#drusilla is right to call him out

[wolframpant]

You're afraid. Well, we're all afraid.

[winepresswrath]

drusilla's canon grandma kink is a thing that can be so charming & unhinged.

[coraniaid]

It's true that the Buffy writers' answers to the closely related questions "is there a meaningful distinction between a vampire and the human being who was sired to create them?" and "when you get down to it, are vampires basically people?" clearly undergo something of a shift in the second half of the show.

This is a transformation that starts with Buffy's reluctance to stake Willow's vampire alter ego in Season 3's Doppelgangland and continues at pace with the gang's collective reaction to finding out that Harmony has "become" a vampire in Season 4. It's a process that continues as long as Harmony remains a recurring character on the show, until, by mid-Season 5, Buffy (and Buffy) has essentially undergone a complete switch in its view of vampirism. The later seasons handling of vampires are very hard to square with the speeches made by Buffy in Lie To Me ("you die, and a demon sets up a shop in your old house [...] but it's not you") or Giles to Xander [about the late and largely unlamented Jesse] in The Harvest ("you're not looking at your friend: you're looking at the thing that killed him"). Whether this is a change for the better or not is a matter for debate, but that it is a real change that happens is pretty hard to dispute.

It's also true that the writers are obviously increasingly reluctant to show their show's protagonist, the titular vampire slayer, actually going around killing vampires. At least any vampires who've had a chance to establish some sort of personality. How many of the dozen or so named, recurring vampire characters does Buffy actually kill over the course of the show? Not very many.

I make it two in Season 1 (if you're generous and count Luke as a recurring character), one in Season 2 (if you're similarly generous and count Buffy sending Angel to hell for almost three whole episodes as killing him) and ... that's it, right? Somebody other than Buffy kills Darla [=Angel], and Colin the Anointed One [=Spike], and Dalton [=the Judge], and Mr Trick [=Faith], and vamp!Willow [=wishverse!Oz, twice] and Sunday's only-named-in-the script henchvamp Tom [=the Initiative], and Sandy [=Riley], and Spike[=... well, Spike, ultimately, I guess]. Nobody ever kills Drusilla or Lyle Gorch or Harmony, all of whom make multiple appearances on the show and (un)live to the end of the series. And Angel and Spike (and even Darla, eventually and temporarily) all come back after apparently being killed.

Buffy might have a sacred calling to slay vampires, but the show is very uncomfortable about her killing non-human characters who've had a chance to establish themselves as people. Perhaps that's why the show stops having vampiric Big Bads completely after Season 2, and why Season 7 tries to introduce a whole new category of personality-free, definitely-not-people monsters to replace its existing vampires. (Perhaps not entirely succesfully, if we're being diplomatic.)

It's certainly true that the show does not have a consistent take to offer on vampire lore. Like everything supernatural in Buffy, vampires are essentially walking metaphors: and the things that they exist to represent and comment on change and evolve throughout the show's run. Buffy's worldbuilding is not very deep or rigorous.

But what's not true at all, and what I wish people would stop claiming, is the idea that Angel's awkward "well, actually..." when Buffy assures Willow in Doppelgangland that "a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was" represents some sort of big departure from the show's established or implied lore up to that point. It does not. At all.

In fact, it's Buffy's claim that is at odds with everything that the show has been saying up this point. A vampire's personality has always, always been something that the show wants us to believe is informed by the personality of the person who died to create them, This goes all the way back to Season 1.

In Angel, Giles does tell Buffy flat out that "a vampire isn't a person at all", but he also says that a vampire may have "the memories, even the personality of the person that it took over". In the part of her speech from Lie To Me that I elided earlier, Buffy admits that if you're turned the resulting vampire "walks, and it talks, and it remembers your life" [and the clear implication here is that the vampire walks and talks like the original person did, otherwise what is this supposed to be saying?].

If the show's original position was that a vampire's personality had nothing to do with who they were in life, why would Giles have felt the need to tell Buffy (in Season 1's Never Kill A Boy On The First Date) that Andrew Borba had been on the run for a suspected double murder the night he died and rose as a vampire? Why would he have told her in Season 2's Bad Eggs that the Gorch brothers "massacred a village" before they were vampires? Why would he warn her in Season 3's Helpess that Zachary Kralik was a "criminally insane" serial killer even before being sired as a vampire? If the show -- or even just Giles himself -- really did have the position that a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person they were before death, as Buffy claims in Doppelgangland (and some fans apparently believe), how would any of this make sense?

If we weren't supposed to think vampires inherited at least some part of their personality from their host then why, in The Harvest, would vampire!Jesse still be obsessed with pursuing Cordelia Chase? Why would Drusilla still be driven mad as a vampire as a result of the pyschological tortures that Angel inflicted on "her" when she was a mortal? In Halloween, why would Buffy be trying to find out more about the sort of person Angel was as a human? Why would Willow and Xander still be together in the world of The Wish?

The idea that a vampire inherits the personality of the person whose body they take over [or who they were before "becoming" a vampire, in the later seasons' parlance] isn't any kind of retcon. It's one of the few consistent takes on vampires the show had from beginning to end. Continuity of self; moral standing as a person; capacity for self-reflection and personal growth, whether or not vampires can breathe ... these are the things about vampires the show changes its stance on. But a vampire's personality was always informed by who they were in life, right from the very first pair of episodes.

(Spike and Drusilla being capable of at least some kind of romantic love and mutual jealousy in Season 2 is also not a retcon, incidentally. We saw that with Darla and Angel in Season 1 as well. And even the Master clearly felt emotions and had some sort of affection for his favorites among the vampires that worked for him. Spike and Dru do represent a significant -- and welcome! --change in the tone of the show, but they aren't somehow a walking refutation of what Giles has been telling Buffy (and through her, us) about vampires for the past year.)

