Ballad of Willow or How She Cleared The Night of Vampires
Marc
The sunbow glided down, and the wet woodland blackened and the mockingbird
looked at her red hair and poppy eyes and then goodbye to the singing bird,
reaching the clouds and crossing the first, feeble star. The valley beneath
the wandering Willow cobbled with houses: Sunnydale - and a hellish Sodom
down under the ground; home of man-killing beasts, moon-chained wolves,
night-crawling vampires. But terror and fear all disappear as a great
sweetness flows into her chest and she closes her eyes, smiling; flowers. A
field of flowers, so many blossoms; their fragile cranium dimple while a
soft breeze sings a lullaby; snowdrops, the pussy-willow waving their
plumes, fleur-de-lys, the tulips in cherry and yellow coat and of course the
lilies, glazing in the fading day. Not one moment the field is without
movement. But after day night must follow and the unnatural awake. Vampires
will come. Vampires will moan and growl and suck blood until the morning;
they fear the light. The fading light, the death of day, the arise of
vampires, and wondering if one of her friends might pass away. Last sunbeam
breaks like a fragile water drop, slides down a green leaf and falls down,
the last to fall on the earth after a swarm of raindrops. Night is here, no
crucifix and no place to hide, the vampire comes, the vampire comes.
Yet Willow stays in the field. Dressed in thin black clothing that
accentuated every surrounding of her slender body, she stands near a pond as
the glow of stars and a silver moon find their face in the smooth surface of
the water. Willow bids with soft voice while daunt shadows within shadows
eye her; the smile of a vampire is the deadest thing you'll ever see, the
callous illumination within the eyes. Her voice trembling as a humming-bird;
it is difficult not to weep.
A flood in her essence, pours, streams - the shadows on tiptoe closing in on
her - but her song is strong as is a sudden wind that makes even the
tallest trees bow and bend - she's here, barefooted and she will not
descend.
**
The Gift of Witchcraft is a valuable, volumetric literary gift - that only
few females and a lesser few males receive. By understanding and taming the
words they acquire new capabilities, prophetical insights and sometimes
great powers. Don't think it wrong. It's a land of silence, of
contemplation, of rhythm, of whispering voices pursuing the higher parallel
realm. It's a mystical land, filled with old men and women - and sad but
true, they're a dying kind, fewer and fewer witches are to be born; within a
thousand years all to be parting to the land of the spirits, embracing the
souls of the slain slayers, burned and drowned witches, crucified believers,
loose-headed alchemists. Ancient knowledge written in old books, on
parchment - passed on from witch to witch - shall in time perish.
**
Rising within her brown-shadowed eyes are all sorts of flowers from the
field, bright floating little stars, arraying by colour, and echo's from up
the hill answer her overpowering humming voice and although her knees are
tickled by the tall grass, she does not smile.
And the immortal vampires, gathered in the dark, lurking, wanting to bathe
in blood as vultures and their violent cry fills the air, again and again.
But they shall have no dominion. Not tonight.
With her arms lifted, and the palm of her hands toward the black sky, she
whispers the refrain and a spiral of blue-white light flows above her
palms - the spell is visible authorized this way and builds light upon light
and grows, in indigo circles until she takes her hands away.
A protection spell so we all can come and see, the field on the hill by
night, where normally vampires roar. But they cannot harm you now. So come
and see, the little bright lights above the field and the moon on the
surface of the pond. O come and see how Willow, with her dress pressed
against her thighs, wading in the water, and smiles as she sees us
listening - like kings near Bethlehem - to the tranquil sounds of the night.
Marc
Mattia Valente
Some very nice stuff..
No comments here (and no messages for a few days now, or hardly.
Odd...anything new in that crossposted thread I killed, maybe?)
Beautiful little story/ballad/whatever you want to call it you've
written, I must say. Going to have to read it again (mind's kinda fried
atm..) later..can I put it up on the website?
Hmmm...I'm supposed to write that answer to question 3 right? Tomorrow.
I just finished carving my guitar top (and adding patches to area's I
carved too thin..oops) and I need a break from that, and studying isn't
really an option.
Oh, and the fanfic? What's happening there? Joy?
