Fic: Vignette Series

[The Rose24]

It's been a while. As usual, your vignettes are very cute and sweet.

I hope the next one won't take so long.

[wimpy0729]

Oh Sass, so glad you're back. Thanks for this amazing peek into what a lot of us have wondered about, the little things we didn't get to see but we all know transpired in their own little world, while Tara was still "just hers".

Great job! Can't wait to read more.

Wimpy

[Sassette]

**watson: Thank you - I'm happy people have been mentioning that the scene felt complete, because, obviously, the scene continues from there, but that was as much of it as I could get down (and, really, that hit ten pages, which is a little more than I try to write for these things). I definitely think you're right, in that Willow had her own little crush going on, but she had no idea at the time precisely >why< she was dropping in on Tara unannounced and thinking about her all the time - she figured it was just her natural curiosity running rampant because she didn't know all that much about Tara.

I'm glad you liked the dialogue - I actually felt a little rusty when I sat down to write this out. I, like Willow, was also rather full of wonder when I found that Tara could make birds come to her - I've been kicking this scene around in my head for quite awhile now, and I already had the Disney princess discussion worked out, up to and including who liked which princess and why. So, as I was falling asleep Thursday night, it popped into my head that Tara could do the Disney-princess-bird-thing, and that allowed me to finish this Friday. As for Willow's secret and the library shelf - I think of Tara as being a "sees much, shares little" kind of person, in that she's very perceptive, but is too shy to comment most of the time; therefore, she's noticed Willow's evasions and omissions on some subjects - there's definitely a Scooby Talk in their future at this point.

**The_Rose24: Thank you. I feel, however, it is entirely the subject matter (W/T) that is cute and sweet ... how could I call myself a write (albeit an amateur one who writes stuff about other people's characters ... ) if I couldn't portray the sweet cuteness? I will endeavor to have the next one not take so long - I have some other writing projects I'm working on for fun, and I've always found writing W/T to be helpful in getting in the writing groove, as it were.

**wimpy0729: Thank you - it's good to be back (though, I end up saying that a lot, because I tend to disappear for long stretches of time ). And you're welcome - I'm very glad you enjoyed the vignette. I find that S4 is one of my favorite times to write about, as there had to be so much going on behind-the-scenes as far as the progression of the W/T relationship goes. For plot reasons, all we ever really saw was them getting together to cast spells, and occasionally a conversation regarding the current Scooby-happenings, but there had to be more. Conversations, outings, studying - it had to have happened for them to get from Hush to TIIT and NMR. I'm actually very selfishly grateful that it wasn't portrayed on the show, because that means I get to play with it

-Sass

[the hero factor]

Yay, a new Vignette. I love these. This latest one is so good. Willow and Tara are so cute and sweet together, even before they were really together.

“Okay … well,” Willow said, peering at the notebook. “The next question is ‘what are you true, deep, dark feelings about Angela Lansbury?’, but I think we can skip that one.”

Ha! Love the teasing between them.

[sam]

That was very cute and sweet. Wonderful . Love sam xx

[simplyblue]

Dear Sass,

I stopped by to savor your new vignette and realized that I'd somehow overlooked the two you posted in May. Que'lle horreur! (Frankly, I have no idea whether I spelled that right.) I love all your vignettes, whether set in past, present, or future, but on the whole my favorites are those set in the S4-S6 tense. I'm not sure why, but I think it's because I can place them into the larger context most easily.

In any event, reading three new (to me) vignettes was a lovely restorative
at the end of my long teaching day. Now, however, I'm busy wondering what Willow's other 47 questions were! And wondering as well why Willow gets 48 questions while Tara only gets 1? Mighty unfair, if you ask me...

Welcome back to the board, Sass. We've missed you.

--blue

[Sassette]

**the_hero_factor: Thank you - new vignettes love you, too And yeah, I think that Willow and Tara were especially cute before they got together. Well, and after they got together, too, but before they got together I imagine them having these kind of whirlwind inner monologues that were running in the same direction. I think it's the tentativeness I really enjoy. And the teasing, like you mentioned. There's a certain level of comfortableness people have to have with each other before they'll do the 'gentle teasing' thing. I like them at that point

**sam: Thanks! It's good to know I've still got the cute and sweet stuff down - it's been awhile Glad you enjoyed it.

**simplyblue: I have no idea if you spelled that right, either, but I got the meaning I'm glad you enjoyed your triple-shot. I have to admit I prefer the ones set S4-S6, as well, leaning towards S4. I just love that timeframe. I have to say, I don't know what Willow's 47 other questions were, but they were all light and fluffy, and oddly informative. They stayed up all night going through them. As for Tara, she didn't have the prep time that Willow had, and declined to ask a question at all, as the only one that popped into her mind was "could you love me?" She decided not to ask that one. Thank you - it's good to be here - and thank you for reading.

