Ficlet for Challenge #1: Bargaining 1

[elisi]

I've been trying to decide whether to post this or not, but figured that I might as well (although I'll exclude it from the voting!). That said, all my plot bunnies ran away with the circus, and I was left with this - I guess its crappiness might be *slightly* outweighed by probably being the only fic ever to feature Dawn's teacher (Ms Lefcort). The fic is set on the evening of Dawn's first day of school. Only 333 words. :)

Many cookies to lillianmorgan for the beta!


Because the ‘Bot passed with flying colours.

Ms Lefcort was tired. The first day of school always left her drained and worn out, but she saw this as a sign that she did her job well. Teaching wasn’t an ordinary job after all - it was a vocation, helping to form the generations of the future.

Finally home, she sat down with a cup of herbal tea and looked through her list of pupils for this year. She prided herself on being able to spot trouble makers and problem children after just a day, and it had almost become a little ritual to sit down on the first night of term to jot down a few notes on each student. Some would need academic help, some a little extra support and others had to be kept on a tight leash.

Near the end of the list she finally came to Dawn Summers. She had of course been told of the girl’s recent bereavement and had wondered to herself how Dawn was coping. Especially considering that her sister was her sole carer.

Thankfully her mind had been laid to rest today. Miss Buffy Summers was obviously a conscientious, caring, cheerful young woman - just the sort of person to look after a grieving girl. Ms Lefcort happily struck Dawn off the list of children to watch out for - it was such a help when the children had the support of a good family.

She went to bed a short while later, ignoring the noise from outside with long-practiced ease - her only worry a fleeting niggle that she'd forgotten to order all the right books. Across town, the pupil Ms Leftcort had decided would need no support was unable to dismiss the mayhem - she knew far too well what lived in the darkness.

As the noise escalated, Dawn could feel the familiar surge of fear and dread as the vampire who was looking after her tersely said:

“We're on our own. No one's coming to our rescue.”

Comments

[owenthurman.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I like the perspective shift to Sunnydale denial. And I love it when the omniscent narrator is just plain wrong about what is really going on.

[elisi]

Yay! Someone liked it! Thank you so much for the feedback. :)

[kathyh]

ignoring the noise from outside with long-practiced ease - her only worry a fleeting niggle that she'd forgotten to order all the right books.

That really encapsulates the attitude of most of the adults in Sunnydale. Nice little ficlet from an unusual perspective.

[elisi]

Thank you. :) And 'a gang on PCP' is such a handy explanation...

[cordelianne.livejournal.com]

This is excellent! The different perspective is a great idea, and it's neat to see how Ms Lefcort is wrong about her conclusions. It's interesting though that she's right about it was such a help when the children had the support of a good family, and that it's the support Buffy's unable to give Dawn that causes her to act out.

I adore how Ms Lefcort easily slips into the Sunnydale denial. It's neat that it ends with Dawn being alert to the dangers (suggesting that Ms Lefcort is, in many ways, right not to worry about Dawn). I like how in this context the final line foreshadows the breakdown of Dawn's support system in the coming year.

[elisi]

Excellent? ::blushes:: And to think I nearly just threw this in a folder, never to be seen again...

I like how in this context the final line foreshadows the breakdown of Dawn's support system in the coming year.
Yay - that's exactly what I was going for. :) And thinking about it, I occurred to me that in the circumstances, the Bot almost made matters worse - because Buffy was unable to look after Dawn the way she needed. She could protect her from demons, but not from pain and loneliness - actually contributing to them. I know a lot of people dislike how clingy Dawn was in S6, but I always felt sorry for her!

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Yay! :)
She went to bed a short while later, ignoring the noise from outside with long-practiced ease - her only worry a fleeting niggle that she'd forgotten to order all the right books.
Ahhh that long practiced Sunnydale blinkers ;)
I still love the title ;)

[elisi]

Blinkers and earplugs! *g*

And I'm rather pleased with the title too... Thank you again! ::smooches::

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Very interesting POV. I love the irononic last line! I'm afraid my brain might rupture if I think too hard about all those citizens of Sunnydale blind to the otherworldly adventures... It's kind of cool once in a while though!

[elisi]

Thank you for reading (and liking!). And someone had a very good explanation for the whole forgettyitis tihng - everyone really knows that stuff 'is happening' (cf the 'class protector award' in The Prom), but it just not talked about - like f.ex. sex.

[untitleddemo.livejournal.com]

Cool! What a neat idea to do one from Dawn's teacher's perspective. It's so interesting to imagine the adults of Sunnydale just shutting out all signs of what's really going on around town. It's sad that a vengeance demon was the only one to notice Dawn's pain. Very well done! :D

[elisi]

Aw thank you for the kind words. I read through the script to try to find something to 'fill in' and noticed how Dawn described her teacher adoring the Bot - which led me to consider that this might have done more harm than good.
And I think a lot of people don't notice stuff unless it's being pointed out very specifically!

[elisi]

Thank you for reading. :)

[spuffyduds.livejournal.com]

What a great angle to write from! A neat take on how much harm can be done by the truly well-meaning, but oblivious.

[elisi]

Thank you! It was a good idea that nearly died completely in the execution. I'm glad a little shone through! :)