BtVS Triple Drabble: Apocalypse Not

[badly_knitted]

 


Title: Apocalypse Not
Fandom: BtVS
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Buffy, Xander, Willow.
Rating: PG
Spoilers/Setting: Set early Season 3.
Summary: The latest Apocalypse proves less than satisfying.
Written For: The prompt ‘Any, any, an anticlimactic apocalypse’, at threesentenceficathon.
Disclaimer: I don’t own BTVS, or the characters.
A/N: Triple drabble.
 
 

“So much for the apocalypse,” Buffy muttered, scrambling to her feet, dusting herself off, and checking her fingernails, finding one was broken, and the polish was chipped off three others. That was just great. Not. “Wasn’t quite what I was expecting. It went off with less of a bang and more of a sort of disgustingly gooey squelch.”

 
“Are you seriously complaining that the world didn’t end?” Xander asked, staring at his friend in disbelief. Times like this, he just didn’t understand Buffy. Most of the time he didn’t understand Buffy, or girls in general, but Buffy in particular.
 

“Because, you know, stopping it was sort of our job,” Willow added. “And we did that, didn’t we? I mean, it looks like the world’s still here, and we’re all still alive. I think.”
 

“No, I’m not… complaining, as such, it’s just, usually when there’s an apocalypse we have to put in a bit of effort and this seems, I don’t know, kind of an anticlimax. All I had to do was squash the demon, and everything went back to how it was before. Apocalypse… poof. I feel a bit cheated.”

 
“You wanted a fight,” Xander guessed. Maybe he did understand Buffy, just a bit. She wasn’t like other girls, she was in a class of her own, different rules, different priorities, different… everything.

 
“Well, Giles has been going on about this for days, like it was some big deal, another Big Bad coming down, all prophecies, doom and gloom… I got my weapons sharpened, I was ready to slay, and all I have to show for the whole thing is a broken nail from slipping in demon slime. That doesn’t exactly scream heroic, hard fought victory, does it? Makes me feel like I put all that preparation in for nothing.”

 
 
The End



 
 
 
 

Comments

[mrs_sweetpeach]

Ah, it's time saving for the next one.

[badly_knitted]

Which will probably be a harder one to deal with...

Thank you!

[kitarella_imagines]

Funny and cute. But also it proves that heroes don't always do grand, obvious acts. Many heroes do quiet, small acts.

Hope you are doing well, it's a while since we spoke.

[badly_knitted]

Thank you! Yes, some acts of heroism go completely unnoticed by everyone else, but they're no less heroic.

I know, sorry about that, life has just been insanely insane. I lost a dear neighbour / friend I'd know for 60 years, which was a shock, and it's just been one thing after another. Right now I'm juggling Halloween prep, trying to get my coal fire cleaned and ready for lighting while I almost freeze to death because it's so cold here, and I signed up for spook_me again so I have one story started, but I signed up for three because I am out of my mind. I always do that and wind up only having time to write one because it turns into an epic or something. Wish me luck? I'd really like to write at least two out of three.

Hope you're doing good.

[kitarella_imagines]

Yes, I am thinking of carers working away every day to help others, little steps instead of big gestures. And everyone else in a similar situation to them.

Oh I'm really sorry to hear that about your friend. I know how that feels having one thing after another, the last half of 2024 was like that for me. Yes, best of luck for the challenge!🍀

In a nutshell, my mum was finally moved into a care home so she is safe and happy now. We keep trying to go and visit her but things keep cropping up to stop us, so it's an ongoing challenge. She is declining pretty fast, though. 😞

[badly_knitted]

Yes, I was carer for my mum in her last years and it was so hard, but I loved my mum and she was a good person, so I accepted the responsibility.

She was in her 90s, but still so active, and died from a bad fall. I went to school with her daughter, so obviously I needed to be there for one of my oldest friends. Very sad. The funeral was lovely though.

I'm glad your mum is getting the care she needs now, and I hope you do get to see her for your peace of mind. I know you don't have a great relationship with her for very good reasons, but even in that case, sometimes we just need closure. *hugs*

Thanks. It's my favourite challenge of the year, but I have a habit of getting carried away with it, for that reason. I love trying to write something creepy or scary. Last year I only managed to get the first chapter up in time for the Master List. Had to post the other chapters over the following days. Hoping this year my fics will be shorter...

[kitarella_imagines]

There you are then. You’re one of the heroes I mean. Believe me I know what it’s like caring for a frail person, of course it was my daughter in my case, especially when she was ill for 5 years. It is indeed hard work isn’t it.

Aww…at least your friend had a good innings aged 90+ I’m glad the funeral went well.

