Rebcake-o-rama

There were a couple of moments or sightings that I just couldn't figure out. For instance, I had dinner with David Hasselhoff on Saturday night. By which I mean he and his much younger date were sitting at the next table over at the fancy Indian restaurant where MiAmor's publisher took us. He was, as you'd expect, tanned and rested, but Comic-Con just doesn't seem like the natural habitat for The Hoff, y'know?

On Friday, when we arrived for the Eisner (comic book) Awards banquet, a huge phalanx of burly security guards hustled a baseball-capped and be-sunglassed Kevin Bacon through the lobby of the hosting hotel. He must be in something as a villain (something newer than X-Men: First Class?), and he has a certain amount of Con cred because of Tremors, I suppose. But seriously, what a lot of hullabaloo for someone who is not even the most famous person there. He probably would have been more incognito if he'd just walked to the elevator with a friend. It occurred to me later that the Con crowd are the sort of people that would try to get "one degree of separation" closer to, well, everybody. So maybe his security wasn't entirely out of proportion.

More typical: While waiting for my frosty beverage at Starbucks, the worker called out "Ninja!" to summon a customer. I looked at the Elektra next to me, but she shook her head. "Not me. Wish I'd thought of it." Heh. I didn't see any other ninjas, but then, I guess I wouldn't...

I didn't make it to a lot of the panels I'd hoped to, for various reasons, but couldn't ignore the volunteers outside one panel calling out, "No waiting for William Shatner and Roger Corman! Panel about to start!" It would be sacrilegious to pass that up, wouldn't it? So I didn't. The moderator was Kevin Smith. 0_o Now that's Comic-Con!

I’m not a Buffy/Angel shipper. However, I read something recently that compared the Buffy/Angel relationship to the Bella/Edward one. Just as I thought, “Well, that’s not right,” I realized that it was a concept I may have entertained subconsciously. That’s really not fair of me.

For one thing, I’m not familiar enough with the Twilight series to really know what Bella and Edward are about as a couple. For another, I’m guessing people who ship Buffy/Angel don’t see Buffy as any kind of wilting violet damsel, which is what I assume is Bella’s deal. I haven’t read much fic for the B/A ship, but that can’t be what’s going on, is it? I mean, why would anyone bother to ship Buffy with anybody if they’re going to be satisfied with a super traditional romance heroine? Wouldn’t it be easier to just ship some other character?

I like Spike with Buffy in part because he seems to really appreciate her fierceness and strength. But doesn’t Angel also admire those qualities? Like, a lot? Or, is it the Bangel fandom consensus that he’s more attracted to her goodness and mercy?

Maybe the ship seems more heteronormative on its surface, and that’s why the Bella/Edward comparison is out there. But how deep does that heteronormativity ever go with Buffy? Not very with Spike, I’d say. Not successfully with Riley. Is it really so different with Angel?

I do see Buffy and Angel as two Alphas (as reductionist as that term is) and figure that’s an issue that’s got to come up in post-S3 Bangel shipping. I mean, if the ship is going to float on, she can’t stay 17 forever, so right there things are going to change, amirite?

Can anybody enlighten me about the kinds of issues that are unique to or typical of Bangel fic? Particularly later season or post-series fic? I’d love to know the kinds of things that set it apart from other ships in the Buffyverse fandom. Without, you know, having to read a bunch of it. I’m probably asking the wrong crowd, but y’all have Vast Knowledge, so I thought I give it a shot.
 

 

I started this post a couple of weeks ago, but it got eaten, and I've decided to do multiple short ones, rather than one long one. Here comes the spam!

First, thank you, thank you, thank you to whoever nominated my work for the 26th round of the Sunnydale Memorial Fanfiction Awards!


The stories nominated are:

Flesh and Bone (Spike/Buffy), Best Comedy
Let Nothing Ye Dismay (Spike/Harmony), Best Quickie
Travels with Spike and Dru (Spike/Dru, what else?), Best Series

All of Spike's canon romances are covered in my recent stories, it seems. Good on me. (I'm not counting "that one time" encounters as romances. Angel and Anya must do a bit more to make the list.)

It's very gratifying to know that someone out there is enjoying my fic enough to make the effort to nominate it. If you want to make an author's day/week/month, there still time to nominate the good things you've read lately. Noms close on May 31st. While you're at it, check out the excellent stories that are already on the nominee list. You're bound to find something yummy that you missed!

