Vote Now at Slayerstillness and Otherworldlyrics icontests!

[red_satin_doll]

otherworldlyric  has only nine entries this time around. (You'd think that would make the task of voting easier, right? WRONG.) Lovely entries as always -  the clarity and strength of the imagery is just astonishing to me. This batch is entirely female-centric which is always cause for celebration. And I confess that don't know who most of those characters are, to be honest - and I don't care and don't need to for voting purposes. If the icon speaks to me in some way, that's all I need. And these speak to me - there's no doubt in my mind that these icons capture interesting women who would be worth my while, in a variety of moods and aspects: angst, confusion, courage, determination etc.

In just nine icons. And that's what it's all about for me. There's a particular feeling about this set, as if all nine were made by the same person, or it was a collaborative effort. I had a helluva hard time voting because they look as though they all belong together.

FYI, their next challenge is Barry Manilow's "Mandy".  (Full disclosure- I LOVED that song as a kid. LOVED it. Had the Barry Manilow double-disk greatest hits on vinyl - got it for Christmas in 1979. "Mandy", "Weekend in New England" etc.) Which is a lovely bit of synchronicity because I heard that song on the radio last Saturday and I started jotting down icon ideas.  Hopefully I'll have time to do something for it this week; my sweetie and I are moving back into our renovated apartment this week so its gonna be crazytown in my little world.

The Love Song for A Vampire entries at slayerstillness also feel very much of a piece with each other, except this time there are 30 - count 'em, 30! - entries to chose from. I haven't voted yet. I've tried. I stared at them on Saturday and couldn't make up my mind. Looked at them today and still cannot make up my mind. Hopefully the rest of y'all are more decisive than I am, because voting ends tomorrow night! I think I know who I want to vote for...maybe. Possibly. Until I change my mind again. Oy vey.

I'm surprised that there aren't any Darla entries, and Dru is only shown with Spike, but I have the vampire ladies on the brain quite a bit lately. I think that's due to a wonderful batch of icons by spikesredqueen and two stunning Drusilla portraits by comlodge here and here.  Vampire Willow is well-represented in the icon entries though, along with Vamp Xander - and you may be shocked to know that I heartily approve. As much as I love the ladies, I have no problem admitting that Nicholas' performance as VX was wonderfully sexy (and I don't find NB sexy in general) and creepy and doesn't get nearly it's due.

And in other news - the identity of snowdropsandtigers, who rec'd my blog on tumblr, has been solved. It's the lovely and gracious tigerpetals - who I never would have guessed because we can't have interacted more than twice before this week, but I look forward to chatting with more often. If I don't, however, that's ok too. Knowing that people are reading this, even if I'm not aware of their existence is sobering and suprising and wonderful. When someone recs this site or stops by to say high, that's a huge deal for me knowing that they're enjoying this playspace I've carved out, and feel welcome.

I'm not sure how many of y'all have read gabrielleabelle's meta "On Lurkers" but if you haven't, please treat yourself and do so. It's one of my favorite fandom essays:

"Studies indicate that lurkers make up 90% of online groups. 90%. 90! Peeps, that means for every one person who comments on your fanwork, there's nine others who read/watched/looked at it but didn't say anything."

"I know the general attitude towards lurkers is that they don't matter because they don't contribute. I'd say that they matter because they're the reason we contribute. They don't cease to exist just because you can't see them. They're there. They're consuming. And they're being fans in their own way."

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I voted on both sites. Brilliant icons being made these days! Thanks for all the pimpage you do!


Gabrielle

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the pimpage you do!

I'm 150% sure your support and example encouraged me to pimp the way I do. (ok, that does sound weird...*shrugs*) I'm Pavlov's Puppy don'cha know!

(I only just now noticed the pimp text on your icon and it's giving me fits of giggles.)

[kikimay]

Thanks for the pimpage, otherwise I wouldn't know what happens with the graphics. In slayerstillness you can vote best crop, best color and something else PLUS your top three icons, right?

