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buffyversefanfiction · 4 years

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Tristan Tormented

Volume 1 - Before He Rises

Warnings: I do not own the rights to the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its spin-off series Angel, its dark horse comics continuation series, or any of the characters created by Joss Whedon and others in the Buffyverse.

Moderate violence, scenes of a sexual nature, inappropriate/threatening language, lgbt, f/m, f/f, m/m, gen, other +

Follow up series to “Twisted Tristan”

Mandi found herself frantically running through the woods as the sun began to rise in the sky somewhere on the outskirts of New York City desperately searching for any sign of a corpse, the corpse in question being Buffy Summers’ son who had recently been killed by Drusilla. She knew that the rising sun would eventually set once again and if she did not get to Tristan Summers’ body in time then he would rise again as a vampire, a vampire they would have to kill and she wanted to spare Buffy of that heartbreak but as she continued to charge through the endless woods she began fearing she would never get to Tristan in time. Of course she was not alone in her search or in her despair as Spike was held up in an abandoned hospital nearby, having no choice but to stay in the shadows as the growing sun would turn him to ashes if he did not. Spike hoped with all of his undead heart that witch Mandi Jenkins would deal with Tristan before either Buffy or Angel had to deal with their undead child, knowing Buffy would never come back from killing her own son and fearing Angel would do anything to protect any form of the child that until recently he had no idea he had.

Drusilla had found herself a small cave within the woods to find shelter in and hide from the burning power of the sun after burying the child she had claimed as her own, not wanting to leave him alone but knowing her vampirism would only lead to her burning if she attempted to stand in the direct sunlight. She stood within the caves in a rare moment of not knowing for the psychedelic Drusilla as the sun was only beginning to set giving the slayers and their friends plenty of time to find where she had buried Tristan not knowing if she would get to the slayer’s son before they would, wondering if Tristan would be killed once more before he even had a chance to rise.

Willow sat next to Buffy as the two sat within the first class seating on an airplane heading straight for New York City fearing the worst possible outcome as she continued to stare at an emotionless Buffy who was at the window seat staring blankly into the sky, the two not sharing a single word since the redheaded witch was forced to tell her blonde haired best friend that she may have to slay her own son. “I am sick of the sacrifices,” Buffy announced, breaking the silence between herself and Willow as she turned to face her bewitching friend. “I am done with the heart wrenching surprises how the chaos always bleeds throughout my life how people I care about become body after body…all I ever wanted was to protect him from all this and now I have no idea what he is becoming.” “I know Buffy,” Willow replied as she reached out her hand and held her friend’s hand. “I really wish things did no turn out like this that we could have saved him but in a way we still can…” “I do not want to kill him Willow!” Buffy said as her voice began to break and tears began falling from her eyes. “Maybe we can try giving him a soul somehow? I mean it would not be the exact same spell as Angel’s but hey if Spike can get himself a soul then I can surely whip one up somehow for Tristan.” Willow suggested, hoping to find some last-minute fix to get themselves out of the dreadful situation they were heading straight for. “And then what everybody he kills until then is on us for not being able to stop it?” Buffy asked as tears continued to fall down the cheeks of her face. “I hate that I always have to choose between the world and who I love!” “Last time Angelus payed a visit Wesley, Fred, Gunn and a heavily possessed and pregnant Cordelia had him locked up in a cage maybe we can take a page out of their book and keep him locked up until we re-soul him.” Willow told Buffy before coming to a worrying realisation. “Although when Tristan had a soul and was human, he was killing people and attempting to kill you and Angel so even if we do get his soul back…” “He will just go straight back to trying to kill us all, there is already far too much blood on his hands, the vampirism with or without a soul will only help him to cause more pain and take more lives.” Buffy cried, knowing that there was no way out of what she had to do. “He is my son; I took him into this world and because I failed to protect him, I am going to have to be the one who takes him out of this world.” Willow wanted so badly to say something that would comfort Buffy or think of something that could stop her best friend from feeling the pain of losing her child but she knew as much as the slayer herself knew in that moment that there was no magical solution to their problem and that Tristan Summers had to die again, so instead of rambling more or trying to come up with solutions she already debunked in her mind she just continued to tighten her grip on Buffy’s hand, tighter and tighter, letting her know that whatever Buffy had to face she would never have to face any of it alone.

Faith and Angel had also found themselves on a different airplane heading to New York as Angel began his quest to find his son reminding him all too well of the troubles he faced with his firstborn son Connor but despite all the chaos that ensued with Angel and Connor, Connor had never lost his soul which gave Angel the undying hope for their relationship to be redeemed. Angel had only came face to face with his second son Tristan a hand full of times and each time it had resulted in his son trying to kill him, which was before he lost his soul and began his process into joining the undead population. The vampire with a soul wanted to mourn his son’s death, grieve the man he could have been or even learn to love the monster his son would become but all he could feel in that moment was rage, rage towards Buffy for never telling him about Tristan until it was too late, rage towards Willow for accidentally losing him within time and rage towards Faith for keeping their secrets from him. “This would never have happened if I was there to protect him!” Angel announced to Faith, ending the awkward silence between the strained friends. “You were not there, Angel…B, Willow and I tried everything to protect your kid, but the monsters just kept coming.” Faith replied, trying to justify her betrayal while knowing she could not. “I owed it to B to be there for her after everything!” “You owed it to Buffy?” Angel snapped at the redeemed slayer. “What about me? I always had your back and yes you had mine until you helped keep my son away from me.” “It was not supposed to happen like that Angel, Willow opened that portal to the past, but we were all meant to go through it. Nobody meant to take him from you or abandon him to be raised under Drusilla’s delusions but that is what went down and all I can say is I am sorry.” Faith explained, knowing it would not help their fractured friendship. “If I was there or if I had known where he had been sent…” Angel began to say. “It is just like Connor all over again only this time the craziest vampire in all of existence, the woman I tortured before turning has stepped in to play pseudo parent to my child. Holtz has nothing on her!” “I am not giving up on Tristan I saw something in him the moment I met him and vampire or not…” Faith declared, making it clear she had not giving up on Angel’s son just yet. “He is a god damn vampire!” Angel shouted at her, raising his voice so loud that the other passengers on the plane began to take notice. “There is no other way out of this that does not end with a stake in my son’s chest and that is because of you, Willow and Buffy!” Faith wanted to argue Angel’s fear away but she knew she could not, she wanted to apologize until Angel accepted it but she knew he would not and so she just shut her mouth and embraced the silence once more as they travelled to New York hoping to save Tristan just like she had hoped time and time again since that first day they met outside Tristan and his vampire ex Dante’s demonic dive bar but she knew the odds were few and far between and that if she did try to save Buffy and Angel’s son she may even have to go up against his parents to do so.

Daylight was at it always is limited, and just like that the sun rose and the sun set as Mandi found herself lost within the woods located somewhere near New York City but as darkness once again returned she was far from alone as somewhere in those very woods was Tristan’s slayer mother Buffy, his vampire father Angel, Faith, Spike and unfortunately for her Drusilla too. Mandi had spent all day searching for Tristan’s makeshift grave but had found nothing, she had tried spell after spell until she had exhausted herself and still nothing it was like Drusilla had seen all this coming which for once she did not but Drusilla had not lived as long as she did without knowing how to survive and those survival instincts had clearly extended to her soon to be rising son Tristan. Suddenly Mandi began to feel the hairs on her neck rise as she heard a loud crackling noise which sounded like somebody had just broken a tree branch forcing her to turn around and face the noise coming from behind her only to be left shocked to see Drusilla now standing in front of her in full vampire face. “Did you mother never tell you not to go into the woods at night?” Drusilla asked, sounding as sinister as she always did before letting out a haunting giggle. “Talking of mother’s, you sure turned out to be the worst one in history Dru.” Mandi snapped at the female vampire, trying to hide her fear behind her fury. “We came with you that day and it was the worst decision we ever did, following you has turned out to be a mistake for everyone involved.” “Now let us not exchange such harsh words not on the eve of my son coming back to me.” Drusilla replied. “Do not worry I have not forgot about you; you will be my baby boy’s first feed as a vampire!” “Figures you would want me dead; I mean you killed Tristan and then there’s Dante who let’s face it might not have been you, but it was certainly because of you.” Mandi told Drusilla, as she began to think of a spell to use against her. “No!” Drusilla repeated frantically as she tugged on her own hair manically. “Dante was supposed to be here…” As Drusilla continued to cry “No” frantically a quick thinking Mandi began chanting in a long forgotten language summoning a fireball between in the air between the witch and vampire just and just as Drusilla began to notice what she was doing the fireball launched its way towards Drusilla launching itself into her chest and sending Drusilla backwards into the dirt as Mandi quickly began running away from the vampire and further into the woods now only hoping to make it out of the woods alive.

Unlike Mandi who had searched before them to no result, Buffy and Willow did not search long within the woods before they had found the markings of a clearly makeshift grave that they knew had to be the place in which Tristan was buried, in fact they had found it too easily, so easily that they both felt as if someone or something wanted them to find Buffy’s son’s grave. Buffy wondered if it was a higher being helping to take out a potentially great evil or if Drusilla had cruelly planned for her to find Tristan to have to watch her son rise from the ground just to have to kill him as Willow wondered if her powers had grown so strong everything had become too easy for her or if somehow it was fate to find him before he rose but one thing both the slayer and the witch knew was that they had no choice but to kill Buffy’s boy. “I guess we all got here in time then.” Faith said with a clear look of dread on her face as her and Angel appeared from out of the woods in front of Buffy and Willow, walking towards them both until they stood on the other side of Tristan’s temporary grave. “Question is what do we do now we are all here?” “The thing we always do,” Buffy replied to Faith as she pulled out a wooden stake from her jacket pocket at the same time as Angel before the two parents shared a look of acceptance over what had to happen next. “Normally I am all up for staking a vamp, but this is not just any other vamp…we can find another way other than killing him.” Faith argued, hoping for them to come across to her way of thinking. “Sure, he was kind of crazy with a soul but we can make it work, I mean Angel’s the OG of making vampirism work so surely his son could pick up a trait or two from him.” “Things do not just work out like that Faith!” Buffy snapped at her, clearly exhausted with arguing over what had to be done. “Even if I did restore his soul it would not make him any less…” Willow began to say. “Evil?” Faith interrupted furiously. “At some point in time we have all done some pretty messed up shit that would declare us evil but that does not mean he cannot be saved! I say we shove a soul back in the guy and then get him straight to therapy.” “Faith, just stop!” Angel demanded, having heard enough. “We came here to end him not to save him…that time has passed.” “Angelus was always much better at condemning rather than saving, weren’t you?” Drusilla said as she creepily appeared as if out of nowhere. “I had hope to get my boy a snack first, but I suppose any of you will do if not all of you.” “Try me!” Buffy threatened as she marched towards the vampire that had claimed her son. “You could not take me on my worst day and after what you’ve done I am going to show you a whole new kind of torture that makes what Angel did to you look like child’s play.” “I’m not alone though,” Drusilla giggled before turning to look directly at Faith. “I’m not his only protector here! In fact, I hear another coming as we speak.” “What the hell are you talking about Dru?” Angel snapped before turning to look at Faith, only for her to punch him in the face. Faith then pursued to kick and punch Angel multiple times before getting his head into an armlock, snapping his neck, and throwing the vampire to the ground. “Faith this is not the time to go back to team evil!” Buffy shouted as she turned to face the brunette slayer. “I am sorry B, but I cannot let you or Angel kill your child,” Faith replied as Willow began chanting in a long dead language. Drusilla quickly punched Buffy who turned around with speed to catch the vampire’s fist in her hand, twisting Dru’s hand and snapping her arm in the process before she kicked the vampire to the ground as Willow’s chanting caused Faith to go flying into a nearby tree, magically pinning her there, making Faith unable to move. “I am going to enjoy finally getting to kill you!” Buffy revealed to Drusilla as she hovered above the menacing vampire, too fixed on Drusilla to notice a hand rising from out of Tristan’s grave. “Buffy!” Faith screamed while still pinned to the tree. “You cannot kill your child you cannot come back from something like that!” “She has no choice Faith!” Willow snapped at her before seeing before her own eyes Tristan pulling himself out of his narrow temporary grave. “I have no choice…” Willow suddenly felt a piercing pain coming from the back of her head, forcing her to fall to the ground as Buffy and Faith noticed Mandi standing where Willow once stood holding a brick that she quickly threw to the ground. “Mandi!” Faith said in shock, forgetting for a moment she had left Spike and Mandi out here in the woods, as Faith felt the magic holding her back disappear as Willow lost consciousness on the ground. Buffy quickly charged at Mandi, jumping at the witch and forcing her to the ground before delivering a killer punch while on top of her, knocking the witch out instantly as Faith began cautiously walking towards Tristan and Drusilla quickly rose to her feet. “I guess this results in a classic Buffy and Faith fight.” Faith said to Buffy as Buffy rose to her feet, looking at both Faith and Drusilla. “Now, do not be forgetting about me.” Spike said as he appeared from out of the woods to see Tristan stood above his grave, covered in dirt, and directly staring at him with confusion. “Guess we have a vampire to kill Buffy.” “Kill Drusilla like we came here to do!” Faith shouted at Spike. “We can still save him Spike.” Spike looked over to Buffy as he noticed the look on her face which told him that they were to kill Tristan does not save him as Faith realized the only ally she had in this fight was the deranged Drusilla. “Mum.” Tristan said in an almost childlike voice, breaking his own silence since his ressurection, the word mum tugging on Buffy’s heartstrings as she felt her heart begin to break. “I am right here my darling boy!” Drusilla replied to him as Tristan glanced over Spike and Buffy and turned to face Drusilla.

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numberonepapermaker32 · 4 years

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 1 Review

SPOILER ALERT!!!

01. All’s Fair

The opening story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Vol. 1. It was nice to hear/see Spike and Dru's dialogs, but there wasn't that much more to the story except it was another one of their adventures. I was kinda misled to believe it would be set during the Boxer Rebellion, but instead, the time of it was the Chicago World's Fair in the 1930s. It was short and not that fun, the theme of the crazy scientist with a wondrous machine was even a bit silly. I didn't much enjoy the artwork, either. Spike and Dru don't look like themselves from the show. All in all, a quick and somewhat fun read.

02. The Origin

I loved this volume!! I have yet to watch the Buffy movie, somehow I can't make myself. So keep in mind I read this without knowing the plot and the facts from it. Buffyverse Wikia says how this comic is ''considered the canon story that replaces the events of this movie,'' so it's fair to say it gives us the whole backstory of Buffy's life prior to coming to Sunnydale. It shows Buffy already fighting vampires and eventually finding out about her Slayer destiny. We get the complete info because, on the show, they glossed over that part: how Buffy was quick in adjusting to this new life, figuring out how in order to beat more vampires at once, she should seek a priest to bless water for her to use, etc. Just as with Melaka Fray, here we see how Potentials transform into Slayers, being quick on their minds and feet. Another important part was how she tried to talk to the school's guidance counselor about vampires and the dreams she'd been having, and he didn't even listen to her but instead talked about himself. This is indicative and shows some good foreshadowing for the show. It tells us at this very beginning how no one will believe Buffy to be a sane person when she mentions these ''shadow activities'' of hers. The word crazy gets tossed around a lot, which I strongly dislike. I hate the stereotypical gender roles that Buffyverse keeps on projecting. The girls are pretty and dumbsih, the boys want sex with the pretty girls. Other than that, I really enjoyed this issue. Very much so!!

03. Viva Las Buffy

Wow, this issue was excellent!! Really fast-paced and I read it in a single breath! It's a prequel with more of Buffy's backstory, but also Angel's and Giles's, which I loved! Randomly picked thoughts: 01. The only thing I HATED about this issue is Pike. I mean, he's utterly horrible! Again, Buffyverse displays some stereotypical gender roles, and those are painfully obvious in this story. Pike is constantly whining and worrying about how Buffy will not like him and how he's a nuisance when we know as well as he does, Buffy doesn't need that kind of crap in her newfound life as a Slayer! I mean, the dude tries to kill himself in front of Buffy and actually thinks it's a good idea and a valid way to help her because he's so self-involved!!! Thank the heavens he leaves at the end, urgggh. 02. Dawn is in this comic, which I'm not sure how I feel about, and it also contradicts the show and movie (as Wikia suggests). I don't like her as a character on the show, except for when she is there for Buffy emotionally. 03. There are many scenes in this issue, as well as the next one, where we get info about the marriage between Joyce and Hank. It's difficult to read, really, knowing what we know after we've seen the show. The strain is huge, and Hank is strict, cold, and distant. 04. I loved to see how Giles became Buffy's Watcher. The use of Dark Magics is also indicative and comes full circle in the episode about his Ripper days, The Dark Age. Oh, and Wesley and Gwendolyn Post are also here! :) 05. Angel's story is quirky, so to speak. He follows Buffy to Las Vegas to watch over her (as we learned on the show from his talk from Whistler). He calls himself Angelus for some reason... Like, doesn't that only happen when he's soulless? Whatever. Then he gets into this messy situation with the casino manager regarding his vampire factory and ends up going through a temporal portal that leads him back to the manager's backstory. It was so fun when he said ''...So would someone like to tell me why I'm the only thing here in color?'' LoL, way to be meta, Angel. This is a great comic and I would recommend it to all Buffy fans!!

04. Dawn and Hoopy the Bear

Oh my everloving lord, was this bad!!! Like, why would someone write and publish this in an otherwise great series!?? I'm only giving it 3 instead of 2 stars because the artwork is amazing. But seriously! Some guy who we don't even get to meet chants and calls upon a demon* to curse a teddy bear into killing the Slayer. A teddy bear. A. TEDDY. BEAR. Without knowing who or where the Slayer is. Dawn is just as irritating as on the show, yelling ''What about ME?'' All right already... The nice thing is that the bear protects Dawn because Buffy ran away to Las Vegas, so it's a lovely touch. The parents are getting more distant, so Dawn is kinda alone. Oh, but then?? The ending? The freaking ending?! ''...He came to life and became a real bear. But he turned out to be a naughty bear...'' ''Oh, Dawny, what an imagination you have!'' AND THEN: THE END!! And we see the bear sitting in a dark alley with a beer in his hand. Sorry, paw. WHAAAAAAT??! I mean, was this supposed to be funny?? It's horribly sad and wrong and why am I even thinking about this bear and why does this idiotic story bother me so much?? Omg... * The demon at the beginning looks a lot like the Asphyx demon that gave Spike a soul at the end of s06 of the show. I asked the folks over on reddit about it, but so far haven't gotten an answer. IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS :)

05. Slayer, Interrupted

Yeah, this is the best installment in the Omnibus vol.1 collection, mainly because it completes everyone's backstory prior to the show's s01, after they all arrive in Sunnydale. This volume is set around Buffy's time in the mental institution which we learned about in s06 of the show, this gives us details. Basically, Dawn being Dawn, the insufferable idiot she is, goes on and reads Buffy's diary which makes their parents decide to send Buffy to a mental hospital. She can't possibly be sane if she's writing about vampires, right?? Urghh, Dawn. Anyway, the doctors set a diagnosis of a ''severe neuroses paranoia'' and ''a Messiah complex.'' Then they go on to decide she should get medication prior to electro-shock treatment. OMG... Like, did they actually do that stuff in the 90es still?? Eventually, we find out that, of course, the asylum is laden with the supernatural. The head doctor turns out to be the Rakagore demon who sires teenage brides. Yuck, again with this gender stereotype crap. BUT! This episode does raise some interesting foreshadowing. Buffy's problem with authority and the almost complete lack of faith from adults in general. There's this scene where she describes her childhood with her father. He reads her Alice in Wonderland (of course, what else, geez) and she then felt safe. The symbolism is clear even for Buffy and she raises an excellent point of how the word 'crazy' is just awful and plain wrong. Random thoughts: 01. Giles's story of passing this super-difficult test by facing his inner demons, or rather his younger self was kinda weak. However, I was happy to see how he and Buffy have other things in common, here namely father figure issues. 02. We get this short glimpse of Sunnydale Hight with Cordelia and Willow and that makes me super happy!! I wish there was more! 03. There's a couple of scenes with Angel and Whistler that are completely unnecessary because they give us no exposition whatsoever. 04. There's this great foreshadowing at the end when Buffy visits Alice in the hospital and offers her a Doublemeat burger.

#buffy the vampire slayer #comics #review

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singledarkshade · 4 years

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Sunnydale Centurion

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Hospital Rory paced the waiting room as they waited for word on Buffy. He was annoyed at her for going out on patrol when she clearly wasn’t well. This flu had taken out half the class and Rory had spent the last few days making sure she took cold and flu tablets as well as fresh orange juice in the hopes her natural Slayer strength would be supplemented by them. They hadn’t helped and she was now at the stage she should be in bed.

But Buffy was stubborn and, since the death of Miss Calendar, was determined to ensure Angel didn’t hurt anyone else. They’d all been on edge since Angel had killed their teacher and friend.

Moving closer to the nurses’ station Rory listened in hoping he’d hear something. He’d spent time in the hospital volunteering when he could, so he was a familiar face, and no one paid any attention to him.

“Giles,” Willow’s cry of relief made Rory turn seeing the Watcher walk towards them, concern covering his face.

Giles gave Willow a quick one-armed hug, resting a hand on Xander’s shoulder and nodding to Cordelia. When Rory reached them, Giles looked at him expectantly.

“I couldn’t get any specific information,” he reported, “But she’s in good hands. The doctor treating her is one of the best, according to the nurses at the desk.”

Giles nodded, clapping Rory’s shoulder before asking, “Did someone call her mother?”

“I did,” Cordelia said softly as she sat beside Xander again, resting against him as he took her hand.

Another ten minutes later Joyce Summers came running in, seeing the group she headed over to them, “Where is she?”

“She's with the doctor just now,” Rory spoke up, “Likely they’re giving her fluids and trying to rebalance her system.”

“I want to see her.” Joyce stated, obviously scared and worried.

Cordelia gave her a sympathetic look, “They won’t let us in there,”

“They will let you in,” Rory said, “You’re her mother. I’ll take you over.”

As they reached the desk the Dr Wilkinson, Buffy’s doctor appeared and looked over towards them.

“Mrs Summers?” Dr Wilkinson asked.

“Yes,” Joyce said before asking, “Is Buffy okay?”

Dr Wilkinson gave her a comforting smile, “We were able to stabilise and...”

“Is she okay?” Joyce cut the other woman off insistently.

“She’s going to be fine,” Wilkinson soothed.

They all sighed in relief, Rory wrapping his arm around Willow hugging her close.

“You’re mad at me,” Buffy said as she looked at Rory sitting in the chair beside her bed, “Aren’t you?”

She’d woken up feeling a lot more coherent and found him watching over her.

“Why would you think that?” Rory asked.

She rolled her eyes, “Because you’ve got that look in your eyes I see when you have to deal with your step-grandparents.”

Rory frowned at her, “You were sick, Buffy and you knew it, so you should have taken the time to get better. Now, you’re here in the hospital and…” he trailed off.

“And?” she demanded.

“If you were in your house,” Rory continued, “Angel can’t get in there, but this is a public building. He can get in here any time he wants and you’re not strong enough to face him just now.”

Buffy winced at the harshness in his voice and shifted slightly before she realised that Rory’s sword was leaning against the chair.

“Are you here to protect me?” she asked stunned.

Rory shrugged, “I have the best chance against him if he comes after you.”

Buffy sighed, too tired to argue with him. Closing her eyes, she murmured, “Where do your mom and step-dad think you are?”

“Staying with Xander,” Rory replied, his voice softening he told her “Try get some rest. You need it to regain your strength, even with your enhanced abilities.”

Letting out a soft sigh, Buffy slipped into a restful sleep comforted to know her friend was watching over her.

Rory had left Buffy’s room so she could sleep and took up position beside Xander in the hallway. He had become adept at finding ways to carry his sword while keeping it hidden from people. It was strange how comforting he found carrying the weapon, how he felt that it was a part of him, and he didn’t feel right if he missed going through his drills during the day.

There were a few people wandering around, Rory could see a security guard talking with some of the nurses and a few cops nearby. Standing to stretch his legs Rory headed to the vending machine and grabbed some coffee. Turning back he stalled to see Angel, or as he was now Angelus, enter the hospital. Xander stiffened but stood to face the vampire.

“Visiting hours are over,” Xander said, a slight quiver in his voice but he held his ground.

Angelus smirked at him, “Well, I'm pretty much family.”

“Yeah,” Xander replied, “Why don't you come back during the day? Oh, gee, no, I guess you can't.”

Angelus glared at him darkly, “If I decide to walk into Buffy's room, do you think for one microsecond that you could stop me?”

Xander shrugged, “Maybe not. Maybe that security guard couldn't either. Or those cops... or the orderlies... But I'm kinda curious to find out. You game?”

“Besides,” Rory spoke up walking up behind Angelus, “He isn’t alone.”

Angelus turned, looking Rory up and down, “You know they’re lying to you, don’t you? This skill you have now has nothing to do with past lives.”

“My sword is still as sharp,” Rory replied, gripping it tightly as he held his ground.

After several moments, Angelus slammed the flowers he was holding into Xander’s chest, “Tell her I stopped by.”

Xander and Rory watched him leave before they both dropped into their seats in relief.

*********************************************

Rory walked into the library and put his sword in the armoury. He was relieved Buffy had been released from the hospital so he could put it away. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get what Angelus has said to him out of his mind.

“Rory,” Giles voice made him jump slightly, “Is there anything wrong?”

“What?”

The librarian smiled slightly, “You’ve been standing staring into space for several minutes and it isn’t the look you have when you’re ‘zoned out’.”

Rory grimaced, “Oh. It was just something Angel…Angelus said to me.”

“About?”

Hesitating for a few moments, Rory replied, “He said that you were lying about the fact I’ve accessed past lives.” Giles frowned and Rory quickly continued, “I know he’s just trying to mess with my mind but…the fact I can suddenly use a sword, that I have this knowledge has always disturbed me.”

“Sit down, Rory,” Giles told him.

Doing as he was told Rory watched the librarian disappear into his office before returning with an envelope. He sat across from Rory and took a deep breath.

“I have lied to you,” Giles said softly, holding up his hand to stop Rory saying anything, “Jen…Jenny and I were investigating why you ‘zone out’ and she asked a friend to do a check to see if you had been hit by a spell.”

“Okay,” Rory said softly.

Giles opened the envelope, “She gave him a photograph of each of us and he used a spell to reveal any magic that we had been exposed to.”

Rory took the picture of Buffy seeing an aura surrounding her which he assumed came from her being the Slayer, then the pictures of Xander and Willow both had muted light surrounding them. Seeing Giles was holding another photo, Rory swallowed nervously, “Is that me?”

Giles nodded and slid it across to him. Rory stared at the photograph seeing he was completely enveloped in the blue light.

“I don’t understand,” Rory whispered.

