Unseen: Long Way Home

[Scout]

Yes, all the kitties who live near pathetic bookstores that STILL aren't stocking it would love to hear the W/T bits and the Faith bits!

[Shaniezak]

All righty, here we go (*pointed look at Ruth who felt the need to prod me via Yahoo Messenger*) with a bunch of excerpts pertaining to Willow and/or Tara. I'll edit this post to add more in a little bit, and add some Faith moments in half an hour or so.

Here's a tidbit from a conversation between Xander and Anya. In Buffy's absence, Anya's been trying to take charge and it's been grating on people's nerves a bit. Here they're discussing how people fit into the Scooby Gang:

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Anya started walking again, and Xander took a couple of quick steps to keep up with her. "I guess I don't need to be the Scooby Queen," she said. "I'm just trying to figure out my place in the group, you know. Willow has a place. You have a place. Giles has a place. Even Tara is getting a place. What's my place? Xander's ex-demon girlfriend?"

"What's my place?" Xander asked.

She flashed him a warm smile. "Ex drifting wanderer, occasionally useful, brave and wonderful Xander."

---

Another brief scene of Tara on the phone with Willow, from Giles's point of view.

quote:

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He sighed and said to Tara, "Would you care to speak to Willow?"

Shyly, Tara got up and took the phone from his hand. He took a few steps away, to give her some small amount of privacy.

(Some byplay with Xander, Anya, Joyce, and Riley omitted.)

"Hi," Tara said softly. "I'm fine." She shrugged and touched her hair. "A little tired, actually. Have you figured out how to reestablish the link?"

She listened and ticked her glance at Giles, who raised his brows. Then she said, "I'll try that." Her cheeks grew rosy. She was a lovely girl, really, looked a bit British. She murmured, "You, too."

---

In Los Angeles: Willow's take on Cordelia, who's just offered them all coffee.

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Then [Cordelia] shrugged. "If you want. I'm going to have some tea. Herbal." She smiled at Willow. "Caffeine ages the skin."

Willow got ready to take umbrage, but the Cordelia of Los Angeles was not the Queen of Mean, as had been the Cordelia of Sunnydale. True, she was still the Queen of Major Sarcasm, but the sharp edge had been slightly dulled. She seemed to have matured, gotten some compassion under her belt.

Refreshing, Willow thought. Also, kind of spooky.

---

A funny bit later in the same scene. Willow and Alina Vishnikoff, the girl with psychic abilities, are preparing to enter a trance state. Alina's English is kind of dicey.

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It was a spacious room for an apartment. Alina indicated the bed and said, "Lie down, please. I will join with you."

"Um, I'm in a committed relationship," she said, then flushed and did as the other girl requested.

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Tara proves herself useful in an adventure for the Sunnydale crew:

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The round globule of burning goo caromed off Xander's mighty shield--which he had snatched off the nearest trash can--and arced into the sky like a flyball from Hell.

"Just let it bounce!" Giles cried, as Joyce held out her trash can lid in an effort to capture it. Startled by his shout, she yanked the lid away, and the thing bounced on the ground and came to a rolling stop.

Tara and Anya gingerly approached it. It was smoking, and the grass surrounding it was catching fire. Tara did something with her fingers and the fires went out.

My daughter knows the most interesting people, Joyce thought wryly. The other women in my book group get to brag about their children's accomplishments, but I'll bet not one of their kids' pals has ever put out a fire with magick.

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Even Riley holds Tara in good regard:

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I should have brought Tara along, he thought belatedly. We make a pretty good team, actually.

They don't give her enough credit for the things she does. She contributes a lot, especially in the magick department. But they probably just see her as a hanger-on--Willow's girlfriend.

Kinda like me and Buffy.

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Back at Giles's place:

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"Very well, old boy," Giles said to Wesley. "Entropy currents. I'll look into it." Smiling faintly, he hung up and looked at the group. His smile faded. "He thought of it first because it happened to him first. Something crawled into Cordelia's phone and also made her bed smoke."

"I said nothing," Xander said innocently, as Anya glanced his way. "I have nothing to say about Cordelia's smoking bed."

Tara hid a little smile as she remembered hearing about the time Willow accidentally set her bed on fire. I miss her so.

---

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"What's the rush? Dip your brush into this twilight. There are leaves upon the skylight--trace your hand, trace your hand. Mr. Red, he shot ahead, he shot a head inside a circle. On a bad day, who would you kill? Take a stand, trace your hand. There's always the sky; let it hear what you're saying for all that you are saying. And let it take you apart to the elements of praying, till we are only praying to the firmament . . ." -- Dar Williams, "Playing to the Firmament"

[This message has been edited by Shaniezak (edited September 06, 2001).]quote:quote:quote:quote:quote:quote:quote:

[Scout]

Thanks for posting the excerpts. I especially liked the 'committed relationship' line! And the 'hanger-on' line was kind of funny because so much has happened since then. Thankfully, Tara has grown beyond that role.

[Salix]

This is a great book. Tara seemed to be feeling more comfortable in the gang. Now if the next book (outside the Unseen series, of course) takes place after the 'Family' episode she won't have that whole demon fear hanging over her head.

S

[nika]

Shaniezak thanks for posting those tid-bits. Willow's lines are great as per usual.

[xita]

Thanks shanie, I "read" the book but I had missed that part about the committed relationship.

