#hello you do not know giles at all?????)

[marigoldbaker]

already seeing horrible giles audio drama takes on my dash without even listening to the audio drama yet. blessings upon the houses of those who are yelling at giles for “running away from the fight” as though this is something he would ever do anyway + compounding it with hatred for his actions in s6 and s7. you will need blessings to counteract how bad your takes are.

anyway, suddenly i’m a giles defender, bc many people who hate that man for his actions in the later seasons hate him because they’re convinced giles himself thought he was making the right decision!!! and ngl you are just not correct about that. just bc the show framed it as the right decision does not mean that he actually thought it was.

[ashwhowrites]

Ahhhh I've been so excited since you mentioned Buffy universe, so obviously I NEED to make a request (i have too much ideas, but I'll try to calm down 😅)

I was thinking about human reader x Spike (my love ❤️). Spike is so madly in love with her that scooby gang has fun watching it, but it is kind of adorable even for them.

One day Spike heard about Angel's visit in town and since then he tries to keep reader far from scooby gang and Angel.

He's telling himself he's not scared of losing reader to Angel because their relationship is strong and mature (not like his previous one) but he's insecure that reader could choose broody handsome brunette because of this all good things he's done

And with happy end pretty please

(I'm so happy, somebody wants to write about buffyverse 🎉🎉🎉)

Thank you for your time 💜💜💜

I'm so in love with Spike so I get it!

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it. It feels very weird to write about a different character so I hope it feels like Spike. Thank you for requesting 🫶🏻

Ugh, not Angel

"So does this mean Spike gets to help?" Y/N asked with glee. She knew many of her friends didn't enjoy it when her boyfriend was around but at times she didn't care.

"I say we can do it without the blood-sucking vampire," Xander said as he rolled his eyes. Y/N shot him a glare.

"Be nice, Xander," Willow reminded him.

"Even though I hate to say it, we need Spike's help," Buffy said with disappointment.

~

"The man of the hour has arrived!" Spike said as he walked into Buffy's house. Y/N walked in behind him and closed the door. Together they walked to Buffy's couch and took a seat.

Giles and Buffy explained the plan but Spike was far from listening. His girl was tucked under his arm; all he could focus on was her face. He watched as she listened intently, nodding to what she agreed.

"Spike!" Buffy snapped, clapping her hands. The vampire was quick to look over at her with a snarl. "Pay attention!"

"Oh Buffy, don't be jealous," Spike teased giving her a small amount of attention before he went back to Y/N.

"Listen," Y/N warned, nodding her head toward Buffy. He listened to her, as he always did.

"Weren't you like a terrifying vampire before you got pussy whipped?" Xander joked. Buffy smirked at the comment but made sure not to laugh.

"I can still tear your throat out," Spike growled, biting the air. "I'm not pussy whipped. I just happen to worship the ground my darling walks on."

Y/N tried not to blush at Spike's words. His accent always made her heart race.

"Yeah, Xander! Would it kill you to worship me like that?" Anya complained. Xander groaned as he knew a new fight would happen by the time he went home.

"Quiet!" Giles said, gaining everyone's attention.

~~~

Spike was watching TV in his crypt when he heard someone enter. He turned his head and groaned to himself as Buffy walked in.

"Oh great the slayer," he said, clicking off the TV.

"It looks different here," Buffy realized, looking around. There were candles near the bed, which were covered in fuzzy pillows. There were twinkle lights hung up, for once giving the dark crypt some light.

"What do you need?" Spike asked, ignoring her comments.

"Y/N has a nice touch," Buffy smirked. Spike shifted uncomfortably in his chair, but a sense of pride in his cold chest knowing she was displayed in his home.

"Get to the damn point, slayer."

"Angel's back," Buffy sighed.

Spike quickly flew out of his chair, an unsettling feeling in his stomach.

"Why?" Spike growled. Spike and Angel didn't get along too well. Both vampires but Angel was the better one in people's opinion. Spike didn't tend to care about the comparison but Y/N had never met Angel before and he wanted to keep it that way. "Actually I don't even care." He sassed. Buffy watched confused as he ran out.

~

Y/N was painting her toes when Spike let himself into her bedroom. She looked up with a smile as she smelled him.

"Hello, handsome,"

Spike smiled as she went back to focusing on her toes, moving to sit on the hard floor. He didn't say anything as he grabbed the polish from her hands and began to paint her toes.

She smiled as she let him take over. She adored moments like this with him. When he was doing human things with her. She reached down and ran her fingers through his blonde hair, messing up the perfection it always was. He'd bite off anyone's hand if they touched him like that but it was her so he didn't mind.

"I'm glad you stopped by. The gang is having a movie night, would you like to come?"

Spike took his time painting her toes. The truth was, he didn't want her to go. He was worried Angel would show up with his stupid dark hair, charming personality, and a face that apparently many girls liked.

"Spike?" She said as he sat in silence.

"Could we maybe have the night alone together?" He looked up at her and she was taken back from the insecurity in his eyes.

"Sure, baby. Let me give them a call," she said as she ruffled his hair.

~~~

Spike did his best to keep her away from Angel and tried to keep it secretive. Spike wasn't sure how long Angel would be around but it had been a week too long. Y/N loved Spike so spending all the time with him wasn't a bad thing, but she was worried.

Spike was always confident and loved being seen by others. Even though Y/N hated it, he enjoyed the looks he got from women. He didn't get along with many of her friends but he never was this distant with them. Y/N worried something was going on and she was left in the dark about it.

The couple sat in silence as they watched Passions, even after a year of being with Spike she didn't see the appeal in the show. It had been a week since she left Spike's side. Anytime she made a comment to leave he went into a panic and begged her to stay. Adding to the worry she was feeling.

"Spike," Y/N said, nudging her boyfriend in the arm. His eyes dashed over to her. "Is there something going on between you and my friends? And I know you love me, but there's a reason why you don't want me to leave your side and I want to know."

"Darling, I have to confess something," Spike sighed.

