Sandman comics / Buffy fic?

[dance of joy]

Ok, I'm being brazen, since I'm so new, but my sister and I wrote a continuation of the Gift, and it's a combo between Buffy and the Sandman comics universe. It doesn't have nearly enough Willow/Tara stuff, but it's meant to the the first in a series with lots of backstory and future stuff for them.

So, would anyone be interested in reading it? Is anyone familiar with the comics? Is it ok to be temporarily W/T deficient?

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did you see her yawn? i thought i was going to die!

[xita]

yes if they are in it as a couple and there is intention of it including them more in the future, cerainly!

[dance of joy]

Yay! Ok, now nervous.

This was really written to amuse ourselves, and assumes working knowledge of the Sandman universe. In these comics, Death is this charming goth chick, and we thought, if Death is Buffy's gift, that sounds like a pleasant meeting.

So, quick background:
The Endless came before gods, before this universe, and embody ideas. They are siblings: Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium. Dream is the title character, and was named Morpheus; pale, dark haired, broody, self-absorbed... he died at around the same time as Becoming 2 (this is super approximate), and was replaced by a new incarnation, Daniel.

So The Endless are The Powers That Be, and since Angel reminded Death of her brother, she decided to bring him back. Desire never got along with Morpheus, by the way.

Ok, please ask if the rest doesn't make any sense, cause we have a lot of the background mythology worked out, and don't know how well it comes through in this first installment.

Also, keep in mind that we wrote this before Gift aired, so the Teaser was just a spoiler-free guess..it's bizarre that we were so close to accurate, but there are inconsistancies.

Ok, time for the actual story:

The Gift

Buffy/Sandman crossover

Previously on Buffy:

Desire grins as Angel and Buffy cling to each other, waiting for him to feel the pain of losing his soul.

Delirium watching over Dru asking if Spike loves all her parts, smiling dreamily at Spike’s answer.

Endless mourning Morpheus.

Clip of Death talking to Daniel “He’s pale and broody and self-righteous… I miss him”.

Death returning feral Angel to the mansion.

Daniel gives Doyle visions.

Willow trying to do moon magic to cure Oz… Thessaly, unseen, saying “The moon does not help men.” After Willow choses Tara, Thessaly bestows the Moon’s gifts upon Willow. Clip of Willow with black eyes lashing out at Glory.

Clip from Restless: You’re not the source of me! Cut to Destruction off on the beach on a Greek island somewhere, head in hands.

Joyce’s body… Despair trying to claim Buffy and Dawn.

Teaser:

Buffy kills Ben/Glory.

Dawn is rescued.

Tara& others get sanity returned when minions killed.

Buffy gets thrown off roof or something-clearly dead, but intact.

Buffy’s POV, Death leaning over, smiling.
Death: Hello again.

Buffy’s face- surprised.

DA DA DA DUM

COMMERCIAL

Group gathered around Buffy’s body in the street.

Willow and Tara clutching each other in relief and shock and guilt.

Anya clinging to dazed Xander.

Dawn closer to body, kneeling near hips, crying.

Giles goes towards Dawn out of instinct/duty, begins to reach out, but stops. We see Giles’ faces collapse.

Spike kneeling next to Buffy’s head, disbelieving.

Delirium perspective of group:

Fuzzy as background and random body parts go in and out of focus as if each is equally important. Things sometimes subtly change colors. Discarded styrofoam cup on sidewalk… Spike’s hair… Lamppost… Dawn’s tear-streaked cheek… Spike’s hands touching Buffy’s hair… Tara’s pajama pants… Spike’s pained face… Giles’ broken glasses…

Desire behind Spike, looks like embracing him, but not actually touching. No one else notices her/him.

Focus on Spike.

Delirium: I know him.

Desire: He’s one of mine.

Cut to Spike’s face over Buffy’s- intense yearning.

Delirium: He took good care of one of mine. (distracted and sad) It’s pretty rare for anyone to do that…

Desire (smiles permissively): It’s ok.

Delirium smiles like a child and steps closer to Spike.

Delirium: Their names are William.

Spike (tear-streaked face looks up, seeing her for first time): What?

Delirium: The stars. She named them all William.

Spike (suspicious): How do you know Dru?

Delirium: She’s one of of mine. You were hers. Now you’re hers. But sh’se not mine, she’s with my sister. Time is funny.

Pan across gang, obviously noticing none of this, seemingly frozen, actually in super slo-mo.

Spike: Take me to her.

Delirium takes his hand and pulls him up. Spike looks determined. Del starts to skip, suddenly with a flying fish on a string in her other hand..

Desire’s smile turns evil.

Gallery of the Endless: Portraits with long lists of names in multiple languages under each… luckily there are these visible English names near the tops of the lists, to give the audience a clue: Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction (sillouhette), Desire, Despair, Delirium.

Delirium stands in front of Death’s portrait and whispers something. Spike casts a nasty look at Destiny…

Spike: Bastard.

Death’s apartment, very homey, slightly messy.

Buffy and Death curled up on the couch facing each other, holding mugs of hot chocolate, talking, clearly on the same wavelength.

Buffy: Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

Death: Dandelion fluff.

Buffy: Cracks in the sidewalk.

Death: Raspberry stains on your fingers.

Buffy: The smell of city after the rain.

Pause, both smile wistfully, but sort of excited, too.

Buffy seems contented. This is where her Mom went, and it’s so not bad.

Death: Chenille.

Buffy: Silk boxer shorts!

