Fic: Shifting Gears

[sparrow2000]

Title: Shifting Gears
Characters: Giles, Oz
Warnings: Gen – I know, shocking isn’t it!
Disclaimer: Joss and Mutant Enemy et al, own everything. I own nothing.
Summary: Giles receives an unexpected visitor, tiptoes around generational etiquette, discusses musical greatness and allows himself some peace. (This is set in the aftermath of Willow and Xander’s fluke)
Comments and feedback are cuddled and called George
Beta extraordinaire: thismaz
Written for 2021 summer_of_giles

Thanks as always to the mods of summer_of_giles for hosting such a wonderful community every year, because Giles in all his glory deserves to be celebrated.

Shifting Gears

Comments

[roselynnthornwood]

I really liked this a lot. I always assumed Giles and Oz would get along well, and I wish they got more chances to interact in the show.

I love that you worked in the Cream album from “Band Candy” and kept true to Giles’s habit of grieving through music.

Well done! ❤️

[sparrow2000]

Thank you so much, I'm thrilled that you enjoyed it so much. I don't write Giles, Oz very often, but whenever I do, I always really enjoy it.

It had to be that Cream album. It has so much Giles emotion wrapped up in it that there really was no choice and I loved the idea that he would trust Oz with it.

Thank you again for reading and commenting so wonderfully.

[accioawesome]

I love that you gave a real conversation to these two who never got to interact enough despite their similarities. And I adore the tidbit about Ethan stealing the Cream record.

I understand if you’re feeling wrung out of juice but I always like seeing you pop up here so I hope you’re not done writing for Giles forever <3

[sparrow2000]

Thank you so much. I'm so glad that it felt like a real conversation. I don't write Giles, Oz very often, but whenever I have done, I've always really liked their interactions. And yes, Ethan stealing the Cream album - it just demanded to be done! *g*

I'm so happy you've always enjoyed my SoG stuff. It's always been such a pleasure to write for every year. And yes, my mojo just isn't what it was but I do love writing Giles so if he sneaks up and whispers in my ear, I'll definitely be listening.

Thank you so much again for reading and for your lovely comment. I appreciate it so much.

[littleotter73]

I really enjoyed the quiet and contemplative nature of this story. I, too, was kind of taken aback at how quickly Oz forgave Willow and took her back so I am all onboard with your headcanon here. I also really liked the mirroring you did between Giles and Oz during their conversation. It felt very true to character for both of them. It's too bad that there weren't more onscreen scenes with them, but I do like to think there were more interactions like this between them, perhaps Giles would take Oz out to breakfast after wolf detail, assuming it was a weekend, or he would bring in something from a diner for him on those times the full moon phase fell during the week and they'd talk music and philosophy.

Thank you for writing! I saw your note at the end. You are and always will be a valued member of this community! I do hope that sometime in the future the muse will drop you a bunny that refuses to stay hutched and causes you to share a story with us once again. <3

[sparrow2000]

Thank you so much for reading and for the wonderful comment. I’m glad I’m not alone in being slightly disconcerted by the speed of Oz’s forgiveness. If I’ve given you workable head canon then my work here is done! *g*

I love the idea of Giles and Oz having conversations without the gang, I just feel they’d connect in such a quiet way, and your idea of Giles bringing Oz breakfast on full moon mornings is wonderful – oh look, that’s a feral looking plot bunny!

"You are and always will be a valued member of this community!" Thank you so much for that wonderful comment. I adore summer_of_giles and even if I don’t write anything further for it, I’ll continue to read, comment and enjoy it immensely. And of course if Giles whispers in my ear and insists on being heard I will definitely listen, so who knows what might happen in the future.

Thank you again, your words mean a great deal to me.
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