Yes, it’s a relief mum is in a good care home, and it makes me happy that I agreed to the deputyship being set up. I spoke to mum on the phone recently, she doesn’t talk much anymore but seemed to be pleased to speak to me (which is unusual, she used to get annoyed! Lol). It’s hard when I have to choose between prioritising my daughter or my mother. Of course my daughter wins every time but I’d rather not have to choose. But my mum chose to move 3 hours drive away before the pandemic so…🤷

Oh get carried away, that’s what fanfiction is for! Throw yourself into it! ✍️

[badly_knitted]

I'm not a natural when it comes to caring, but I did my best. Very stressful, ten years later I still haven't recovered from the toll it took on my already poor health.

She did, it jus wasn't the way anyone wanted her to go. She should have slipped away peacefully at home instead of dealing with injuries and spending her last days in hospital.

You do what you can, and of course your daughter needs to be your priority.

I've been throwing myself into fanfic for 15 years, lol! It gets a bit stressful when I'm juggling so many challenges at this time of year. Already failed to do last week's Weekend Challenge. That one tends to fall by the wayside at this time of year. I still ask for prompts, I just don't end up doing anything with them =(

[kitarella_imagines]

Oh we are the same, I’m not a natural nurse, I’m better with imaginative, creative things. I understand how you feel about having poor health then having to push yourself even further. With my health, it was already poor before pregnancy, then that and looking after a little child who was very ill made me worse. It is so frightening when you have responsibility for someone’s life isn’t it. I still have nightmares about all the times we had to rush her to hospital 😣

Yes peacefully at home would have been much better, I hope she got lots of visitors in hospital to cheer her up.

I've mainly been working behind the scenes liaising with officials to get things done for my mum. She doesn’t even know what I've been doing, she just sees me as a useless daughter, as ever. But I’m not big and strong, I can’t rush up and down the country all the time, especially as I can hardly drive.

The juggling and pressure are why I very rarely do fanfic challenges. It’s too stressful. I prefer getting inspiration from random things or real life events. I know people love challenges, I’m amazed at how much people can write for prompts, but it really is not for me.

[badly_knitted]

So you get it. My sister never did. I got no help from her, even when I called asking for advice (she's an occupational therapist), she just ranted at me for making her feel bad.

I hope so too. I know her grandkids visited. Her daughter was on vacation, on a cruise, and ended up having to cut it short.

That stuff is incredibly hard to deal with, legal paperwork is a nightmare, so kudos to you for dealing with it all. I don't drive places I'm not familiar with, so I sympathise.

Oh, I weas like that when I started writing, 'I could NEVER write for prompts!' I guess it was a case of never say never, because I do it all the time now and I find it so inspiring! Juggling everything can be a bit stressful at times, but it makes me happy. You could try fic_promptly, if you wanted to have a go at writing for prompts, because there are no deadlines, people just leave prompts, either fandom specific or author's choice, and other people come along and write for them. Stressless but can be fun and inspiring. comment_fic is another one. Like with fic_promptly, just leave your fill as a reply to the prompt in a comment. No deadlines, fill any prompt that appeals.

[kitarella_imagines]

Oh I get it alright. I cared for my daughter since she was a baby, 5 of those years she was very, very sick and often had to be rushed to hospital. It was just me caring for her most of the time, 24/7, 365 days a year. My husband had to work most days of course. There wasn’t anyone else to help out. Remember I said I had to lean out of the window and ask strangers to buy bread and milk? That was why. No one else to ask. I had no friends, no family, no neighbours to turn to when my daughter was little and/or sick. My mum helped sometimes but was mostly angry because we were spoiling her social life. WTF.

Gosh your sister! My in laws are experiencing that. My husband and his sister are doing their best to look after their nearly 90 year old dad, but their other two siblings can’t be bothered. I don’t understand some people.

Yes the last few years has been full of paperwork, endless phone calls and liaising with various social workers, nurses, solicitors, doctors etc. Mum knows nothing about all this of course, which is good because she would probably interfere if she knew. It was already hard to persuade her to move into a care home, social workers and nurses basically had to gently force her. I actually don’t go out of the house if I can help it anymore due to uncontrollable blood sugar and I've lost confidence driving so that’s just the way it is. I can’t change my body. If I could get an android body that would be great wouldn’t it 😅

No I’m really not interested in prompts, thank you anyway. I have to focus on my job which entails peering at a computer screen most of the day so I don’t want to do yet more of that when writing. Hope you have fun with your prompts 😊

[badly_knitted]

I know that was tough ion you. So glad your daughter is doing so much better these days. It's a good thing strangers were willing to help out.

Some people are just so involved in themselves they don't care about anyone or anything that isn't about THEM. That's my sister. Last time I talked to her to let her know about the neighbour's death, I asked after her husband, son, and daughter, she never even asked how I was doing, never mind anyone else. It's not about her, so it doesn't interest her.