I mean, I don't really have a big point to work to here, it's just that I keep seeing takes on my dash about how this particular scene represents a big change in the show's lore about vampires. And that .. just isn't true?

[changingplumbob]

Silver explained that he'd taken a picture of a bird Glenn might like but didn't know how to send it. Glenn patiently explained the steps needed so Silver hung up and sent the picture through before calling Glenn back.

Silver: Did you get it

Glenn: Yes. When you get back I'm going to show you how the zoom works okay? The bird was tiny

Silver: But the bird is tiny

Glenn: *laughing* That is true. How are you

Silver: Same as I was this morning

Glenn: Yes but I didn't get to talk to you this morning

Silver: I like it here, it's quiet. How about you

Glenn: I think we've discovered I am not quiet

Silver: I mean your day

Glenn: Oh right. Well I went to see Henri and he showed me how to make the potion of plentiful needs

Silver: Was it complicated

Glenn: Not too much

Silver: Because you know if you need more pleasure again I'll be coming back

Glenn: I do! He umm... he thought I should probably tell you something though

Silver: I'm listening

Glenn: So apparently the hue of the pleasure will be different depending on stuff like amount of people, occult status, novelty

Silver: Meaning he knows I'm a werewolf

Glenn: Well yes but... he could also tell it was my first time

Silver: First time with a werewolf or first time with a guy

Glenn: Oh you know just... first time with... anyone

The other end of the phone was silent and Glenn had to check he hadn't ended the call by accident.

Glenn: Beefcake... are you there?

Silver: Yeah I'm here just... processing

Glenn: I'm sorry if you think I should have said something. I just really like you and wanted to be with you and I was worried you wouldn't want to get intimate with me if you knew and now I'm rambling

Silver: It's cute *sighs* If I had known I'd have been a lot better

Glenn: What do you mean

Silver: I'd have been more romantic, I wasn't very romantic about it. I was *sighs*

Glenn: If it makes any difference I thought you were great

Silver: Next time I'll be better

Glenn: Beefcake please don't beat yourself up about this

Silver: I know modern thinking is different but back when I was raised the first time was really important

Glenn: Ah yes, 863 years ago

Silver: Nope, not my age

Glenn: I'm going to guess it one day

Silver: Sure you are. Point is I'll be more... passionate next time

Glenn: I do like the sound of "next time". Okay I know you can't see me but I just did air quotes

Silver: Did what?

They talked for a couple of hours. They ended up talking for a couple of hours every day.

Glenn spent his days working with the other spellcasters in the coven to sharpen his skills. He still preferred tending plants above any other magic but it was helpful to be taught other things. Silver took his time wandering around the woods of Windenburg, visiting his favourite spots and getting better at learning how to send pictures.

Of course eventually word of his werewolf got out (thanks Howard) and everyone had an opinion. Drusilla naturally thought he should be barred from the property and tried to put their foot down but Phoebus convinced them cooperation between occults could only be for the best.

Gillian was very pouty about not having met Silver but Glenn assured her the next time he returned she could. Just so long as they didn't all try meet Silver at once, he didn't want to risk overwhelming him. Ophelia, Miranda and Henri treated him just the same which was nice. They had become Glenn's friends so their opinion mattered to him.

Opinions that didn't matter of course were the opinions of the twins Jackson and Coleman. They began doing their best to fit some sort of dog joke in to every conversation. Glenn didn't mind. He'd rather they teased him than aggravate Silver.

A few weeks after he had left Silver called Glenn to let him know he was back outside the barrier and Glenn happily sped out of the house to help him inside the spells. When he got him inside he hugged him tight.

Silver: Hold on, I'm meant to be the one with super strength

Glenn: I just missed you

Silver: I told you I was coming back

Glenn: I know I just... worried. Especially with the occult hate crimes in the bigger cities

Silver: That's why I don't go through the cities. Plus they're too loud and smelly for me. But I was thinking, if you don't mind, I could stay weekends? Get my travel fix during the weeks and then always come back?

Glenn: Like a boyfriend?

Silver: Yeah. Like a boyfriend

Glenn: *swooning* I'd love that

Previous ... Next

[raisedbythetv89]

I’m sorry but the way buffy’s all:

UGGGHHHH I sooooooo don’t wanna have to go manhandle the hot vampire for information he’s soooo annoyingggg

Then immediately lets slip she actually does spend time thinking about what he’s up to all day in his crypt and she says she KNOWS it’s something - not creepy, not weird, NASTY 👀👀👀 😜

And then SECONDS after she says that she BARGES IN UNANNOUNCED giving Spike absolutely ZERO time to make himself decent if he was doing something. She literally bounces in and struts up to him in such a way she is getting wind machine level Beyoncé hair. Like GIRL WHAT WERE YOU HOPING TO WALK IN ON barging in without knocking 😹😹😹 which is literally the only way she ever enters his crypt… playing with fire fr

ONLY TO CHOOSE THE WORD PROPOSITION. Not “I need information, I need a favor/help” A PROPOSITION for you. Ya know like “to proposition someone” for sex…

And SPIKE just BOUNDS right up to her in a way that flexes his arm muscles in the process and gets him RIGHT in her face, saying he’s got a proposition for her too…. they did not need to be this close to talk and she doesn’t even back up at all 😹 what she does do is LOOK AWAY when he flexes his arms to propel himself up only to look back at him when he’s standing in front of her 👀 she’s like RILEY focus on RILEY do not get distracted by his arms LOOK AWAY

The SLAP instead of a punch??? He looks SHOCKED that it was a slap instead of a punch when he literally just called her boyfriend an enormous hall monitor and asked tauntingly if he was gonna die and all it elicits is a slap that doesn’t even have full slayer strength behind it 😹😹😹 like this is basically a love tap for them when we see a shove from her send him FLYINGGG across the room when she really means it in “Smashed”