“And I don’t have answers for you,” Giles replied, “I wish I did. I’m sorry I lied to you, Rory but I didn’t want you to worry. From everything I’ve seen and the research I’ve done, there is nothing dangerous about the abilities you have,” he smiled slightly, “To you anyway.”

Rory stared at him for a moment, thinking over everything he’d been told and finally said, “It has given me an ability to help Buffy and protect the others.”

“It has.”

Rory sat in silence for a few more moments before asking, “If you find out anything else, you will tell me?”

Giles nodded, “I promise.”

With a slight nod, Rory stood and shrugged, “I should get to class.”

“Rory,” Giles called after him, “You know if you need to talk, I’m here.”

Giving the older man a smile, Rory left the library just as the bell rang.

#fic #doctor who #rory williams #buffy the vampire slayer #buffy summers #xander harris #rupert giles #angelus

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comradesummers · 5 years

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Carry That Weight

Hey, so I uh, wrote a thing. I’m not sure it turned out that great, because I’m not much of a fic writer. But I’ve been obsessed with this idea since I saw that gifset of that trailer for season 6 where Willow says that Buffy told her in high school that she would die young. And I haven’t seen anyone write that scene, so I figured somebody had to. So here it is: Buffy and Willow talking about the Slayer mortality rate. Shippy if you squint. Hope it’s not terrible.

ao3 link

Willow was rather surprised when Buffy came to visit that night. Not because she had climbed up her bedroom window at two in the morning while bleeding openly through the side of her shirt. Buffy didn’t like to go home when she got hurt on patrol, and she usually came to either Willow or Giles to help patch her up. But considering everything, Willow thought Buffy would have probably gone to Giles that night. She’d been spending most of her time with him lately, which made sense, Giles needed someone right now. But Willow had been missing Buffy. Giles wasn’t the only one who lost Ms. Calendar, and Willow could have used her best friend too.

Not that she said that to Buffy. She wasn’t about to make her friend feel guilty for comforting the person who needed it the most. Still, after they had bandaged the quickly healing wound, and they were both lying in Willow’s bed together, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you go to Giles?”

Buffy was looking at her quizzically and suddenly Willow realized what that had sounded like. “I mean, not that I’m not glad that you came to me. You’re always welcome here, of course. Mi casa es tu casa, obviously. I just meant,” Willow let out a breath before continuing, “You’ve been going to Giles’s a lot lately with … everything,” Willow’s voice shook a little and Buffy looked away. “I just thought you would’ve gone to him.”

Buffy shrugged. “I didn’t want to worry him,” she said quietly, still not meeting Willow’s eyes.

“Yeah, I get that,” Willow was frustrated to find that her voice was still wavering on the verge of emotion.

A pained expression crossed Buffy’s face. “God, now I’m worrying you aren’t I?” She moved to sit up, clearly still in pain. “I’m sorry, I’ll go.”

“No!” Willow nearly shouted. “You’re not worrying me, okay. It’s just been a long week.”

Buffy looked at her oddly for a moment, before, to Willow’s shock, she started giggling. “A long week,” she said, still laughing as she slowly leaned back against Willow’s pillow again. “That’s one way to put it.”

Willow still didn’t find any of this very funny, but Buffy’s laughter was infectious, just like the rest of her, and Willow found herself laughing along with her. It was strange, really. It felt like it had been a lifetime since Willow had anything to laugh about. She didn’t really have anything to laugh about now, but it still didn’t surprise her that Buffy had been the one to bring it out of her. Buffy had a way of making her feel, and to feel brighter than almost anything else.

When their giggles finally subsided, Buffy met Willow’s eyes, her expression somber once again. “So,” she said, trying and failing to sound chipper. “How are you doing, with, y’know … everything?”

Willow sighed and shook her head. “Not great.”

“Yeah, me neither.”

Willow looked over at her friend, who looked so tired and so sad, and she thought for a moment that maybe she shouldn’t say anything else. Buffy didn’t need to deal with Willow’s pain on top of Giles’s and her own. But Willow needed to talk to someone who understood what she felt. Xander and Oz, even Cordelia, tried to be sympathetic, but none of them had had much of a relationship with Ms. Calendar, not like Willow had, and for better or worse, not like Buffy had. And certainly she couldn’t talk to Giles - only Buffy seemed to be able to do that. And even if she could talk to him, Willow still didn’t think she’d be able to really say what she felt. He was the one who loved her, and Willow knew that her grief was nothing compared to his.

She had to talk to Buffy, she realized, or she wouldn’t be able to talk at all. “It’s just,” she began, her voice once again shakier than she would have liked. “There have been people I cared about who have died before. I mean, classmates, and Jesse, of course, but I didn’t know him for that long, and he was always more Xander’s friend than mine.” She looked over at Buffy who was staring at her attentively, her expression unreadable. “But Ms. Calendar,” Willow sighed. “She was one of us. She was a part of the gang. And she was teaching me about computers and technopagan stuff. It’s just different. It feels different this time.” Willow paused, not really knowing what else to say.

“I get it,” Buffy said. “It’s different when it’s someone who’s a part of your life.”

“Yeah.”

Buffy met her eyes, her expression as serious as Willow had ever seen it. “You know it’s going to happen again, right? With me?”

Willow didn’t know what she had expected Buffy to say, but it certainly wasn’t that. “What do you mean?”

Buffy looked determined as she continued. “I mean you’re going to outlive me,” she said confidently, as if she was just stating a fact. “And I just want you to be prepared for that.”

For a moment, Willow was completely at a loss for what to say or feel or think. When she finally regained some composure, she realized that she was angry. “What the hell are you talking about, Buffy? Why would you even say something like that?”

“Because it’s true,” Buffy said, sounding resigned more than anything else. “The oldest slayer on record was like, 25. Most slayers don’t make it past 20. I mean, technically I didn’t make it past 16, and next time I probably won’t be revived by convenient CPR, y’know? It’s just how it is.”

Of course Willow knew this. She had known it since Buffy died the first time. But there was still a part of her, deep down, that believed Buffy was special. She believed that Buffy would somehow manage to survive regardless, that she would do what no slayer had done before. She had already survived death, and if that wasn’t a sign, Willow didn’t know what was. And until that very moment, Willow had been convinced that Buffy believed that too. But apparently she didn’t. She thought she was going to die, soon, and she seemed all too accepting of it.

“But,” Willow wanted to come up with some sort of a solution. Something that would prove Buffy wrong. She was good at that. But she just couldn’t think of an argument. “But that’s not fair!”

At that, any trace of the controlled resignation that Buffy had exhibited during her confession seemed to disintegrate entirely, and Willow found herself a little relieved at that.

“Of course it’s not fair,” Buffy said, her voice was quiet but hard. “When has any of this ever been fair? Is it fair that Ms. Calendar died? Or Jesse? Or the other kids? Or Dr. Gregory?” Is it fair that Angel turned evil, or that Merrick-” Buffy’s voice cracked, and she stopped herself, and swallowed. “It’s never been fair, Will,” her voice was almost a whisper. “That’s just how it is.”

“Why are you saying this to me?” Willow found that she was crying.

Buffy, inexplicably, smiled and wiped a tear away from Willow’s face. “I just want you to be prepared. For when it happens. I don’t want you to be surprised or anything. Cuz, y’know, that sucks.”

Willow shook her head and Wiped her tears again, until she finally stopped crying. Buffy didn’t say anything, seemingly content to end the exchange there. But Willow was still angry. She had no intention of losing Buffy any time soon. She had already lost too many people. But not Buffy. Buffy was something else. She wasn’t going to die.

“You’re not dying,” Willow said once she was sure she wasn’t crying anymore. “I’m not going to let you.”

Buffy smiled at that. “That’s sweet, Will,” she said. “But it’s not really up to you.”

It stung a little, whenever Buffy said something like that. Willow knew that she didn’t have the power that Buffy did, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do anything. She was good with computers, and now that Ms. Calendar was … well, now that was more useful than ever. But even she had to admit that hacking skills wouldn’t really save Buffy in a battle. But Willow couldn’t do nothing either. Not after this.

She had a thought, then. Something she would have to look into. She would once Buffy left. She wasn’t sure if her friend would approve.

They laid on Willow’s bed silently for a few moments. Buffy said nothing as Willow turned the idea over in her head. She was deep in thought when Buffy finally broke the silence. “Willow,” she said, startling her out of her focus. “Could you do me a favor?”

“Yeah, anything.”

“When I die-”

“You won’t,” Willow interrupted.

“Ok, but if I do,” Buffy said. “Could you tell my mom about everything? I mean slaying and all that. I know I’m not supposed to, and Giles probably wouldn’t approve.” Her voice was small, and she looked as vulnerable as Willow had seen her. “But I just, I don’t want to die and have her still think I’m some sort of criminal.”

Willow touched her friend’s arm. “Your mom doesn’t think that.”

“Yeah,” Buffy said, looking entirely unconvinced. “But could you tell her anyway.”

Willow wanted to say no. She didn’t want to think of hypotheticals. What she would say. What she would do. Because it wasn’t happening. Willow refused to accept it. And she was about to say as much, when she met her friend’s eyes, and she was looking at her so desperately. Willow wondered if this is why Buffy had come to her, and told her these things. Because she wanted to make sure someone would promise her this. Willow wished she hadn’t. She didn’t want that responsibility.

“Okay,” she forced herself to say. “I promise. As long as you promise to try really hard to not die.”

Buffy looked at her so gratefully, and Willow knew she had made the right decision, as much as she hated it. “Yeah,” Buffy said, sounding relieved. “You’ve got yourself a deal. Let’s shake on it.” She held out her pinky.

Willow smiled as she held out her own. She knew this was Buffy’s way of lightening the mood, and it was kind of working. They shook pinkies, and Willow did feel a little better.

Buffy echoed the sentiment. “It doesn’t hurt that much anymore,” she said, gesturing towards the wound at her side. She sat up on the bed, much easier than she had before. Then she stood up. “I should get going.”

Usually this was when they exchanged friendly and enthusiastic goodbyes. But after the conversation they just had, it felt out of place. “See you tomorrow,” Willow said it almost like it was a command.

Buffy nodded as she walked over to the window. She opened it before she turned back to face Willow. “Thank you,” she said, sounding, to Willow’s surprise, as though she was on the brink of tears.

Before Willow could say anything else, Buffy had already climbed out the window leaving Willow alone once again.

Willow wiped away the last of her own tears, and walked over to her desk, where she kept Ms. Calendar’s lesson plans. Only they weren’t only lesson plans. There were notes in there about magic, and spells. When Willow had first seen them, she had been terrified and fascinated all at once. But it had felt wrong to go through Ms. Calendar’s things for anything she didn’t absolutely need. It wasn’t her place.

Willow knew it was her place now. She had no doubt Ms. Calendar would approve of what she was doing now. Other slayers may not have lived for very long, but other slayers didn’t have Willow on their sides. And maybe right now, she didn’t have the power to help Buffy. But she could get that power.

And she would make damn sure Buffy would live to celebrate her 80th birthday, no matter what it took.

#buffy summers #willow rosenberg #buffalow #fic #btvs #buffy the vampire slayer

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mtvswatches · 5 years

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Wynnona Earp 1x04 The Blade

Spoilers disclaimer (please read before sending messages or writing comments.)

Stray thoughts

1) We got a flashback of Doc’s final moments with Wyatt Earp, and he made it look as if Wyatt didn’t believe in demons and such… how could that be? And how reliable is this flashback if Doc is the one relaying the events to Wynonna?

2) He’s a fucking show-off and I’m falling…

3) I SHIP IT SO HARD

4) Finally an explanation! Sort of…

DOC: I made a barter for eternal longevity. Cured me of chronic tuberculosis and freed me from the ravages of time, unless I catch a bullet, a knife, or an oncoming train.

But… in episode 2, with the shadow monster that was hunting Wynonna and Waverly, he did say that he wasn’t going back to hell or something like that… so… did he make this deal while he was in hell? Or did he visit the kingdom downstairs after making the deal? And what is he, exactly? He’s not a ghost, he’s not a revenant.. is he just An Immortal?

5) I mean, everyone is in purgatory because of “unfinished business”, that’s the definition of purgatory…

6) Monster of the week?

7) Why are Waverly and Wynonna having the conversation about Doc just now? That is major news, why didn’t talk about it before?

8) You do not mess with Wynonna’s sisters…

9) Why is the heir walking into revenant territory without any backup whatsoever?

10) Oh-oh…

BOBO: Now you see, that's that wild imagination, always gets you into trouble. You'd think that after all the months in St. Victoria's Psychiatric, you would know the difference between what is real - and what ain't.

So, like Buffy, Wynonna was committed to a mental institution because of her “delusions” about monsters and demons…

11) At first, I was like, why is Bobo letting them find Father Malick so easily? And then he went “tick-tock, tick-tock” just like the dude that got out of the mirror and I’m like… hmmmmm… something smells fishy here…

12) What a charming fellow…

He HAS to tell me where he gets his nails done OMG!

13) This is definitely the dude from the mirror…

I guess you can only see him in the mirror, for some reason?

14) So this monster (is it a revenant? I’m not sure, he doesn’t seem to behave like revenants and he’s crawling out of mirrors…) chases down sinners and haunts them until they repent and are forgiven for their sins?

15) I’m not gonna lie, I have a huge lady boner for Doc. Like, every time he’s on screen and he speaks with that freaking accent… I die a little.

16) I’m guessing the guy having drinks with Doc will be the next one to be killed off by razor guy.

17) Yep, he’s already listening to Kesha on the mirror.

18) Oh shit, Megan killed Samantha’s father because she took of in her boyfriend’s car because she’d caught him cheating on her with Wynonna… And that’s why she’s dead now… That’s some messed up butterfly effect…

19) Yep, and now Razor Guy is going after Doc.

I wonder whose forgiveness he will be forced to ask for in order to be spared…

20) This was… cringy…

21)

DOLLS: You know what I see in your eyes? A man who doesn't like small spaces. You been in prison? Solitary confinement, ooh.

I’m gonna go ahead and predict that the “solitary confinement” was in his coffin…

22) I guess all “sinners” are somehow connected to Wynonna…

23) Oh, shit!

RAZOR DUDE: Repent, Wynonna Earp. Two hours to find forgiveness from the souls you've hurt.

Who will she have to apologize to? And how long is her list?

24) HA!

25) This is such a Spike move!!!

DOC: Waverly, you have put together the most thorough resource on the revenants. You are one natural-born investigator, just like your great-great-granddaddy, and I reckon, the true keeper of the Earp flame. Can't blame you for being miffed

Yoko Factor much?

26) Please tell me that there is a parallel between this scene and Willow scolding Angel/Giles or Xander/Cordelia under similar circumstances…

27) Holy fuck this shit was scary!

28) She’s such a dork!

WYNONNA: OK, water! That's reflective, right? OK. So what if his body is in water? What if he's using the water to project himself?

29) I don’t get why they’re shooting the reflection, though. I mean, I would be trying to shoot where the dude is supposed to be standing in order to be reflected in the lake or the mirror or whatever surface, you know?

30) WTF!!!!

31) Fucking Doc is the one who chained and threw him into the lake. Should’ve figured it out.

32) Oh, so this is what Waverly was so miffed about…

I kind of disagree? I get that Waverly is the sister who had been preparing to be the heir. She’d done research, she didn’t run away, she was trying to find the revenants, she embraced the family curse. But ultimately, the rightful heir is… well, the rightful heir. It is destiny, and even if Wynonna is not yet totally on board with the Chosen deal, it is part of her journey. This is something that you don’t get to choose, it chooses you.

33) It’s so satisfying to watch them burn.

34) UGH I LIKE THEM SO MUCH!!!

DOC: I do not have much in this world, besides memories and regret. It would be nice for you to have more.

And he admitted that the last encounter with Wyatt he’d told her about was a big fat lie…

35) I get it, Waverly.

I spent years compiling research on the revenants. I did a four-year university degree by correspondence on ancient cultures and languages because I thought that maybe… maybe I could break the curse. And you, who's never tried to be good at anything in life, got to be the special one while I just got to be Waverly.

But… I think what they need to figure out is that they can actually do this – fight the revenants, break the curse – together. Waverly is actually the reason Wynonna came round to accepting her gig as the Heir. They’re the brains and the brawn, they make a great team, and the sooner they figure that out, the easier it will be for them to beat the revenants, you know?

36) Doc’s real last encounter with Wyatt was not as friendly as the one he’d shared with Wynonna. Wyatt could not forgive Doc for making a pact with the devil to become immortal – and what did he do, btw, sell his soul or what? – which was probably what the Razor Dud was going after him for. The problem is, he will never be able to get the forgiveness he obviously needs. But of course, he has to be so extra about his misery…

37) I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Even though it was about a Monster-of-the-week, it was super fun and said monster was used to bring up some issues among the characters as well as to bring them closer together. I really liked how they’re becoming their own Scooby Gang – Wynonna, Waverly, Dolls and Doc (is the alliteration on purpose?) Even if they’ve been forced together because of circumstance, they don’t even like each other most of the time, and they’re all so different, they still work great together. I’m very excited to see how all these relationships develop!

38) Hope you enjoyed my recap, and, as usual, if you’ve got this far, thank you for reading! If you enjoy my recaps and my blog, please consider supporting it on ko-fi.Thanks!

#Wynonna Earp #Waverly Earp #Doc Holliday #Melanie Scrofano #Tim Rozon #Dominique Provost Chalkley #WE recap #WE 1x04 #mine #MTVSwatches

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jennycalendar · 5 years

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simpatico

read it on ao3!

He’d dropped by, once, to inform Angel that Buffy was dead. According to Cordelia, he’d hung around for a bit longer than he needed to—though he didn’t say it then, it was clear he had wanted to see Jenny.

She was glad they hadn’t seen each other then.

backstory time: when i was attempting to write what would eventually become the grieving process, i first wrote 6k words of a fic where giles showed up at jenny’s place after tabula rasa instead of in between s5 and s6. this is that fic. it isn’t exactly like the grieving process, but they are very closely linked, so i consider them sister fics.

Jenny opened the door to find Rupert Giles standing there with a strange, glassy-eyed expression, like he wasn’t quite sure how he got all the way from Sunnydale to Los Angeles but still seemed fairly aware of the fact that he was there, and now he had to do something about it. It was a painful experience, looking at him; she hadn’t seen him in nearly four years, and he looked very much worse for wear.

“I’m supposed to be in England,” he said. “Why am I here?”

“Not for some romantic-comedy reunion, I hope,” said Jenny stiffly, which was probably the wrong thing to say, but—she’d been caught off guard, okay, give her a break.

“No, I suppose not,” said Rupert distantly, and just kept standing there. This was very unlike Rupert, who generally had some sort of plan in mind. He’d dropped by, once, to inform Angel that Buffy was dead. According to Cordelia, he’d hung around for a bit longer than he needed to—though he didn’t say it then, it was clear he had wanted to see Jenny.

She was glad they hadn’t seen each other then. That had been right after they got back from Pylea, back when Jenny had been sitting in a room scrawled with equations and symbols, reading to Fred in a low, soothing voice from old programming manuals. Jenny, lonely, helpless, would have given anything for someone to hold her close then, and Rupert—Rupert had always wanted to hold someone close. That was something that had always frustrated her about him, because he never seemed to be able to admit it.

“Are you going to stand out here all day?” Jenny asked. The conversation felt strange and inane.

“I suppose not,” said Rupert again, and turned as if to go.

Jenny stared, furious not only that Rupert wasn’t giving her a straight answer, but that he was making her worry about him. “Come in,” she said sharply, too annoyed to remember that Rupert could be a vampire playing tricks.

Rupert gave her a reproachful look, one that made Jenny feel a rush of relief; this she knew. “You haven’t learned much in the last four years, I see,” he said thinly, and stepped in and around her.

Honestly? Jenny didn’t know what the fuck she was feeling right now. She wanted to be angry at his barbed insult, or worried at his unexpected visit, but the only clear emotion she could distinguish from the mix was exhausted, and that wasn’t even an emotion. “Why—” she began.

This was, of course, when Connor started to cry from the bedroom.

“Oh, great,” said Jenny, hurrying through the kitchenette and into the small bedroom. Connor hadn’t really been adjusting well to not being around his dad or Cordelia, and it wasn’t doing much for Jenny’s self-esteem. She picked him up from the crib, bouncing him awkwardly. “Shh,” she whispered. This did nothing.

Rupert rounded the corner and stopped at the sight of Jenny and Connor, a stricken look in his eyes. Jenny realized that the right thing to do would be to tell Rupert to leave so she can calm Connor down, but before she could, he said in this small, shaken voice, “You have a child?”

For the love of god. “Rupert,” said Jenny, “why are you here at this time of night?”

“I don’t—know,” said Rupert jerkily. “I left for England and, and found myself here, I think. I changed the tickets, looked up your address—Jenny, you always know what to do. Always have.”

“Wonderful,” said Jenny. “My ex-boyfriend, who I haven’t seen in four years, seems to think he knows me well enough to come to my apartment, insult me, ask about my having a baby like he still has feelings for me, and then act like he’s somehow entitled to my advice. Amazing.”

This was where she meant to tell Rupert to get out. But then she made the mistake of looking at him, and he looked—hollow from the inside out. There was a strange sort of nothingness in his eyes; no trace of affection or emotion or even reaction to what she had just said.

“Sleep on the couch,” she heard herself say. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

Rupert nodded, still looking at her as though he still didn’t quite understand why he was there. Then he turned and headed back towards the couch, half-collapsing onto it.

She found out the next day that he’d been drunk. Had he showed up a few hours earlier, she might have noticed, and had she noticed, she might have been a hell of a lot angrier than she had been upon seeing him. But it had been late, and she had been drowsy enough that small details had escaped her, and the strangeness of Rupert was something that lingered even when he was hungover. His expression was shuttered and distant even now that he was awake—he was the perfect picture of composure.

“I’m all right, thank you,” he said when she offered him some aspirin.

Jenny decided to focus on Connor instead. He was still pretty fussy, and it was clear he missed Angel, but there wasn’t a whole lot either of them could do about that until Holtz was out of the picture. There were a thousand and one wards up to protect Jenny and Connor from anyone with ill intent, which—probably meant that whatever Rupert was here for, it wasn’t something bad.

“Hey,” she said to Connor in the kitchen, trying to bounce him the way she’d seen Cordelia do. He didn’t seem that into it, so she steadied him instead. “Hey. Your dad loves you so so much, you know that? He’s out there right now fighting bad guys just for your little scrunched-up face.” Jenny felt woefully inadequate at the whole baby-talk thing. “I wish we didn’t have to lay low,” she said to Connor. “I miss Fred. She was fun to talk mathematical theories with. I was teaching her programming, you know that?”

Connor snuffled and grabbed at Jenny’s hair.

“It’s all fun and games until the kid starts pulling,” said Jenny to herself, and headed back out into the living room. Rupert was watching television with that same vacant expression. “Here,” she said, and gave him Connor to hold. “You’re both causing me a lot of trouble—maybe you can cause each other trouble instead.”

Rupert looked down at Connor and his face softened a little.

“He’s not my baby,” Jenny added belatedly, if only because she was a little worried about Rupert.

“Hmm,” said Rupert, and smoothed down the little knitted hat Connor was wearing. Connor looked up at Rupert with interest.

Oh, great,Jenny thought, the baby likes him more than me. Icing on top of the goddamn cake. She stood in front of them for a few more seconds, then said, “You do need to tell me why you’re here.”

“Honestly, Jenny, I really don’t know,” said Rupert heavily. “I headed to the airport with full intent of heading to England, and next thing I know I’m waking up, hungover, on your couch, and you’re handing me a baby. It’s a bit much to take in.”

“You remember last night, though, right?” said Jenny, surprised and a little worried. She sat down in the chair next to him.

“Distantly,” said Rupert. “It isn’t the alcohol, it’s just—” He exhaled. “I’ve been alone, I think,” he said, “for too long, and I think it’s affected me—adversely. And I, I didn’t know—who else—” He let out a sobbing breath, then handed Connor hastily back to Jenny. “I’m a damn mess,” he said finally. “Wouldn’t want it to affect the child.”

“His dad’s Angel,” said Jenny. “This kid is a guaranteed mess.” She said it lovingly, though, because Angel was the kind of mess who mostly just needed a listening ear once in a while and a mug of pig’s blood brought to him while he was brooding.

It took her by surprise that Rupert (Watcher and researcher and lover of knowledge) didn’t immediately bombard her with questions about how a vampire’s child could be possible. It made her wonder what had changed in the last four years; he used to get so much joy from the work he did. Instead, he just said, “I’m sorry I came, Jenny. It was wholly out of order, and it must have been extremely unpleasant for you.”

Jenny nodded. “It was,” she said, remembering again to be a little angry—at Rupert for coming to her, at herself for letting him in. “You can’t just show up on my doorstep with the expectation that nothing’s changed.”

“I haven’t seen you in four years,” said Rupert, and he gave her this wobbly little smile—and it had been a very long time that someone had smiled at Jenny like that, the hesitant mixture of affection and attraction. Her heart picked up, despite itself. “I suppose I wasn’t thinking things through.”

“Plus you were pretty drunk,” Jenny added, trying to steer the conversation away from any possible romantic overtures.

The half-hopeful look on Rupert’s face dissipated and he nodded awkwardly. “I was,” he said. Then, “I’m sorry you saw me like that.”

A memory came back to Jenny, one she’d locked away two miles out of Sunnydale and promised herself she’d never think of again: the expression on Rupert’s face as she’d pressed the floppy disk into his hand and told him, quietly, that saving Sunnydale would have to be up to him and the kids from now on. He’d looked devastated, but it was clear that his anguish was a by-product of his own guilt, and…and she hated that he blamed himself for choices she made. She hated his tendency to do that.

“I let you in because I was worried about you,” she said, keeping her tone neutral. She didn’t know how to feel, looking at him. This was someone she’d loved more than she thought herself capable of, and someone who, time and time again, had left her feeling wrung-out and lonely. Leaving Sunnydale had been the right decision, she knew, but leaving Rupert wasn’t as easy a choice to parse. “Whatever we are…you’re still someone who had an incredibly huge impact on my life, Rupert. You should know that.” She had to look away when she said it; she couldn’t look into his eyes and watch that sweet, shy smile spread across his face. “Don’t apologize to me,” she finished awkwardly, and looked up again.

And that empty look in Rupert’s eyes was gone. He still looked so much older than she remembered him, weighed down by loss and a tangible grief, but he no longer looked like a shell of himself, and something about that reassured Jenny. “I’m sorry, still, for imposing,” he said, and it no longer sounded like a vague placation. “My problems are my own, and we’ve been apart for far too long for me to expect—”

“You should have other people besides me,” said Jenny quietly. “You know that, right? It’s not good that I’m your go-to girl, and it definitely isn’t good that it took you like four years to come to.”

“The children—” Rupert exhaled. “Either they need me too much to be healthy or they don’t need me at all,” he said, “and I could never divulge my personal struggles and failings to them. I cannot imagine burdening them with my problems.”