-Sass

[NewRuthRising]

Woah! It's been ages since I've been here. sass, I adore the way you write. I just re-read the entire thread, because obviously I have no life, but who needs a life when there's stuff like this around.

I have to say, W/T does spoil me for real life, esp. the way you write it. Adoration and praise, etc.

[notl33t]

Oh, Sassette, I've missed your vignettes...thanks for coming back and writing Big Gay Fic!

These short stories make me remember why I really liked W & T way back when in the first place.

I'll be waiting and praying for more of your vignettes...

[Sassette]

**NewRuthRising: Ah, lovely to see you again! Really, while it hasn't been ages since I've been here, I usually only have time to kind of peek in and look around, before I have to dash back out to work. Thank you - I'm really glad you still enjoy these (and, y'know, that anyone remembers this thread is here and still reads them). Hope you enjoyed re-reading the entire thread. Truth is, I've done that once or twice, but only up to the point where I wrote them so long ago, I don't remember writing them, because then I don't think of them critically, I just read. Is that strange?

**notl33t: You are very welcome. Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted a new vignette, but here you go: new vignette. Yeah, Big Gay Fic.

Series: Vignettes
Number: 46
Title: Drama
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to pink_overalls@yahoo.com , or posted here.
Spoiler Warning: Set in an AU future – no specific spoilers unless you didn’t know Willow and Tara are gay, gay, gay, in which case I’ve already spoiled it, so you might as well read this.
Summary: Willow and Tara have a discussion, and a shower
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I’m just borrowing them, because it’s lots and lots of fun.
Rating: R-ish for adult situations – like nekkid showering

Drama
Part 46 of the Vignettes Series
By Sassette

Tara gingerly pulled on the sleeve of her sweater with two fingers, a look of distaste in her expressive eyes. “I think this is slayed,” Tara said with a little frown, taking in the dirt, rips and spatters of demon blood on one of her favorite sweaters. “You always liked this one,” Tara added mournfully as she and Willow headed up the stairs and onto the porch of the home they had purchased together six months prior, taking a moment to stop and wave at a weary slayer who trudged into her own home next door.

“We go directly to the shower, no passing go, no collecting two-hundred dollars,” Willow said, leading the way up the stairs and into the bathroom.

“Oh, definitely,” Tara said, following Willow.

It hadn’t been a particularly dangerous evening, as far as these things went, but it had been a messy one. Buffy had stumbled upon three giant sack-looking things in the middle of a graveyard that was practically a swamp of muddy-yuck after a three-day spring storm, and had called on the research skills of her friends to make sure there were no fantastic surprises in these special demonic hell-spawned crackerjack boxes.

As it turned out, there weren’t: the demons in question were ridiculously, laughably vulnerable when pupating, which was probably why they were so rare and none of them had actually ever seen them before.

So, after hauling out a bag full of axes, swords, and other hacky implements, and an hour of demon-slimy-yuck goretastic mud-slipping fun, the deed was done, and the only casualties for the Scoobies were articles of clothing.

Tara stumbled into the bathroom after Willow and watched her flip on the light, then gaze into the mirror. Willow was frowning, but it wasn’t an “I-may-have-to-shave-my-head” frown, but more of a “something-is-on-my-mind frown.”

“What do you want to do after this?” Willow asked, as Tara peeled off her previously well-loved and now extremely offensive powder-blue sweater.

“I don’t know – it’s still early,” Tara said absently, reaching into the shower and turning on the water. “Discovery Channel?”

Willow’s frown deepened.

“What is it?” Tara asked.

“Are we boring?” Willow asked, her expression completely serious.

Tara stifled a giggle.

“Sweetie, we just got home from the graveyard, we’re covered in demon slime, and your best friend is the one girl in all the world who can stop the vampires, and you’re asking if we’re boring?” Tara asked reasonably.

“I don’t mean, are our lives boring,” Willow said, chewing on her lower lips as she struggled to find the right words. She continued thinking as she kicked off her shoes and took off her shirt, tossing it towards the laundry hamper.