Mattia
ReplyMeister[tm]
JOY:-)
I'm reasonably happy with, but I don't feel like I've made as much progress in
the story line as I wanted to. I'm going to work on it some more today, and hope
to post my bit tomorrow evening. 'Kay?
Basically, I'm trying to introduce some solutions without tying off all the
loose ends.
BTW, my husband wants to participate too, either in this or the next
kettingverhaal - he's a dedicated lurker, but he likes fanfic. Any objections?
JOY:-)
(frantically trying to figure out the catch to that spell...)
Mattia Valente
>
> The fanfic is... not going as fast as I thought. I have two pages written, that
> I'm reasonably happy with, but I don't feel like I've made as much progress in
> the story line as I wanted to. I'm going to work on it some more today, and hope
> to post my bit tomorrow evening. 'Kay?
Sure. It's just been so damn quiet, y'know?
> Basically, I'm trying to introduce some solutions without tying off all the
> loose ends.
Well, that's good. Can't have too many loose ends flying around (and
introductions of new ones) since that makes the story a little
impossible for the next in line.
> BTW, my husband wants to participate too, either in this or the next
> kettingverhaal - he's a dedicated lurker, but he likes fanfic. Any objections?
Umm...sure. We'd appreciate the occasional post, of course. Like hearing
it from him, for example ;-) Delurking is fun, haven't you made that
clear yet? I mean, really...It's always interesting to know that there
are people who actually do lurk, something someone like me can't imagine
any more. Don't you just feel the urge to reply to some things?
> (frantically trying to figure out the catch to that spell...)
Hmmm....what spell? I was wondering though: at what point does Willow
really get into witchcraft? Has she really started at this point in the
timeline (if we feel like it,we can say yes, of course..)? By Becoming
she's obviouslly got it done, but before then? Anyway, I digress, and
I'm too lazy to look at ep titles to jog my memory..
Mattia
ReplyMeister[tm]
JOY:-)
>
> "JOY:-)" wrote:
> >
> > The fanfic is... not going as fast as I thought. I have two pages written, that
> > I'm reasonably happy with, but I don't feel like I've made as much progress in
> > the story line as I wanted to. I'm going to work on it some more today, and hope
> > to post my bit tomorrow evening. 'Kay?
>
> Sure. It's just been so damn quiet, y'know?
>
> > Basically, I'm trying to introduce some solutions without tying off all the
> > loose ends.
>
> Well, that's good. Can't have too many loose ends flying around (and
> introductions of new ones) since that makes the story a little
> impossible for the next in line.
Yep. That's the thing - making a contribution while still leaving enough for the
next person to work with...
>
> > BTW, my husband wants to participate too, either in this or the next
> > kettingverhaal - he's a dedicated lurker, but he likes fanfic. Any objections?
>
> Umm...sure. We'd appreciate the occasional post, of course. Like hearing
> it from him, for example ;-) Delurking is fun, haven't you made that
> clear yet? I mean, really...It's always interesting to know that there
> are people who actually do lurk, something someone like me can't imagine
> any more. Don't you just feel the urge to reply to some things?
...which is more or less why I delurked. On the other hand, when the group is
more busy, other people have usually already made the comments I would have made
by the time I get around to reading.
>
> > (frantically trying to figure out the catch to that spell...)
>
> Hmmm....what spell? I was wondering though: at what point does Willow
> really get into witchcraft? Has she really started at this point in the
> timeline (if we feel like it,we can say yes, of course..)? By Becoming
> she's obviouslly got it done, but before then? Anyway, I digress, and
> I'm too lazy to look at ep titles to jog my memory..
>
> Mattia
> ReplyMeister[tm]
Ah, but if I told what spell it would be a spoiler, no? Read it tomorrow!
JOY:-)
Marc
"JOY:-)" <philha...@planet.buffyfan.nl> schreef in bericht
news:3A741E6E...@planet.buffyfan.nl...
> Mattia Valente wrote:
> >
> > "JOY:-)" wrote:
> > >
> > > The fanfic is... not going as fast as I thought. I have two pages
written, that
> > > I'm reasonably happy with, but I don't feel like I've made as much
progress in
> > > the story line as I wanted to. I'm going to work on it some more
today, and hope
> > > to post my bit tomorrow evening. 'Kay?
