FIC: A Rose By Any Other Name (Giles)

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

*Waves*

I have two fics to post for my first ever contributions here. The second will follow after a decent interval, as smutfic doesn't really mix with bibliography... But I like to think the combination evokes Giles in all his many aspects. (Or something.)

Title: A Rose By Any Other Name
Author: bruttimabuoni
Rating: G
Medium: Fic(ish)
Word count: c320
Warning: Pedantry
Summary: Giles is a librarian, yes? And librarians classify, especially if they’re attached to vast ancient organisations which need to keep track of their information. And if you’re a librarian you’ll certainly understand how loaded classification can be, and how much it tells you about the society which created it. I just hope this translates to the rest of the world...



Giles, Rupert (b 1954: Watcher 1997-2004, subsequently Head of Council),
Revised and Expanded Classification of the Specialist Classes in the Watcher’s Library: Overview
All Gilesean revisions to the pre-1997 classification are italicised. The revisions reflect Mr Giles’s extensive observation and analysis of Slayer realities as a Watcher and are considered to be the most significant revision of the classification since 1882, when the Great Library was first fully catalogued. Full explanations of revisions and sub-sub-categories are published in the complete classification scheme (406pp, available from www.rip-lydiachalmers.com).

Class: Demons
(NB this section of the classification was entirely restructured in 1999. The previous arrangement under McThrage’s Eighty-Six Orders of Demonic Infrastructure was found to be unhelpful for quick reference. Cross referencing applies across all categories)
Big
Small
Lumpy
Spiky
Fluffy
Smelly
Toxic
Oozy
Sneezy
Harmless
Corporate
Tribal
Nesting
Breeding
... cut for reasons of space. See pp102-317 of the full classification for the remaining sub-categories

Class: Prophecies
Past – proven true
Past – proven false
Past – proven tricky
Future – dangerous, for active monitoring
Future – potentially worrying, for periodic review
Future – negligible, for filing
Future – danger of basing strategic decisions on

Class: Slayer
Potential
Calling
Duties
Training (weaponry)
Training (mystical)
Training (magical)
Training (theoretical)
Training (Cruciamentum)
Personal life
Family life
Love life (See also: Vampires)
Plural Slayers
Multiple Slayers
Death
Resuscitation
Resurrection

Class: Vampires
Siring
Habits
Growth and development
Feeding patterns (killing)
Feeding patterns (willing prey)
Feeding patterns (snack foods)
Techniques for slaying
Relationship with humans
As allies
Relationship with Slayers
Romantic relationship with Slayers
Sexual relationship with Slayers
Historical notables
Ancient but still living notables
Current threats
Souled (by curse)
Souled (voluntarily)
Becoming human

Class: Watchers’ Council
History
Traditions
Values
Rules and structures
Origins in demonic cult
Oppression of the Chosen
Destruction
Renewal and redefinition
See also: Watchers’ and Slayers’ Council (2004- )

###

Comments

[urania-calliope.livejournal.com]

I love the list of demon classes... Heh heh.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Well, who can remember (or spell) Glargh'k'gl Gashmanik under pressure, hmm? Drippy and poky is MUCH more useful!

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is wonderful! I love how you've managed to convey so much with lists. Very creative!

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I think you could replace a lot of it with 'Council's head explodes', there are so many new ideas coming up!

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

Giles has certainly made this a lot more useful. I love how Buffy's influence has completely turned the Council on its head.

Vampires Feeding patterns (snack foods) made me laugh out loud. Oh, Spike, between this and Souled (voluntarily), you're a footnote in history in more ways than one!

Thanks for putting a smile on my face.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love the Slayers section especially - showing the different ways of thinking about the Chosen ones that the Council just had to accept. And Spike has an impact there too...

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

I, too, am laughing my head off. Who'd have thought I could find a list so ... amusing. And, under snack foods, I presume onion blossoms should figure prominently. Also, on a sad/happy note, the fact that resuscitation and resurrection are entirely new Buffy-era concepts.

Although on a really sad note, I really would have liked it if the entry for Training (Crusciamentum) had had a discontinued annotation.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad it works - I had a horrible feeling only about two people would get it! And yes, I think flowering onions have their own subcategory. With reviews.