“And you’d burden me,” said Jenny, only half-joking. The responding look on Rupert’s face made her somewhat more aware of the fact that perhaps this wasn’t the right time to make that sort of a joke. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I just—Rupert, you know your worries and fears shouldn’t be something you just bottle up, right? You need some kind of an outlet, even if it’s not—” And then she stopped, grinning.

“What is it?” said Rupert.

“Oh, snickerdoodle,” said Lorne disapprovingly as soon as he saw that Jenny was holding Connor. “You know that baby’s dad is gonna kill you if he knows you’re parading his son around town, right? This place isn’t exactly undercover.” Here he glanced pointedly over at a few Wolfram and Hart execs, one of them—oh goddamn it. Today of all days?

“Jenny, what is your plan right now?” Rupert asked, looking a mixture of bewildered and annoyed. Something about that felt comfortingly familiar.

At the Wolfram and Hart table, Lilah Morgan raised a perfectly manicured hand to wave gracefully to Jenny. Jenny, who did not care to relive the whole why-did-you-sleep-with-a-lawyer-from-Wolfram-and-Hart conversation that she’d had with Angel a few months ago, gave Lilah a tense smile in return.

“Really don’t think you thought this one through, cream puff,” said Lorne, taking Connor from Jenny. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Rupert,” said Jenny. “He needs a reading.”

“A reading important enough to bring Connor down to the biggest demon hotspot in LA?” said Lorne skeptically.

“You’re kidding yourself, honey,” said Jenny, patting Lorne’s shoulder.

“A reading?” Rupert repeated, now sounding just annoyed. “Jenny, I don’t need—”

“You came for my help, didn’t you?” said Jenny to Rupert, and didn’t wait for an answer, turning back to Lorne. “It’ll be quick and I’ll pay you,” she said.

“You know I’m going to do it for free,” Lorne grumbled, turning to Rupert. “All right, crumpet, let’s get cooking. Sing a few notes for me, will ya?”

“Am I correct in assuming you’re Pylean?” inquired Rupert, cocking his head as he looked at Lorne.

Lorne looked a little taken aback. “You could say that,” he said finally, “though I don’t like affiliating myself with the people I grew up around.”

Rupert nodded, then quietly hummed a few bars of something that sounded vaguely like a ballad. Lorne had a strange look on his face when Rupert was done—sort of sad and disapproving at the same time.

“Oh, Rupert,” he said. “You can’t push people away just because you’re afraid of holding them too close.”

Jenny frowned. “Lorne, what—” she began, but Lorne held up a hand.

“I don’t push anyone away,” said Rupert, stiff and somewhat defensive.

“She needs you,” said Lorne. “You know she does. And your leaving is just hurting her more—”

“She shouldn’t need me,” said Rupert, and his voice shook. “And I care for her too much to be truly of help to her. I would only hold her back.”

But Lorne shook his head. “You can’t pick and choose what kind of a parent you are,” he said. “And make no mistake, Rupert—you are a parent to that girl, not a Watcher, and I think you know it deep down. But parents don’t get to bail when they’re afraid they love their kid too much to be of help. That decision is only ever up to the kid to make.”

Rupert looked first stunned, then affronted. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said finally. “You can’t possibly—”

“Rupert,” said Jenny quietly. “Rupert, why is he talking about you bailing on Buffy?”

“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said Rupert flatly. “I made the right decision—I made a difficult decision, and—”

“Tell me,” said Jenny.

Rupert faltered. “It isn’t,” he began, then, “You said yourself we haven’t seen each other in four years, Jenny, who are you to demand I tell you anything?”

She could tell he was trying to hurt her in some misguided attempt to keep her from asking anything else. Well, screw that. Jenny Calendar wasn’t dissuaded that easily. “I’m not demanding,” she said, quiet and deliberate. “All I’m saying is that if you honestly believe you made the right decision, you’ll be able to look straight into my eyes and tell me exactly what you did.”

It took Rupert almost thirty seconds to finally make eye contact with her. When he did, he just looked at her, a long, hungry stare as though he thought he might never get to look at her in this way again. Then, softly, he said, “I’ll be returning to Sunnydale, I think.”

“Yeah,” said Jenny, who was smart enough to have pieced together what Rupert had done on her own—or enough of it, at least, to understand his newfound guilt. “Yeah, I think so too.”

Rupert nodded, and nodded, and then stepped forward, placing a hand on Jenny’s shoulder and pressing a quiet kiss to her cheek. “I must admit I did idealize you over these last years,” he said softly, “but the Jenny Calendar I found here is better than any woman I could have dreamed up or hoped for.”

It wasn’t a statement meant to win her over, or prove anything about his character; it was very clearly something he said because he needed her to know it, and something he genuinely, truly believed. Jenny stared at him, frustrated and a little hurt, as he let his hand drop, turning and leaving the bar.

“Sugarplum,” said Lorne from next to her, “I don’t need to read your songs to tell you that you and him aren’t close to over.”

She didn’t have feelings for him. That part, at least, Jenny was sure of. Time and hurt had dulled her love for him into something that wasn’t quite as painfully ardent—a quiet, affectionate sort of thing that didn’t seem quite as romantic. She looked at him and she wanted him to be happy, and that was the end of it.

Or—a qualifier worth noting was that she couldn’t have feelings for someone she hadn’t seen in four years, someone who she herself was guilty of idealizing just a bit and who she really didn’t know all that well anymore. She wanted to get to know him again, certainly, but she had a very strong sense that trying to know him now would mean taking charge of helping him get his life together, and she didn’t feel prepared to take on that kind of responsibility.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said to Connor, sleepy and soft, cuddled on the bed with him in the crook of her arm. She was getting better at this whole single-kind-of-aunt thing—practice made perfect, and the kid wasn’t too much of a handful once he liked you. “You’d think I’d know my own mind well enough to know what my feelings are for a guy.”

Connor made a burbly noise and closed his eyes, and Jenny wondered where Rupert was right now. Taking the plane home, maybe, or waiting in the airport for the first flight out to Sunnydale. She hoped he wasn’t going to England, not with Buffy only barely back from the grave; that girl really did need Rupert there to guide her and support her.

“He worries about everyone,” she said softly. “I guess he gets used to people not worrying about him.”

The stuff with Holtz and Sahjhan was starting to take a lot longer than everyone had planned for, and something else was happening too: Jenny was starting to really like the quiet simplicity of taking care of a baby. And yeah, any new parent (or old parent, even) could tell you that taking care of a baby was definitely no picnic, but when you’re comparing it to being eaten alive by some weird demon in a sewer or almost getting toxic-slimed or getting bitten by something poisonous and contagious that had you quarantined in the Hyperion for a week, waiting for the scales to stop growing? Definitely seemed one hell of a lot easier.

She felt almost ashamed that she was so comfortable with the concept of normalcy, partially because so many of the people she cared about couldn’t seem to cope with it. And she still wasn’t really sure if she was ready to be a mom—it was one hell of a lot easier when she knew that this wasn’t a permanent gig, because she was always a little worried that she’d end up messing Connor up for good. But it was kind of nice to go to sleep at a regular hour, no patrolling or vampire-slaying required—and getting woken by a crying baby was worlds better than getting woken by some demon or another. It reminded her of that blissfully quiet year before she met Angel at a club in LA and he invited her to work with him.

Maybe something normal and quiet was what Jenny wanted. She hadn’t had a lot of time to figure it out.

She’d meant to decide on exactly what she wanted to do with her life back when she left Sunnydale that first time around. It had been the only reason she’d felt that leaving Rupert was the right thing to do for her, but…what was she doing, now? Glorified babysitting, sleeping most of the day, and cashing in the rent checks covertly sent through the mail by Cordelia. Rupert’s arrival was the only interesting thing that had happened to her since she and Connor had arrived in the apartment.

Jenny went out to the local library and read to Connor from the board books, and started to think about how loneliness could eat at a person without them even realizing it.

About three weeks after Rupert’s visit, Jenny came back with Connor and the groceries to find a blinking light on her answering machine. Gently setting Connor down in his high chair, she played the message.

“Ms. Calendar? This is, uh, this is Buffy. Angel gave me this number and said you were, you were taking some time off to raise a baby, which—congratulations, I guess. Giles didn’t tell us a lot about what went down when he visited you. Anyway, I just wanted to—” A shaky inhalation before the message continued. “You know, I never talked to you after you left Sunnydale, and that—that wasn’t fair to you, considering what you did for us. I was, I was young, and vindictive, and I didn’t know how to apologize for that back then. B-but I think an apology’s due now, I—” An almost-sob. “I needed him here. So much. And you got him to come back for me, and—he’s been here, and I’m going back to college, and it feels—like—like I have someone here for me. Really here for me. Not just someone who wants me to be all better again.”

Jenny was leaning against the wall with a wobbly smile on her face.

“I, I wanted to know if you’d—if you wanted to go out for coffee next week? To talk? I’m thinking of flying up to LA with Dawn. We could really both use some kind of a vacation, and from what Angel was saying, it seems like maybe you might too. So. Call me back if—if you want. ‘Cause that’d be really cool. Okay. Bye.”

Jenny switched the machine off and sort of started crying. Connor, seeing that she was upset, made an audible noise of distress from the high chair, and she stumbled over to him, picking him up and holding him close. “It’s okay,” she sniffled. “It’s good. I’m good.”

And, shit, she really was? Because she had still sometimes thought about that day she’d left Sunnydale, about Buffy catching her arm hard enough to bruise and saying, with the sort of unbridled anger that came only from an incredibly hurt teenager, you don’t deserve Giles if you’re going to leave him when he needs you the most. She had still wondered, if she’d ever come back to Sunnydale: would Buffy have ever been able to forgive her, or would Buffy have still been stubbornly in the mindset of Jenny being the worst of the worst?

Some small, deeply hurt part of Jenny had stopped hurting quite as much after listening to that message. She pressed a soft kiss to the top of Connor’s head (wondering, very secretly, if maybe kids were a thing she might actually want to have somewhere very far down the line), placed him down on the sofa, and called Buffy back.

The phone picked up on the first ring. “Hey!” said Jenny, too nervous to wait for clarification that she had, in fact, called the Summers residence. “This is Jenny returning your call—”

“Oh,” said Rupert, sounding surprised and a little shy. “Um, hello, Jenny.”

Jenny’s heart fluttered. “Hey,” she said, smiling slightly and twisting the cord of the phone idly around one finger. “I was just gonna call Buffy, but maybe I should also talk to you.”

“Oh?”

“No need to get all apprehensive,” said Jenny, meaning to sound teasing but coming out more affectionate than anything. She winced a little, but soldiered on. “Buffy left a very nice message on my machine regarding how much your being in Sunnydale means to her. She implied that you’ve been paying for her tuition?”

A brief pause, and then Rupert said, “Your friend Lorne was right. I’m not even close to a Watcher, and—and I think Buffy and I rather prefer the situation that way.”

“So do a lot of us,” said Jenny. “That organization’s done some pretty messed up stuff in its time."

“As did I when I was a part of it,” said Rupert heavily.

“Hey,” said Jenny playfully. “Now’s not the time for a pity party, Rupert. You did good. Embrace it.”

Rupert was quiet for another moment. When he next spoke, his voice was low and unspeakably tender. “You are a marvel, Jenny,” he said. “I cannot possibly thank you enough.”

And it was strange, and sort of frightening, but the feeling Jenny was feeling wasn’t a dizzy rush of passionate infatuation—nothing like the way she’d felt around him four years ago. What she was feeling was…the word for it wasn’t dulled, Jenny realized then, but concrete. Solid and unchanging.

“Yeah, okay,” she said, and smiled. “Is Buffy there? I do still need to return the call she made.”

“Oh—of course.” Rupert sounded like he was smiling too. There was a muffled conversation that Jenny couldn’t quite make out, and then silence save for quiet breathing on the other end of the line.

“Hey,” said Jenny, trying to keep her voice light and upbeat. She wasn’t sure how Buffy was going to react to them actually talking to each other.

“Hi,” came Buffy’s voice, hesitant and almost pre-apologetic.

Neither of them seemed to know what to say. Then, Jenny, biting the bullet, finally managed, “What—”

“Ms. Calendar I am so so so sorry!” Buffy’s voice was trembling and she sounded near tears. “The way Giles was when he came back, he kept on saying how mad at him you were for leaving me when I needed him, and, and I always thought when you left that you just—left, you know? Without looking back. But if you had the chance to get Giles back and sent him back to me instead—” Her voice broke.“I’m, like, the dumbest of the dumb,” she said. “And I figured it out like three months after you left, but—I didn’t have your number, and then I did but I didn’t want to call you when you might not even care about me at all—”

“Hey,” said Jenny. “Hey. Buffy. You were a seventeen-year-old and you thought that your first love was dead. I have never held your anger or your actions against you.”

“But I held such an awful grudge—”

“It’s okay,” said Jenny, and she really meant it. “It was a long time ago, and—” She found it difficult to continue, all of a sudden. She was thinking about the way she’d felt turning away from Rupert, about what it might have been like to get to be really, properly in love with the guy for four years. “It sucked,” she said honestly. “It did. But you can’t go back and change the past, and I know you’re a really good kid.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so,” said Jenny assertively. From the high chair, Connor uttered a plaintive sound that meant he wanted her attention, and she sighed. “Duty calls,” she said. “Any day I should be expecting you by?”

“Will Wednesday be okay?” Buffy asked nervously.

“Wednesday will be great,” said Jenny, who was already running a mental list of kid-friendly coffee shops nearby. “Say, two o’clock? You can meet Connor.”

“Connor?”

“It’s complicated,” said Jenny, because it was, and she didn’t want to risk Wolfram and Hart getting wind of any information. Angel had mentioned that they’d tapped the phone lines and were doing their best to listen in on her for any clues regarding Connor’s parentage. “But, um, I’m seriously really looking forward to—you know. Catching up.”

“Me too,” said Buffy, and she sounded genuinely happy. Connor knocked his rattle very pointedly off the high chair and shrieked.

Dawn, now in that too-tall awkward-teenager phase, was taking pictures of the decorative menu outside the café and trying to harangue Rupert into getting into the shot. “Move left,” she was saying as Jenny walked up to them with the stroller. Rupert moved very determinedly right, then caught sight of Jenny and turned pink. “Left, Giles,” Dawn said indignantly, not yet noticing Jenny, “it’s not gonna kill you to be in a few family photo albums, just—”

“Oh,” said Jenny, and grinned at Rupert. “Hey. Buffy didn’t mention you’d be coming up.”

“I-it was a bit of an impulse decision,” Rupert confessed, still blushing. “Besides which, I think I like going on plane rides with the girls. They make things interesting.”

“Hi, Ms. Calendar!” said Dawn brightly, turning with the camera and snapping a candid shot of Jenny and Connor, the latter asleep in his stroller. “Oh my gosh your baby’s so cute!”

“Dawn, you need to ask before you do that,” Rupert gently reprimanded.

“Oh. Whoops.” Dawn looked earnestly up at Jenny over the camera. “Is it cool, retroactively, that I already took your picture?”

“Retroactively, yes,” said Jenny, and stopped the stroller next to Dawn, stepping up to give Rupert a hug. She felt like he deserved it, all the good he was doing. “It’s good to see you,” she said quietly, so that only he could hear, and pulled back just a little to look properly at him. He looked better than when she’d last seen him, though that last time had set the bar pretty low. He still looked that same kind of tired, but Jenny suspected that that was a thing that came with getting older and lonelier over the course of four years. Which made her feel a little sad, because—

“All right, you two, break it up,” came Buffy’s voice, “you’re both just staring at each other and it’s weird. I’m the one who’s supposed to be getting coffee with Ms. Calendar while the stragglers hit up that bookstore across the street, remember?”

Jenny and Rupert stepped back, both of them smiling a little sheepishly. “I’ll see you—later, then,” said Rupert.

“Sounds good,” said Jenny, and turned to Buffy, who suddenly looked a little nervous. Trying not to reveal her own nerves (hey, one of them had to be the calm one), Jenny stepped around Rupert and pulled Buffy into a brief, somewhat awkward hug. “It’s good to see you too,” she said. “You look—”

Something in her fractured a little when she got her first proper look at Buffy. The Buffy Jenny remembered was a tiny seventeen-year-old with an easy-sweet smile on her face, someone who had been so thrown and frightened by the loss of Angel. This Buffy carried sadness and loss in her eyes, and stood like she didn’t even have to think about their presence anymore.

“You’ve grown up,” said Jenny finally, and wished Buffy hadn’t.

“Everyone does, someday,” said Buffy, and shrugged.

Later, if asked to pinpoint a specific moment, Jenny would always say that it was then that she and Buffy finally reached common ground. “We should go inside,” she said, “get something horrible and sugary with a few bad drinks to go with it.” She stepped back over to the stroller, pushing it back towards the café.

“She’s underage,” Rupert called over his shoulder as Dawn towed him towards the bookstore. “If you let her drink I will be thoroughly disapproving.”

“Gotcha,” Jenny called back to him, grinning. “Strip clubs and non-alcoholic drinks, then.”

Buffy was watching the two of them with a stunned smile on her face. When Jenny turned back to her, she said, “He hasn’t looked like that since—” and let the sentence drop a little clumsily.

“I like him looking like that,” said Jenny. “Happy. He deserves it.”

“He really does,” said Buffy, and they entered the café together, the little bell above the door ringing cheerfully. “So, I just—I mean, my phone message covered a lot of it, but—how are you?”

“Well, I have a baby now,” said Jenny, and her mouth twitched at Buffy’s bad attempt to not look curious. “Angel didn’t brief you on the whole baby situation?”

“What—oh!” Buffy looked genuinely relieved. “You mean—when he called last week about Connor—oh, okay. Because I was starting to think, you know, Willow said Giles went up to LA around the time I died, and, and the timeline would kinda—” Off Jenny’s look, she winced. “You know, I think I’m going to stop talking right about now,” she said.

Jenny tried not to laugh. “It’s okay,” she said. “Kinda figured I’d be fielding some awkward questions about the baby’s father sooner or later.”

Buffy looked over and into the stroller. “He’s pretty cute,” she observed, grinning in a way that made her actually look her age. “Super teensy. Are all babies like that, or is he a special case?”

“I wouldn’t be the best person to ask,” said Jenny, and leaned over as well. Connor hadn’t yet woken up, still cuddling the small teddy bear Angel had covertly sent over. She studied him for a moment, tucked the blanket very carefully around him, then looked back up at Buffy. “What about you?”

“What?”

“How are things going with you?”

Buffy’s smile flickered. “Well,” she said, “I almost started sleeping with Spike. That wasn’t great. Giles wants me to start seeing a therapist, because he thinks that’ll help me come to terms with all the stuff I’m dealing with. Willow’s in a kind of magic-user rehab in England, and Xander and Anya are on the rocks all the time, and—” She exhaled, smiling a little nervously. “Giles tries,” she said. “He does. But sometimes I feel like we all need him way too much.”

Jenny considered this. “He making any new friends?”

Buffy scoffed. “It’s Giles,” she said. “I’m pretty sure the last time he made a new friend was you.”

Jenny was saved from having to respond to that when Connor woke up and, upset about being in a new location, started to cry. Hastily, she picked him up, humming an old song that maybe her mom might have sung to her when she was very little. He quieted, but he was pretty clearly still not into the café.

“Seems like he takes after his dad,” said Buffy, and started giggling at Jenny’s badly hidden smile. “Should we maybe take him back to your apartment?”

“He’ll deal,” said Jenny. “I won’t have him growing up a total shut-in.”

“At least you know where he gets it from,” Buffy quipped. “I’ll go order. You wanna grab a table?”

“Sure,” said Jenny, smiling, and awkwardly steered the stroller over to a corner table, trying her best not to jostle Connor in her arms. He looked up at her with wide, upset eyes when they sat down. “Hey,” she said. “Relax. I’m here, and I wouldn’t take you anywhere unsafe, okay? You know that.”

Connor was definitely way too young to really understand what she had just said, but the cadence of Jenny’s voice seemed to relax him. He closed his eyes, turning his head a little so that his tiny cheek rested against her shoulder.

“Oh,” said Jenny softly. “Okay.”

Buffy came over with two pastries, smiling a little when she saw Connor snuggled up on Jenny’s shoulder. “You still like blueberry muffins and black coffee, right?” she asked apprehensively. “I only remember ‘cause Giles always made this whole production out of getting you coffee back in junior year—”

“Right on the nose,” said Jenny easily. “I love black coffee, and this establishment makes some of the best.” She moved over in the small wooden booth to make space for Buffy, who sat down next to her. “So tell me more about college.”

Buffy slid the muffin over to Jenny, then said, “Um, it’s good, I guess. Willow’s not in college anymore, and Xander’s still got that carpentry thing he’s doing, so me and Tara have been spending a lot of time together.”

“Tara?”

“Willow’s—” Buffy stopped, then laughed a little bitterly. “Almost called her Willow’s girlfriend,” she said. “Willow and Tara broke up. She’s been staying with us while she gets her feet on the ground.” She frowned a little distantly. “Is that the right expression? Or is it—I feel like it might be standing on her own two feet, or something.”

Sensing a characteristic Buffy tangent, Jenny steered the conversation back into more coherent waters. “It’s good that Tara has someone there for her,” she said. “And—just based off of that message you left me, I’m incredibly glad that the same can be said for you.”

Buffy smiled a little, glancing over through the front window of the café. Outside the bookstore, Dawn was sorting through the bargain books while Rupert struggled to carry five or six expensive-looking older volumes. “Yeah, me too,” she said. “How about you?”

“What?”

“Well, you haven’t just been hanging with Connor all this time, right?”

Jenny tried to smile. “You know the situation with Connor,” she said. “We’re kind of supposed to be underground at the moment until we’re sure the Hyperion is a safe place for a baby.” This was as close to the truth as she could say out in the open, but she figured Buffy would get the gist of it.

Buffy did. “He’s not safe up here in LA, then?” she said casually.

“Not as safe as he should be,” said Jenny bitterly. She’d grown up around people like Holtz. She could understand his vitriolic hatred of Angelus—hell, she could second it, even—but she couldn’t understand his condemnation of Angel as completely irredeemable, and she hated that he might hurt Connor in his vengeance-driven quest. “But his dad’s hell-bent on keeping him here, so here we are.”

“Yeah, his dad is kind of an idiot,” said Buffy matter-of-factly.

Surprised, Jenny laughed. “A little bit!” she said. “But—I mean, he wants to keep his kid safe. I can’t exactly resent him for that.”

“So he’s keeping his kid safe by hiding him in a city that isn’t safe for him?” Buffy said skeptically. “That really doesn’t seem smart. That seems more like he just wants his kid in the same city as him.”

Jenny sighed. “Can you blame him?” she said. “This world is such a crazy place. I’d be afraid to let go of love if I found it again, and after so long—” She realized what she was saying, flushed, and stopped. Then, awkwardly, she said, “You’re right, though. I should try and get into contact with him, convince him to be…” She trailed off. “Practical,” she finally said.

“Seems like a plan,” said Buffy, eyes twinkling with a merriment that Jenny did remember. She was reminded of the mischievous sixteen-year-old, all bouncy ponytails and bright smiles. No, I have a free.“And what do you know, now that Tara’s finally renting an apartment, my place has a spare bedroom! What place is safer than the bona fide Vampire Slayer’s house?”

“Buffy,” said Jenny, smiling a little tiredly.

“Ms. Calendar,” said Buffy, gentle but firm, “I get that things with you and Giles might never be the way they were before. And this honestly isn’t me trying to set you guys up—though don’t get me wrong, I think you two would be great together. Giles says you’ve been living alone, and I don’t like that Angel put you in that position.” Her own smile had faded, replaced with that same tired, sad expression that looked so out of place on such a force of sunshine. “Having someone to take care of but no one to talk to…I know how that feels. I don’t want you to have to go through that.”

God, did Jenny wish that offer wasn’t as tempting as it was. “Angel wouldn’t agree,” she said, mostly to remind herself that it wasn’t a possibility.

“And you think I couldn’t make him?” Buffy quipped.

“I can’t live in the past,” said Jenny helplessly.

“You can’t run from it either,” said Buffy simply. “Look, it’s not—you don’t have to make up your mind right now, just…keep it in mind, okay?” The waitress showed up with a coffee and an overly stylish hot chocolate. “Thanks,” said Buffy, her eyes still on Jenny.

“I’ll keep it in mind,” said Jenny quietly.

It wasn’t that Jenny didn’t like the idea of returning to Sunnydale. She did. More than she wanted to. It was that Jenny had left. She had made that choice, and it had taken her a long, painful few nights of deliberation to make it. Returning to Sunnydale meant acknowledging that her decision to leave had been the wrong one. That concept hurt, especially when coupled with her rekindled feelings for Rupert. Platonic, romantic, whatever it was, she felt something for him, and it was something that wasn’t as easily buried the second time around.

Returning to Sunnydale felt like returning to Rupert. Returning to him meant that she never should have left.

“So how many strip clubs did she drag you to?” Rupert was asking Buffy playfully, handing her a large stack of books.

“What are these for?” Buffy teased, grinning back. “God, Giles, can you go anywhere without picking up half a library?”

“It’s the librarian in him—” Dawn chimed in.

Jenny watched the three of them and—god, did she hate how easily she could imagine herself with them. Four years could have been enough to patch things up with Buffy, get to know Dawn, help Willow, and she’d left. What the hell was keeping her here?

Connor woke up and immediately began to cry again.

Oh. Right. Jenny crossed to pick him up from the stroller, bouncing him in her arms. Turning to Rupert and the girls, she said with a nervous laugh, “He might be a little tired, I should probably—”

“I’ll see you home,” said Rupert abruptly. Behind him, Buffy and Dawn had identical delighted grins.

“Oh, you don’t have to—” Jenny began.

“Nonsense,” said Rupert. “What sort of fellow would I be if I let a lady walk home alone?” He stepped forward, taking the stroller. “Buffy, Dawn, you don’t mind heading back in the direction of the hotel?”

“Here’s an idea,” said Dawn. “Why don’t we take care of the baby and you two take the hotel room?”

Buffy elbowed Dawn, Jenny and Rupert exchanged a wry, amused look, and all of a sudden it felt like Jenny had never left at all. She covered up her blush by turning back to the girls. “Sweet as that offer is,” she said, shifting Connor (who, while significantly calmer, was still clinging to her leather jacket), “I’m this kid’s primary protector.”

“What’s better protection than a Vampire Slayer?” Dawn persisted. “And you guys could both use a break—”

“Thank you, Dawn, but I think my walking Jenny home will suffice,” said Rupert patiently. “I assume you two can reach the hotel safely? Hang on—” He rummaged in his wallet, then pressed a few twenties into Buffy’s hand. “Cab fare, plus extra if you want a snack at the hotel,” he said.

“Thanks, Dad,” said Buffy, light and playful, but the sentiment in her voice was clear.

Rupert flushed, but he was smiling a bit. “Of course,” he said.