Also you have something in common with Angel, since Barry Manilow's Mandy is also his favorite. XD

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

In slayerstillness you can vote best crop, best color and something else PLUS your top three icons, right?

That's right. Which is a positive - you can spread the love a bit more. And a negative - 6 decisions to make instead of three. And what happens time and again is so many are absolutely the same/similar level of quality that I can't. decide.

That happened to me this weekend when the local food co-op had a cake decorating contest, we were to pick the best cake and I decided not to vote because there were two that tied for first - stunning works of art - but we were supposed to chose ONE. And I couldn't.

since Barry Manilow's Mandy is also his favorite.

Well it's not my favorite per se - I love Karen Carpenter more - but I did enjoy the canonicity of the song choice for this round! (I'm dying to see someone use it ironically btw.)


Oh and Nadya's Triangle icon is SO SO pretty! I love Buffy and Tara in that episode, even if I thought Sarah's crying weird at the time; now I appreciate that they're just two girls, two friends in that moment; and the fact that Tara is astonished at Buffy's outburst, even if it's meant as comedy, says a LOT about how closed-in Buffy keeps her emotions. (This after the humilation of the end of Briley.) And it won't be funny at all when Buffy goes to her for comfort in Dead Things. I just want to hug my girls so tight.

[kikimay]

I voted on slayerstillness trying to include all the icons. It's hard XD But it's lovely to see that after all these years there is so much creativity about the Buffyverse. Plus pretty vampires (I also voted the one with the Andrew!vampire. Love it. XD)

Oh and Nadya's Triangle icon is SO SO pretty!

It is, right? I'm so very shallow but I think that Triangle!Buffy is SO PRETTY. That's the reason I chose the icon in the first place. I think that she's really pretty and the hairstyle is the cutest. (Plus, I ADORE the episode with Anya and Willow's rivalry and some awesome comedy bits. Buffy's cries seem strange because she's stoic but I love the fact that we get to see comedy moments with Tara and Buffy together)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

It's hard XD But it's lovely to see that after all these years there is so much creativity about the Buffyverse. Plus pretty vampires

That's something I find absolutely incredible about this fandom - I can enjoy fic, meta and art going back almost 15 years. And as recently as last month's Fuffy vid.

I think that she's really pretty and the hairstyle is the cutest.

In the past I've gotten screencaps of Buffy in Triangle confused with her in All the Way, where she also has the ponytails. So cute. And I have a peculiar love of seeing things "from the back" - whether it's a woman's hairstyle, a bustle costume from 1880 in the round; the backside of a painting in the museum; behind the curtain in a stage set or puppet show, or seeing the backs of houses and business when my partner and I kayaked down rivers, or ride a train. there is something intangible about the "other side" or "other face" that interests me. Even the inside of an old watch for that matter!



I ADORE the episode with Anya and Willow's rivalry

Agree to disagree on this - this bugs me A LOT. Women fighting over the guy happens not once but twice at least, over Xander - early seasons Cordy and Willow. OVER XANDER? Are you kidding me, Joss? I'm sorry but that's a total nerdboy fantasy.

And the fact that Xander completely fails to speak up on his partner's behalf with willow and say "Cool it" makes me extremely uncomfortable. the worse people treat Anya, the more I'm Team Anya. Willow acts more like a possessive jealous lover or would-be lover than a friend with lovers of her own. And that's definitely a theme of the series (kwritten has been talking about this, and she's right about the possessiveness); just like Xander's slut shaming is conversely an attempt to exert control over other people.

And I don't think the show is saying it's good but when it's played for laughs like this, I don't find it funny.