Don't bruise your mind about it! Just post it when you think it's okay.
> >
> > Sure. It's just been so damn quiet, y'know?
> >
> > > Basically, I'm trying to introduce some solutions without tying off
all the
> > > loose ends.
> > Well, that's good. Can't have too many loose ends flying around (and
> > introductions of new ones) since that makes the story a little
> > impossible for the next in line.
>
> Yep. That's the thing - making a contribution while still leaving enough
for the
> next person to work with...
I think we already have enough characters to work with - baddies and
goodies - but there are also characters that can still come out of the fog -
like Cordelia or Buffy's mom (who already made a guest-apearance) - so I
don't think its a problem if you introduce another character, as long as it
fits.. bad thing would be though as one totally unbelievable character at
the end of the story rushes in and saves the day, in other words, a deux es
machina - that would be... dissapointing.
But although we have all freedom to write what we want to write - as long as
it is in line of the Buffyverse.
> >
> > > BTW, my husband wants to participate too, either in this or the next
> > > kettingverhaal - he's a dedicated lurker, but he likes fanfic. Any
objections?
> >
> > Umm...sure. We'd appreciate the occasional post, of course.
No objections... welcome Husband... (since I don't have a nick to welcome
him ;)
By Becoming
> > she's obviouslly got it done, but before then? Anyway, I digress, and
> > I'm too lazy to look at ep titles to jog my memory..
She's not really into spelling in the timeline as we put it - but she's
learning though, from that angle I can't object if she performes a spell in
the story - besides; I don't recall a real story-arc in the serie why or
exactly when Willow started to do spells; she kinda rolled into it, learning
from Giles and studying books... -
Marc
"Mattia Valente" <mae.v...@std.vu.nl> schreef in bericht
news:3A7350CF...@std.vu.nl...
> Marc wrote:
>
> Some very nice stuff..
Tnx...
> No comments here (and no messages for a few days now, or hardly.
> Odd...anything new in that crossposted thread I killed, maybe?)
Killed it too - can't help you there
> Beautiful little story/ballad/whatever you want to call it you've
> written, I must say. Going to have to read it again (mind's kinda fried
> atm..) later..can I put it up on the website?
Sure - it was part of an Angel-story I am writing (And Pain Shall Have No
Dominion) - but I had to skip it 'cause it didn't fith the elements... was a
little piece I didn't want to throw away though, so I posted it...
> Hmmm...I'm supposed to write that answer to question 3 right? Tomorrow.
> I just finished carving my guitar top (and adding patches to area's I
> carved too thin..oops) and I need a break from that, and studying isn't
> really an option.
O damn - don't have time for to figure that on out...
Still working on that erotic thingy Mattia? :-p
I have written a few lines where they practice the art of
tongue-gymnastic... but it's still not quite tastefull; to direct, hastefull
and even a bit clumsy - a march straight to.. a well - you know!
Marc
Sierk
> Marc wrote:
>
> Some very nice stuff..
Indeed he did
> No comments here (and no messages for a few days now, or hardly.
> Odd...anything new in that crossposted thread I killed, maybe?)
I wouldn't know either :-)
> Beautiful little story/ballad/whatever you want to call it you've
> written, I must say. Going to have to read it again (mind's kinda fried
> atm..) later..can I put it up on the website?
>
> Hmmm...I'm supposed to write that answer to question 3 right? Tomorrow.
> I just finished carving my guitar top (and adding patches to area's I
> carved too thin..oops) and I need a break from that, and studying isn't
> really an option.
<sarcastic>
Of course it isn't.
</sarcastic>
Let me know if you still want to answer it, btw. The deadline has come
and gone officially, but I've been busy the last coupla days. I don't
really have the time this evening either to read and judge the entries of
Arkasha and P@trick. I'm planning on doing that tomorrow evening, so you
have until then.
Sierk
P@rick
[Ballad of Willow or How She Cleared The Night of Vampires]
Wow. just like Mattia I'll have to reread this one again. Think I missed
half of it in the first go. You're writing style is very expressionistic
(if that's the right word for it). I wish I had one tenth of that
talent.
