Gods Served and Abandoned

[The Rose24]

Ugh!!!! This is brutal. All of that goodness, and then that jerk shows up.



Good job shocking me back to reality.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

Willow: I found you. I will always find you.

[AmberEyedDragon]

Wow....a million thoughts floating around in my head and i don't think i can manage a single one into a coherent sentence just yet. I really liked how the you traveled back and forth between present time with Tara and Willow, and Tara's past with her mother. The two different situations really seemed to compliment each other, almost kind of showing how Tara had such a beautiful and innocent loving relationship with her mother, and now, her mother is gone but she has this amazing and beautiful and also very supportive relationship with Willow. It really stands out against the sharp contrast of previous updates where the story moved between Tara and the rest of the scoobies, and Taras brother and father. I can honstly say i felt my heart soar after each little memory of Tara and her mother...so nice to think of the good times Tara had in her past, which were completely believable.



And ending on a breathtaking cliffhanger as per usual...what a woman you are *beams*



~Sara

We don't need their shallow popularity; we'll build our palaces in the dark and beautiful places they forgot to look.









"I made them laugh, did you hear? I did....the joke thing"

[tiredsoul]

Eek! I’ve fallen so far behind. Forgive me.



I love this story. There wasn’t a lot to chew on with the little bit of Tara’s family we got to see in the show but you’ve made a meal out of it. And the memories of Tara’s childhood birthdays with her mother are wonderfully written.



I like the way you wrote the scooby meeting. All the banter back and forth about the demon names and such. Very amusing.



Now Donny is back in Sunnydale to set his sister straight. Any chance he could trip and fall and maybe break a bone or two (the neck would work too)?



Looking forward to the next part.



--celia

------------------------------------

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams

[VampNo12]

Mary, another wonderful (as well as insightful) update! The depiction of Tara's relationship with her mother was just lovely, it truly resonated with me. And I just loved these lines, ("And this pocket I sewed over the heart? I sewed that extra strong because of all the good stuff you have inside your heart. I wanted to make sure it was always safe and warm."). Really her mother's words spoke volumes about what a "special", nurturing bond these two shared. With this in mind, they are each others "safe harbor", and when it's just the two of them expressions of love whether by words or actions comes naturally (ie they act on instinct, where feelings/thought don't have to be scrutinized before acting).



What also spoke to me was how perceptive Tara was (at such a young age) when it came to her mother "fumbling for the right words, her being careful" when Donny or her father was brought into their conversation. It's like for a brief moment, Tara can detect the joy of the moment being "muted", until her mother can regroup and refocus the conversation back on their special time together. Thus, it again reinforces that when it's just the two of them there is a "lightness" a chance to revel in pleasures, but there is a "darkness" looming in the background in the form of Donny and Nathan.



Also found interesting (which speaks so well to Tara's character) is even with all the abuse she suffers at the hands of Donny, Tara is still willing to reach out to him (ie the time she tried to wave, but stopped after seeing his reaction, as well as her thinking about sharing her icing with him). And what broke my heart was Tara wanting to correct her mother, when she called Tara "beautiful". Of course, when taken into context with Donny saying, ("Just as well. You're too big anyway. Everybody knows it."), it's no wonder Tara would have such a negative self image if her brother is constantly "beating her down" with this type of negative message.



Lastly, I enjoyed seeing the "special" relationship Tara shared with her mother, reflected in her relationship with Willow. Thus, whether discussing ideas about Glory/Key or openly communicating their desire/need for each other, what always shines through is the depth of feeling they share for each other (ie it's an unselfish love, there is give and take, and they listen to each others needs/wants). Also loved this line, ("Looking into Tara's eyes now, feeling naked to her soul and dismissing the pride required in trying to hide, Willow saw the answering warmth spark and take form in that fathomless blue"), which spoke so well to the connection they share, so beautiful. Now I am shuddering with that cliffhanger of Donny's unpleasant arrival, so I can't wait for the next part!



Oh, just as you appreciate my feedback, I am so appreciative (and get a giddy feeling) when I see you posted another update, so the feeling is mutual ! And hey I got a kick out of being called "oh legally binding one" .

Edited by: VampNo12  at: 1/3/03 4:40:47 am

[Grimaldi]

great update



i liked the bits with Tara and her mother, it shows how close they really were.



i really hope Buffy shows up to have a 'talk' with Donnie or even though it isn't in her nature, Tara hits him or casts a spell on him

Dude, we're surrounded by perverts!
I'm not stealing, I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?

[mollyig]

Some insight into Tara's childhood. Her joy at being in her mother's company was delightful, as was her conviction that it meant nothing bad could happen to her. You've captured the implicit trust perfectly. Along with the menacing brother, whose presence was enough to worsen her stutter. He still thinks of her as the easily bullied sister and is definitely underestimating her, as he'll find out.



Also, loved the image of Willow daydreaming about Tara in the Magic Box, tuning out everybody and everything else to admire her girl.



Thanks.

Adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two
Indigo Girls

[Penrose Orleans]

I loved this part-- it's great to see Tara in her sanctuary (with her mother and with Willow) and to put the plot progression in the middle of that (so ominous!) makes it extra-creepy! BEAT HIM UP, WILLOW AND TARA! (Or Buffy, or Xander, or Giles, or Anya...) Keep up the great writing!

"Her drama was a drama not of heaviness but of lightness. What fell to her lot was not the burden but the unbearable lightness of being." --Milan Kundera

[darkmagicwillow]

*sigh* I miss my mother now. It's been so long and you capture that feeling of sweet, unconditional love so well. I loved her mother sewing love into her dress with her two part chant "Isn’t Tara the cutest thing? Isn’t Tara the cutest thing?" and "Why, yes she is! Why, yes she is!" The contrast with the Maclay family of part 3 makes the love here all the more powerful to know that it tenaciously grew in such a cold, barren environment.



Willow's got it bad, blushing and envying even Tara's porcelain tea cup, but Tara was sweet to give her a preview of coming attractions.



At the end, Donnie's surprise appearance and his theft of their words, "I’ll always find you" felt like a blow to the gut after all the lovely sweetness of the scenes with Tara and her mother and Tara and Willow.

--

"Omnia mutantur, nihil interit." -- "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost."

[Sleek]

*Sleek takes a minute to recover...



Whoa. That was just...such a rollercoaster ride. All with the pleasant twirls and the dreadful dips and plummets.



I love how you infused Tara's childhood/ family history here. We all know that Tara's relationship with hor mom was an important one, it defined a lot of who Tara is/was and helped shaped the woman Willow now loves. And since the show didn't elaborate that much about Tara's background...I'm glad you took the liberty to write her history (why isn't history called 'her'story?)



