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My Immortal. Epilogue.
Before you ask: Yes, there will be a sequel! Just... give me a little while to catch my breath.
Also, would you mind keeping the comments free from CoE spoilers? Thank you! :)
Finally, enormous gratitude to my amazing beta![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kathyh, who not only fixes my mistakes, but who also puts me back on the right track when I veer off.
And for anyone who’s catching up (or wants to read, now this is no longer a WIP) previous chapters can be found here.
Summary: Captain Jack *is* The Immortal.
Pairing: Buffy/Jack.
Rating: PG-13.
Spoilers: S2 of Torchwood.
Word count: 2000 words approx.
Feedback: A line - an essay - anything’s welcome!
Epilogue
Jack: Just gotta ask. The Battle of Canary Wharf. I saw the list of the dead. It said Rose Tyler.
Cardiff. Monday 31st of July, 2006. Morning.
“Your coffee, Sir.”
And with immaculate precision a mug was placed in from of him. Jack smiled deeply with pleasure and looked up at the young man standing by his side.
“Thank you, Ianto.”
A brief incline of the head was the only response before the other moved on with his tray - even Vittore couldn’t have bettered the polite servility.
Sipping his drink, Jack smiled. His own butler at Torchwood, who’d have thought?
Certainly not Suzie...
“I know that he’s very pretty, Jack, but he was stalking you. I thought you were going to wipe his mind and throw him out of town if he didn’t stop!”
“True. But that was before he caught a pterodactyl.”
It was only once in a blue moon that he got to see Suzie speechless, so he had relished the sight immensely, before taking her arm and showing off their new pet.
Looking through the Hub he could see her now, busy trying to somehow tame the beast. Which left him to admire his newest acquisition as he silently and efficiently moved around.
To Jack’s surprise - and, if he was honest, somewhat disappointment - the flirting had ceased the second Ianto had turned up for work. Which meant that Jack had (maybe) only been a means to an end - and why would Ianto Jones want to come here?
Well... why was he here himself? Why were any of them here? Torchwood guaranteed death and misery, and yet once you knew what was out there, it was impossible to live in the normal world. At least Ianto had no illusions...
Also, since Jack hadn’t hired the boy for his looks, it might be prudent not to pursue him too eagerly - not to mention the ‘he-just-lost-his-girlfriend-in-hugely-traumatic-circumstances’ part. Jack didn’t want to appear insensitive.
Still, there could be no harm in low-level flirting, right? Just making sure that if Ianto ever felt the need for a pleasurable distraction, he’d know where to find it. (Although so far he had shown none of Owen’s tendency to drink and shag his way out of heartbreak, which, quite frankly, was a relief.) And it’d help keep the boy in his mind - Ianto had in no time at all mastered a butler’s eternal art of disappearing into the background, and Jack had more than a century’s worth of practice in taking the ‘help’ for granted.
As he drained the mug a document of some sort was placed before him. Looking up he saw Ianto already moving away - heading down to the archives as far as he could tell.
Frowning he looked more closely at the cover, then nodded softly.
The official list of the dead for the Canary Wharf Battle. They’d be lucky if they saw their Mr Jones at all for the rest of the day.
Letting the sheets of paper sift through his hands he quickly found the page. And there she was: Lisa Hallet. Just a few names above Yvonne Hartman...
How often had he warned her? Telling her in no uncertain terms that they were messing with something they didn’t understand and that it could destroy them?
Being proved right was no consolation, the thousands of names in the report were far too painful for that. Absentmindedly he glanced through the pages upon pages of names... so many ordinary people caught up in the slaughter. And then he froze.
Rose Tyler.
And right above was her mother’s name...
No, it had to be a coincidence. There were probably lots of Rose Tylers in London. Hands stuttering on the keyboard he brought up her official file - but it had the same information. As did Jackie’s.
Every single thing he tried, every contact or number he could think of... it all pointed towards the same impossible, yet inescapable, conclusion.
Resting his head in hands he fought against sudden nausea.
His Rose, killed by cybermen. Killed, he hoped. The thought of her having been converted... No, he couldn’t begin to come to terms with the idea. Death was difficult enough without having to contemplate.... that.
Cybermen were going straight to the top of his personal hate-list. He’d waited so long - so fucking long - and now she’d been stolen from him, just when he could almost touch freedom again. He’d died for her...
Unbidden he recalled another golden girl, not as innocent but certainly as brave - another one who’d danced with him as he pretended to be more than he was.
Where was she now? Was she still alive? Her weapons would have been useless against the steel...
With sudden urgency (although he knew it was a survival instinct, turning to those who might be saved when others were lost) he looked through his desk drawers until he found his Immortal mobile. A swift battery change later and he was pulling on his coat, slipping the phone into his pocket as he headed for the invisible lift.
“Going out,” he said, Tosh giving him an absent smile, absorbed as she was in her work. Owen (still on his coffee break) opened his mouth to ask for something, and then closed it again when seeing Jack’s face. The man apparently did have a spark of self-preservation - who’d have thought. Suzie didn’t even look up.
Emerging onto the Plass, Jack barely noticed the grey sky and low hanging clouds over the Bay. Making his way out along the pier, he pulled out the phone, taking in a whole pile of missed calls and messages - all from Buffy.
What could they be? Anger at his deception? Or news? He wasn’t sure he could cope with bad news... much less happy ones.
And there was the whole Schrödinger’s Vampire situation to consider too. He’d avoided any contact - had resisted even the tiniest peek at anything related to her world - because that way he wouldn’t know for sure that her vampires were dust. Could fool himself into thinking that maybe one or other (or both? That might change her view on threesomes) had made it out alive, and that she was now happily settled in Slayer-vampire-y bliss...
