Thanks for sending the feedback! I'm glad you enjoy it enough to reread it.
I think it's interesting both how Spike would have a different idea of beauty because of his human upbringing, but also how he changes throughout the ages, but still unknowingly conforms to society's ideas of what is attractive. One of the subtleties that I wanted to explore in this is how aesthetics don't always match well with sensual pleasure. Spike had only ever been aware of masculine beauty like his own, hard lines and defined muscles, etc; it's only once he realizes how good Xander feels that he really realizes how beautiful that less celebrated form can be, that Xander is no less lovely for looking different. I think in a way that it opens Spike's eyes, and lets him see for himself, rather than seeing what society tells him to.
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Date: 2007-03-01 06:59 pm (UTC)I think it's interesting both how Spike would have a different idea of beauty because of his human upbringing, but also how he changes throughout the ages, but still unknowingly conforms to society's ideas of what is attractive. One of the subtleties that I wanted to explore in this is how aesthetics don't always match well with sensual pleasure. Spike had only ever been aware of masculine beauty like his own, hard lines and defined muscles, etc; it's only once he realizes how good Xander feels that he really realizes how beautiful that less celebrated form can be, that Xander is no less lovely for looking different. I think in a way that it opens Spike's eyes, and lets him see for himself, rather than seeing what society tells him to.