AND THEN SHE’S LIKE “I’D BE DATING SPIKE” as her attempt at reassurance to Riley that super strength isn’t what she cares about BUT IF IT WAS it would in fact be Spike 👀 like she had that alternative READDDDY to go. To me this says she’s thought about what would life be like if she had started dating Spike after “something blue” instead of Riley. Probably since she found out Riley was a demon hunter and no longer the “normal” option between the two which was Riley’s biggest appeal to her as part of her attempt to show she had “normal” taste in men after thoroughly enjoying being all over Spike in “something blue” (as I talked about in a previous post)

Also Spike isn’t the only one showing off his arms!! Buffy has her jacket on to go look for Riley but is just in her white tank and red leather pants to flirt TALK with Spike. Which literally is showing more skin, but ALSO is a physical representation of the relationship she’s always had with spike that revolves around vulnerability and the differences in her behavior between Riley & Spike with how vulnerable she is this season but even as far back as season three when she says she can’t lie to herself OR SPIKE.

AND the fact that Spike is in a different outfit in his dream but Buffy isn’t 👀 he was checking her OUTTT in that outfit and even though he saw her with her jacket on at the hospital he’s dreaming about how she looked when she came looking for him. Also the way she’s just BATHED in light when she first walks in UGH 😻😻😻 looking like a leather clad angel of death sent to destroy the version of spike created by Angel and Drusilla’s abuse bit by bit. I quite literally could not be more obsessed with them

[mcgnagallsarmy]

Top 10 Spuffy fics I’ve read (Sept 2023)

A Game of Getting Caught by EllieRose101 [NC-17]

The eternal question: What is the most powerful force in the universe? Buffy's denial, Spike's need to prove her wrong, or Xander's pig-headedness? (Set in a world in which Riley doesn’t visit Sunnydale in Season Six, so the Spuffy sexcapades continue––and so do the close calls of almost getting caught by the Scoobies.)

The Bad Penny by OffYourBird [R]

Six years ago, Buffy made a home in a new dimension with a Spike who defied every rule to be by her side. Now it’s time to put to rest unfinished business in her original dimension. However, a visit there quickly turns apocalyptic, and at the heart of it is the two vampires who set Buffy's original journey in motion, and both of them have a lot of explaining to do.

Best Wishes by bookishy, Dusty, Grief Counseling, ashcrashed, MaggieLaFey, womanaction [R]

Well Hell's Bells! It's a Sunnydale style wedding! You know what that means: things are going to go very very smoothly.

Binding Effects by simmony [R]

What was supposed to be a simple truth spell takes a dark turn when Buffy can suddenly read Spike’s feelings—and he hers.

Future Happiness by EllieRose101 [R]

High School is over and Angel is gone, leaving Buffy worried about what lies ahead. At least until Willow tries to help. (Set in the summer between Seasons Three and Four. Mostly.)

The Future is Ours by DarkEternity96 [NC-17]

What if in mid-Season 4, Spike demands another spell from Willow, in a last-ditch attempt to get Dru back… but rather than having her cast a typical love spell, Spike wants to travel forward in time, to experience the future Drusilla claims she ‘sees’, and prove to her that there is bugger all between him and the Slayer. Cue the spell going awry, and S4 Spike being trapped in the body of his future self, in the very unexpected world of Season 6. And you can only imagine Spike’s utter shock when a lust-fuelled Buffy turns up at his door…

Night Swimming by Geliot99 [R]

An unexpected heatwave in mid-March is reason enough for an impromptu pool party for the Scoobies. But when Richard takes a second stab* at winning Buffy's affections, Spike is all too keen to show her how much fun night swimming with a vampire can really be… *see what I did there? Set between 'Older and Far Away' and 'As You Were'

Right Where You Left Me by acekoomboom [R]

Buffy is a newer ghost, as far as ghosts go, and she can't move on. She sits in the corner she haunts, right where he left her, waiting for him to return. Time moves differently for the dead. Haunted Diner AU.

Taste and Temptation by RavenLove12 [NC-17]

For a sticky sweet, tasty treat: Take one stressed-out Slayer, add one snarky vampire, place in an empty house and mix well. Bake on high and top with whipped cream.

Thing of Doom by Sunalso [Adult Only]

AtS S5. Things go a little off canon in Destiny and Buffy ends up with a whole lot more than she bargained for. Human? Demon? What makes Spike who he is and what’s a girl to do with the love of her life when he’s double the trouble?

[mistigrisunshine]

spuffy fic rec

figured all the time i spend scouring EF and ao3 might be useful to someone!

part 1 - part 2 - part 3

Scooby Crew, Where Are You? by Twinkles [9k]

In a not comics-compliant post-series universe where spuffy have been reunited and everyone else is drifting apart, chaos drops by for a visit. Or a nefarious scheme. I guess we'll find out XD

To Apprehend Air by Quinara [19k]

Two days after LMPTM, Spike's soul is stolen. But that's OK; they can get it back, right? Simple. How hard is it to hop dimensions, anyway? Or storm a castle…

Wild and Wonderful by solstice [23k]

Dawn is nine and three quarters. She is resilient, strange and sharp as a tack. She's a credit to her big sis. But she's just been kidnapped by one of the most notorious vamps of all time - Drusilla. Things look bad. Enter Spike, her very unlikely hero. Spike's relationship with Drusilla has been on the rocks since the Acathala debacle and the morsel in the crate is her double-edged gift to him: a chance to make things right, and a chance to be really bad. Kill the girl and make it hurt. But for some reason he. just. can't. Instead, he tosses the niblet into the trunk of his Desoto and hits the road, leaving his one hundred year relationship in tatters, and grinding his reputation into the dust. Buckle your seat belts nice and tight. We're in for a bumpy ride.

