“Learning Curve”, End notes
[ Endnotes posted 12 Feb 2017 ]
Where did the idea for the story come from?
I can’t narrow it down specifically, but I’d say there’s a strong likelihood that the idea that turned into this story was at least influenced by two separate stories by Phouka: “Points of View” (the first in the Evolve or Die series), and “Past Due” (nineteenth story in the Oh, the Places He Goes! series). The problem is, I can’t see how that could be so; my story came out in April of 2006, “Past Due” is dated November 2006 on the Twisting the Hellmouth site, and “Points of View” shows as April of 2008 there. I loved what Phouka did with the basic concept - how the guy with no powers deals with super-powered females - and could swear that I incorporated some of the same general approach into my story. The best I can figure is that I saw at least one of those stories (“Points of View” would be my guess) in some earlier form before it was imported to Twisting the Hellmouth.
Is there any particular significance to the title?
Well, it does relate to the story - our wayward Slayer definitely learned a hard lesson therein - but mostly it just sounded good to me.
What is the thing I like most about this story? the thing I like least, or about which I feel most doubtful?
Looking back on it, I’m a little surprised to discover just how many layers I got into this story. I liked Xander’s acceptance of where he finds himself at this point in his life; I liked his realistic, unself-conscious confidence; I loved how he not only beat the Slayer three different times, but did it in a way that served the larger purpose. And, yeah, the ‘Carpenter’ theme (even if it wasn’t original to me) seemed to work pretty well as a side-note.
The only thing about the story that left me less than entirely satisfied was the timing. This was, I think, the first Buffyfic I ever did that was set post-series, and as the collection grows I find myself concerned with making sure it all holds together in a consistent and effective chronology. Nothing about this one contradicts or conflicts with anything else, but I’ve had to make sure that other stories don’t conflict, and I’m aware that I didn’t really plan out much of where I was going. No actual problems resulting, but a real lack of foresight at the time.
Is there anything I think I could have done better, or might do differently if I had it to do over?
There are different ways I could have gone, but this story honestly wouldn’t have been as interesting if Leah had been a full-blown outlaw, rather than someone with problems she was refusing to face or even admit. As a two-person story (the three shooters functioned as plot devices rather than as characters), there were only so many ways this one could go, and the path I took struck me as the most effective and most entertaining.
Do I have any plans to follow up on this story, or to use the character(s) or situation in a subsequent fic?
In some ways, yes; in some ways, I already have; and in some ways, no.
As has been the case in several instances so far, there are internal links. The cruitl larvae were mentioned previously in “ Morning’s Echo” and later in “ Echoes from the Battleground”; Gutrick had already appeared in “ Beg to Differ”; Xander’s time in the shepherd’s hut and his use of a prosthetic eye were later referenced in “ Hungry Like the Wolf”; the DarkSun Index website had already been referred to in “ First Do No Harm”; and the ‘mind-controlling Mixtec mask’ Leah mentioned is certainly the one that appeared in the story “ Oaxaca Nights” (written later, but chronologically taking place prior to this one).
Leah herself is planned for at least one future story, and that one may appear in 2017. The potential future relationship between her and Xander, though? that doesn’t seem very likely at this point.
Any observations to add at the end?
Just a couple. This was, I think, my first ‘competent Xander’ story, and I believe (and hope) that I found a workable and entertaining balance. It was also finished in Kyrgyzstan, on my way out-of-theater in my second Middle East deployment, so my memories of the story mix somewhat with my memories of that time in my life (a fact that, recognizably, has significance for me but not for my readers). The story still brings me pleasure, and I would like to believe that anyone discovering it today would likewise find it pleasing.