He still didn’t want to know, which meant that conversation would be tricky. On the plus side he was good at talking.
Choosing the most recent call (it was a UK number - had she moved? Maybe... maybe she just travelled more these days) he pressed return and lifted the phone to his ear, waiting.
After a few rings - result.
There was the tiniest pause, then he heard a tentatively hopeful “Immortal?”, and closed his eyes in relief. She was OK.
“Yes, it’s me. Buffy-”
“Where are you? What have you been doing? What-”
“Buffy! Please... just...”
He stopped and swallowed, unable to rid himself of the image of the ruin that had once been Torchwood One.
“...tell me about heaven?”
There was another pause, then softly...
“Did you lose someone?”
Relief at her instinctive understanding flooded through him in waves. He’d missed that so much.
“Yes,” he whispered, tears finally burning behind his eyelids.
“I’m sorry,” Buffy said, somewhat helplessly, because there was never anything that could be said at times like these.
“Thank you,” he replied - then realised that maybe this was why he’d called.
“No really. Not just for this, for... for everything. Not just all the fun parts. But... for showing me that there are people out there who can do this job without compromises - who can come out whole.”
(Unlike himself or his brilliant, but hopelessly damaged, team.)
For what seemed like the millionth time he wished that things were different. Or more precisely that he was different. That he had anything to offer someone like her...
Which of course he didn’t.
“Immortal-” she began, but he cut her off.
“Buffy, can you promise me something?”
He could quite clearly picture the unsure frown on her face.
“Um, sure. What?”
“Get out. You’ve done more than your share, get out before it takes everything away. You can’t trust the future to provide, live now. Oh, and don’t die again until you’re old and grey and surrounded by cute grandchildren. Please? For me?”
Before she could respond he ended the call.
***
London, the new Council.
The sudden disconnect made Buffy pull the phone away from her ear and stare at it, waiting for a moment to see if he’d call back, then tried to return the call - neither approach getting any results.
Of ‘Unexpected Calls Out Of The Blue’ this one came pretty high on the list. Although when seeing who the caller was, she’d half expected a cheeky: “So tell me, Princess, what are you wearing?”
But no such luck.
Looking up she saw Dawn studying her, with ‘Go on - tell!’ written all over her face.
“Um... that was The Immortal,” she said, and Dawn looked impatient.
“I got that. And...?”
“I... don’t know. He sounded...” She turned the phone over in her hands.
“Well if it was anyone else, I’d have said they sounded suicidal. But with him...” she sighed.
“He lost someone he loves, but obviously he can’t actually talk about it, because that would mean opening up to someone, instead of curling up into a ball of broody angst. And OK, I’ve been there, done that, but I got over it, y’know? What is it with men - especially the immortal variety - that they can’t see that sharing helps?”
Dawn shrugged her slim shoulders. “I don’t think they can help it. They haven’t got logical minds.”
Trying to suppress a smile, Buffy shook her head.
“You are wise beyond your years.”
“Pft! Once you’ve got a few millennia of being a shiny ball of energy under your belt, life is pretty straightforward. Seriously, he didn’t say anything?”
“No... If only I could speak to him face to face - sometimes he slips up and says more than he means to.”
“We could try a locator spell... again...” Dawn said uncertainly, and Buffy sighed.
“Because we haven’t set enough maps on fire yet. No, there’s no point. I... guess I’ll just have to leave him to it, whatever it is. And anyway...” she smiled wryly, “it’s not like I haven’t got my hands full already!”
Then one of the secretaries opened the door, inquiring after Dawn’s latest translation, and her little sister’s attention was abruptly diverted.
Turning her eyes back to the phone, since that was the nearest thing she had to her elusive ex-lover, Buffy softly shook her head.
“Good luck, my Immortal. I hope one day you find what you need, whatever that might be.”
***
After switching off the phone, Jack stood still for a moment. Then, before he could change his mind, he hurled it out into the Bay, watching it hit the water and then vanish, causing barely a ripple in the choppy water.
He wouldn’t need it again.
His waiting was nearly at an end, although his planned escape would no longer include the reunion he had most longed for. At least everything else was ready - he even had his own ‘Doctor-detector’ now. And Suzie had proven herself a more than capable leader - all he had to do was wait for that elusive blue box...
As he stood there the first few drops began to fall, the clouds finally fulfilling their promise, and he pulled the coat closer as the rain swiftly intensified.
It was cold and wet and dark. Yesterday, today, tomorrow - always the same. But Jack had long ago stopped hoping that it might kill him.
The End
Author’s Notes: Now, before you start shouting at me (I didn’t fix anything, I just made it worse), please allow me to explain...
First and foremost, I always wanted this fic to fit in seamlessly with canon (both sets), and BtVS/AtS very obligingly ended in 2004, allowing me to set the entire story pre-S1 of Torchwood. Which means that my aim was always to bring Jack up to where we first meet him [again] in ‘Everything Changes’. For those of you not very familiar with Torchwood, S1 is (most of the time) relentlessly bleak, and Jack is depressed, withdrawn and grimly ruthless. (obfreak’s excellent Behind Blue Eyes sums him up perfectly - I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched it.) Now in the light of this there is obviously a slight problem with giving Jack a fabulous alias with every luxury that money can buy and a fling with Buffy on top. So, I tried my best to weave the two sides together, which, unfortunately, meant that despite all the fun, Buffy could never give Jack any lasting support. (Partly because he refused it, of course, since like a good immortal hero he is incapable of opening up to anyone emotionally.)
Oh and I totally think the reason he hires Gwen is because he sees in her a lot of the moral certainty that Buffy has - something to combat his own cynicism.