"If you cheated on me I will have Buffy here to kill your ass in a second," Y/N warned. Her eyes squinting into a glare that sent a shiver down Spike's spine.

"Never!" he exclaimed. "Do you remember the stories of Buffy's ex Angel?"

"A little," Y/N said shrugging.

"He's a vampire and pretty much everyone fell in love with him when he was around. Buffy, Willow, and well Xander hated him like he does me, but they saw something good in him. It didn't matter how well-behaved I was, they always picked him for help. Whenever he is around, I'm not needed. I was worried his charm would work on you."

Y/N was in awe of Spike feeling a variety of emotions. She didn't think he felt much other than love and lust.

"You were worried I'd fall for him?" Y/N asked, reaching out to cup Spike's face.

Spike tried to show no emotion, "Not quite what I said. I mean look at me, I am way more of a catch." Y/N laughed at his words, allowing him to feel what he needed.

"Well, if you were saying that I'd make sure to say that I love you. I don't think there is anyone dead or alive that would make me feel the way you do. No one will take me from you." She leaned in and pressed her forehead against his.

He closed his eyes and nudged his nose against hers. Her words sank in and took the weight off his body. He opened his eyes and smiled as she stared at him. He leaned in and pressed a kiss against his lips.

~

With a lot of convincing sex, Y/N got Spike out of his cave. Her hand was in his as they walked into Buffy's house. The gang all said hello and Y/N noticed the new face.

She turned her head as she checked him out, Spike standing taller as he squeezed her hand. She shook her head and turned to Spike, moving to whisper in his ear. "Not even close."

Spike smirked at her words, his confidence taking over. "Well, Angel. I wish I would say nice to see you but it's not."

Angel scoffed but walked over, his eyes landing on the girl next to him. "She's new," Angel smiled. "Prettier than the last one."

Spike stiffened at Angel's words and the mention of Drusilla. The images of her and Angel together in his head were the exact reason he feared for Y/N to see him.

"I'm Y/N, Spike's girlfriend."

Spike smiled at her. Maybe he didn't need to worry about this one.

[reticent-writer]

Hey! Well, actually, I really like the set of stories about Teen!Reader and Alostor where the reader is classified as an assistant, I would like a story that shows how they met and how they get to the point where they consider him an assistant and their confidence to say him dad? Thank you, I'm sorry if the request was very long. (Writing this I remembered the fight Alastor and Lucifer had over Charlie about who she calls Dad, I felt it would still be a good scenario for indignation)

An: I had a storyboard for this exact thing but its messy and if you don't know me you probably wouldn't understand how my mind works but basically i have ocs for this

This took a bit longer because it happens before Alastor and reader dies plus I gave reader a family so...... some basic info

Y/n was born into a family that was picture perfect on the outside

father was a factory worker Mother was a dressmaker

Doll House by Melanie Martinez fits them perfectly

Y/n was the middle child of 5

When Y/n was born the eldest (Atticus boy) was 10, Second eldest 6 (Alma girl), Middle child (y/n)

when y/n turned 4 their parents had twins (Giles boy, Gideon boy)

This is a glimpse into my mind. It might not make sense.

✿✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ﾟﾟ･**･ﾟﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*ﾟ:*:✼✿　

-1920-

Y/n is 10.

Your parents were perfectionists, especially when it came to the public eye. The L/n family was always the center of attention in your little town, deep in Louisiana.

You and your siblings were constantly dressed in Sunday's best.

"Kids make yourselves look presentable. A client is coming soon." Your mother called out from her 'workspace'. kids aren't allowed in there.

"Can't we just stay in our rooms." Atticus complained from his spot on the couch.

"Get. Dressed."

Atticus groaned as he got up to go to his room. On his way, he knocked on your door before opening it.

"You're supposed to wait for a response, Jackass."

"Next time you curse at me I'm poppin' you." He threatened but you knew he wouldn't do anything, "Mom said get dressed, tell Alma."

He closed the door before you could complain. You heard the shuffling of his feet as he ran to his room.

His room was at the end of the hall. the hall was short with 2 doors on each side. Alma was across from you and the twins were next to her.

Right across from your room is Alma's. She's going into her preteen years and started to spend more time in her room. Your mother says she's adjusting to becoming a woman and needs her time alone. She's also becoming very snappy.

You slowly opened your door to stare at hers. You slowly walk into the hallway and up to her door. You knock three time and wait for a responce. She didn't open the door.

"I heard Atticus." Her voice was horse and strained but you believed what your mother told you.

That was all you needed to get yourself ready.

-------

Your mother made all (except for Alma) of you sit in the living room and wait for the client.

*knock knock knock*

"He's here. You better behave." She says before opening the door with a smile only guests see, "Alastor, It's so good to see you again."

"Good to see you to, my dear and my my look at the children. They all seem to be in good health." He greeted all of you with a smile.

"Hello sir." Atticus spoke for all of you.

"You seem to be missing one." Alastor commented, making your mother chuckle.

"She's been feeling under the weather as of late, come along I need to take your measurements. Atticus, Y/n prepare some tea." She ordered.

Alastor and your mother went to her workspace and she shut the door.

----------

That night went smoothly until your father got home. He didn't like the fact that your mother was in her workspace with a man and the door closed, even if he was a client.

It caused fighting -well more than there normally is anyway- between your mother and father. It's always been easy to make your father mad.

It got worse when Alastor took notice of it he came by more often with the excuse of having gifts for you and your siblings.

He gave you a radio to listen to him when he went on air. Atticus was offered a job at the radio station. Alma got a set of jewelry.

This angered your father more and instead of taking it out on Alastor or your mother he took it out on you and your siblings. Atticus tried to protect all of you.

One day your father and Atticus got into a really bad fight and your brother was shot. He didn't make it.

It was around the same time when a horrid smell started coming from Alma's room. Your parents said she caught a fever and no one noticed but you didn't believe them anymore.

From then on you started distancing yourself from your family and growing closer to Alastor.