Buffy and Dawn headed to go flag down a cab, and Jenny and Rupert were left with a snuffling Connor. “I’m not really that good at this,” she said with a self-deprecating smile.

“Don’t be absurd,” said Rupert, beginning to push the stroller alongside Jenny. “He adores you.”

“Smart kid,” said Jenny.

“Indeed,” said Rupert.

They’d stopped walking. Why had they stopped walking? They’d barely gotten two feet away from the café, and Rupert was looking at Jenny’s mouth, and Jenny was suddenly feeling this terrible bubble of anxiety in her chest.

“Jenny—” said Rupert.

“I can’t come back to Sunnydale,” said Jenny before she could stop herself.

Rupert frowned a little. “What?” he said.

Jenny exhaled, embarrassed. “Can we just keep walking?” she said.

“All right,” said Rupert, still looking somewhat bemused, and fell into step with Jenny.

Eyes on the street in front of them, Jenny said, “I left, you know? That was my decision. Going back on it now feels like—”

“No, I’m sorry, I think we should stop walking,” said Rupert, sounding all but stunned. “Jenny, are you trying to tell me that you’re considering coming back to Sunnydale?”

“No,” said Jenny, and goddamn it, this blush was impossible to hide.

Rupert gave her a Look.

“I don’t like that you and the kids make me want to come back,” said Jenny reluctantly. “I closed that door a while ago, leaving the way I did.”

Rupert looked somewhat exasperated. “Oh, for—” He let go of the stroller, crossing around it to stand in front of Jenny. “Doors don’t close,” he said. “Not permanently. It’s hard work to rebuild trust, rebuild love, but it is always worth it. And considering that you’re the one who pushed me back into returning to Sunnydale in the first place, I think you should follow your own damn advice.”

“Those were completely different circumstances!” Jenny objected, indignant.

“No, they really weren’t, because you left,”said Rupert fiercely. “You left because you thought you weren’t needed, and that you might cause harm by staying. You left people who loved—love—you, and I think you know they never really stopped. You left, and you know it was the wrong choice, but you’re afraid that the people you hurt will be angry at you if you return after being gone for so long, after making them think you might never come back. Jenny, Jenny,” he caught her hand in his, making sure she still had a steady grip on Connor, “they’re not different circumstances at all. I left, and I thought I could never come back without hurting Buffy more, but all I was doing was hurting myself. I don’t want you making that mistake.”

Jenny’s heart was pounding. “I didn’t,” she said.

“Pardon?”

“I didn’t know you never stopped loving me,” said Jenny, feeling a little dizzy. “I never knew you loved me at all.”

Rupert blinked. Jenny could actually see him working back over what he’d said. Slowly, his face paled. “Oh,” he said weakly.

Jenny waited for him to take it back. She waited for him to want to take it back. But Rupert was looking at her with the same kind of anguish that he’d had all those years ago, the day she’d left Sunnydale for good. Like he thought his admission had lost her all over again. He might not be wrong. “I have to—I should go,” she said jerkily.

“Jenny, no, I—I—”

“I should go,” said Jenny again, tugging her hand free of Rupert’s grip. She took one step, then another, then ran, Connor in her arms, too far gone to even care that she’d left the stroller behind.

Jenny locked the door and put up five extra wards that would keep anyone from coming into her apartment unless they were her or Connor. And she was fine. It was fine. Every single part of this was absolutely fucking fine. Rupert loving her for years, missing her, hurting because of her—she’d left because she hadn’t wanted to hurt him. She’d left because she’d thought his devastation at her leaving had been guilt over driving her away, not the same kind of love that had tied her to Sunnydale for so long.

She’d left him, over and over again, because she was so, so scared of hurting him, of getting hurt, because she had never been in love before and she just knew she was going to fuck it up. And she had, hadn’t she? She’d quite literally bolted before he’d gotten the chance to say I love you.

The phone rang. Jenny swallowed, hard. Rupert had her number; it didn’t seem unreasonable for him to call. She gently set Connor down in his crib, took a few deep breaths, and picked up the phone. “Hey.”

“Jenny,” said Angel, and he sounded positively joyful. “Jenny, Holtz is neutralized. It’s over.”

Jenny almost dropped the phone. She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood, determined not to let Angel hear her cry. “That’s great,” she said in a strangled voice. “Seriously. So, so you’re swinging by to pick up Connor?”

“Actually, I thought you could swing by the Hyperion,” said Angel, still absolutely, obliviously happy. “We’ve missed you, Jenny, and—and god, it’s gonna be good to see my son again. How is he? He’s doing okay?”

“Angel, I need to go,” said Jenny thinly.

“Jenny, is everything okay?”

“Connor’s fine,” said Jenny. Her voice broke, so she said it again, because that was what mattered. “Connor’s fine.” She hung up the phone and crumpled to the floor, and all she could think of was the horrible, hurt look on Rupert’s face.

Nothing, she thought. There is nothing keeping me anywhere.

Angel showed up the next day, Cordelia and Wesley and Gunn and Fred all in tow, all of them bubbling over with delighted, self-satisfied, post-apocalyptic energy. Jenny wanted to be happy to see them, but her time away from Angel Investigations made it hard to feel a part of the group again. She gave them all a small, thin smile, handed Connor to Angel (he was just starting to cuddle into her, to let himself be comforted by her), and locked herself in the bedroom under the guise of packing her things, falling back onto the bed.

There was a knock on the door after about fifteen minutes. “Jenny?” called Wesley from the hallway.

“You guys can go on without me!” called back Jenny, who had no intention of ever getting up.

“Jenny,” said Wesley, “I intend to pick this lock if you don’t open the door.”

Irritation cut through Jenny’s despair. Pulling herself up from the bed, she hurried across the room, yanking the door open. “What,” she began.

“You’re moping,” said Wesley, fixing her with an annoyingly assessing look.

“Am not,” said Jenny.

“Is this because Mr. Giles was in Los Angeles?” said Wesley.

“Mind your own fucking business,” said Jenny, remembered that she was supposed to be cheerfully celebrating Holtz’s neutralization, and added, “Also, I’m fine.”

“Jenny, Lorne said—”

“Lorne doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said Jenny immediately.

“Lorne the empath demon doesn’t know what he’s talking about?” said Wesley skeptically.

“…yes.”

Wesley exhaled. Then he said, “I think you should at least know what Lorne told us.”

“I think you should mind your own business and stick to the stuff you know,” said Jenny coolly.

“Wesley, you are so bad at interventions,” came a voice, and Cordelia rounded the corner, giving Jenny a matter-of-fact stare. “Lorne says Giles is afraid of screwing things up,” she said. “He says it’s mostly Buffy that’s got Giles all worried, but it’s also you, ‘cause he showed up all unexpected and now he thinks he’s killed any chance of you-and-him. And I think you’re afraid youscrewed things up, which is dumb, ‘cause you could probably torch Giles’s car and he’d still wanna marry you.”

“You think Wesley is bad at interventions?” said Jenny shortly. “That’s the worst intervention I’ve ever heard. Leave me alone.” She pushed past Cordelia and Wesley, ignored the group crowded around Connor, grabbed her keys from the kitchen table, and hurried out of the apartment, no idea where she was headed.

Angel found her at the Hyperion, in one of the hotel rooms. “You know,” he said, sitting down next to her on the bed, “if you really wanted to be alone, you probably wouldn’t have headed back here.”

“I’m recognizing that now,” said Jenny, staring resolutely up at the ceiling.

“Is that, uh…” Angel trailed off. “Is that the go-ahead for us to talk about what’s bothering you?”

Jenny exhaled. Somehow, it was harder to lie to Angel. She’d spent too much time in Sunnydale doing exactly that. In Los Angeles, she’d tried to always be as above-board with him as possible, but she wasn’t sure how possible it was right now. “I think I’m…” She trailed off. “I think I made a mistake,” she said. “Leaving Sunnydale the way I did. And I think it’s too late to fix things without running the risk of hurting Rupert again.”

Angel was quiet. Then he said, “I don’t think Cordelia did the greatest job of explaining what Lorne told us. Can I try?”

Jenny scooted a little closer to him, letting her shoulder bump his. Then she nodded.

“Lorne said Giles loves you,” said Angel. Jenny felt her breath catch in her throat. “He said Giles’s song was for Buffy, but the whole time you and him were at Caritas, his eyes were for you. Which I think is his way of saying that…” He trailed off. “Jenny, you can’t keep people at arm’s length just because you don’t want them hurt,” he said. “You just end up hurting yourself. And them too, for that matter.”

Jenny swallowed, hard. “Rupert and I have that in common, I guess,” she said quietly. “But it’s not just—it’s not just that, Angel.” She crossed her arms against her chest, staring down at her lap. “I’m scared,” she said finally. “I’m scared of showing back up there and not being wanted. And I-I know it’s not his job, I know he never will, but…I want him to ask me to come back. To tell me that he—that he wants me in his life again.”

She felt Angel’s hand on her shoulder. “I know he’s not going to,” she said. “I know that’s not how this plays out. I told him—so long ago, I told him that I wasn’t coming back, and he’s the kind of guy who takes my words to heart. But I kept on thinking about…about Eyghon, and how he wouldn’t take no for an answer then, and how, how maybe him taking no for an answer now is because he doesn’t—” She stopped, pressing her lips together. She wouldn’t cry over this.

“He doesn’t love you,” Angel finished. “Not in the way you want him to.”

Jenny nodded.

“You want him to listen to you, though, don’t you?”

Jenny nodded again. “You see why I’m kinda fucked up about this,” she said ruefully.

“Just a little bit,” Angel agreed.

“Just a little bit,” Jenny echoed, and laughed wetly.

Angel gently squeezed her shoulder. “Sometimes you have to take the plunge,” he said. “Remember?”

“Yeah, well, this is a little different than jumping into an empty swimming pool full of broken glass,” said Jenny dryly.

“There she is,” said Angel, grinning. “Look, you’re—” His smile softened. “There aren’t a lot of people I’d trust to keep my son safe,” he said. “You know that, right?”

Jenny smiled slightly. “I’m aware,” she said.

"And Giles is smart enough to know a good thing when one shows up on his doorstep," said Angel. "It's definitely a risk, Jenny, but it's not as big a risk as you think.”

Jenny drove down to Sunnydale. She packed one suitcase of clothing for her and a cardboard box of gifts for the kids, and she pulled up in front of Buffy’s house. When she rang the doorbell, Dawn answered, then stepped aside with wide eyes, pointing wordlessly towards the kitchen.

Rupert was washing dishes, wearing a sweater Jenny remembered from years ago. He turned, and when he saw her, his face softened. “Jenny,” he said.

“Someone’s gotta bridge the gap, right?” said Jenny, and tried to smile. “It’s been a while.”

Rupert frowned. “Last we left things—”

“—I was an idiot,” Jenny finished. “Okay? Now, granted, you were too, but you were smart enough to start trying to fix things.” She hesitated. “I left because I thought I would hurt you by staying,” she said.

“I know,” said Rupert.

“I came back because I think I’m hurting myself by staying away,” said Jenny.

“I kn—what?” Rupert looked stunned. “Hurting—but—why on earth would—what?”

“I know we’re not in love,” said Jenny carefully, “but I think we still love each other. And I think I kinda want to…to maybe try and get to that in love point again. If you’re up for that.” She gave him a small, awkward smile. “Look, I’m not very good at—”

Rupert set down the dish towel. “Oh, I’d say you’re doing all right,” he said a bit shakily. He was starting to smile in a way Jenny hadn’t seen in…god, four years. At least. “I have missed you, you know.”

“I’ve missed you too,” said Jenny softly.

“It’s been…lonely.”

“I know,” said Jenny. “Me too.” She considered, then amended, “Well, not really, but…we were always on the same wavelength. I missed that.”

“Not always,” Rupert reminded her.

“No, always,” said Jenny, stepping forward. Much as she wanted to, she couldn’t quite bring herself to reach out to him. “Remember that faculty meeting, spring ’96? We wasted the entire time arguing just so Snyder couldn’t assign any of the teachers to chaperone senior prom?”

Rupert took her hands. “It might take us a while to get back to that kind of simpatico,” he said quietly. “If you’re up for that—”

“I am,” said Jenny. “You’re trying. I think I want to do that too.”

“Oh my god,” came a voice from the hallway. As Jenny and Rupert turned, Buffy stared incredulously at them both. “You two were kissing all over the place junior year,” she said, “and you’re restricting yourself to hand-holding after four years apart?”

“Buffy, it isn’t that simple,” said Rupert, looking a mixture of mildly annoyed and extremely embarrassed. “Jenny’s—she’s only just returned, and I should never want to pressure her into—that is, we need to get to know each other again, find out if we’re even compatible—”

And Jenny found that old, familiar, warmly amused feeling rising in her chest. She tugged on Rupert’s hands, and as he turned, she stood on tiptoe, kissing him very gently. Something slotted into place in that moment—something precious, and something she’d thought she’d lost.

“I don’t know what you’d do without me,” said Buffy with satisfaction, and Jenny heard her leave, but didn’t bother to look. She and Rupert were a little busy.

Angel brought Connor down to visit a few months later. “He missed you,” he said, which was pretty obviously a white lie on his part, because Connor was more excited about Dawn’s long, shiny hair than about seeing Jenny. But Connor was still pretty excited to see Jenny, so she didn’t feel too bad about it. “After all, I’m thinking I might have one of my own,” she informed Rupert later, “and that baby will definitely remember me. It’s a biological guarantee.”

Rupert smiled a little. Then he said, “I always rather liked the name Audrey.”

“Do not commandeer this process,” said Jenny. “I haven’t even decided if you’re going to be involved.”

“Yes, it’s a bit early in the relationship for that, isn’t it?” Rupert agreed. He frowned. “Or late, depending on how you look at it. Are we counting these four years as—”

“We’re counting starting now,” said Jenny, and draped her arms around his neck.

Rupert kissed her forehead. “I think I like that,” he said.

#fic #calendiles #i have royally fucked up my sleep schedule to finish this

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whitewolfofwinterfell · 5 years

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🔥Bangel :)

Once again, thanks so much for sending this in :)

Oh, Bangel… Where do I start with this ship? They are one of my biggest OTP’s for so many reasons - the chemistry between the characters/actors, the passion they have, the tragedy of their story, how they’re the love of each other’s life and the fact that they have the star-crossed lovers trope down to a T (you can read more about my feelings on Bangel here and here). Bangel are really what made me fall in love with BTVS when I first watched it, because it was such an emotional and heart-wrenching story about two people who loved each other with their whole heart and soul but were never able to be together because of external forces.

However, since this is my honest opinion I have to admit that my feelings towards Buffy and Angel have changed quite significantly since watching ATS and my recent re-watch of BTVS.

Warning: Below the cut is some mildly anti-Bangel content (wow, I never thought I’d say that on my blog), but better safe than sorry.

Seeing the development of Angel’s character on ATS (and his relationship with Cordelia) has definitely made me view the Bangel relationship in a new light. Before watching ATS I largely viewed the relationship from Buffy’s POV (since BTVS is primarily about Buffy), but watching ATS has shifted my perspective towards Angel, who I’ve completely fallen in love with as a character. Although Buffy is a constant presence in Angel’s heart, Angel goes through so much on ATS and establishes his own life completely separate from Buffy which brings purpose, family and love into his life in a way we’ve never seen before. Likewise, Buffy’s life changes a lot in Angel’s absence and she grows and changes significantly. When Buffy visits Angel in L.A. in ATS 1x19 their interactions really emphasised that fact for me - they no longer fitted in each other’s lives and Buffy didn’t have a place in Angel’s world. That doesn’t change the fact that Buffy and Angel always remained the love of each other’s lives, I strongly believe that. But I do think that Angel (not Buffy) moved on from their relationship. In ATS season 3, he grieved Buffy’s death, but he also admitted that he wasn’t broken by it like he expected to be - he was okay. He loved Buffy, but he was no longer in love with her. He’d reached a place whereby he could look back on his relationship with Buffy and remember it fondly and keep her and the love he had for her in his heart forever without it consuming him or causing him pain. That’s why ATS 5x20 is one of the most cringey and stupid episodes ever because it enters Angel into childish squabbling with Spike over who loves Buffy more and who’s more deserving of her, when Angel had spent 5 years growing and developing beyond his love for Buffy and the pain of their break-up. Without getting into the Angel/Cordelia relationship too much (because that’s a separate issue), I think that Buffy and Angel were pushed at certain points on ATS and post-season 3 of BTVS (particularly the finale) when it no longer made sense for either character because Whedon was so invested in them and they were so popular with the fans.

In regards to the Bangel relationship on BTVS, on my most recent re-watch I loved watching them as much as I always have, but I noticed the complete lack of development in their relationship, particularly in the beginning. They meet briefly a couple of times, Angel is a mysterious figure that Buffy knows little about (she doesn’t even know he’s a vampire until after she’s kissed him and he’s spent the night at her house) and then are head over heels in love with very little basis for that (with Angel it makes more sense since he had watched Buffy from afar before they met). Bangel will always be that couple whose connection goes beyond logic - it’s love at first sight, it’s intense, it’s life-changing, it’s soul destroying, it’s spiritual - and that’s what I love about them. At the same time, they are missing that foundation in their relationship and there’s no denying it. They aren’t really ever a couple in the traditional sense, there’s always some huge drama, fight or obstacle that’s in their way (not to mention the huge obstacle Angel’s vampirism in itself was for them). In comparison to Angel’s relationship with Cordelia, which involves consistent interactions in seasons 1-3 of ATS including working together, living together and going through shared traumas together (e.g. Doyle’s death), Buffy and Angel’s interactions are lacking and sporadic although they’re much more intense. Angel randomly appears, the two have a brief exchange and then he disappears again for weeks or months. There’s no consistency, there’s no opportunity for them to spend time getting to know each other or bond properly (I also have to admit Angel watching/stalking 15-year-old Buffy is kinda creepy). Essentially, their entire relationship is built upon the attraction and inexplicable bond that exits between them. That bond between Angel and Buffy can’t be quantified but everybody can see it. Like I said, it’s what I love about them, but I also appreciate ships with a more prolonged development (like Angel and Cordelia) because that feels more realistic and grounded.

My BTVS re-watch has also allowed me to see how damaging their relationship potentially could be for both Buffy and Angel. They loved each other as much as two people can love one another, and they had moments of happiness, but overall they brought nothing but misery to each other. That wasn’t directly their fault, it was usually the fault of outside forces and the nature of the supernatural world they were caught up in, but it doesn’t change the fact that they never truly made each other happy (with the exception of ATS 1x09). The fact that they were a slayer and vampire came between them, hurt them both and after the Angelus debacle, they were never the same. It doesn’t matter that Angel technically wasn’t responsible for Angelus’ actions, it was still a huge trauma for Buffy and it still remains a grey area as to how much Angel should be/can be held accountable for what he did without his soul. This is really a personal issue for me, because there are so many inconsistencies in the Buffyverse regarding the vampire with a soul vs vampire without a soul that I can no longer simply excuse Angel’s actions by saying, “It wasn’t really him”, because on some level it was (again this is a separate issue). The point is that no matter how much they loved each other, Buffy and Angel brought more heartbreak and upset to each other’s lives than anything positive. I think their relationship particularly had a significant impact on Buffy, who being so young and inexperienced in love was profoundly affected by what happened with Angel. It wasn’t just what happened when Angel lost his soul, it was also a trauma for her to have to kill him, to witness him coming back from the other side and help him heal and it was a trauma for her to see him engage romantically/sexually with Faith (even if it was part of their plan), it was a trauma for her to see the man she loved on the verge of committing suicide and it was a trauma when Angel broke up with her (despite Angel doing it for the right reasons). Buffy never opened up romantically to anyone like she did with Angel, because of the hurt she endured at his (and Angelus’) hands. How much Buffy loved Angel didn’t erase the trauma she endured because of him.

Although I have come to view the Bangel relationship in a different light, and see some of these more negative sides to their relationship, it doesn’t change the love I have for them. Nothing ever could. Watching ATS (and re-watching BTVS) has just simply removed the rose tinted goggles through which I used to view Bangel (and tend to view most of my favourite ships) and allowed me to acknowledge that their relationship isn’t perfect, which I personally see as a positive. Buffy and Angel’s actions and the ways in which they hurt each other is what makes their relationship so organic. No great love ever comes easy and it’s impossible for any couple not to hurt each other at some point during their relationship. The fact that Buffy and Angel endured so much heartbreak and couldn’t be together because of supernatural forces, the fact that they continued to love each other, yearn for each other and be there for each other is a testament to that love. There’s no other ship that comes close to having the kind of connection Buffy and Angel have in that way. Most relationships that end on TV just end, regardless of how in love the two people were, but Buffy and Angel were two people, who no matter how much time passed or who else they fell in love with, always loved each other. Their love was once in a lifetime love - they changed each other’s lives completely and their love was so strong that their connection never wavered, no matter how much time they spent apart. They had an inherent understanding and unspoken connection, and despite being natural enemies they reached each other in ways no one else had before. I also can’t speak about Bangel without mentioning Sarah and David’s chemistry which is also incredible. Their natural chemistry brought the profound connection and love between Buffy and Angel to life and made it feel completely authentic.

Phew, so those are my thoughts on Bangel. Sorry that this got so long (as always) and thanks again for asking :)

#answered #my meta #btvs meta #ats meta #anti-bangel #its not really anti-bangel because i still love them with all my heart and they're my forever otp #but i wanted to tag it as that just in case #dont want any angry shippers in my askbox lol

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jenniferstolzer · 6 years

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Finished Buffy season 3

Some finale. I have thoughts.

First off, once again time has betrayed me. I knew Angel was on his way to his own series so that plotline lacked the devastation that probably came with it on first viewing.

I’m assuming Faith is going to recover at some point since she’s just in a coma. It would have made way more sense for her to have died and visited Buffy in a dream, but we can’t give Buffy a kill count just yet I guess. After all the special attention we gave Faith for her one human kill, i suppose Buff is already needing enough therapy for one year.

I like that the mayor had sincere feelings for Faith in the end. He was a great subversion of the evil demon character by way of the the straight-laced 50s dad. And the big finale with the models and the cgi monster was ADORABLE lol. I’m probably the only one who thinks that though.

Xander did improve by the end of the season. They were forcing a “he’s not so useless after all” theme through the second half and paid that off by having him know how to use guns I guess? That one time he was brainwashed into knowing how to use guns was the best thing that ever happened to him. What I did NOT appreciate was the straw man “shewitch manhater” in the form of the wish girl who came around to love b/c Xander lowered his standards and took her to the prom. Lesson for all writers -- its weak character craft to make your character look better by making other characters worse by comparison. Wish Girl’s only purpose in the last couple episodes was to prop Xander up and let him defend men to her. Specifically the kind of masculinity that I’ve been complaining about concerning HIM for a while now. Men aren’t just sex goggles, which Xander has been this whole show. They have the capacity for a broad spectrum of emotion and can be strong (aka substantive and contributing to the story) in ways other than or in addition to machismo. Wish Girl complains about evidence of toxic masculinity which Xander is like poster child for. Him being afraid of a more powerful foe or falling behind Buffy (who is supernaturally powerful) in a fight is played for laughs more often than not, and when it’s not that he’s being called pathetic and made to feel bad about that. Finally Wish Girl does this grunt grunt pro woman thing that makes her absolutely insufferable and stupidly shallow to personify criticism of men (xander) in general specifically so Xander can dress her down in defense of his gender.

Listen, show, you didn’t have to go to this length to show that you can write substantial, powerful, and likable men. My case in point is effin OZ. Oz prove through this show that he can take a back-seat role, be vulnerable, play support, and still be a strong male character. Unless he’s become a werewolf he’s far from the strongest fighter in the room. He’s a good student but not a super genius in supernatural things like Willow or Giles are. He’s got his band and his own interests, but aren’t specifically defined by these roles. What defines him as such a strong character is how he dealt with Willow’s cheating on him, and the capacity for honesty and forgiveness he met in that moment. Cordelia’s character did the same thing -- her response to Xander’s cheating taught us about her as a character. She’s still shallow and petty, but we’ve seen the depth of her hurt and her affection and watched her edges blunt through the humility and loss of trust she experienced. If Xander had come out of that experience having learned something i’d like him better for the bulk of the season. I didn’t see a lot of change in him until here at the very end, when he apologizes to Cordelia by helping her buy her dress with no expectation of reward, and covering for her to keep from embarrassing her even though cutting each other down is how they flirt/their favorite past time. And to be fair him bouncing off of Wish Girl and picking his friends over running away from danger with her is good development and did warm me to him more than previous episodes, but it was a clunky method of doing that. Really it felt like the script didn’t want to pay him any more attention than “comedy monkey” until the reviews started coming in and his approval rating dropped. I don’t know if that IS the case? I wasn’t there and have no references, but that’s what it felt like. I hope this gaining of facets continues in season 4 and we get to watch him meaningfully grow and change in response to his decisions and circumstances. Up until this point I had no idea why Buffy or Willow hung out with him.

i know I’ve picked Xander as a bit of a sticking point. If you guys think I’m being unfair to him, I apologize. He aggravates an exposed nerve in me, and I’m aware he’s a product of his time. My present and his history have not been kind and my anger comes mostly from the disappointment of me hoping for better.

Overall, though, Joss Whedon’s clippy writing style was strong as ever :) his subversion of his own tropes has started to kick in, which keeps the writing fresh and funny. Giles and Cordelia are still my favorites. I also like Willow and Buffy a lot. I won’t really miss Angel, mostly because I knew his departure was coming. i’m sure he’ll make another appearance at some point when the casts cross over. I think being without him will give Buffy a chance to grow in a new direction the way she did with Faith. i’m also glad the show is letting everyone advance to college! New places will bring new people and new challenges -- especially now that the high school has blown up. Let’s get started!

RIP principal snyder.