Anyway, if you want to know what happens next - watch Torchwood! ;) (And the last three episodes of S3 of DW, which are set between S1 & 2 of TW.) I kinda mean that - the sequel will be more of an interconnected series of one-shots (rather than one long story, like this was), filling in blanks throughout the series, up to, and including, Children of Earth.
And thank you all SO MUCH for reading, and sticking with this near-endless behemoth of a fic! (ETA: Again - PLEASE NO CoE SPOILERS IN COMMENTS! If you have any questions, please send me a message or e-mail (elisi at livejournal dot com) or something. Thank you.)
Also, would you mind keeping the comments free from CoE spoilers? Thank you! :)
Finally, enormous gratitude to my amazing beta
kathyh, who not only fixes my mistakes, but who also puts me back on the right track when I veer off.And for anyone who’s catching up (or wants to read, now this is no longer a WIP) previous chapters can be found here.
Summary: Captain Jack *is* The Immortal.
Pairing: Buffy/Jack.
Rating: PG-13.
Spoilers: S2 of Torchwood.
Word count: 2000 words approx.
Feedback: A line - an essay - anything’s welcome!
Jack: Just gotta ask. The Battle of Canary Wharf. I saw the list of the dead. It said Rose Tyler.
Cardiff. Monday 31st of July, 2006. Morning.
“Your coffee, Sir.”
And with immaculate precision a mug was placed in from of him. Jack smiled deeply with pleasure and looked up at the young man standing by his side.
“Thank you, Ianto.”
A brief incline of the head was the only response before the other moved on with his tray - even Vittore couldn’t have bettered the polite servility.
Sipping his drink, Jack smiled. His own butler at Torchwood, who’d have thought?
Certainly not Suzie...
“I know that he’s very pretty, Jack, but he was stalking you. I thought you were going to wipe his mind and throw him out of town if he didn’t stop!”
“True. But that was before he caught a pterodactyl.”
It was only once in a blue moon that he got to see Suzie speechless, so he had relished the sight immensely, before taking her arm and showing off their new pet.
Looking through the Hub he could see her now, busy trying to somehow tame the beast. Which left him to admire his newest acquisition as he silently and efficiently moved around.
To Jack’s surprise - and, if he was honest, somewhat disappointment - the flirting had ceased the second Ianto had turned up for work. Which meant that Jack had (maybe) only been a means to an end - and why would Ianto Jones want to come here?
Well... why was he here himself? Why were any of them here? Torchwood guaranteed death and misery, and yet once you knew what was out there, it was impossible to live in the normal world. At least Ianto had no illusions...
Also, since Jack hadn’t hired the boy for his looks, it might be prudent not to pursue him too eagerly - not to mention the ‘he-just-lost-his-girlfriend-in-hugely-traumatic-circumstances’ part. Jack didn’t want to appear insensitive.
Still, there could be no harm in low-level flirting, right? Just making sure that if Ianto ever felt the need for a pleasurable distraction, he’d know where to find it. (Although so far he had shown none of Owen’s tendency to drink and shag his way out of heartbreak, which, quite frankly, was a relief.) And it’d help keep the boy in his mind - Ianto had in no time at all mastered a butler’s eternal art of disappearing into the background, and Jack had more than a century’s worth of practice in taking the ‘help’ for granted.
As he drained the mug a document of some sort was placed before him. Looking up he saw Ianto already moving away - heading down to the archives as far as he could tell.
Frowning he looked more closely at the cover, then nodded softly.
The official list of the dead for the Canary Wharf Battle. They’d be lucky if they saw their Mr Jones at all for the rest of the day.
Letting the sheets of paper sift through his hands he quickly found the page. And there she was: Lisa Hallet. Just a few names above Yvonne Hartman...
How often had he warned her? Telling her in no uncertain terms that they were messing with something they didn’t understand and that it could destroy them?
Being proved right was no consolation, the thousands of names in the report were far too painful for that. Absentmindedly he glanced through the pages upon pages of names... so many ordinary people caught up in the slaughter. And then he froze.
Rose Tyler.
And right above was her mother’s name...
No, it had to be a coincidence. There were probably lots of Rose Tylers in London. Hands stuttering on the keyboard he brought up her official file - but it had the same information. As did Jackie’s.
Every single thing he tried, every contact or number he could think of... it all pointed towards the same impossible, yet inescapable, conclusion.
Resting his head in hands he fought against sudden nausea.
His Rose, killed by cybermen. Killed, he hoped. The thought of her having been converted... No, he couldn’t begin to come to terms with the idea. Death was difficult enough without having to contemplate.... that.
Cybermen were going straight to the top of his personal hate-list. He’d waited so long - so fucking long - and now she’d been stolen from him, just when he could almost touch freedom again. He’d died for her...
Unbidden he recalled another golden girl, not as innocent but certainly as brave - another one who’d danced with him as he pretended to be more than he was.
Where was she now? Was she still alive? Her weapons would have been useless against the steel...
With sudden urgency (although he knew it was a survival instinct, turning to those who might be saved when others were lost) he looked through his desk drawers until he found his Immortal mobile. A swift battery change later and he was pulling on his coat, slipping the phone into his pocket as he headed for the invisible lift.
“Going out,” he said, Tosh giving him an absent smile, absorbed as she was in her work. Owen (still on his coffee break) opened his mouth to ask for something, and then closed it again when seeing Jack’s face. The man apparently did have a spark of self-preservation - who’d have thought. Suzie didn’t even look up.
Emerging onto the Plass, Jack barely noticed the grey sky and low hanging clouds over the Bay. Making his way out along the pier, he pulled out the phone, taking in a whole pile of missed calls and messages - all from Buffy.
What could they be? Anger at his deception? Or news? He wasn’t sure he could cope with bad news... much less happy ones.
