Who Came Back Prompt: Who

[kuda]

Title: Who Came Back
 

Prompt: Who
Setting: AU world of Season Six
Rating: NC-13
Characters: Spike, Willow, Dawn, Buffy
Disclaimer: Not Joss, just me, no money, just love

∞ ♥ ∞

The thing wearing Buffy’s body sneered at him as he got close.

Willow brought back the body, but the inside system was wrong.

At first, she sounded and acted like their Buffy.

Then the rages began.  They made excuses for it.

She’d been in a hell dimension so it was expected.

Then she had snapped Dawn’s neck. 

Spike didn’t know who was behind the face of the woman he loved.

It wasn’t Buffy anymore.  Didn’t matter who it was now.

Somehow his third kill of a slayer didn’t bring him any pleasure.

He cradled her cooling body as he sobbed. 

Comments

[murielle.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful! And so could have happened.

(I don't usually do this, but it's such a powerful piece. I suggest you remove the word "somehow" and just start that sentence with, His third killing..." because the "somehow" weakens the power of the image. You could make up the word count by adding "all" as in, "They all made excuses ...")

Brilliant! Truly brilliant!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I see what you are suggesting. Since it's been read by several, I don't think I will change it now. It shook me up just writing it. It's not my style at all.

[murielle.livejournal.com]

You did a fantastic job!

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. God. You have outdone your drabbling self this time, Kuda. This is wonderfully dark and heartbreaking. I'm tempted to give it a Slayme. I don't think I've ever done that for a drabble. *goes off to look for seductivembrace who makes the actual awards.*

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's more approval than I ever expected. After reading your comment, I ran away cause it really meant a great deal to me. I got a bit shy. LOL.

[debris4spike]

You would more than deserve the recognition!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Well, you know drabbles don't get much respect in writing/fandom. They are all I seem to have time for these days. Even then I need a prompt to urge me on to write.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

This is amazing and so subtle. You create completely different world with so few words! So matter-of-fact it's almost painful. The ultimate dark!fic! Well done!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Usually my muse isn't that dark. It sort of shook me up.

I can imagine Spike doing that because he would know Buffy would be horrified to know she harmed Dawn. And I can imagine Xander screaming at Spike in the background. It just blew up image after image for me.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Gadzooks! That packs a wallop. Well done, m'dear. I'll just go cry myself to sleep, now.

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

I felt like crying myself after typing it. It just burned my soul.

[debris4spike]

Wow - that is so dark, but so stunning.

Great to read something AU, yet Spike is still Spike. So much sadness, yet, still with love.

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think Spike would act just this way. He would know the real Buffy would rather die than harm anyone she loves.

[debris4spike]

Yes, Spike truly understands Buffy - she is a power for good, and wouldn't want to be anything else.

[shapinglight]

Ooh, boy! Wonderful!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It kicked me out of my safe area for Spuffy.

[edenskye.livejournal.com]

Way darker than you usually write but really good. Does this mean you are going to try writing darker drabbles?

Love it

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

I doubt it. I'm not dark like that. It just popped into my head.

[ssddgr.livejournal.com]

Oh, God, this is honestly amazing. Dark and brought tears to my eyes. I'm saving it to memories!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Hi there! I glad you enjoyed this. So not my normal.

[lifefailsme.livejournal.com]

Aw that's so dark and heartfelt. I really like this, the angst is wonderfully touching.

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

I so don't write dark. This surprised the hell out me.

The angst broke my heart.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

This is just a punch to the gut - amazing. Gotta say it was effective - took my breath away. Kudos!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Since it was so out side my normal idea of them, it shook me up even writing it. It isn't a new idea, but for me to do it was.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

If any more come - just go with it! Sometimes the subconscious just knows best!

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

My subconscious is a scary place.