#buffy the vampire slayer #meta #episode summary #art #fanart

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lushscreamqueen · 3 years

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The Buffy Horror Picture Show

Movie Script Parodied by: Alex Jacobs ([email protected]) December 25, 2001 Note: This takes place at the end of Season 4. Cast: Dr. Ang-l-us (a vampire) David Borenaz Riley Finn (a heroine) Buffy Summers (a hero) Sarah Michelle Gellar Xander Harris (a handyman) Nicholas Brendon Willow Rosenberg (a domestic) Allyson Hannigan Cordelia (a groupie) Charisma Carpentar ) Mr. Giles (a rival) Anthony Stewart Head Spike (a creation) James Marsterson Jenny Calendar (ex-computer teacher) The Werewolf (Narrator) (an expert) Seth Green The Vampire Prostitutes Perry Bedden Fran Fullenwider Christopher Biggins Lindsay Ingram Gayle Brown Penny Ledger Ishaq Bux Annabelle Leventon Stephen Calcutt Anthony Milner Hugh Cecil Pamela Obermeyer Imogen Claire Tony Then Rufus Collins Kimi Wong Sadie Corre Henry Woolf Tuesday Evening/UPN NERF HERDER (FANGS) Joyce Summers felt down When the school burned to the ground So she moved to Sunnydale. And the Master was there In his underground lair, Waiting for the Slayer to fail. Then something went down In that old coastal town; Buffy died and opened the mouth of Hell. Then she came back to life And the Master?? Just died. And the special effects looked real swell: CHORUS Tuesday Evening, UPN Angelus will lose his soul again. See vampires fighting Buff and Riley Cordelia Chase will Show her hiney. Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh On the eight PM, Tuesday evening, TV show. NERF HERDER (FANGS) I know that Rupert Giles Was pissed off by miles When Angelus killed his girlfriend. And I really lost favor When I saw the Slayer Fight Angelus and to Hell he was sent. Chanting magical tunes And gypsy runes Willow saved Angel's soul just too late. But when Angel came back, And the Mayor attacked, I knew the school couldn't escape its fate. Not on? CHORUS Tuesday evening, UPN Angelus will lose his soul again. See vampires fighting Buff and Riley Cordelia chase will Show her hiney. Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh On the eight PM, Tuesday evening, TV show. I wanna go Watch the eight PM, UPN, TV show. By Mutant Inc, Hee hee hee. Go watch the eight PM, UPN TV show. Hope it won't blow, Oh Oh Oh Not the eight PM, UPN, TV show. HIGHSCHOOL STUDENT Here they come! (Highschool Students cheer and drink) DEMON WITH A CAMERA Let's get a picture. Close together now. The natives and the transfer students. Just of the those that survived graduation. Ahhh, hold that. Beautiful. And? (A giant snake comes out of the ground and eats all the students) DEMON Congratulations. (Buffy and Tara walk past the snake) TARA I guess we finally did it, huh. BUFFY I don't think there's any doubt about that. You and my Mom have been almost inseparable since you broke up with Willow after catching her with that strange hickey. TARA Well to tell you the truth, Buffy, your mom's the only reason I dated Willow in the first place. (chuckles) You know, to meet hot older chicks. BUFFY That explains a lot? too much. We must never speak of this again. JOYCE O.K. you guys, this is it. (everyone screams) TARA Well Joyce is going to throw the bouquet. RILEY I got it! I got it! TARA Hey, looks like it could be your turn next, eh? BUFFY Like I'd ever have a relationship stable enough for marriage. TARA True, but you don't like girls so I don't care either way. Guess we better get going now Joyce. Come on, hop in. (Buffy gives the car the finger. They drive away) (sign saying "Sunnydale High School: One Year Reunion") RILEY Oh Buffy, wasn't it wonderful? Wasn't your mom radiantly beautiful? I can't believe it. An week ago she was just plain old celibate Joyce, and now? now she's Mrs. Muff-diver extraordinaire. BUFFY Yes Riley, Tara's a creepy girl. And thanks for

wigging me out like that. RILEY Your welcome. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT I always cry at death scenes. BUFFY Everyone knows my mom is a tight little fuck. Why does everyone know that? RILEY (shrugs) BUFFY Why Tara herself'll probably be teaching her about rim jobs in a minute or two. RILEY Yes. Crimey Riley BUFFY Hey Riley. RILEY Yes Buffy? BUFFY I've got something to say RILEY Uh huh. BUFFY I really love the? Coincidental way? The Initiative disappeared? When things went astray. RILEY Oh Buffy. BUFFY The journey was tough but now finally (CHORUS: Riley) The future is looking quite smiley. (Riley) So please don't take it unkindly. (Riley) I've one thing to say and that's Crimey, Riley the Initiative blows. The leaders were lame but they died-y (Riley) There were monsters in tunnels that cried-y (Riley) I know that you're really tired-y. (Riley) I've one thing to say and that's Crimey, Riley the Initative Blows. Here's some things that prove that I'm for real. There's three things that they could have done: That's run, fight, or imprison. Oh R-I-L-E-Y They failed their mi-i-sion. RILEY Oh, it's not my fault that we were crap stuff. (Oh Buff) Or that our plans were just lame fluff (Oh Buff) And I don't blame you for leaving in that huff. (Oh Buff) I've one thing to say and that's Buff, you're tough, but we sucked chode. Oh Buffy? BUFFY Oh... crimey. RILEY You're tough... BUFFY Oh... Riley. RILEY ? We sucked so much. BUFFY I lost my lu-u-unch. BUFFY & RILEY You/We were standing on a crutch- ah - utch. BUFFY So let's go see the man who so finely (Riley) Taught me how to kick your hiney. (Riley) When I compare you to him I just smiley (Riley) Now I've one thing to say and that's crimey, Riley, the Initiative blows. Crimey, Riley. RILEY Oh Buff, you're tough. BUFFY Crimey, Riley. BUFFY & RILEY They sure blew. OZ I would like, ah, if I may, ?to take you on a strange journey (goes for black book opens book) It seemed a fairly ordinary night when Buffy Summers and her bitch, Riley Finn, two young, stupid, healthy kids, left Sunnydale that late June evening, to visit a certain Mr. Giles, ex-Watcher, now friend to both of them. It's true there were dark storm clouds. Heavy, black, and pendulous, toward which they were driving. It's true, also, that the spare crossbow they were carrying was badly in need of repair, but, uh, they being stupid kids, on a night out? well, they weren't going to let a storm spoil the rest of their evening, were they? On a night out? It was a night out they were going to remember? for a very long time. JOYCE (ON RADIO) I have never been a quitter... To leave the show before my contract is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as an actress I must put the interests of my career first. My income requires a full time acting job? and an in depth part? RILEY Gosh, that's the third vampire prostitute that's passed us. They sure do look skanky, what with the tube tops and all. BUFFY Yes, but they're pretty cheap to the right type. RILEY I'm that type. BUFFY What did you say? RILEY Oh, nothing? Say, What's the matter, Buffy darling? BUFFY Oooh. We must have taken a wrong turn a few miles back. RILEY Oh, but where did those vampire prostitutes come from? BUFFY Hmmm? well I guess we'll just have to turn back. RILEY Oh! What was that bang? BUFFY My driving. CRIMEY! I knew I should have gotten that spare crossbow fixed, it would make the next few hours a lot simpler. Well, you just stay here and keep warm and I'll go for help. RILEY But where will you go in the middle of nowhere? BUFFY ?Didn't we pass the new high school back down the road a few miles? Maybe they have a telephone we could use. RILEY I'm going with you. BUFFY Oh, no, darling, there's no sense in bringing you along when you'll just get in my way. RILEY I'm coming with you! Besides darling, the owner of that phone might be a handsome vampire and you might never come back. BUFFY Eh. Probably. Over to the Sunnydale Hellmouth RILEY In the velvet darkness, Of California

night, They rise despite, All the vamps you slay. Even if you kill them all day. BUFFY & RILEY They will come? CHORUS Over to the Sunnydale Hellmouth. BUFFY & RILEY They will come? CHORUS Making people scream and shout. BUFFY & RILEY They will come, come in the darkness of California night. XANDER The vampires must go down the river of night's killing. They make me sick, but then pretty girls come spilling Into my life? Into my life? BUFFY & RILEY They will come? CHORUS Over to the Sunnydale Hellmouth. BUFFY & RILEY They will come? CHORUS Making people scream and shout. They will come, will come. BUFFY & RILEY ? in the darkness of California night. OZ And so, it seemed that fortune had smiled on Buffy and Riley and that they had found the assistance that their plight required. Or had they? RILEY Buffy, let's go back, I'm cold and frightened? BUFFY Just a moment Riley, they might have a phone. XANDER Yo! BUFFY Hey! What are you doing here Xander? XANDER Eh. Got turned by some über-vamp. You? BUFFY I-I was wondering if you could help us. You see our car broke down a few miles up the road? do you have a phone we could use? XANDER (stares at Buffy's t-shirt which has gotten so wet it's transparent) You're wet. RILEY Yes - ? - it's raining. BUFFY Yes. XANDER Yes? I think that perhaps you'd better come. Come inside. That's what I said, come inside. RILEY About time. Oh Buffy, I'm frightened. I thought the school blew up and wasn't supposed to be rebuilt for another three years? BUFFY Oh, it's probably some kind of temporary high school to educate the young until a new plot-hook can be built. RILEY Oh. (forlornly) XANDER This way. RILEY Are you helping students cram for finals? XANDER You've arrived on a very special night. It's one of the master's affairs. BUFFY Master? XANDER Uh? -bater? RILEY (Buffy and Riley share a look) Oh. Now I'm wiggin'. WILLOW You're wigging, He's wigging, I'm wigging, we're all wigging! ha ha ha ha ha (school bell rings seven times) Fuck Over Xander XANDER It's astounding; Vamps are fleeing; The Slayer takes effect. But listen closely... WILLOW Not for very much longer. XANDER Things aren't over yet. I remember hating the vampires. Wishing They'd get a nice tan. But then hypnosis hit me XANDER & WILLOW And I heard a voice calling... (Willow and Xander put on vampire game faces) VAMPIRE PROSTITUTES Let's fuck over Xander again. Let's fuck over Xander again. OZ (pulls down chart. There are dozens of pictures of Xander slumped to the floor, unconscious) It's just a knock to the head. ALL Or a pretty girl in plain sight. OZ With gigantic tits. ALL And an embrace so tight. But it's the pelvic thrust That really drives him insane. Let's fuck over Xander again. Let's fuck over Xander again. WILLOW I was so easy, but he never bothered to please me. So you could see me, getting really pissed. But I found a vampire, A Scooby insider, Who agreed, To give us the kiss. XANDER After Angelus's neck bite WILLOW Everything was made right. XANDER Now nothing can ever be the same. WILLOW I'm spaced out on orgasms. XANDER They're giving her spasms. ALL Let's fuck over Xander again. Let's fuck over Xander again. CORDELIA (in vampire game face) Well I was living in LA, but not eating every day When this beautiful face put me in my place. He took me to a party, I figured what the heck He had a Ferrari, but then he bit my neck. He sucked my blood and I felt a change. Food meant nothing, never would again. ALL Let's fuck over Xander again. Let's fuck over Xander again. OZ It's just a knock to the head. ALL Or a pretty girl in plain sight. OZ With gigantic tits. ALL And an embrace so tight. But it's the pelvic thrust That really drives him insane. Let's fuck over Xander again. Let's fuck over Xander again. (Cordelia pole dances) (Cordelia falls) ALL Let's fuck over Xander again. Let's fuck over Xander again. OZ It's just a knock to the head. ALL Or a pretty girl in plain sight. OZ With gigantic tits. ALL And an embrace so tight. But it's the pelvic

thrust That really drives him insane. Let's fuck over Xander again. Let's fuck over Xander again. RILEY Buffy, say something. (whispered) BUFFY So, you guys are vampires now? (vampire prostitutes get up and start walking towards Buffy and Riley, licking there lips) RILEY Buffy, please, let's get out of here. BUFFY For God's sake, Riley, keep a grip on yourself. RILEY But it? it seems so unhealthy here. BUFFY It's just the undead, Riley. RILEY Well -- I want to go. BUFFY Well we can't go anywhere until I get to a phone. RILEY Well then just slay them already. BUFFY Just a moment, Riley -- we don't want to do anything that might upset them. RILEY This isn't the Initiative headquarters, Buffy. BUFFY They're probably just getting used to their new vitality-challenged lifestyle. They may do some more folk dancing. RILEY Look, I'm cold, I'm wet, and I'm just plain scared BUFFY I'm here -- there's nothing to worry about. (Riley screams and faints) Pretty Vampire Angel So glad you're here, I See you've met my Latest acquisition. He's just a tad depressed Because when you knocked He thought you were the Red Cross deposition. Don't get turned off by the way I dress. Afterwards I can still wear black shades. I'm not man about town by the light of day But by night can make your womb ache. (drops cloak to reveal leather pants and no shirt) I'm a just a pretty vampire. From Los Angeles, California. Let me show you my chest Or maybe the rest. You look like you're both pretty turned on. Or if you want something tactual, That's not entirely factual, We could put on an old Martin Gaye song. BUFFY I'm glad you're in this strange place, Didn't you leave for LA? We're actually somewhat rushed, now. RILEY Right. BUFFY We'll just say give Giles a ring, Then go get our things. We want to tell Oz, Willow's straight now. ANGEL So you're crossbow won't work, well, You're both jerks. I'm sorry, but things break. By the light of the dawn it'll all turn out wrong. It seems you two made a mistake. I'm just a pretty vampire From Los Angeles, California. Why don't you stay for the show? XANDER Show. ANGEL See how far things dare go. CORDELIA Go. ANGEL I could show you my favorite night wear. I've been assisting a fiend With blond hair and big thing. And it's great when he touches me (hand passes in front of crotch) right there. I'm just a pretty vampire From Los Angeles, California. THRUST IT, THRUST IT! (thrusts hips on "THRUST") I'm just a pretty vampire CORDELIA, XANDER, & WILLOW Pretty vampire ANGEL From Los Angeles, CORDELIA, XANDER, & WILLOW California. ANGEL So come down to the crypt, And I'll show you my stick. I see you shiver with erotic plea- sure. But maybe the plot Isn't completely shot. So I'll remove the chicken (Chuckles) But not the feathers. (applause) RILEY What in the world does that mean? BUFFY Who knows? (Buffy and Riley are given towels) RILEY Thank you. BUFFY Thank you very much. (Willow and Xander start to undress Buffy and Riley) RILEY Oh! Buffy! BUFFY (Buffy grows impatient with Xander, pushes him away, and strips in two seconds) It's all right Riley. We'll play along for now and pull out Mr. Pointy when the time is right. (Riley looks down in shame) CORDELIA Faster, people, faster! Some of us have lives here. Well, technically only these two, but you know what I mean. BUFFY Hi, Cordelia, remember me, the Slayer, and this is my boyfriend and former Initiative member, Riley Finn. You are really pissing me off and you're a vamp so if you'd just shut up? CORDELIA If you don't shut up you'll never get down to Angelus's crypt. Some people would suck cock for the privilege. BUFFY People like you maybe? CORDELIA Pretty much. (Xander pours wine into a glass, takes a swig from the bottle, and lets it drop after Willow says "Screw it.") XANDER Come along ? Angelus doesn't like to be kept waiting. WILLOW Screw it. (Riley screeches - the elevator goes up) RILEY Is he ? Angel, I mean ? still good? XANDER The master-bater is not good, nor do I think he ever shall be

again. We're all pretty happy about this. RILEY Oh. ANGEL Willow, Cordelia go assist Xander. I will entertain? uh huh huh... (chuckle) (camera shows Buffy) BUFFY I'm the Slayer, remember. And I don't think you've had a chance to meet your replacement, Riley "Fuck." RILEY Finn. BUFFY Shut up. ANGEL Embrassez mon âne.* (Riley giggles) Well! How dull. And what boring underclothes you both have. But here. Put these (negligees) on. They'll make you feel more sexy. It's not often we receive visitors here, let alone offer them? hospitality. BUFFY Hospitality?! All we asked was to use your telephone, goshdarnit, a reasonable request which you've chosen to ignore. RILEY Buffy, don't be ungrateful. BUFFY Ungrateful! ANGEL How forceful you are, Buffy. Such a perfect specimen of manhood. So? dominant. You must be awfully submissive, Riley. RILEY Well, yes I am. (giggles) ANGEL Do you have your virginity, Buffy? BUFFY Certainly not! You took it from me, remember? ANGEL No. How about you? (to Riley) RILEY No. (giggling) XANDER Everything is in readiness, master-bater. We merely await your (pause) creepiness. ANGEL Tonight, my undead death-conventionists? you are to witness a new breakthrough in biofatalistic research? and Sunnydale is to be mine? It was strange the way it happened? Suddenly you find your voice? Vampires start to obey your commands, not a sign of rebellion? What fools! The right vampire was there all the time but it took a small accident to make me realize? AN ACCIDENT! WILLOW & CORDELIA An accident! ANGEL And that's how I discovered the key, that elusive nosferatu, that vamp who'd be the breath of death? Yes, I have that power? I hold the key? to the Hellmouth? itself! You see? you are fortunate for tonight is the night that my beautiful creature is destined to destroy the world! Up now! (Curtain is lifted exposing a pair of large doors with a strange seal) Throw open the doors to the tomb? and shine in a flashlight so I can see what the Hell is going on! RILEY Oh Buffy! BUFFY It's all right Riley. (Xander takes a crowbar and forces one of the doors open. He shines a flashlight in revealing Spike lying in his underwear) (Spike emits some guttural garbage) ANGEL Oh! Spike! The Chip of the Initiative SPIKE The chip of the Initiative is stuck somewhere in my head, And while it's in there I can't make anyone dead. Oh, woe is me, my un-life is a misery. Oh, can't you see, that I'm starting to act like a pansy ass bugger. I woke up this evening and I cried when I remembered my fate. ALL That sure sucks ass. SPIKE And for awhile I thought there was nothing I could do to escape. ALL That sure sucks ass. SPIKE It's blood I need, I'm all bleached but still can't feed. And I know it seems like I'm starting to act like a pansy ass bugger. ALL Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. SPIKE Oh ho no no ALL Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. SPIKE Oh ho no no ALL Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. SPIKE Oh ho no no The chip of the Initiative is stuck somewhere in my head, ALL That sure sucks ass. SPIKE And while it's in there I can't make anyone dead. ALL Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. SPIKE Oh no no no ALL Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. SPIKE Oh no no no ALL Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. SPIKE Oh no no no (repeat until end -- Sha-la-la) ALL Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. Sha-la-la-la That sure sucks ass. Sha-la-la. ANGEL Well really. That's no problem if you know what to do about it. (Angel punches through the side of Spike's head and pulls out a microchip) SPIKE Augh! You wanker! That really hurt. ANGEL But because you've got such "exceptional" strength, you should be able to handle it. SPIKE Augh Agh (applause) ANGEL Oh, I just love success. XANDER That was a credit to your strength, master-bater. ANGEL Yes. WILLOW A triumph of your fist. ANGEL Yes. CORDELIA He's in pain. ANGEL In pain? Only in pain! I think we can do better than that. Humph! Well, Buffy and Riley,

what do you think of the hole in the side of his head? RILEY Well, I don't like to see a grown man cry. ANGEL I didn't make him cry for you! If he's tough enough to break heads he can have his own broken. To Make You a Vamp ANGEL A weakling weighing just ninety-seven Will get left in the dirt When bit in the neck. (pats Spike on the head) SPIKE Ow! It still hurts you bloody git! ANGEL But give him some blood after draining him dry, The hunger takes effect as he sucks on your neck. We'll make him muscled and rough. And with blood, and just a little bit of manly love, He'll be dead and quite tough He'll be a strong vamp. So bloody? ALL But all vamps ANGEL Will eat nothing high protein. They just swallow raw blood? Trying to build up an appetite, martial arts, but not? Lungs And an evil diabolical man Doesn't even need seven days... ANGEL & VAMPIRE PROSTITUTES To make you a vamp. ANGEL He'll kill cheerleaders, and bankers, kill the old, young and feeble. He thinks beating old ladies is fun and quite evil. Your obsessed with living. I just don't understand, When it doesn't even take seven days... To make you a vamp. (Beep Beep Beep) ANGEL What the? CORDELIA JENNY! I mean, Miss Calendar! You never changed my grade like you promised! (Runs up to Jenny with a change of grade slip. Jenny ignores her and begins stripping) C'mon Giles (Show Me Affection) JENNY Whatever happened to going on patrol, When your stake was all sharp and you'd take a stroll? It don't seem the same since the mayor died And I came back to life thanks to gypsy magic inside. Two years ago I fell for a librarian, Before being killed by a barbarian; He was dressed in leather pants and a black silk shirt. I ran to the back of the school knowing it would really hurt. C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. (Sex solo) (Jenny thrusts) My head used to swim from the cologne he wore. My hands kind of fumbled down there til I'd roar "Just come in my bed and I'll be your whore." He'd answer that tonight he was just gonna read. Go back to school, Put the kettle on The library was closed and the night seemed so long. Masturbating to his picture I'd try to get along. It felt pretty good. But not what I really need. (Cordelia slides to a halt at the V of Jenny's crotch and begins pleasuring her) C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. C'mon Giles, show me affection, I really love resurrection. (for a total of twelve times) (Angel attacks Jenny with a vibrating alpinist's pick) (Cordelia begins screaming how she did her part and not to hurt her before Jenny does hers) ANGEL One from last season. (chuckles) SPIKE Ha!? ANGEL (opens door) You baby? Don't be upset? I know it was a messy killing the first time but I like to clean up after myself? She had a certain innocent appeal, but no eroticism. (Spike flexes a bicep) ? Oh! To Make You a Vamp (Reprise) ANGEL But a jugular and a corpuscle. A hot vein and some neck muscle. Makes me, oooh, bite, Makes me want to take Jenny Calendar by the ? ha-ha-hand. ANGEL & VAMPIRE PROSTITUTES Doesn't even take seven days To make you a vamp. ANGEL I don't want no weird demons, Just able bodied seamen. RILEY That's a crazy plan. ANGEL It doesn't even take seven days, To make you a vamp. Run now if you can It doesn't even take seven days, To make you a vamp. (Angel and Spike's wedding march) VAMPIRE PROSTITUTES Angel and Spike, rah-rah-rah! Angel and Spike, rah-rah-rah! Angel and Spike, rah-rah-rah! Angel and Spike, rah-rah-rah! OZ There are some who say that vampires are imaginary, and demons are but a figment of gothic literature. If this is so, then Buffy and Riley are quite safe? However, the sudden departure of their host? and his childe? into the seclusion

of his somber crypt left them feeling both apprehensive and uneasy, a feeling which grew as the vampire prostitutes departed, and they were shown to their separate rooms. (Buffy and Riley are shown to their separate rooms by Xander and Willow) (Riley enters room) (Buffy enters room) (knock) (howling) RILEY Uhh! Who is it? Who's there? ANGEL (BUFFY) It's only me, Riley. RILEY Oh, Buffy darling, come in. Oh! Buffy, Oh Buffy. Yes, my darling? but what if? ANGEL (BUFFY) It's all right, Riley, everything's going to be all right. RILEY Oh, I hope so, my darling. Oh? Ah? Ahh OHHH! Oh, it's you! ANGEL I'm afraid so, Riley, but isn't it nice? RILEY Oh, you beast, you monster? Oh what have you done with Buffy? ANGEL Fucked the shit out of her but that was two years ago. Did you mean recently? RILEY You tricked me? I wouldn't have? I've never? I would never? never? Unless Buffy was ignoring, or it was an incredibly hard day, or I hadn't gotten laid in the past three hours, or the vamp was really cute. But otherwise never, never? ANGEL Yes, yes, I know, but it isn't all bad, is it? I think you really found it quite pleasurable. RILEY Oh, stop? I mean help? Buffy Buffy!? Oh Buffy!! ANGEL Shhh. Buffy's probably asleep by now. Do you want her to see you like? This! (Grabs Riley's wrist and starts sucking) RILEY Like this like how?! Oh, it's your fault? You're to blame? Oh? I was saving myself for the Red Cross drive. ANGEL Yes, but I'm sure your not drained yet? RILEY Promise you won't tell Buffy? ANGEL Cross my heart and hope to die? (assorted sucking noises) (Scene with Xander and Willow, Willow with a mop, Xander putting on gloves) (Xander walks over to Spike) (Xander grabs a cross and uses it to threaten Spike) (Spike runs away) (Spike climbs up the stairs out of the highschool basement) (Xander throws the cross after him then makes out with Willow) ANGEL (RILEY) Oh, Buffy darling, it's no good here. It'll destroy us. BUFFY Don't worry Riley, we'll be away from here in the morning. ANGEL (RILEY) Oh, Buffy you're so strong and protective. BUFFY Ah, ah, ah, oh YOU! ANGEL I'm afraid so, Buffy, but isn't it nice? BUFFY Yes, but what have you done with Riley? ANGEL Nothing. Why? Do you think I should? BUFFY Probably, but that's not the point. You tricked me, I wouldn't have? ANGEL Oh yes you would, I know? I was there the first time, remember. And it wasn't all bad, was it? Not even half bad, I think you really quite enjoyed it. BUFFY Oh? so soft? More? More? More Riley? RILEY! ANGEL Riley's probably asleep by now. Do you want him to see you like THIS? (Buffy sits up and yells) BUFFY Like this, like how? It's your fault, you're to blame, I thought it was the living thing! ANGEL Oh come on, Buffy, admit it, you liked it, didn't you? It isn't a crime to give yourself over to pleasure, Buffy. We've wasted two seasons already? Riley needn't know, I won't tell him? BUFFY Well, promise you won't tell? ANGEL On my mother's corp-... XANDER Master-bater, Spike has broken his chains and vanished. Your new playmate is loose and somewhere on school grounds? Willow has just released the dogs? ANGEL Mmmm? Coming! RILEY What's happening here? Where's Buffy? Where's ANYbody? Oh, Buffy. Buffy, my darling, how could I have done this to you? Oh! If only we hadn't made this journey? If only the crossbow hadn't broken down? If only we were amongst friends? Or living persons. Oh Buffy, oh Buffy. What have they done with her? (screen shows Buffy bouncing up and down on top of Angelus) Oh, Buffy, Oh Buffy -- How could you? (he fondles vacuum cleaner) (Spike emits moans and general cries of pain) (Spike gets up) RILEY Oh, but you are hurt? I mean, good. I mean, did they do this to you? SPIKE You are a bleamin' idiot. RILEY I'll dress your wounds? baby there? (Rip his boxers and dress Spike's wound) Let me make it all better. SPIKE You're aware that vampires heal on their own? (glances down at Riley's wripped boxers) And that I'm straight? OZ Addiction: abnormally dependent

on something? Psychologically or physically habit forming. In other words: a powerful and irrational master? and from what Willow and Cordelia eagerly viewed on their television monitor there seemed little doubt that Riley was, indeed, ?its slave. WILLOW & CORDELIA Tell us about it, Riley. Suck-a Suck-a Suck-a Suck Me RILEY I was feeling turned on, From vampire spawn. I'd only ever killed their kind. CORDELIA You mean he? WILLOW ?s even dumber than he looks. RILEY I thought don't try to consort, Except as a last resort. It only leads to trouble And military court. Now all I want to do is go to you. I've given blood and I want less. WILLOW & CORDELIA Less, less, less. RILEY I'll put up no resistance But I have one insistence: I've got an itchy neck It's your subsistence. Sucka sucka sucka suck me! It's okay if you hurt me. Bite me, slight me, excite me! Creature of the night. Then if my veins shrink, while you drink, I'll get a needle and stick it in. WILLOW & CORDELIA In, in, in. RILEY And that's just one penetration Of the prime elation. You need a willing meal plan and I need sensation. Sucka sucka sucka suck me! It's okay if you hurt me. Bite me, slight me, excite me! Creature of the night. CORDELIA Sucka sucka sucka suck me! WILLOW It's okay if you hurt me. CORDELIA Bite me, slight me, excite me! WILLOW Creature of the night. RILEY Sucka sucka sucka suck me! It's okay if you hurt me. Bite me, slight me, excite me! Creature of the night. SPIKE Creature of the night. BUFFY Creature of the night? ANGEL Creature of the night. WILLOW Creature of the night. XANDER Creature of the ? hey! Nachos (walks off camera) CORDELIA Creature of the night. SPIKE Creature of the night. RILEY Creature of the night. (scene change, Xander being whipped) XANDER Owwwwwwwww! Mercy! (Being kicked by Angel) ANGEL How did it happen? I understand you were to be watching? XANDER I was only away for a minute? Masturbating. ANGEL Well, see if you can find him on the school's security cameras. XANDER Master-bater, master-bater? We have a visitor. BUFFY Hey, Giles! ANGEL You told your Watcher where we were? BUFFY Well, no. He, he's a friend of mine and we were on our way to meet him but I never knew we were going to end up here so how could I tell him to meet us here and? is there at all a chance you believe me. ANGEL I see. So this wasn't simply a chance meeting. You came here with a purpose. BUFFY Hello? I told you, my car broke down. Car right outside? You saw it, remember. ANGEL I know what you told me, Buffy? But Giles is not exactly unknown to me. BUFFY He was a librarian at Sunnydale High. You should know, you brought him books, remember. ANGEL Yes! And now he works for the Watcher's council again, doesn't he, Buffy? He's attached to the bureau of extermination of that which you call HST's!!! Isn't that right, Buffy? BUFFY He might be? I don't know. XANDER The intruder is entering the building, master-bater. ANGEL He'll probably be? entering the library. Shall we inquire of him in person? (activates triple contact faggot magnet) (Pause) BUFFY What the Hell? GILES Angelus, we meet again. BUFFY Giles! GILES Buffy! What are you doing here? ANGEL Don't play games, Mr. Giles. You know perfectly well what Buffy Summers is doing here. It was part of your plan, was it not? That the slayer and her bitch could check the layout for you. Well, unfortunately for you all, the plans are to be changed. You must be adaptable, old man; I know Buffy is. GILES I can assure you that Buffy's presence here comes as a complete surprise to me. I came here to find Jenny. BUFFY Jenny! I've seen her! ANGEL Jenny? What do you know of Jenny? GILES I happen to know a great deal about a lot of things. After all, Jenny happens to be ex-girlfriend. (Angel gasps and releases Oz) (Riley gasps) BUFFY Giles? RILEY Ah! GILES Riley! RILEY Mr. Giles! BUFFY Riley! RILEY BUFFY! ANGEL Spike! GILES Riley! RILEY Mr. Giles! BUFFY Riley! RILEY BUFFY! ANGEL Spike! GILES Riley! RILEY Mr.