--------

When you got older (16) you started working with alastor at the radio station. He taught you how to live life without worry.

He treats you like your a person and not just your parent's child.

Your parents treated you like a decoration. Alastor treated you like a child he didn't know he wanted.

You found out he was a murder by accident. You forgot someone at the station late at night and went back to get it to see blood spattered in the talking booth.

At first you thought it was Alastors so you took a gun that the station had in case of emergencies and followed the trail.

Opening the back door you saw Alastor dragging the body. The two of you made eye contact. Your body moved without hesitation and helped him hide the body.

------

Sadly, there are times a birth parent is a dud.

✿✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ﾟﾟ･**･ﾟﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*ﾟ:*:✼✿　

This is long and not what I usually write but it's been stuck in my head for a while.

A/n: I've decided to cut the twins and make y/n the youngest. I had something for them originally but it's better for just Alma, Atticus and Y/n

Art by @ghostly-one

[seriesxwriting]

HII! hello, how are you?

May I request a Spike x Reader (could be established relationship), where reader isnt quite a witch and is human but does have abilities? Bonus if those abilities have side effects bc we love a worried and protective Spike <33

(I'll leave the actual powers up to you)

TY!!

Thank you for this request, it’ll start off my Spike fics I’ve wanted to begin for a while!! I hope you enjoy :). (Sorry it took me so long to post I’ve been really ill and busy).

I quite like protecting you

Series: Buffy the vampire slayer

Pairing: Spike X Female reader

Summary: Request!

Warnings: Kissing.

Requests are open always!

“They’re getting worse spike” i mumble in the darkness into his chest. His muscular arms were wrapped around my body tightly. “I know babe- we will figure it out I promise” he told me brushing a hand through my hair. “I’m just so scared of outing myself at school- or in public” “I’m scared too- I don��t want to lose you” spike whispered back to me. I felt a lot safer in his arms than I had done all day.

With these unknown powers within me growing stronger everyday, I never knew when I was safe. Only when I was entangled with him. If anything good came from this situation, it brought me and spike closer. His words became extra soppy now, and I loved it. “Well I’m not going anywhere willingly” I told him, I heard him chuckle and his hand came down my back rubbing my spine.

“We just need to take one day at a time, we will figure it out- tomorrow’s a new day” he told me before brushing his lips against my forehead. "Okay" I breathed out closing my eyes and tried to go to sleep. It was a lot easier with Spike, if I had been on my own it would have proved more difficult.

I woke up a little late for school so the morning was kind of a rush. Spike just laid in bed watching me run about my room for a while before getting ready himself. He offered to take me to school, after seeing that the day was very cloudy, so I didn't have to drive seems I was stressed out. Spike was also a lot more confident at driving than me so it saved me time too. "I'll pick you up too okay" he smiled as I collected my things up.

"Are you sure?" "yes- ive got nothing on for the day anyway and you're my priority" he moved his hand over to my leg and rubbed my knee with his thumb comforting me. "Thank you- I'll see you at the end of the day then" I leant over and gave him a quick kiss before getting out of my car and running off to Tutor.

Spike waited for me to go out of sight before parking his car and getting out. He snuck his way into the school and tried to locate the library to complete his plan of action. That was what he had going on today. Once finding it he pushed the doors open and sure enough, Buffy was sat with her friends and Giles around one of the tables. They all looked at who had just walked in in utter shock.

"What the hell are you doing here" Buffy darted her head backwards in pure confusion. Spike swallowed hoping that things now were going to go his way. He walked slowly towards the table and sat up on the one behind Buffy. "I really need your help- I didn't know who else to turn to" he muttered almost a little embarrassed he had to come here to Buffy of all people.

"Why would I help a vampire- especially you" Buffy questioned making her eyebrow raise as she turned her full attention to Spike. "And after you broke into the school" Giles added, his face was obviously very weary of Spike. "I wouldn't be here if I had any other option would I?" he admitted gaining a little bit of confidence realising he needed a result today. "My girlfriend she goes here- you might even know her Y/N Y/L/N" he began explaining.

The students looked around at each other to see if anyone recognised the name, but no one did. Xander shrugged along with willow. "Well she must be a nerd" Cordelia voiced, looking at her nails and not caring about the conversation at all. "S-she's not a n-erd- look it doest matter if you don't know her- she goes here and she's been struggling recently".

"With what?" Buffy asked curiously, slowly becoming more interested. "I don't know how to explain it- she's developed these weird powers and she can't control them, ive never seen anything like it in all my years" he expressed with high concern, everyone could see how worried he was. "So she's a witch?" Willow piped up getting a little excited but the fact she wasn't understanding just pissed Spike off more.

"No- she's human, I wouldn't be here if she was a witch she's different- I don't understand her abilities so I don't know how she will either" he stated getting frustrated with the conversation. "If you're going to bring that attitude you can use the door- you know where it is" Giles tutted at the vampire. "Please Buffy we need your help- she's going to end up putting herself if something isn't done" Spike looked towards her with slight tears in her eyes. He didn't even care how desperate he looked, he was desperate. That was fact.

"Okay we will take a look- try and work out what is wrong with her- but because she's a human who needs our help not because she's your girlfriend" Buffy told him sticking her finger out at him. Spike sighed with relief that he'd done what he'd come here to do. "Thank you Buffy- I owe you one" he cracked a wide smile across his face making her smile too. He didn't smile very often.

"I didn't even know you had a girlfriend" Cordelia looked up at the man who shrugged his shoulders. "The more people who know about her the more danger she's in- I have a lot of enemies" he admitted standing up now. "and she- knows what you are?" Xander wondered tilting his head at Spike. "Of course- she knows everything" he nodded withholding the excitement he felt even talking about his girlfriend.

"You can bring her here later tonight, we will need the books if we are to figure out what is going on with her" Giles told Spike, not even moving his head from his current book to talk to the vampire. "I will- thank you- I'll get out of your hair" he clapped his hands together and exited the room so he could go and find a snack before school ended. "I have never seen spike so worried before- he must really like this girl" Buffy told the group.