And there was the whole Schrödinger’s Vampire situation to consider too. He’d avoided any contact - had resisted even the tiniest peek at anything related to her world - because that way he wouldn’t know for sure that her vampires were dust. Could fool himself into thinking that maybe one or other (or both? That might change her view on threesomes) had made it out alive, and that she was now happily settled in Slayer-vampire-y bliss...
He still didn’t want to know, which meant that conversation would be tricky. On the plus side he was good at talking.
Choosing the most recent call (it was a UK number - had she moved? Maybe... maybe she just travelled more these days) he pressed return and lifted the phone to his ear, waiting.
After a few rings - result.
There was the tiniest pause, then he heard a tentatively hopeful “Immortal?”, and closed his eyes in relief. She was OK.
“Yes, it’s me. Buffy-”
“Where are you? What have you been doing? What-”
“Buffy! Please... just...”
He stopped and swallowed, unable to rid himself of the image of the ruin that had once been Torchwood One.
“...tell me about heaven?”
There was another pause, then softly...
“Did you lose someone?”
Relief at her instinctive understanding flooded through him in waves. He’d missed that so much.
“Yes,” he whispered, tears finally burning behind his eyelids.
“I’m sorry,” Buffy said, somewhat helplessly, because there was never anything that could be said at times like these.
“Thank you,” he replied - then realised that maybe this was why he’d called.
“No really. Not just for this, for... for everything. Not just all the fun parts. But... for showing me that there are people out there who can do this job without compromises - who can come out whole.”
(Unlike himself or his brilliant, but hopelessly damaged, team.)
For what seemed like the millionth time he wished that things were different. Or more precisely that he was different. That he had anything to offer someone like her...
Which of course he didn’t.
“Immortal-” she began, but he cut her off.
“Buffy, can you promise me something?”
He could quite clearly picture the unsure frown on her face.
“Um, sure. What?”
“Get out. You’ve done more than your share, get out before it takes everything away. You can’t trust the future to provide, live now. Oh, and don’t die again until you’re old and grey and surrounded by cute grandchildren. Please? For me?”
Before she could respond he ended the call.
London, the new Council.
The sudden disconnect made Buffy pull the phone away from her ear and stare at it, waiting for a moment to see if he’d call back, then tried to return the call - neither approach getting any results.
Of ‘Unexpected Calls Out Of The Blue’ this one came pretty high on the list. Although when seeing who the caller was, she’d half expected a cheeky: “So tell me, Princess, what are you wearing?”
But no such luck.
Looking up she saw Dawn studying her, with ‘Go on - tell!’ written all over her face.
“Um... that was The Immortal,” she said, and Dawn looked impatient.
“I got that. And...?”
“I... don’t know. He sounded...” She turned the phone over in her hands.
“Well if it was anyone else, I’d have said they sounded suicidal. But with him...” she sighed.
“He lost someone he loves, but obviously he can’t actually talk about it, because that would mean opening up to someone, instead of curling up into a ball of broody angst. And OK, I’ve been there, done that, but I got over it, y’know? What is it with men - especially the immortal variety - that they can’t see that sharing helps?”
Dawn shrugged her slim shoulders. “I don’t think they can help it. They haven’t got logical minds.”
Trying to suppress a smile, Buffy shook her head.
“You are wise beyond your years.”
“Pft! Once you’ve got a few millennia of being a shiny ball of energy under your belt, life is pretty straightforward. Seriously, he didn’t say anything?”
“No... If only I could speak to him face to face - sometimes he slips up and says more than he means to.”
“We could try a locator spell... again...” Dawn said uncertainly, and Buffy sighed.
“Because we haven’t set enough maps on fire yet. No, there’s no point. I... guess I’ll just have to leave him to it, whatever it is. And anyway...” she smiled wryly, “it’s not like I haven’t got my hands full already!”
Then one of the secretaries opened the door, inquiring after Dawn’s latest translation, and her little sister’s attention was abruptly diverted.
Turning her eyes back to the phone, since that was the nearest thing she had to her elusive ex-lover, Buffy softly shook her head.
“Good luck, my Immortal. I hope one day you find what you need, whatever that might be.”
After switching off the phone, Jack stood still for a moment. Then, before he could change his mind, he hurled it out into the Bay, watching it hit the water and then vanish, causing barely a ripple in the choppy water.
He wouldn’t need it again.
His waiting was nearly at an end, although his planned escape would no longer include the reunion he had most longed for. At least everything else was ready - he even had his own ‘Doctor-detector’ now. And Suzie had proven herself a more than capable leader - all he had to do was wait for that elusive blue box...
As he stood there the first few drops began to fall, the clouds finally fulfilling their promise, and he pulled the coat closer as the rain swiftly intensified.
It was cold and wet and dark. Yesterday, today, tomorrow - always the same. But Jack had long ago stopped hoping that it might kill him.
Author’s Notes: Now, before you start shouting at me (I didn’t fix anything, I just made it worse), please allow me to explain...
First and foremost, I always wanted this fic to fit in seamlessly with canon (both sets), and BtVS/AtS very obligingly ended in 2004, allowing me to set the entire story pre-S1 of Torchwood. Which means that my aim was always to bring Jack up to where we first meet him [again] in ‘Everything Changes’. For those of you not very familiar with Torchwood, S1 is (most of the time) relentlessly bleak, and Jack is depressed, withdrawn and grimly ruthless. (
obfreak’s excellent Behind Blue Eyes sums him up perfectly - I can’t count the number of times I’ve watched it.) Now in the light of this there is obviously a slight problem with giving Jack a fabulous alias with every luxury that money can buy and a fling with Buffy on top. So, I tried my best to weave the two sides together, which, unfortunately, meant that despite all the fun, Buffy could never give Jack any lasting support. (Partly because he refused it, of course, since like a good immortal hero he is incapable of opening up to anyone emotionally.)Oh and I totally think the reason he hires Gwen is because he sees in her a lot of the moral certainty that Buffy has - something to combat his own cynicism.
