Changes....last update

[tabaqui]

Yup. You read it right. This is the last update to Changes for... Well, for a while, probably. The story is over!
I'm equal parts giddy and maudlin.
It's been a long, crazy ride - just amazing, frightening, wonderful... Changes has brought all sorts of people into my 'space' and helped me to make some wonderful friends. I don't even know where to start!

Well, i do, actually. I start with Canadian Snoopy, who has just...vanished. She got me writing again, encouraged me, and did amazing fb and beta-ing on the first half of 'Something Rich and Strange'. I would NEVER have written Changes without her, and I love her for it. Snoopy - I miss you every day - thank you, thank you, thank you.
And then Lazuli, who graciously offered up advice and space - namely Excessent and it's archive The Attic - to host Changes.
And so many others...PerfectWhorl, who fb'd and encouraged and raved and made me feel great, and kyrieane and roxymissrose and reremouse for their support and encouragement, 'dirty' beta's and super-fast fb's that told me i hadn't lost my mind and totally screwed up this or that chapter or moment or storyline. Ladies, i'm so glad to know you, and so honored to call you 'friend'! Love you all!

Now, some 'stats'. Here's the final word count.
'Something Rich and Strange': 222,872
'Hold Fast': 226,532

There are .zip files of both parts on my website, and part one is 736k, part two 792k.
Wow.

I re-formatted the page that 'Changes' lives on, so if you go there and something doesn't work, please tell me!
Now, onto the last chapter. I hope it stands up to expectations. And to everyone out there who has read this for the past year and four months... Thank you so very, very much! I am so pleased and gratified by your continued fb and support!
*If i've forgotten someone...well, whap me with a trout!*

The End of it All

Comments

Over!

[tsavoritegarnet.livejournal.com]

I'm still holding on to that "for a while" part, and not the "over" part. I don't want to think I'll never hear from that world again.

I'm not gonna get to read until a bit later tonight. Sigh. I can't wait to see what's happening.

Re: Over!

[tsavoritegarnet.livejournal.com]

"They say that all good things must end
some day
autumn leaves must fall..."

:-) Just going through my head now thinking about changes ending, but I can't even remember if the rest of the song is appropriate to it.

[sangpassionne.livejournal.com]

Lovely.

*happy sigh*

I'm going to miss this so much, but it's been great while it lasted. Thank you.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Trying to think of this as a fruition and not a death, but...dammit, one less thing to look forward to.

Good thing there's "No More Snakes and Ladders" then, isn't it.

And, of course, now I can go back and read the whole thing from the beginning, or at least read all of "Hold Fast" as I've reread "Something Rich and Strange"maybe four...five? times.

Great stuff, but my Sundays just got a lot less interesting.

Julia, {sigh}

Re: Over!

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

"But don't you know,
that it hurts me so
To say goodbye to you,
Wish you didn't have to go,
No no no no
When the rain
beats against my windowpane
I'll think of autumn days again
And dream of you"...

Yeah, fits pretty well, I think.

Julia, more testimony to the power of cheap music

[amejisuto.livejournal.com]

I told my Mom I felt like I was in my first relationship breakup that ended well. I'm really going to miss this story, this last chapter was a great ending, tied up all the loose ends and didn't make me cry. I really love this, thank you for sharing your gift.

Re: Over!

[tsavoritegarnet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does, doesn't it. Now I've got more of the song in my head. Thank you Julia, I think.

Dreaming of the Changes world, that will work.

[paperk8.livejournal.com]

OMG, are you serious???
Holyfuck.
I'm not ready.
I'm not looking.
Don't expect anything from me until I come to terms with the idea of it being over.
I'm not reading the last bit until then.
Right now it's giving me a queasy sensation.
Though that could be the muscle relaxant...
Nope. Changes. Over.
*goes into denial*
*clings to you*

[tsavoritegarnet.livejournal.com]

I read a comment on intentional communities dissolving at some point, that was "no one says that a flower has failed, once it has bloomed and died", aproximately. I try to remember that when I think about things ending. But I'm going to miss Changes a lot too.