Her Mommy's humor and effervescent love for Tara was wonderful. And such vivid descriptions Mary! Of her Mommy's hand having the scent of Jergen's...the emotions behind the dialogue about the dress and the cake...so utterly real.



The openness about Willow and Tara's hunger for each other was..um...blush-giddy-worthy. They are at the stage where they are beginning to feel confortable declaring how much they 'need' each other. Especially for Willow's part, who, I think has some slight issues about pride. (her wanting to excel and being a bit of a controller and all).



Then Donnie showed up.



And I actually felt revolted.

( a good sign that you are still doing a great job writing the nemesis)



so there you go Mary. You're writing gave me a lot to think about. This day has also been a rollercoaster ride for me. I guess the spiral downwards makes me appreciate the 'upwards' all the more. (if you can make sense out of this..well I'm glad!)



Your writing is inspired.



Go forth Mary.



Your muse and every creative force is at your command.





Sleek

[stereo33]

Hi Mary

Just got in from work and feeling extremely However, I had to read your update before I go to bed

As usual I loved all the W/T interaction. I also liked the interaction between Tara and her mother which was both heartwarming and sad. With the insight we have into Maclay family life, I thought the part where Tara was relieved when it was just her and her mom going out for the day was & then when they were on their way out and Tara felt a bit guilty & started to wave at Donnie (till she saw the look he gave her) was again I don't know what it was about that bit must be feeling a bit emotional today . Anyway, it makes me v worried about what he's gonna try to do now. Ok, my head hurts and I'm using too many emoticons, I'm off to bed. Hope you can give us an update soon.

Thanks Karen



Oh, before I forget,ages ago you asked why I wasn't watching S7. Well I don't get UPN as I live in England! However, although I liked btvs before W/T, I 'loved it' when they introduced the W/T relationship. To cut a long story short - I couldn't face it now without W/T. So for me btvs ended S5. As Xita (I think) has said, these are fictional characters and I am chosing to do with them as I see fit (ie reading your fics & the others on DCP's is a much better option in my mind than watching S7)

[Sister Bertrille]

So here I am, writing to someone named Mary, AKA Antigone, about families. Livin’ on the edge, baby!



One of my former professors was fond of saying that the first detective story was Oedipus Rex, and there seems to be a bit of an oedipal mystery here, whether intentional or intentional . Why is Donnie so furious? Before this chapter, I would have thought that he was born wicked, but now I wonder (not only that, I felt a very, very small twinge of sympathy for child Donnie). As terrific as Mrs. Maclay is with Tara (and she truly is), she is clearly (both to us and more importantly, to him) distrustful of Donnie. Was it always so, or did he do something to earn that distrust? Was he handed off to Nathan too soon? Did Mrs. Maclay have any say in how Donnie was raised? How hard does it suck to have a younger sister come along who is the apple of your sweet mother’s eye when you’re stuck shoveling chicken shit with your grunting, hard-ass dad?!



One of the advantages of reading this chapter like this is that it goes a long way toward explaining Donnie’s resentment and obsession with hurting Tara (of course, I make no excuses for him). I mean, why does he care so much about what his sister is doing? Another advantage is that it makes things even more tangled and twisted than they already are!



Weave that web,



SB

[jdcioffi]

Now how the hell did I manage to NOT see this fic? Dude, AntigoneUnbound, you have permission to slap me silly (sillier?).



Alright my dear, I have a lot to catch up on and, as you may recall, I'm anything but concise. I shall try, though, for you



Part 1:

Cousin Beth, of course, simpered her agreement with Donnie, reiterating her tight-lipped pronouncement that Tara was an ungrateful, unnatural girl. But she had shrewdly reckoned Nathan Maclay’s admonishment to his son to include herself, and now sat primly with the air of reluctant smugness that characterizes the purest version of Christian piety.



Great image here. It seems that, no matter how anyone paints Donnie or Mr. Maclay, I'm always most interested to see where Cousin Beth is coming from. And the "Christian piety" bit speaks to me more than any other depiction I've ever read of her.

The missed birthday babble was the most precious train of thought I can imagine coming from Willow. You have proven to be an expert in Willow characterization -- i.e. On Second Thought -- but this is a different Willow you are creating for us here.



The other Willow was mature and strong, or coming into her strengths. This Willow is fun-loving and more than just twitterpated with her Tara -- this Willow is coming into her own as a woman loved and IN love.



Tara’s face grew somber. "I try not to think about what goes on in Donnie’s mind, to be honest. All I know is that he’s been mean and angry at life since I can remember."



Foreshadowing ... I read this and immediately said, "Uh oh, the big bad has been named." I must admit I prefer Donnie as the bad guy over the father ...



It wasn’t right.



Here's the thing about this section of the first part -- Donnie's dense-ness and his ability to see only as far as his anger lets him always brings him back to the first thought in his mind ... "It wasn't right." Anything he may think in between may or may not be correct, but it doesn't matter as long as he is justified in his initial reaction (as is such with very angry people).



Part 2:



I adored the small snippets of Mommy/Daughter time. You've really captured the essence of the love that should be between family members. And I ADORE the nickname "Bright Eyes." It is both sweet and accurate.



Part 3:



Anya: I LOVE Anya. You write her, and everyone, but her especially, well.



You have the Scooby banter down, right up to the embarrassing Xander-childhood-antics.



As for Donnie, perhaps he's not as stupid as we once thought he was. At least he knows how to play his father like a Stradivarius. Playing the "mom" card was genius ... and it didn't hurt to have Cousin Beth doing her Peanut Gallery commentary.



I feel badly for Mr. Maclay. I'm not sure if this is the reaction you were going for, but it's partially your story and the way he was written in the actual episode. On more than one occassion, he told Tara that he loved her (in the show) ... and here, he is stunned.



Perhaps his love wasn't enough to keep her from leaving? Hence, the lie. Or, perhaps he was really misguided and is not the pillar of strength he proports to be. Whatever his reasons for his actions -- he does, in your story, allow Donnie to lead him. Knowing it or not -- and that shows a weakness that makes Donnie the biggest bad.



Part 4:

Once again, tugging at the heartstrings with the Tara/Mommy moments. I am a sucker for those (as you might recall from my own lil fic wherein I write a bit about Tara up in a tree). Her mother reminds me much of my own when I was younger (Tara's age in the story) and I love sharing those happy memories with Tara, who so deserves them.



Eep! Foreshadowing alert!

