Flood
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<div class="content"> <h3>Table of Contents</h3> <hr> <br> <a href="flood_cover-f.php">Flood</a> <ol class="list"> <li><a href="flood01-f.php">The Depth of Life</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> <li><a href="flood02-f.php">Something Deeper</a> <img src="images/doty.png" alt="(Contains Mature Themes)" title="Contains Mature Themes: Parental Supervision Suggested" /></li> <li><a href="flood03-f.php">Just How Damaged Have I Become?</a> <img src="images/doty.png" alt="(Contains Mature Themes)" title="Contains Mature Themes: Parental Supervision Suggested" /></li> <li><a href="flood04-f.php">Like Bees Working in a Glass Hive</a> <img src="images/doty.png" alt="(Contains Mature Themes)" title="Contains Mature Themes: Parental Supervision Suggested" /></li> <li><a href="flood05-f.php">All the King’s Horses</a> <img src="images/doty.png" alt="(Contains Mature Themes)" title="Contains Mature Themes: Parental Supervision Suggested" /></li> <li><a href="flood06-f.php">And All the King’s Men</a> <img src="images/doty.png" alt="(Contains Mature Themes)" title="Contains Mature Themes: Parental Supervision Suggested" /></li> <li><a href="flood07-f.php">The Redeeming Things</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> <li><a href="flood08-f.php">From Fatal Errors</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> <li><a href="flood09-f.php">The Lame and the Blind</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> <li><a href="flood10-f.php">Something Subtle, Intangible and Inexplicable</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> <li><a href="flood11-f.php">Put Out the Light in My Eyes</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> <li><a href="flood12-f.php">In the Beginning is My End</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> <li><a href="flood13-f.php">Epilogue: The Seeds of Life</a> <img src="images/dotr.png" alt="(Mature Audience Recommended)" title="Mature Audience: Parents Strongly Cautioned" /></li> </ol> <br> <hr> <h3>ebook</h3> <hr> <br> <br> <a href="ebooks/Flood.prc"><img class="floatleft" src="images/flood_sm.jpg" alt="Flood" /></a> <p class="flattop">To download this story in ebook format, click on the image.</p> <p>The reader software can be found at <a href="http://www.mobipocket.com/en/DownloadSoft/ProductDetailsReader.asp">Mobipocket.com.</a> <p>There are versions available for: Windows PC, Blackberry, Window Mobile, Symbian OS, Palm OS as well as dedicated epaper devices such as Cybook and iLiad.</p> <p>Those of you with Apple devices such as the iPod Touch or the iPhone can find a compatible reader at <a href="http://www.lexcycle.com/">Lexcycle.com.</a> <br class="clearall"> <br> <hr> <h3>Description</h3> <hr> <br> <p>I received this challenge around Christmas time of 2007.</p> <p>“There was a throwaway comment in season three <em>Earshot</em> where Willow asks Buffy if the demon that infected her was a boy demon and I always expected someone to run with this but I’ve never seen anything.”</p> <p>This might seem on the surface to be a request for some pretty twisted PWP she-male porn, but as I considered it I began to see the value in the story. Gender dysphoria is a very real topic, one that’s particularly taboo in our crappy militant Christian society. As an atheist, poking my finger in the eye of the ‘conservative right’ is something of a hobby. As a lesbian and a member of ‘the community’ I saw this as an opportunity to speak to this topic on what I hope to be a relatively sensitive level.</p> <p>What we end up with is a pretty unusual sort of ‘trauma/ comfort’ story.</p> <p>A respected peer had this to say:</p> <p>“You get my admiration and praise for an excellent piece that was written in record time with no deviation from quality. Characterization was good up to the point where it became <em>your</em> universe and continued from there as I felt your extrapolations were accurate. The plot was compelling, the romance believeable. Angst a little heavy but third-person past does have limits which you overcame, for the most part, well enough with letting us peek in their heads. Sometimes the shifting got a bit...dull, information overload but the plot was quick enough to not let that be a severe issue.