World Enough, and Time by toooldforthis [23k]

“You came back wrong,” he told her, all those years ago. He was right, but it took them a very long time to realise exactly what that meant. It meant a hundred more apocalypses, a thousand battles. It meant a journey, a prophecy, a war. They’d lose one other, and find their way back, and choose, again and again. And all the while, the earth was failing. There are a lot more people than you think who are here for the long haul – like, the really long haul. This is a story about two of them.

Once You Eliminate the Impossible by yellowb [30k]

Icelandic noir. Inspector Summers of the Reykjavik police force has finally got her big chance: she’s in charge of a murder case.

sometimes enough by taxicab12 [35k]

“Tell me everything,” Willow said, not sounding particularly like she’d been asleep. “Are his friends cool?” Buffy blinked. “Some of them. There was this one British guy—” “Ooh, accents, hot.” “—who wouldn’t stop staring at my boobs,” she finished. “Ew, men, gross.” “Spike,” Buffy said with a scoff. “What kind of name is that?” Or, Buffy falls in love and in love and in love. For some reason, life keeps happening anyway

ever waiting airports (full of the love that you deserve) by womanaction [41k]

Buffy catches up with Riley's helicopter, solving one problem and introducing a host of others. How is she supposed to rebuild their crumbling relationship in the face of an angry hellgod out for blood, an emotional teenage sister who spent millennia as a glowing ball of energy, and a weirdly helpful vampire? Season 5 rewrite from "Into the Woods" on.

GTFO by Girlytek [54k]

Spike doesn’t take the extra hundred bucks to be the decoy. Ethan doesn’t hang around to gloat. With the Initiative on their tail (just a little one), and Ethan needing a good being killed, Spike and Fyarl-Giles get out of town. There’s nothing like a road trip to put your demons in perspective.

Care by Sigyn [72k]

While under her Will Be Done spell, Willow just happened to say “I don’t care about anything,” and as a result, wanders blithely off as a vengeance demon. Spike and Buffy are left to protect a threatened Xander and a blind Giles while under the effect of a powerful love charm. But all is not happy in paradise – they’re still constantly fighting, and Angel is determined to end the spell they’re under. In a desperate attempt to collect the tattered remains of all their lives, ex-watcher Wesley Windham-Pryce is called in to try and play marriage counselor between the vampire and the slayer.

The Soul Lies Down by the_moonmoth [73k]

"As a child, I used to dream of a man in black and white, spinning in the desert like a dervish, sword flashing in the moonlight as he danced with death." Dawn travels back in time to save the vampire who saved her life. It's not purely out of sentiment, though -- the fate of the world is at stake (again) and somehow Spike is at the center of events. If only he can stay on the right side of Buffy. A sequel to Angearia's "Fin Amour".

Summer’s Lease by Iamblichus [86k]

Buffy thought it would be just another night of slaying lame-ass campus vampires, but one green demon, some unexpected help from Spike, and a spurt of fluorescent blood later, she finds that her world has acquired a novel complication.

Indigo Overture by Rikki_oko [119k]

Spike's just a drummer, content to live in lead singer Angel's shadow. But when a certain blonde strolls in on Angel's arm, will Spike be content to take the backseat forever? Loosely based on the eighties song, Jesse's Girl.

[tenderjock]

to add to my posts about the spike and buffy and angel dynamic, i think that in an au where post-lovers walk all three of them were interacting on btvs regularly, there had to be a crush-style ep where buffy finds out that spike is in love with her only instead of talking to xander about it, she goes to angel, and she's like, "god, the weirdest thing. am i crazy, but i think that spike might be in love with me."

and he's like, "oh, yeah."

buffy's like, "excuse me?"

angel's like, "yeah, he's been in love with you for years."

buffy stares at him.

angel clarifies, "well, i mean, for a given definition of - he doesn't have a soul, obviously. so it's a twisted, selfish kind of love. if you could even call it love."

"we're both calling it love right now in this conversation!" buffy says.

"well," angel says. "i guess. but he has - whatever he has, it's been there for years. for you. it's why drusilla left him, you know."

"and you didn't TELL ME?!"

"i thought you knew?"

[nightwhispcrs]

possibly excessive mini event starter call, because i am insane about this season. for the next few weeks, these threads with be my priority, so even if we have other threads with our muses feel free to request something here. ***max request of 4 starters per mun, pls

adam newman (1/3) — drusilla he'll be running his stall for his coffee shop, crimson lights. festive pastries, coffee, tea, and little gift trinkets will be for sale. he may sneak away to buy some gifts at some point.

arnold novak — (1/3) martin blackwood they're hosting a booth that's selling handmade wreaths and little festive plants, such as poinsettias and white lily/red rose bouquets. being around so many people makes them nervous, but he'll be enjoying it for the most part.

charlie dalton (1/3) — zenitsu they'll be working at a stall from their bookshop offering used and free books. can help you find the perfect gift.

craig manning — (0/2) he'll be performing on his lil guitar around the festivities.

eli joseph stock — (0/3) they'll be riding their bike around looking for the perfect gifts for their friends and partner. maybe participating in the snowman building.

gael martinez — (0/3) doing live street art all over the market, including on the streets, sidewalks, walls etc. he'll have a spot where you can participate in a giant, communal mural if you wish.

irina denali — (1/3) ithan she'll be ice skating, participating in the snowball fight, and being competitive at the carnival games if you want to join in.

jack shephard — (0/2) he'll mostly be shopping around for some gifts, enjoying a drink or two, and being glad for a day off of work from the hospital. after a stressful year i'll let him relax for a day.

jason bourne — (0/2) he's convinced someone wants to bomb the market or something, so he's on high alert and probably having a terrible, paranoid time.

