Gods Served and Abandoned

[Grimlock72]

What's going on in Dawn's head should be easy to guess after Tanya rant, duuuuuuh .



Before getting in the minion stuff; I liked Willow's one loooong breath description of the scoobies. Tanya is indeed probably right about them needing lotsa of mental help later on .



On to the speaking minion:



What I don't get is why they even think this minion knows the answers to their questions. Obviously he has noted they want answers so he provides some. However it's extremely unlikely he would know if a protector would live on after Glory is stopped for example. Secondly I don't see how the passing of some timeframe/event would render Glory powerless all of a sudden, it just fits way to neatly. Too easy.



Soooo having established that they asked the minion mostly questions he couldn't possibly have valuable answers too... why not ask for the timeframe of the event Glory wants to use ? Or the location of said event ? Now those are things a lowly minion might know about. So many chances missed, such a shame... Binky's interrogation was fun, sure... but hardly usefull. (and even dangerous if they chose to trust his answers)



Besides which, why are they still in a well-known scooby location ? Eventually Glory *will* resurface and she can reach any place in Sunnydale in under a minute, so hiding might be a good idea. Granted, killing Ben would be a good thing probably as well but I'm not sure if that would just free Glory of her prison. Scoobs sure aren't acting very smart at the moment, still not having a plan to oppose Glory I would dare say avoiding her would be a good start....



But seriously, Binky as the name for a minion ?? Doesn't exactly instill fear or something .



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

Edited by: Grimlock72 at: 8/21/03 12:37 pm

[AntigoneUnbound]

Lt. Sticks: I gotta say, some characters are just fun to write--their dialogue, their mannerisms. Binky's one of them, not to mention the abiding levity his very name affords everyone else. Glad you liked this, Lt, and thanks for the good thoughts.



Justin: Whoa...Big-time thanks for the name goof. I'd proofread this piece three times, and I still never caught it. Thanks heavens for sharp eyes like yours. You know, I wanted to get some tension back into the story, but I also find the very presence of the minions to have an undeniable comedic value. Thanks again for the catch, Justin, and for the nice feedback.





Grimmy: And not for the first time do we have different perceptions about the proceedings at hand...Binky (do any of her minions have threatening names?) has spent who knows how many years in service to Glory. Why wouldn't he know some of the details? In the story I'm writing, the rationale behind Glory's arc of existence isn't too easy; it has a purpose. Oh well--such are the myriad differences in style...Have a good one.



More later,

Mary

[Puff]

Quote:

---

“Wonderful,” Giles sighed. “We have with us tonight Buffy, Binky, Anya, and Tanya. Filming for ‘The Tele-Tubbies Battle a Hell-God’ will commence post-haste.”

---

LMBAO that was hysterical. I loved the whole Ben is Glory scene as well. The end was thought provoking though, I know the scoobies (Anya excluded) would probably go for the self sacrifice. You have to wonder why Ben as a doctor and commited to helping others chose to carry on though and Anya's opening line to Tanya was brilliant as was Tanya's reply.



I wonder what is going on in Dawn's head? I like how Tara is concerned for her. I am sure we will find out what is oging on soon.



Thanks for the update Mary. As always it was a joy to read.

---

So, the day started and I knew my name and had my pants on. So far, so good. Yay.
Amber Benson

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Oh Mary, I'm in pieces. I've been torn as humor, humanity and heartache tumbled together gracefully in this update. If I quoted my favorite bits of each I'd be accused of double posting. Under all of that though is a feeling that these characters each have been crafted with such care that their interaction literally rings. Binky was a wonderful addition. This did not surprise me very much at this point in the tale because I've seen the other characters come more completely to life here. I knew your minions would be better toadys as well.



The end is a cliffhanger of the most subtle kind. I think I know what your Dawn is pondering, but I'll be patient for your words will be worth the wait.





