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

[aadler]

Banner by aadler

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.

Go to Story
End Notes

Comments

[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.