Paperwork is something I struggle with, so well done for handling it all.

Just thought I'd mention the communities in case. Prompts don't suit everyone, and I get not wanting to stare at a computer screen when you've been doing it all day for work. I do all my writing on the computer because my handwriting is terrible, and changing things and adding bits is WAY easier on my laptop.

I'm having a fair bit of fun, but struggling with one of my one-sentence tables. I will get there, but I've only done 19 out of the 50 prompts. 48 out of 50 on the other one, just waiting for inspiration for the last two.

[kitarella_imagines]

Thanks, I'm so relieved every day that she is happy and healthy now.

It's so true and unfortunately with the world as it is today, people are getting more and more self involved. Your sister sounds exactly like my sister in law. Zero interest in anything that isn't about her. Often such people seem to be very charming and likeable, but they show another side when they aren't getting attention and flattery. My sister in law was the favourite, golden child growing up but when her parents became old and frail, she didn't want to bother with them and left it to her siblings.

Thanks, I'm a writer and reader so I'm okay with paperwork unless it's too long and boring!

Oh it's fine, it is literally just that I work onscreen and my eyes get too tired for doing that in my free time too. I have to carefully preserve my eyesight, if I lose that, I'll lose my job and wages that we need.

*waves my magic wand of inspiration for you* ✨

[badly_knitted]

I'm so glad too. You have a lot to be proud of.

Oh, I agree, people are getting so entitled and just unpleasant. I'm so lucky I have lovely neighbours. I was outside dealing with the front hedge and had lovely chats with two neighbours, one who moved in a few months ago, and one I've known nearly 50 years.

Forms just completely confuse me, I have like a mental blind spot when it comes to filling in forms, takes me days and even then I keep wondering if I've done it right.

I can understand that. I take breaks, but I spend a lot of time online doing this and that, listening to music (thank you, YouTube, even though you suggest so many things I have zero interest in and label my mixes in bizarre ways).

Thanks, your magic making seems to be helping! Written for one challenge today, got another I need to write for tomorrow, then hopefully back to my spook_me fic... It's coming along, hopefully it will be thrilling. Not as scary as I usually manage, but I think I'm happy with it so far.

[kitarella_imagines]

Thank you. You are a good friend.

Isn't that lovely when you have good neighbours! We are mostly surrounded by rented houses but one has a nice family with kids my daughter's age. Another is a really lovely man who has helped us mend our sink, our shower and cut our hedge for us. We helped him too with his fence and when he broke up with his girlfriend so I hope we're even. But it makes such a difference if they are nice. We've had all sorts of weird neighbours over the years- a loud bunch of waiters, a prostitute, a boxer, Brexiters! But those two mentioned are nice.

I'm not surprised you get confused with forms, I think we all do, they are a pain in the bum. We've just made our Wills and LPAs but luckily we had the solicitor to advise us! LOL.

I've found that I can listen to binaural beat music and there is one for healing eyes, so I listen to that a lot, it seems to work. I don't like 'normal' music.

Aha you see! I'm a magical being. *waves wand even more* 😜

[badly_knitted]

Yes, good neighbours are a blessing. I'm glad you have some! Helping each other out is a neighbourly thing.

A lot of forms seem made deliberately difficult and confusing. I'm sure there must be easier ways to get the information.

Never heard of binaural beat music, but if it's helping your eyes, that's good! I couldn't survive without music. I like to dance while doing chores and sing along to my favourite songs. I don't have a good voice, but I don't care.

You just keep waving that wand! It all helps!😁

[kitarella_imagines]

Yes people mostly don’t seem to know their neighbours anymore but I always make an effort, you never know when you’ll need them.

I agree about the forms!

I suppose binaural beat music is also known as ambient music. You’re normal, most people adore music but I just find it repetitive and annoying. I can cope with the ambient music for a while, or noises like birdsong, rain or waves. But not for too long.

*waving away* lol.

[badly_knitted]

I've lived here my entire life, so I'm used to the neighbourliness at this end of the street. Everyone else who's moved in just seems to have fitted into the vibe that exists among these half dozen or so houses. It's strange. Used to be a larger expanse of houses on both sides that were friends, but I guess it's slowly chipped away over the last 60 years. So many have moved or passed away.

They were designed to break us.

I need silence when I'm writing, but I love my music. Not most of the pop stuff from these days though, modern music does nothing for me. I need something I can sing along to, or an instrumental that's either super melodic, or really complicated, or both. Not much into classical though.

I'm about to start my writing for the day, so hopefully I am being suitably inspired! Need to write a double drabble for a challenge, then work on my spook_me fic.