"Or who it is" ...

hmmm ... we already know (unless that is changed in your universe) and it kills me that I can't just tell them already I can't as I can't ruin this masterpeice you've started.



Perhaps this was also unintentional, but I almost felt like you blasphemed one of the most precious lines in BtVS history.



"Tara…Don’t you know?" He smiled. "I’ll always find you."



To think of those words coming from a creature as vile and disgusting as Donnie ... when spoken with so much love from Willow in "The Gift" ... gives me the creeps.



Once again, dear AntigoneUnbound, you have astounded and awed me. I'm sorry I missed the updates, and perhaps this feedback is not as well thought out as other, but I have so much to think about -- you really have outdone yourself.



As always,

JD

"Was there a voice unkind in the back of your mind saying, "maybe..." (Jeff Buckley - The Last Goodbye)

[samiamiguess]

Hi Mary, sorry I haven't posted feedback in a while Wow, I seem to have said that a lot today. Just having problems catching up after the hols. But I'm your loyal reader as ever.



So, okely dokely feedback. The thing that struck me first of all is your ability to post an update that leaves the reader almost emotionally giddy if you like, either grinning like a fool or shivering as the hairs on the neck are raised when the evilness of some person for instance is exposed. It makes reading the updates so enjoyable but obviously leaving us completely at your mercy for more! I'm intrigued, do you consciously consider how you end an update or is this just a wonderful coincidence of your writing?



Someone else mentioned this earlier but I too like how you've explored how Willow has found her priorities altered now that she has Tara in her life. We may not all have the soulmate love that W/T have and some of us may have lost it perhaps but we all need and desire the feelings and love that give us a purpose in our lives. The fact that the depth of feeling she feels for Tara makes her dizzy is wonderful to see. This itself is intriguing as until now she has experienced only indifference from her family so to acknowledge the depth of feeling she has must take some getting used to! This of course is so different from Tara's upbringing as she has experienced such extremes of emotions from all-encompassing love to such hatred. You have illustrated both so well here and I completely agree with your portrayal of it. So back to my point (I had one?!) The relationships are based on such degrees of emotion and their effects, its who these people are and why if you like and I just wanted to say how wonderful it is that someone can portray it so well.



Ok that probably didn't make a jot of sense. S'why I leave the writing to you.

Off to consult my Thesaurus for more words of 'wonderful'

cheers,

Sonya

[AmberEyedDragon]

Wonderful : magnificent

superb

astonishing

breathtaking

great

amazing

brilliant

fantastic

radiant

inspired

exceptional

accomplished

skillfull

gifted

virtuoso

outstanding

extraordinary

special

incomparable

superior



I think all of these apply to the story and/or the author



~Sara

We don't need their shallow popularity; we'll build our palaces in the dark and beautiful places they forgot to look.









"I made them laugh, did you hear? I did....the joke thing"

[Puff]

Wonderful update with a nice huge cliffhanger at the end. I REALLY hate Donnie and I just know that bad things are going to happen. Thank you for the Tara/Mom moments they are very sweet and I love that Tara had some light in her dark childhood.

---

Donder and Vixen slashfic...its all about the harnesses and maybe the bells.

[hermitstull]

Man oh man oh man oh man!



This is excellent. The way you've been able to overshadow Glory, who is only slightly more evil than the Mayor in my personal ranking of big baddies, seem like nothing compared to the MaClay men. They are so evil, they don't even realize how twisted they truely are. Riviting.



And the Tara and Willow moments have been so sweet, so much in the heart of the early days of their relationship. It's created a strong contrast to both Tara's painful past and what she'd have to go back to.



Fantasitic as usual. Looking forward to more-

hermitstull

____________________

"..and we are the ones that want to chose

always want to play, but never want to lose.."

Ariels by System of a Down

[Penrose Orleans]

OK, so Sister Bertrille made me reconsider my stance on the whole Donnie thing... (after mentioning Oedipus, you know I'm hooked!) I have to agree that Mrs. Maclay was very awkward with Donnie, and my interpretation of that depends a lot on how old Donnie was. Is he adult enough to have his character set in stone? When can one say that that has happened? I almost feel sorry for him in retrospect, but...



This does NOT change (in my mind) the lack of proportionality of Donnie's lashing out against Tara... it's not her fault, or even her mother's, that Mr. Maclay is a conniving jerk! Anyway, I stand by my beat 'im up theory, but maybe they can teach him a positive lesson at the end (though I'm not holding my breath)! -Nora

"Every revolutionary ends by becoming either an oppressor or a heretic."

-Albert Camus

[Vampivy]

Mary,

I couldn’t help but do a happy dance when I first noticed you were back with a new story for us Kittens. “Gods Served and Abandoned” what a great title first of all. Second, the “HEADS-UP: This story contains an inside look into one character’s very unpleasant mind. As we all know, evil is rarely so considerate as to announce itself with fangs.” Made me even more excited to be reading this story. I find it fascinating when given the opportunity to do so. It reminded me of the movie “Dahmer” the way they delved into his mind. I was completely riveted by the movie and your story in the same sense. I can’t wait to read more on that.



Willow and Tara, so nice to see their continued love and devotion for each other. That Willow, boy can she be a little “saucy vixen”.



QUOTE: “Watching Tara slide her boots up over her long legs, Willow murmured, "Yes, you certainly are good. To go, or eat in. Or eat out.”

Gotta love those dirty little thoughts of hers.



Is it me or does Nathan seem a little passive? Donnie for sure has tons to say. And Beth, oh so cleverly waiting for just the right moment to throw in her 2 cents. It’s really great to be able read more into these two characters Beth and Donnie. But I wouldn’t be surprised in the end if the real villain turns out to be Daddy Dearest “Nathan”. To see Donnie work his daddy the way he did was ingenious. The fact that it worked shocks me even more. With Nathan’s oh so calm demeanor I wasn’t quite sure he was buying it.

If this was a thought I can understand why Nathan kept his cool. Having not heard it.



Quote: “She had you whipped, didn’t she Daddy? Even though you talked all big and laid down the law, you still wanted her to pat your head and tell you she loved you, didn’t you? You think I didn’t hear you cryin’, Daddy, that night she died? Like a big baby you were."



But if not, I’m very surprised Donnie didn’t get a mouth full of fist.



Glory. Hmm…can’t wait to see where you take her. I mean how you work her into your story .

“Gods Served and Abandoned” most definitely can’t wait.



Well I know I talked more about everyone else than our girls. I’m just reserving my thoughts on them for later. I know you won’t disappoint with the Willow/Tara goodness. You sure didn’t with “On Second Thought”.