Jixer

[Grimlock72]

(just realized my previous feedback might have read a bit negative, isn't intended... not exactly sure how to phrase it otherwise, sorry )



The only minion name that comes to mind as somewhat of a 'leader' is Jinx; there there were other minions with fabulous names like Dreg, Slook (caught by Giles), Gronx and Murk. Those minions never struck me as being awfully bright so I figured they wouldn't know much about why they were doing stuff.



Minions are more like footsoldiers, told what to do and when to do it, thats about it. At least that was what it looked like on TV, with that Doc person being the one to handle the thinking parts of the ritual.



Thinking about Glory, Key and protectors got me wondering about something. Why is it that the key only needs/has protection against Glory ? The ritual itself doesn't seem to need much beside the Key. If Bev alone makes Glory feel ill when near what effect would five or so protectors have at the same time?



Wouldn't it be easiest to just ask Binky (have to smile at that name everytime:-) WHEN the ritual must take place and hide faaaaar away from Sunnydale until that time is past ? Dawn's keyness might make her a usefull tool for other beings as well and you can't exactly "de-key" her since she IS the key, tough life she's going to have.



Speaking of minions sticking around Glory for years... did they ever get noticed you think ? After all if a sort of E.T. is in front of you in the supermarket's checkout-line, you just might notice .



Maybe I should just wait and see what the scoobies DO with Binky's answers (they've mostly just listened so far).... That would require patience though.... now where to get that.. :-)



P.S. If ever in need of Glory quotes, check here.



Grimmy (who is only a tiny bit worried about certain scoobies...really!:-)

--
"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

Edited by: Grimlock72 at: 8/21/03 4:29 pm

[Modjadji]

Heeeeee!



I literally had to lie down for a while after reading that update, I was laughing so much. Haven't felt that way about the show in years. I even liked Xander, shock, horror, and Tanya getting all large with the butch was perfect. Love her, by the way. Your own characters are every bit as entertaining as those the has-been gave us before his career hit the gutter.



I thought Dawn dealt with Binky (hee) very well. In my mind at least, she actually drew attention away from herself by performing part of the interrogation using "the Key" in the third person. Smart girl. Lots of smart girls around, in fact. I'm in heaven.

Quote:

---

Tanya grinned. “Well, don’t be too hard on him. I think it was Mark Twain—or maybe e. e. cummings—who said that analyzing humor was like dissecting a frog: you can do it, but the frog tends to die in the process.”

---

Out of interest, who is the quote actually attributed to? I'm thinking of using it in English next time they ask me to "explain the humour in this cartoon", instead of just putting "there is none" and moving on.



Love this. You should be published.



Mojo

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello, all. Lovin' that feedback...



Puff 'n' Huff: You know, when I named Tanya, I didn't really envision having her come to SD. As the story progressed, though, I decided I wanted her on-site. It was only at the Scooby meeting that I realized that her name rhymed w/ Anya's. "Binky" was more purposeful, in that I always saw the minions as being this bizarre mix of the macabre and the ludicrous. I mean, they bring Glory people so she can munch their minds, and yet their just laughable in so many contexts. And yes, the question of sacrifice is one that intrigues me, always has...I think the instinct for self-preservation is so strong; I see Ben as clinging desperately to the hope that he can "divorce" Glory and spend his life doing good deeds, b/c if he doesn't believe that, the truly noble course of action would be clear. Good pick-up on Dawn, too...You know that conversation had to unsettle her. Glad you liked this, Puff~~thanks for the great feedback!



Jixer:You do say the kindest things...I'm glad these folks seem real to you, b/c that's my foremost goal. And I suspect that you're right about Dawn's preoccupation, considering Tanya's recent outburst. You really do give great feedback, Jixer--thanks so much.



