Finally getting the chance to reply to your reply! Doesn't RL get in the way of the fun stuff...
I agree that particular stories can suddenly turn you on to a pairing that up until then would have been unthinkable. Subtleties is brilliant, so I'm not surprised it did it for you. I could never have imagined Xander/Riley, but then I read Song of Iowa by entrenous88 and was completely sold.
As for Xander/Giles, I was very 'hmmm' for the longest time. If you do decide to dip your toe in that particular water, may I recommend having a look through my Xander/Giles rec list - you can find all my rec lists here if you haven't come across them before. There's a whole range of stuff there, but if I had to pick one to go with, it would be Act of Nature by jane davitt and wesley's girl, or the divine Dust On His Hands from the Sky by antennapedia. Both are post series and both sell the pairing as not only natural but completely necessary.
I'm rambling again. Like you, since you posted your question I'm been ruminating more on why slash? But I still have no really concrete answer other than I'm in love with these boys. *g*
Oh and while I think on it, I see the other reply mentioned The Sentinel. That fandom is a minefield of great and not so great fic (like any fandom really) but if you want a little taste of it, then try litgal's brilliant BTVS/Sentinel xover, Learning Curve and the sequel Experience Curve. (don't worry that the latter says Learning Curve at the top of the page, it really is the sequel!) If you haven't already come across these, they'll give you a taste of that fandom, but you don't need to know anything about it because we find out about things at the same time as Xander and Spike.
If you've read all those, then ignore me completely!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2011-08-23 12:59 am (UTC)I agree that particular stories can suddenly turn you on to a pairing that up until then would have been unthinkable. Subtleties is brilliant, so I'm not surprised it did it for you. I could never have imagined Xander/Riley, but then I read Song of Iowa by
As for Xander/Giles, I was very 'hmmm' for the longest time. If you do decide to dip your toe in that particular water, may I recommend having a look through my Xander/Giles rec list - you can find all my rec lists here if you haven't come across them before. There's a whole range of stuff there, but if I had to pick one to go with, it would be Act of Nature by jane davitt and wesley's girl, or the divine Dust On His Hands from the Sky by antennapedia. Both are post series and both sell the pairing as not only natural but completely necessary.
I'm rambling again. Like you, since you posted your question I'm been ruminating more on why slash? But I still have no really concrete answer other than I'm in love with these boys. *g*
Oh and while I think on it, I see the other reply mentioned The Sentinel. That fandom is a minefield of great and not so great fic (like any fandom really) but if you want a little taste of it, then try litgal's brilliant BTVS/Sentinel xover, Learning Curve and the sequel Experience Curve. (don't worry that the latter says Learning Curve at the top of the page, it really is the sequel!) If you haven't already come across these, they'll give you a taste of that fandom, but you don't need to know anything about it because we find out about things at the same time as Xander and Spike.
If you've read all those, then ignore me completely!
Happy slashing, hon! :)