FIC: Answering Darkness

[Sassette]

Oh, yeah ... definitely 'ick' ... but they're still in that 'making up' stage, where they're a little unsure of things ... and then there's the whole Hell God stuff to deal with ... but each of them is very sure that they love the other, and want to do the right thing.



-Sass

[AutumnT]

Strip Chess.



LOL. I am amazed the way your mind works Sass.

Autumn

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Buffy: I could wrestle naked in grease for a living and still be cleaner than after a shift at the Doublemeat.

Willow: Plus, I'd visit you at work every single day.

[Grimaldi]

sweet update



Never knew there was a strip chess, guess I've been playing chess wrong. When Willow said "You will let me play with your box, right?" and the Tara said "I have Sexy Thinking Willow wrapped around me, playing with my box," I was laughing so much that I almost spilled my drink on my keyboard.

"All these people are completely fucked. Metaphorically speaking, that is."



"Slowly forgive my lie, lying to save me. Could she love me again, or will she hate me." Alice in Chains, 'Rain When I Die'

Aaaaaa yer brother blows bubble gum

[Sassette]

**Autumn: Ummm ... thanks? *G* A friend of mine is fond of telling me that my brain doesn't really work like anyone else's, but it works.



**Grimaldi: Heh, yeah, those had me chuckling, too *G*



As for the Strip Chess ... there is no such thing. I made it up. However, when I made it up, I figured the rules work like this:



The pawns are free.

When a knight or bishop is taken, it's off with left shoe, right shoe, left sock, right sock in that order.

Rooks are shirt, then pants.

Queen is bra.

King is panties.



Eight additional articles can be added for pawns (watches, jackets, vests, earrings or other jewelry, etc ...), but that's optional.



Do with this what you will.



-Sass

[foreverpiper]

One things for sure...I won't ever be able to look at a box the same way again.



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

Once you fall for Willow you stay fallen.

[tommo]

True, foreverpiper. But I have often wondered what Tara's box looked like. And now I know. Ahem. The "13" surprised me.

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Hey Grrrrlfriend! Yoo hoo! Over here! It's me...Flaming Joel!

[Sassette]

**foreverpiper: All part of my fiendish plan to take everyday things and make them pervy. Because that's really the point of this fic. Boxes, chicken casseroles, the game of chess ...



**tommo: Well, I'm glad I could clear that up for you, then. Oh, and the "13" surprised me, too *shrug* But Willow liked playing with it (and Tara likes Willow playing with it), and that's the important thing. Things. Whatever.



-Sass *G*

[LeatherQueen]

*LOL* Strip chess! This was a great update, Sass! And the beginning part is really interesting. Buffy being all angry and Giles not knowing what's going on. And of course, Tara's box.

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"Honey, I'm the original one-eyed chicklet in the kingdom of the blind." - Glory

[BigMac]

It took me 3 days to read this and it is a damm good story. I now love strip chess.

Tara: Assume Crash
Positions

[Drakkenfyre]

Damn, I have got to learn to play chess!!!! And Tara's Box, well, that just goes without saying...Yet again, you have astounded me with your writing.. Please continue and um, if you ever have time could you teach me to play chess?*winks*

"We few, we happy few."
"We band of buggered."

[Pixie gishmock]

Wow, Sass!! I also, lol at "I have sexy thinking Willow wrapped around me and playing with my box." But, uh, if those are the rules of strip chess, I must be playing it wrong, cause I lost my panties weeks ago. Actually, I don't really know how to play chess. Anyone wanna teach me?

Life is full of changes...The better you are at letting go of things, the freer your hands will be to catch something new. ~from Off The Map by Joan Ackerman
"It's good to be a chicken casserole," Tara murmured before passing out. ~from "Answering Darkness" by Sassette

[Wolflord]

Great Update......worried though about Willow's Plan B. Her and Tara need to get some stuff out in the open before it is too late. Will the Trickster be release? Is Willow going to have to go thru Plan B? Will Tara let Willow play with her box? Is our minds in the gutter? Staying tuned to this station for the next episode in thrilling story Awakening Darkness.