Grimlock: Thanks for the clarifications; they help me understand your ideas better. The minions were appealing to me as a writer (forgive the presumption) b/c, as I mentioned to Puff, they were this very bizarre combination of the macabre and the ludicrous. I mean, they're fully aware of Glory's brain-sucking, e.g., and yet they're played for laughs much of the time. That's kind of why I chose the name I did: he's serving a truly nasty piece of goods (gods), and he's so very impressed with himself, but he's also just ridiculous in lots of ways. The other thing that made me give him such a large role here is that by virtue of that combination of qualities, it gives the writer a certain flexibility in his portrayal. Loved your question about the super-market check-out line...I've definitely been in a few lines where I had some serious species questions re: the person/thing in front of me...I agree that it's time for the folks to learn when this ritual will occur; but remember, he's still in custody and the gang's still there. Sometimes I'll break a scene into two parts b/c I want to introduce a distinctly separate element into the mix. I promise you, though, the gang does know that there's more information to be had--they just want the time to process what they've heard and figure out what to do next. You know, one of the biggest questions I've had to wrestle w/ this in this fic is just how to bring Glory down: she can't win (unless I want to write an AU fic that has a whole lotta angst) and yet her defeat--as a god--presents very unique problems. Thanks again for taking the time to send in your thoughts, Grimmy--I like understanding the different perspectives.



More later--

Mary

[The Rose24]

Two updates in a row? You are spoiling me.



Tanya handles Anya's lack of tact brilliantly. Her threats to the minion are priceless. You don't want to mess with her or her woman.



You have me on edge, and I am ready to see how all of this plays out.

Tara: My heart doesn't stutter.


Tara: Willow, I got so lost.

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

Edited by: The Rose24  at: 8/21/03 9:07 pm

[shuyaku]

Dear Miss Fanfic Goddess (that would be you Mary),



All I'm doing is feedback, and you are kicking my slacker ass. Without further ado...



Chapter 41: I love Tara's response to the 'Understandable Indiscretion' clause question. I'm glad I'm not the only one that has one of those



I really like how you bounced back and forth between the scoobs and Glo/Bev. It made for an easy read and flow and allowed for great juxtaposition for all the humor.



Like many others, I am really liking Tanya. Her honestly (brutal that it was) with Dawn was refreshing. It also allowed me to actually like Dawn as well. Her character was mostly just awful in the show, but your version is a smart, gutsy, able young woman - I like that a lot. This was a great update for all the (mentioned) scoobies actually. They each did what they had to and what they do best. You characterizations are spot on. I never find myself thinking 'They wouldn't do that." And Aunt Bev simply rocks. I love her more and more with each update.



Chapter 42: This was a very sweet update. Great Bev/Tanya banter in the beginning, followed by W/T sweetness. This is one of the major things I have enjoyed throughout the entire story - your incredible ability to interweave angst, humor and snuggles. Just when the horror of everything around them seems unbearable (for us as well as them), you allow a gentle reprive. W/T talk, really communicate, bond and fall in love just that little bit more.



Chapter 43: Okay - this was just hilarious.



This almost got me in trouble...

Quote:

---

"Baby, I love you,"Tanya said warmly, walking out into the late afternoon sun. "But you need to end that travesty right now before mothers start pulling children back into the safety of their houses."

---

I forgot about my self-imposed ban on liquid refreshment, and nearly spewed water across my computer and half my desk. I was reading this at work and could actually use a new computer, but not a good idea



The bet; Binky; Little Lord Clearasil; glass houses, Slayer, glass houses... I could go on and on about all the bits that had me laughing out loud (and blushing as I realized I was probably drawing a little more attention to myself than I really wanted to ).



And I got a nod. I got a no-od Although I must admit I skipped the disclaimer initially and went directly to the reading of the good stuff. So when I came across it, I was like 'Hey, wait a sec..." I stopped reading in the middle of the update to scroll back up to the top. I knew if what I thought was true, you would mention it. Thank you



Tanya all large with the butch was fantastic. And everyone gets a fair shot at the brilliant sarcasm and biting wit (even Xander and that is not an easy feat by any means!)



