Stumper

[catko]

Rating: PG
Category: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Disclaimer: Don't own
Words: 240
Summary: Encounter in the Mausoleum, The Harvest. For fantas_magoria.

When you've got 240 years, memory, well, it works in a strange way. His past is like a corridor in an old hotel, stretching back, doors on both sides. He can't see all the way to the end, or rather, the beginning. But he can walk back and revisit each moment, the years, the decades, centuries down through time. As if he would want to. Why would he want to?

Sometimes a memory would yank him backward, like being sucked into another dimension. Or dropped from another dimension, naked and snarling, into a past age. Landing with a thud in a place, a self he doesn't want to remember. It might flash up with sudden vivid reality. Torches burning, women screaming, hot sweaty horse snorting between his legs, pounding across a field. Or the dreamy lassitude that overwhelms the senses as he sinks his teeth into an ivory throat, and feels the blood rising between his lips.

But now, at this moment, he can find no memory. No picture in his mind, or feeling in his—uh—soul. Nothing. The end of her question hangs in the air of the marble chamber.

"… have a friend?" Friend.

The silence travels 240 years but lasts only an instant. Framed by the iron door, Buffy's face moves from impertinent to puzzled, almost tender. Her lips part, and her voice is soft as she says, "That wasn't supposed to be a stumper."


 

Comments

[chrisleeoctaves.livejournal.com]

I really loved how much you've put into one tiny exchange. Buffy obviously doesn't know Angel's history- but he must live every day...all too aware of what has come before, and that - as you so eloquently put it- endless corridor that stretches ahead.

Lovely.

[catko]

I like it when they point up the difference between them, not in the "can't go in the sunlight" way, but more "her as mortal, him not." Thanks for the comment!

[faymeadows.livejournal.com]

240 words for 240 years? Neat.

Oh, I love imagining what it's like for these ancient vampires to have memories going back centuries. Poor Angel - he is so wigged, so awkward, and trying so hard in these early encounters with Buffy. Your words convey all of that, powerfully. Nice foreshadowing, too, with the references to an old hotel and being dropped from another dimension. Reading this was a delight! :)

[catko]

Thanks for picking up on the word count! It was for my own amusement, since I couldn't make it 200 or 300. And the foreshadowing, too. I appreciate it!

[jerusha]

Very nice. I watched this just yesterday and was struck by that moment. Your ficlet captures it well.

[catko]

I know, such a slight moment (even slighter than I remembered, when I replayed it while writing this!) Thanks.

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

This was a beautiful capture of the weight of history in these centuries old creatures. It gives poignancy to Buffy's reaction to Angel over thinking the question.

[catko]

"the weight of history in these centuries old creatures."

I'm fascinated by this element. What would it be like to live hundreds and hundreds of years? And remember it all? Thanks for reading.

[scythematters.livejournal.com]

Nice expanding of this little moment. I liked the "old hotel" reference since I'm currently watching Season 2 of Angel, so that put the Hyperion in mind.

[catko]

It was a very little moment, but it stuck in my mind. And the Hyperion, that's exactly what I was thinking. That place really represents Angel's life, some parts run-down and scary, some brightly lit, gathering his "family" there...but hey, that's a different story, I guess. Thanks for commenting.

[librarian2003.livejournal.com]

What a super little vignette. I really like the economy of words, with nothing wasted, and how the corridor of memory goes both ways.

Lovely!

[catko]

Thank you!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

That is very nice. I love the visual references to future scenes, but I particularly love the sensation of time contracting - the way complex thoughts can occur in a split second between one utterance and the next. Lovely.

[catko]

Great comment, I appreciate it. I did wonder what happened in his mind at that moment. And so does Buffy, I think.

[ares132006.livejournal.com]

Your economy with words amazes me. So much is packed into this small but wonderful passage.

I did like Angel's memory being compared to a hotel and that sometime he could be yanked back naked and snarling to relive a moment.

"… have a friend?" Friend.

The silence travels 240 years but lasts only an instant. Framed by the iron door, Buffy's face moves from impertinent to puzzled, almost tender. Her lips part, and her voice is soft as she says, "That wasn't supposed to be a stumper."

Oh! Such a moving moment. *sniff*

[catko]

Oh, thank you. I really liked the moment; it makes you like both of them, and see their early chemistry.

[markeyisapunk.livejournal.com]

very pretty. thank you.

[lycomingst.livejournal.com]

Ah, there's such a gulf between them.

Very nice. 8 ]

[catko]

Thank you! now that I'm rewatching, I've become more aware of many such moments between Angel and Buffy.

[dref22.livejournal.com]

That was the first Buffy fic I read. XD Nice! You made me want to watch it again...

[catko]

Thank you! And...me too. When I was active in this comm, I rewatched an ep a week to write about it. Wonderful.