Here's another little part at the end:

"Blessed be, Willow," Salma murmured, taking Willow's hand. "Give Tara besitos de Salma." She wrinkled her nose. "Little kisses."

"I will." Willow's eyes shone. "I can't wait to see her.

[This message has been edited by xita (edited September 06, 2001).]

[WiccanBex]

thanks to everybody who keeps posting bits of the book... i haven't read it... and it seems like such a great book

[tyche]

Ooh, Giles and Wesley interaction. That’s something I’ve really wanted to see on the show, though I was wondering if it would be something along the lines of “Why didn’t you tell me Faith was on the loose?” *punch*
And Giles thinking that Tara looks British. (An English rose?) No wonder she thinks the English are more gentle than normal people..

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"There's only one thing better than Willowhand, and that's Amber Butt" - me, to Amber Benson.

[Dr.G]

Oh thank you Shanie, I love this.
Such sweet scenes, as is the case on the show, W/T need very little time to shine, they just do.

[Shaniezak]

I have more. I do. I just got too sleepy to post them last night.

This one's another attempt by Willow to contact Tara psychically. Riley and Gunn have broken Faith out of jail to help Buffy and Angel.

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Willow went back to blanking her mind, though it was a little harder with Riley and Faith crowded into the room. When everything was white, she conjured a picture of Tara's pretty face, eyes closed as if in slumber.

After a moment, Tara's eyes opened.

Willow?

Hi. It's me.

I can see you.

---

Another "throwaway" Willow bit that I find priceless.

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"Is really working!" Alina said excitedly. Her face looked like that of a schoolgirl who just got a note from a boy she likes--or a girl, Willow amended--her smile showing lots of teeth, eyes gleaming, nose crinkled in delight.

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Then there's the bit xita mentioned about Willow saying she can't wait to get home and see Tara, which is followed up by this line later on:

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In the backseat, Willow was asleep, a gentle smile wreathing her face.

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Faith-related excerpts to come; I haven't found all the good ones yet.
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[tommo]

Thanks Shanie...look, I'm good at prodding, ask anyone. Heh heh.

This is so great, how the relationship is out there. And I love Joyce's reaction to Tara's magick. That scene with the girl who wants to 'join' with Willow is hilarious. I can just see that.

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"She looked across at Willow, whose face was filled with light. She had never felt so calm and happy, and strong..." ~ Unseen: Door To Alternity

[katydid]

I must be a realllly slow reader, cause I am not even half way through the second book. I did buy the third installment....and *shrugs* since I won't be getting to it for at least a month...does anyone want my book to read until I am ready for it.


*trusting smile* I am sure I will be able to track it down if I have to...

[Sabrina Luv]

ok this is probably something that doesnt even really matter, but i was giddy over the fact of Bakersfield getting mentioned in the book. born and raise here 19 and a half years of my life, and its cool when i here it used in movies or books, especially buffy stuff. in the episode where shows up on angel, the bus station announcers mention the bus to bakersfield is boarding..hehehe i thought it was cool.......

anyways, i loved the whole trilogy. especially the bringing in of faith very cool indeed. 6though one minor little prt threw me off. chronilogically i was thinking of this as middle of the summer. but then xander mentions riley saying that buffy didnt love him in his basement when they were moving out. that was like the thrid ep of season 5, and dawn was around by then.....argh!! confusing much. yes i think so. but forgetting that little part i love this whole story

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Sabrina Luv

"After one take", remembers Hannigan of her steamy kiss with Amber Benson, "Joss did say 'Can we have one that's less like you're going to sleep together in about five minutes?'"

[Shaniezak]

It is supposed to be the summer between S4 and S5, so yes, that comment is out of place. It bugs me too.

There's one nifty bit, though, which I can't find right now but will quote later when I do find it (after work). It refers to a world where Buffy has no concerns about Slayers or (something) or Keys. Kinda neat bit of, um, retro-foreshadowing or something.

[Anakin1218]

liked the third Unseen book,yeah there seemed to be a conspiracy to keep W/T apart(j/k); did anyone catch the cute quote at the end of the book regarding what Willow should give Tara???

Here it is:

"Blessed be, Willow" Salma murmured,taking Willows hand. "Give Tara besitos de Salma". She wrinkled her nose, "Little kisses."
"I will." Willow's eyes shone. "I can't wait to see her."

I read the second book in the lost slayer series and it was good;very intresting plot twists w/th the whole 'alternite reality' thingy. The events take place at the begginning of season four(even the events in the future) so Tara is not mentioned and Oz is still a scooby. Here's hoping Chris Golden will move the story along to include Tara but I doubt it with in the context of this series at least.

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"My heart doesn't stutter" -Tara

[Dazey]

Thanks for posting these! I like the part with Riley thinking about Tara--see, I knew there was a reason I liked that boy! (Never mind that in the actual show he barely even acknowledged her.)

Am I the only one who thinks that Giles saying "old boy" rings false? Seems a bit too stereotypically British, even for Giles.

[Kalita]

Wow, looks like I'm really bumping this.

Well, finally finished the darn book this afternoon. Not the kind of story I tend to like, far too much side-adventuring with characters I'm lukewarm about.

Then there's the continuity messups that always trow me off. Not just the Xander-talk-with-Riley mention, but Faith and Spike spar like they're old mates.

They've met once, folks, and Spike didn't know it was her at the time. Just really grated my cheese, to borrow a phrase.

Still, good W/T moments and some good lines.