"Well- we can only hope she's nothing like Spike" Giles took a deep sigh before closing his book and looking at his watch as his wrist turned. "Tutor is almost over, you guys should head to your lessons" "Ugh I hate sports first thing in the morning" Willow moaned through her head backwards. "Come on- the quicker we get it over with the quicker lunch comes" Buffy wiggled her eyebrows getting up from her chair.

Xander split off from them as he had to head to math, but the three girls walked to their gym class together. Turning into the locker rooms, no one else was present as it was too early and everyone else was finishing up in tutor.

I had gym class too but as I was sitting in tutor I could feel my table beginning to rock from side to side without me touching it. I washed in horror as it began speeding up. I there my hands onto it to stop it from rocking but I had no luck. Panic spread throughout my body as heads were starting to turn now. "Y/N! will you stop rocking that damn table" the teacher snapped at me. I grabbed my bag in a panic and got up from my table running out of the classroom.

I could feel a bigger reaction coming from all the stress from that situation. my eyes darted around, in a Minet everyone would be coming out of their form classes. My eyes landed on the locker rooms which I assumed were going to be empty. I ran towards them and just as the door closed behind me a large wave of energy forced itself out of me.

All the locker doors swung open and slammed shut again. I looked around the room painting, feeling relived it was over. until three faces appeared round the other side of the lockers. My heart pounded against my chest, id done it now- exposed myself. I grabbed the door handle planning to leave school and go home.

"Wait!" one of the girls yelled out, throwing herself towards me "You must be y/n" she called out with a sympathetic smile on her face. "Please- don't tell anyone" I swallowed, tears began swimming in my eyes. It was too late now. This answer was going to dictate the rest of my life. "We aren't going to" the ginger girl shook her head vigorously. "You must be spikes girlfriend huh?" the blonde one smiled, nodding at a seat trying to make me feel more comfortable.

"D- do you know Spike?" I asked her stuttering for the fear of the power they held over me in this moment. I began to walk closer to them and they all sat down on the bench. "We all know Spike" the other girl nodded her head. "Im Buffy" the blonde girl stuck her hand out towards me. "I'm willow" the ginger one waved making me feel a lot better about the situation. I turned to the other one who just blinked at me.

"Surely you know who I am" she laughed shaking her head, I stayed quite not having a clue what her name was. "That's Cordelia" Buffy rolled her eyes making me smile a little. "Seriously? you don't know my name?" she questioned, genuinely baffled that I didn't know her. "Oh well- I know it now" I nodded once but she still looked highly offended. "Spike came to us this morning and asked for our help- we're going to help you control whatever powers you have developed".

"How?" I wondered, twiddling my fingers together awkwardly. In that second my hair started floating all around my face unnaturally. I at first thought I was doing it but I then saw Willows hand twitching my her hip. "I'm a witch" she smiled enthusiastically at me. "Oh- i'm not a witch Spike said so" "No you're not- but i'm a slayer and together as a group we have quite a lot of knowledge on the supernatural- im sure we can figure it out" Buffy smiled at me sweetly.

I nodded and matched her smile feeling a whole lot better about the situation. "Why don't you stick with us today- then after school we can call Spike and get everything sorted out" Buffy offered with a hug of her shoulders. "Why are you being so nice? why are you helping?" I questioned, overthinking their kindness. "Well it is my job" Buffy chuckled.

"And Spike asked us as a friend to help you so... not that I would ever admit that to him" "your relationship sounds- complicated" I laughed behind my hand. "You can say that again" Buffy joined in nodding her head. And so that's what I did, I hung out with Buffy, Willow and Cordelia the whole day. At lunch time I met Xander and Giles, and I realised that they had a pretty solid group. They shared stories about all the things they had done and I left the conversation having high admiration for them and especially Buffy.

I didn't have another episode the whole day because I spent most of it not even thinking about my powers but about my new friends. They made me laugh all day, smile all day. And completely take my mind off the fact my world was crashing down around me. After school I went out to Spikes car, where he was waiting for me in the same spot he dropped me off. "Wheres your stuff?" he questioned looking slightly confused.

"In the library" I told him waiting for him to catch on. Spike took a second but then looked to me worriedly. "It's okay" I laughed at his facial expression. "You're not in trouble". Spike got out of the car and came round my side. "I'm sorry" "don't be sorry" I giggled as he pulled me into a hug. "I shouldn't have been so sneaky about it- I should have just told you my plan from the beginning instead of hoping you wouldn't find to and telling you later".

I laughed again shaking my head and pulling away from the hug, his hands still rested on my waist and mine on his face. "You don't have to apologise I can't thank you enough for trying to help me- these are some great people you done well Spike- I really think they can help me" I told him excitedly. "I've not seen that look on your face for a long time" he brushed a thumb across my cheekbone. "Because I have hope Spike and i'm excited about it".

"Well- then i'm only sorry I didn't think of going to Buffy sooner" "stop saying sorry" I laughed, playfully nudging him "you've done great- you've been great all the way through this- thank you for being by my side" "I quite like protecting you Y/N" he cupped my face with his right hand and pulled me in for a gentle kiss. "I like it too- it's attractive" I winked at him taking him by the hand.

"Come on- to the library".

Spike masterlist

Buffy the vampire slayer masterlist

All series masterlist

Masterlist of masterlists

[thevexinator]

DrDT cat au!

An alternate universe where your favorites are cats! You own a cate café! How do you manage?

warning [srs]: implied animal abuse, drdt spoilers for ch1/2(?)

warning [silly]: fluffy and goofy cats being themselves, maybe ooc?

♡ Ace Markey [Nyace]

♡ Was originally a barn cat meant to hunt mice, but his original owners found he was too skittish for the job, so he was handed to you. Needless to say, receiving that scraggly, orange ball of fluff was definitely among the best moments in your life.

