For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 15.

Just as my despair ratcheted up another notch, I heard the sound of a motor engine approach and the crunch of tires in the courtyard outside.

Mr. Harris had arrived.

( I told you before...No one here is entirely what they appear. If I surprised you, all the better... )

Ewwwwww. Still sick as a dog. Honest to god, I will look at replies for the last part as soon as dragging my sorry ass to the computer doesn't hurt.

Some quick notes on names:

Alexandrienne is the French feminization of Alexander, both meaning the same thing. (protector of mankind). Honestly, picked it because it was a feminization of Alexander, so the meaning is kind of immaterial here.

Bunmi is a Nigerian name that means my gift.

Liwaza is a Swahili name that means consolation.

Kosoko (Bunmi's husband) is a Nigerian name that means no hoe to dig a grave. 

Oh, and I keep forgetting to mention: All my cut-tag quotes come from Babylon 5. Seems fitting, no?

I'm not OCD. Not. At. All.

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 14.

As we continued along our bumpy road to fate, I tried with all my might to see a solution to the conundrum before me. Yet, no matter how I turned the matter over in my mind, I could not see how a happy result was at all possible.

( Boom. Boom, boom, boom. Boom, boom. BOOM! Have a nice day... )

Urghhh. Nasty stomach bug today. *bleh*

This winter could not be more unhealthy...

Also, just some big love to speakr2customrs for his suggestion that our dear Miss Swithin just might be a closet addict of American soaps. I couldn't resist throwing it in. Thank you for the suggestion, because it works so well.

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 13.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing there’s a bunch of us around who can help with the load,” Sister Ig continued. “But Harris is pretty good at making do with what he’s got, and he’s had to make do a lot, especially at the beginning, not that it’s gotten any easier. We’ve got different issues now, and none of us have any idea how we’re going to handle it when the hammer comes down.” She spared me a glance before fixing her eyes on the road. “Harris has got a plan. If it works, it’ll solve a lot of our problems. If it doesn’t…” her voice trailed off.

I must admit, dear reader, Sister Ig’s dangling thought filled me with foreboding.

 

( The universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest... )

*yaaaawwwwwn* Can barely keep my eyes open...

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 12.

 

As Sister Ig shifted the jeep into drive, my mind was busy on other matters. My most immediate concern was how I was to pretend that I had been affected by the bissap without overdoing it. The last thing I needed was to fend off uncomfortable questions from a physician in Mr. Harris’s employ.

( When there is good news we always ask if it's true, because it is so difficult to believe. But when there is bad news, we rarely inquire because it's so easy to believe... )

Wheeeeee! Another late night, but since I'm up anyway, here's the next part for Wednesday. Sorry for the delay all. RL is kicking my butt.

Promise I'll get to the typos later this week. *grumbles about my long week and it's only Wednesday at 12:01 a.m.*

It's hilarious the amount of care I put into picking out the African names, or it would be if I wasn't a sad little OCD girl. "Sule" is a West African name for boys meaning "adventurous."

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 11.

“Remember my porn star t-shirt?” Sister Ig asked. “I was being completely serious about that. So, why don’t we wait until you’ve got the hang of shopping Djenné-style before we let you help.”

 

( That they are better than they think, and nobler than they know. They carry within them the capacity to walk among the stars, like giants. They are the future. And we have much to learn from them... )

FYI: This year's remix challenge is up. Aside from ludditerobot 's Africander challenge, this is the only fic-a-thon I'm planning on doing this year. After the remix and Africander, that's it for me. I have to finish what I have on my plate (see list to the right). Then I have to sit me down and start considering some things on the fiction front and other RL issues.

( About the Remix )

Right, on to story...

Okay, lots of local color in this and the next part. I obviously misunderstood the parameters, because I threw in a little travalogue here. As far as I know, the local color is as accurate as I can get it, thanks to numerous online backpacker diaries, Michael Palin, and numerous photos of Djenné.

And yes, the bit about the doves in the Tapama courtyard is true. I couldn't make any of this up if I tried.

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot

For all previous posts, go here.
Continued from Part 10.

Radar apparently had enough of my breaking the rules. As I heard the shower sputter to life, Radar simply turned his back on me, yanked the bedcovers off the bed, wrapped himself in the blankets, and promptly laid down on the floor with his back to me.

“Tell Ally she can have the bed, yeah?” he said shortly. “G’night.”

He refused to say anything more.

( There's no reason we can't use this situation... )

FYI: Due to a very long day and an expected late night working at the bookstore, Part 11 will be delayed until Sunday. Mostly because of brain-deadishness and eyecrossing. Apologies in advance.

Well, that and RL has been a bit hectic for the past few days.

 

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

And yes, the Mali Fetish Market is real. I found out completely by accident long after I had gloomed on to The Heart of Darkness as my template for this story. I just couldn't resist including a mention.

*fights off plot bunny involving Alexandrienne, Xander, and a visiting Willow shopping at the Fetish Market with a machete*

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 9.