jim hopper — (0/2) having lots of coffee- so much coffee- and browsing. and some drinks. trying to stay warm because he hates the cold now. you might catch him in a good or bad mood.

katniss everdeen (1/3) — legolas she's just hanging around, checking out all the stalls and what everybody has to offer. she's not used to having any money to buy gifts, so now that they have some they're not sure the right way to spend it.

michael guerin — (0/3) alien boy will be a little bit drunk but having a good time. will probably blow too much money on trying to prove a point at the carnival games (which he's bad at) and buying things he doesn't need.

monica geller — (0/3) she'll be selling plenty of festive and holiday lattes, themed teas and drinks, pastries, and desserts and appetizers from her restaurant, juniper cafe.

naomi pierce — (0/3) she'll be dropping so, so much money on all the stalls so if your business needs a boost... have her drop by. she'll also be donating a ton of toys and clothing to charity, as well as soliciting donations for the nonprofit for children she works with.

reid oliver — (0/2) he doesn't know what to do with himself, so a lot of his time will be spent alone looking for tons of food and eating it solo in front of the performers.

richie jerimovich — (0/3) he might be extra moody seeing everybody be so cheery and festive. he's just sad and miserable inside and wants friends and family again. pls get him to participate in some of the events and activities!!

roman roy (2/3) — jaskier, zhao yunlan his bar is having a mini bar fully stocked with alcoholic festive drinks, so drop on by and partake in some with him.

sarah walker — (0/2) she'll probably be trying to gather intel, but i want to force her to have a good time so pls drag her into some festive things. maybe she can finally make some good holiday & christmas memories.

sue storm — (0/2) she'll probably be hanging around the ice skating rink and browsing various stalls.

violet baudelaire — (1/3) kell the vintage store she manages will have a stall, so she'll have hand-selected items from the shop, including clothing, jewelry, home decor, and all sorts of random things that would make good gifts.

zoe rivas — (1/3) miles hollingsworth iii she'll be running a wine tasting booth and having a good time

[nascenta]

Caligula is a play written by Albert Camus, begun in 1938 (the date of the first manuscript is 1939) and published for the first time in May 1944. It premiered on 26 September 1945 at the Théâtre Hébertot in Paris.

It is part of what Camus called the "Cycle of the Absurd", together with the novel The Stranger (1942) and the essay The Myth of Sisyphus (1942). A number of critics have reported the piece to be existentialist, though Camus always denied belonging to this philosophy. Its plot revolves around the historical figure of Caligula, a Roman Emperor famed for his cruelty and seemingly insane behavior.

***

Albert Camus wrote of his piece, "Caligula, a seemingly kind prince, realizes upon the death of Drusilla (his sister and his mistress) that men die and they are not happy. Obsessed by the quest for the Absolute and poisoned by contempt and horror, he tries to exercise through murder and systematic perversion of all values, a freedom, which he discovers in the end is not truly freedom. He rejects friendship and love, simple human solidarity, good and evil. He takes the word of those around him, he forces them to logic, he levels all around him by force of his refusal and by the rage of destruction which drives his passion for life."

He continues, "But if his truth is to rebel against fate, his faculty is to oppose, and deny other men. One cannot destroy, without destroying oneself. This is why Caligula depopulates the world around him and, true to his logic, makes arrangements to arm those who will eventually kill him. Caligula is the story of a superior suicide. It is the story of the most human and the most tragic of errors. Unfaithful to man, loyal to himself, Caligula consents to die for having understood that no one can save himself all alone and that one cannot be free in opposition to other men."

***

“It makes me laugh, Cæsonia, when I think how for years and years all Rome carefully avoided uttering Drusilla’s name. Well, all Rome was mistaken. Love isn’t enough for me; I realized it then. And I realize it again today, when I look at you. To love someone means that one’s willing to grow old beside that person. That sort of love is right outside my range. Drusilla old would have been far worse than Drusilla dead. Most people imagine that a man suffers because out of the blue death snatches away the woman he loves. But his real suffering is less futile; it comes from the discovery that grief, too, cannot last. Even grief is vanity.”

-- Caligula, Albert Camus

[voidsentprinces]

Mylla: Another word out of your mouth, Aldis and I'll beat you to death. Solkzagyl: Nah, therapy would take too much time. Imma just create an entire gaslighting plot around my death to recreate batman for Ishgard. Wyrnzoen: We get into some mild shenanigans here. Curious Gorge: I could try to look inward and explore my emotions...or I could just keep hitting things. Fray: This is bullshit, this whole thing is bullshit, that's a scam, fuck the church, here's a dark soul crystal. Sophie: Walk, walk, fashion baby. Hamon: It isn't violence against the elderly, if I call it TRAINING and I AM the elderly. Widargelt: Going to have more royal drama than the Sultana. Foulques: Gridania is racist...they will never fix this. But I can! BECAUSE I AM THE BEST LANCER IN THE WOR--OH NO! Estinien: Ishgard is classist...they will never fix this. But I can! BECAUSE I AM THE BEST DRAGOON IN THE WOR--OH NO! Jacke: We can stab people AND stop acts of terrorism. Karasu: Just having a little giggle. Having a bit of a laugh. Master Musosai: DAME DA NE! DAME YO DAME NA NO YO! Drusilla: Grandad was mad that the Emperor trolled him and is now making it everyone's problem. Sylphie: You may not like it but this is what peak conjury looks like. Raya-O-Senna: Hello and welcome! A-Ruhn-Senna: Die in a forest fire. Alka: Is it me or is that tonberry kinda...cute? Leveva: I would say I am sorry for blacking out, beating you and then burying you up to your neck in the middle of Coerthas. But I am not. Jannequinard: It is QUITE fine, my dear Lady Leveva. You did only what the stars asked, as any astrologian worth their salt would do. Aries Rising and all that. Loifa: I could easily explain my motives and backstory but this quest line has to last 8 more levels. Silvairre: Gridania is racist and shall never change its wa--oh no something happened to me personally. I have seen the error of my ways! Sanson: I can still hear his voice. Guydelot: Gay, gay, homosexual, gay, gay Stephanivien: Gonne training requires a steady hand and a leveled head. So I shall send you to someone who will teach you these things. Rostnstahl: ...sorry what? That guy over there has been looking at me for a while. Joye: That's your reflection. Rostnstahl: Oh right...hey you, shoot that guy over there in the ass. Nashmeira: Therapy would take too much time, lets dance for people's enjoyment. Cocobuki: How do you feel about casting Fire I for 50 levels? Shatotto: An arrow may have your name on it. But a fire ball is addressed to whom it may concern. K'lyhia: If my calculations are correct, you are only in this to get God and Anime on your side. Y'mhrita: I hear you know my sister. Well good news, cause we're about to harnass the power of GOD AND ANIME TO OUR SIDE! X'rhun: Yeah, I don't know why people keep running past and yelling, "Would you care to fuck this catman". Martyn: I am helping cure the smallpox by putting on shows to raise awareness. Quickly, VOMIT A FISH AT ME!