If I rock in 5 lanquages, you rock in 10!

-shuyaku

[tillowara]

ah yes, moments...moments that's all we have, that's all we are...there's much to ponder in this update, much to laugh at, and how lovely when both are offered...for I cannot count the times I have come across such an exclamation as Oh My God, There's A Black Person, and it was aimed at me, and in that split moment you can do one of several things, but the best way I've found is to use passive aggressive humor to poke people with my points, so Tanya's reaction hit home and brought back many the fond memory of times gone by...but wait, there's more...but actually, there's always more...more to say, more to wonder,more to like...like little pink bunnies wandering about with their kooky little tin drums, like the hum of muchused fans on an oppressively hot night...the song by the Cranberries: Zombie...what's in your head? Well it sure isn't a scabby little minion all dressed up with no one to play with...Binky...yeahh...it just had to be because giving him one of those cool MiddleEarth names would have been like, wrong...and any HellGod named Glo deserves to have a Binky rather than a Kestavar, just to pull one right outta my, um, lower and back area, in her life...Actually and I confess for just a split moment, I thought that Dawn and Tanya would have to toss a coin to see who got to slap the bugger first, but alas...all Pissed off Black Woman hairy eyeballs aside...I'm babbletyping again...off I am to sleep, perchance to dream...and spend the initial moments thinking of everything I always forget to say...



tillowara

[Grimaldi]

great update



love the minion's name (Binky, just had to say it again), it suits him. since he gave out the information so easily, i think that Glory needs to get some better minions or at least make sure that they don't know the entiire plan.



Bev had a good idea using the index cards to make sure the others knew that Ben is Glory, although it didn't work that well for Xander

I'm not stealing, I'm just taking things without paying for them. In what twisted dictionary is that stealing?
Remeber, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello, lovely ones...



Mojo: Glad to have brought a smile! You know, I'm not crazy about Xander either, but the times that I felt most kindly disposed toward him were when he wasn't trying to be something he wasn't, and when he wasn't being all preachy or judgemental. And Tanya and Bev--I wondered about introducing two new important characters, but folks have been very kind to our imports! Yes, Dawn was gratifyingly smart in her questions: I often hated her depiction on the show, so it's fun to write her having just a bit more on the ball. You know, I'll see if I can find out who made the humor comment--it's been awhile since I read it, and though I love (and totally agree with) it, I can't remember which guy said it. Thanks for the great feedback, Mojo--brought a smile to my face.



Rose: I agree--Tanya is not to be messed with, esp. when it comes to her girl's safety. I see her as someone who, once she decides she's "in" a thing, she's completely there and completely committed. She doesn't rattle easily. And the spoilage? Glad to indulge! Thanks, Rose.



Shuyaku, You Rock Star You: Oh God, my partner and I definitely have a "clause," and let's just say that Sandra Bullock and Ashley Judd were not random selections...You know, I wanted there to be a flow and a certain emotional simultaneity to the scenes in Part 41: for both sets, the emotional tone went from at least momentarily relaxed to terror in 5th gear. I can't write unadulterated angst, though; mostly b/c I don't experience it that way. For me, things have their greatest impact when their opposites are also at play. Does that make any sense? Only had two cups of coffee so far...And Dawn--yeah, she just made me crazy a lot of the time, but when she didn't, I really liked her. So I wanted to bring that latter part out in this story. Thanks for your kind words re: the weaving of different aspects--I think that sort of fits in w/ my earlier point about opposites informing each other. Plus, it was just plain fun to write a little demi-smut. My first story had lots of that, so I wanted to freshen up on that. Sorry to hear about the monitor spewing...OK, I'm not, b/c that means you were laughing, but I felt I should be sorry. And yes--you definitely got a nod, girl! You painted such a great picture of your reaction to Bev's decision that I just had to incorporate it. Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the infinitely kind words, Shuyaku--made me all warm and fuzzy inside, and not in that bloated, gassy way, you know?