You're absolutely right about the Cruciamentum - in fact I might edit the version on my journal accordingly (crediting you, of course) if that would be okay? It's a horrible test and I don't believe the post-2004 Council would let it continue.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Oh ::gasps:: I'm not expecting a credit (but if you feel you really have to, lol, it's okay by me). I definitely feel that Giles would have gotten rid of the Crusciamentum by the time he took over. In fact, I've read fics where Quentin was actually continuing an already-discontinued and certainly barbaric policy (though that seems unlikely, considering the fact that the Council had employed wet teams to take out rogue slayers and, after all, when one died another was called; can we say disposable?). I've also read at least one fic where Giles was actively contemplating NOT administering the weakening potion but was so irritated by Buffy/Angel, etc., that he did it out of frustration and anger.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

I've just written a Giles backstory for plot_wout_porn, showing an earlier Cruciamentum and Giles fully involved in it along with the rest of the Council - but yes, definitely not his style once he's had many years of Buffy!

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

I also get the impression (more so from fanon than canon) that Quentin actively despised Giles (partly because he'd rebelled and had his Eyghon phase and partly because Giles got to be an active watcher, while Quentin was stuck on the bureaucratic side of things); my belief is that Giles was assigned to an untrained slayer with the hopes that both would be killed and then the Council would have a new pair (one they hoped they could control closely). But, hey, just my imagination running wild!

[mammothluv.livejournal.com]

Tehe. For some reason "Past – proven tricky" under prophecies cracks me up.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

*g* Well, how many prophecies did we see come kinda-sorta-almost-twistedly true but not how they expected? *All of them*! Thanks for commenting - I'm really glad you enjoyed!

[kivrin.livejournal.com]

*applauds*

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

*bows*

Thanks!

[cmk418]

This is awesome! I really like how it shows with just an italicized description the impact that Buffy has had on Giles. I really like the Resuscitation & Resurrection subcategories under the Slayer class. And that demon classes go on for another 200+ pages - that was great!

Very inventive and really well done!

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I loved being able to put something *after* death in the Slayer category. (I think the demons need to be a database really: search for big+oozy+corporate=Bingo! Maybe that's why it takes so many pages to print...)

[katekat]

This is awesome!!! except i tried the www.rip-lydiachalmers.com and somehow can't access the full document *pouts*

Love the additional Slayer categories, particularly the last two -- though Love life (See als: vampires) was great too. And the additional Watchers' Council categories (origins in demonic cult!!), though shouldn't there also be an 'Class: Active Watcher'? that has things like 'group mediation' and 'post-date consoling techniques' appended to it? *grin*

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I don't know what's happened to the URL, though *shifty eyes*

A couple of the added Watchers Council entries are sooo loaded, I'm surprised you're the first to comment (Oppression of the Chosen anyone?): that would be Giles not being very objective either. Bad librarian!

(There is so much more this could include. But, otoh, if Watchers had that kind of training, would they have been so... hopeless? I'm sure Giles and the new Council are on it!)

[nothorse.livejournal.com]

Feeding patterns (snack foods)

WIN!

Very cool.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Hee! Thank you - this was such fun to write.

[electricalgwen.livejournal.com]

Heeee! Excellent. I love how the modifications reflect the differences that Buffy and crew brought. The additions to the Watchers' Council list were particularly telling. Snack foods! And the list of demons is MUCH more user friendly (someone needs to make a Palm-type app for quick reference in battle. *g*)

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Totally agree - that demon list cries out for better quick cross-referencing!

Thanks for reading and commenting; I'm glad you enjoyed the fun.

[shapinglight]

Great fun - and I love all the new categories to do with vampires and Slayers.

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Pure fun to write this one - it's the kind of thing you can pop back to and add another joke whenever it occurs!

[cordelianne.livejournal.com]

Oh awesome!! This is so very cool!! I love all the additions to the current classifications! :D

hee:
Personal life
Family life
Love life (See also: Vampires)
Plural Slayers
Multiple Slayers

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Much, much fun had in writing this - I'm glad it comes across for the readers too!

Here from buffyversetop5

[yourlibrarian]

And if you’re a librarian you’ll certainly understand how loaded classification can be, and how much it tells you about the society which created it.

So true. Loved this idea.

Re: Here from buffyversetop5

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

*g* A proper librarian would have made a better job of it, I think, but I'm glad you liked the idea!