Slaymesoftly's Fandom Journal

brain is still working - if slowly...

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:55:16 GMT

Behind a cut, just in case... It's a spoiler thing.

( Read more... )

comments

Patti doesn't have enough to do, apparently...

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:09:28 GMT

Yesterday I had stuff to ramble about and never got to it, now I don't remember what it was. Something to do with reviewers on different archives, maybe? And then there was something else fandom related that's comple--- Whoa, hold the presses. That one I just remembered! Yay!

So, here's the thing, I watched most of Buffy in real time, or within a year or so of same - played catchup on seasons 1-3, I think, but was watching them in reruns by season 4 which I was watching as it aired. From then on it was pretty much as it aired. So, when I got my dvds, I didn't exactly dive into them to rewatch what I'd already seen. It's something I've done from time to time, usually when I need to have a better sense of what's going on in a scene than what I can get from the transcripts (my first choice when I need to know dialogue or chronology - I use screen caps when I want to know something visual). A few times, I've looked at them for something very specific - often something that has been remembered differently by someone else. I have a few scenes pretty firmly fixed in my brain - for whatever reason - and they're fixed there based on what I remember seeing when I watched for the first time back in the day. Now, granted, that was a long time ago and I have difficulty remembering yesterday sometimes; and granted, we all know how unreliable the human eyes can be and how often they can see what they think they see, rather than what's really there (just ask any three people who watched the same incident and you'll often get three different versions of what happened). So, given all that, I'd be that last person to say that the way I remember something from the first time I saw it is the way it was. Really.

On the other hand, we've all seen the outtakes, dailies, and so on where a scene is done over and over until it suits the director, where there are subtle and not so subtle differences each time while the director tries to see what will work best. (I'm thinking specifically now of the many takes that they did of the balcony scene, with Spike saying and doing slightly different things or using slightly different inflections each time through. Clearly that particular scene has many possible versions on tape)

So, what are chances that when I watched an original airing of an episode, I actually saw what I remember seeing and that when the dvds were made, one of the alternate versions was used? And since all we have to go on now is what was put on tape and then dvd, that becomes the final version? In other words, what if I actually saw what I've always thought I saw, but I can't defend my version because everyone who has watched the show using dvds (or even, who knows, reruns on tv?) has not seen what I thought I saw? Does this seem possible/likely or am I just remembering something I never actually saw?

Thoughts? Am I the only one to which this has happened? I have two specific scenes in mind from two very different seasons, but I'm not going to say what they are. I'd just like to know if anyone else who watched the show as it originally aired has had a similar experience?

comments

Chapter Twelve (and Thirteen) of If That's What it Takes

Sun, 20 May 2012 19:12:42 GMT

I'm posting the last two chapters together today so that I can move on to other things. I don't think that many people are following the story by now anyway - I'm guessing anyone who was really into it and didn't want to wait has gone to seasonal_spuffy and read the whole thing. So, behind the cut, last two chapters... (a bit of tweaking took place this morning, but nothing that changes anything important; it just won't exactly match SS version word-for-word in places.)

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Eleven of If That's What it Takes

Sat, 19 May 2012 20:36:22 GMT

Ok, sorry about yesterday - just barely getting this one posted before I'm off again.

Chapter Eleven behind the cut:

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Ten of If That's What it Takes

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:50:16 GMT

So, getting this out there while I can. Fair warning - Tomorrow is going to be very hectic. So I may or may not get a chapter up then. Depends on how late I get home and how tired I am. Should have time to squeeze one in on Saturday, though. And Sunday. Which will just leave one for Monday. That's the plan, anyway. I'm getting a very small, quiet bunny for a comic fic, but we'll see what happens to it after I get my copy tomorrow or Saturday....

( Read more... )

Downloaded another (!) Microsoft Office update today and held my breath when I copy/pasted this chapter, but so far it doesn't seem to have had a negative effect on my settings. *knocks on wood*

comments

Chapter Nine of If That's What it Takes

Wed, 16 May 2012 23:22:15 GMT

More stuff happens...

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Eight of If That's What it Takes

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:15:59 GMT

Today's update. This fic has thirteen chapters, so you can judge if you want to read them as they go up, or wait till the weekend and read the whole thing at one time. :)

( Read more... )

comments

Who knew?

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:47:43 GMT

Random musings about what I think I write, and what a look at my fics shows is actually true.

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Seven of If That's What it Takes

Mon, 14 May 2012 21:18:03 GMT

Moving along - I think this is today's chapter. Maybe I should have tried harder to put them up on my personal journals at the same time as I was doing Seasonal Spuffy. *sigh* Oh well, behind the cut is the next one:

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Six of If That's What it Takes

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:25:42 GMT

Trying to keep these journals on the same path - here's the next chapter of the much talked about baby!fic. I'll try to remember to do one a day here, even as I start posting and playing catch-up on a couple of archives.