Giles! BUFFY Riley! RILEY BUFFY! ANGEL Spike! Listen? I made you? and I can stake you just as easily. (to Spike) WILLOW (Rings gong) Master, dinner is prepared! ANGEL Excellent. Under the circumstances, formal dress is to be optional. OZ Food has always played a vital role in life's rituals, even for the dead. The breaking of bread, the sucking of blood from a dying man, and now? this meal. However informal it might appear, you can be sure that there was to be a little hoot and even less nanny. (Xander and Willow wheel in a cart) (Xander opens the lid) (Xander places a large piece of meat in front of Angel) (He carves the meat and Xander serves it to the others) (Xander pours and spills wine before this) ANGEL A toast? to absent friends? ALL To absent friends. BUFFY (to Riley) What exactly is in these glasses? ANGEL And to Spike. (Angel starts a verse of staccato "Happy Birthday Spike" and cuts it off after "Dear Spike." Riley continues until he realizes he is the only one left singing.) Shall we? GILES We came here to discuss Jenny. CORDELIA Jenny! (Angel threatens her with the slicer) ANGEL That's a rather tender subject. Another slice anyone? CORDELIA Excuse me. (Exits room, closes door behind her, and screams) GILES (to the entire table) I knew she was in with a bad crowd, but is was worst than I imagined? Demons! SPIKE What the blazes are you talking about? We're vampires you twit. BUFFY Giles! ANGEL Go on, Mr.Giles. Or should I say? Ripper. BUFFY Just what exactly are you implying? GILES It's all right! BUFFY Giles! OZ It's all right, Buffy. Jenny GILES From the day she came here. She was annoying. She was an itch. In my boxer shorts. She tried in vain? OZ ? but of sex he would always abstain. GILES But I wept the day she was no more. From the day she was gone All I wanted Was computer geek porn And my Jenny back. Hiring mystic jerks? OZ But not a damn thing they tried ever worked! GILES And my sex life was feeling the lack. ALL When Jenny said she wouldn't wear a teddy Giles acted like a stuck up prick. But when he shut off his cock with a kryptonite lock ANGEL That poor wench! RILEY But her stench. OZ Made me sick. CORDELIA Everybody failed me But when Jenny nailed me I said, "hey, can you pass me? And I'll give you my ass for free!" But she didn't run from Angel fast enough to flee. GILES But then she was brought Back from the dead, Making me fraught With worry when I read? ALL What'd you read? What'd you read? JENNY'S VOICE I'm out of that Hel Oh, hurry, this won't turn out well. Angelus might just come out ahead. (scream) ALL When Jenny said she wouldn't wear a teddy Giles acted like a stuck up prick. But when he shut off his cock with a kryptonite lock ANGEL That poor wench! RILEY But her stench. GILES Made me sick. ALL When Jenny said she wouldn't wear a teddy Giles acted like a stuck up prick. But when he shut off his cock with a kryptonite lock ANGEL That poor wench! ALL Oh-oh-oh... RILEY But her stench. ALL Ew, ew, ew... GILES Made me sick. (Angel pulls the tablecloth off of the table and the slaughtered remains of Jenny are seen under the glass surface) (All scream) (Spike runs to Riley and bites his neck) ANGEL Spike! How can you think of food at a time like this? GILES (To Buffy, who's running alongside him) This way, this way. (General mayhem as Angel chases Riley. Xander and Willow laugh, until Xander suddenly says "Why are we laughing?") XANDER Why are we laughing? Hiney Whiney ANGEL I'll drink your blood but I won't give in. You'd better shut up, Riley Finn. Your soufflé is a bit too thin. You'd better shut up, Riley Finn. I've broke her cherry; it should make things quite merry. You're as bright as a nightlight; wound up like an G.I. Joe guy. When I sucked you, were you this contrary? Ya gonna bitch? Well, pay attention. You better shut up, Riley Finn. The hypnosis will cause sclerosis. RILEY My boots! I can't move my boots! GILES My glasses! My God, I can't clean my glasses! BUFFY It's as if we're glued to the

spot! ANGEL Bingo! So quake with fear, you mortal fools! RILEY (Breaks down in tears) We're stuck! ANGEL (sung) It's something you'll get used to. Everyone needs a little fuck. GILES You won't find mortals quite the easy mark you imagine. This hypnosis sclerosis? it is I suppose, some kind of psycho-somatic capillary-constriction command word? BUFFY You mean? GILES Yes, Buffy, it's something we've heard of vamps having for quite some time. But it seems our friend here has found a means of perfecting it. A power capable of breaking down human will and then controlling it within the body and, who knows, perhaps even mentally projecting. RILEY You mean he's going to mentally control our hineys? ANGEL Hiney, Whiney Riley! You better shut up, Riley Finn. You better shut up, build your butt up, You better shut up? OZ And then he stood up? RILEY Stop! ANGEL Don't get hot and horny! This line is quite corny. BUFFY You're an asshole, but you better not try to enspell us, Angelus. (Angelus's eyes flash red and Buffy turns to stone) GILES You're an asshole, but you better not try to enspell us, Angelus. (Angelus's eyes flash red and Giles turns to stone) RILEY You're a poopyhead-- (Angelus's eyes flash red and Riley turns to stone) CORDELIA My God! I can't stand any more of this! First you cancel my credit cards, and then you throw out my wardrobe for an old overcoat and these pajamas! You bully other people and take their stuff? I wanted you? d'ya hear me! I wanted you. And what did it get me? Yeah, I'll tell you -- a big nothing. You're like a leech. You drink, drink, drink, and drain others of their blood and emotion. Yeah, well, I've had enough! You're gonna choose between me and Spike, so named because of? something I can't think of. (Angelus's eyes flash red and Cordelia turns to stone) ANGELUS It's not easy finding good help? (Angelus's eyes flash red and Spike turns to stone) Even feeding makes my face ache? And my childers turn on me? Spike's behaving just the way he always did. Do you think I made a mistake, taking out his chip before getting him to agree to destroy the world for me? (Willow walks over to where Angelus is. Xander follows) WILLOW Ahhh! I grow weary of this world! When shall we open the Hellmouth, huh? ANGEL Willow, I am indeed grateful to both you and your boyfriend, Xander. You have both served me well. Loyalty such as yours shall not go unrewarded. You will discover that when my libido takes me, I can be quite generous. WILLOW I ask for nothing? ANGEL That works, too. Come, we are ready for the ritual. OZ And so, by some extraordinary coincidence, fate, it seemed, had decided that Buffy and Riley should keep that appointment with their friend, Mr. Giles. But it was to be in a situation which none of them could have possibly foreseen. And, just a few hours after declaring their mutual hatred of the Initiative, Buffy and Riley had both been tasted? By the Initiative's enemies. This irony was proof that Angelus was again a vampire with no soul and a significant appetite. What further dangers were they to be subjected to? And what of the ritual that had been spoken of? On top of the Hellmouth? In the middle of the night? What diabolical plan had seized Angelus's crazed imagination? What indeed? From what had gone before, it was clear that this was to be? no picnic. Blood Tints My World (Unfreeze - Cordelia) CORDELIA It was great when he first bit me. I was an Angelus devotee. But it was over right when he decreed To damn the Sunnydale bourgeoisie. Now the only thing that's left to try Is to find myself a handsome guy. Blood tints my world, keeps me safe from hunger and pain. (Unfreeze - Spike) SPIKE I'm two hundred years young, And extraordinarily well hung. And the next few days should be quite fun Since my hunger has been unstrung. But the one thing that I like best Is biting into Riley's neck.. Blood tints my world and keeps me safe from hunger and pain. (Unfreeze - Buffy) BUFFY It confuses me; Angelus uses me! I'll look good; you'll see, In a

spaghetti strap bikini. What's this? Let's see, I feel sexy! What's gotten into me? Woo! Mr. Pointy again. (Camera close up revels Buffy's? um, impaled herself on her own stake) (Unfreeze - Riley) RILEY I feel anemic; Hypoglycemic. The problem is I'm bulimic; How do I get it back? My blood sugar has gone away; And the craving's there to stay. Spike can suck me all day. I love his hunger attacks. ANGEL Whatever happened to Faith? That buxom, young Slayer who left? As she fought Nine vampires. When she lit them On fire And in black leather she was quite well dressed. Give your blood over to nocturnal demons. Feel the warm fires of flames coming from Hell. Erotic nightmares, without any reason. So you lose the daytime? It's just as well. You don't really need it. No, no, no. Don't bleed it, drink it. (four times) ALL Don't bleed it, drink it (eight times) (On sixth line, Angelus's eyes flash and Giles is unfrozen) GILES Whoa! We've got to get out of this school Before this vampire makes us food. I've got to be tough, and hope that's enough or else my control may well snap and my life will be lived? (feels face which has gone all bumpy and ridgey) as a vamp! BUFFY It confuses me; Angelus uses me! RILEY God bless Joss Whedon. ANGEL Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me? me I'm a crazy and an deadly vamp. I'm undead with a pissed off rant. You get a red light on the indicator lamp. Your heart'll thump and you make me pant. So run for cover in the nearby woods. We're gonna getcha just like we should. Blood tints my world, keeps me safe from my hunger and pain. ALL We're crazy and deadly vamps. We're undead with a pissed off rant. You get a red light on the indicator lamp. Your heart'll thump and you make us pant. So run for cover in the nearby woods. We're gonna getcha just like we should. Blood tints my world, keeps me safe from my hunger and pain. We're crazy and deadly vamps. We're crazy and deadly vamps. We're undead with a pissed off rant. You get a red light on the indicator lamp. Your heart'll thump and you make us pant. So run for cover in the nearby woods. We're gonna getcha just like we should, should, should. Rose tints my world, keeps me safe from my hunger and pain. (Xander and Willow enter from the rear door in black leather outfits) XANDER Yo, Angelus, it's all done here. Your family is a failure; Your childers go astray. I am your new sire; You now are my childer. We return to Los Angeles. Prepare the Chevrolet. ANGEL Wait! I can explain! (Angelus goes and speaks to Cordelia, who goes and turns on the spotlight; and to Spike who goes and turns on the stage lights) I'm Spinning Off ANGEL On the day the school blew up? ALL Oh no? ANGEL I nearly threw up? ALL Way to go? ANGEL I want to act again, and stay on. ALL With my own show? ANGEL Sign here, and that will mean I may. ?cause I've been, Undervalued oh, Underrated in my eyes (Willow yawns with disinterest) And I realize, I'm spinning off. ALL I'm spinning off. (Willow yawns) ANGEL In Sunnydale it's been the same? ALL ?feeling? ANGEL ?like I'm outside feeling lame? ALL ?wheeling? ANGEL ?Easy To try and find a fight? ALL ?dealing? ANGEL ?death from pencils, death from light. ?Cause I've been, oh, undervalued, Underrated in my eyes And I realize, I'm spinning off. ANGEL & ALL I'm spinning off. (3 times) (applause, then Vampire Prostitutes disappear) WILLOW Well that answered nothing. (Angelus turns around and sees the house empty) XANDER And rather self-centered, even for you. You see, when I said we were to return to Los Angeles, I referred only to Willor and myself. I'm sorry, however, if you found my words misleading, but you see, you are to remain here; in ashes, anyway. GILES Good lord, that's a crossbow! XANDER Yes, Oz. A crossbow capable of firing a bolt of pure anti-mater. BUFFY That doesn't make any sense. GILES Neither does anything else in this episode. Continuity must be protected. XANDER See, Oz gets it. And now, Angelus, your time has come. Say good-bye to all of this, and hello to

oblivion. (Cordelia screams - get staked) (Angelus tries to escape by climbing the curtain) (Angelus screams - gets staked, falls) (Spike moans over and falls on Angelus's ashes) (Picks him up and begins to climb the tower - gets staked in the stomach, staked in the back, staked in the shoulder, staked in ther armpit, and finally staked through the heart ? Spike's and Angel's ashes fall into the pool) BUFFY Jeez, Xander!�� What's your problem? RILEY Oh! You killed them! Now they'll never feed from me again. (Buffy glares at him) WILLOW But I thought you'd liked him. He liked you. XANDER I didn't like him! I never liked him! GILES You did right. XANDER (Primping) A decision had to be made. GILES You're O.K. by me. (holds out his hand as to shake it with Xander) XANDER Oz, I'm sorry about your? GILES Jenny? Yes, well, perhaps it was all for the best, heh, heh, heh. (cleans glasses) XANDER You should leave now, Mr. Giles, while it is still possible. We are about to suck the entire school down through the Hellmouth, into Hell. It's on the other side. Of the Hellmouth. Go? Now. (to Willow) Our vision is completed, my most beautiful sister-like-platonic-friend-except-not-now-that-we're-both-sexy-creatures-of-the-night, and soon we shall return to the blood-drenched shores of our beloved Hell dimension. WILLOW Oh? Sweet Sunnydale, land of the Hellmouth? To sing and dance once more to your demon lords. To take? That? pretty girl in plain sight! XANDER & WILLOW Ha! XANDER But it's the pelvic THRUST! (flashback to Fuck Over Xander sequence) ALL That really drives him insaaaaane WILLOW And the demons will fuck you over AGAIN! (Shot of the entire school being sucked down into the Hellmouth as Buffy and Riley carry Giles out) Super Heroes (Buffy and Riley are crawling around on the ground outside the school, in mist) BUFFY I've slain a lot. Vamps know I try To end their days. I slay their kind. But all I know is down inside I'm? ALL ?bleeding? (Riley comes on the screen like a cat) RILEY And so my girlfriend comes to slay To fuck them up Three times a day. And all I know is still the vamps are? ALL ?breeding? BUFFY (Buffy is on the ground) My bitch, I can't find my bitch. RILEY (Riley is on the ground) My mistress, I can't find my mistress. GILES (Giles is on the ground) My glasses, I can't find my glasses. (Red light on Buffy) (Scene starts to turn grainy, and fades into a woodcut illustration in a book, which Oz closes) OZ And crawling Past the ruined school Some mortals I regard as fools? They keep us safe While vampires rule The evenings. ALL Evenings? Tuesday Evening/UPN - Reprise NERF HERDER Tuesday evening, UPN. Angelus has died and. Lost his friends. Dust has covered Buffy and Riley. Willow and Xander At least are smiley. Grr, ah, ah, argh. On the eight PM, UPN, TV show. I want to go, oh, oh, oh. Watch the eight PM, UPN, TV Show.

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33 Fun Facts About Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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33 Fun Facts About Buffy the Vampire Slayer

On the genre-busting television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the heroine saved the world—a lot—over the course of seven seasons. Buffy premiered on the WB 21 years ago today; here are a few things you should know about the show. (And this is just the tip of the stake.)

1. THE SHOW IS A SEQUEL OF SORTS TO A MOVIE.

In the late ‘80s, writer Joss Whedon had an idea for a movie that would subvert the horror genre. “I had seen a lot of horror movies, which I love very much, with blond girls getting killed in dark alleys, and I just germinated this idea about how much I would like to see a blond girl go into a dark alley, get attacked by a monster and then kill it,” he said. “And that was sorta the genesis for the movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The movie, penned by Whedon and directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui, hit theaters in 1992. It starred Kristy Swanson as Buffy, Donald Sutherland as her watcher Merrick, and Luke Perry as her love interest, Pike (David Arquette also starred as Pike’s best friend-turned-vampire Benny). But the film was different from what Whedon had originally intended. “My original script for the movie was kind of dark and scary and it was comedic, but the final product was much more a broad comedy,” he said.

A few years later, the rights holders approached Whedon about making a TV show out of his creation. He wasn’t sure it would work, but “I started to think about it and I came up with the notion of playing all sorts of horror movies in high school and making them metaphors for how frightening and horrible high school is,” he said. “With the show, I kinda wanted to get back to the roots of genuine horror, but with a lot of comedy and a lot of edge and a lot of self reflective sort of examination of horror. But at the same time, get genuinely creepy and hopefully genuinely moving.” And the TV version of Buffy was born.

2. KATIE HOLMES AND RYAN REYNOLDS COULD HAVE STARRED ON THE SHOW.

Could you imagine Katie Holmes as Buffy and Ryan Reynolds as Xander? According to a 2000 biography, before she was Dawson’s Creek’s Joey Potter, Holmes was offered the role of the slayer, but turned it down to go to high school. Reynolds refused the role of Buffy’s wisecracking sidekick. “I love that show and I loved Joss Whedon, the creator of the show, but my biggest concern was that I didn’t want to play a guy in high school,” Reynolds told The Star in 2008. “I had just come out of high school and it was f***ing awful.”

3. GILES WAS THE FIRST ROLE CAST.

According to casting director Marsha Shulman, “Anthony Stewart [Head] was the first person that got cast on the first day we started casting. He was just it.”

Many other actors who read for the part, Whedon said, made Giles too stuffy, but Head’s take was a little sexier. “Tony Head was one of the few people that we saw and instantly knew right away that nobody else was going to play that part,” Whedon said. “He embodied it perfectly.”

4. SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR AND CHARISMA CARPENTER SWAPPED ROLES.

Gellar auditioned for the role of Sunnydale High queen bee Cordelia Chase before eventually being cast as Buffy. “At the time, we were all trying to find our way to make the show something, its own thing apart from the film,” Schulman said in The Watchers Guide. “We didn’t think of Sarah as Buffy because we thought she was too smart and too grounded and not enough of a misfit in a sense, because Buffy was this outsider. How could Sarah be an outsider? She’s so lovely. So we brought her in as Cordelia, and she was fantastic as Cordelia. Then we went to the network, they knew that Sarah was a star from her previous work, and that she could be Buffy, and that we could do that Buffy.”

Carpenter, meanwhile, auditioned for Buffy before being cast as Cordelia. “I think that the way it turned out is the way it was meant to have turned out,” Carpenter told the BBC. “I’m extremely pleased that I wound up with the character that I have for a myriad of reasons. … I don’t know that I would have been ready for that kind of fame if I’d gotten Buffy. So, I think [Buffy] went to the right person.”

5. WILLOW WAS RECAST AFTER THE PILOT WAS SHOT.

Willow, science geek and Buffy’s best friend, was an exceptionally tough part to cast. “We had actually cast someone else in the pilot. It just didn’t work,” Shulman said. “When we got picked up, we always felt that we were going to start again and look for another Willow.”

“I was determined that we wouldn’t have the supermodel in horn rims that you usually see on a TV show,” Whedon said. “I wanted somebody who really had their own shy quirkiness. While the network and I were looking for people, Alyson Hannigan slipped under our radar. She came in and we didn’t really know that she was going to be the guy, and then when she read for the network we were just blown away. She brings so much light and so much tenderness to the role, it’s kind of extraordinary.”

6. DAVID BOREANAZ WAS DISCOVERED BY THE CASTING DIRECTOR’S FRIEND.

Whedon, the network, and the casting director saw a number of guys read for Buffy’s eventual boyfriend (and vampire!) Angel before David Boreanaz auditioned. “The breakdown said the most gorgeous, mysterious, fantastic, the most incredible man on the face of the earth,” Shulman said. “I think I saw every guy in town. It was the day before shooting, and a friend of mine and called me and said to me ‘You know, there’s this guy that lives on my street who walks his dog every day and I don’t know what he does but he has all the things you’re describing.’ And the minute he walked in the room, I wrote down on my notes: This is the guy.”

Still, despite the fact that Boreanaz gave “very good read,” Whedon wasn’t sold on him. “He wasn’t exactly my type,” he said. “I wasn’t sure we necessarily had the guy here until I asked the women in the room, who had turned into puddles the moment he walked in. I had to defer to them—they seemed to know better than me, and thank god I did, because David turned into a great star and a very solid actor.”

7. THE FIRST VERSION OF THE THEME SONG WAS A DUD.

Whedon wanted the credits sequence—which begins with “this scary organ and then devolves instantly into rock ‘n roll”—to spell out for viewers exactly what the show was about: “Here’s a girl who has no patience for a horror movie, who is not going to be the victim, is not going to be in the scary organ horror movie,” he said. “She’s going to bring her own youth and rocking attitude to it.”

Dissatisfied with an early version of the theme, Whedon opened it up in a contest of sorts to local indie bands. It was Hannigan who suggested Nerf Herder; the band ultimately wrote and recorded the show’s theme. “They created the show and were filming the first season and the people there … hired some fancy pants Hollywood guy to write the theme song and they didn’t like it; they wanted something more rocking, I guess,” Nerf Herder’s lead singer, Parry Gripp, said. “So they asked a bunch of local, small time bands who they could pay very little money to come up with some ideas and they liked our idea and they used it. And the rest is history!”

The band rerecorded the theme in the second or third season because the first recording was a hasty affair, and the song went off-tempo in the middle, Whedon said.

8. THE SHOW SHOT IN A WAREHOUSE—AND AT ACTUAL SCHOOLS.

In the beginning, Buffy didn’t have much of a budget, so instead of shooting on a soundstage, the crew used a huge warehouse in Santa Monica, California. “We were very much on a tight budget,” Whedon said. “This hall you’ll see a lot of in the first 12 episodes. It is the entire school. We only had the one hall, so we use it over and over again. It’s really kind of sad, actually.” The outside of the warehouse also doubled as the entrance to Sunnydale’s only club, The Bronze. “When we designed the club, we put the door to the club on the outside of the actual warehouse so that we could go in from the outside because that would give it real life and make it very realistic,” Whedon said. “And of course we did it just once, and then once more in the third season, because you have to wait until night to shoot, go in and out and light it, and it’s just enormously complicated.”

Torrance High School in Los Angeles subbed in for the exterior of fictional Sunnydale High. It’s a popular spot for film and TV; you might also recognize it from Beverly Hills, 90210, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, 90210, She’s All That, Not Another Teen Movie, and more. And when Buffy went to college, most of Sunnydale University was shot in the warehouse, but some parts of the first episode of the fourth season were shot at UCLA.

9. THERE WAS A REASON FOR THE VAMPIRES’ CREEPY FACES—AND THE “DUSTING.”

In the Buffy movie, the vampires looked like regular people with sharper teeth and paler skin. But for the show, Whedon wanted to increase the sense of paranoia by making the vampires resemble normal people until it’s time to feed—at which point, they transform into monsters. But there was another reason, too. “I didn’t think I really wanted to put a show on the air about a high school girl who was stabbing normal-looking people in the heart,” Whedon said. “I thought somehow that might send the wrong message, but when they are clearly monsters, it takes it to a level of fantasy that is safer.”

Getting into vamp mode—which required a prosthetic that fit from the forehead down to the bottom of the nose—took about an hour and 20 minutes. “It can be tedious,” David Boreanaz said in 1998, “and taking it off is the worst part, because you have to sit there and you just want to rip the damn thing off—but you can’t, because you’ll take a piece of your skin with you. It has to be removed very delicately. But the end result is definitely worth it.”

The film also had vampire bodies lay where they fell after they were staked. But Whedon had different ideas for the show. “It was a very conscious decision to have [the vampires] turn to dust, clothes and all, because I didn’t think it would be fun to have 15 minutes of let’s clean up the bodies after every episode,” he said. The show’s visual effects artists worked on and refined the technique over the seasons.

10. THE CREATORS DREW ON EXISTING VAMPIRE LORE FOR THE SHOW.

But they didn’t use everything. Vampires don’t fly on Buffy or turn into bats because the show didn’t have the money and Whedon thought it looked silly. Other elements of vampire lore, however, were used: Vampires don’t have reflections; they can’t enter a house unless they’re invited; they’re vulnerable to garlic, crosses, sunlight, fire, and holy water; and they can be killed by beheading or via a stake through the heart.

11. GELLAR HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE DIALOGUE.

The show was famous for its “Buffyspeak,” which was partially inspired by California Valleygirl-isms and how Whedon and the other writers spoke. For Gellar, though, that dialogue sometimes was an issue. “Joss has his own sort of language that’s difficult for us mere mortals to understand,” she said in 1998. “I grew up in New York. We didn’t have Valley girls, and constantly, I’m asking him ‘What does this mean? I’m not quite sure.’ There’s a very funny story about [my audition] where the first line is ‘What’s the sitch?’ And there I go walking in, and my first ‘What does this mean?’ No idea it meant situation. Talk about blowing a job instantly.”