Sometimes I think of them doing spells and I have a spell by myself.

Edited by: Wolflord at: 4/11/02 7:10:58 pm

[Sassette]

**LeatherQueen: Ahhh, yes ... strip chess. I'm hoping to start a new craze. And yes, Giles and Buffy are both pretty frustrated right now. Buffy just wants to hit stuff, and Giles just wants to know what's going on - it's what they do, and they're just not in a position to do it, and that's ... damn annoying. Then you pile on just what the consequences of not succeeding are, and you've pretty much got a powder keg on your hands.



**BigMac: Three days? Damn ... I hadn't realized this story had gotten that long. Glad you liked the chess *G*



**Drakkenfyre: Oh, sure ... just ... stop on by. And, umm ... bring a chess board. I'm not GOOD at chess, mind you ... just very enthusiastic.



**Pixie: Hmmm ... no panties ... no panties ... I suppose you can't really play strip chess, then, unless you wear two pairs of pants. One comes off for one of the rooks, and the last comes off for the king. But then again, you don't know how to play chess, so we can just assume anyone who knows how to play would win the game, so you could, y'know, just strip down. *shrug*



**Wolflord: All excellent questions *G* I doubt any of them will be decided answered anytime soon, but you just keep askin' ... eventually I'll answer them. And just for the records, Tara will ALWAYS let Willow play with her box. Theirs is a miraculous love.



-Sass

[sheila wt]

Oh my... strip chess... Tara's box... you have been hanging around with Ruth a lot lately, haven't you Sass? I for one, hope you two become inseparable... the more good stuff, the better...



Really cool the way you made up the strip chess, I might even try sometime...



I'm very curious to know what's in the box and why Willow felt whatever came from inside of it and Tara didn't. It just doesn't sound good to me. Of course, Willow's thoughts at the end are very disturbing. She doesn't seem to be putting any faith on the spell, it's like she already knows it didn't work, but she's just giving them some time to confirm. Poor Willow... I can very well see her running away so Tara won't see her dying. This is exactly what Willow would do.



This story is such a masterpiece, I don't want to ever finish! Uhm, well, I guess you'll have to finish someday, because we all want to know how's it going to end. Big contradiction there, I know. Oh well, I'm not known from making much sense anyway.



I just love your writing.

Sheila

...................................................................


Willow: "If you felt lost and alone? Where would you go?"

Tara:"To you."

[daydreamer]

Okay, I have yet to recover from the Shabbat dinner and the you-know-what-happened-after-dinner part. Sass, my hat's off again to you for this brilliant update. Everything's great from the strip chess to Willow playing with Tara's box. Heh. I do not know how to play chess and haven't found the motivation to learn. But after reading this, I just got to.



I'm worried though about Willow's plan if everything doesn't work out. Oh, the angst! This just keeps better and better. You just know how to keep us on our toes.



Looking forward to the next update. It'd better be soon (and that is so not a threat).

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I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul... - Pablo Neruda

[Kailyn Of Povar]

Must be a guy thing, boxes have always been boxes :-p. Women. Box-a word that noblely carries its many duties without complaint.



Box-fu and strip chess, but you all are fooling yourselves. Re-read the last sentance of the update--the one that ends in the cliff.



-YuriPup

Edited by: Kailyn Of Povar  at: 4/11/02 8:50:59 pm

[Sassette]

**sheila_wt: Clearly, Ruth has been a bad influence on me. And I love it *G* And let me know if you try strip chess ... I'm curious as to how that would play An additional optional rule - pawns can also represent buttons on a button-down shirt. Maybe a zipper or two. Play with the pawn thing - work with it and adapt it to the clothing you are wearing *G* And thank you - yes, I will have to finish someday. I can actually see the end in sight (I've had the ending all worked out in my head for awhile, and except for a few minor changes, it's been damn constant), so I'm actually pretty eager to get to the end.



