Mini Nano Saturday word count - 419

[hobgoblinn]

Since LJ was out all day, and I was for most of it, too, I wrote out a character sketch of Giles, similar to the ones I've seen Antenna do. I was surprised at how helpful I found it-- more so, I think, than if I had just gone with the first couple of sentences and tried to work it into a narrative. I need to go deeper, but this is a start.

And hey, does anyone know if the Buffy comic is out yet? And if so, if it's suitable for children? My little imp was recently turned on to graphic novels by one of his school buddies, and hey-- he's reading. I just need to know if this is something I need to read in the store, or actually buy and bring home.

Oh hey-- I'm going to get Jossed, aren't I? I was always sorry I missed out on that delight of contemporary fandom... Cool.

3008 / 50000
(6.0%)

And now-- feel free to ignore this....

My Giles (2 years Post Chosen)
Gets up before dawn every morning and jogs through *some area of London plausibly near the new Council HQ*
Pretends he is unaware that two Slayers are shadowing him at a discrete distance
Was genuinely puzzled that the group turned to him for leadership once the Sunnydale crisis was past
Was not sure he Wanted the Council re-established
Took the job to prevent the abuses of the Old Council from gaining a foothold
Is out of his depth as an administrator, and knows it
Understands now why Travers and his ilk held the attitudes they did. Sending a tool to its destruction is easier than sending a girl to her death
Attends every funeral, and delivers condolences to the family in person
Feels it’s the least he can do, and that he deserves it
Sometimes feels as if he is about to explode. Other times, that he is a wraith, growing ever more insubstantial as his Slayer and friends drift away from him
Was relieved when they all left
Doesn’t realize his emotional distance pushed them away
Doesn’t realize how much he resents them, that their consciences allow most of them to sleep soundly at night
Grieves and feels guilty that he and Willow have some things in common he would have spared her.
Busies his hands and mind to try to escape his pain and grief and guilt
Has been running on empty for so long he doesn’t remember ever feeling normal or decent or good
Wishes Buffy would come back and take charge of the Council
Will never ask it of her
Resents that she can just walk away from their calling, and him
Refuses to admit the former, even in his thoughts, and is unaware of the latter
Has reverted to the braces and suits and ties of the last year at Sunnydale High. Unconsciously draws strength from that time, when his purpose was clear, his family close, and his enemies easily recognized
Has quite a bit more grey at his temples these days
Often feels a burning in his chest at night, and has nightmares about the day Willow nearly killed them all
Sometimes gets flashes of emotion from Willow when she is close by
Finds them very unsettling
Tries to eradicate all emotion in himself
Is so very, very tired
Sees a child with his eyes, and does not know what to do, or say, or be
Feels Willow’s hand on his shoulder, and breathes.

Comments

[antennapedia.livejournal.com]

Fantastic. I have a strong sense of who Giles is in your story from that list. I can imagine him in motion.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks. But I can't.

He's like me, or me as I was in the bad times-- so in denial, so full of belief that if he could just be a little better/ stronger/ faster, he could make everything in his life ok. And someone who is so out of touch with his feelings, and with the reality of who he is and what he has let himself become.... It's hard to see how someone like that will react, how he will get through each day....

I don't know what to do with that. Worse still, I'm thinking of doing the narration strictly from Willow's point of view, and I so do not have her voice. I can't even mimic her voice from the show, because I see her as having grown up-- she would have to have, to still be in the world with all the things she's done, and all the power at her disposal now. I think she's going to come off sounding too much like me.

But you-- way to go on your word count, woman! You are going to make it with time to spare, and a good start on something we will all very much enjoy later. Well done....

Hob

[thule222.livejournal.com]

It feels very real to me. I can see him like this.

The comic is supposed to be out in March. Dark Horse is a little vague on details, but they've been firm on the March date for awhile.

[antennapedia.livejournal.com]

You have the man in a holding pattern. Now you're about to jar him out of it, with something so disruptive that his life can't continue as it was. Think of it in those terms: he's an object at rest that just been smacked by an unbalanced outside force. He's now going to be in motion, whether he wants to or not, whether he is comfortable with it or not.

Try writing some of this from his point of view. It might be horribly painful, but I think it might jar something loose in your head. That scene where he talks to Ellen's mother: oh boy, Giles would have quite a lot going on, wouldn't he? Even if it doesn't make it into the story, the exercise might be useful.

[willowgreen.livejournal.com]

Really like this sketch!

Re: Graphic novels: No idea about the Buffy comic, but here are a few manga that my kids like, in case your boy hasn't discovered them yet:

Naruto
Beet the Vandel Slayer
Dr. Slump

My son also read a book called "Whales on Stilts" this summer, which he absolutely loved. He's also a huge fan of books by Andy Griffiths, especially the "Day My Butt Went Psycho" series.

I will be sure never to tell him about the dumping-the-backpack-in the bushes trick, however.

[hobgoblinn.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback, and the book recs. And for friending me! That's the first time I've been friended out of the blue since I got this account -- unless you want to count our buddy silent_and_calm, who only fits his name in the creepy psychopath sort of way....

Anyway, I will be happy to keep reading your writing and giving you feedback, and I hope you'll do the same for me. Look forward to getting to know you better.

Hob,
who must now fix dinner and get to a rehearsal with small boy in tow. When did sitters get so bloody expensive? Luckily, he's not That small, and being in band, some of it might be interesting to him. And if not, there's always his game boy or comic books, and a seat in the back of the auditorium.....