12. HERE’S WHERE YOU’VE SEEN SEASON ONE’S BIG VILLAIN BEFORE.

Underneath all of the Master’s vampy makeup is actor Mark Metcalf, who has appeared in Animal House (he played Doug Neidermeyer) and Seinfeld (he played The Maestro), among many other films and television shows. “Most of the guys we read came in and gave us villain villain villain in a very unimaginative way,” Whedon said. “Mark’s not that character, he’s just sly. He undercut all of the villainousness with real charm.”

13. THE CAST AND CREW HATED THE LIBRARY SCENES.

Head delivered much of the show’s expository dialogue in the library—and cast and crew alike came to dread those scenes. “He’s brought so much to all these really tough speeches, giving them life where they had very little because they’re full of so much information,” Whedon said. “When we finally blew up the school at the end of season three and were in the library for the last time, everybody breathed a great sigh of relief because these became the bane for us when we were filming, to go back into this space and talk yet again about what the peril was going to be.”

14. DARLA WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE IN THE SECOND EPISODE.

The vampire (played by Julie Benz) was supposed to expire at the end of “The Harvest” after Willow doused her with holy water, but Whedon kept her alive because he thought Buffy and Angel’s romance would be more interesting if it was a triangle; Darla, of course, was Angel’s sire. She was eventually killed in episode seven, but would continue to pop up in other episodes—and in the spin-off show, Angel—from time to time.

15. GELLAR AND BOREANAZ WOULD EAT GROSS STUFF BEFORE KISSING SCENES.

In a 2002 interview with The Independent, Gellar called love scenes “the unsexiest thing in the world.” What she and Boreanaz did beforehand couldn’t have made it any sexier. “[We] were the worst,” she said. “We would do horrible things to each other. Like eat tuna fish and pickle before we kissed. If he had to unbutton my shirt or trousers I would pin them or sew them together to make it as hard as I could. Once I even dropped ice cream on him.”

16. THE SHOW BUILT ITS OWN GRAVEYARD.

In the first season, Buffy shot in a graveyard in Hollywood. “It meant going out all night, until sunrise, a lot of times,” Whedon said. “That was back when we had the energy for that kind of thing.” Starting in the second season, they created their own graveyard in the warehouse’s parking lot. “It made our lives a whole lot easier, but it doesn’t give you the scope that you get from [the Hollywood graveyard],” Whedon said. “It’s a really beautiful place. Looks great.”

“We poured in kerb, back-filled it with dirt and planted grass and lots of trees and stuff and that’s our graveyard set,” production designer Carey Meyer told the BBC. “The majority of our cemetery stuff actually takes place in that little tiny parking lot. At night, with a couple of headstones in the background with all the trees and such, you can really cheat to make it look quite large.”

17. WHEDON HAD AN INTERESTING NICKNAME FOR GELLAR.

At a cast reunion in 2008, Whedon revealed—to Gellar’s surprise—an odd nickname for her, borne from the fact that she dealt with so much pain on screen. “David [Greenwalt] and I used to crow, when we realized what Sarah could do,” he said. “We used to call her Jimmy Stewart, because he was the greatest American in pain in the history of film.” Gellar laughed and said “I never knew that!”

18. AT LEAST TWO ACTORS PLAYED MORE THAN ONE VILLAIN.

Brian Thompson, who played vampire Luke in the first two episodes, returned in the second season to play The Judge. “Quite frankly, we were in a hurry,” Whedon said. “We already had his face cast and we knew he could put makeup on and give us a good performance.” Camden Toy, meanwhile, played a number of villains, including one of the Gentlemen in “Hush” (season four), a skin-eating demon called Gnarl in “Same Time, Same Place” (season seven), and Ubervamp Turok-Han (throughout season seven).

19. THE WRITERS HAD THEIR OWN TERM FOR PLOT-MOVING DEVICES.

It was coined by writer David Greenwalt. “A lot of this stuff is based on myth and horror movies, and a lot of it made up for our convenience,” Whedon says. “At one point, when we were trying to figure out exactly what Buffy would be trying to do [in the first episode], Greenwalt just shouted out ‘For God’s sake, don’t touch the phlebotnum in Jar C!’ We have no idea to this day what it was supposed to mean, but it became our word for the vague mystical thing—such as the master’s cork in the bottle theory—so phlebotnum is our constant on the show.”

20. WHEDON WROTE THE LARGELY DIALOGUE-FREE EPISODE “HUSH” TO CHALLENGE HIMSELF.

Season four’s tenth episode, “Hush,” features creepy villains called The Gentlemen, who come to Sunnydale and steal the residents’ voices … so that no one can scream when the monsters cut out their hearts. There are only 17 minutes of spoken dialogue in the 44 minute episode. Whedon wanted to do a largely silent episode because he felt like he was phoning it in. “I had fallen into the ‘people a-yakkin, I can sort of do this without really thinking about it’ style of directing, and I wanted to curtail that in myself,” he said. “On a practical level, the idea of doing an episode where everybody loses their voice presented itself as a great big challenge because I knew that I would literally have to tell the story only visually, and that would mean that I couldn’t fall back on tricks. I wanted to do something harder.” Though Whedon was terrified that he wouldn’t be able to pull off the episode, it was well received by critics, and is a favorite of fans and the series’ stars alike.

21. THE GENTLEMEN WERE INSPIRED BY A DREAM.

A version of Buffy’s creepiest villains first appeared in a dream of Whedon’s; they floated toward him while he was in bed. “What I was going for was very specifically a very Victorian kind of feel, because that to me is very creepy and fairytale-like,” Whedon said. He created a drawing, which he delivered to makeup supervisor Todd McIntosh and John Vulich at Optic Nerve, the special effects house that created the prosthetics for the show. “I was drawing on everything that had ever frightened me, including the fellow from my dream, Nosferatu, pinhead, Mr. Burns—anything that gave that creepy feel,” Whedon said. “We get into a lot of reptilian monsters and things that look kind of like aliens, and what I wanted from these guys was, very specifically, fairy tales. I wanted guys who would remind people of what would they were scared of when they were children.”

Whedon’s ultimate hope was that kids of a certain generation would be as traumatized by the Gentlemen as he was by the Zuni Doll from Trilogy of Terror. The team cast mimes and actors who had done creature work—like Doug Jones—to play the Gentlemen.

22. THE HARDEST CHARACTER FOR WHEDON TO KILL OFF WAS BUFFY’S MOM.

One of Buffy‘s most critically acclaimed episodes is season five’s “The Body,” in which the slayer’s mom, played by Kristine Sutherland, dies of natural causes. Whedon said in a 2012 Reddit AMA that Joyce was the toughest character for him to kill. He did the episode, he said in DVD commentary, because “I wanted to show not the meaning or catharsis or the beauty of life or any of the things that are often associated with loss, or even extreme grief, which we do get in the episode. But what I did want to capture was the extreme physicality, the almost boredom of the very first few hours. I wanted to be very specific about what it felt like the moment you discover you’ve lost someone. And so what appears to many people as a formal exercise—no music, scenes that take up almost the entire act, if not the entire act, without end—is all done for a very specific purpose, which is to put you in that moment of dumbfounded shock, that airlessness of losing somebody.”

The moments after Buffy discovers her mother dead on the couch were done in a single take, which Whedon had Gellar perform seven times (the actress has called the episode one of her favorites). “The cameraman had the camera on his shoulder the whole time and was running around,” Whedon said. “It wasn’t a steadicam—he had no harness because I wanted that urgency of handheld, that you’re in the moment of it. It’s an extraordinary piece of acting from Sarah … to go from the extremity of first finding her, the helplessness of not knowing what to do. All the things that Sarah had to go through in this, she had to go through many, many times. And every take was extraordinary.”

23. ONE SHOT IN “THE BODY” WAS INSPIRED BY DIRECTOR PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON.

One shot in “The Body” follows the coroner after he examines Joyce’s body out to where Buffy waits with her friends in another single take. “I am a huge Paul Thomas Anderson fan,” Whedon said, “and I had been watching Magnolia excessively before I shot this. So these endless tracking shots probably owe something to that. What can I say, I’m a hack. But what I was really trying to get at here was, again, the reality of the space. I wanted to see Joyce very clearly, and then I wanted to walk all the way over to where Buffy was, where her loved ones were, so that you understood she was down the hall, she was really there. We weren’t on a different set.” Whedon gave kudos to production designer Carey Meyer for building sets that would let him get those long takes.

24. GELLAR KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN SEASON FIVE WELL IN ADVANCE.

Several moments in the final episode of season three foreshadowed two major events in season five: Namely, that Buffy would get a sister (Dawn, played by Michelle Trachtenberg) and that the slayer would die at the end of season five. “I’ve actually known the [plot of the] entire last season for about three years,” she told the BBC. “There was a dream sequence that Buffy had with Faith. Faith had a riddle, and it was something like ‘Little Miss Muffet, sitting on her tuffet,’ counting down from whatever the numbers were, and I went to Joss to ask what it meant. That’s when he explained to me that I was going to have a sister, that Dawn, the character of Dawn, would be coming on the show. I think that’s exactly when I became aware also of what the future plans were.”

Why manufacture a sister out of thin air? “Part of the mission statement was, let’s have a really important, intense emotional relationship for Buffy that is not a boyfriend,” he told Salon. “Because let’s not have her be defined by her boyfriend every time out of the bat. So, Season 5, she’s as intense as she was in Season 2 with Angelus, but it’s about her sister. To me that was really beautiful.”

25. SEASON SIX WAS THE TOUGHEST FOR GELLAR.

After the fifth season, Buffy moved from the WB to UPN and resurrected its heroine for the sixth season—which was darker in tone (and more controversial) than any season before it. “It was definitely tough for me,” Gellar said at a Paley Center event in 2008. “It’s so hard to separate myself from her, so it was tough for me to see these situations and say ‘But Buffy wouldn’t do this.’ … I know Joss and Marti both had to talk me off a ledge a couple of times because it just felt so far removed from me at the time, and maybe that was the point. Maybe I was struggling the same way she was struggling to find out who she was. It just felt so foreign to me. … We love her, and I think it was hard for all of us to watch her suffer. … It was a tough time. And I think that’s what came through in the end, and that was great. When Buffy herself resurfaced, we sort of found our voice again.”

26. WRITER/PRODUCER MARTI NOXON HAS A CAMEO.

She’s the lady with the parking ticket in “Once More, With Feeling.”

27. GELLAR CALLED THE MUSICAL EPISODE “DAUNTING.”

“I’m a perfectionist, I come from a long line of lots of preparation, and certainly that was not the case with this,” she said. “If I had my druthers, we would have gotten it about two years ago and been in classes for a year and a half, maybe six weeks of rehearsals? Instead of four days.” At a Paley Center event in 2008, Gellar admitted to “begging” to be let out of it. “I begged for Buffy the rat,” she said. “I kept thinking, ‘Bring the rat back.’”

28. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS’ LEAD SINGER WAS A FAN.

Scott Weiland reportedly became a fan while watching the show in prison. Gellar, who later appeared in the band’s music video for “Sour Girl,” had a theory about why the show was so popular among prison inmates: “Hot chicks doing battle. It’s like acceptable porn.”

29. GELLAR KNEW THE SHOW WAS OVER BEFORE THE REST OF THE CAST.

In the March 7, 2003 Entertainment Weekly cover story, Gellar announced that Buffy was coming to an end after seven seasons. “I love this job, I love the fans,” she said. “I love telling the stories we tell. This isn’t about leaving for a career in movies, or in theater—it’s more of a personal decision. I need a rest. Teachers get sabbaticals. Actors don’t.” The rest of the cast found out the day the story hit stands. “I was devastated,” Hannigan said in 2013. “I was just very shocked.”

30. BUFFY’S ADVENTURES CONTINUE IN COMIC BOOKS.

A number of writers who worked on the TV show have also worked on the comics. Even James Marsters, who played vampire Spike on the show, wrote a comic about his character. “I was at the San Diego Comic Con and I was describing an idea that had been kicking around my head for a long time to [artist] George Jeanty, who draws a lot of the Buffy comic books,” Marsters told io9. “And he thought that it was a fabulous idea and that I should definitely get in touch with [Dark Horse editor] Scott Allie. He made the phone call and then I pitched it to Scott over the phone and Scott liked it a lot. It’s a story that was going to try to be made into a Spike movie years and years ago.”

31. THERE WAS TALK OF AN ANIMATED SERIES.

Whedon and the show’s other writers produced seven scripts for an animated Buffy series, which would have taken place during the show’s first three seasons and been voiced by the cast. Sadly, no one wanted the show. “They were really fun to write,” Whedon said. “We could not sell the show. We could not sell an animated Buffy, which I still find incomprehensible.”

32. THE SHOW SPAWNED ACADEMIC COURSES…

A number of colleges and universities offer courses on the show; they’re called “Buffy Studies.” People have written books and held conferences dedicated to discussing the themes of the show and presenting papers on it. According to the Los Angeles Times, attendees at a 2004 Buffy conference “were presenting 190 papers on topics ranging from ‘slayer slang’ to ‘postmodern reflections on the culture of consumption’ to ‘Buffy and the new American Buddhism.’ There was even a self-conscious talk by David Lavery, an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University, on Buffy studies ‘as an academic cult.'”

An informal study conducted by Slate in 2012 showed that, when it comes to pop culture in academia, Buffy is number one: “More than twice as many papers, essays, and books have been devoted to the vampire drama than any of our other choices—so many that we stopped counting when we hit 200.”

33. … AND A BOOK OF SLANG.

Publisher’s Weekly called Slayer Slang: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lexicon “a strange marriage of a fan guide and a linguistics textbook.” Said The Kansas City Star: “If you’re curious about the word ‘ubersuck,’ or just want to remember which episode you first heard it in, this is the place to look. As Buffy would say, it is not uncool.”

BONUS: RARE BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE

During the second season, Pruitt filmed behind-the-scenes footage of the cast goofing off and getting into makeup, the stunt crew at work, and some of the show’s most iconic sequences. You can watch it above.

Additional sources: DVD commentary; The Watcher’s Guide.

All images courtesy of Getty Images unless otherwise noted.

This piece originally ran in 2014.

#33 #Buffy #facts #Fun #Slayer #Vampire #Facts

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tialovestelevision · 7 years

Text

City Of

Now we start on Angel. From a fictional city to a real one, if one that we’ve visited once in one of Buffy’s best episodes. From suburbia to one of the great cities. From high school to the world outside.

From teenagerdom to adulthood.

1. Angel, go home. You’re drunk.

2. Hey, look, all the extras aren’t white! We really have left Sunnydale.

3. Angel is not drunk. Angel is paying attention.

4. Forgot about them changing the vampire makeup for the first few episodes of Angel. Ye gods does it not work.

5. He keeps stakes in his sleeves. On springs. Drama queen.

6. Down the alley, Angel!

7. I love the opening song for this show.

8. Christian Kane. He’s not just an actor; he also does country. And he’s really, really good at it. I’ve got one of his albums, and it stays in fairly frequent rotation on my playlist. Check him out. The album I have is “The House Rules.”

9. There’s a fellow in Angel’s house. Angel did not invite him. It’s too bad Angel’s homes lack the invitation taboo, and half-human demons aren’t subject to it anyway.

10. “Powers that be what?” Good question.

11. Doyle is telling us the plot of the first three seasons of Buffy from Angel’s perspective.

12. Doyle also made Angel buy him booze.

13. “Look, high school’s over, bud.”

14. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?” Bad question, Doyle.

15. Now Angel has to help Tina at the Coffee Spot.

16. Tina needs extra hours.

17. Angel really is bad at this. Good at catching coffee mugs, though.

18. “So, uh, are you, um, happy?”

19. “You don’t hit on girls very often, do you?”

20. Tina tells Angel not to stay in LA, but agrees to meet with him after work.

21. Russell is sending people after Tina. We don’t know who Russell is.

22. Tina is from Missoula. Angel went to Missoula during the Depression.

23. Tina took a ride from Angel. A girl being threatened by an intimate partner took a ride from a guy she just met. Men wrote this episode.

24. “You’re an actor.” “No.” “I wasn’t asking.”

25. Angel found Cordelia. Cordelia had to ask if Angel is still a vampire. Now she’s asking the more relevant question of whether he’s evil at the moment or not.

26. “It’s nice that she’s grown as a person.”

27. I think we just found Russell. Nope. One of Russell’s thugs. Stacy is the thug’s name.

28. And now Angel and Tina are being attacked at the elevator. The thugs got Angel into the elevator and on his way down before he could react, and drove off with Tina.

29. Car chase! Why does a vampire drive a convertible?

30. Angel is a terrifying driver.

31. So Angel rescued Tina.

32. Cordy is in a shitty apartment. She has a million sads.

33. Angel is making tea.

34. Tina is expecting Angel to want to sleep with her after saving her. Angel intends to keep her safe.

35. Russell is a sadist and a rapist who disappears people.

36. Angel should get some real food in the house if he’s going to have guests. Maybe call Doyle to pick some up?

37. Now he’s at the library after looking through Tina’s personal items.

38. He found Tina’s friend on the Internet. She is dead.

39. Tina is having a nightmare. Angel woke her up from it.

40. Tina saw Doyle’s note to Angel. Now she thinks Russell sent him.

41. And now she’s seen his vampire face. And he can’t leave his house.

42. She went home. Russell knows where she lives, I expect.

43. Yep. He’s there. Creepy guy.

44. Russell is a vampire, too. And is now eating Tina.

45. He ate Tina. Angel could get into her place because Russell ate her.

46. “Doyle, I don’t wanna share my feelings. I don’t wanna open up. I wanna find the guy who killed Tina, and I wanna look him in the eye.” “Then what?” “Then I’m gonna share my feelings.”

47. There’s Christian Kane.

48. And now Russell has a desire to eat Cordy.

49. Cordy’s meditation is going badly.

50. Margo, Tina’s friend who owes her money, is taking rather a lot of pills. I’m not sure how to read that.

51. Cordy is in a limo going to Russell’s house. Russell is ordering delivery.

52. Angel is making Doyle drive him.

53. Cordy has already noticed the curtains in Russell’s house.

54. Now Angel’s doing spec ops stuff. Cool.

55. Cordy just said the magic words for getting eaten. She doesn’t know anybody and has no friends in LA.

56. “I finally get invited to a nice place with… no mirrors… and lots of curtains. Hey, you’re a vampire!”

57. “I’m from Sunnydale. We have our own Hellmouth. I think I know a vampire, when I’m… alone with him… in his fortress-like home… and, you know, I think I’m just feeling a little light-headed from hunger. I’m just wacky.”

58. The new vampire makeup is REALLY bad.

59. Russell is now chasing Cordy through the house. But Angel set off a bomb on the circuit breaker.

60. “You don’t know who he is, do you? Oh, boy, you’re about to get your ass kicked.”

61. Angel escapes with Cordy after getting shot rather a lot of times.

62. Doyle tried ramming the gate with Angel’s car. It didn’t work.

63. Oh, Cordy, he absolutely is going to come looking for you. You know his secret.

64. Hey, Wolfram & Hart, you found the guy.

65. “Look at me. I pay my taxes, keep my name out of the paper, and in return, I can do anything I want.”

66. “Really? Can you fly?” Oof. Defenestration. During the day. Explosive defenestration. Angel just got the coolest vampire kill in the franchise so far.

67. Christian Kane seems nervous, but not nervous enough to bring in the Senior Partners.

68. Huh. The call-and-hang-up in The Freshman was Angel.

69. “Mr. I Was Alive For 200 Years And Never Developed An Investment Portfolio.” How DOES Angel have money?

70. “She’s got a very humanizing influence.” “You think she’s a hottie.” Heh. “She’s got a very stiffening influence.” Ewwwwwwww.

71. Looming over the city, Batman-style.

Overall: That was very good! Other than the “stiffening influence” part, I mean… that was gross and I don’t know why they put that line in when the previous two had made the point without being nearly so gross. I’m sad Tina died, and I think it actually undermined the episode a little to kill her off, but it did make a clean break to Russell’s pursuit of Cordelia which was necessary to getting the show as a whole going. Occasionally, episodic television suffers for the need to run a series.

David Boreanaz’s performance in this episode doesn’t just make the episode work; it establishes the series. “That’s what lonely people do.” Things like that. He’s utterly amazing here, in parts wounded and powerful, playing a role that’s usually given to women in a way that doesn’t bother me, because giving it to a man makes for powerful commentary on its nature.

Angel is cast as Buffy’s girlfriend in his own spinoff, and it works. He’s Kate Mulgrew in Mrs. Columbo.

Christian Kane’s few scenes are great. Glenn Quinn is shady in a way that really, really works, and moving Charisma Carpenter, who was badly underutilized on Buffy, to a lead role was a great idea. Russell was a compelling villain who came to a satisfying end.

I like City Of a lot.

#angel #cordelia #christian kane #angel season 1 #season 1 #season 4 #city of

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oilskirt7-blog · 5 years

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Rewatch: Consequences

The Scoobies are good at fighting monsters, but they're terrible at planning interventions. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3 Episode 15 showed that they only made things worse for the Faith situation.

With a little more care and planning, they could've gotten through to her. I believed it when I was eight years old; and I still believe it now after rewatching again. They completely fumbled in convincing her to trust them.

Let's discuss why by rewatching "Consequences."

Faith's and Buffy's reactions to the murder shed some light on their personalities.

Whereas Buffy was wracked with guilt and having nightmares, Faith brushed it off and internalized her pain. The secret weighed too heavy on Buffy's conscious to not be addressed.

That's not to say Faith didn't have a conscious. She absolutely did! On the other hand, survival was more important to her. As long as she didn't get in trouble or hurt, she would be fine living life five-by-five.

Still, Faith did feel guilty about the murder and what she had done. She just didn't want to open those emotional wounds and have to face the consequences.

To get the truth out of her, everything would need to rely on the approach. "Consequences" featured tactics that only made things worse, but there were a few that could've worked with time and slight changes.

Buffy appealing to Faith's emotions wasn't going to work.

Faith had already made a logical conclusion to herself about the attack. You could hear it in her words in the classroom, on the street, and when they broke into the deputy mayor's office. Faith had justified the murder as an accident while being on the job.

Related: Enjoy UNLIMITED access to thousands of Movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video. WATCH ANYWHERE. CANCEL ANYTIME!

That type of argument would naturally be the first one someone would go to after a traumatic moment. So, it's understandable why Buffy tried to reason with Faith to feel sympathy for the crime.

The problem, however, was that Faith didn't want to hear any of it.

Sticking to the story of it being an accident was the only way she was going to make it through. And yes, the death was an accident, but her truth to the world was that she wasn't there. To herself, all of it was simply a casualty of the job.

Unless Faith started feeling guilty herself, Buffy's words would fall on silence.

Part of it also could've been the fact that Buffy was the one delivering the argument.

The Slayers had a secret together that would've implicated them in a crime. If Faith was going down, you better believe she would do anything to take Buffy down with her. She basically said as much in the classroom.

Plus, even though the two were friends, Faith did have a touch of jealousy and animosity towards Buffy. Having the truth come out that the "bad girl" Faith committed the crime would've reinforced her inner narrative that Buffy was perfect and she was the mistake.

Faith's retorts had a tone of frustration and malice toward Buffy.

Mayor Wilkins: This isn't working. Mr. Trick: It's supposed to do something besides shred paper? Mayor Wilkins: It's supposed to cheer me up it what it's supposed to do. Why in the world would Allan leave a paper trail a mile long about our dealings? You think he was going to betray me? Oh no, that's a horrible thought! Now he's dead and I'll never have the chance to, well ... scold him and find out.

The intervention with the Scoobies had the most positive potential. It's a shame that this tactic never came to be because it could have worked.

Faith held a deeply rooted paranoia that none of the Scoobies were her friends, and that they looked down on her because she wasn't perfect Buffy. By having the core group reinforce that they would stick by her and help her, Faith would've allowed herself to trust them.

The Scoobies wanted to help her, and Faith wanted to feel like she belonged.

Another supporting piece to having this intervention would've been Giles explaining the process of past Slayers. As he mentioned to the group, human casualties happened before in the line of fire. If Faith worked with the Scoobies, she would have had options and could get the help she needed to deal with the death.

Her reactions stemmed from a need for survival. If she felt supported, she wouldn't act so defensively and uncaring.

We can look to two reasons why this tactic never came to be: (1) The Scoobies didn't tell Wesley about the chat, and (2) Xander not knowing the meaning of a casual hook-up.

Don't get me wrong, Xander thought he was legitimately doing the right thing. He was 17/18 years old, so basically, a teenage boy who just lost his virginity. He thought he had a deeper connection with Faith because of that moment.

We can give him the benefit of the doubt here. (For those who are shocked right now, yes, I did just defend Xander. There are first times for everything.)

Related: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Rewatch: Bad Girls

On the other hand, if Buffy and Giles gave ample warning about not playing the "romance" card with Faith, Xander should have heeded that advice. Faith didn't respect the hook-ups she had, and Xander's chat would've meant nothing.

His reckless late night visit to the motel nearly got him killed because of it.

Wesley: Does everybody know about you? Buffy: She's a friend. Cordelia: Let's not exaggerate.

Also, poor Willow! How could you not feel her heartbreak in the bathroom? The entire Xander crush had caused nothing but pain and sorrow for her.

Luckily, she got out of that romantic mess once and for all after they were discovered. If this heartache was the final nail that ended this storyline, it was better to have it in the long-run than continue a plot that was too destructive.

Eliza Dushku's performance during Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3 Episode 15 might be one of her best ever.

The pathway of emotions felt like a roller coaster because she seamlessly took us from anger to seduction to sadness and back again in the span of an hour. Her character development broke through every emotional response triggered by her guilt.

You could tell from her tone and expression that she loved getting into the mind of Evil Faith.

The "black widow" scene with Xander in the motel felt unhinged and raw. Faith's progression from reluctance to seductive to murderous happened quickly before our eyes, and the transition felt natural to the character. She embraced her villainous side in that scene.

Related: David Boreanaz Defends Buffy Reboot: What Did He Say?

The suffocation was a shocking twist you didn't expect to happen; it's one of the few times where Buffy the Vampire Slayer caught us off-guard without any warning.

You hoped for a redemption for Faith, but when she started choking Xander, the harsh reality hit: Faith enjoyed the pain and power too much. She became a character who wouldn't resist killing off the main characters, and that was a scary concept. It didn't take until the Angel therapy session to truly break down barriers.

You and me, Faith, we're a lot alike. Time was, I thought humans existed just to hurt each other. But then I came here. And I found out that there are other types of people. People who genuinely wanted to do right. And they make mistakes. And they fall down. You know, but they keep caring. Keep trying. If you can trust us, Faith, this can all change. You don't have to disappear into the darkness.

Angel

Angel and Faith's friendship was one of the more underappreciated relationships. Only until the spin-off Angel (and the graphic novels) did this friendship get the attention it deserved.

If they had a little more time together, he could've gotten through to her.

Wesley had to come in and ruin the day like he always did. If they had warned him, he probably wouldn't have called the Watchers Council. Especially if Cordelia was the one to ask him, he totally wouldn't have done anything.