Ch. 6 in which doctors are seen, scolding about Buffy's weight happens, meals are had, yelling is done, and happiness reigns in Buffy's bedroom. (no! get your minds out of the gutter!)

( Read more... )

comments

Happy Mother's Day!

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:58:31 GMT

Wishing everyone who celebrates it today a very nice Mother's Day.

Mine started yesterday afternoon when we joined my daughter-in-law's mother and her family and three of my four children and spouses/offspring at the home of my youngest son for a casual cookout and good fellowship. Much laughter and much story-telling (including things I'd probably be better off not knowing about. lol) and good times had by all. Today will much quieter, although it began with a phone call from my deceased old friend's daughter wishing me a happy Mother's Day. I'll just hang out, do some yard work, clean house (didn't happen yesterday because it was just too nice outside), and enjoy the sunshine.

comments

Chapter Five of If That's What it Takes

Sat, 12 May 2012 13:01:33 GMT

In which there is grovelling (of a sort), naked Spike (always a fan favorite), admissions are made and things are said. All in all a happy chapter. :)

( Read more... )

comments

And done!

Sat, 12 May 2012 00:30:58 GMT

Okay, so here's the deal - I had two important deadlines to meet today, and made them both. So, If That's What it Takes is now complete at seasonal_spuffy. However, I'm not going to worry about doing that on my personal DW and LJ journals tonight. So, what you see (what you've seen) is what you get for now. I'll try to put the other chapters up one a day until it's complete on here, but if you're dying to know what happened, you can visit SS and read it all there.

And now I'm going to go eat left-over Chinese food as a reward to myself. :)

comments

Ch. Three and Four of If That's What it Takes

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:41:45 GMT

As I'm posting this two chapters at a time at SS, I figured I'd do that here too. At least until I've moved on to just linking from the community to the rest of the fic. Then I may go back to one chapter a day. We'll see. Anyway, behind the cut you'll find the next two chapters:

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Two - all I have time for now

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:25:59 GMT

Here we go with Chapter Two. Life goes on in the alternate dimension, but not forever....

( Read more... )

comments

My day at Seasonal Spuffy!

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:49:19 GMT

And here it is - my much babbled about Seasonal Spuffy entry. Real Life being what it is, this date falls not only at my busiest time of the year at work, but when I have a RL deadline today that is going to take some time and effort on my part. sigh* I'm putting as many chapters up (on Seasonal Spuffy) during the day today as I can, and the rest of it will go up on here with links provided on SS to my journals. Anyway, to start things off, here is Chapter One of If That's What it Takes.

Titlle: If That’s What it Takes
Author: Slaymesoftly
Word count/chapters: 36,400 + or – (13 Chapters)
Rating: Strong R (eventually)
Not my characters, not my world. Very grateful Joss allows me to play there.
Beta and banner by alwaysjbj
Summary: Takes place in an alternate season six where Buffy did not die in a dive off Glory’s tower, but was still gone for a good bit of the summer. Without the depression caused by her resurrection, she has accepted Spike’s presence more readily and learned to appreciate the help and companionship he can offer as she goes about her nightly duties. The Nerd Trio are still the villains of the season, but things play out a little differently from canon, starting with a portal that Willow accidentally opens where Buffy and Spike are standing....

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Fourteen of A Very Strange Vampire

Mon, 07 May 2012 22:11:09 GMT

Aaaaand we're done! Here's the last chapter of this story. Needless to say, they still have a hard row to hoe ahead of them, starting with Joyce, but we'll leave that for another day. I'm leaving them in a happy place. :)

Chapter Fourteen

( Read more... )

comments

Out-of-the-blue double drabble

Sun, 06 May 2012 23:29:56 GMT

No idea where this came from, not at all comics compliant. Brutti's Rulesverse is probably the world it's from, but don't ask me why it just popped up in my brain now:

He’s older than she is. She knows that, of course. Has known it since she was a rebellious teen-aged slayer and he was the stuffy “old man” who wanted to tell her what to do.

Although, she hadn’t really thought of him as old even then. She remembers the disgusted look on Buffy’s face when she expressed her open admiration for B’s sexy watcher. He’d blushed at the once-over, but the deep breath he had to take before speaking to her said more than his obvious discomfort. The fact that he never followed up on her half-serious invitation, but instead did his best to help her with her calling, spoke to his strength of character. It had never occurred to him to take advantage of her the way so many other men had tried to.

Thank God he’d gotten over that eventually.