♡ The core definition of what an orange cat is. Not a single thought in his head. From hissing at random objects to hissing at other cats, Nyace is definitely a handful. He picks fights with cats that can definitely carry him by the scruff, like Meowvi, Xanmeow and occasionally Nyaruko if he feels like trying his chances. He'll pick fights with everyone and everything. Including himself.

♡ Whenever he wants your attention, he'll come over and make sure you know he exists by throwing himself onto your back, lap, spleen, or hands. He wants attention, and he wants it neow. Enjoys ear scritches. He'll always hide when guests come over.

♡ When he's not needlessly aggressive, he's deliberately leaving orange hair all over your bedsheets. You can't get mad at him though, he's just silly. He's more of an indoor cat.

♡ That said, he'll proudly trot up to you with a toy mouse as if he actually hunted down a real one. You can't help but find it extremely cute.

♡ Arei Nageishi [Nyarei]

♡ She was removed from her original owners and rightfully so. You adopted a teeny tiny lynx-point siamese that was practically trembling in your hands when you brought her home.

♡ A sassy little princess. Will playfully bap other cats on the head. Whenever she does start something, she immediately runs to you for protection. She's also very protective of you. If it's her turn for you attention, she will make sure the other cats know that.

♡ She's besties with Meowden and J, but hates Nyarturo with a burning passion. Every time he walks by, she baps him in the head. She seems pretty chill with the other cats, baping them playfully.

♡ Nyarei will always be your side, lying on some part of your body or being in the same room. Whenever guests are over, she'll come over to say hello before going off to mind her own business.

♡ Whenever you're sad, Nyarei will come over and lie on you, purring to help you feel better. You're her favorite hooman. <3

♡ Arturo Giles [Nyarturo]

♡ Your friend came over one day and asked if you could look after this small, white somali cat they found wandering around. You took him in, wondering what could've happened for him to just wander the streets.

♡ He's a very hostile little thing. He'll judge other cats, but he seems pretty chill with Vermeow and Meowvi, even a bit nicer to Nyanco. He has beef with Nyarei, since he bullied Meowden once and got scratched by her bodyguard.

♡ He's very picky with petting. He'll only let you pet him. Behind the ears, under the chin and around the neck are where he'll allow pets. He's a bit iffy about back, but paws and belly are a no go.

♡ His owner, rather tragically, passed away. He's very attached to you for giving him the love he lacked. When he wants attention, he'll quietly come over, sit on your lap, and start to purr.

♡ He isn't fond of guests, opting to just be with the other cats and not the people who come over. He's also very well kept, cleaning himself often.

♡ Charles Cuevas [Charmeow]

♡ One day, you adopted a small kitty with an attitude problem. At first, he was just a sassy little snowshoe, but you eventually found he was rather loving.

♡ He's a pretty calm one. He's more for sitting in the sun and hanging with you. Occasionally, he gets up to shenanigans with Meowhit and Nyaruko. Even though Nyaruko attacked him, he didn't stop hanging out with her. By hanging out, I mean they just sit in the sun together or judge Davmeow. He just ignores Nyarei whenever she provokes him.

♡ He doesn't mind being touched by you, but he'll politely push others' hands away with his paw. A polite no. In private, he's a little snugglebug, even with Meowhit and Nyaruko. He cleans himself often, even allowing his two cat besties to do it.

♡ Charmeow has a cactus plushie he really likes to snuggle with. Every time he wants attention, he'll bring his cactus plush with him to snuggle while with you. He's actually a very neat cat, trying not to leave cat hair all over your clothes. When he does, he feels real bad about it.

♡ Every time you cook, he jumps onto the counter to watch. He just sits there, watching you cook. Sometimes he'll even pass you utensils. What a talented young man.

♡ David Chiem [Davmeow]

♡ You thought you adopted a starry-eyed, polite and sweet russian blue. A month later, you realize he's actually a little twat. Do you love him any less? No.

♡ Davmeow is very polite when guests come over. When they leave, he goes back to being a meanie. He seems to have feuds with Charmeow and Nyaruko. He isn't above bullying everyone, even you. He bites and scratches during his zoomies.

♡ He hits everyone in passing. Nyaruko is the only one who hits him back with no hesitation. Most of the other cats just look at him or hiss.

♡ Strangely enough, Davmeow seems to be in a somewhat passive relationship with Min. While he does occasionally bap her in the face, sometimes he'll loaf and birdwatch with her. He loves Xanmeow the most.

♡ Whenever he wants your attention, he will walk into the room and scream until you pet him on the head. Average cat activities.

♡ Eden Tobisa [Meowden]

♡ The silliest munchkin cat to breathe. Very friendly, you adopted her when your friend's cat had a litter of kittens and offered you one to take care of.

♡ Very fond of all the cats in the house... except Nyarturo. He bullies her a lot. Nyarei beats him up for it. Nyaruko seems to tolerate her, Nyanco seems to enjoy having her around, and all of the cats like Meowden save for the exception.

♡ Very energetic. For a cat of her tiny size, she enjoys running around and playing. In particular, she enjoys playfighting with Meowvi, despite him being a much larger cat. Her other daily activities include sunbathing, hanging with her besties, and napping.

♡ Second most prone to zoomies out of the girl cats. You have tripped on her multiple times.

♡ Hu Jing [PawJing]

♡ A very pretty bengal kitty, PawJing often helps you with house chores. One day, she followed you home and wouldn't stop meowing until you picked her up.

♡ She's very sweet around Nyanco, but she's very much sensitive around the other cats. She hisses at Nyace a lot, which is why they're kept at a distance. Her days are usually spent following you around. She has the sweetest meow of all the cats.

♡ If she senses something is wrong, she'll prance over with a blanket. She will literally not leave your side until you feel better.

♡ She's generally very sweet with guests. Next to Meowden wins "Nice Cat of The Week" many times in a row. As mentioned before, she'll often help you around with chores by carrying things and leaving them where you do.