Oh, before I forget, thanks for the compliment on my initial assessment of my verbal skills. Dunno. I guess the author brought it out of me so naturally.

Thanx a million.



Patty

[AntigoneUnbound]

I’m sure I’m not the first to think of it, but it is a truth beyond debate that the world would be much better off if Kittens were running it. Everyone would be kinder, more eloquent, and insightful if we were. To paraphrase Sister Bertrille, all in favor lift one of Kali’s severed arms. (Admiring plug for the wonderful "The Kali Prophecy.)



Thanks, as ever, for your thoughtful replies and insights into this story. I plan to post again either later tonight or tomorrow.



And now, for individual responses…



>>Rose24: You know, you’re often the first person to respond to a posting. Must be some sharp eyes you have. Thanks for being so great about replying.



>>Sara: You’re very kind in your words. You know, I debated about the time shifting b/c it can easily lead to confusion. It’s good to know that it worked in this update. Yeah, there are definite parallels b/w Tara’s relationship w/ her mother and her relationship w/ Willow in terms of both of them absolutely adoring Tara, and the fact that Tara had one such person in her life makes it possible (or so I think) for her to believe that there could be another person in another role who feels that strongly about her. Thanks a lot for the thoughtful feedback and for keeping up w/ this. And your list of adjective? You couldn’t see it, but trust me—I blushed. You rock!



>>Celia: No forgiveness necessary, and even if there were, I rarely see myself as being in a position of granting absolution. (Way too many sins of my own, you know.) I always enjoy writing the Scooby exchanges, b/c that gang is such a fantastic array of psyches and styles. The inadvertent breaking of Donnie’s neck/back/skull? Fear not, good Celia—he’ll be around for awhile but you know I won’t let anything irrevocably bad happen to our girls. Thanks a lot for taking the time to read and to give such thoughtful feedback.



>>VampNo12: Hey you—as ever, your feedback absolutely rocks. Glad you enjoyed being called "legally binding"; it was definitely meant with great affection! You know, I think a lot of us really respond to the implied closeness of the relationship b/w Tara and her mother as it was fleetingly hinted at on the show. (Can’t show too much Tara stuff, you know—that would take screen time away from Buffy’s doomed coupling with whatever man was her angst du jour.) Have you noticed how much that mother/daughter relationship comes up in our fan-fic? Anyway, I want to suggest a mother that was funny and loving while still looking over her psychological shoulder when it comes to her husband and possibly her son. I’m glad you caught the "beautiful" moment, b/c I think Tara just has no idea how beautiful she is and thus, even at that age, she assumed that her mother was describing her thusly to be kind. You’ve mentioned before the power of unselfish love (in your great feedback to "On Second Thought") and you pick up on it here again. Each is so incredibly attuned not only to what the other gives her but what the other needs from her. It’s almost like they’re both learning to feel better about themselves in no small part b/c they know the other sees such epic great stuff in her and is committed to coming through for her. Thanks again, VampNo12—your perceptions are just so, um…perceptive. (There’s just got to be a better way to say that.) I hope your break is going well and that the New Year is a great one for you!



>>Grimaldi: Glad you like the flashback bits; they were nice to think about and write. It’s interesting to see how many people really want Donnie to meet w/ some kind of violent intervention; I’m keeping an unofficial tally and thus far, osteopathic damage in the form of bone breakage is the definite front-runner in that request. Thanks for keeping up w/ this and for responding.



>>Mollyig: Yeah, I’m trying to use one dynamic in the Maclay household (love and affection) to illuminate another one (bitterness and anger). Hope it works out over the course of the fic. And it was just plain ol’ fun to write the Magic Box scene. Any chance to enjoy Tara’s wondrous gifts, albeit second-hand (no pun intended). Thanks for following this and for taking the time to send responses.



>>Nora: See note to Grimaldi re: massive outcries for vengeance and breaking of bones. A lotta people are jonesin’ to see Donnie take a bad, bad fall. And as for rethinking things based on Sister Bertrille’s comments, yes, it IS a very complicated family. Tara’s mother clearly prefers her daughter—but why? Chicken or egg? How much choice does Donnie have in his malicious nature? Was it shaped in ways he had little control over? But you make an excellent point: regardless of the underlying causes, the proportionality of Donnie’s actions take him beyond the Pale. Now—can he be saved? I wonder… Thanks for keeping up with this story, Nora; I hope you like where it goes.



>>DMW: I was touched by your reference to your mother. Mothers really do represent the archetype of nurturance and protection, don’t they? When we’re lucky, our actual mothers DO nurture and protect us. Tara’s mom clearly gave her the anchoring and encouragement that she would have to have in order to accept Willow’s love; i.e., believe that she was actually worthy of that love. JD Cioffi made a reference to the vileness of Donnie using Willow’s (future) words to Tara, and I debated whether or not to pervert them in this way. In the end (obviously) I decided to b/c the theme of Donnie believing that he WILL always dominate/control Tara is so salient to this whole story. Thanks so much for keeping up with this fic and for taking the time to give such great feedback. Hope your New Year is a good one.



>>Sleek: Lovin’ seeing your name on the thread these days! You make such a great point: Tara’s relationship w/ her mother helped shape the woman that Willow now loves: Yes! Without that unconditional love, I think it would be hard for Tara to consider herself remotely worthy of Willow’s love. I know that both our girls struggle w/ some confidence issues, but if Tara didn’t have some baseline level of belief in herself, she never would have pursued a connection w/ Willow like she did. I’m glad the descriptions were vivid, b/c they were really enjoyable to write. (Wish I could say I was drawing on personal experience; cannot say that I am.) Glad I drew the ol’ blush on the W/T Magic Box moment (and am I the only one that sees a glorious double-entendre in that image? I suspect not, and I equally suspect I’ll have to use it someday) b/c it, too, was a joy of a different kind to write. On a more serious note, it sounds like yesterday wasn’t anything you’d put in your own personal photo album o’ good moments…I hope things have improved or smoothed somewhat. No one with a name like "Sleek" should be forced to endure too much roughness. Sendin’ good thoughts your way!



>>Karen: Hey, no such thing as too many emoticons (said the woman who hasn’t ventured forth into them just yet)! Sorry to hear work was so crazy-making. (I’m still waiting for someone to give me a suitcase full of money with a note that says, "Mary—go write. This should cover the bills for awhile.") I’m psyched you picked up on the walk out to the car—Tara (at this point) is so confused about why Donnie seems to hate her so much and her innate tendency to reach out and share is sharply mitigated by the growing awareness that nothing she can do will appease him. It’s a horrible situation for anyone (sibling, partner, etc.) to be in. And hey—I can totally understand your reasons for not watching S-7. I don’t get UPN either, and I actually have a friend in another state taping the episodes for me. The thing is, I don’t feel like watching them! W/o Tara, it just feels…(your word here: suggestions include "like an abomination," "an utter waste of time," "a concession to a reality that I choose not to be a part of"). Thanks al lot for writing and for the kind words. Hope work smooths out.