He’s older than she is. But she’d never thought that much about it. Not until now. Now that she sees him, pale and sweaty, lying on the gurney on his way to the OR. The doctor’s words ring in her ears: “We’ll do our best Mrs. Giles, but at his age, we can’t give you any guarantees. You and your family can wait over there.”

comments

Chapter Thirteen of A Very Strange Vampire

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:29:04 GMT

And here we go - next to last chapter. :)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

( Read more... )

And just to complete the computer world's mission to make me insane, this chapter, which I smugly copied onto another document and inserted the necessary spaces between paragraphs, didn't need them. So I had to take them all out again. The words "why me?" are drifting through my clenched teeth.

And in other news, (with apologies to The Princess Bride) Dear unnamed reviewer(s) at unnamed archive(s) - re: Spuffy. I do not think that word means what you think it means. If what you want is smut, please be more specific when asking for it. You aren't any more likely to get it from me (possibly less likely - contrary bitch that I am...), but at least we will both know why you are reading the story. Thank you.

comments

Sat, 05 May 2012 22:38:51 GMT

And here, where it belongs, following Chapter Eleven (and if I hadn't taxed my brain enough already, I'd spend time trying to figure out where that went...) is Chapter Twelve. That means by Monday night, this fic will be complete and I'll have till Friday to rest and play around with formatting before I start putting up my SS fic.

( Read more... )

And, for those of you who were right there with Buffy every time she saw Spike wearing nothing but a sheet - today's icon is courtesy of kudagirl (from whom I swiped it) and terragram who actually made it.

comments

Chapter Eleven of A Very Strange Vampire

Sat, 05 May 2012 22:28:22 GMT

Okay, either I am losing my mind, or I am losing my mind. I know I posted Chapter Eleven yesterday. I know because I fussed and growled and swore and did lots of other unhelpful things trying to get it to post properly. And yet, it seems to have disappeared from both DW and LJ. I don't even want to know. I probably did it somehow, but I don't know know how. It's still on the BSV - which gets posted to after DW and LJ. Unless... *frowns in concentration* I decided to play with posting there to help me figure out what I needed to do to make the formatting show up? I dunno. Anyway, having just posted Ch. 12, I now have just taken it back down so that the chapters aren't out of order. *sigh* Let's try this again...

Chapter Eleven

( Read more... )

comments

Grrrr Argh!

Sat, 05 May 2012 12:22:39 GMT

Some of you may remember my ranting a good long while ago about how all of a sudden the formatting in whatever fic I was posting went wonky (went away, actually, if I remember correctly). It was aggravating, infuriating and required a lot of time and snarling to both figure out a work-around and make it stop happening.

Hmm - this is getting long, better put it behind a cut to spare everyone who has better things to do with their Saturdays...

( Read more... )

In cheerier news - it's Derby Day!!!!! Mint juleps all around.

comments

Chapter Ten of A Very Strange Vampire

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:14:52 GMT

Moving right along - another fairly short chapter, but the next one is much longer.

Feel free to skip this ramble about chapter lengths. :)
Remembering how frustrating it was when I had my old "websites for dummies" from Geocities and had a maximum number of words I could have in a chapter and how I learned to adapt to that, I'm very annoyed that I can't balance the chapters in this fic any better. However, I'd rather end a chapter in what seems like a good place for it to end, than have each chapter be a specific length that makes the fic seem choppy or unplanned. I freely admit to liking long chapters. I like to read them and I like to write them. There's nothing more annoying than being on a roll while writing and having to make an ending to something that wants to continue without interruption. On the other hand, if the choice is between a short chapter that ends in a good place, a longer chapter that ends in the middle of something that should have been continued, or combining them in a chapter that's longer than most fics... I'll go for the occasional shorter-than-normal one that ends in a good place. I had a couple of chapters in this fic that gave me fits because they seemed short to me, but the chapter following was already a good length and complete in itself, so to chop it off someplace inappropriate just so I could roll the short chapter into the beginning of it and have them be even lengths just seemed dumb. I played with those chapters one whole day, then ended up putting them back exactly the way they were originally. *sigh*

Chapter Ten

( Read more... )

comments

Chapter Nine of A Very Strange Vampire

Wed, 02 May 2012 23:32:49 GMT

Little bit more of the Vegas scene before it's back in the trenches. Five more chapters to go.

( Read more... )

And yes, I realize I haven't provided links for this chapter or the one before. I'll try to work on that before I go to bed, but no promises. :)

comments

Chapter Eight of A Very Strange Vampire

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:53:00 GMT

Ta da! I remembered today's chapter before it got to be bedtime. Hiding behind the cut is Chapter Eight of A Very Strange Vampire. Vegas, baby!

( Read more... )

comments