“Oh, no,” Tara said, catching it before it landed. “That, and everything else, is going straight to the trash.”

“But … the kittens,” Willow protested, abandoning her train of thought in an attempt to save the article of clothing in question, referring to the cute, fluffy, cuddly kittens on one of her favorite t-shirts.

“Absolutely not,” Tara said, shaking her head. “With all the exposure to demon slime, these kittens are about to sprout two massive, ugly heads instead of cute little kitty faces and big people-killing fangs instead of cute little kitty teeth.”

“But …”

“But what?” Tara asked, grabbing her own t-shirt casualty – a happy yellow shirt with sunflowers all over it – and pulling it up and over her head.

“No, you’re right,” Willow said, admiring the eyeful of Tara standing oh-so-close. “These are all completely ruined and so all clothes must go,” she said, nodding emphatically as she slipped out of her jeans. “Like, now.”

“Oh, I see,” Tara said, crossing her arms over her chest and giving Willow an exasperated look. “When I’m being reasonable, you want to save the clothes, but when you’re being horny, the clothes can get trashed and you don’t care.”

“It’s a horrible double-standard, I know,” Willow said with mock sadness, the effect completely ruined when her nimble fingers undid the button on Tara’s jeans and lowered the fly with quick, efficient movements. “Mad at me?”

Tara sighed, a tender smile crossing her face as she wrapped her arms around Willow’s neck, and running a hand across her goo-encrusted hair. “You know I can’t stay mad at you when you’re standing around in your underwear.”

“Heh. Yeah, underwear! Speaking of which …”

Willow tugged Tara’s jeans down to her knees, then knelt, helping Tara off with her shoes and socks. Tara rested a hand on Willow’s shoulder for balance as she stepped out of her pants, and smiled when Willow pressed a light kiss to her belly.

“As fun as this is, the water’s going to get cold,” Tara said, smiling down at Willow. “And we really can’t skip this shower.”

“Oh, yeah – I hate that,” Willow said, making a face. “Cold water after the slimy yuck is not on my happy list.”

They helped each other off with their underwear, playful hands lingering in familiar places, causing a few giggles and one squeak before they stepped into the shower, and then into each other’s arms, standing close under the spray for a few moments.

“Mmm … love you,” Willow mumbled against Tara’s shoulder.

“Love you, too,” Tara said, smiling happily and placing a loud smacking kiss on Willow’s cheek. “Here,” she said, picking up the shampoo and putting some in her palm.
Tara hummed a little as she washed Willow’s hair, the stubborn demon-goo making it necessary for her to actually proceed to the ‘repeat’ portion of the ‘lather, rinse, repeat’ shampoo instructions.

“You are so getting lucky tonight,” Willow said happily, a contented little smile on her face as Tara shampooed her hair again.

“Who says you’re getting lucky tonight?” Tara asked, arching an eyebrow at Willow.

“Well, when you get lucky, nobody’s luckier than me,” Willow said reasonably.

“Hmm … true,” Tara said, smiling. “So, what were you saying earlier?” Tara asked, making sure she’d done a thorough rinsing job, so that there was no lingering soap to run into Willow’s eyes.

“Huh?”

“About us being boring?” Tara prompted, as they carefully maneuvered each other in and out of the spray, working on washing off all the mud, slime, and various other gunk.

“Oh, right!” Willow said, her eyes focused on the arm she was scrubbing, which was covered in something greenish-grey. “I just meant, we’re … well, we don’t fight, really, and we don’t have any jealous ex-lovers running around, and we’ve been together seven years and we still have sex … so, are we boring? Isn’t there supposed to be … drama?”

“Sweetie, what I have I told you about watching ‘The L Word’?” Tara asked patiently as they continued to wash each other.

“If the lesbian life were really like that you’d be scared straight?”

“Well, yeah,” Tara said, with a little laugh. “But not that part.”

“This isn’t coming from ‘The L Word’ anyway,” Willow said, waving a hand.

“Then where is this coming from?” Tara asked, reaching around Willow to turn off the water. The sudden silence sat heavily as Tara waited for Willow to answer.

“Do you have any idea how … how totally weird it is for a Scooby to be in a normal, healthy relationship?” Willow said, her voice rough. She looked away for a moment, clearing her throat and blinking rapidly.

“Sweetie,” Tara said softly, brushing Willow’s cheek with her fingers.