</p> <p>And, as I said, the story was strong enough and created skillfully enough that you used the Rule Breakers well and incorporated them into your story. So I’d say it was a quadruple success. You took on gender-flips, immortality, death and <em>possible</em> after life and it worked.”</p> <br> <hr> <h3>Author’s Notes</h3> <hr> <br> <p>Howard Russell worked on this story not only as a fan-freaking-tastic beta reader, but he handled many of the scenes involving Joyce and Buffy.</p> <p>Angie played prereader, picking up on the minor bits of wonkiness that Howard and I sometimes miss.</p> <p>Whedonist was such a pal, reading this crap the ninety times I made changes.</p> <p>Mad Hamlet prompted a refocus of a key scene early on, in his typical, graceful fashion. Later in the piece he provided invaluable assistance with the Mayor’s portrayal.</p> <p>In chapter one, I directly quote dialog from the episode <em>Lie to Me</em>. A gentle tip of my hat and a wink to the author Joss Whedon.</p> <p>The dream dialog in chapter three was borrowed from none other than The Bear. It comes from the story, <em>Seeing Red</em>.</p> <p>I quote directly from the episode <em>The Prom</em> in this chapter six. A sheepish wave and wink to one of the few people on this planet that tortures Buffy more viciously than I do, the episode’s author Marti Noxon.</p> <br> <hr> <h3>Awards</h3> <hr> <br> <p class="center"> <img src="awards/VCRU-Valyssia.png" alt="Voter's Choice Award Runner UP, Flood, 2009 Kinda Gay Awards" title="Voter's Choice Award Runner UP, Flood, 2009 Kinda Gay Awards" /> </p> <br> <p class="center"> <img src="awards/SOG09_novel1.jpg" alt="Best Novel, Flood, 2009 Shades of Grey Awards" title="Best Novel, Flood, 2009 Shades of Grey Awards" /> </p> <br> <p class="center"> <img src="awards/09character-valyssia.jpg" alt="Best Characterization: Willow, Flood, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" title="Best Characterization: Willow, Flood, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" /> <img src="awards/09buffyfic-valyssia.jpg" alt="Best Buffy/Willow Fic, Flood, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" title="Best Buffy/Willow Fic, Flood, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" /> <img src="awards/09angst-valyssia.jpg" alt="Best Angst, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" title="Best Angst, Flood, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" /> <img src="awards/09overallfic-valyssia.jpg" alt="Best Overall Willow Fic Runner Up, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" title="Best Overall Willow Fic Runner Up, Flood, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" /> <img src="awards/09AU-valyssia.jpg" alt="Best Alternate Universe Runner Up, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" title="Best Alternate Universe Runner Up, 2009 Willowy Goodness Awards" /> </p> <br> <p class="center"> <img src="awards/R14character1.jpg" alt="Best Characterization: Buffy, Flood, Sunnydale Awards Round 14" title="Best Characterization: Buffy, Flood, Sunnydale Awards Round 14" /> <img src="awards/R14angst2.jpg" alt="Best Angst Runner Up, Flood, Sunnydale Awards Round 14" title="Best Angst Runner Up, Flood, Sunnydale Awards Round 14" /> <img src="awards/R14plot2.jpg" alt="Best Plot Runner Up, Flood, Sunnydale Awards Round 14" title="Best Plot Runner Up, Flood, Sunnydale Awards Round 14" /> </p> <br> <hr> <h3>Reviews</h3> <hr> <hr> <div class="disclaimer" align="center"> <ul> <li>All material derived from pop culture at large is the property of its respective owner. No copyright infringement is intended. Please read the <a href="disclaimer.php">disclaimer.</a></li> <li>© Valyssia Leigh 2009</li> </ul> <br> <br> </div> </div> <img id="back2" src="images/Cacophony2.jpg" alt="" title="" />