>>SB: How very ironic that you encourage me to weave a web, since I am an arachnaphobe beyond compare…Speaking of ironies (Oedipal and otherwise), isn’t it funny that of all the scenes that they could have had Buffy, Willow, and Xander do in the talent show back in S-1, they did a scene out of "Oedipus"? So, Joss, how’s the wife and kids…? "Why is Donnie so furious?" I’m hoping that that web (insert girly scream here) of factors takes credible shape as the story unfolds, but as you note, there’s no excuse for the malice that he chooses to perpetrate. You offer several plausible causes; I’ll be interested to read your thoughts on the picture that emerges. And one final irony—my own father (a farmer) was a far more cheerful figure than is my mother (a home-maker), so I always opted for shoveling shit beside him versus dusting w/ her. ("Not that this story is in any way informed or influenced by my own childhood and family dynamics," Mary said, slipping into her Freudian camisole.) Thanks, as ever, for the great insights and observations, not to mention the remarkable wit and flair w/ which they’re delivered.



>>jdcioffi: Hey, JD—how great to see you again! Hope the New Year is looking good to you and that any holidays you celebrated were fantastic and restful. And hey—conciseness is over-rated, at least where feedback is concerned! Hold forth as you wish! You share my own guilty pleasure re: Cousin Beth. As I mentioned to Sister Bertrille earlier in the story, I see her as sort of an agent provocateur, a mix between Donnie’s anger and Nathan’s restraint, w/ more than a hint of guile thrown in. And you nailed the Big Bad (so to speak) as soon as he emerged—kudos. And you’re dead-on in assessing his early psyche and the all-consuming role that anger plays in his decisions: Tara’s actions aren’t right, that’s his mantra, and that’s what he’ll act on. Bastard. The snippets of Tara/Mommy time were really a pleasure to write. Sort of lets me breathe b/w the childhood terrors that Donnie visits on her. I love Anya, too. She’s just such a fantastic foil in the Scooby entourage b/c she says what no one else dares to. I’m especially intrigued by your reaction to Nathan Maclay. A number of Kittens have mentioned ambiguity where he’s concerned, esp. in comparison to Donnie. I’ll be very curious to see what you think of his future depiction. Once again, JD, it’s great to see you, and as ever, I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and specificity of your feedback. It’s just a great boon. Thank you!



>>Sonya: No sweat on the posting delays. Holidays are hectic for everyone. I was so glad to read that the descriptions really evoke reactions from you, and thanks for sharing info w/ me. Yes, Willow’s priorities have changed; in fact, everything has changed for her. She’s still going to help save the world, but it’s moved from an abstract notion to one w/ an awesome specificity and purpose: keep Tara safe and happy. And the cliff-hangers…I don’t really set out in any update to have one or not have one. So far, the chapters have just ended when it felt right to me. I hope it continues to work for you! Thanks a lot for catching up w/ this fic and for sending such great feedback about it. I always enjoy seeing your name come up! Hope your new year is looking good.



>>Puff: Glad you liked the update. Yeah, it felt important to give Tara some balance in her childhood. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to write!



>>Hermistull: You know, I think human evil always scares me more than other-worldly bad stuff. The Maclays, in "Family," seemed capable of such calculating malice and cruelty. (And I seem capable of such redundancy and repetition…) Yeah, I definitely want to illuminate what we all know: that going back to her "family" would have killed Tara. Thanks for the great support and kind words. Hope you enjoy the rest.



>>Patty: You always give such great feedback; I hope the happy dance went well! I’m glad you like the title; I had to fool around w/ that for awhile. Seems like we both have an abiding interest in human evil and the choices that it involves. Why do some people go through such excruciating things and transform their pain into compassion and kindness, while others who have the same experience become bitter and vengeful? What tips those scales? (I see Tara and Faith, at least as the latter was written on the show) as embodying those different paths following trauma and hardship. "Is it me, or does Nathan seem a little passive?" I’ll be curious to see what you think of his actions (or lack thereof?) in future installments. How much is he actively domineering, and how much is he willing to let Donnie be his psychological hit man while he hides behind the façade of parental propriety? And yes—Donnie’s reaction ("She had you whipped…") was a thought. No way would Nathan have tolerated THAT. Thanks a lot for your feedback, Patty. It’s always so insightful and specific. Hope your new year is off to a great start.



That’s all for now, Kittens. Look for an update tomorrow (if you like, of course…).



Mary

[Grimlock72]

Yikes, I'm late in replying to the latest update.... thats what a fulltime job will do to you, grmbl.



I'm with everybody else who felt like throwing up when Donnie said he would always find Tara. Though that line has not been used (at this time in the story) by Willow yet. There really is nothing good or redeeming about Donnie, which makes it easier to hate him. Motivation becomes inrellevant when certain crimes are commited (at least to me, I'm kinda unforgiving that way).



I don't want Donnie to break his back, I just want to tell Glory where her key is...hehehe.... Leave dirty work to the experts I say



The flashbacks are interesting, I expected more of a link between the flashbacks and the current but maybe I missed it. There was this dress with gold stitching, but Tara would never fit in a dress 10 years old



It was sad to read that little Tara didn't believe she was beautifull (or more to the point; believed she was ugly). Donnie just has no taste in woman, hmm...



I do wonder what Donnie's plan is. Finding Tara was easy enough of course, but now that he has found her... what to do with her ? Drag her into a car and drive back home ? He has to realize that would invite a visit of Willow and friends (and police after they are done). He'll never have enough to time to brainwash Tara to be his nice little house-slave (again), so what does he plan on doing ?



If he drives Tara to the MaClay home he'll be in prison (if he lives that long) for a long time, federal crime and such.



I'm mostly worried about Donnie because I don't know what he's going to do. I wonder how much he planned he ahead or if he just went to find Tara.



Grimmy

"You hurt Tara," Willow said too calmly. "The last one who tried that was a god. I made her regret it." -- Unexpected Consequences by Lisa of Nine

[Tulipp]

Oedipus Rex as the first detective novel....it's a sign, Sister Bertrille; I know it's a sign. I am supposed to be preparing to teach an Intro to Lit class, in which OR will be playing a supporting role, and instead, here I am raptly reading this story.