“I’m just … I’m so damn happy, and … it scares me,” Willow said, looking at Tara plaintively.

“Well,” Tara said, her face thoughtful. “It’s not like we haven’t had our fair share of drama.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Tara said, resting her forehead against Willow’s. “We may not have any jealous ex-lovers running around, but when we did, he chased me across campus and turned into a werewolf. And you had to go rescue my sanity from a Hell God. And my family showed up on my 20th birthday when I thought I was going to turn into a demon.”

“Oh, right. I wasn’t thinking of those,” Willow said, smiling a little.

“Well, there you go,” Tara said, kissing Willow on the forehead and stepping out of the shower. “And if you really want drama, there’s always this …”

“What?” Willow asked.

Tara reached into the shower and quickly turned on the cold water, full-blast. Willow shrieked and jumped a little, her eyes wide, so surprised she didn’t move out of the shower until after Tara spoke again.

“Irate lesbian douses lover in cold water for daring to contradict her about throwing out ruined clothing,” Tara explained, before dashing out of the room.

With one last squawk, Willow turned off the water, then ran after Tara, chasing her all the way into the bedroom.

[Emms]

Uhum...DIBS.

Well thanks for posting that little synopsis in the update thread. for some reason I don't think I've ever read any of these...but after reading this latest one, I can see that I'm going to have to obsess for hours on end and read until I get caught up.

I loved this one, and Willow was so cute wondering if they were turning into a boring couple. Tara did a good job convincing her that they weren't. And the shower together was sweet...but it leaves me wanting to read about what happens next, which leads my earlier happiness about these stories being short and self contained to turn to angsty grumpiness because I want to know what happens next.

anyway...I can't wait for the next one!

xoxo
Emms

[Sassette]

**Emms: Firstly, welcome to the thread Secondly, that just might be the first DIBS here ... I'll have to go back and check sometime, but I think I'd remember that - so thanks.

And you're welcome for the synopsis, though it was entirely self-serving. I figured new-ish people probably haven't read this thread for one of two reasons: it spends a lot of time on the back pages because I update so infrequently, and this thread has been about 40-ish pages for probably a year or so, so it likely looks like a long and involved story that is updated infrequently, and those can be frustrating to catch up on and then wait and wait for updates. So - the announcement that this is, in fact, a thread full of short and completed works.

I'm really glad you liked it. I was looking over this thread the other day (I >usually< notice when someone bumps this back up to the front page, and then guilt drives me to write something), and it occurred to me that I really tend to focus on the quiet 'boring' moments. With very few exceptions, this is all angst-free fluff, and then this kind of wrote itself after that.

As for what happens next - feel free to mentally tag "and they lived happily ever after" to the end of each of these ... because they do.

-Sass

[The Rose24]

Lovely update.

You bring back a lot of memories. How I miss this lovely couple. *sigh*

[Thianne]

eh eh eh....that was funny! i love your vignettes....

[watty]

Seven years. They're in such a wonderful place in their relationship. Tara sums it up best,

“Sweetie, we just got home from the graveyard, we’re covered in demon slime, and your best friend is the one girl in all the world who can stop the vampires, and you’re asking if we’re boring?”

The normal activities -- taking a shower together, having a healthy discussion about their relationship, a little teasing ... yet it took place shortly after slaying giant sack demons. There's a certain sweetness and logic that makes sense ... if that makes sense at all. Lovely vignette, thank you.
[br]

[the hero factor]

As for what happens next - feel free to mentally tag "and they lived happily ever after" to the end of each of these ... because they do.

Sassette, I love you. That is all.

Well, and I love the new vignette, too. So sweet and funny.

[wimpy0729]

Hey Sass! Glad to see you're back again. Thanks for taking us on such a pleasant little after-the-slay journey. Yet more goodness we weren't shown on the show that thanks to you, we get to experience.

Can't wait for the next one.

Wimpy

[Sassette]

**The_Rose24: Thank you - I'm glad you liked it. They are lovely, aren't they? But, honestly, I can't say I miss them on the TV - not really. Except for a few shining moments, which I have on dvd, all the really good stuff happens in fic.

**Thianne: Thanks! I think that's one of the things I like about Willow and Tara, and writing about Willow and Tara, the most - they're funny. Not necessarily gut-splitting hilarious, but they both have a kind of quiet sense of humor about them, and I really try to bring that out when I'm writing them.

