just stopped by for a great reread of a fantastic series. thanks again for the fine read.

You are more than welcome... I have a lot of little ends to tie up to properly finish it... sorry, it's taking so long. I am grateful for your continuing support of my writing.

Blue

The most beautiful thing I have ever seen superimposed over the LA skyline...a gold pentacle...as if the Goddess Herself had blessed Los Angeles with Her protection...

Agnostic here with NeoPagan leanings, why I said what I just said...it really is quite beautiful.

As for the five Elements...according to Wicca belief, they are Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit, not exactly sure where the Wood and Metal come from, intriguing to find out. Knowledge is my crack, after all....LOL

Lovely job so far with the story...too bad there's no sequel, would have been interesting.

And what gives with Angel? A week of being human again and one would think he would never tire of it...but he's hitting the bottle again and getting crossways with all his friends? Looks like Gunn's gonna have to take over as the VIC (Vamp In Charge)

Oh, side note here, started a new chap with my story "Balance of Powers", in my own series, and it had Dru, Patrick, and Cordyllyria (making with the condensy here, likey?), please give it a read? Hope I did right by you...

Thank you... I'm so glad that touched you. Yes, I definitely felt that grace herself was touching the city. Thank you again. It means a lot coming from someone for whom these symbols have meaning.

As for the five elements... I deliberately clouded the issue... The wood and metal come from Chinese medicine... I wanted to connect ALL the various belief systems... because in my understanding... what speaks to me is that we are stronger as the sum of all of who and what we are than any of us is on their own...

I'm beginning to think I will have to write it all as a short sequel b/c every time I put pen to paper (or hands to keyboard) to come up with closing chapters, tendrils spread out in different directions... I have my original final chapter written, but so much has happened that has transcended it, that it seems too small... I'm gonna have to ponder on it. I really did want to be 'done' but the story seems to have more telling to happen, so we shall see. Rest assured that whatever happens, it's far from abandoned.

I just keep telling myself it's long enough all ready. don't you think it's long enough? {grin}

Thanks for your lovely reviews.

Blue

*tears*

The most hilarious chapter in this story so far! Cute puppets having a sexual free for all in the back seat of their vampire friend's car, Puppet Spike complaining and kicking uselessly, Puppet Buffy giggling for the sheer hilarity of it, Wes trying to brood and failing, and Dru trying not to crash and kill all the living passengers while she's keeping her undead sides from splitting in uncontrolled laughter...couldn't help myself...LMFAO!

so very happy to make you laugh! Yes, this one was a great deal of fun to write and I had to go back and read it again after you reviewed it. I loved getting everyone's personality and then having the cop get his 'momma told me not to come' moment.

I do hope you'll continue to enjoy this as I work on trying to finish it. My problem is that I have so many side stories that are developing that I'm trying to figure out which to turn into separate stories and which to simply refer to in passing... Every time I put pen to paper I get more story instead of 'conclusion'. Sigh. And no, I have no plans to write a sequel. Nope, not happening. No way, no how.

Blue

*tears*

THAT was a beautiful chapter; I suppose the only was Dru will find out for sure about her reaction to sunlight will be if she's tossed out into it and doesn't burn...then whoever's tried to kill her at that moment had BETTER watch their backs...

As for getting her rosary back after a century and a half and finding out she has family still, that's the best part. She'll be uncomfortable with revealing to them the nature of her existence, but the ones who accept will accept her without judgement as opposed to those who are too blinded by their faith...gonna be interesting when she finally meets Jack O'Neill and he has to call her Grandma Dru...LOL

This may have been my favorite chapter to write... It certainly was close to my soul... and my heart. Yes, she's a fearsome opponent, but she still has vulnerabilities.

You'll have to tell me what you think of her encounter with Jack. All I'll say is I had fun with it!

I really do hope that you'll enjoy what is to come. She's going to make a lot of friends, a few enemies... and experience all sorts of cool stuff before this is all over... Here's hoping you'll enjoy it all.