Uh-oh--just saw the clock...gotta run for a couple of hours, but I'll finish these replies then. As always, Kitten Rule!

[BFR from Paris]

Bonsoir Mary



Just a quick message to let you know I'm still reading and enjoying your fic, I love Beverly & Tanya (Anya has found her master LOL) and I hope that Glory gets her skanky, lopsided ass kicked!



Looking forward to the next update!



Christine

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hidy ho, kids. Picking up where I left off...



Tillowara: You really are stream of consciousness, aren't you?! I read your first sentence and just sort of settle in, 'cuz I know I'm in for a nice, smooth ride...You know, I get enough looks as an easily-clocked (and quite proud) lesbian; I think that being Black must add just an entirely different layer to that. A friend of mine talks about trying to decide when he's a gay Black man and when he's a Black gay man. So I sort of gave Anya the voice of the befuddled white person, but w/o malice. Yeah, I just couldn't give one of Glory's minions an impressive name, b/c they're simply not impressive characters--not b/c they're short or physically unattractive (to my human-centric eyes), but b/c they're essentially cowards, under all the bluster. Thanks for the great words, TW, and may your weekend be of the good.



Grimaldi: Good point about Glory perhaps needing to implement a more stringent screening process for her minions...Binky gave it up pretty easily, didn't he? And of course, Xander would be the one to need a "booster" shot for his grasp of the situation. Thanks for reading, Grimaldi, and always taking the time to leave feedback.



Christine: Hey, great to see your name! I always appreciate folks dropping me a line to let me know they're enjoying it. It's good to know that the characters I introduced (B&T) are working for folks; I was worried about that. Thanks again, Christine.



OK, folks--I'm off for the weekend. Next update will probably be on Tuesday.



Thanks,

Mary

[russ]

Well, Mary, I'm tempted to join Shuyaku in referring to you as Fanfic Goddess. But then, the next step would be "Marificus," and before you know it I'd be losing height, gaining bad skin and an even bigger nose, and wearing robes. No, I think it's best to stick with "way to go, Mary. Great update."



This was definitely a "do not read at work" section; so guess where I was when reading it? Almost burst from holding back the guffaws. Willow's potted history of the Scoobies was enough to make heads reel even if you knew all this stuff. Tanya must be some tough cookie to take it all in with only a brief reference to mental health. Then you follow that immediately with Bev's attempt at singing, and Tanya's critical evaluation thereof. Next the bet, and Anya costing Willow twenty bucks. That's three blows to the funny bone inside of a minute. Mercy!



Your nod to Shuyaku was priceless, as was the whole Scoobies/Binky interaction. I particularly loved Tanya's intimidation, Bev's backing her play, and Buffy's "intervention." Everybody got some good lines here, even the poor, inept males in the group. Dawn was particularly impressive with her cool-headed interrogation.



A pause to discuss two characters who are often less-than-favourites: Xander & Dawn. Many readers express their dislike for them, and surprise that you make them sympathetic characters. I think the problem with these two was that they were written so unevenly in the series. Perhaps this sort of thing is inevitable when multiple writers with little concern for consistency are at work on a tv series. All of the characters suffered from it to some extent, but none as badly as these two. I wrote once in another forum that Xander was half jerk, half buffoon, half hero. (Math was never a strong point.) Dawn was written as vulnerable, smart, witty, but also a whiny, self-pitying and shrill brat. You have treated them as you do all the Scoobies, finding a solid middle ground by writing to their strengths while still allowing human weakness to keep them "real." Xander will never be as strong as Buffy, as smart as Willow, as knowledgeable as Giles, as magical & compassionate as Tara. He really is "Joe Average" in the group; yet he does the best he can with the resources he has, and that is heroism. Dawn is still the insecure, vulnerable teenager; she is also developing into a strong, intelligent, caring young woman. As with many, I fear what her sense of responsiblity will lead to after Tanya's (totally appropriate) rant about Ben.