**watty: You're very welcome - and that makes perfect sense: their relationship cannot be rocked by giant sack demons. Some things I was thinking of while writing this, but didn't end up working in (which your comments reminded me of), is that their lack of conventional 'drama' is definitely good. Given the dangerous nature of their slaying activities, they need the normal, quiet times with each other. They keep each other grounded in a very violent and scary world. And, really, they're just so darn happy together, all the slaying stuff doesn't seem so bad when they get to go home together when it's done. So, slaying, shower and conversation, maybe some Discovery Channel if they don't get sidetracked and jump each other... perfectly normal evening for them. All is well in their world.

**the hero factor: Awww, shucks. Thanks I'm glad you liked the vignette, and the commentary ('cuz, really - I like "happily ever after" endings, and if I have to make up my own, I'm just going to go with that ... and the really great thing about fic is that I get to make up my own, share it with other people, and go read about theirs, too).

**wimpy0729: Thank you - it's good to be back again. I'm winding down on a big project at work, and that's involved some "hurry up and wait" time that let me get some writing done. And you're very welcome - I'm just fascinated with the whole "what does a lesbian demon-slayer couple talk about when they're home alone?" thing ... I don't really know why, but I just really get a kick out of these two women with awesome magic powers who frequently save the world from annihilation doing things like talking about their feelings and sorting socks.

-Sass

[dorksrcool]

I stayed up way too late to read these lovely little stories. Thank you for sharing them with us. I'm sorry I only recently discovered them.

The way you write W/T is so damn adorable. I said "awww" to myself A LOT while reading.

From #2:

It was her secret, the one she kept close to her heart, that she wanted to feel those lips. At first it had been confusing, then a welcome distraction, then almost an obsession as she found herself laying awake at night, imagining Tara holding her, touching her. Kissing her.

I really, really enjoyed reading this. I think about what happened during this part of TIIT often and you've captured my interpretation exactly. It seems to me this is exactly how Willow felt at this point in Season 4.

From #40:

“I love it when you talk nerdy to me,” Tara breathed into her ear, licking lightly at the lobe as she smiled.

Rar. That's sexy. And I laughed really hard when I read it.

From the latest story:

Well, when you get lucky, nobody’s luckier than me,” Willow said reasonably.

Willow's such a perv. Love it.

“Mmm … love you,” Willow mumbled against Tara’s shoulder.
“Love you, too,” Tara said, smiling happily and placing a loud smacking kiss on Willow’s cheek. “Here,” she said, picking up the shampoo and putting some in her palm.

That is so freakin' cute. Seriously. I think much of my obsession with W/T has to do with my own lonliness and desire to have a relationship like theirs. The moments like the one I quoted above are the moments I miss the most about being in love. You write their love well.

So thanks again. These vignettes really touched me. They remind me why I love W/T so much.


amy

[sam7777]

“Sweetie, what I have I told you about watching ‘The L Word’?”

LOL I just loved this bit. Oh so true.

[arwen276]

Hey Sassette,

I've been a 'ghost'fan for years, ever since you started the vignettes I believe, I didnt read them on the board though, they were posted on some website where I got to read all Willow and Tara related fanfiction.
When I was done with that website (mainly your 20 vignettes at that moment) I decided to move to greener pastures!

I really enjoy vignettes, they're very relaxing and cute, and well, keep writing them please?

When Willow stated 'we're boring' it reminded me of an L word episode in season 1, where Bette and Tina have to face these same charges.
Thank goodness the similarity stops there! and over here, there's no drama , well not much aside your regular apocalypse, right?




~Arwen

[Sassette]

**dorksrcool: Oops - hope you didn't have to be somewhere, and if you did, you weren't too sleepy ... and you're welcome. I likely wouldn't bother writing them if I didn't have someone to share them with. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Vignette #2 is definitely one of my favorites - as a fic-writer, I love how vague and open-to-interpretation S4 was (as opposed to "as a viewer", because I was disgruntled that I was the only one in my family who noticed that Willow was gay, gay, gay). It really leaves a lot of room for writing things like that vignette that fills in the W/T story-arc.

I have to admit, I'm a little fuzzy on the details of Vignette #40 - I'm going to have to go hunt it down and read it. I seem to recall ... chemistry homework and the feedback had the phrase "you complete my square" replacing "I'm under your spell" ... ? Was that the one? Glad you liked it - while I can't remember the specifics of that particular vignette (Bad Sass!), I can say that one of my favorite things to write is humor and sexy together.

