Oh, wow, this is lovely! Wes and Cordy deserved a great deal of comfort after these eps, and you gave it to them really well.
Some more specific thoughts I noted as I was reading:
Must make a technical compliment of your execution of a complicated fight scene. I find those are difficult to write well, but you do a really excellent job. You retain clarity while producing a fast-paced sense of action, spread equally among the characters. And everything makes sense. Great stuff.
Also, I love how competent you make Xander. So many writers do not do this, despite the fact that we’ve seen him fight quite well on screen, and we know that he’s retained some military training.
The comfort scene between Xander and Cordy was lovely.
Liked Wesley’s reaction to having his injuries exposed. Feels very right for him.
I like Wes’s use of psychology on Xander. Just as Wes has his ultimate loyalty to Angel, he recognizes that Xander has his ultimate loyalty to Buffy, and uses that to diffuse Xander’s anger at Angel. It’s very astute (which is how Wes should be written). I think Wes realizes that they’re quite the same in the way that they’re both people who need to give their loyalty to a cause (and the person or organizaiton who is the symbol of that cause).
I love that your Riley is smart, and can consciously use his image with others. (I think I’m one of the few people that liked Riley).
Riley touching Wes moment: Oh, my goodness. Break my heart, why don’t you?
BTW, Riley is a great choice as an observer here (you found unexpected but cool parallels between him and Wes).
Xander sniffed. “Of course, anyone can look cool on a motorbike.” Hahahahah!
Really great Xander dialogue. You've got his voice so well (it's been a while since I've read any Buffyverse, but it feels like you've got that Jossish sytle down pat).
Your closing scenes with Wes, Cordy and Angel have me all sniffly. I love when events put them in a position to be as expressive as this. Also, who doesn't get a little moved by how ultimately vulnerable Cordy and Wes are?
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Some more specific thoughts I noted as I was reading:
Must make a technical compliment of your execution of a complicated fight scene. I find those are difficult to write well, but you do a really excellent job. You retain clarity while producing a fast-paced sense of action, spread equally among the characters. And everything makes sense. Great stuff.
Also, I love how competent you make Xander. So many writers do not do this, despite the fact that we’ve seen him fight quite well on screen, and we know that he’s retained some military training.
The comfort scene between Xander and Cordy was lovely.
Liked Wesley’s reaction to having his injuries exposed. Feels very right for him.
I like Wes’s use of psychology on Xander. Just as Wes has his ultimate loyalty to Angel, he recognizes that Xander has his ultimate loyalty to Buffy, and uses that to diffuse Xander’s anger at Angel. It’s very astute (which is how Wes should be written). I think Wes realizes that they’re quite the same in the way that they’re both people who need to give their loyalty to a cause (and the person or organizaiton who is the symbol of that cause).
I love that your Riley is smart, and can consciously use his image with others. (I think I’m one of the few people that liked Riley).
Riley touching Wes moment: Oh, my goodness. Break my heart, why don’t you?
BTW, Riley is a great choice as an observer here (you found unexpected but cool parallels between him and Wes).
Xander sniffed. “Of course, anyone can look cool on a motorbike.” Hahahahah!
Really great Xander dialogue. You've got his voice so well (it's been a while since I've read any Buffyverse, but it feels like you've got that Jossish sytle down pat).
Your closing scenes with Wes, Cordy and Angel have me all sniffly. I love when events put them in a position to be as expressive as this. Also, who doesn't get a little moved by how ultimately vulnerable Cordy and Wes are?
Thanks for sharing this.