♡ J Rosales [J]

♡ A generally pissy and tomboyish burmese. You found this one when opening up shop one day. Not sure how she got in. You just found her.

♡ Outside of actually trying to kill Nyarturo, her days are largely spent hanging around her cat buddies. Her favorite activity involves messing with the light switch.

♡ Generally okay with guests? Depends on the day, and if she's had her breakfast yet.

♡ Most of her days are spent being a normal cat, surprising as that may be. She'll rub up on your legs or loaf in your lap, pretty much the most normal cat of the litter.

♡ Levi Fontana [Meowvi]

♡ You saw a cat, covered in blood, limping down the street near the café. Concerned, you brought the [at the time] tiny maine coon to the vet for a checkup. With no chip or collar, you were allowed to keep him.

♡ He's a pretty sweet cat. Sure, he's very large and sheds like crazy, but that's just extra storage for all the love he has in him. He'll carry Meowden around, confusing her for a kitten. He also does that to Nyace, although results are very different.

♡ Much like PawJing, he'll help you with chores around the café. He's surprisingly intelligent, carrying utensils to their designated spots with no issue.

♡ When it comes to guests, he's actually quite shy. He'll come up and say hello, but he's usually hiding somewhere if a lot of people are coming in.

♡ Min Jeung [Min]

♡ It was the scenario of finding a cat inside a box with "please adopt me" written on it in sharpie in the rain. The little cornish rex came home with you and has been there ever since.

♡ Very shy. She skids when guests come over, and she'll only come out when it's a slow day or when the café is empty. She likes a few of the regulars, though.

♡ Despite looking like a very boring cat, she's insanely intelligent. She has figured out the tricks and you cannot deceive her into going to the vet.

♡ She's very attached to you specifically. She'll follow you around or sit on your shoulders, purring whenever you scratch her head. Most people confuse her for a stuffed animal at times.

♡ Nico Hakobyan [Nyanco]

♡ ... You're not entirely sure what they are. They're definitely a breed of short-haired cat, likely a scottish fold and british shorthair mix. They were the first ever cat you adopted into your care.

♡ Somehow, they're more shy than Min. Does not come out whenever the café is open. Exclusively hang out with PawJing, Purrose, and still prefer solitude.

♡ Really attached to you. Unbelievably clingy. While cats like Min, Meowhit, and occasionally Charmeow and the others can get clingy, none are as clingy as Nyanco. Will literally cling to you and never let go.

♡ Has a favorite mouse toy they bring with them everywhere. They will literally never go anywhere without one.

♡ Rose Lacroix [Purrose]

♡ A very sleepy tortie cat. You originally assumed she had died on the side of the street, only to find out that she was just asleep.

♡ As mentioned before, her hobby is sleeping. She is almost never awake. While she does seem to have some kind of kitty circle with Nyaruko, Meowden, and Min, she's usually sleeping through most of the day.

♡ When she is awake, she's usually pretty inactive. Never experiences zoomies and usually lies around whenever.

♡ Her favorite napping spot just happens to be your lap.

♡ Teruko Tawaki [Nyaruko]

♡ One day, while taking out the trash, you found this poor baby in the dumpster. The trip to the vet was definitely a fight, and it took her a while to get used to you... in the end, you're still the only human she trusts.

♡ On day one, she was pretty hostile to the others, even through the door meeting phase. Gradually, she warmed up to Charmeow and Meowhit. She began following them around and never left their sides until she was independent enough to hang out with the rest.

♡ She's distrusting of guests. At first, she would hide when they came over. Once she got a little more used to it, she would generally just sit in their vicinity, maybe come closer if she got curious.

♡ If you give her enough time, she'll come to you. She likes to nestle against you, as she finds you to be a source of safety. She couldn't be more grateful.

♡ Veronika Grebenshchikova [Vermeow]

♡ A strange calico you found in the café one day. No clue where she came from. She just appeared one day.

♡ She's definitely joyous and filled with whimsy. Very popular among guests for how silly she is!!

♡ When she's not bothering Nyarturo, she's causing general mischief around the café. Shenanigans that not even Nyarei gets up to. She'll look you dead in the eyes and reach for an electrical socket.

♡ She's very aggressive when playing. Of course, she doesn't cause any physical harm, but she gets rough sometimes. Somehow, more orange than Nyace.

♡ ... she's the one bringing dead mice to your doorstep.

♡ Whit Young [Meowhit]

♡ The charming turkish angora. Endearingly dubbed "vanilla custard" by guests, Meowhit is a very friendly cat!

♡ He loves to follow Charmeow and Nyaruko around. It's basically his hobby outside of cutesing his way out of trouble. He gets up to trouble with Nyarei.

♡ Strangely enough, he'll never let you go into the bathroom alone. He'll meow obnoxiously until you let him inside. Even then, he'll just sit on the sink and stare at you. You're not sure why... it's pretty worrying.

♡ He has a heart on his back. It would be a crime to miss this detail.

♡ Xander Matthews [Xanmeow]

♡ British shorthair with a missing eye. He was left at a shelter after he was abandoned. You have taken him in, and he's the most loving little creature ever.

♡ He's very hyper. He can run around endlessly and not get tired. Among Vermeow, Nyace and himself, he's somehow the most orange one of them. He is every single orange cat video to exist at the same time.

♡ So loud. He meows very loud without meaning to. Nyaruko hisses at him every time he does. The poor boy knows no rest. </3

♡ He's the one keeping everyone else in line. If they misbehave, she scruffs them and drags them into the corner for time out.

[geese-in-a-frock-coat]

What's your evidence for Watts and Murdoch being autistic? (I totally agree btw)

Hello, internet stranger. Buckle up cause I've thought too hard about this.

Ok disclaimer I have not really sat down and watched the whole thing for a hot minute. Its past nine, you're just gonna have to trust me this one.

Credentials: Mega autisitc

Murdoch:

Does not understand social conventions. Like this ones pretty obvious. He doesn't understand why people keep dogs. Raises his kid in a completely non traditional way. Frequently doesn't get why people care about something that he sees as not being worth it (sports and popular trends and so forth).