Mary, I love the subtle echoes that you draw from past to present: Tara's blue and gold dress being the most important one for me here in that it provides a focus for both Tara's mother's love and Willow's love. Not that people only love Tara for how she looks, but that sometimes it's easier to articulate feelings for someone on a slant, you know? So you compliment the dress when what you really want to do is smother the woman with kisses. I love that.



I also appreciate the way you show young Tara slowly coming into a more complicated understanding of her mother's character and behavior...for this ten year old to understand that there is a sub-text that she needs to learn, and for us to see the ways that Tara is and isn't like her mother...it's a revelation.

"And I'm eating this banana. Lunchtime be damned!" -- Willow in "Doppelgangland

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hey Kittens--Here's some final feedback from Part 4...



>>Grimlock: Man, gotta hate those full-time jobs. I love Dorothy Parker's quote: "I hate almost all rich people, but I think I'd be darling at it!" Go Dot...There are actually two dresses--the one that Tara's mom had sewn for her (which she wore on her 7th birthday) and the one that Willow wanted to rip off of her in present time. Yeah, it is sad, isn't it--Tara not realizing how beautiful she is? I don't know of many things that break my heart more than a child being methodically stripped of self-confidence and hope. Your reaction to Donnie is certainly in keeping with a number of other Kittens'. Thanks for reading and for sending such thoughtful feedback.



>>Tulipp: Ah, Sister Bertrille has spawned a truly awesome discussion, hasn't she? Oedipus and his various wrecks, indeed. I loved your point about responding on a slant: "So you compliment the dress when what you really want to do is smother the woman with kisses." You captured it perfectly...I'm glad that the dress symbolism worked for you with regard to being an agent of sorts of how much Tara is/was loved by the two most important people in her life. I'm MOST relieved that Tara's growing discernment re: the dynamics w/in her family are credible. I especially liked your reference to to her learning the sub-text and readers discovering the ways that Tara is and isn't like her mother. That's an important part of this story and one that I really want to convey effectively. Thanks, Tulipp, for your perceptive comments and supportive feedback. I really appreciate it.

Edited by: AntigoneUnbound at: 1/5/03 12:37:47 pm

[Twisted Minstrel]

In such a strange way, the feedback for this fic has been almost as intriguing as the story itself...I really can't add anything to it, except "What she said..."



You have provided all the subtle nuance and background the actual show never could, or would, do. This is the best of what something can be; all the exacting minutiae of a life, of a relationship, brought into sharp contrasts and relief, against the very things that give it definition. Each character is fully realized within the framework, the impending dislocation Dawn will provide and the threat of Glory, now given more weight, more signifigance than JW and co ever could. For them, these characters are simply dummies with punchlines. Here, there is an inner life being more fully explored. It is touching and unrelentless with equal parts humor and menace.



Put more simply, this is the finest episode of BTVS that was never produced.



Period.





Best regards,



Piper

"Human kind cannot bear much reality." - T.S. Eliot

Edited by: Twisted Minstrel at: 1/5/03 12:49:43 pm

[AntigoneUnbound]

Gods Served and Abandoned

Part 5

Disclaimers: I own nothing that remotely resembles any kind of money-making enterprise. Trust me.
Spoilers: Up to season 5. I’ve played slightly with the timing of a certain Big Bad’s appearance, with some implications for Dawn’s entrance.
Rating: R for now; if it changes, I’ll give heads-up.
Distribution: Sure, with acknowledgement.
Feedback: Even more sure! Bring it on!


Thoughts are in italics—kinda like this, which I’m thinking as I write.


HEADS-UP: This story contains an inside look into one character’s very unpleasant mind. As we all know, evil is rarely so considerate as to announce itself with fangs.

*****


"Tara…Where you at? You know I’m gonna find you, Tara. Ain’t no use tryin’ to hide. Big brother always gets you sooner or later."

Don’t breathe so hard. Quiet, just be quiet. He’s bluffing.

"I think I’m gettin’ closer, little sister."

Keep walking. Please keep walking.

"Let’s see now…Maybe you’re tucked in here behind these hay bales. Am I right, little sister?"

He thinks I told Mom. He’s going to kill me.

"I thought so."


*****

"You know, this is two days in a row you haven’t given me a proper greeting. Didn’t we raise you with any manners, Tara?" That grin—it seemed to paint everything around him in garish tones of ugliness and dread. She took an instinctual step back.

"It’s enough to make a person think you don’t care about your own brother."

Stand up straight. You’re taller than him when you do, and you know he hates that. "Donnie, I think everything was pretty clear after my birthday. What are you doing back in Sunnydale?"

"Well, Tara, me and Dad and Cousin Beth got to talking, and we’re just awful worried about you." His grin remain fixed, though his eyes narrowed slightly. "You know, the magic and…the other things you’re into."

He knows. Damn him, he always knows. She summoned up the image of Willow’s face, calming herself briefly. "Donnie, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m almost certain it doesn’t involve Edwardian England, and that’s what I have to focus on right now."

"Off to another class so soon? Ain’t you the little bookworm…Tell me, little sister, with all this studyin’ you do, where did you find time to meet all those people? I mean, all of ’em just standin’ up for you and tellin’ you you don’t have to go home. They sure do care about you, don’t they?"

"Donnie, what’s this all about? Where’s Dad?"

"Oh, I made this little trip on my own. Daddy knows about it; I talked him into it."

Tara felt her stomach tighten. Somehow, Donnie on his own felt even worse. Dad always looks like he’s made at me, but Donnie…Donnie just hates me.

"I just told him how weird it was for you to be actin’ all independent and rebellious. I told him I figured it was on account of your…friends." He tilted his head slightly.

Someday I will wipe that grin off of your face and Aradia herself won’t be able to help you find it. "Donnie, I’m not sure what your grand scheme is, but I’m still not leaving, so why don’t you get back in the camper and head home?"

He took a step forward. Tara willed herself to hold her ground.

"Maybe I’d just like to meet your friends; get to know them a little bit. After all, they do seem to carry a lot of weight with my little sister. Gotta make sure they’re OK, don’t I?"

Don’t answer him. Don’t light on that web. "Donnie, I don’t have time for this. I’m going to class. I don’t want to talk to you again, not for a long time." She turned to leave.

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. "Yeah, gotta make sure you’re not hanging around with the wrong folks. It’s my brotherly duty, you know." He paused for a moment. "And I have to say, I ’specially wanna spend some more time with that Willow girl."