I'm going to quit now; the pot of fruit relish on the stove is getting to the point where it needs constant attention. I'll just finish by saying thanks for this update. After a week much of which was not of the good, this was a breath of fresh air.



Russ

[chilled monkey]

I agree completely with Russ. YOu should have been in charge of the show, then it wouldn't have fallen apart (perhaps you could make your own show?)



Very clever that Bev. is unaffected by the 'instant forget' spell. Much better (and more sensible) that it be her and not a certain vampire.

[TemperedCynic]

My apologies for not responding earlier, Mary. RL enjoyed kicking me this past week.



Two updates! First Chapter 42:



I enjoy the love of life each character has in this chapter. They take life's joys as they come, and deal with it's pain with calm resolve. I also was struck by your ease of handling the Season 5 mentality: We survive the Hell Bitch, but that means switching apartments and watching out for everyone. Because, you just never know... As for W/T quality time, it was lovely, yet brief. I've read "On Second Thought", so I know what W/T quality time means in your capable hands. Still, even here, their need to feel overrides even exhaustion. The need to know that each other is real. Beautiful.



Chapter 43:



Oh, man! Mary, your humor is on full display in this update. Tanya leaving her chiffon in Dallas, Bev's crack about Tanya's shoe shopping, Tanya taking in Willow's SD history lesson, Tara subtly pointing out VampWillow's most important quality, Bev singing the Scooby-Do song, Bev and Willow betting on Tanya and Anya's first meeting, Little Lord Clearasil's name is Binky!, Telletubbies Battle the Hell-God, note cards about Glory/Ben, Tanya and Bev as good cop-bad cop and the Foxy Brown analogy!



Still with all that, the drama continues: how Dawn asks the important questions that the reader's want answered, how Dawn is so brave and totally adult with her reaction to the fact that she and people she cares for will continue to exist after Glory is defeated, Tanya and Bev's understandable relief at that news, and Tanya's on-the-money assessment of Ben - yes, Ben is a healer, but he has opportunities to rid the world of its greatest threat and does not do so. What would have happened, I wonder, if Ben was in love with someone similar to love like W/T and Bev/Tanya - would he come to the same conclusion of sacrifice as they did?



Brilliant, Mary. This story continues to develop, and yet there is still so much story left to tell. The mark of a great writer.

---

More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly. Woody Allen (1935 - )

[JustSkipIt]

Hey Mary,

Good update with much funnitude. Tanya not being out as black to her family. Ha ha. Much humor here and absolutely love the ee cummings or maybe Mark Twain line about dissecting humor.



The part where Bev gets it about Ben=Glory and puts it on a notecard made me think of Memento. Al l they need is a tattoo that says, “kill ben when you see him” and all will be good. Tomorrow maybe Tanya is driving down the road in their rental, preferably a Hummer or Suburban, sees him and “accidentally” guns the gas. No more Ben, no more Glory.



Great job.

---

"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell." - The Buddha

[WiccanSpud]

Hi Mary!



Just read the latest update... definitely loved it.



Lots and lots of humor... from slayers in glass houses to the little note card attached to their sleeves. LOL I could not stop laughing and my sister threatened to cut off access to the computer if I can't control myself.



I wish I could make some wonderfully articulate insight to how much your story rocks... but eh... my brain's kinda fried... as my delightfully eloquent and inexplicably sullen 12-year-old cousin says:



it doesn't suck



-spud

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello, all. Just returned from my partner's to find such lovely feedback awaiting me. Definitely takes some of the sting out of leaving, you know? (Long distance--not always easy...) So thanks, and hope everyone had a good weekend.