[enigmatist17]

Spike doesn't really remember making his way up to Angel's penthouse.

To be fair, it had been a very very long day, starting with a flashy box and ending with a fight against his soddin' grandsire.

A fight he won.

He still wasn't sure what to do with that, honestly, but right now he was dealing with a far more intrusive problem. It had taken every single ounce of his willpower to keep up his usual snarky appearance, but now that he was free of prying eyes, he was finally able to let out a proper scream for the first time since he'd been dragged back from death.

Everything just felt so wrong, his duster tossed aside and clothes nearly ripped off of his beyond sensitive skin, the cool air like sandpaper across his skin. It felt like his skin was stretched too tight over bones that felt ready to burst through at the slightest movement, and he trembled as his body registered the lack of blood for the past six months with painful squeezes of his stomach. He thanks the Powers that Angel has a large and, more importantly, deep bathtub, turning on the water as hot as possible before raiding his grandsire's fridge for as much blood as he can handle. It wasn't much, a depressingly small mug filling his roiling stomach, but it was a start as he headed back to the now-filled tub.

Spike is grateful he doesn't have to breathe as he fully submerges himself under the water, the world and all of its pain held back by the barrier of water.

He remembered the first time he'd discovered the joy of being underwater, Drusilla having tried to drown him in a fit of mania in some fountain he'd forgotten the name of. Of course, she'd forgotten they didn't need to breathe, but having played "dead" long enough to satisfy her mood had been peaceful under the water. After that, if they had the time and Dru was sated, Spike liked to fill a tub or use a relatively clean pond or river as a space to meditate or pass the time.

It's how Angel finds him when he calls it a day himself.

He's alarmed to see Spike's duster thrown on the couch without care, following a trail of hastily discarded clothes to his bathroom, and spies the younger vampire in the tub. Angel wants to yank him out and demand answers, but he pauses at seeing how tight Spike is holding himself, his faint trembling making the surface of the water ripple, so he retreats to his bedroom.

Spike emerges from the water after falling asleep for the first time in over six months, fresh towels and some of Angel's clothes folded neatly on a chair he was sure hadn't been there earlier. The great poof had clearly dug out some of his older clothes, the soft cotton shirt, loose boxers, and sweatpants so thin they could degrade at the slightest tug, the least irritating on his skin.

"Hungry?" Angel has a warmed mug in his hands as he stands in the doorway, holding it out when Spike cautiously reaches out. They both are still sore from their fight, but Angel doesn't seem to hold anything against Spike as he watches the younger drink, moving to pull the stopper on the tub. "You were out almost the whole day."

"Oh." Spike shrugs, slowly nursing his cup.

"Fred mentioned you might be oversensitive, though I already knew that," Angel shrugged, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. "When I came back from Acathla's dimension, I kept shredding whatever Buffy was putting on me for a good week. Not the same as being a ghost, but..."

"Close enough." Spike shrugged, shoulders hunched up to his ears as he looked into his empty mug. "Mind if I crash, 'aven't exactly slept in a while."

"Yea, of course." Spike doesn't react when he puts a hand on his shoulder and leads the smaller man to his bed. "If you need anything, just let me know."

"Mhm." Spike is far too exhausted to snipe back like he normally did, shoving his mug into Angel's hands before reaching out to test the sheets, relieved they were soft and light. He is out by the time his head hits the pillow, and could swear he can hear the familiar purring Angelus did to him as a fledgling as he drifts into the void. Angel is always there when he slowly drifts in and out of sleep, plying Spike with his own blood when it becomes clear his childe can't stay awake long enough for him to prepare any. Selfishly, Spike likes the attention and care, knowing that when he finally regained his strength, he'd have to put his mask back on and leave the safety of Angel's apartment.

It helps that when he does, bickering with Angel over something so inconsequential they won't remember it by the time they stop talking, Angel is by his side.

Maybe he can make this work.

[mangacupcake]

Bridgerton Au- The Ashengrotto Family

The Secret Keepers of the Upperclass

The Ashengrotto family has been rumored to be descended from the great sea witch.

Now they serve as information brokers and help keep the peace of the upper class even working with the worst of the worst to maintain the status quo.

Azul’s mother worked hard in bringing the “family business ” to land and found success bymarrying a wealthy lawyer from the surface.

Since then she’s stepped aside in most matters and let Azul become the head of the family. Who is feared for his wish granting contracts, and his eel bodyguards.

He is also rumored to have a “demon maid” that will get rid of any problem you have for a Hefty sum or a very restrictive contract. What’s unique is that she will take requests regardless of your social status. However that’s just a rumor… or is it?