And yes, Willow's a perv. Gotta' love it. If you like a pervy Willow and funny sex, and are old enough for NC-17 fic, and haven't read it (is it wrong to recommend your own fic?), go find 'Answering Wetness' in the completed fic archive (authors L - Z) ... it's on page 2 or 3, I think. I really prefer writing the PG-13 kind of thing, but every now and again, something like that story pops into my head and won't go away.

**sam7777: I have to admit here that I've only seen a few episodes of 'The L Word' - glad to hear that my impression of the show was on the mark I'd hate to have someone comment saying something like "'The L Word'?? But there's no dyke drama in 'The L Word'! What is she talking about?"

**arwen276: Thanks - I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed the vignettes. I definitely plan on continuing to write them. While I don't always have a lot of time to write, the reason I started writing the Vignette Series in the first place is because I can write these fairly quickly in what little time I have. Usually it takes me about 2-3 hours to write on of these.

Now, >that< episode of 'The L Word', I have seen! ("Sass! Haven't seen every episode of 'The L Word'! And you call yourself a lesbian ..." "Actually, I don't - all the women I've slept with call me a lesbian ...") Heh - and this is one of the things I love most about W/T. Their drama is external to their relationship, really. All of the big, big non-S6 stuff that has been dramatic in regards to their relationship has been hellmouth-y supernatural stuff. The actual girl-lovin' is going very smoothly for them (at least, that's how it is in my head).

-Sass

[Useful_Oxymoron]

Well, I was in the mood for a new story today, saw this in the update threat, starting reading and couldn't stop. Amazing work, I spent all morning reading these vignettes and loving every single one of them. I think 15 is my favorite. Poor Willow, she shouldn't deny her highschool days so, it's part of what formed her (and to tell you the truth, she was pretty darn cute, not to mention hot, in her highschool days. I've always lamented the loss of Willow's lovely long hair in later seasons.)

20 was superb too. Marriage proposal through alphabet soup. Inspiring! 21 Poor drunk Tara entering a wet t-shirt contest. Poor thing must have been mortified the next day. Still, it's no big surprise that she won the contest. 42 (magic number), Evil Interrogator Willow is on the prowl.

Ah, I can keep going forever, I love them and I hope there'll be plenty more!

Eep, I've just notice it's lunchtime and I haven't even had breakfast yet! Look what you've made me do.

Thanks again!

[Thianne]

I was disgruntled that I was the only one in my family who noticed that Willow was gay, gay, gay

really? my sister watched only one episode of season 4, the one with the flaming O spell in it, and she said right off "oh, so willow's becoming gay, isn't she?"

i only knew because i found it on internet, so i looked at her with something akin to suspect, and, not for the first time, i asked myself if she "saw" things. sometimes she's a little weird so it wouldn't be that much of a surprise if it was true

[Sassette]

**Useful Oxymoron: Well, I'm glad you found the thread, and that you've enjoyed the stories. #15 was a favorite (if anyone's paying attention and is wondering why I know which one is #15 off the top of my head, but didn't remember #40 off the top of my head, here's the answer: I wrote some of these so long ago, I've been able to read them like they're just more fic, and not like I wrote them, so I've reread >many< of the early ones, but not so much the recent ones), because I go to address the purely >ridiculous< matter of Willow's low self-image. While Willow's feelings are her own (in a "fictional character" kind of way), and they're perfectly valid (in a "fictional character" kind of way), but as you say, she was pretty darn cute in high school. Add in the rest of what you've said - that the girl she was made her the girl she is - and memories of high school just aren't something she should be afraid of ... especially in the context of sharing those memories with Tara, who clearly and obviously thinks the brainy type is way, way hot.

#20 was fun to write - I was actually planning on doing this whole thing where every 10th vignette was a marriage proposal, but that fell apart at #30. #21, I must admit, was a dare - but I'm very happy with how it turned out. Tara in a wet t-shirt is great and all, but I must admit, that thinking of Buffy saying "boobies" just really, >really< makes me laugh. #42 was also a lot of fun for me - I love Willow when she's gone completely and insanely over-the-top with something

Thank you for your comments - but try not to skip breakfast next time, yeah? It's the most important meal of the day ...