OTOH - Spike's "paralysed with not caring very much" is a line I have actually used in real life. COMEDY GOLD. And Buffy and tara...every little scene of them just reminds me of how much more we could have gotten *sobs*

[kikimay]

Yes, it's also the hairstyle she has in All the Way and I LOVE her look in All the Way. Love it so much. <3 (Your icon! Her hairstyle! Queen of hair! - Pity that in The Crazy Ones she isn't anymore)

I love the funny scenes between Anya and Willow so, for once, I don't mind it's about Xander (I'm also all the way Team Anya and it pisses me off to no end that Xander never takes Anya's side. Hello, Floaded and Xander rolling his eyes at Anya's legitimate opinion! Why he even loves Anya if he never agrees with her opinions and she always seems "unapproriate" to him? I don't understand)

... And that's another reason I don't like Xander. *sighs*

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Queen of hair! - Pity that in The Crazy Ones she isn't anymore)

I notice that in the clips from that show but also when she's on talk shows lately she sort of overdoes it with the extensions (IMO). On the show it seems like they are de-emphasizing her prettiness for comedic effect? Her makeup also tends to be rather overdone; but when I see the photos of her "behind the scenes" she often has less makeup and looks much prettier.

It's rather interesting that the "female sidekick BFF" in the Crazy Ones is prettier than the lead female; when I was a kid in the 1970's and 1980's it was often the other way around. (Although maybe shows like Roseanne changed that somewhat.)

Why he even loves Anya if he never agrees with her opinions and she always seems "unapproriate" to him? I don't understand

As I said to itsnotmymind on your journal, their dynamic is annoying as hell - and unfortunately, it's also pretty realistic in terms of my personal experience of relationship dynamics.

[kikimay]

Yes, I read it and I agree. I think that Anya/Xander is really the regular couple (Except I still think that he could be more supportive. It's just that I'm team Anya)

I think that SMG's hair is too blonde. Like too much platinum blonde. It ages her and she looked much more cute with a warmer and apparently more natural shade of blonde.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Yes, I read it and I agree. I think that Anya/Xander is really the regular couple (Except I still think that he could be more supportive. It's just that I'm team Anya)

Oh yeah, no arguement there. She's trying to fit in to their expectations and yet at the same time she's a very strong personality. My heart breaks for her when Willow scolds her in The Body - and Xander doesn't speak up on his partner's behalf at all (WTF dude?) - and she says "and no one will tell me why."

apparently more natural shade of blonde.

She's a brunette anyway so "natural" is a relative thing! I agree that a warmer shade of blond would be more flattering.

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

I had the same issue, voting is extremely difficult this round at both places! I hope to participate in the next rounds but I am not certain if I will as of yet.

And yes, Vamp!Xander is very sexy and creepy. NB did a great job!

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I hope to participate in the next rounds but I am not certain if I will as of yet.

I'm not sure about OWL although I'm interested (we might be in the midst of moving this week and next, and I really have a ridiculous backlog of icons I need to post here); I'm def not doing the next SS on "puppet show". I haven't even seen the ep so I'll leave that to folks who have.

And besides there are one of two classic icons of that ep I've seen on LJ that I couldn't hope to reproduce. ("Brood brood brood" and another one that compares Xander's frowny face in the Freshman to Angel's puppet face. Classic.)

And I admit I wanted to see Vamp Xander again when they brought Vamp Willow back in Dopplegangland. Maybe it wasn't deemed necessary because Xander's darkness is much closer to the surface (slut-shaming etc - thanks, Mr Harris! /*end snark*) whereas Willow's is so deeply buried at that point.

But oh MY - when VX threw VW the matches and said "I like to watch"? and then when he cupped his hand around VW's hair while they were killing Cordy, and the camera revolved around the three of them? CHILLS, BABY. SICK TWISTED SEXY
(I may need help for this.)

[spikesredqueen.livejournal.com]

I haven't even seen the ep so I'll leave that to folks who have.

It is such a silly and cute episode :)

If you need help for that than so do I... and probably many others lol

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I've seen little clips so it looks completely charming!

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

Thanks for linking Dru. I'm quite pleased with those. :D I forgot to vote at SS! :( In my new, I will not spend all day on LJ but can't make up my mind if it should be morning or night I missed the deadline.

On Lurkers - never diss the lurker. I lurked for two years, read thousands of stories, ogled hundreds of images and never made a single comment. I thought I was much too late to do so or not qualified or not part of the clique or didn't know what to say or ...insert other reason here... :D

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thanks for linking Dru. I'm quite pleased with those.

