Rebcake-o-rama

Whaddyaknow? Yesterday was my 9th fanniversary! And herself_nyc's birthday, not entirely coincidentally. She encouraged me to jump into this fic thing, way back when, and here I still am.

Things in RL have been super busy, so my online life has been curtailed a bit, although I'm still reading most every day. I did start a new WIP for the most recent round of seasonal_spuffy , which means I've now got 3 WIPs over there, about which I should really do something. Anyway, here's where that is:

Title: Buffy and the Bloodmobile
Rating: PG13
Word count: 2115
Setting: During an alternate S5, after the altercation with Glory in “Blood Ties”.
Summary: Property damage has consequences.

The judge glanced at Buffy...

I've been traveling a lot, ( mostly for non-fandom purposes... )

( Last weekend, I went WhedonCon 2017, just for meeeeeeee! )

I've decided I'm going to WriterConUK next month!

It will be my very first trip to the UK, and I'm all atwitter. I've been asking all my ex-pat friends what I should do while I'm there. One said I should order a drink called a “shandy” since I am a light drinker, and another mentioned Scotch Egg, because bacon, but I am not convinced.

Now I ask you! I'll be in Edinburgh, Bath, and London, when I'm not in Coventry, Chester, and Liverpool. Give me your suggestions about things to see and do, to eat or not eat, and places to stay. I'm thinking near Paddington*/Kensington while in London, but I could be convinced otherwise.

I was notified that I've been nominated for a No Rest for the Wicked Awards, but I have no idea for which story or in what category, so it's mysterious AND exciting!

( It reminded me that I haven't posted links on my journal to things I've written for comms, so here goes... )

One last story before we say goodbye to 2015. Another WIP down! The long-awaited, or perhaps long-forgotten, conclusion to a little noel_of_spike story!

Title: When You Wish Upon A Bar (4 of 4)
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word count: 2125
Characters: Spike/Buffy, Dawn, D'Hoffryn
Setting: BtVS Season 6, after Wrecked, but before Older and Far Away. Also after AtS S3 The Vision Thing.
Summary: Spike isn’t getting what he really wants out of his secret “relationship” with Buffy, though things could be worse. Just his luck, D’Hoffryn has decided to celebrate Gurnenthar's Ascendance on the Hellmouth after a romantic disappointment of his own.

Part 1 here / Part 2 here / Part 3 here

A cuckoo in the Christmas tree...
( For those of you who'd like to know why it took so long... )

I'm working on a time-travel fic, so naturally my mind has turned to thoughts of Rome Spring other time-travel fics. Because what better way to procrastinate? It’s a trope that Buffyverse fic writers have thoroughly explored to good effect. That makes it tough to choose! I'll probably have a whole other list or two, perhaps one just for Our Heroes Go Back in Time: To War! But first off: Classic Buffyverse Time travel! This list contains mostly het, some slash, and Buffy or Spike. Usually both. AO3 links, where possible. In alphabetical order:

( 10 Classic Buffyverse Time Travel Stories... )

Just popping in to say I did a ficlet for sb_fag_ends! It's for their February "My Bloody Valentine" challenge. Is it possible to do fluffy S&M? If so, I guess that's what this is.

Title: Stars in Her Eyes
Author: Rebcake
Word count: 570
Rating: R
Warnings: Not exactly sex, but not sweet romance, either.
Prompt: Diamond necklace cat o'nine tails
Summary: Spike has found an extreme way to help Buffy blow off steam.

Click here to go to the story.


Since I talked to you last, McDiva and I went to Chicago for a long weekend. It snowed! We did lots of things! Fun was had! This week is the start of her school's run of SPAMALOT, which is sure to be silly. College acceptances are coming in. Taxes are done. Work is busy. I did housework last weekend and got a blister. Dear Old Dad is coming for a visit next week. I'm hoping to be around these parts a bit more after the next couple of weeks. Woo! Oh, except for the trip to NYC in a month! Double woo!

I've got a new, finished fic posted over at noel_of_spike! Complete in 3 chapters!