Peace,

Blue

LMFAO! PHONE SEX between a vampire chick and an ex-priest! Well....gratuitous phone sex, but still!!! HOly SH---yeah, how weird and hilarious is THAT?! How did you make this thing stretch out for 90 chapters? And you're STILL not finished?! Jeez....

Loving it. Had a good laugh with this chap...

Yes, well... they are a couple! You have no idea how nervous I was about posting this chapter! Yes, it is a bit odd how life takes you to strange places...

As for the 90 chapters... it will soon be over... Only a few more chapters to go... They just have to kill the monsters and save the world... and... well, that would be telling!!

Glad you enjoyed this!

Peace,

Blue

Hello again! *waves*

In fact, Faith had laughed. He knew she still trusted him, but she thought his move to Wolfram and Hart was, as she put it, “some crazy shit”. - Heh. Oh dear, I have serious love for Faith and her bluntness.

Bahhh. I almost felt like banging Angel in the head for suggesting Wesley call the Council so that Wesley would start to trust him again. Why would the Council trust Wesley anymore than they would Angel if they thought that he was part of WR&H? That just reads bad idea all over the place just because Angel doesn't want Spike to do it. *throws frying pan at Angel*

I really am unnecessarily frustrated at Angel. And largely because his stupid-headedness and making things utterly more complicated than necessary because he doesn't seem to understand how to navigate the people around him is completely in character. *snorts*

It's a bit of a cliff hanger for me, but that's all I have time to read right now Blue. I enjoyed the bits I read immensely. Night!

Yes, I love my girl Faith. Someone has got to keep Angel from thinking too much and getting lost in that big maze of melancholy he calls a brain!

Yes, Angel can be dense. Of course, his intentions were good. He wanted to make Wesley know he was trusted... so he was doing the stupid thing for the right reasons... doesn't make it not stupid, however!

*Ducks* Glad the frying pan wasn't aimed at me! *Snort... giggle*

No, you're just the right amount of frustrated at Angel. For some reason, this version of Angel is thoroughly frustrating. I love that term 'stupid-headedness'. I may have to steal it... May I steal it? No, Angel has no clue about being a social animal. Or maybe it's just that as smart as he is, he just 'has no clue' about a lot of things to do with real life. If he can't hit it, bite it or stab it with his steely knives... he just doesn't know what to do with it!

Well, I'm sorry to lose you for the evening, but most of us do have to sleep! Look forward to hearing from you about the rest of it as you get to it.

Hugs.

Sleep well.

Blue

Lindsey's story is interesting, but I'm still concerned about that reference to "supernatural prophylactics" versus a contraception charm or spell. I can imagine WRH harvesting fertilized eggs to grow into bodies that they can use in our dimension.

"Prophylactic: A preventive measure. The word comes from the Greek for "an advance guard," an apt term for a measure taken to fend off a disease or another unwanted consequence." from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11902

_____

A prophylactic can be ANYTHING that is used to avoid pregnancy or disease or (in the strictest definition of the word) to prevent anything. So, I was thinking spell or potion or something of the sort...

Yes, I can imagine WRH doing all sorts of evil with fertilized eggs, especially of 'important' persons... that's a scary thought... Actually, very scary!!

Thanks for that nightmarish little bit of inspiration! I can feel muse rubbing his hands together in evil glee.

Blue.

Unclear if they were in Angel's apartment in the WRH tower or back at the hotel.

They were at Angel's apartment. Cordelia as I recall, was researching and came upstairs to visit Angel.

Blue

Lots of action and character management here.... well done. I like that even WRH couldn't track Angel while he had his cell phone off. It might have been provided by them, but it was probably easier to enchant tracking on the car than every single object provided to him from them. The incidental characters were interesting as well. Can't rightly remember if this was from an episode or not, but that speaks well for your writing, too.

EDIT: In terms of new or newish characters it was the first plain clothes police officer that they talked to.

I'm glad you can't always tell whether it was from an episode... hope that means it fits well inside the original mythology. I'm very grateful that you think it speaks well for my writing. that is very flattering!

WRH have a great deal of power and it's probably possible to find Angel wherever he is, but thankfully, our heroes aren't making things easy for WRH.