Doesn't like small talk

Cares about justice NOT the law. The thing that really makes me think he's autistic is that he cares about things being just and is prepared to break the rules to do so. The main example being he lets that woman out of prison depsite the fact that he could go down for it. He turns a blind eye to Watts and lets Giles go even though they're both criminals in the eyes of the law. And on the flipside he sends George to prison because I think that's what he percieves as justice (if anyone's seen the bridge this really reminds me of Saga at the end of season 2)

Sees through hierarchy. There are so many epsiodes that play out like "I think Mr X is the killer." "But Mr x is extrememly important and influential!" "I don't care he killed her."

Interest in science and inventing. Look I know we joke about stereotypes but like, its a stereotype for a reason. He builds things with an autistic brain. He uses pattern repition through learning about previous inventions and applying them to his own devices.

Visual learner. This is not autism exclusive but he solves cases in such a unique way that it screams ND to me. Murdoch often literally builds a case. They make a joke about clue/cludo but he literally has to make the model of a house to picture where everyone is. He makes all those model of the ladies that were covered in metal. And let us not forget his famous chalk board.

Buzzkill. I say this as a long-term sufferer of leaves parties at 8:45 syndrome. He does 'boring hobbies' which autistic people often have because we don't feel the need to take up traditional ones.

Remember that scene where he attempts to read out his and Julia's book and just absolutely cannot tell that no one gives a single toss about anything he's saying.

Wears the same thing for nearly 20 years. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Refused to let his wife cut his hair because he didn't want to change from the lady who used to do it.

breather. Part 2: watts.

Cannot read social cues: Frequently insults other station house four people. Pretty sure he called someone's baby ugly but I might have hallucinated that. "You're face is symetrical." Got chucked out of station house because he didn't get on with any of them

Disregard for societal norms: doesn't feel the need to be polite or tactful with anyone or to really follow police protocol. Acts very 'improper' a lot of the time. Only got one shoe shined that one time because that was all he needed. Puts his feet on the sofa, lies on the desk and leans over tables.

Makes limited eye contact.

The man will fidget with anything: Look this is clearly a character decision from Daniel Maslany but its an autistic character decision if ever I saw one. We're talking pencils, cups, fabric, anything. If it is on the set, he will find a way to play with out. And I don't normally like to assign autistic traits onto behaviour implemented by actors but it's basically stimming at this point. I dare you to keep an eye on this man's hands for any scene and I garuntee you they will not stay still.

Disorganised, but not: He always has tiny bits of paper and whatnot in his pockets but always seems to know where everything is. organised but doesn't have to time to be tidy. Same whenever we see his flat, it's equally disorganised. as an autistic person I find things end up all over the place because I don't have the capacity to keep them in order.

Bad handwriting and can't spell

Physicality: Most autistic people will have some sort of problem with co-ordination. He walks uneavenly. He has an odd posture. I always think about that scene where he steps in sick and moves around like a dear on ice. He's clumsy, can't sit straight and has a strange posture.

can't think when being interrupted

can't focus on two things at once.

George realised he'd been possessed by aliens because he was acting normally.

pretzels: dare i say safe food. If not, they're bland, usually the same everytime and take little mental effort to consume.

Strong sense of justic: see william murdoch.

SPECIAL MENTIONS:

Dr Emily Grace: didn't become a doctor becuase she didn't want to adopt a 'cheerful bedside manor.'

Dr Julia Ogden: Married to Murdoch (like calls to like) and sees through the bullshit of victorian society.

Susannah Murdoch: has those two as parents and I have the full confidence of genetics on this one.

In conclusion:

There's probably so much more I could talk about that I just don't remember because there is a lot more of this show than most others. But anyway. Murdoch is autistic because he has to be for the show to work and becuase he often comedic-foils far too close to the sun. And Watts is autistic because there is no way on God's green earth a man who stands like that is neurotypical.

Thank you, internet stranger, I am here all week.

[explosionshark]

ooh btvs soft shock? 👀

A while back @comradesummers made this great post about a fic idea with the concept being a no powers AU where Ted is not an insane robot from the 50s but a regular degular piece of shit abusive stepdad. And also Faith is there

In the time since making that post, she's actually started working on that fic and it's awesome and I highly recommend it but BEFORE THAT I liked it so much I started riffing on it. I was reading Summer of Night at the time and listening to "Vampires" by S and that weirdly influenced the desire to work on it at all. (Title of the WIP is from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song though)

Anyway fuck it, I'll post the whole first chapter! I don't give a FUCK

-

Faith is in her usual hideaway, under the bleachers with a lit Marlboro dangling from her fingers, trying and failing to blow a smoke ring. Probably not the smartest move, sticking around on campus while she’s technically ditching Bio, but she’s not all that eager to head back to her little room at Clem’s place yet.

Being honest, and all alone in the hot and dark, Faith feels like she can afford to be a little honest, at least with herself, she’s been trying to figure out a way she can run into—

“You know, it’s almost like you’re trying to be a cliche, sometimes.”

Buffy.

Faith plays it cool, raises the cigarette back up to her lips and takes a long drag while she tilts her head to watch Buffy slink into the shade across from her. She looks good; hair loose, a little curly at the ends, tight jeans, pale blue spaghetti tank that Faith remembers was paired with a light sweater in the morning, when it was cooler. Faith wonders when she took it off, if it was folded neatly in Buffy’s locker, or stuffed at the bottom of the backpack dangling from her left hand, or if it’s draped over one of the chairs in the library, under Giles’ protection.

Buffy’s cheeks have the slightest pink flush, probably from walking across the field in the full heat of the blazing California sun. Almost definitely from that.

But she’s here with Faith instead of in class, wrinkling her nose at the smoke curling in the air between them, shuffling just the slightest bit before she settles into a lean against one of the struts of the bleachers, like she might be just the bit nervous. And if being alone with Faith sometimes makes Buffy nervous, even a little, even for just a moment, maybe it might make her blush a little too.