Shaken by these words of the civilian Sunnydale survivors, and the reminder of Jonathan’s note, I then turned my attention to the profile of Mr. Harris commissioned by Mr. Wyndham-Pryce. In the dense, dry, academic language of the worthies who authored the document, a picture emerged that, if possible, was even more chilling than anything I had read thus far.

 

( Our job, as always, is simply to state the facts and let the truth attend to itself... )

Oh how love szandara. Let me count the ways! She so perfectly encapsulated my rage at this story in the Boston Globe, that I only want to say: "What she said."

If you ever want to read an infuriating story about rich, white boy, entitlement, it doesn't get any more blatant than this. Grrrrrrrrrr. Let's just leave aside the fact that there appears to be a significant population of male students who seem to be doing fine in AP classes and making the honor roll despite this alleged "gender bias" in favor of girls. No point in letting the facts get in the way of a good lawsuit.

My favorite quotes from Mr.-Everyone-Is-Against-Us-Boys:

Among Anglin's allegations: Girls face fewer restrictions from teachers, like being able to wander the hallways without passes, and girls are rewarded for abiding by the rules, while boys' more rebellious ways are punished. [Emphasis mine.]

[snip, snip]

''The system is designed to the disadvantage of males," Anglin said. ''From the elementary level, they establish a philosophy that if you sit down, follow orders, and listen to what they say, you'll do well and get good grades. Men naturally rebel against this." [Emphasis mine.]

AUGH-AUGH-AUGH!

Urge. To. Kill. Rising.

Have we mentioned that Mr. Entitlement's father is lawyer who wrote the legal complaint? Grrrrrr.

Ahem.

Enough ranting. I needed to get that off my chest.

On to the story. I think you should all know that if you've been following along, you've read 90 pages.

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 8.

I decided that since I was already feeling low, I might as well complete my study of Mr. Harris.

 

( The innocent lie because they don't want to be blamed for something they didn't do and the guilty lie because they don't have any other choice… )

The previous part was definitely an exercise in "live and learn." I had always assumed that "East Cupcake" as a slang term for "the middle of nowhere" was a very common phrase. Hell, I grew up with it and everyone I knew used it, so I just thought it was one of those widespread things.

WRRRROOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGG!

Turns out that it just might be a New England-ism, or maybe even a Boston-ism. There were people in the U.S. who had never heard it until BtVS and thought it was a made-up term from the mind of Joss Whedon.

Hunh. You learn something new every day.

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here or use the tags.
Continued from Part 7.

As we were called to board the bush taxi, my troubled mind kept nibbling at ever-darker speculations about the nature of Mr. Harris’s hold over his people.

 

( Trouble will come in its own time, it always does... )

*sigh* I am such a putz. Instead of working on my closing scenes for this story, I sat down and watched the first episode of the first season of The Amazing Race. (CURSE YOU NETFLIX!) It's got all these...these...cool extras and...

Okay, I missed the first two seasons of TAR back in the day, but it's now my appointment TV. Us armchair travelers have needs, too, you know.

Of course, I'm completely stunned at how different TAR1 looks compared to, say TAR7. There's definitely a lot less coddling of the racers here. It's amazing just how much the racers were left to their own devices way back when.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the infamous "Guido Edit" that I've heard so much about in the final episode of this season. From what I understand, the logisitcal nightmare of that highlighted a huge problem. It resulted in the nefarious bunching that sometimes plagues the race so you don't have production strung out half-way across the globe.

But TAR1 is totally awesome to look at and...yay! From NYC to Zambia for the first leg. Now that's how you raaaaaaaace.

So it isn't that I'm ignoring comments, it's just that...it's TAR, damnit!

*ahem*

 

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge (hoping to catch up on my reading for that soon!) from ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 6.

My heart thudded in my chest. The import was clear. Radar was to watch me if Alexandrienne was otherwise occupied. Neither one of them was here to serve as my guides; they were here to serve as my guards. The nature of my onward travel into the country’s interior had suddenly taken on a sinister air.

“We wait for you in the restaurant,” Alexandrienne sniffed at me. “Hurry if you want food. We have to reach the bush taxi before it is full.”

She then barked something at the boy in that odd dialect. The boy got to his feet, gave me an apologetic shrug, and scampered after the Slayer as she regally swept out of my room.

 

( I concluded that humans are the most dangerous, because humans form communities…. That is your strength and it is that which makes you dangerous… )

A little early for tomorrow, but I'm expecting a very long day.

Gakked from, oh, everyone on my FList at this point. I'm such a sheep. ("BAAAAHHH!")

( TOP 10 (Plus 1) SIGNS YOU'RE READING A FIC BY LIZBETH MARCS )

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

 

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 5.

Although my arrival in Bamako was still an hour or so away by the time I finished reviewing the documents, I closed the file and stared out the airplane window into the darkening sky. The thought that I would be walking into the treacherous snake pit haunted me. I was unable to still the shiver across my skin as I contemplated the fact that I would be under Mr. Harris’s power when I stepped off the plane.