Bye, Patrick
lacking in expressionism
Mattia Valente
>
> Marc wrote:
>
> [Ballad of Willow or How She Cleared The Night of Vampires]
>
> Wow. just like Mattia I'll have to reread this one again. Think I missed
> half of it in the first go. You're writing style is very expressionistic
> (if that's the right word for it).
Damned if I know what the 'correct' word is. It's very eloquent
language, imparts a specific feel and atmosphere very very effectively.
A little dream-like at times. Pleasure to read.
> I wish I had one tenth of that
> talent.
I have no clue if I could even write something remotely like that. Never
tried. I've never written any fiction of any sort (other than the
fanfic, obviously..), and my other 'writing' is limited to song lyrics,
very few, only one set of which I really like. The fanfic has got me
considering writing more fanfic though...it's fun!
> Bye, Patrick
> lacking in expressionism
Well, you've got your own brand of writing skill, my dear
reveiwmeister/funnymeister[tm] friend. You've definately got a knack for
the funnier side of sears...
Mattia
ReplyMeister[tm]
Mattia Valente
>
> Mattia Valente said...
> > Hmmm...I'm supposed to write that answer to question 3 right? Tomorrow.
> > I just finished carving my guitar top (and adding patches to area's I
> > carved too thin..oops) and I need a break from that, and studying isn't
> > really an option.
>
> <sarcastic>
> Of course it isn't.
> </sarcastic>
:-p
> Let me know if you still want to answer it, btw. The deadline has come
Um...no, I'm not gonna try answering question 4 (yours) since I don't
know any answers, can't come up with any good ones for a couple of the
questions (not having read DOAS and all that...) Sorry. I'm referring to
question *III*, that story I promised. Too busy again today. Oh well.
> and gone officially, but I've been busy the last coupla days. I don't
> really have the time this evening either to read and judge the entries of
> Arkasha and P@trick. I'm planning on doing that tomorrow evening, so you
> have until then.
:o)
Well....in that case, it's a maybe.
Mattia
ReplyMeister[tm]
Sierk
> Sierk wrote:
>
> > Let me know if you still want to answer it, btw. The deadline has come
>
> Um...no, I'm not gonna try answering question 4 (yours) since I don't
> know any answers, can't come up with any good ones for a couple of the
> questions (not having read DOAS and all that...)
Neither did I :-)
> Sorry. I'm referring to
> question *III*, that story I promised. Too busy again today. Oh well.
Ah, of course. More people are a bit late with that one, it seems.
> > and gone officially, but I've been busy the last coupla days. I don't
> > really have the time this evening either to read and judge the entries of
> > Arkasha and P@trick. I'm planning on doing that tomorrow evening, so you
> > have until then.
>
> :o)
>
> Well....in that case, it's a maybe.
hehe
Sierk
Marc
> "P@rick" wrote:
> >
> > Marc wrote:
> >
> > [Ballad of Willow or How She Cleared The Night of Vampires]
> >
> > Wow. just like Mattia I'll have to reread this one again. Think I missed
> > half of it in the first go. You're writing style is very expressionistic
> > (if that's the right word for it).
I have no idea how it's called - but thanks for the classification :o)
> Damned if I know what the 'correct' word is. It's very eloquent
> language, imparts a specific feel and atmosphere very very effectively.
> A little dream-like at times. Pleasure to read.
Well that's the game isn't it! - that others don't look away from it but
keep on reading....
> > I wish I had one tenth of that talent.
You have talent - it's practising over and over and over - it's a bitch, it
really is and afterwards I'm still insecure about every little piece I
write - the only time when I'm truly convinced I can pull it off, is at the
time I'm writing - no use sitting there while in your head goes that
irritating little demonic voice: 'you can't *do* it big dumb * loser* '
>
> I have no clue if I could even write something remotely like that. Never
> tried. I've never written any fiction of any sort (other than the
> fanfic, obviously..), and my other 'writing' is limited to song lyrics,
> very few, only one set of which I really like. The fanfic has got me
> considering writing more fanfic though...it's fun!
>
> > Bye, Patrick
> > lacking in expressionism
>
> Well, you've got your own brand of writing skill, my dear
> reveiwmeister/funnymeister[tm] friend. You've definately got a knack for
> the funnier side of sears...