Title: The Vamp Around the Corner
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG13
Word Count: 7850 in 3 chapters
Characters: Buffy, Spike, Joyce, Dawn, Willow, Tara
A/N: Takes place in an AR wherein Buffy was called to Slayerhood according to schedule, but did not move to the Hellmouth until her freshman year of college. NOT a Wishverse fic. Many thanks to shapinglight for betaing, though she can't be blamed for changes that happened after her read-through. Contains dialogue swipes from BtVS. I do not own…yada…strictly not for profit…yada…
Summary: When the Slayer's family moves house in her second year of college, a new neighbor swiftly becomes all she wants for Christmas. His wants are decidedly more complicated.

CHAPTER 1 / CHAPTER 2 / CHAPTER 3

Inspiration for this came from lutamira, who put up a list of tropes and asked for characters and pairings to go with them. I decided I wanted to see Spike and Buffy in a "next door neighbor AU", while retaining their vamp/slayer natures. One shower later, I had what I deemed to be a workable idea. You may judge for yourself whether you agree.

Heh. Was inspired to jot off a little Halloween fic. Tis the season!

Title: Love Me, Love My Dog
Author: Rebcake
Prompt: Very Beast Friends for sb_fag_ends
Word count: 985
Rating: PG
Characters: Spike, Lady!Buffy, Pirate!Larry, Soldier!Xander, Angel, Cordelia, Demon!Kids, Dru
Summary: Spike picks up a few things at Ethan’s Costume Shop, and is dragged by the collar into chaos.

Follow the link to the story:

Spike fingered the collar hanging in the shop. Made him a bit nostalgic...

Title: Whose Torment Is This, Anyway?
Author: Rebcake
Banner art: okdeanna
Pairing: Buffy/Spike
Word Count: 1230
Rating: PG13
Summary: Six months after the battle of the Hellmouth, Buffy brings her team to Wolfram & Hart on a legal matter and finds that she’s been kept out of the loop in some important ways.
A/N: This chapter contains "relationship talk". I'm afraid I let my inner shipper off leash in this part. Ruh roh. Beta'd by thepuddinhead! All the standard disclaimers apply.



Chapter One on DW / Chapter One on LJ
Chapter Two on DW / Chapter Two on LJ
Chapter Three on DW / Chapter Three on LJ

( Chapter Four: We can work it out... )

Title: Whose Torment Is This, Anyway?
Author: Rebcake
Banner art: okdeanna
Pairing: Buffy/Spike, with appearances from some of the gang from both AtS and BtVS
Word Count: 1240
Rating: PG13
Summary: Six months after the battle of the Hellmouth, Buffy brings her team to Wolfram & Hart on a legal matter and finds that she’s been kept out of the loop in some important ways.
A/N: Some dialog in this chapter was lifted from the AtS episode, Destiny. All the standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter One on DW / Chapter One on LJ



( Chapter Two: Are we there yet? )

Comment fic is problematic for me, on account of the inability to edit it and being an inveterate editor of things. But I ended up doing some anyway. It's still more Spuffy fluff, so if you like that sort of thing here it is:

Title: Prelude to a Grand Tour
Author: Rebcake
Pairing: Spike/Buffy
Rating: PG13, though post-coital
Word Count: 300
Summary: A friendly argument leads to possible discoveries.

The best thing in the world...


So I did that, and then I went on vacation and got to squeeze a baby, and then school started. Where in the heck is the rest of my summer?!? Dang.

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.
 

 

And yeah, this is gonna be a short entry.

( The positives... )

( The neutral... )

( The (mostly local) politics... )

New today! Another chapter of my set in San Francisco story/travelogue! NOT comics compliant. 

Title: Fire in the Soul (3/?)
Author: Rebcake 
Rating: PG13
Word count: 4150
Pairing: Spike/Buffy, but also a bit Dru-ish
A/N: Beta’d by snickfic, and 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.
Chapter 2bc on LJ / Chapter 2bc on DW— In which Buffy gets on with her Sunday, which naturally ends up being weird.

New:
Chapter 3 — In which reports are made, scents are smelled, and sights are seen, pleasant and otherwise. Click here to read on LJ.


( It turned out the earthquake wasn’t that big a deal... )