Anyway, if you want to know what happens next - watch Torchwood! ;) (And the last three episodes of S3 of DW, which are set between S1 & 2 of TW.) I kinda mean that - the sequel will be more of an interconnected series of one-shots (rather than one long story, like this was), filling in blanks throughout the series, up to, and including, Children of Earth.
And thank you all SO MUCH for reading, and sticking with this near-endless behemoth of a fic! (ETA: Again - PLEASE NO CoE SPOILERS IN COMMENTS! If you have any questions, please send me a message or e-mail (elisi at livejournal dot com) or something. Thank you.)
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And OK, I’ve been there, done that, but I got over it, y’know?
Buffy, dearest, I love you to pieces but a). you have a type you just don't stop on even when you think you have, and b). you could write the definitive book on the subject.
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Nice work filling in some of the gaps without changing canon for either series. (I haven't read the S8 Buffy comics yet, and don't really consider them BtVS canon, since they're such a different medium, anymore than I would consider a ST novel by Gene Roddenberry or D. C. Fontana or any other original series writer or creator canon, since the series IS the canon -- except for the episode "Turnabout Intruder", of course, which should be expunged forever from existence!)
This has been a most worthwhile journey, and I look forward to future sequels in this universe (now that I'm finally caught up with all of TW, except for a couple of episodes in S1 and S2 that BBCA hasn't re-run yet).
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This was, to turn a twist on a Jossism, the ending that was needed, if not the ending that we wanted. Having seen TW, I understand that, and I appreciate the fact you've ended with a mood that is close to cannon. I am looking forward to seeing how you weave the two worlds together in the future.
Unlike Jack, I do want to know what happened to Schrodinger's Vampires however. (This was perhaps one of the best turns of phrase I have ever heard.)
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*smooch*
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Believe it or not, but that makes me very happy! :)
So you get the whole NO ITS ENDING NO NO NO and the whole OMG ♥ and the SEQUEL NOW NO CATCHING BREATH THANKS and then ♥ and did I mention the ♥ part?
Lots and lots of ♥s back atcha, because to inspire flailing like that is ridiculously flattering, and I'm just going to curl up in a corner over here with all my hearts and wallow. *squish*
Buffy, dearest, I love you to pieces
::laughs:: Can you tell that I had lots of fun writing that part? *pets Buffy*
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Thank you! :)
No happily-ever-after, but who could honestly expect that, given their respective callings and responsibilities?
Exactly! (Also - Jack has Ianto waiting in the wings... *g*)
Besides, Buffy's relationship with the Immortal was, from the start, predicated on the idea that this was a chance for them to both live in the now, with no long-term future together.
Oh yes. They're both very aware of that, and of how difficult a mortal/immortal relationship is. (Also, they'd drive each other insane long term. Just sayin'! *g*)
Nice work filling in some of the gaps without changing canon for either series.
I could do that FOREVER!
I haven't read the S8 Buffy comics yet,
My advice: Don't.
This has been a most worthwhile journey, and I look forward to future sequels in this universe
Thank you - and thank you for all your wonderful feedback along the way. *hugs*
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That made me LOL. Dawn is awesome.
Really enjoyed this fic, start to finish. Buffy and Jack made a great pair.
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I've enjoyed every minute of this story; it's been just so much fun! Jack makes total sense as the Immortal, and you've written a Buffy that I can believe would be attracted to him. And once again you managed to keep everyone in character and in canon; I don't know know how you do that!
::admires the shiny characterizations::
Sooo... this sequel? Posting soon, right? :D
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*hands over handkerchief* He'll be OK... remember, soon Ianto will be there to distract him.
This was, to turn a twist on a Jossism, the ending that was needed, if not the ending that we wanted.
Now that is a lovely compliment - thank you! :)
Having seen TW, I understand that, and I appreciate the fact you've ended with a mood that is close to cannon.
It is very helpful to work strictly within canon, because I can blame it all on the show...
I am looking forward to seeing how you weave the two worlds together in the future.
Too many ideas. Although some of them are nifty! :)
Unlike Jack, I do want to know what happened to Schrodinger's Vampires however. (This was perhaps one of the best turns of phrase I have ever heard.)
*grins* I am increasingly happy with that phrasing, because that's exactly what they are. And I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the sequel...
Anyway, thank you lots and lots for reading! *hugs*
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*curtsies*
Lovely, darling. Well done. I enjoyed it tremendously start to finish.
Thank you! And I'm so happy you enjoyed it! :)
Though of course I yearn for some little Spuffy hint at the end - but that's just me. :P
Not just you... but I vowed to stick to canon, and in canon their fate is unknown!
*smooches back*
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Yay!
Wasn't exactly happy, but it fit seamlessly into canon, and it works so well like that.
Thank you - it's also a nice challenge to get everything to fit. :)
I wanted to give Jack a hug.
Well give it a little while, and Ianto will be giving him plenty!
I too was looking for a hint of spuffy at the end...but than again I am always looking for spuffy. :P
Well even Jack was hoping for Spuffy! ;)
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Yay! I love writing Dawn, she has a very special brand of awesomeness. (Also the piece *really* needed some humour!)
Really enjoyed this fic, start to finish.
Thank you!!! *basks*
Buffy and Jack made a great pair.
Didn't they just? Buffy/Immortal ftw! :)
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Thank you! :D
I've enjoyed every minute of this story; it's been just so much fun!
That makes me very happy.
Jack makes total sense as the Immortal, and you've written a Buffy that I can believe would be attracted to him.