It gave me an excuse to look again and linger - as if I needed one. the one of her face superimposed on the church especially is mesmerizing, stunning.

And I just managed to vote at SS a little while ago, but oh goodness it was hard! (Did you make any for this round?)

I thought I was much too late to do so or not qualified or not part of the clique or didn't know what to say or ...insert other reason here... :D

I'll see your excuses and raise you a couple: there's so much to read and too much to do, and if I commented to everything I read, I wouldnt get to read as much, or I don't know what to say. Etc.

One of the nice things about AO3 is that "kudos" button - the equivalent of "like" on Facebook. If I need to say more than that there's always the space for me to do so. OTOH, you've noted that AO3 doesn't get ff.net's traffic, but ff.net is much older.

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

(Did you make any for this round? No though I had started to and then got distracted. Some beautiful entries as usual.

Love that kudos button in AO3. Leaving comments can be so problematic sometimes for all of the above reasons. And on the converse side, I often have no idea what to reply to comments. I post to ff.net because it is so easy to do so. AO3 confuses me and makes me work for the privilege so I've posted like two things there. I do like their philosophy though and the fact that they are willing to fight for the rights of fic authors and therefore deserve our support.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

And on the converse side, I often have no idea what to reply to comments.

I hadn't looked at it the other way 'round.



AO3 confuses me and makes me work for the privilege

I did find out today that videos can be posted there, but I've only linked to posts here - the set-up seems terribly complicated to me. I guess I need to look up tutorials?

I do like their philosophy though and the fact that they are willing to fight for the rights of fic authors and therefore deserve our support.

This is interesting - ff.net feels like it's run by machines albeit whimsical ones, and they will throw authors to the wolves. What do the folks at AO3 do to protect authors?

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

*giggle* for Faith

AO3 - Apparently they will go to bat legally. There is an about us somewhere there. I don't think I found useful how to's though so good luck with that, I did eventually work out how to post an image - you have to do it in code and store the image elsewhere.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I love Faith, and the Buffy and Faith, in S7 so much. But heck, I loved it when Spike and Faith were fighting in Touched. It's all good. S7 needed more Faith, pun completely intended.

you have to do it in code and store the image elsewhere.

And my eyes just glazed over at the mention of "code". I'm such a wimp.

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

I cheat with the code. Make a post in livejournal with your image, switch to html view and copy and paste the code into your AO3 post - but yeah it's why I don't post there - too much like hard work. :D

And I rather like Faith and don't mind reading a little Spike/Faith. Two of a kind though so they need a grown up to contol the wilder ideas. :D

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I cheat with the code

You know at some point you're the one I'm going to be pestering with how-to questions, right? :P

And I rather like Faith and don't mind reading a little Spike/Faith. Two of a kind though so they need a grown up to contol the wilder ideas. :D

Absolute agreement on the similarities between them. They need Buffy, Buffy needs them; she needs to access (or re-access) "the fire", they need to tamp it down and learn to control it (get ahold of themselves) better. I can see why they had to "hand off" the role of Buffy's primary dark mirror from one to the other in WAY and Faith went on to AtS, because I'm not sure you could have both characters existing in the same space at the same time.

At the other hand it could be done if given some some careful thought. (Hey, I wouldn't mind a threesome with Buffy if it came to that. They are all fascinating characters for me.) *PONDERS*

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

Lol, ask away. Always happy to share my meagre knowledge.

I can't really see Buffy sharing in a threesome. Be nice though. :D

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Oh we can imagine, can't we? Especially now that Buffy is in her 30's and perhaps has "loosened up" a bit. Just a bit. (my personal 30-something Buffy is a glorious woman and a force of nature - albeit with a few perfectly human quirks and flaws.)

Besides, didn't you see my headcanon version of how Glory came to be in my Welcome post? Cordy, Buffy, Faith and Illyria had themselves a foursome and - oops.

(I don't know if you read femmeslash by the way - I'm thinking it's not your thing any more than m/m is mine - but I did once read a terrific post-Chosen story with Kennedy, faith and Buffy. I enjoyed it anyway.)