First of all, Happy Birthday to the extra-delicious thedeadlyhook! Also, thanks to the kind soul who extended my paid account on Dreamwidth! Wow! So very kind and generous! I'm about to get all sloppy and tell everybody in this bar that I love them, because you are so nice!

Today is a good day because I have apparently finished my rarewomen assignment on time (to my utter shock) AND I've got this for y'all:

A new chapter of my Buffyverse San Francisco story/travelogue just in time for seasonal_spuffy! Will wonders never cease?

Title: Fire in the Soul (4/?)
Author: Rebcake 
Rating: PG13
Word count: 3370
Pairing: Spike/Buffy, but also quite a bit of Dru, though not in this chapter.
A/N: Thanks for the quickie beta by MiAmor. Some photos contained herein are copyrighted as noted. NOT comics compliant.
Summary: A few years after Sunnydale’s spectacular demise, Buffy and her crew are getting on with their lives in San Francisco. A not entirely unwelcome blast from her past (Spike! It's Spike!) blows into town, but he’s brought more than the generally allowable amount of baggage with him. 

Previously: 
Chapter 1 on LJ / Chapter 1 on DW — In which a "chance" encounter leads to strong language and less-than-adult behavior. Also: animal magnetism.
Chapter 2a on LJ / Chapter 2a on DW — In which Dawn makes her feelings known and Buffy tries not to.
Chapter 2bc on LJ / Chapter 2bc on DW— In which Buffy gets on with her Sunday, which naturally ends up being weird.
Chapter 3 on LJ / Chapter 3 on DW  — In which Buffy checks in with Giles and has another bizarre vampire meet up.

New today:
Chapter 4 on LJ / Chapter 4 on DW — In which Buffy possibly overthinks things before she and Spike try that new-fangled “communication” thing.


( Spike wanted to talk. Buffy was terrified... )

I've posted very little lately, and nothing remotely personal since Valentine's Day. So, lest you think I've disappeared or given up, here's what I've been up to:

( Real life has been just packed!  )

There's been a lot of love on my f-list lately for The Gift. You know, the season 5 closer of that classic television show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer? ( I can see why, but I have a minority opinion... )

( My Favorite Vampires... )

Also, does anybody know how to find that vid of Spike set to the Count’s “I Love To Count” song? Funny, naughty stuff…
ETA: It's Cybermintz's award-winning "The Song of the Count", but I still don't know how to get to something I can watch and chortle over. :(

Yesterday was my day at noel_of_spike! I had Big Plans, but the month of December has been a flat-out run. I made 60 dozen cookies, had a root canal, a sick husband, a sick kid (not at the same time) and the second highest-grossing month of the year for my business. Among other things. Now I am in the land of no WiFi. So I didn't get to do all the fic I had planned. However, I do have some Xmas silliness for your pleasure!

Title: Let Nothing Ye Dismay
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word Count:  350
Pairing: Spike/Harmony
Summary: It’s Christmas Eve in Season 5, and Harmony is inspired to deck the halls.

Follow the link to noel_of_spike:

“What the bloody hell is that?”

I am supposed to be doing lots of productive things today, but instead I have a catch-up post! Yay?

I did a fic for the sb_fag_ends "Something Wicked" challenge. I'm hoping to get another one in tonight, but it's a holiday, so who knows?

Title: Flesh and Bone
Author: Rebcake
Rating: R-ish
Word Count:  725
Prompt: Skeleton Army
A/N: A slightly more mundane take on the threat of Mortiflex. Season 6.

Mortiflex was taking over Sunnydale...

I did a very silly (but not classy) Spike/Sally fumetti for littlespikes, 'cos we absolutely need more BtVS/Nightmare Before Christmas crossover material, even if it's no good. Right?

It's Classic Recs weekend over at buffyversetop5 and I managed to get in a couple of rec lists: Body Swap Fics & Funny/Sweet Entries from Seasonal Spuffy

I also am thrilled to report that some kind person nominated a few of my stories for Round 25 of the Sunnydale Memorial Fanfiction Awards! Specifically, the Mr. Gordo/Miss Edith story No Regrets has been nominated in the Comedy and Unconventional Pairings categories, and Tales of the Cold 'n' Tall Creamery — short stories about Jhiera, princess of Oden Tal, her "girls" and their AU move to Sunnydale — has been nominated in the Series category, which I think is pretty funny. I guess I ought to add a few chapters...