A new drabble is up for open_on_sunday and on my journal for the prompt White.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

I think you would be a sociopathic mass murderer if it wasn't....not that....I mean I like Dexter...You don't know where I live, do you? :>

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Am I a horrible person for admitting I have a kink for "Buffy came back REALLY wrong" stories like this? There are less of them about than I would have thought (snowpuppies' Fractured is a superb example). And I love Buffy so much (so go figure) but this seems more plausible to me than fanfics where she comes back all fine and dandy; or even in the show where she's able to to say "I'm all right, guys" in After Life and the next day comes downstairs totally coherent and the like. I expected her recovery to be a lot slower than that. (Willow said "bring back the warrior of the people" not "return her in a state of sound mental health." Be careful what you don't wish for, y'know?)

Buffy would be utterly horrified to have killed the sister whose life she promised Joyce she'd preserve. That's just the worst thing she could do.

I love how subtle you express the shift in her "Then the rages began. They made excuses for her." that fits canon quite well and both responses are very normal and human.

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Most of the series the characters did ignore problems or made excuses for each other. Tara was the only one to stand up to Willow. Even then she gave in because she couldn't stand to be apart from her. Willow and Xander both did horrible things to the people they loved. Buffy gave them passes because she loved them.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Forgiveness is one of Buffy's most admirable traits but she forgives to a fault, oftentimes, at her own expense. It's weird though - some people hate her for not forgiving enough, (read: Spike mostly) other people hate her for being too forgiving. Girl can't catch a break no matter what she does. *hugs Buffy*

Most of the series the characters did ignore problems or made excuses for each other.

To be fair, btvs is a coming of age story and the kids in it had really shitty role models. Which is actually part of why I love it, because it feels real to me; I understand dysfunctional family dynamics because I grew up in situations I wouldn't wish on anybody. And you can only practice what you are modelled, esp at the age these kids are. And they are kids it's easy to forget that; but if there's anything I know, it's that age doesn't teach most people a thing.

Even then she gave in because she couldn't stand to be apart from her.

And I've seen that and lived that so often in real life: friends who keep going back to one another, couples who should break up but find reasons not to.

Willow and Xander both did horrible things to the people they loved. Buffy gave them passes because she loved them.

But also she was afraid of losing them, of being alone and isolated, that was her #1 fear (Nightmares), which makes S7 especially painful and ironic. Dead Man's Party is an episode people hate but it's pretty important, because it's made clear to Buffy just how conditional her friends love and support is. And that continues through the series. Her self-confidence is eroded over the years. Yes, she loves them, but it's a double-edged sword. She loves Giles, and he abandons her when he KNOWS she's in need, she's actually asked for help. Again, damned if she does damned if she doesn't.

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

I'll have to disagree about Spike hating her for not forgiving enough. She is terrified to of her feelings for him. Even when he is soulless, he doesn't really hate her. He understands her like no one else does. From the first scene of them in the Bronze, he is attracted to her. He admires her spirit. In Halloween episode, Spike has one of his minions film Buffy fighting. He praises her style. He tries to kill her time and again, but never really follows through. Buffy could have staked him as well, but never does. In Beneath You, Spike tries to help Buffy. He admits that he can't say he's sorry (for Seeing Red) because there is no forgiveness for his actions. The rest of Season Seven, Spike supports Buffy when others turn their back on her. So I can't see how he hated her. She drove him crazy at times, but he never let anything harm her if he could prevent it. He watched her kissing Angel in End Of Days, but doesn't hold it against her. In Chosen, he says he saw her with Angel. He still tells her to give him the amulet so he can wear it. I think he knows it will destroy the person wearing it. He wears it willingly and accepts his fate. If he hated her in anyway he wouldn't have supported her through out the last few seasons.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

That isn't what I was saying, I'm sorry if that wasn't clear. I didn't mean Spike himself; I meant a lot of people in fandom hate Buffy.

As for the rest, I'll say agree with some of what you said, disagree with some other things regarding the early seasons, and respectfully leave it at that.

[kudagirl.livejournal.com]

Well, I do love Spike so sometimes Buffy does bother me. I don't hate her. I do get angry with her at times. I know not everyone likes Spike or sees him the way I do. I've spoken to James about the early season so that may color what I saw in the early seasons.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Agree to disagree. I find discussion on such matters tends to lead nowhere, so I'll keep my mouth shut in future. Abortion is a safer topic in comparison.