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

my personal 30-something Buffy is a glorious woman and a force of nature - albeit with a few perfectly human quirks and flaws.

Yes, I rather like your Buffy and I expect her to be something like that myself. She had a good grounding in how to live life from her mom and even though she's been through a ton of a shit, she's gonna find that grounding coming through and she's gonna listen to it. :D Not sure she'd be sharing girl with my Spike, though, for more than friendships. *grin*

I've not read much femmeslash other than as part of a story that includes Willow. I read a little of valyssia and if I was gonna do the femmeslash I'd start with her as I really like her writing. I'm still stuck on reading Spike and I prefer het actually, so I spend my fanfic reading time on Dark solace or Fanfic.net. I don't like the idea of Buffy in an f/f relationship. Don't know why. But then I don't like Bangel either. I guess I just want her to be with Spike. I've probably never gotten over her leaving him to burn for her. *smile here* I so cried in Chosen.

I've read a few post series fics with Kennedy in them and mostly she is dumped on, sometimes to the point that she is the big bad. Only read a couple where the author has been kind and wrote her nicely. No-one though has ever written her a back story. That's the biggest problem with the potentials - they were all cardboard cutouts in the rush that was the final season.

[eilowyn.livejournal.com]

I've probably never gotten over her leaving him to burn for her.

I think she had to leave him there for the plot to have any significance other than to the Spuffy romance. I love the FLAMEY HANDS OF LOVE as much as the next person, but I think her staying there would have narratively left out any part of her journey as a woman and a slayer except for her relationship with Spike. This show wasn't a Castle, where the entire point was the relationship between the ship. It was an ensemble piece surrounding a star, and in order to bring closure to the star's journey, Buffy couldn't die in the Hellmouth with Spike. He didn't want her to.

I'm bored. Sorry if I got in your grill about this.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I appreciate your comments here Lexi, as usual you express my thoughts better than I could. No apologies!

I think she had to leave him there for the plot to have any significance other than to the Spuffy romance.

*Nods* And this is very true for both of them, to each be "whole and complete" in their own right. (Isn't that the frequent complaint, that Spike needed to be his own man?) The self-styled Big Bad makes a totally unselfish choice, and gets to be the hero. The former creature of Darkness and Death gives the gift of life; and death is her gift in return - a noble, honorable heroic death, rather than an ignoble death at the end of a Slayer's stake in some alleyway.

Buffy understands that because she has been there herself, they are two warriors and heros who understand one another completely. He is in that moment his own man, entirely, and at the same time is completely connected to both Buffy and Willow and the new Slayers via the Slayer Spell that released the power of the amulet (see shooting script).

It's all connected:

"Tell Giles...that this is the work I have to do." (The Gift)

"Gotta do this...Now go!" (Chosen)

Completely parallel events. Both characters are accused of selfishness; both act unselfishly here, helping each other completely rewrite the story of what it means to be a Slayer and a Vampire; and btvs is at heart a story about the stories we tell ourselves tell others and the stories we inherit.

Think of Andrew telling Xander about Anya's death, finally using his imagination & storytelling skills for good. It's all connected.

And don't forget - Joss was told by the networks that they wouldn't extend AtS for one more season without JM on board, so they had to find a plausible way in-story to get him from one story to another. The way they chose is much more heroic and grand than just some lame-ass "oh Buffy and I broke up so I thought I'd come round these parts" or whatnot. We should probably be grateful. *lol*

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

Lol. I know the feeling and yes agree with you entirely. Hope something exciting comes your way or at least a bit interesting. :D

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the pimpage! I definitely voted at both sites and I agree that it was really tough to choose my top faves! I was very happy to see Vamp Willow and Vamp Xander among the entries. :)

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I FINALLY voted in SS today - I buckled myself down and told myself to stop thinking and just do it.

I was very happy to see Vamp Willow and Vamp Xander among the entries. :)

I was very surprised (and pleased) by the VX showing.

I think there was only one Harmony?