[kitarella_imagines]

That sounds so lovely to have a neighbourly vibe in your street. I live down a country lane, houses only on one side with a useless pavement. Many people round here are just renting and keep moving in and out. It's not conducive to neighbourliness, either that or I'm too scary for people round here. I wish I lived in a cul de sac or something, where people interacted.

Oh yes I can't write to music, unless it has no words like the binaural beat stuff. Modern music just sounds like endless repetitive beeping to me!

[badly_knitted]

It really is good to have friendly people around you. So sorry that where you live doesn't have that =(

I can't even write with instrumentals playing. I get caught up in the music and the rhythm, start dancing in my seat, focus on the individual instruments and the skill of the musicians... I always wanted to play guitar, or peddle steel, but I never got the try the latter, and even though I've owned a guitar for 50 years, my hands would never cooperate. Keep thinking I should try again, but I'm never going to get anywhere close to my guitar heroes!

[kitarella_imagines]

Funnily enough I just met the millionth new neighbour in one of the rented houses and he is much more friendly than the previous ones! So that’s good.

You could still play guitar, you don’t have to be a musical genius! I can't imagine I'd ever get like that (dancing in my seat, noticing the instruments or musicians) with normal music, the noise feels like it’s banging on my brain, it's really annoying and I just want peace and quiet.

The binaural beats/ whatever they are feel more soothing and centering. I wonder if they are somehow mending the defective parts of my brain because I sometimes listen to tuning forks as well, those definitely feel healing. I love sound baths and Tibetan bowls, that sort of thing.

[badly_knitted]

Yay for a nice new neighbour!

I could TRY to play guitar. I was never any good. I took lessons but could barely master the most basic chords. I watch flatpickers and other guitarists on YouTube, I see the way their fingers crawl across the strings, and I just wish I had hands that moved like that. I guess we all have things we wish we could do but don't have the talent it takes.

Your brain is NOT defective, it just works in its own unique way, and there's nothing wrong with that. I grew up listening to a lot of music, it's part of my world. There are a lot of things that do nothing for me, or that annoy me. We all have those things because we're all different, which is good. The world is richer for all the differences between people. If only people embraced differences instead of hating anyone who isn't like them, the world would be a better, happier place.

[kitarella_imagines]

I think you're right about things we wish we could do but can't. I wish I'd learned to do parkour but at the age of nearly 60 I know I wouldn't be up to it, and probably wasn't even when young because I had so many health problems.

Thanks for saying that. 99.999% of people love music, I'm just the tiny minority that doesn't for some reason. I also dislike alcohol so that's another thing that puts me in the <1%. There's no moral reason or anything, I just don't like the taste of it. I like drinking clean, fresh water, that's my favourite and only drink.

Yes if only people did embrace differences, because they are vital for a well rounded population. If we were all the same, lots of problems would go unsolved and needs unmet.

[badly_knitted]

I love to watch Parkour, it would have been such fun when I was young, but I'm over 60 now. I do keep getting the itch to start dancing again, ballroom and Latin, but I'd have to find a local dance class. Until then, guess I'll have to make do with Strictly.

I don't drink either. I used to enjoy the occasional glass of wine or cider, but I haven't touched anything since my early 20s. Never been drunk, or even tipsy. Alcohol just never interested me. Same with smoking. Both my parents smoked, my sister did too, but I got more than enough having to breathe second-hand smoke. I can't drink much matter at one go, I mainly drink fruit juice, but I do still drink water every day.

Without the differences, we'd just be a bunch of sheep. I weas always different from the other kids at school, got picked on because I didn't like the pop bands they idolised, or the other things they liked. I've been a country music fan since I was a kid, and the bullying because of that was relentless, but I never let it stop me loving what I love. I dress how I'm comfortable, I haven't worn make-up since I was in my early 20s. A lot of pointless hassle that made my eyes itch. Let people be who they are and stop trying to force us into fitting what they THINK we should be. I've never been one to follow the crowd. Be YOU and be proud.

[kitarella_imagines]

Yes we’re in the same boat for Parkour aren’t we? We’d have to start much younger to get good at it.

I agree, I've never been interested in going out getting drunk or even in alcohol at all really. What is the point of it?

I think I was different from the other kids at school but I don’t remember being picked on. I think I was seen as ‘the quirky one’ and also I had a lot of pent up anger, they might have been afraid to provoke me. I think I found a group of fellow weirdos and stuck with them. School is a very weird institution IMO, people aren’t segregated into age groups in real life!

I don’t see the point of makeup either! What’s the point of putting it all on then taking it all off every night? On, off, on, off. All that rubbing and scrubbing harms my skin, so I don’t bother.