It was one of those very fortunate ideas, where the more I looked, the more sense it all made. (It's like Joss and RTD conspired!)
And once again you managed to keep everyone in character and in canon; I don't know know how you do that!
Unhealthy levels of obsession?
Sooo... this sequel? Posting soon, right? :D
Hey, you got a sneak-peek already! Be patient! *tries to look stern*
Seriously - thank you for reading, and reviewing and all the rest. *squish*
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♥
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Eeeee! :D
You did a great job with both of their characterization, and I so enjoyed reading this.
Thank you!!! And I swear they were *made* for each other!
♥
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It's been a vey enjoyable read that I wish could have gone on longer. Can't wait for the sequels!
I'm now going to track down that episode in Angel which The Immortal appears and watch it!
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And I can't tell *you* how much your surprise feedback cheered me! :)
You waved both Buffy/Angel and Torchwood cannon in seamlessly, and the charactersiations of both Buffy and Jack rang true.
Thank you so much! *beams* It was a labour of love, and I'm always thrilled when people think I got it right.
It's been a vey enjoyable read that I wish could have gone on longer. Can't wait for the sequels!
Well there are two FitBs: Not Fade Away (very short) and The Year That Never Was (very long), in case you didn't see them. I am planning on starting on the sequel soon though!
I'm now going to track down that episode in Angel which The Immortal appears and watch it!
It's called 'The Girl In Question' and is episode 20 of Season 5 of AtS. Enjoy! (It's *extremely* silly. But I love it.)
Thank you again SO much for reading and commenting. *cherishes feedback*
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Goodness, but what a wonderful comment to wake up to! Especially touched that you gave it a chance even though it not what you usually read (which makes me curious as to how you found it) - and very pleased that it proved so enthralling! :)
I especially love the way you handled keeping it all in canon.
*grins* I am a complete canon-whore, so it was a wonderful challenge.
I am completely wowed.
And I'm blushing now. Thank you again, you absolutely made my day!
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Generally speaking, AUs are easy. Doing the necessary work to keep something within canon is harder and more of a challenge-- which, to my own mind, makes it more fun to write and more accessible to the reader.
I'm not that familiar with the fanon of other fandoms than my usual, so when I occasionally read outside of it, I appreciate not having to try and sort out what's canon in my head.
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Ah! She wrote to me about her review (which was amazing, and pinpointed exactly what I tried to do), but I didn't realise that she had an LJ.
curiosity about the pairing made me click, but the lovely writing and great story construction kept me reading.
Aw, thanks.
Generally speaking, AUs are easy. Doing the necessary work to keep something within canon is harder and more of a challenge-- which, to my own mind, makes it more fun to write and more accessible to the reader.
There is a lot of truth to that. (Even though I'm currently writing a fic that's so AU it's practically original fic, and it's tricky...)
I'm not that familiar with the fanon of other fandoms than my usual, so when I occasionally read outside of it, I appreciate not having to try and sort out what's canon in my head.
Very good point - particularly with a long fic, because it's hard to remember AU details. And thank you again, I'm thrilled you liked my story, esp since it ate my head for more than a year. (I'm trying to work up the energy to start the sequel...)
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The first thread that leaps to mind is tolerance. This is a background theme in BtVS which is never brought to its logical conclusion, because let's face it, by Jack's (admirable) standards Xander is an outright bigot. Most of what we're told in S1 about vampires and demons is a lie - a lie perpetuated by the Watcher's Council to keep the Slayer toeing the party line. It turns out that demons are very like humans: some are evil and some are not. Buffy's prejudice is challenged and overcome, but Giles' and Xander's prejudice still runs strong at the end of the series (rather ironically in Xander's case, since he almost married an ex-demon!) Jack's complete tolerance of all different life-forms (which is amply supported by canon, of course) is radical in the Buffyverse, and serves to throw the prejudices of others into sharp relief.
A thread I loved in this fic is the drawing of parallels between Buffy and Jack. I usually compare Jack to Angel in my head, but he also finds a mirror in Buffy. In particular I like to compare Torchwood S1 Jack to S6 Buffy. I made a Jack Harkness fanmix a couple months back, and I included "Going Through the Motions" because Buffy's reaction to her resurrection is very like Jack's reaction to his. I definitely found that thread in this story, but there was also a narrative of lost love they shared that I hadn't seen before. Angel's betrayal in becoming CEO of Wolfram & Hart really is like the Doctor's betrayal in some ways.
Another thread is the idea of Jack and aliases. I love the idea of the Immortal being another persona that Jack can escape Torchwood and take on. It's exactly the kind of thing that would make his hundred-odd years of waiting somewhat bearable. It's also very him. I'm thinking of my favorite line from the last scene of Children of Earth: "I have lived so many lives. It's time to find a new one." Here I see a similarity with Spike. Spike remakes himself in the image of the ones he loves. So does Jack. That's why it's so important for him to love; it's the best way for him to change himself for the better. At the end of CoE, we see him abandoning his "leader of Torchwood" persona just as, at the end of your fic, he abandons his Immortal persona.
This isn't so much a thread as a small observation, but I found Jack's thrill in being drained by Darla and Drusilla very true to character, in a disturbing way. It's a potent combination of his death wish and his lust and his need to be needed that sows some real darkness beneath the encounter.
You do realize I've adopted this as my fanon now? The Immortal can never be anyone but Jack Harkness. Hope you enjoyed my lengthy review!
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However, this is just a placeholder reply since it's very late, and this weekend is going to be horrendously busy, so it'll probably be next week before I'll be able to come back and reply properly - but don't worry, I will get there! For now, I'll just say thank you so, so much, I love all your threads! (I shall be silently squeeing for days now!)