>
And I'm lacking humor - well I do, most of the time - I tend to the more
darker toned stories, picture it as "rainy autumn" or a fragile lantern in a
dark, lonely street - and I need a lot of words before I get to the clou...
but let us writers and reviewmeister[tm] and replymeister[tm] entertain the
lurkers out there - make them laugh their ass off or just have fun on this
little stage called Abe...
Marc
Mattia Valente
> > > Marc wrote:
> > >
> > > [Ballad of Willow or How She Cleared The Night of Vampires]
> > >
> > > Wow. just like Mattia I'll have to reread this one again. Think I missed
> > > half of it in the first go. You're writing style is very expressionistic
> > > (if that's the right word for it).
>
> I have no idea how it's called - but thanks for the classification :o)
Hehe..Personally I'm not always big on the classification. I get that a
lot when I say 'I play guitar' and the inevitable 'What kind of music do
you play/like/listen too?' etc. etc. Umm...who knows? Who really cares?
I can give a vague classification (rock/alternative. Alternative to
what?) but that's it.
> > Damned if I know what the 'correct' word is. It's very eloquent
> > language, imparts a specific feel and atmosphere very very effectively.
> > A little dream-like at times. Pleasure to read.
>
> Well that's the game isn't it! - that others don't look away from it but
> keep on reading....
I guess so. It's catchy. In a 'dark' way ;o)
> > > I wish I had one tenth of that talent.
>
> You have talent - it's practising over and over and over - it's a bitch, it
> really is and afterwards I'm still insecure about every little piece I
> write
Ah...I know the feeling. Only it's with music. I've only got one piece
of fanfic written.
> - the only time when I'm truly convinced I can pull it off, is at the
> time I'm writing - no use sitting there while in your head goes that
> irritating little demonic voice: 'you can't *do* it big dumb * loser* '
Hehe...I'm getting a funny mental image. Looks like a fear demon.
> > > Bye, Patrick
> > > lacking in expressionism
> >
> > Well, you've got your own brand of writing skill, my dear
> > reveiwmeister/funnymeister[tm] friend. You've definately got a knack for
> > the funnier side of sears...
>
> And I'm lacking humor - well I do, most of the time - I tend to the more
> darker toned stories, picture it as "rainy autumn" or a fragile lantern in a
> dark, lonely street - and I need a lot of words before I get to the clou...
Well, I can identify with the use of many words. My now little-used
title of YaddaYaddaMeister[tm] or Wordy Poster Extraordinaire[tm] hint
and that...
> but let us writers and reviewmeister[tm] and replymeister[tm] entertain the
> lurkers out there - make them laugh their ass off or just have fun on this
> little stage called Abe...
Yes indeed. And entertain ourselves while we're at it. This reminds me
of one of P@rick's reviews (which I'm guessing you haven't read. Not all
of them anyway. There are a whole lot of them.) Specifically the one for
'Amends'. Give it a read, I'd say.
Mattia
ReplyMeister[tm]
abe WebMeister[tm] http://bite.to/abe
P@rick
> You've definately got a knack for the funnier side of sears...
You know, I never really got that joke completely. I guess Sears is some
sort of fashion shop. And the 'softer side' refers to fuzzy Willow?
Bye, Patrick
Marc
"P@rick" <P.J.Mee...@students.VampWillow.fss.uu.nl> schreef in bericht
news:959kja$218$8...@news.surfnet.nl...
Sears is HUGE - you can get anything you want in Sears, it's every store in
one place...
Marc
(thought it was that - has been to Sears... got lost... but was found again)
Mattia Valente
>
> "P@rick" <P.J.Mee...@students.VampWillow.fss.uu.nl> schreef in bericht
> news:959kja$218$8...@news.surfnet.nl...
> > Mattia Valente wrote:
> >
> > > You've definately got a knack for the funnier side of sears...
> >
> > You know, I never really got that joke completely. I guess Sears is some
> > sort of fashion shop. And the 'softer side' refers to fuzzy Willow?
>
> Sears is HUGE - you can get anything you want in Sears, it's every store in
> one place...
Sears is a big american department store kinda place. Sell pretty much
anything you want, as Marc says. IIRC they also have a big mail order
business, catalogs and the like.
> Marc
> (thought it was that - has been to Sears... got lost... but was found again)
:oP
Mattia
ReplyMeister[tm]