She stopped, but didn’t turn around. Willing all of the calmness and strength into her voice that she could muster, she finally said, "Go home, Donnie. You don’t belong here." As she walked off, she felt a dizzying mixture of dread, anger, and a shaken relief that she couldn’t see the look that she knew covered his face.

At the very least he would never hit her in broad daylight on a college campus.

*****

Willow fumbled in her backpack for a moment before finally locating her wallet. "This mocha’s on me, Buffy. Just my way of saying that I’m the happiest person in the world."

"Willow, if doing this makes you happy, it makes me happy. In fact, think of how happy you’d be if you bought me that red sweater we saw at that little boutique last week. I mean, could the universe contain the happiness that that would bring you?"

"You know, Buffy, I have to say—we’ll never find out!"

"It was worth a shot." Buffy stirred some highly redundant Sweet & Low into her mocha and blew gently over the foam for a moment. "So life with Tara is good?"

Willow shook her head slightly. "I can’t even describe it, Buffy. I mean, sometimes I look at her and I get all googly-eyed and I think, ‘She’s my girlfriend. She’s with me.’ It still just blows me away."

"Yeah, you two were definitely making with the Lezziepalooza at her birthday party." She looked up guiltily. "Is it OK for me to say that?"

"Well, we usually call it the ‘Wine Me, Dine Me, Sixty-Nine Me’ Festival of Homos, but Lezziepalooza has a nice ring, too."

"Thanks for the visual. It’ll probably pop up on my mental screen the next time I see Tara and I’ll just spit out whatever’s in my mouth at the time."

"Which will probably be Riley’s tongue," Willow said with a thoughtful nod.

Buffy spluttered around her drink. "Oh my God, Will, I can’t believe you just said that."

"Neither can I, but I wish I had a remote control so I could play that moment back ’cuz I gotta say, it was really fun!"

The two enjoyed a companionable silence for a moment. When Buffy spoke, her voice was markedly more somber. "You know, Tara’s family gave me the creeps. How did someone like her come from people like that?"

"I’m pretty sure it was her mother. She still has a hard time talking about her, but it seems pretty clear that she shielded Tara a little bit, or at least she tried to."

Buffy seemed to choose her next words carefully. "Will, when Donnie started down the steps toward Tara…I’m thinking that’s not the first time he’s acted like that, was it?"

Willow could feel the muscles along her jaw-line tighten. "I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. Tara talks even less about him than she does her mother. But I know that her dad beat her—really bad—one time, and I’d be willing to bet that Donnie learned from the best." She remembered listening to Tara describe the scars along her thighs from her father’s belt, after he’d found her looking at one of her mother’s magic books. She was nine at the time. Willow felt the anger rising up in her as it did whenever she thought about the men in Tara’s family.

Buffy shook her head slowly. "What makes anybody think he has the right to beat a little girl?"

Willow could only sigh. "Whatever it is, I wish you could stake it and send it back to hell."

*****

Willow. She had to get to Willow. As soon as she could find her at the Espresso Pump, things would be OK. Edwardian England was forgotten as Tara walked without a second thought past the building where the class met. Willow was meeting Buffy for coffee; they should still be there.

What in the goddess’s name was Donnie doing back here? The relief she’d felt when they finally slunk out the door at the Magic Box had been exhilarating—no more secrets between her and Willow, no more dire warnings held over her head. She’d walked out into the night and thought that the air had never smelled so sweet, not in all her life. She was finally free…free to be a witch; free to be a lesbian; free to think for herself; free to love Willow.

And now Donnie was back. And he knew, somehow he knew, that she and Willow were lovers. Could it really be that hard to spot, Tara, to anyone with eyes? Maybe she’d assumed that it would never occur to them. It wasn’t like Cold Springs hosted a yearly Queer March…But Donnie, with his eyes ever peeled for things that he could use against her, had figured it out.

But what can he do? Really? You’re already out, and if he tells Dad…Well, that’ll just be one more stick he can light at my feet as he burns me at the stake in his head—witch, ungrateful daughter, homosexual. Faggots for a faggot, as it were.If she could just keep the old fear in check; if she could just remember that she wasn’t there anymore, in that house that grew so cold after her mother had died.

She rounded the corner and neared the coffee shop. Goddess, why did the darkness keep coming back? She didn’t want to say Donnie’s name; she didn’t want to give voice to all those old fears and shames and scars. Saying them made them real again; gave them new life in this life, bled into the picture she was painting of her and Willow and what they were building. She wanted the canvas of that life burned, destroyed.

Even talking about her mother was hard, but in a different way. That hurt so bad because she had to use the past tense: "Mom was so good at sewing"; "Mom always made the most incredible soup."

Why had the only part of her past that she wanted with her now been taken away, while the part she would most gladly give up was so determined to track her down and insinuate his way into her present?

She spied Willow and Buffy, huddled conspiratorially over a rickety table. Probably talking about Glory and her new brand of evil. How ironic that she felt most fully in thelight as a result of being loved by someone who fought the worst kind of darkness. But it was true. Colors took on such incredible richness when she was with Willow; things tasted sweeter and laughter was fuller.

"Sweetie—Goddess, am I glad to see you. Hey Buffy," she added as an afterthought.

"So I’m not ‘Sweetie’? Fine, be that way."

"Buff, you’re sweet," Willow reassured her. "You’re just not the titular ‘Sweetie’ in this case."

Buffy’s expression defied easy description. "Um, Will—all about being the ‘Straight But Not Narrow’ friend here, but what do my breasts have to do with this?"

Willow’s suspected that her expression, too, flouted the boundaries of any single adjective. "Buffy, ‘titular’ refers to a title. Not, um, other things that begin with that particular combination of letters."

"I knew that." Buffy’s mocha became a source of deep fascination.

"Hey Baby! Don’t you have history class right now?"

"Yeah, but…oh, shit." She sighed as both Willow and Buffy looked at her closely. Tara didn’t swear very often.

"It’s Donnie. He’s back."

Willow and Buffy gaped at her. "‘Back’ as in, ‘Back here’? In Sunnydale?" Willow asked, stunned.

Tara nodded. "He caught me coming out of my art class."

Willow stood, and suddenly looked considerably taller than she actually was. "Did he hurt you?"

"No, he just played with my mind." Tara sat down and tried to collect her thoughts. She felt Willow’s hand glide reassuringly up her back until her thumb was making small circles on Tara’s neck. "He reeled off some story about the three of them deciding that I wasn’t being ‘me,’ and him deciding to come back up here to check on me. But Willow, I know Donnie. He’s going to try to take me back home."