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Tolerance. I'm so glad you pulled out this theme, because it was one of major reasons Jack was the perfect fit as The Immortal - he's shown as being *everyone's* friend - good or evil, nobody has a bad word to say about him. It came across as rather jarring and too-good-to-be-true in TGiQ, but with Jack in that role it all makes sense, because of his very different outlook on life. And it also very effectively made him feel very alien and other, which worked beautifully, especially when contrasted with Giles and Xander (as you pointed out). It created a conflict without me having to do anything other than spotlight it, which was brilliant. (Re. Xander then I think that seeing one of his best friends - Jesse - turned, and then dusting him, probably scarred him far more than the show ever bothered to explore.) As for Buffy, then I found it very interesting to have her date someone with a different moral code, and who didn't look to her to lead him.
Parallels between Buffy and Jack. Oh boy this just about consumed me. The more I thought about it, the more parallels I could see, and it was the thing that forced me to write, because there was so much there. I'm terribly pleased you pointed out the similarities in S6 Buffy & TW S1 Jack, because that's exactly what I was aiming for (and of course pointed out in the story) - and to be able to give them someone who *understood* was one of my greatest pleasures ever. I'm downloading your fanmix btw, and am looking forward to listening to it - I love stuff like this. My touchstone for Jack in this story was Behind Blue Eyes, by
Aliases. Yet another thing that made Jack custom made for The Immortal. As a Time Agent/con man this was his *job*, and I could easily see him making use of an escape like this one - because it ties in with the tolerance you mentioned above. In Torchwood, of course, he had to execute aliens and other dangerous persons, so I thought that having somewhere where he could just embrace everyone and not make judgments would be something he desperately needed. I love the line you quote, btw, and ever since I first heard it thought 'Oooh I'm using that!' - it's so him.
Darla and Dru. Oh yes. There are very few characters who could sleep with Darla and Dru, and later Buffy, and be true to himself in both instances.
You do realize I've adopted this as my fanon now? The Immortal can never be anyone but Jack Harkness.
::beams:: Then my mission is accomplished!
Hope you enjoyed my lengthy review!
I absolutely adore it. I hope you didn't mind my rambling response, but I could honestly talk about this all day! *g* Thank you again!
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If you want to see my favorite Whoniverse vid, it's Above and Below by
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Wouldn't surprise me at all! :) I love it to pieces.
If you want to see my favorite Whoniverse vid, it's Above and Below by
Oh I *adore* that one. Have re-watched it too often to count, and it is truly brilliant. (Clearly we both have very good taste!)
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Oh I know the feeling. Have you seen 'Marble House' btw? That's another one that leaves me all speechless. (Even though I disagree with its interpretation of the Doctor.) Vids are one of my favourite things about fandom, because so many vidders are so talented and can make such incredible pieces.
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I can understand what you mean about its interpretation of the Doctor. I think it emphasizes war as an integral part of the Doctor's nature. While it is true that much of Ten and Nine's personas were forged in battle, I don't think that's the essence of him, deep down.
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It's the beginning - that near-minute of just cosmos and words is just excessively gorgeous.
I think it emphasizes war as an integral part of the Doctor's nature. While it is true that much of Ten and Nine's personas were forged in battle, I don't think that's the essence of him, deep down.
It's more that he runs away, letting others fight for him, something the vidder finds very hard to accept. I don't really agree with this (and think that Waters of Mars showed the danger of the alternative very well). If you're interested I once wrote meta... (Although feel free to ignore. I'm always giving people links.)
I could rec you Buffy vids though?
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I loved the way you didn't change anything in the end, and the way you fit the canons together so beautifully.
Jack and Buffy were great together: the way it wasn't love, but it was good for them and what they needed. The way they got the death and resurrection thing (even if Jack's is a little more intense). The way they appreciated each other and let each other be an escape- Buffy got to be a princess!
I'm so glad you had the visit with the Scoobies. I thought it was very true to character, particularly Giles, and it was good to let Buffy get a glimpse of Jack's darkness too.
I thought it was fantastic how you played with the two characters of JM.
I'm intrigued now to know when Jack sets up this alternate identity.
I'm sure I could probably say more, but I read it all at once offline so these are what struck me offhand. :)
I'm looking forward to reading the companion pieces soon!
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Squee! \o/
I loved the way you didn't change anything in the end, and the way you fit the canons together so beautifully.
Oh the joy of it all was to make it fit - like making a really tricky jigsaw puzzle. And I always wanted to bring Jack up to where he was at the start of S1 - lost and lonely and rootless.
Jack and Buffy were great together: the way it wasn't love, but it was good for them and what they needed.
I absolutely loved writing them - because they were *exactly* what each other needed at that point in time. And I loved giving them that. (Also I wanted to show how it could easily be misconstrued from the outside, because they're not good at sharing, or explaining themselves.)
The way they got the death and resurrection thing (even if Jack's is a little more intense).
Jack is always intense! ;) But yes, the coming back from death connection was the thing that really cemented them in my mind, and meant that I *had* to write them. (Someone else might do it and do it *wrong*. Ahem.)
The way they appreciated each other and let each other be an escape- Buffy got to be a princess!
Fairytales! (Esp since they both live in worlds that always tends to subvert the fairytale. *hugs them*)
I'm so glad you had the visit with the Scoobies. I thought it was very true to character, particularly Giles, and it was good to let Buffy get a glimpse of Jack's darkness too.
Oh I needed that tension, and for Buffy to actually take stock and make a choice.
I thought it was fantastic how you played with the two characters of JM.
*grins* It all just wrote itself...
I'm intrigued now to know when Jack sets up this alternate identity.
I... am honestly not sure.
I'm sure I could probably say more, but I read it all at once offline so these are what struck me offhand. :)
Oh they were lovely points, and thank you so much for bothering to write them down. *hugs*
I'm looking forward to reading the companion pieces soon!
