Why We Fight -- so as to Not Fade Away (and somehow S2-5 BtVS sneaks in there)

( spoilers up to Angel 5x22 -- Not Fade Away )

Faultlines -- the imperfections of some of my favorite characters

Angel's an asshole, Xander is a hypocrite, Draco is a brat, Benton Fraser is passive-aggressive, and Joey Potter is self-absorbed as all hell.

Angel is most definitely a major jerk. Alpha Bastard to the max. Controlling, demanding, and hypocritical. Gives preferential treatment to women and to people that he cares about.

Xander gives Buffy shit about keeping secrets while he himself is cheating on Cordy with Willow and he objects to her sleeping with a neutered killer when he's doing the same.

Draco is, above all things, extremely childish. He makes up rhymes and taunts. He constructs pranks and is so concerned about mattering to Potter that he'll reveal knowledge that he should keep secret.

Benton Fraser frequently gives people ample reason to misjudge him and his priorities ("That's the last time he'll fish over the limit.") and then proceeds to make them feel like idiots for doing so ("He was dynamiting the rivers..."). He's also manipulative as all hell ("You're very good." -- "Thank you.").

Joey gives Jen hell pretty much just for existing and being the kind of pretty that Dawson wants. She spends several years running away from love because she's scared of something real. She constantly makes her life revolve around a love triangle.

If you prick us, do we not bleed?
...
If you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

The two lines are part of the same speech, as they must be, for shared humanity comes hand in hand with shared human weakness.

"You're weak. Everybody is. Everybody fails."

I love these characters not in spite of their faults but because of them. These are the things that make them as confused and real and human as anyone else. They are lost, they are yearning, they are incredibly stupid at times. They're hurtful and wrong and hurting.

"Strong is fighting! It's hard, and it's painful, and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together. But if you're too much of a coward for that, then burn."

I love these characters because they all keep fighting. To find something worthy or to defend or to try to reach it.

Is there anything in this life but grief?

There's love. There's hope...for some. There's hope that you'll find something worthy... that your life will lead you to some joy... that after everything... you can still be surprised.

Is that enough?
Is that enough to live on?

Fic: Twice for Yes (due South, part four of Diamondback; F/K)

Part three is here.

Fic Title: Twice for Yes
Series Title: Diamondback (Mongoose)
Summary: Ray and Dief go northwest.
Pairing(s): Fraser/RayK; various others
Timeline: AU after Hunting Season
Rating: General at the moment. The series will eventually contain both sex and violence. Possibly at the same time.
Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em.
( Frankly, Ray was amazed at Dief's skills... )

Stargate (SG-1) 1x03 -- Emancipation

I've been told that this may, in fact, be the Worst Episode Of the Series. Well, it's good to get these things out of the way.
( Spoilers for Stargate 1x03 -- Emancipation )

Fic: Gods and Monsters (due South, part five of Diamondback; Victoria/Fraser)

First, links to the Ray Kowalski 'Mongoose' quartet of Diamondback -- Distant Echoes, Blackbird, Respite, and Twice for Yes.

And it seems as though I'll need to finish this fic before I can write on anything else, because this story has me twisted up inside.

Fic Title: Gods and Monsters
Series Title: Diamondback (Rattler)
Summary: Earlier that day, Benton Fraser is... loved.
Pairing(s): Victoria/Fraser; various others
Timeline: AU after Hunting Season
Rating: Adult themes. Definitely.
Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em.
( He should know better... )