**daydreamer: Heh ... chess is a very fun pasttime. Play it with a friend! In fact, lots of coffee shops have chess boards available for use ... make a date of it. But, yeah, Willow's plan is pretty worrisome. If it comes into play. Who knows? Maybe the spell worked ... They love each other, right? And that WAS the main component of the spell. Willow's a worrier ... it could very well be fine. Or maybe I'm just saying that because I'm evil. Guess you'll have to wait.



**WebWarlock: And that's why writing fan fic rocks. 'Cuz I get to do things like that.



**Yuri: I can always count on you to spot the cliff, even in the dark of night in the middle of a fog when you can't see a foot in front of you. *G*



-Sass

[TrueXena]

*makes a note to bring traveling chess board with her to the next Meet, so Sass can SHOW me how it is REALLY played*



Great update sweetie. I enjoyed the Strip Chess (as did everyone) or course. And the "Box" dialog as well.



I'm really not likeing the way Willow is thinking, and I'm SURE Tara is gonna hate it even worse when she finds out. (cuz you just KNOW she is gonna find out)



As for someone asking what is in the box?? Why did it effect Willow more than it did Tara?? Hummmm?? I've got three possible theories on that.



1) its the Big Bad Book Giles was all afraid that Tara had. And since its the Big Book of Evil the darkness really hit Willow more cuz she has all the icky dark matter running into her blood and such, and she was takeing in more of it when the book was accessed.



2) its the Big Bad Book Giles was all afraid that Tara had. And since its the Big Book of Evil the darkness didn't effect Tara as much cuz her fist sized "Shadow" absorbed more of it when the book was accessed. (i mean that damn Shadow thingy has to fucking do something right?)



3) its the dead remains of Miss Kitty Fantastico, and it just really smelled bad.



Ok, so the third one could be a pretty FAR stretch, but hell I aint putting anything past Sassette. She aint lying when she says her mind works on a whole other wave length than other peoples.



Anyhoo, loved the Update, can't wait for more. Tomorrow?? I'll get one tomorrow right?



Love ya Sass, and don't forget those rules for Strip Chess, we WILL play.

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Doc: "I'm the happy peppy pimp, 'cause I don't beat my hos!" / Doc: "...and then they had sex."

Tara: "Its good to be a chicken casserole." -in 'Answering Darkness' By: Sassette

TrueXena: "Get a taste of Religion. Lick a Witch!"

[mollyig]

As usual you mixed the giggles (strip chess!) with the worry. It was upsetting how calm Willow was being about her possible demise. I know she's naturally analytical and logical, but when she was thinking about how Tara would be there to watch her die - ugh, not good. And this possible leaving Sunnydale thing. Definitely not good!



Hopefully the contents of Tara's box will help Willow. (Hmm, that maybe taken the wrong way!)

I could paint you in the dark, 'cause I've studied you with hunger as a work of art - Collecting you (Indigo Girls)

[Willowfan]

*Claps excitedly* Wow!!

Nice update!!

And also...NO!!

No Willow leaving!!

nonononononononononononononononononononononononono!!

Willow+Tara together > Willow+Tara apart

It's simple math.

And with a Slayer around...hey...that's GOT to be a bonus on the safety scale.

So..to recap:

and stay together

Buffy kicks the crap out of that construct thingy

The gang slams the door in the Tricksters face.

Story ends with snuggles.

um....

please?

Willowfan

That's right puppy....Willow's gonna make you bark."-The Wish

[Puff]

Great update Sass still giggling about Tara's box and strip chess though Looking forward to more, although poor Willow...she feels like such a burden Please make it better.

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You know, it's a real deal relationship and that's why people can relate to it
Amber Benson

[wiccachica]

I'm having a soiree this weekend...and I have now put strip chess on the roster for the evening...



I have a magnificent marble set that will do just nicely



Um... Sass.... Did my pawn just take your rook??? I'm thinking...yep...yep indeedy...



(innocent smile...patiently waits for the shirt...or the pants...)





chica

" I mock you with my Monkey Pants!" - OZ


" You're NOT the source of me" - Buffy


" Tremble!" - Gacknar

[Sassette]

**TX: And one of those theories is correct. It'll be awhile until you find out which one, I think. And unless something comes up, I'll update tonight (note the little 'out' I left myself *G*).