Well one is *very* short and the other *very* long. And at some point I'll get round to the sequel...
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(Anonymous) 2011-01-28 09:22 am (UTC)(link)I was on tvtropes' Wild Mass Guessing page. Again. I've always enjoyed the theory that The Immortal is Jack Harkness. Thank you for making that theory a reality to me.
"Tell me about heaven."
This sentence flat-out broke. my. heart.
So...now I have to go and convince myself that this fic ISN'T canon...so I don't start mixing Doctor Who and Buffy in my role-plays...
...but I so desperately want it to be...
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I was on tvtropes' Wild Mass Guessing page. Again. I've always enjoyed the theory that The Immortal is Jack Harkness. Thank you for making that theory a reality to me.
Oh it is my pleasure. Absolutely. (I know all writers write for themselves, but this is especially true in this case. I wanted it to be true, so I wrote this.) Also, I shall have to check out Wild Mass Guessing - not come across that one.
"Tell me about heaven."
This sentence flat-out broke. my. heart.
*tries to put it back together* Thank you though, so much, because that's exactly what I was going for, the building of that connection, and the ways in which Buffy could help him. (And he her.)
So...now I have to go and convince myself that this fic ISN'T canon...so I don't start mixing Doctor Who and Buffy in my role-plays...
...but I so desperately want it to be...
Well I did my very, very best to match up the canons, so in theory this absolutely happened - at least, there's nothing to say it didn't! (And I'm currently working on the sequel, where I'll be addressing S2 of TW and CoE - well after a fashion. My point is, the 'verse could very well co-exist!)
Anyway, thank you so much for your comment! It's made my day! :)
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I never read this fic because A) I never much cared for Captain Jack (heresy, I know, but I just never emotionally invested), B) I haven't seen Torchwood, and C) I just don't care to read about Buffy with anyone but Spike (such a shipper I am!).
But! Someone recently mentioned that the fic didn't involve Buffy actually falling in love with Jack, so I decided to give it a shot. And I enjoyed it very much! Mostly because of how much Jack just appreciates and adores Buffy. Anyone who can appreciate her that much is good in my book. She doesn't have nearly enough people in her life who will just love her and not judge her for every little thing. Honestly, having him say that she has the best taste in guys ever made the whole thing worth it to me! Plus, there is never anything, anywhere that is better than seeing Buffy be happy. I just loved seeing her get spoiled and pampered by someone who thinks she's as marvelous as she really is.
Plus the world-building you did her was very fun as well! And that little wrongness-alarm that goes off when I'm reading a fic where Buffy's with anyone but Spike didn't go off, which is really quite amazing. What an accomplishment!
Anyway, I enjoyed this very much, and I'm glad I finally took a chance on it!
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Hello! I just came home from holiday and found this in my inbox! \o/
I never read this fic because A) I never much cared for Captain Jack (heresy, I know, but I just never emotionally invested), B) I haven't seen Torchwood, and C) I just don't care to read about Buffy with anyone but Spike (such a shipper I am!).
All perfectly good reasons. (And if you've not seen Torchwood, then not caring about Jack isn't that surprising. Not that watching it will necessarily make you love him, but TW is *his* show...)
But! Someone recently mentioned that the fic didn't involve Buffy actually falling in love with Jack, so I decided to give it a shot. And I enjoyed it very much!
*dances and gives Someone brownies*
Mostly because of how much Jack just appreciates and adores Buffy. Anyone who can appreciate her that much is good in my book. She doesn't have nearly enough people in her life who will just love her and not judge her for every little thing. Honestly, having him say that she has the best taste in guys ever made the whole thing worth it to me! Plus, there is never anything, anywhere that is better than seeing Buffy be happy. I just loved seeing her get spoiled and pampered by someone who thinks she's as marvelous as she really is.
ALL OF THIS is why I had to write it. They both sorely needed someone at that point in time (for different reasons), and I always liked the idea of Buffy in Rome, finally taking the time to dance. And Jack was the *perfect* guy to a) appreciate her and b) tell her that her taste in men (and her choices in life generally) is fabulous. (I loved writing that line so much! Plus Buffy needed spoiling, and Jack needed someone to spoil, and then suddenly it was 85,000 words later... (That's not counting the 'Between Canon' stories or the sequel.)
Plus the world-building you did her was very fun as well! And that little wrongness-alarm that goes off when I'm reading a fic where Buffy's with anyone but Spike didn't go off, which is really quite amazing. What an accomplishment!
LOL. It is like some kind of shibboleth of Spuffy-shipping I think. And this was also why Jack was perfect as The Immortal - I knew that he'd be delighted to be with Buffy, but would never fall in love with her, or even think about anything long term. Heck the only reason it works is because it's short term - anything more and they'd break up within days - or even hours - because their 'working methods' are so different. But. More than anything what I wanted to give them was someone who understood. The scene where Jack comes back to life and sees recognition in Buffy's eyes was pivotal in making me decide that I *had* to write it. (Or rather, that *I* had to write it... Ah, the arrogance! *g*)
Anyway, I enjoyed this very much, and I'm glad I finally took a chance on it!
Well thank you for taking a chance and for reading the whole thing (!) - I always feel like I should hand out awards or something. *squishes you lots*
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*BEAMS*
I'd put off starting to read it, because I knew it was long, but once I'd started I couldn't stop!
And I'm always hugely touched when people have a go right from the start, because it is so ridiculously long - am thrilled that it pulled you along. :)
It's a completely perfect melding of the two worlds and is totally canon for me from now on. :-)
It's my labour of love for fandom. ;) No really, making it all fit was one of the most satisfying (and all-consuming) things I've ever done. Thank you for reading! ♥