primarily as an action writer — liked it, did it well, enjoyed doing it — it’s been interesting to note that I spend more and more of my time these days in personalities, byplay, character introspection. I still love a good action scene, but the people is what makes the story, and these people always reward closer inspection.

And, yes, I was aware that the ‘reversal’ of predator/victim to female-on-male had been done in the first minutes of the first episode of Buffy. Not a deliberate homage, more a repetition of something that worked, but I did recognize that Darla set the template.

Finally, the show’s writers had made it clear that Giles was actively avoiding a father role (with all the teen Scoobs, not just Buffy), despite the obvious affection there. I wanted to offer a reason for that that didn’t include avoidance of commitment.

Your observations are always welcome. Thank you.