Russ: (Perhaps I can call you Russicus? Just a thought...) OK, so laughing at work can get you in trouble, but better that than embezzling, right? I'm glad you got a good laugh, Russ--when I go a day w/o one, my allergies start acting up. You know, I knew that Tanya needed a little more info on the gang and its history, and I hadn't intentionally said, "Ooh, I want this to be a funny part." But as soon as I started writing it, I realized just how surreal it all was and it pretty much spoke for itself, you know?



You have a great perspective on Xander and Dawn, and I think you pretty much nailed the source of their ambivalent receptions. When they were written well (not superhuman, just likably human), I was drawn to them, so that tells me it wasn't the actors. So I think your point about the inconsistency of the writing is really on-track. I loved this observation about Xander: "He really is "Joe Average" in the group; yet he does the best he can with the resources he has, and that is heroism." I think you're absolutely right, Russ. It's when he was written as judgemental or deluded about his own power that I really didn't like him.



Hope the fruit relish was enjoyable; I found my tummy growling when I read about it. Thanks for the great feedback, Russ--you have a keen eye for character, I think, so your words really stimulate my own thinking.



Chilled Monkey: You're too kind...("Two kinds of what, Mary?" CM asked, somewhat perplexed.) Yeah, Spike just never made it into this story--sucks bein' him, I guess...Thanks for the good thoughts!



Tempered Cynic: I'm glad you liked the respite of Part 43. I figured that everyone (readers included) needed one. Whenever I watch Season 5 episodes, I'm struck by how quickly the show went from poignant and inspired to whining and self-indulgent (and I mean the show, not even the characters). I figured Willow and Tara needed to spend a little QT in the BR. And Part 43 was a great deal of fun to write, I have to say. The minions just lend themselves so abundantly to so many aspects of depiction.



You ask a really good question re: Ben's potential behavior if he had someone he loved like Willow and Tara as well as Beverly and Tanya. In some ways, their "selfishness" would be more understandable, b/c it would be so excruciating to tear themselves away from that kind of love; I'm inclined to think, though, that that love would make them more likely to go through w/ the sacrifice. Ben has no one keeping him here (that we know of) but he's not about to sacrifice himself, or so it would appear. Great question, TC, and as always, great feedback. Thanks for taking the time. Sorry to hear real life has been jerking you around. Reminds me of Norm, on "Cheers," when Sam asks him how his day was and Norm replies, "It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and I'm wearin' Millk Bone underwear." Hope things ease up soon.



Debra: Glad you enjoyed the amusing moments of this update. It was definitely fun to write. Oh God, I loved the movie "Memento." Can you believe Guy Pearce was also in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"? I guess that's why they call it acting...Thanks as always, Debra.



Wiccan Spud: Whoa--can't have sis cutting off the computer time! Tell her your fellow Kittens need you! Glad you enjoyed this update, WS; it was a lot of fun to write. Loved your description of your nephew: "delightfully eloquent and inexplicably sullen." Gave me a wonderful picture of the boy...Thanks for the great feedback, Spud!



More later, mes amis.

Mary

[good2cats]

Hi Mary,
I have been enjoying your story immensely,but have failed to comment on a regular basis(hangs head in shame).I'm very sorry.I love your liberal use of humor both in your story as well as the update site.I'm looking forward to your next update.
Be well,Karen

[Vampivy]

(I too hang my head in shame for my lack of feedback.) Real life sometimes has other ideas though.



Oh Mary how I’ve missed this story. Tanya, what can I say? I love her. She handled Anya beautifully. I can’t wait till they hold a longer conversation together. I wonder who will fold first. That would be hilarious to read.



Beverly needed that reality check I think. Not as severe as she got but she needed to realize the severity of going into dark alleys alone. Hell, she got caught slipping and things are very serious right now and everyone needs to be on their toes. There’s a Hellgod running around loose for Christ sakes. The Glory and Beverly interaction was great. I feel very confident that Beverly will be able to hold her own against her next time as well. Bruises heal, death is permanent.