Delirium poofs in, with Spike trailing behind her.

Death: Hi, little sis. It’s been a long time since you visited me.

Delirium, suddenly fidgety: Your nails are pretty. I can never make mine all the same color like that… I forgot to feed my fishies.

Delirium poofs again and disappears.

Death sighs patiently, then smiles welcomingly up at a bewildered Spike.

Spike: Have we met before?

Death: Before the demon took you back.

Spike gets a clue, sits down heavily on a comfy chair.

COMMERCIAL

Buffy: You don’t belong here.

Spike (not really believing himself): Neither do you.

Death: Neither of you get it. I’ll get your friend some hot chocolate.

Spike: Come on, let’s get out of here.

Buffy (creepily calm and content, unruffled): No, Spike. I’m done. I get to be done.

Spike: How can you say that? You’ve barely lived!

Buffy: I’m tired.

Spike: So sleep! You want out of the responsibility? Fine- be done with it. Go on roller coasters, sleep all night, walk past cemeteries… no more Slayer, but come back!

Buffy: I tried running away, it didn’t work.

Spike (completely desperate now): Try again. You don’t have to take care of all of them. I’ll take care of you.

Death returns and hands him a steaming mug.

Death: Someone told me you like marshmallows in yours.

Buffy: Will I get to see her?

Death: I don’t know.

Spike: So, do you answer questions?

Death: Not usually.

Spike: But this is my last chance to ask?

Death: I’m not expecting to see you again.

Buffy: So, there is a next?

Death (holding mug in both hands and taking a sip): Mm hmm.

Spike (bitterly): That anxious to leave me, are you, Slayer?

Buffy: It’s not about you. It’s not about anybody.

Spike: Not even Dawn?

Buffy (looking pained for the first time): She’s not alone.

Spike (voice cracking): But I am.

Death walks up to Spike, cups his cheek in her hand, looks him in the eyes compassionately.

Death: So young. I’m glad we finally got to chat.

Spike fades away.

Buffy: All the battles, all the patrolling… I didn’t even make a dent.

Death: That’s not the point. There’s always Destruction, you can’t stop it. You gave it limits. You took on a role one of Us abandoned.

Pause, Death looks distracted.

Death: You’re more important than you know.

Buffy looks up a bit confused, on the verge of proud.

Death: You don’t want to go back.

Buffy: I can’t.

Death: Do you really believe that?

Buffy looks truly scared.

COMMERCIAL

Gang with Buffy’s body.

Giles (panicky): She’s not gone. There are spells we can do…

Spike, arm around crying Dawn: No, she wouldn’t want that. It’s over.

Xander: She was the strongest. She shouldn’t have been first. We’re the front lines, I would have…

Giles: We know that.

Willow looks at Xander in agreement. Anya clings tighter to him.

Xander: This is wrong! (dives towards Buffy) So wake up already!

Buffy opens her eyes, startling Xander off his dive, he falls over slapstick style.

Xander: She’s alive! Right?

Anya (proudly): Yes!

Everybody gathers around her, smiling and crying, holding her.

Spike, left outside of the circle, casts a relieved but resigned look at Buffy, sticks his hands in his pockets, and leaves. Buffy sees him go.

Death and Daniel holding hands in Dreaming Crystal Castle.

Daniel: You keep letting her go.

Death: She’s family.

Summers’ living room, Buffy’s POV.

Everybody sitting and staring at her expectantly.

Dawn: Did you see…

Buffy: Didn’t get that far.

Anya: What did you see?

Buffy: Spike.

Xander: Huh?

Buffy: I have to go see Spike.

Giles: You need to rest.

Buffy: I’ll come back.

Crypt- Spike smoking and mumbling to himself.

Spike: A bloke tries to help, but no… It’s not that I’m not happy… bloody thrilled she’s not a goner, but…

Black silhouette in the doorway, amused smile on Buffy’s face reminiscent of Death.

Spike: You didn’t have to come here, you made yourself clear. It’s not about me.

Buffy: You were there?

Spike: Well, there was a girl, she said Dru was one of hers, and she made a fish.

Buffy looks expectantly for more.

Spike: And she said you were with her sister. I needed to see you, to save you,. But you didn’t want that of me.

Buffy: No, I didn’t.

Spike hangs head lower

Buffy: But I’m glad you were there.

Spike snaps back to hopeful.

Buffy: Look, I don’t have any answers, I don’t know what’s next.

Pause.

Spike: So, I’ll see you around?

Buffy smiles in relief, this is a question she can answer: Yes.

Spike smiles.

We melt.

End.

[dance of joy]

Oops- forgot the disclaimer (not used to actually sharing with the public).

I don't own anything...just my cats. Please don't take my cats ok?

Thanks to Joss, Fox, etc. for letting me play with their world.

[xita]

Well, it is interesting, even if I only know very superficial things about the Sandman comc. thanks for sharing, I'd like to see more

[Kabuki]

OH! That's so nice! You should do a Delirium/Dru conversation, it would be very amusing. That's perfect!

I so love Sandman stuff. I think Buffy and Death would get on well too. She'd probably dislike Dream (Morpheus anyway). I love Thessaly blessing Willow with power for loving Tara. Cool! I bet Willow would get on with Morpheus. He did have an affair with Thessaly after all, and they're not unlike each other.. Desire claims Spike, they're not unlike each other either. Cruel but loyal. Maybe Xander belongs to Destruction? And Giles to Destiny? We know Joss is a comics fan so maybe you're on to something here.