Places my brain goes when I'm editing a fic and watching Season 6.

[shadowscast]

When I watched "Normal Again" today, it reminded me of a plot bunny that skipped through my brain after I first read the transcript for that ep.

The really disturbing thing about "Normal Again" is that its thesis (all of Sunnydale is Buffy's own delusion) is never disproved. In fact, the last moments of the episode, when we see Buffy all catatonic in the institution, seem to indicate that that reality is the true one.

So I had an fuzzy little idea for a fic, which I don't expect to ever write. The "Normal Again" alternate universe would be the real one. Buffy would wake up for real in the mental institution. A man she'd recognise as Spike would be there too, another patient. And... I picture some kind of escape. Then it kind of morphs into the movie Angel Baby. Um. That is all.

Comments

[that_mireille]

Actually only commenting on your cut-tag. I don't know - in general, my plot bunnies are small, vicious creatures that bite me savagely on the ankle. I think Anya would see the reason for the term. *g*

[shadowscast.livejournal.com]

Hee!

[dodyskin.livejournal.com]

angel baby?

[shadowscast.livejournal.com]

An Australian film from 1995 about two mental patients who fall in love, run away, go off their meds, and generally fall apart together.

[flurblewig.livejournal.com]

In fact, the last moments of the episode, when we see Buffy all catatonic in the institution, seem to indicate that that reality is the true one

::nods:: I thought exactly the same thing - up to then we've seen it through Buffy's POV, but that last scene was something she couldn't have been aware of and therefore seems to have an objective reality of its own. I was terrified for a long time that when the show ended, it would be back in that asylum.

My favourite fanwank is that she wasn't hallucinating so much as switching consciousness with an alternate-dimension Buffy (perhaps one in 'our' world, even) - that idea lets both realities be real and soothes my fevered brain.

For a really great 'the aslyum is real' fic, try this: Once in A Lullaby (http://www.livejournal.com/users/doyle_sb4/171135.html) by Doyle. I love how the other characters are worked into the 'normal' world.

I love the idea of your escape fic (I adore all Normal Again stories, it's one of my fave eps) - and I've never seen Angel Baby, so won't be spoiled if you write it... :-)

[shadowscast.livejournal.com]

I was terrified for a long time that when the show ended, it would be back in that asylum.

Oh man, that would've been awful!

In a sense though, the entire show Angel protects us from that. It's set in the Sunnydale & monsters reality, and yet it doesn't revolve around Buffy - so it can't be just part of her delusion.

switching consciousness with an alternate-dimension Buffy

Hey, that's a neat idea! Kinda sucks for the crazy Buffy, but explains the last moments of "Normal Again" without invalidating Buffy's entire Sunnydale reality. And hey, I'm a Star Trek fan from way back, so I can totally get behind alternate dimensions. :)

I'll check out that fic you rec'd!