Azul has a sister, Drusilla Ashengrotto. Who’s has seldom been seen by anyone. She’s coming of age and just in time!

With her secret heiress now known to the public and the all the fortune hunters out there and the up coming social season Lilith Crewel called in a favor.

It was rare sunny day when the carriage arrived at the Crewel Estate. A gathering was quickly arranged and both parties met in the drawing room. Isabella tried not to fidget as Lilith took her hands “ trust me pup.”

The three moved gracefully, “Lady Lilith, my brother expresses his regret in not attending this meeting in person but some business came up in the coral seas that he had to oversee.”

The girl looked no older than herself, but she moved and spoke with all the elegance and grace as her adoptive grandmother. “You must be Isabella. I’m Drusilla Ashengrotto, These two are my families bodyguards. This one on left is Jade leech.”

“Charmed.” Jade placed a chaste kiss on her hand, “the one on lady Drusilla’s right is my twin brother Floyd.”

Instead of a kiss on the hand or a polite bow Floyd opted to pull Isabella in a bone crushing hug, “what a cute lil shrimpy!”

Jade removed him from Isabella with ease “please don’t be offended that’s how Floyd expresses his affections.”

“I know they can be a bit much. But I promise they have nothing but the best of intentions.”

Floyd’s laugh made the hair on Isabella’s neck stand up. Drusilla saw the fear in Isabella’s eyes and took her hands, “ please don’t be scared. I know he’s… a bit much. But he’s means well. We all do. And you’ll find his mannerism charming soon enough.”

“Uh why?”

“I’m sure you know or know of the Ashengrotto family. And I’m sure you’ve heard of the roumors, I’ll spare you of that ridiculous chatter. But to put it simply we’re are both young women from prominent families, the social season is almost here. And it’s better to have a friend.”

Drews smile was warm. “I’m here to be your friend and to potentially find a match as well. Starting today I’ll be moving in and I do hope we’ll be friends. As a start please call me Drew. I’ve only really been called Drusilla in formal situations but I’m fine with either-”

Drew was caught off guard by The little heiress pulling her into a hug “I’m so excited! I can’t wait to show you the dogs. You’ll love Horace and Jasper! Oh no wait I need to show you the rose garden! Oh um, sorry I got excited, um forgive me, Grandmother maybe I show the library, please?’

Lilith chuckled, “your both dismissed. Dearest please make your friend feel at home.’

Once the girls were out of sight Lilith held her cigar out to be lit which Jade generously did with his fire magic “that demon maid lives up to rumors, especially the price. I don’t mind of course. She’s a worthy investment. I know she’ll do a good job.”

Jade hummed “Indeed. What a time Azul’s darling sister coming of age just as your heir is. What a hell of family we all are.”

Lilith knew she’d be gettin an earful from Marcus and her son but when it comes to Isabella she’d do anything to protect that girl. Even chasing in favors with some questionable businessmen…

@adrianasunderworld @marrondrawsalot @heiress-has-retired @the-weirdos-mind @anxious-twisted-vampire @yukii0nna

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Tuesday, October 22 - Wednesday, October 23

Veruca : You have a cage? Oz : Don't you? Veruca : Uh, yeah. Has a little wheel with a plastic ball And a cute little bell in it. God! Somebody's domesticated the hell out of you. Oz : It's my choice. I don't wanna hurt anybody. Veruca : Maybe. Or maybe you just don't wanna admit what happened to you. Maybe you just wanna pretend like you're a regular guy. (She walks over to him.) Oz : Well, I am. I'm only a wolf 3 nights a month. Veruca : Or you're a wolf all the time and this human face is just your disguise. You ever think about that, Oz?

~~Buffy Episode #62: "Wild at Heart"~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

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The Neighbor's Point of View, Chapter 140 (Buffy/Spike, G) by the_big_bad

Unholy Matrimony, Chapter 14 (Buffy/Spike, E) by CheekyKitten

Something Lost Something Found, Chapter 15 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Safire

Perfect Clarity, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Ragini

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reciprocity, Chapter 9-10 (Buffy/Spike, E) by HappyWhenItRains

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i’m glad everyone hates joss whedon now but the unfortunate side effect is that now everyone blames everything they don’t like about the buffyverse on him. by moistvonlipwig

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[changingplumbob]

From the kitchen there was the sound of loud popping followed by a heavy sigh.

Phoebus: Come in Glenn. I've disabled the barrier

Glenn: How did-

Miranda: You're not exactly quiet

Glenn swallowed nervously and walked in to the kitchen where the old spellcaster was sitting down at the table.

Glenn: Miranda said you didn't want to be disturbed

Phoebus: That was then, this is now

A bunch of comments ran through Glenn's mind. He wasn't sure which one to latch on to first.

Phoebus: You're back

Glenn: For now. Your offer to join the coven was nice but, I really don't know if it's for me. I know grandfather is happy enough here, and I really appreciate the offer-

Phoebus: Will you let me make a suggestion?

Glenn: Could I stop you

Phoebus: *chuckles* Probably not. But stay here a while, meet the others properly, grow your skills. You'll be safer out there on you own if you take some time to master your craft

Glenn: Sounds like you care

Phoebus: The reason I was against you going for that bachelor challenge was nothing to do with you. It's dangerous still for us to announce our presence and there you were wanting to broadcast your powers

Glenn: I never showed them on the show

Phoebus: But you talked about your spellcaster ancestry

Glenn: Well yeah, I'm proud of it

Phoebus: As you should be. I'm old and times are changing, a lot of the human youth are not against occults as much as they were in decades past. But the dangerous ones are still out there. I have some of the most unique magic talents under my charge, I want them safe

Glenn: I didn't out the coven Phoebus

Phoebus: I know, and I'm grateful for that. I want everyone safe, you included. So for the time being, stay.