I was glad for the downtime in chapter 42. The way you write Willow and Tara’s reconnection is beautiful. I always look forward to these heart felt moments between our girls. It serves as a reminder of why I fell in love with these characters in the first place. The love between them is endless and incredibly inspirational and I love the fact that I can count on you to always find a way to remind me of that. Thank you so much. Am I sounding like a broken record yet?



Well Mary, as always I look forward to your next update. Considering you might still not have a computer of your own yet, I await patiently.



Patty

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello, all. Update arriving later today (Wednesday). I do have a computer now, but I'm still awaiting Internet hook-up; thus, I write at home and post at the library. Let's hear it for resourcefulness, or any facsimile thereof.



Good2Cats: I say Good4U! (I got 6 of 'em...can't seem to say no to the strays. Have gotten better about screening out girlfriends, though!) Thanks for the kind words about the story. I like the initial characters so much (key word: "initial") that like many other Kittens, I suspect, it's just a great deal of fun to write them. Take care, and just leave a note when you have time. The main thing is that you enjoy--that's the goal!



Patty: Yes, Patty, you should hang your head in shame. This story should be the most important thing in your life. Are we clear about that? Good. Girlfriend, I just love your feedback whenever you have the time to leave it. Sorry to hear that real life is being uncooperative of late. More than anything, I was gratified to hear that the "downtime" section worked for you. I didn't want it to be abrupt or jarring in its departure from the pace of the story, so it's a relief to know it worked. Thanks for your great words, Patty, and be good to yourself.



Mary

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hello, all. Update post-poned until tomorrow (Thursday) b/c I'm having trouble adapting my word processing program to the one at the library, where I post the story. I have to head back up here tomorrow afternoon and try again. Sorry, and thanks for your patience.



Mary

[AntigoneUnbound]

I have a chapter ready to go, but my computer ignorance is biting me in the ass again. I wrote it on my computer at home, a Compaq that has the Microsoft Works package. I came up to the library to post it, but when I tried to open the file, it asked me what program I wanted to use to open it. I tried a few different ones, but the only thing that came out was hieroglyphics.



What am I doing? Where am I going? Will there be coffee when I get there?



HELP!



Mary

[Puff]

Hi Mary what programmes have you tried? Notepad, word, adobe, wordperfect etc.

---

So, the day started and I knew my name and had my pants on. So far, so good. Yay.
Amber Benson

Edited by: Puff  at: 8/28/03 12:22 pm

[AntigoneUnbound]

Puff & Shuyaku: Here at the library, I tried MS Word, Adobe, Acrobat, and something else. The very best moment was when I tried to use "Microsoft Word for Windows" and these great big, bold-type Chinese symbols came up--I kid thee not...



Shuyaku--Prepare to smack me around a little, but how exactly do I save something as a .txt? In the "Save As..." feature?



I really do have a functioning cerebrum, folks...



Mary

Edited by: AntigoneUnbound at: 8/28/03 12:40 pm

[Washi]

Mary, the hieroglyphs appear to me too when I don't choose a good format for the file. Normally, if you scrool down the hieroglyphs, you'll find your text after like a couple of pages.

Hope that helped. And yes, try saving in .txt, it's easier, you just need to click on save as and then something like text file for file type.



Hope that helped.



P.S.: If what you write is anything to go from you do have a working brain.

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



"See? I've mastered this tact crap." Anya in Tears Of The Goddess by Lisa

Edited by: Washi  at: 8/28/03 12:46 pm

[shuyaku]

Yup - use the "Save As" . I haven't used Works in forever, but it should (emphasis on should) allow you to Save as a text file... so it should end up something like... GodsPart44.txt



-shuyaku

[AntigoneUnbound]

Hey Washi--Thanks for the effort, but I scrolled down and nothing but those damn squares and squiggles greeted my eager gaze. (Eager gays are my favorite kind, actually.)



Sigh...

Mary