Looks like I've been semi-busy. Have a great holiday, everybody!

I've got a few more chapters of my story/travelogue for seasonal_spuffy today! Set in San Francisco, but NOT comics compliant.

Title: Fire in the Soul (2bc/?)
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word count: 4100
Warnings: A bit Dru-ish
A/N: Beta’d by snickfic, except for a section added later, which was reviewed by MiAmor. Some photos contained herein are copyrighted as noted.
Summary: A few years after Sunnydale’s spectacular demise, Buffy and her crew are getting on with their lives in San Francisco. A not entirely unwelcome blast from her past (Spike! It's Spike!) blows into town, but he’s brought more than the generally allowable amount of baggage with him. 

Previously: 
Chapter 1 on LJ / Chapter 1 on DW — In which a "chance" encounter leads to strong language and less-than-adult behavior. Also: animal magnetism.
Chapter 2a on LJ / Chapter 2a on DW — In which Dawn makes her feelings known and Buffy tries not to.

( In the continuation of Chapter 2, Buffy gets on with her Sunday, which naturally ends up being weird... )

Newish Spuffy writer puddinhead  (aka thepuddinhead) has started posting the sequel to Yours, William and it is already a gripping, ripping yarn! If you, like me, have a big ol' yen for historical time-travel fic that has fun characterizations, a little action, a little sex, and a lot of culture-clash, well, you should be reading along. Ms. P is a history teacher, but clearly the kind that knows how to make the dusty olden days come alive on the page.

If you want to jump right in, the premise of Yours, William is that post-series Buffy asks to go back in time to pre-vampire William, and ends up in the body of one of his household staff, without slayer powers, but with all her memories intact. Wackiness ensues, romance blooms, someone finds his inner badass a little earlier than anticipated, obstacles are faced and overcome, and when the time comes, Buffy decides to do the honorable thing. My Elizabeth begins with the happy couple boarding a boat for their new life in America, but something nasty awaits them in the cargo hold. In just three chapters (so far) there are old enemies, new enemies, new friends, the challenges of Victorian-era ocean travel and etiquette, and it looks like things are going to take a major turn soon. *anticipates* The prose is lean, the vision clear, and it's a heckuva lot of fun.

You can read My Elizabeth on LiveJournal, Dreamwidth, TheSpuffyRealm, or Elysian Fields (if you're a member).

The elephant in the room is unbridled_b's Forward to Time Past, against which all Buffy/William stories must inevitably be compared — and for good reason. Repeat after me: gold standard! Rest assured, puddinhead 's series is entirely different in scope and tone, largely because the Buffy we meet is in a much better place emotionally, and has chosen this journey for specific reasons, mindful that Spike was capable of selfless and noble action. For me, it's really interesting to see how much of a difference that makes.

You should also all be reading msjane's award-winning Time's Fool, a 40-years-in-the-future fic that just keeps getting better.

And now, a plea for HTML help! How do you put in both DW and LJ "user name links" in the same post? I've seen it happen in other people's posts, but the code is eluding me! I'd like to know before my seasonal_spuffy  posting day. *puppy eyes* Thanks, Snick!

Happy almost-Autumn, everybody!

First, it's Intervention Week over at Fantas_Magoria, and not nearly enough people have weighed in on the Intervention Love Comment Cavalcade. Go forth and tell us who, what, when, where, and how you love Intervention! All types of love encouraged. You may also post links to your Intervention-related artwork, meta, and stories. I want moar Intervention in my life! Please give it to me. *puppy eyes*

Second, it seems that I've inadvertently become a co-mod of a community I never knew existed until a couple of days ago:


Cool, huh? I'm excited that a) it didn't get deleted, and b) that some of my awesome meta-writing friends might be prevailed upon to post and/or link there, so we have a one-stop place for heaping bowlsful of the good stuff! Go! Join!

Then, while I usually avoid memes, this one struck me as fun and informative. So you can read all about my romantic history as told through the lens of my various obsessions fandoms. Oh! The many mysteries revealed...

( Fandom as Love Interest )