**mollyig: I almost called this piece "Giggles and Worries", but then I decided that Answering Darkness was a catchier title. And of course that can be taken the wrong way ... and I'm just going to sit here and grin and take it the wrong way *G*



**Willowfan: Oh, yes, absolutely. Willow+Tara together > Willow+Tara apart. That's absolutely true. No doubt about it. But we haven't had any major angst in awhile, and I miss it.



**Puff: Yeah, poor Willow. *sigh* But I really can't make it better ... only Willow can do that. We'll just have to wait and see what she does.



**wiccachica: I'll have to hand over my shirt after work ... they frown on half-nekkidness here. But I promise to work on the next update once I get home, without my shirt on.



-Sass

[wiccachica]

<---rendered speechless.

" I mock you with my Monkey Pants!" - OZ


" You're NOT the source of me" - Buffy


" Tremble!" - Gacknar

[Sassette]

*peers closely at a speechless wiccachica*



Oopsie. Did I do that?



-Sass

[Grimaldi]

thanks for the rules to strip chess, next time I play chess with my girlfriend, I'm going to see if she wants to use the new rules

"All these people are completely fucked. Metaphorically speaking, that is."



"Well I geuss we'll have to roshambo for it"



Aaaaaa yer brother blows bubble gum

[ExtraFlameyWT]

I was listening to the radio on my way to school and the song "Wannabe" :lol came on. All of the sudden I just got this image of Tara and Anya singing and dancing along as they're driving on the highway! I was cracking up!! :rollin



My best friend just looked over at me and was like, "What is the matter with you?"



It was soooo funny so I figured I'd have to tell you that your fic has been hilarious. I love this fic and your writing style is great.



Keep the updates coming! :)



-Aimee

"Hey Will, this is me. It doesn't all have to be good and fine. This is the room where you don't have to be brave. I still love you. If you're worried, you can be worried." -Tara to Willow in ep. 603 Afterlife

[TrueXena]

Awwwww does this mean poor Miss Kitty Fantastico is in the box all stinking?



Can't wait for the next update, and I know I'll probably be up all night waiting for it, and you wont post and I'll be all tired tomorrow cuz of it.



But it's all good, tomorrow is Sat. And I get Saturdays off. Mom-Off Duty on the weekends, those are the rules!

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Doc: "I'm the happy peppy pimp, 'cause I don't beat my hos!" / Doc: "...and then they had sex."

Tara: "Its good to be a chicken casserole." -in 'Answering Darkness' By: Sassette

TrueXena: "Get a taste of Religion. Lick a Witch!"

[Owl]

Hmmm. I honest-to-goodness watched a hilarious movie about chess not 3 days ago. An old soviet thing... Really, really funny. And I thought to myself, "I never knew that chess could be so much fun."

How wrong was I?



Needless to say, that last bit made me extremely nervous. I usually like books. a lot. But I Hate that one. And the willow thoughts are monumentally troubling. Oh! And Giles... All the rules have changed. It is impossible to really know what is going on - what is and is not just part of the Trickster's evil plan... Which makes it all the more fun for the reader. Ooh! and more puzzles! erk! stopping myself before i get gush all over my computer....

[Sassette]

**Grimaldi: Heh ... if you actually play, let me know how that works out ... I've certainly never tried it, and I'm curious as to whether or not it adds anything to the game of chess.



**ExtraFlamey: Excellent *G* I know that I have ALWAYS laughed when a Spice Girls song came on anywhere ... I'm glad I could share the joy. Because, dammit, the Spice Girls are funny.



**TX: Yep. And Willow was more in tune with the dead kitty body because she was the main impetus behind Buffy's resurrection. It's her punishment. And you're a lucky monkey ... I'm not going to have a Saturday off for a good long while.



**Owl: Heh *G* I'm glad you liked the update - and yes, books good. This book bad. And poor Giles - he's really at a loss here.



-Sass