**Thianne: Yes, seriously! This was when we all learned that my older sister, who has mad gaydar skillz in regards to gay men, can't spot gay women at all. I, however, was just figuring out I was gay at the time, so was in the middle of that phase where you think >everybody< is gay ... so it's probably just dumb luck I pegged Willow right at the time. Sadly, my gaydar is usually no good. I think the only time it actually worked right was the time I walked into the staff dining area at work and suddenly got pings from freakin' >everywhere<. Turns out, there was an LPGA event on the adjoining golf course that day, and they had been invited to use our staff dining area. Go figure.

-Sass

[spells42]

Sassette
I don't think I've ever left feedback for your wonderful vignettes before, which is very bad of me, 'cos I know I've read at least some of them before.

I've been stuck in bed, recuperating, for a couple of days, and naturally I turned to W&T fanfiction to entertain me. I found your latest update, and when I'd read that I wondered if I'd read them all.... so then I went back and read all of them. I think I found the perfect cure for whatever ails you. (I had read only some of the more recent ones ... how did I miss any!)

These little peeks into the lives of W&T showing different perspectives at different times - random moments of everyday life and special occasions - are heartwarming and funny and touching. It would be too hard to say which are favourites (altho' 'boobies' keeps popping into my head making me snicker, much to the concern of my company ), they are all good.

Looking forward to more. Thanks
Anne

[Sassette]

**spells42: Heh ... if you hadn't written out "spells for two" in your sig, I just wouldn't have gotten it. I'm kind of slow sometimes ...

I hope your recuperating is going well - it tends to be no fun to be stuck in bed for many days ... and I know there's a joke in there somewhere about how it >is< fun with the right company, but I'm a little sleepy, so I'm having trouble finding it. I'm glad the Vignette Series could help the time pass - I don't think anyone has ever claimed these little stories were a 'cure' of anykind (except, perhaps, for boredom and/or Willow-and-Tara-lovin' withdrawal syndrome).

I'm really glad you enjoyed the series - I know I enjoy writing them. Sometimes I feel like my brain is set on 'random', so writing out these random moments (and occasionally throwing in the word 'boobies') is great for me on many different levels Thanks for reading!

And I leave you with this to contemplate ...


-Sass

[Kaia]

Sassette:

I think I haven't left proper feedback for your vignettes. I mean, if I had I'd probably remember...unless it had been so long ago that i'd forgotten about it. Anyways...I've read them all and I love them. They're really sweet and cute and It's so easy to relate to the W & T you write...
Hell, my wife and I have asked ourselves the "are we boring" question a lot of times, especially when we get teased by our friends because we'd rather go home early (early meaning 3.30 instead of 5 am) and cuddle than staying out dancing at some club, lol. Guess that happens when you've been together for 6 years.
Thanks again for a wonderful story. Keep'em coming!

Karinna

[Sassette]

**Kaia: Thank you - I'm really glad you liked the series. So, you and your wife thought you might be boring because you go home from a club at 3:30am instead of 5am? Gosh. Personally, I wouldn't remotely call that boring. I would call that "sane". Next time you're wondering if you might be boring, I offer this as a counter-example: despite being a carefree young single woman, the last time I was up until 3:30 in the morning, I was working. And you are welcome for the story. I am making the attempt to spend less time working, and more time writing, so there should be more vignettes soon-ish.

-Sass

[EasierSaid]

Just wanted to add my meager two cents and say that once again, you've managed to create something extraordinary out of the ordinary. Just a quick shower (or not so quick with the rinsing and repeating) after a demon slay. Brilliant. And what a great topic to talk over: Are we boring? What happy couple hasn't had that discussion at least once? I really love how how you set the scene and established where they were in their relationship as you went along as well. That's so great; you managed to give the story context without having to set this long establishing back story. Just boom, here it is, this is what's happening, now don't you feel all warm and happy now that it's over. So great.

What I love about you as a writer, and these vignettes in particular, is that extraordinary ordinariness of them. They're amazingly accurate snapshots of relationships growing and altering, even when set in really fanciful or silly settings (Disco Willow, comes to mind). The fluttering of new love, the insecurity of a longer relationship's lack of drama... They're like magic in a bottle, or lightening striking... what, forty something times? Amazing. I can't tell how much I admire, and am impressed by, your consitency with your Willow and Tara, too. It's incredible how many situations you can put them, in any stage of their relationship, yet still nail who they are. You get them, and get them in a way that really resonates when you write about it. I love how well you know them. I can't say enough about how your talent and consistency impresses me, and inspires me. Great job, as always.