Wesley: My. She's cheeky, isn't she? Faith: Uh, first word: jail. Second word: bait.

Faith seemed so receptive to his words, and she also seemed ready to chat about it with Buffy at the docks. They were both so close to making a breakthrough, but something kept interrupting them at the worst times.

We have to look at it as fate.

Fate needed Mr. Trick to die so that Faith would assume the job opening. Faith needed to be working with Mayor Wilkins so that the Scoobies would eventually fight him. And these betrayals would lead to Faith's redemption.

It's a shame that Faith couldn't have stayed on the side of good, but I wouldn't trade some of the great chapters that came from her switch to the dark side. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3 was better off because of it.

What did you think of "Consequences"? Would you have handled the Faith situation differently? Was Xander's heart in the right place? Should the Scoobies have looped Wesley into the plan?

Want to join us in rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer? We'll be posting new rewatch posts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Come back here and share your thoughts of the episode in the comments.

Justin Carreiro is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.

Source: https://www.tvfanatic.com/2018/10/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-rewatch-consequences/

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singledarkshade · 6 years

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Sunnydale Centurion

Part Eleven - Invisible

“It’s really sad,” Rory noted as they sat in the library eating lunch.

“What?” Xander asked.

Rory rolled his eyes at his friend, “Marcie being so invisible that she actually became invisible.”

Buffy nodded in agreement.

“So how popular were you back in LA?” Willow turned to Buffy, holding up her hands in surrender, “Cordelia mentioned it.”

Buffy grimaced, “Honestly I was a bit Cordelia like. I was the centre of almost every high profile social event, my boyfriend was the most popular guy, looking down on the kids who weren’t in my social circle and then I became the Slayer.”

“Well, we thankfully have never been cursed like that,” Xander told her before adding quickly, “The popular thing not the slayer thing.”

“Rory is popular,” Willow noted.

He grimaced at her, “I’m not, I’m useful.”

“But the football team actually like you,” Willow pointed out, “Which makes you part of the popular crowd as well as one of us.”

Rory frowned in confusion, “That makes no sense.”

“Neither does high school,” Xander noted making the others nod.

“What about ‘back home’?” Buffy asked Rory, “Were you popular there?”

He let out a snort of laughter, “Not even slightly. I was small, clumsy not to mention my best friends were the crazy and the scary girl.”

“Then you came here,” Xander said absently, “Where your best friends are still the crazy and scary gir...” he trailed off realising what he was saying.

Rory laughed, especially seeing the glares Xander was getting from the two girls.

“You were saying, Xander?” Buffy asked sweetly but with definite steel in her voice.

Xander checked his watch, “Is that the time already?” he jumped out his seat and practically ran out the library.

The other three waited for a few minutes before they all started to laugh.

“Are you looking forward to going home?” Buffy asked Rory as they walked to class.

Rory nodded, “I am. It’s not that I don’t like being here or with you guys but...”

“You miss Amy,” Buffy finished for him.

He shrugged, “I’d love you guys to meet one day. It would be interesting.”

“I’d like to meet her,” Buffy told him frowning in thought, “How exactly did your one phone call a week policy happen?”

Rory let out a sigh, “When I was told we were moving here my mum and Amy’s aunt sat us down telling us that they knew we would miss each other but we couldn’t ‘live in the past’,” he rolled his eyes putting the quotation marks around the phrase, “We would be allowed to write to each other and we’d see each other when I visited during the summer to see my gran.”

Buffy winced, “How did you take that?”

“Amy threatened to run away,” Rory smiled proudly, “And they knew she would. We talked to each other quickly and offered up one phone call a week, taking alternate weeks.”

“I’m guessing the hour limit was imposed on you,” Buffy laughed.

Rory nodded, “It was their final offer.”

“As much as I hate that you don’t get to see your best friend,” Buffy wrapped her arms around his, “But I am very grateful to have you here.”

*********************************************

“Mels is currently grounded,” Amy told him, “She stole a box of chocolates.”

“Why?”

Amy sighed, “She said she needed some sugar.”

Rory let out a long annoyed sigh, “There are times I can’t believe I miss her.”

Amy laughed before asking, “Is she the only one you miss?”

“Stop fishing,” Rory told her, “You know I do.”

He smiled as he listened to her laugh again.

“School finishes in a few weeks,” Rory told her, “We’re in that really strange zone where they have dances and elected royalty for it.”

“Are you going to the dances?” Amy questioned.

Rory winced at the question knowing what she was actually asking, “If we go we go as a group.”

“Come on, Rory,” she pushed, “There’s no one you’re taking? How blind are those Californian girls if they don’t see how cute you are?”

Rory was really glad they were on the phone and she couldn’t see him blush at that.

“They’re a bit vapid,” was all he could think of to say, “Buffy and Willow are much more fun to be around.”

Amy laughed.

“This might sound weird,” Rory said suddenly, “But you have friends other than me and Mels right?”

“Course I do, stupid,” she replied, “They’re not like you or Mels but I spend time with them.”

Rory let out a breath, “Good, sorry.”

“Once I stopped being crazy,” Amy told him, “People started to talk to me.”

Rory grimaced not sure he liked the reason. He knew it was stupid but he didn’t want her to become invisible.

“You’re not crazy,” he told her before adding with conviction, “I believe you.”

He could almost feel Amy’s smile through the phone.

Part Twelve - Swords And Demons

#fic #doctor who #rory williams #amy pond #buffy the vampire slayer #buffy summers #xander harris #willow rosenberg #rupert giles #cordelia chase

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singledarkshade · 6 years

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Sunnydale Centurion

Part Nineteen - Sunnydale Centurion

The costume shop was full as the gang tried to find outfits for Halloween after being drafted by Snyder. Rory grimaced as he wandered hoping something would jump out at him. The major problem with living in Sunnydale was they fought monsters so dressing up as them was just wrong.

“What about a pirate?” Xander asked.

Rory shuddered involuntarily, “Something about pirates just don’t sit right with me.”

“My goodness,” a voice with a familiar accent came, “Another Brit. I didn’t expect that.” The two teens turned to where a man stood who introduced himself, “I’m Ethan. I own the store.”

“Rory,” he introduced himself before motioning to his friend, “Xander.”

“What part of the old country do you hail from?” Ethan asked conversationally.

“Leadworth,” Rory told him before explaining, “It’s a village near Gloucester.”

Ethan shook his head, “Not somewhere I am familiar with but possibly one I will endeavour to visit now I have heard of it,” he smiled at them, “So, are you looking for a specific costume?”

Rory shrugged, “Not really. I’m just hoping for something that doesn’t make me look like an idiot.”

Ethan chuckled and looked at him for a moment, “I have an idea. It’s one I just got in but I think should suit you.”

Rory swapped a look with Xander who shrugged and they followed the man through the store where he saw a flash of red and gold between people staring at the Centurion costume that appeared before him.

“What do you think, Rory?” Ethan asked as he stared at the costume.

“It's just not what you expect Romans to be called,” he heard Amy say, “What's it short for? Roranicus?”

Xander’s sharp elbow to his ribs brought him back and he smiled at the man who was watching him looking a little confused.

Rory grinned, “It’s great.”

*********************************************

“Okay,” Rory dressed in the Centurion costumer said to his group, “Are we all ready?”

The kids before him all nodded before one of them tugged on his arm.

“You sound funny,” the little girl in a butterfly costume said.

Rory laughed, “I come from England but you can understand me, right?”

“What’s going on?” the familiar voice of Principal Snyder made Rory wince.

“I’m just explaining about my accent, sir,” Rory told him.

Snyder looked at him for a moment, “Oh yeah, you’re the English kid,” he looked at Rory with slight annoyance, “Go.”

Seeing Xander’s amused look from across the room Rory motioned his group forward. The rest of his friends started their own groups out of the school for trick or treating.

The streets were filled with kids, running around and going from door to door. Rory was relieved the group he had were all very well behaved and he had little trouble moving them from place to place.

Checking his watch after about two hours Rory frowned, “Sorry guys, we’ve got to head back,” at the groans he smiled, “We’ll stop at one more house.”

As they started walking all hell broke loose.

Rory felt something pull him and dropped to his knees. Around him everyone in costume was changing and he let out a cry.

“No! No, please,” he cried desperately trying to push away the wave that was trying take over his body, “No! I'm not going. I'm Rory.”

His hand grabbed the sword at his side feeling metal bite into his hand and not plastic, “Please, no, I don't want to go,” the wave pushed against him again and he shouted, “I'm Rory! I'm...I'm...” he gasped as it stopped as suddenly as it began.

Slowly Rory stood, his mind filled with knowledge that he shouldn’t know. Looking around he frowned seeing the chaos going on around him.

Everyone else seemed to have turned into their costume, he felt the sword at his side wondering why his outfit had become real but he’d not succumbed before he remembered his friends’ costumes.

“Oh no,” he whispered and started to run.

“Xander, Willow, Buffy,” Rory called as he headed into the kitchen of the Summers’ house through the back door.

He stalled when a gun was pointed at him and Rory automatically raised his sword.

“No,” Willow snapped before she moved to him, “Your name is Rory...”

“I know,” he told her before frowning confused, “What are you wearing?”

Willow grimaced wrapping her arms around her bare midriff, “Never mind. Why are you okay? Xander and Buffy don’t know who they are.”

“I’m not okay,” Rory showed her the sword, “I know who I am but I also know a lot about being a Roman Centurion I didn’t until half an hour ago.”

Willow frowned, “I’m going to talk to Giles. Stay with Buffy, Xander and Cordelia.”

Rory nodded turning to Xander who was looking at him confused, he saw Buffy sitting huddled in the corner and Cordelia who rolled her eyes at him.

“Why does everything weird always happen around you lot?” she demanded.

*********************************************

Giles moved the books he’d left out the previous night back to where they belonged relieved that his kids were safe. He would find Ethan again and let him know exactly how he felt about Ethan putting the people Giles cared about in danger.

Hearing the door open he glanced round, “Rory, you’re here early.”

The teen nodded nervously placing the large bag he was carrying on the table, “About what happened last night.”

“Willow mentioned you were still yourself,” Giles motioned him to take a seat before sitting with him, “Despite the fact you got your costume from the same place as the other three.”

Rory winced, “Mostly. Giles, I knew everything about being a Centurion and when the spell hit I felt something trying to take over me.”

“And?”

Rory threw his hands up in complete bemusement, “I don’t know. I pushed it away somehow.”

“Interesting,” Giles mused.

“There’s something else,” Rory swallowed before opening the bag and pulling out a sword, “This didn’t change back.”

Giles stared at the weapon taking it and turning it over in his hand, studying every facet musing, “Very interesting.”

“Giles, what’s happening to me?” Rory whispered, fear in his voice, “Is this something to do with the fact I keep zoning out?”

Resting his hand on Rory’s shoulder Giles told him, “Stay calm.”

“But I shouldn’t know this,” Rory reminded him, “And my dreams last night were filled with weird images. Fighting as a Centurion against headless monks with a lizard woman, a creature that looked like a potato and I kept hearing a baby crying.”

“Calm,” Giles told him again, “Miss Calendar and I have been discussing your zoning out.”

“But...”

“She noticed during the night the Master died,” Giles told him, “She offered her expertise to perhaps find some idea on what happens.”

Rory sighed, “Have you found anything.”

“We believe that at some point you were hit by a spell,” Giles told him, “Which may have allowed you to access a past life. I think that Ethan’s spell opened this up to you which may be why you were able to remember who you are.”

“The sword?”

Giles shrugged, “Spells sometimes have interesting side-effects. Do you think you can use it?”

Rory nodded, “Easily. It’s like I’ve trained with it all my life, or several times more than my life.”

“Excellent,” Giles told him, “You can train with Buffy. Rory, I don’t want you to worry about this too much. I’m sure you’re fine. This past life you’re accessing doesn’t appear to be dangerous but I will watch out for you.”

Rory looked up at him before nodding, “Thanks, Giles. I better go and find the others.”

Watching Rory leave the room Giles let out a long sigh.

“Did you just lie to that boy?” Jenny asked softly appearing from his office.

Giles winced slightly, “Perhaps a little. I’m not sure if this is a past life or something else but that’s what we need to find out. Until we know something else we don’t need to worry him.”

Jenny nodded in agreement.

“And for now,” Giles took the sword and added it to the weapons he already had, “This can stay here.”

Part Twenty - Training

#fic #doctor who #rory williams #amy pond #buffy the vampire slayer #buffy summers #xander harris #willow rosenberg #rupert giles #cordelia chase

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jennycalendar · 7 years

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outtakes

to commemorate the end of bravery, which is coming in two or three days, have some of the things that i couldn’t fit into the fic but that definitely happened offscreen. or um. what’s the word for offscreen when it’s a fic?? anyway use that.

they’re set in the tentative order they’re in according to bravery canon (fkjsdflkjdsf i LOVE getting to say that)

Jenny was discharged from the hospital. Xander pushed her wheelchair over to the car, Oz helped her in, and she exchanged an amused look with Willow when Xander and Cordelia started arguing over radio stations in the front seat.

“They were like this for most of the drive over,” Willow informed her conspiratorially, and Jenny laughed quietly. The crowded, friendly atmosphere of the car felt a lot safer than the emptiness of her hospital room. Willow had slept in the bed next to her the night Rupert was gone, but the room had still felt big, and it had been even worse waking up from a nightmare without Rupert to curl into. As much as Jenny had been keeping from him, having Rupert with her was still better than him being gone.

“Ooh, hey, can we stop by the grocery store?” Xander inquired hopefully, turning to look over his shoulder at Jenny for permission. “I need to get, uh,” he shared a look with Willow that Jenny suspected was supposed to be secretive, “things for something.”

“How ambiguous,” quipped Jenny. At Xander’s look, she acquiesced, “Sure. I’m not in any rush.”

Xander beamed, turning to Cordelia with a cheerful shout of “Hit the gas, Cordy!”

“Xander, I am not a taxi service,” Cordelia said in a long-suffering sort of way, “and Giles already did a number on my car when he floored the gas and rushed it to the hospital.”

“Yeah, and we’re all so upset that Ms. Calendar didn’t die but your car’s a little messed up,” said Willow sharply.

“Hey,” said Jenny nervously. “Can we—”

“Oh, you know I didn’t mean it like that, Willow,” Cordelia huffed. “Stop being so sensitive.”

“I’m not being sensitive, you’re just being unfeeling!” Willow retorted loudly.

Jenny flinched; it wasn’t really the noise bothering her, but the clear anger in the car, making her feel unusually claustrophobic. She focused on her hands, but when she tried to clasp them, the splints on her fingers bumped together. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she nearly jumped out of her seat.

“Hey,” said Oz. Willow and Cordelia, now very involved in their argument, didn’t notice this. “I had some anxiety problems when I was little, and it helped if I focused on my breathing.”

Jenny looked up at him and smiled slightly. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ll do that, I think.”

She kept her eyes trained on her hands, and counted quietly in her head, focusing on the quiet noise of her own breathing. It wasn’t pained like it had been that night, nor was it as audible as it had been in the silence of the mansion, and the steadiness of it was soft and comforting to her. Looking up to thank Oz, Jenny found that the car had suddenly gone silent.

“Sorry,” said Willow quietly.

“We—didn’t mean to scare you,” Cordelia added with unusual sincerity.

Jenny didn’t really take sympathy well, and she didn’t like that the kids were seeing her in a moment of weakness. But then she hadn’t liked Rupert seeing her in a moment of weakness, either, so maybe this wasn’t just her wanting to look mature in front of the kids. She managed a smile and said simply, “It’s okay.”

“I can’t believe you got them to stop arguing,” said Xander loudly. “That was five minutes of pure hell.”

“Shh, I’m trying to drive,” Cordelia snipped at him, but she was smiling.

Willow’s hand bumped into Jenny’s elbow, her fingers curling around Jenny’s forearm. “You okay?” she asked softly.

Jenny looked over at Willow, and saw nothing but sympathy. Normally she couldn’t handle people worrying about her; she found it condescending and pitying, like they thought she wasn’t able to take care of herself. But there was a sweet sincerity to Willow’s worry, and it made her speculate that there might be more than one kind of concern. “I’m fine,” she said, and thought that maybe she could be.

Willow smiled, still not looking wholly convinced, and patted Jenny’s arm before turning to join in Xander and Cordelia’s conversation. Jenny turned a quiet, grateful smile on Oz, who simply nodded.

Xander took quite a while in the grocery store, which surprised Jenny until he came back out with cheerful balloons and a bouquet of flowers. He opened the car door, handing her the flowers, and then said thoughtfully, “The balloons might be a safety hazard.”

“Xander, for—” Cordelia got out of the car and tied the balloons to the rearview mirror.

The flowers were daffodils. It was hard to hold them with broken fingers, but Jenny thought she was doing a pretty decent job.

So far, Giles’s search wasn’t going exactly stellar. He hadn’t expected it to, of course; his primary goal had been to leave Sunnydale in an effort to consider his relationship with Jenny. But what inevitably ended up happening was him putting off thinking about Jenny because Buffy could be in danger, visiting a lot of places that he had no idea whether or not Buffy might frequent, noticing something that reminded him of Jenny, and then getting plastered at the mini-bar in the hotel room he was staying at, which really wasn’t an efficient way to conduct a search or consider the potential problems with his relationship.

On the fifth day, he almost called Jenny at two in the morning, and managed to pull himself together. He wasn’t in another country, for God’s sake, and a clean break was the only sort of way he would ever come to a satisfying conclusion. Involving Jenny in this decision would only make it more difficult from a logical standpoint. His relationships couldn’t be ruled by emotion, not while he was a Watcher.

The last sentence stuck with Giles, and wouldn’t go away as easily as he’d liked. His relationship with Jenny wasn’t something he’d ever approached with logic, and he certainly didn’t think he’d be able to do it now, even if the situation had drastically changed since they’d started dating. He couldn’t think of any instance where the decisions he’d made regarding her safety had come from a place of what would logically be best for them both, save for this decision to leave and look for Buffy. If his relationships truly couldn’t be ruled by emotion, and if his emotions were jeopardizing the life of someone he loved, then there was no reasonable way for him to be with Jenny.

He came to this conclusion quite a few times and wasn’t sure what to do with it. Leaving Jenny just didn’t seem like an option, especially not right after his connection to her had nearly gotten her killed. The responsible thing to do would be to return to Sunnydale and discuss things with her, but he couldn’t imagine Jenny being exactly in favor of his ending their relationship and leaving Sunnydale indefinitely. Besides which, what happened should Buffy decide to return? Jenny still had close ties with the children, who in turn were friends with Buffy; it wasn’t like he could cut her out of his life in the event that he had to return to Sunnydale for his Slayer.

It really came down to what would be best for Jenny, and Giles truly wasn’t sure what that was. She was still incredibly guarded and wary of showing vulnerability, which made it difficult to ascertain how much the events with Angelus had colored her perspective of him.

Maybe that was what it came down to, in the end—him leaving before she finally figured out he had never been worth the danger. He still couldn’t understand how anyone could love him enough to look at him with bright, blameless eyes as Angelus broke their fingers one by one.

Logic and emotion seemed to be wound tightly together, and leaving Sunnydale had left Giles more confused than when he’d began. Perhaps the best thing to do might be to return and talk things over with Jenny. Not yet, though—one more day of searching would probably be the best thing to do. He didn’t want her to think that he’d left town for a while, given up, and come home—

—back—

“Shit,” said Giles quietly to the empty hotel room. Watchers weren’t supposed to find homes in people. He wasn’t even all that sure if Watchers were supposed to have homes at all.

“Finger!!” Willow was too delighted to remember how to be eloquent. “It looks really nice!”

“Kinda looks like you almost have a metal hand and you’re flipping everyone off with your only real finger,” Xander commented, but he was grinning too. “How’s it feel?”

“Fine,” Ms. Calendar replied, with an actual smile. The last time Willow seen Ms. Calendar really smiling like that was before Giles had left, and it felt good to see it now. “A little cold.”

“Okay, so we’ll make you a finger cozy,” Willow replied, coming over to look at Ms. Calendar’s hand. One of the fingers had healed faster than the others, and Ms. Calendar had just gotten the cast taken off, leaving her middle finger bare. It looked a little unusual in the midst of all the metal and bandage.

“So what are you planning to do with your brand new finger powers, Ms. Calendar?” Xander asked. He seemed to be trying very hard to keep a straight face, but he wasn’t doing a good job of it. “Flipping off the mailman? Flipping off Principal Snyder when he asks about all the sick days you’ve taken?”

“You can hit buttons on the microwave more easily!” Willow enthused, and was both startled and delighted to hear Ms. Calendar laugh. It was a surprised sound, as though Ms. Calendar hadn’t meant to laugh, and that somehow made it even better. “No, I’m serious, Ms. Calendar,” she persisted, eyes sparkling with mirth, “you’ve always been complaining about how you’re afraid the microwave will shock you through your metal fingers or something! And now you don’t have to—are you okay?”

Ms. Calendar had delicately placed a hand over her mouth, still smiling.

“I think we finally made Ms. Calendar laugh,” Xander commented to Willow with a little grin. “Think we should break the news to Giles?” Ms. Calendar’s smile vanished abruptly. “So, Giles, you always say our jokes aren’t funny, but—hey! Ms. C! Back among the land of the self-possessed.”

Willow stopped smiling. “Xander,” she said carefully, “can you go wash some dishes?”

“Can’t Ms. Calendar do that with her magic finger?” Xander quipped.

“Xander,” said Willow pointedly, jerking her head towards Ms. Calendar, “can you go wash some dishes?”

“Ohhhh,” said Xander, and left, still looking somewhat confused.

Willow turned to Ms. Calendar, who was now looking somewhat uncomfortable. “Ms. Calendar, is everything okay with Giles?” she asked anxiously. “Is he all right? I know he’s only been gone for a week and a half, but you got all weird when Xander mentioned him, and—is he—you know—” Willow fumbled over her words; she couldn’t bring herself to outright ask if Giles was alive. She didn’t want to think about Giles being dead.

“He’s, uh, fine,” Ms. Calendar replied in a strange tone of voice. She paused, then amended, “As far as I know.”

“As far as—” Willow frowned, then, softly, “Oh.” Carefully, she placed a hand over Ms. Calendar’s. “He’s probably really busy,” she said, trying her best to project enough confidence to make Ms. Calendar feel somewhat better. “And super nervous about Buffy. I know he wouldn’t just up and leave you.”

Ms. Calendar nodded. “I hope so,” she said finally. “I’d miss him.”

“Me too,” said Willow, and gave her a sweetly tentative smile.

To Willow’s surprise, Ms. Calendar responded by leaning over and pulling her into an awkward hug. Willow got the sense that Ms. Calendar wasn’t much of a hugger, but that sort of made the gesture even better. “You’re a good kid, you know that?” she said, pulling away a little, hands still resting on Willow’s shoulders.

Willow was both surprised and touched. “Thanks!” she finally replied a little squeakily, somewhat overcome. “I—thank you.”

There was a warm silence in the room before they both heard Xander inquire from the kitchen, “So how long before I can come back in?”

“You’re good,” Willow called back, and smiled at Ms. Calendar. After a moment of consideration, she added, “And if he does up and leave you, you’ll still have us. Not—not in a romance way, just in a family way, you know?”

Ms. Calendar looked down at her lap, and Willow thought she caught the beginning of a wobbly smile.

None of the kids showed up at her house, probably because Willow had told them to give her and Giles some alone time in the assumption that they’d be having some kind of amorous reunion. Jenny felt a little wrung-out and exhausted after the crying session, even though she knew that she’d made the right decision. She loved Rupert so much, but she couldn’t handle the idea of being treated like the protected, the valued, the vulnerable. She wasn’t that.

She’d figured out that he’d taken the necklace as soon as he’d gotten home. Her necklaces were out of order, and the rose quartz had always been his favorite. She looked down at it now and thought about the fact that he’d probably been wearing it ever since he’d left.

It hurt to give that kind of love up. She knew there was a part of her that did revel in the way Rupert looked at her, like she was precious and good, the sunshine in his life. But Angelus had warped that, somehow, when he’d hurt her in front of Rupert, made it more about him wanting to protect her than him admiring her capabilities. Jenny couldn’t be in a relationship where the other person didn’t see them on equal ground in every sense of the word. Just because Rupert was a Watcher didn’t make him any more capable than her.

Or, okay, her self-defense skills weren’t exactly up to par, but it wasn’t like he actually offered to teach her, was it? No, it was always “stay out of danger, Jenny,” or “stay at home, Jenny,” or “wear a cross, Jenny, I don’t want you getting hurt—”

Jenny hid her face in her hands and drew in a shaking breath before looking up again. Mostly it was just difficult to come to terms with the fact that Rupert’s perception of her had somehow become so warped and simplistic, and worse still was the small part of her that wondered if she secretly wanted to be seen that way. Being the martyr was certainly better than being foolishly, blindly optimistic. Optimism always seemed to be her undoing, yet she still couldn’t bring herself to let it go.

The sunlight was shining through the windows, but it didn’t feel as warm as it had early in the morning, when she’d made Willow chamomile tea. Maybe being warm wasn’t something she should seek out anymore. In a way, Willow saw her as simply and lovingly as Rupert did, and Jenny was no longer sure if she should let anyone do that. It let her believe that the goodness others saw in her would somehow lead to good things, because bad things wouldn’t happen to good people.

But bad things did. This year was living proof of that.

She felt lost all over again, only this time it was somehow worse. Loyalty was what had brought her here, but loyalty was what had driven her all her life; it wasn’t something she could just cast aside like her beliefs. Change and evolution was something she’d always been in full support of; knowledge was always something that could be bent and adapted to help the people she loved. It was somehow different to consider that maybe the same could be done for loyalty and love. Bending it, shaping it, shoving it into a small corner where it couldn’t influence her decisions. She’d always tried to put logic to the side when working for her uncle, and she’d put knowledge to use when she was trying to fix things with Rupert. She didn’t want to use her capacity to love in that same dispassionate way, using her emotions only when they would fuel the most logical course of action.

It then occurred to Jenny that perhaps that was the way Rupert lived his life. Emotions tucked away, focused only on the greater goal. She wanted to feel resentful, and angry, but it had never been his fault. Maybe it was hers for expecting more than he could give.

Suddenly, responsibility had been thrust on her, and she had no one to turn to for guidance or support, because her stupid boyfriend was too busy trying to sort through his plethora of emotional baggage while simultaneously managing to get nothing done at all—

Jenny kicked a cabinet harder than she meant to. So much for not feeling angry. Mostly she was just mad at herself, but it was so much easier to pretend to be mad at Rupert. There was no one she could really go to for help in this situation, unless she knew some kind of magical therapist.

#i need a tag for the rewrite #the jennyverse?#the braveryverse?#i'll figure it out eventually #but it's becoming this big awesome sprawling thing #with an actual arc and everything #and i love it #the becoming au #bravery #kinda #consider it a small part of bravery

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