Empty Spaces: Stone

[valyssia]

Summary: The grave touches her.
Rating: FRT: Mature Themes: Parental Supervision Suggested.
Word Count: 100.
Beta: Howard Russell.
Pairing: Buffy/Spike.
Disclaimer: Another day, another…they don’t pay me anything at all. I just do this to amuse myself and you. That’s what allows me and mine to slip under the radar while playing with characters created by those more fortunate than us.
Dedication: dragonyphoenix, your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed.

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Stone

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Even in darkness, the stone glistens. My fingertips slide down its polished surface. Edges catch. The words ‘devoted’ and ‘beloved’ grate my skin.

Dank cool earth bleeds through my jeans. I sit, numb, waiting, pondering…

Why?

His approach rattles my nerves long before he arrives.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he whispers, resting his hand on my shoulder.

That’s what he always says with his touch, cold and smooth like stone. Sallow skin, sallow heart…

Where then? The floor of his crypt, an alley, a condemned house…what would make him happy?

Stiffening to smother a cringe, I mumble, “I know.”

Comments

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

You dedicated a story to me? Awww, I'm not sure what I've done that's so kind, but thanks.

The more I read it, the more I see in your story. I love how the words, especially since they are words about love, grate on her skin as if the concepts grated on her nerves.

[valyssia]

I doubt you'd be surprised how much seemingly insignificant things can count.

I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

I found the image of Buffy sitting half on one thigh with her hips canted by the upturned earth in front of her grave unsettling when it came to me. I thought it spoke volumes. I'm surprised it didn't appear in the show. That one silent scene might've replaced ten others and said very similar things.

Of all of the people in her life, Spike was the one who would've come to try and draw her away.

The entire notion is oddly beautiful, but chilling to me.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

I doubt you'd be surprised how much seemingly insignificant things can count.

Buffy by the grave is a disturbing image. I like the way you wrote it though: Dank cool earth bleeds through my jeans.

[theladymerlin.livejournal.com]

Of all the fragments, I think this one was my favourite. This one brought out the strongest emotions for me. The image of Buffy sitting before her gravestone was so clear and came very easily. A bit haunting.

[valyssia]

Yeah, it worked really well for me too. The image could easily be slid into canon. It adds depth to what's already there.

I've considered moving this to my Empty Spaces series because it does fit so well. Maybe one day I'll figure out where it goes and do just that. *shrugs*

I'm pleased that you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading.

[red_satin_doll]

I had to read this twice - then three times - to really let the full impact slide into me. (Also, because it's amazing how you packed SO MUCH meaning, pain, emotion, into such a short story.)

Weirdly enough, I think the idea of Buffy revisiting her grave had occured to me once while watching the show, then I forgot about it. But this should have been canon, you are absolutely right, and this would have been the way it would have gone down in S6.

The other possibility you now stuck in my head is S7 esp EP, Buffy stopping at her own headstone, chilled by the irony of "beloved" after she's been kicked out of her own house? Or chosen to leave, however you want to call that. That would have been something else as well. (Now that really IS stuck in my head. Thanks!)

[valyssia]

I'm pleased you liked it. Thank you.

I toyed with where to associate it for a while. There were lots of places. Your suggestions are good.

I chose to put it near the center of season six because I felt it would have more emotional impact. The ep I picked was 'Dead Things.' Buffy's about at her lowest point there. She believes she's killed someone. The idea that she might want to dig a hole and pull the earth in on top of her...

[red_satin_doll]

Buffy's about at her lowest point there. She believes she's killed someone. The idea that she might want to dig a hole and pull the earth in on top of her...

Oh now youre making me want to cry all over again *hugs Buffy* I have so much empathy for her the last three seasons, even when she makes me cringe, it's absurd.

[valyssia]

*is flattered*

The idea that I can make anyone feel something that deeply with 100 words is pretty amazing. I think you made my night.

Thanks bunches. *hugs*

[sparrow2000]

Somehow I missed this, but I am very glad to have found it.

I'm always amazed how sometimes less words make the most impact to tell the biggest story and this is definitely one of those circumstances.

"Even in darkness, the stone glistens. My fingertips slide down its polished surface. Edges catch. The words ‘devoted’ and ‘beloved’ grate my skin.'

This is wonderfully evocative, and knowing that you're setting this around the timeline for Dead Things, words like 'devoted' and 'beloved' on the headstone hurt all the more.

Really nice work.

[valyssia]

I'm flattered that you like it so much. Thank you.