Buffy and Willow both spoke at once, their voices a jumble of indignation and protest. "Tara, he can’t, right? I mean, there’s nothing he can actually do, is there?" Buffy seemed equal parts bewildered and outraged at the temerity of Maclay
fils.


"Buffy’s right, Tara. He can’t just drag you back to Cold Springs against your will, right?"

Tara took a deep breath. "No, he can’t. I—I don’t know what he thinks he can do." She made herself sitter taller in her seat. "We’re not back on the farm. Things are different here, different now."

"Not the least of which are several people who will kick his ass to a sidewalk in Senegal if he dares lay a hand on you," Buffy offered hotly.

They want to protect you.

But so did Mom.

Tara tried to stay in the present, tried to remember where she was, and who she was.

"Baby, what do you wanna do?" Willow’s voice, clear and filled with concern, pulled her back into focus.

"Right now, I want to go home—our home—and snuggle up while we talk through this."

"So, I’m guessing that that plan doesn’t include me?" Buffy’s voice broke into their temporary oblivion to her presence. Not for the first time, Willow found herself wondering just how exclusively Buffy really batted for the other team.

Tara laughed, a sure sign that she was feeling more secure. "Uh, no, but you do get the title of ‘Honorary Sweetie’ for being so, um sweet."

"OK." Buffy stood and wrapped her arms around Tara, who sank her head gratefully onto her shoulder for a brief moment. "I’ve got my cell phone; call me if you need anything."

"Right. Thanks, Buff," Willow replied, giving the Slayer a hug of her own. As Buffy walked off, Willow turned back to Tara.

"Let’s go home, Baby."

*****

That had gone pretty well, all things considered. Just the look on her face was enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Not that he was done, of course; he still had work to do.

Who was he kidding…It wasn’t all work; it was also a lot of fun, a lot of satisfaction. He could feel it spreading over him like a fever.

Daddy wasn’t around to interfere; and Momma sure wasn’t either. The freedom of college life, isn’t that what they call it? He was liking it quite a bit.

He was about to pay off some old debts, and the feeling that rolled through him at the thought made him almost giddy.

*****


To be continued

[Little M]

Awwwwwwww poor Tara, I was so relieved she got to the Espresso Pump though......I was kinda fearing that something real bad would happen!!!



And I loved the bit of dialogue between Buffy and Willow about the 'Wine me, Dine me, Sixty-Nine me' (I have to remember that one) and Riley's tongue

------------------

'I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad..it's depressing' - Tara



www.amberbenson-online.cjb.net

[darkmagicwillow]

What caught my attention in the first scene was Tara's anger, her thought about wiping the grin off his face. Good. I'm glad she's not just afraid, but her last thought that he wouldn't hit her in broad daylight isn't much of a hope though it brings to mind the dangers that Donnie will unexpectedly face in the dark when he tries to use the darkness for himself.



Willow and Buffy's humorous and spicy discussion is a delight, though Buffy's lack of understanding of "titular" defies comprehension in a girl who mentions Senegal a few moments later. Then again, she probably doesn't know that it's a country, much less that it's in Africa, but still I'm starting to wonder along with Willow whose team she's playing for. Perhaps it was a deliberate misunderstanding. (-;

--

"Omnia mutantur, nihil interit." -- "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost."

Edited by: darkmagicwillow at: 1/5/03 1:37:06 pm

[Penrose Orleans]

Uh oh... Donnie's looming and who knows what he'll do... At least this time Tara has a support network (including, of course, one extra-strong Slayer) and she has WIllow to help her through-- great update, and I'll be anxiously awaiting the next one as usual! -Nora

"Every revolutionary ends by becoming either an oppressor or a heretic."

-Albert Camus

[BFR from Paris]

Quote:

---

"Well, we usually call it the ‘Wine Me, Dine Me, Sixty-Nine Me’ Festival of Homos, but Lezziepalooza has a nice ring, too."

---

Quote:

---

"Thanks for the visual. It’ll probably pop up on my mental screen the next time I see Tara and I’ll just spit out whatever’s in my mouth at the time."



"Which will probably be Riley’s tongue," Willow said with a thoughtful nod."

---

Quote:

---

Buffy seemed equal parts bewildered and outraged at the temerity of Maclay fils.

---

[Sister Bertrille]

David Letterman once said (that’s right, from Sophocles to dear old Dave – watch out for the cultural whiplash!), “Everyone has a goofy family.” With this chapter, Gods Served and Abandoned becomes a cautionary tale of sorts, reminding us that goofy is infinitely preferable to terrorizing, and that nothing handicaps the free and full exercise of one’s good judgment like family!



In On Second Thought, Willow wavered over what to do with Oz in a way that put Tara in terrible danger. But what else could she have done? In Willow’s mind, Oz was never a threat until he feasted his eyes (and claws) on Tara. Those of us with even a Creature-Feature, Michael Landon knowledge of werewolves, or Willow under different circumstances, might have been more circumspect. With torches, pitchforks, and ropes!



Tara, however, knows Donnie, and I was very happy to see her make a series of wise decisions. How often do we see characters in danger underplay that danger in a misguided attempt to protect their loved ones (their explanation invariably ends with: “…but that was all a long time ago, let’s just forget it”)? It was smart and more importantly consistent writing to have Tara stand her ground with Donnie -- it's confirmed: hers is bigger than his! -- and to have her go directly to Willow. They are too extraordinarily close for Tara to conceal or minimize the arrival of someone she knows to be treacherous. Although the following might be a foolish assumption:

Quote:

---

At the very least he would never hit her in broad daylight on a college campus.

---

Take it from my retired state trooper dad, “Never assume anything!”



Now for some specific comments. I love the way you write Buffy -- yes, she’s spacey, but she’s also, strong, loving, and aware in all the right places (“You know, Tara’s family gave me the creeps.”) And the Riley tongue banter? Priceless!



Has the pupil become the Master? Or the son his father? (Hey, Tulipp!)

Quote:

---

“Didn’t we raise you with any manners, Tara?”



“…and I’d be willing to bet that Donnie learned from the best.”

---

Giddy, feverish Donnie is definitely worse that menacing Donnie.



Weave on, Arachne!



SB

Edited by: Sister Bertrille at: 1/5/03 4:28:11 pm

[SilverWingedNemesis]

Hey



Finally caught up with this fic. Sorry it took so long for feedback. I'm really loving this fic...I'm just really wigging about Donnie and his intentions...something tells me he'll go after Willow just to get to Tara.....



Not too much angst/baddness right? *sniffles and looks hopeful*



Keep up the great work!!!



~NICK~