Glenn: I'll give it a try. Oh, ah, me and grandfather made a blueberry pie for you

Phoebus: For me? Oh I'd never dream of eating alone in front of a glutton. Call in Miranda and Gillian and we'll dish up a slice

He did and Phoebus got them all a slice, heating it up slightly before serving. Glenn wanted to appear polite but with food right in front of him he couldn't resist digging in with fervor.

Phoebus: If you could check in with Henri, Drusilla and Harmony? I'm sure they'll have ideas of some specific tasks you could do to sharpen up

Glenn: Are they like, your deputies

Phoebus: No but they are the most experienced coven members with practical, mischief and untamed magic

Gillian: Glenn could you get some flowers to plant around the place? Pockets would love some shrubs to hide in

Miranda: Manners

Gillian: Oh, please?

Glenn: Since I get the feeling I'm going to get a lot of demands, what's one extra request. I'll add it to my list

Previous ... Next

[deeply-unserious-fellow]

No okay bcuz actually I DO want to explain my thoughts from this post here because I love analyzing things and I think talking abt Vox's relationships thru the lens of "this is just like Buffy fr fr" could be fun :)

FIRST OFF: VoxVal as Spike & Drusilla. I do not know their ship name and tbh I'm probably never gonna talk about them again so whooooo cares. To state the obvious, in this situation Vox is Spike and Val is Dru. Now, it's been awhile since I've watched Buffy, but from what I remember, Spike & Drusilla really are THE toxic villain couple, in that they're both like. Not very good to or for eachother, all things considered, but goddamnit they love eachother SO MUCH- which really is the generous interpretation of Staticmoth. I'm not gonna go super in depth into the fucking. Is Staticmoth abusive debate rn. Because I have one million other posts that make my stance on that pretty clear I think. But the uh... nicer interpretation of their relationship is very much Spike & Drusilla I think. Like right down to the headcannon of Vox liking how Val's shit eyesight & temper tantrums makes him kind of dependent on him. Again, could be misremembering, but based off of how Spike was w/ Dru while she was weakened(and based off of how he rebounded w/ Harmony of all people 💀), I get the distinct vibe that, despite his frustrations, Spike did like having somebody relying on him the way Dru(and later Harmony) did. Vox def seems like the type of guy that would get a kick out of feeling Needed and Relied On(why else would he literally route the entire Pride rings power grid through himself-), and Valentino is. Well. Valentino. I'm not gonna go over their interaction before Stayed Gone because it makes me ~genuinely uncomfortable~ for reasons I have, once again, gone into in depth before, but suffice it to say that it's definitely in character for Vox to be into Val relying on him like that. Oh also, like somebody pointed out in the reblogs on the original post, the reason Spike & Dru broke up from s3 all the way to their reunion in s5 is that she cheated on him and that's. Yeah that sounds about right.

And second, the Staticradio twins: Spuffy and Spangel. Why the fuck did I call them the Staticradio twins? I don't know I'm tired as shit and just used most of my brain power on the VoxVal segment now get off my back- anyways, these two are actually pretty easy to explain so I'll just get right into it! Most of the similarities between Staticradio and Spuffy can really be summed up in the song Reat In Peace from Buffy's musical episode. One-sided, obsessive crush on someone who you know deep down will probably never reciprocate. You want them to just leave you the fuck alone and stay gone(hahahahahahahahah), but they just. Aren't. Like even the bits about being a dead guy without a heart beat are spot on because Vox is a motherfuckin DEMON who is a ROBOT!!!!!!! Also the Alastor Body Pillow fanon(which IS fanon. It is. I'm sorry to say but that wasn't a thing on the Instagrams y'all-) does line up with the uh. The Buffy sex bot- it does line up with the Buffy sex bot. Anyways moving on to the Spangel section-

"You were my sire man!" - Spike, to Angel, in his introduction episode. I don't remember if this was retconned in season 5(or 6?) to be Dru siring Spike? It might've been. But for the sake of this post lets pretend it wasn't. Angel was basically Spike's mentor for a lot of their time together pre-show. They ran around in their weird little vampire polycule causing problems for everyone and life was good! Then Angel got cursed. Bro got a soul and then ran away for years without a word to anyone. Then, cut to current day, and Spike is hyped to see him right up to the point he realizes Angel has Changed. And from that point onward to two are RIVALS!!!!! Narrative foils, even. And while it isn't exactly the same as Alastor and Vox's history, it's pretty damn similar right!? Al was(presumably) Vox's friend and mentor for YEARS, like to the point of being comfortable taking a picture with him. Then something happens between them, causing a rivalry to form. Throw somewhere in the mix Al's deal & him fucking off for 7 years... it's like the same pieces being put together in a new way to make a different puzzle. Is Rosie Darla in this analogy? Unclear. Val is still Dru though. Do y'all get where I'm coming from? It's far, FAR from the same thing, like there are so many fucking differences and that's just going off of the stuff we DO know(I want to know more god I can't wait for season 2-), but the dynamics ARE similar. They're narrative foils with a deep history w/ eachother where they were probably-definitely friends, something caused them to become RIVALS, and also one of them is cursed and dissappeared for several years-

Whoo boy this got kinda incoherent- Anyways, that brings me to my brand new fun and interesting point: Vox and Spike are kinda similar characters. They're both antagonists who wanna be Big Tough Scary guys so bad, and like. They are. They are big tough AND scary. Sometimes. But for the vast majority of their screen time, their emotions, capacity for love(no matter how twisted their version of love is), and the consequences of that love going wrong continually get the better of them and cause them to look to us, the audience, like silly pathetic wet cats we found on the side of the road. Then they get Weird about it(Vox's "rivalry" w/ Angel and the. Buffy sex bot.) and we remember oh yeah this guy is EVIL! They also both wear long jackets and are bisexual :)