Which incidental characters stood out for you? I'm very glad that the action and 'character management' works... It can get very confusing when you've got a cast of many. It is, however, a great deal of fun when it works.

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback. It makes me think about my writing, which is always a great thing... It also makes my day!

Peace,

Blue

The new mythology is a detour from the established characters, but I do enjoy your writing overall.

EDIT: It helps that she was only important and "central" in her exposition scene. She didn't take over the narrative... but it does tie in to your SG1 x/o regarding the Ancients... who were human-like in existence on earth before humans.

I hope it isn't too far a detour. I like to think my universe is like the ones seen through the quantum mirror (in stargate)... it's different, but not completely foreign.

Thanks

Blue

Enjoying how you are dramatizing Angel's very difficult epiphany.

It was painful and interesting to explore Angel's path. I wanted to find a path back to compassion for his character. This chapter was it.

Blue

I like how seeing what is going on with Angel is an good example to Gunn. He was useful in fighting the deamon pirates without using legal knowledge, and was treated as a valued member of the team. Maybe he won't even notice "losing" his legal knowledge, instead of making the compromise that lead to Illryria's sarcophegus being let through customs and delivered to WRH.

Well, you'll just have to wait to see how the whole Illyria thing plays out. I promise you it won't be what you are expecting. I do promise you one thing, Gunn will find his own path.

I'm glad that you approve of how Angel's choices are influencing Gunn's thoughts. It's time he thought about his life, isn't it?

Blue

Great chapter.

Cordy and Cameron-now that is pair that has the potential to really cause a ruckus (in a not too harmful but authority tweaking way).

Glad to see that Angel finally came to his senses-there are many in that situation who never do.

Thank you.

Yes, Cordy and Cameron... a match made in General officers hair loss hell! Yup, I think they'll make an excellent team... and cause as much trouble as SG-1... in a good way!

Yes, Angel. Hmmm. No, not everyone gets sober. Of course, not everyone who gets sober stays sober either. ~ 10% of people who walk into an AA meeting get sober. Over time, it may be a bit more because a lot of people end up returning to the program several times... Other approaches to recovery have an even lower track record. Addiction is a bitch.

Blue

An interesting twist with the "deamon queen" who might be a half-giant (or quarter giant) caught up in dark magics. The magic and action, well done.

I'm so glad you like this chapter. The whole thing was of course inspired by Nina Simone's chilling story song "Pirate Jenny"... I loved making her into something different too... you'll see as you go along... hope you'll like

Blue

What is "altered" from. It does seem like "genetically or gene-therapy (temporary RNA changes) altered, but I haven't seen enough CSI episodes to know if it comes from that show or another fandom.

EDIT: Technical explanation appreciated.

OK, 'altered' is a term that EMS/law enforcement often use to mean anything 'mentally altered' - sometimes mentally ill, sometimes mentally not lucid because of a medical condition or trauma (often a head injury), including an 'altered level of consciousness' (that's more likely to be called an 'altered LOC'

A lot of the time 'altered' is just a euphemism for high on drugs or drunk -- because EMS/law enforcement don't want to say those words in front of family or onlookers/bystanders.

'Altered' is (sadly) often a catch-all word for any mental impairment you have no clue about.

I don't remember if it was actually used on the show CSI, but it is used by many EMS and law enforcement types when talking to each other or to the staff at an Emergency Department (what civilians tend to call the ER). If you bring in a patient who has been behaving oddly, it's nice to warn the charge nurse that the patient seems 'altered', so they don't get a nasty surprise when the patient starts stripping, or dying or screaming or all of the above (usually not in that order!)

If applicable, you may also mention 'possible ETOH' (which means you think the person is drunk) or you may tell them that the person is (or you suspect they might be) diabetic 'DM', if you know this to be the case, b/c sometimes a diabetic may act pretty much like a drunk... and *not* treating their problems might *kill* them.

Hope this helps.

Blue

EMS = Emergency Medical Services -- usually consists of EMTs and/or paramedics depending on the nature of the emergency call.

EMT = EMT-B (basic)
paramedic = EMT-P (paramedic)

OK, probably *way* more than you needed to know. Hope this helps.