I've already started rereading, (only once so far, but I'm sure it will be multiple times, I read paper books that way, afterall) but then put that on hold when life got busy. It will be good to go back to. Especially with the whole thing in big files now.

[caliadragon.livejournal.com]

Wow! This has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and I have loved every curve you have thrown at us. I loved the ending and the battle with W & H. The fact that everyone survived and that Angel got his final redemption, but that they still want to fight.

Thank you for an excellent read.

Calia

OMG

[(Anonymous)]

Wow!!! What a ride you've taken us on. You've gotten us past NFA so if you ever decide to return to this AU you are free to do whatever you please. Angel got his Shanshu which is what he wanted and Spike remains a vampire which is as it should be as he never voiced a desire to be anything else. Even if you never return to "Changes" we can picture the lot of them living happily ever after in their strange little commune near Seattle with just enough prey to keep Spike and the wolves content without any further apocalypses.
I loved the way you danced with canon, sometimes touching it and at other times flitting away. Now all that remains Is "Credence" (not updated since last year ::grin::), the weekly eps of "NMS&L", "And Ice for Your Wounded Heart", "Litttle Runaways" and any other WIPs and future muse attacks which should keep you busy for the forseeable future. Looking forward to it all.

Shakatany

[umbralillium.livejournal.com]

*cheers for Angel* Yay! *bounce* Happy!Xander! And Connor! Such a sweetie. Kinda sad this part is over, but looking forward to the next one. *purrs*

[tabaqui]

Thank you thank you!
Ummmm... no next part. Anything that comes after this is going to be just one-offs.
Glad you enjoyed it!

Re: OMG

[tabaqui]

Thank you so much!
So glad you enjoyed the story.
Yup, i've got a lot of stuff to catch up on - that'll all be coming soon!

[tabaqui]

I had to be nice to Angel after all the abuse i heaped on him.
:)
Thanks for reading!

[tabaqui]

*pet pet pet pet pet*
It's okay!
You're gonna be okay!
*muscle relaxant? hee.*
I've still got lots to write, bay-bee, in so many other stories.
:)
*hugs*

[umbralillium.livejournal.com]

Oh. *facepalm* Don't mind me. *sheepish*

[tabaqui]

Ack!!
You're breaking up with me?

Thank you for reading! I'm so glad you liked it.

Re: Over!

[tabaqui]

Hehe.
Cheap music is good music.
:)
*happy sigh*
Pretty music.

[tabaqui]

Oh my no. Not death, no.
SnL but also Credence and Little Runaway...so many other things.
:)
And a re-read! Tell me, when you've done your re-read, if it all holds together continuity-wise, eh? Did i drop some stitches?
At some point i'm going to edit the whole thing and repost to the website with 'good' formatting throughout, and i'd like to fix any big errors that are in it.

[tabaqui]

Thank you thank you for reading!
I'm going to miss it, too, but...so much more to do!

Re: Over!

[tabaqui]

Pretteh.
:)
*pet*
Thank you, bay-bee.

[nandibble.livejournal.com]

Re One-offs. You think. Once the yen for writing loooong fic takes hold, it never lets go. Just a friendly warning. This has been a fine fic, with intense emotions, pain and rejoicing. And it was nice to find the Shee appearing--the Seelie and Unseelie courts. Haven't seen them in ages, in all their grim and unearthly majesty. Thank you for months and months of good reading.

[amejisuto.livejournal.com]

No with your story. I just feel like it's so good and so precious but everything that can be done has been done but now it's time to go our separate ways.

Of course that won't keep me from reading it over and over. It's just continuing on with the story and adventures but I don't get to see the.

**sobs and reaches for the can of chocolate frosting**

Re: Over!

[tabaqui]

I'm sure i'll come back for visits from time to time. Now i can concentrate on other things and just...bask in a job well done.