I don't know if it's because of Walk With Heroes awards or if it's because people are just suddenly stumbling over these stories, but I've gotten some amazing FB this week for both Whisper and Living History.

Either that, or someone out there has been recc'ing me to just about everyone they know in Buffy fandom. I already know of one case where that's happened *waves to daniidebrabant*, but it makes me curious where my name is showing up.

Frankly, I remain both grateful and amazed when people take the time to send me long FB. Often I feel dumb-struck. How can you say more than "Ummmm, thank you. I'm speechless. Thank you." I feel like such a dork because I have no idea how to say thank you properly when someone takes the time to give detailed, constructive FB.

But that line that always bowls me over: "I love your Xander."

My Xander? He's owned by Fox, played by Nicholas Brendon, written by ME. By no one's stretch of the imagination is he mine.

That's usually my first reaction when I read that. Usually this compliment comes right after the fact that they're happy I'm keeping Xander (and by extention the other Scoobs) in character.

Which is why I'm always taken by surprise by the line.

That said, I think I know what people mean when they write it, even if I have a WtF moment when I see it. It means they appreciate and enjoy my take on the character. I can't imagine a higher compliment than that.

To an extent, you could argue that all the Buffy and Angel characters have crossed into fanon territory. The shows are off the air. Anything taking place after S7 Buffy and S5 Angel by definition has to be fanon. I'd even go a step further and argue that all fanfiction is fanon to an extent, no matter how close to canon you keep your story. Your story did not happen on the television shows, ergo, fanon. If you are tying it to an actual episode, you're doing an alternative take, if you will. That means it's still fanon.

I admit that I'm a bit of a canon-whore. I try to keep close to canon but still put my own twist on it. Therefore, I may have the basic "facts" of the Buffyverse and Angelverse right, but it's still fanon no matter which way you slice it.

Which has lead me to thinking: In many ways, when I read any story that is Xander-centric, I am looking for a certain kind of fanon Xander, or I'm reading for a certain fanon version.


( Behind a cut because this is gonna be long... )