 

( Trying to think illogically about logical possibilities, or logically about illogical possibilities... )

Right. I'm too much coffee girl. Wheeeeeee! I'm so awake right now that my eyes are pinned open.

First...Ice Skating...Whoo-Hooo! Spangly Costumes and Cute Male Asses!

Spent a lovely day watching ice skaters in spangly costumes with ponders_life, szandara , and some non-LJ folks. Naturally, alcohol and Chinese food was involved. However, being the paranoid girl I am, I laid off the alcohol fairly early (after getting pleasantly buzzed) and spent the next four hours flushing with water and coffee.

Johnny Weir is a pretty little boy, but my heart belongs to Stephanie Rosenthal. She did her thing to Herbie Hancock. In a robot costume. I think I spent all day calling her "robot girl." I feel love just watching her.

And how can you not FLove Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O'Meara? I mean, seriously. Anyone that thrilled to get to the Olympics that they start jumping up and down and hugging each other because they're so shocked they made the cut makes you just wanna give 'em a medal. Awwwwwwww.

 

Goin' to WriterCon!

In other news, thanks to roomie arrangements with ponders_life and a good yearly review, looks like I'm a-makin' it to writercon! Yay!

 

Oh, right. You wanted more story.

Apologies in advance for not getting to comments. I'm busily polishing up the last of the pages for this little monster, as well as checking my French and another unnamed language and double-checking my facts for everything. Then there's the whole RL thing. Laundry, housework, and food shopping doesn't do itself, you know!

Plus, it was an emergency today. There were spangly costumes that needed to be mocked! Fine male asses to be drooled over! Booze! Chinese food!

I'm allowed a life, damnit!

[Gotta cut back on the coffee, man. I'm in hypersville right now.]

Poor Miss Swithin. *sniff* I almost feel bad for her. "Almost" being the operative word here.

For the Scatterlings and Orphanges Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 4.

I decided that there was no point in reviewing the material right away. I had the basics already. I could peruse the rest at a later time. I still had a week before my departure, as well as plenty of travel time during which I could familiarize myself more intimately with Mr. Harris.

( They are a profoundly unreliable pool of information on the best of days... )

Since I'm going to be out all day, I'm posting this part on the early side.

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobbot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 3. 

“Thank you for the advice, sir,” I said. “I’d much rather avoid trouble, if I can.”

“I wouldn’t say that too loudly,” Mr. Giles said. “Whenever you do, trouble has a disconcerting habit of finding you.”

 

( Context is everything... )

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge from ludditerobot .

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 2.

“And if I go to Mali and find that Mr. Harris is wholly innocent of these charges, what then?” I asked.

Mr. Wyndham-Pryce relaxed, as if relieved that he would not have to carry out his threat. “I am very confident that you will discover something the Council would find worth delving into.”

 

( We have always been here... )

For the Scatterlings and Orphanages Afircander Fiction Challenge from ludditerobot.

For all previous parts, go here.
Continued from Part 1.

“I’m not as sure,” Jonathan said with knowing nod. “I know you don’t listen to gossip, but a few of the old boys aren’t pleased with the new direction. If they can find a way to make use of this, they will. You can be certain of that. Between you and I, I think Mr. Giles is being naïve.”

 

Posting this a few hours early, mostly because I feel like total crap. I suspect it's the awful New England weather that's to blame. I can barely stand upright and I want to cut off my own head right now because of the headache.

I'm not as done as I'd like to be on this, but it will be posted uninterrupted to the end since it is mostly finished. Yay!

Many thanks to the hearty souls who took a look at the early chapters to help me adjust tone: mara_sho, yma2, rileysaplank, gentle_thorns, and uninvitedcat 

Title: Facing the Heart in Darkness
Author: Eva Swithin as told to Lizbeth Marcs

Rating: PG for violence
Pairing: None
Spoilers: All of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
Genre: Future fic, adventure, gen

Canon Character: Xander Harris
Apperances by Canon Characters: Rupert Giles, Willow Rosenberg, Andrew Wells, Roger Wyndham-Pryce
Main Original Characters: Eva Swithin, Jonathan Whyte, Alexandrienne, Radar, Sister Ig, Dr. Mboto, Nurse Riley, Grandmother Touré, David Johnson

Summary: Watcher Eva Swithin is sent to Mali to investigate what some Senior Watchers believe may be the greatest threat facing the newborn Reformed Watchers Council — Alexander Harris.

Disclaimer: Rupert Giles, Willow Rosenberg, Andrew Wells, Roger Wyndham-Pryce and all associated characters and organizations are the property of FOX and Mutant Enemy. Any mention of real life events and real people are done to serve the story and are not meant to imply that the incidents in question have any relationship to reality. All original characters and the plot are mine. No payment was asked for or received in the writing of this story and no profit was earned. No copyright infringement on FOX or Mutant Enemy is intended.

Author's Note: Written for the Scatterlings and Orphanages Africander Fiction Challenge by ludditerobot.