“Hello? Earth to Faith?”

Faith barely manages not to wince, rolling her eyes and letting out a stream of stinging smoke through her nostrils. “What do you mean ‘a cliche?’”

“Well, you know, the whole bad girl thing. Cutting class, smoking under the bleachers,” Buffy says, flicking one hand up so count off on her fingers as she speaks. “Tank top, tattoos, bad reputation.”

Faith feels the butt of the cigarette flare with heat as she takes one last drag before she flicks it to the ground, grinding it under the heel of her boots and slips into her most shit-eating grin. “Aw, c’mon, B. You know I don’t give a damn ‘bout my reputation.”

“I know,” Buffy deadpans, but the effect is a little ruined by the edge of a smirk on her lips. She even plays along a little. “Not you.”

“Besides, what’s that say about you anyway?” Faith counters, kicking off from the place she’d been leaning and stalking closer. “You came all the way out here looking for me. Seems like you’re pretty down to try out being a bad girl, at least for a little while. Curious, maybe.”

She lets her voice slip lower, hearing the grit in it, a bit of heat, her own naked want. Lets her eyes linger on Buffy for a beat too long, the way she’s always fighting to keep back, curls her lip in the way that never fails to make boys, at least, sit up a little straighter for her.

Because she can't really help herself, and more and more, it feels like it's working. Buffy's gone from pointedly ignoring it when Faith flirts, to flushing and changing the subject, to even flirting back a few times.

Faith figures whatever it is she's trying to do, it's a little like the lotto: can't win if you don't play.

And today she doesn't exactly score a win, but she gets something near enough to one. Buffy flushes a little pinker, eyes flicking away for a second, tongue darting out to wet her lips before she snaps back into the casual confidence she usually projects. “Not if it comes with that filthy habit and a 2.5 grade average.”

Faith flinches a little before she can stop herself. “2.8,” she corrects, trying not to feel stung. It's passing, after all, and it's better than she did last year at her old school. Faith shuffles in place, itching for another cigarette just so she’d have something to do with her hands while Buffy stares her down like that. “So, alright, spill. What'd you come down here for? Whaddya want?”

“Just… Needed to get out of class. Wanted to be alone for a bit,” Buffy says, after a pause.

“You came to find me to be alone?” Faith repeats, this time she's not even trying to flirt, even though her mind races a little at the possibilities.

“Well, not alone, obviously just with— not with, y’know, Xander and Willow and—”

“Not with your friends.”

“Not with those friends,” Buffy corrects, catching Faith’s gaze and holding it. Faith’s heart does a stupid little tha-thump in her chest. “I was upset when I came to school this morning, and now they won’t stop fussing at me over it.”

Faith pauses, not sure if she should ask. On the one hand, Buffy might have said it to give Faith an opening to follow up on. Maybe she wants an excuse to talk. On the other, she just said she didn’t want to be fussed over. Faith can feel sweat start to bead at her hairline, the shade of the bleachers not enough to offset the scorching midday heat. Buffy won’t stop watching her.

“Upset about what?” Faith asks, finally, pressing the side of her tongue flat between her molars right after.

Buffy sighs and Faith immediately curses herself — you fucked up, she made it so obvious, all you had to do was say anything else— until Buffy says, “Can I try one of those?”

It takes Faith a beat to realize what she means. “You want a smoke?”

Buffy shrugs, like it’s nothing. “I want to try it. See what the big deal is. Why you and so many other people are willing to risk lung cancer and yellow teeth over those things.”

Faith scowls. “My teeth are fine.”

Still, she reaches into the pack in her back pocket and taps a Marlboro out into Buffy’s outstretched palm.

Buffy examines the cigarette for a moment, giving it a cursory sniff, nose wrinkling again but not in the slightly grossed out way it usually does when Faith lights one up.

“The smoke isn’t for everyone, but I always thought tobacco smelled kinda nice,” Faith says, stupidly, for no reason. Sure, it's the truth, but it's not like Buffy asked. But the fact that she can't seem to keep her mouth shut around the other girl has been Faith’s problem for months.

Buffy nods though and slips the filter into her mouth, pink glossed lips pursing around it enticingly. Faith lets herself have a beat to appreciate the sight before she withdraws the shitty highlighter yellow Bic she’d stolen from 7-Eleven a few weeks ago. Buffy tries clumsily to light the cigarette but she’s awful at it — can’t seem to hold the flame in the right place, doesn’t cup her hand to protect it from stray breezes, lets the fire die before the smoke manages to catch. Faith steps forward, not thinking, and plucks the lighter from Buffy’s fingertips, leaning in close, close enough to see the flecks of brown in her green eyes, close enough to smell the faint fruitiness of whatever body spray she’d used earlier, close enough to notice when Buffy’s breath catches in her throat, the quick dart of her eyes down to the blue-white flame of the lighter, up to Faith’s face, and back.

“Breathe in,” Faith instructs, low, quiet, proud of how steady her hand stays despite the wild thump of her heart.

Buffy does and the tip of the cigarette glows orange when Faith kills the lighter flame.

“You got it,” Faith says, stepping back, slipping her hands back into her pockets.

Buffy nods, and opens her mouth, smoke floating tepidly out.

Faith rolls her eyes, “Weak. B, you’ve gotta inhale, or else what’s the point.”

Buffy frowns and breathes in around the cigarette, immediately letting the smoke out between her lips again.

“C’mon,” Faith groans, reaching out and snatching the cigarette away, heedless of Buffy’s affronted ‘hey!’. “Don’t be afraid of it,” Faith says. She fits the filter between her own lips, mutters around it, “You gotta just—”

A smooth long inhale, and there's the slightly acrid tang across her palate, that feeling in her mouth, heavier than air, a lock inside her clicking open as she pushes the smoke back out a moment later, watching it dissipate between them, gray and white and then nothing at all.

Faith twists her hand out, holding the cigarette for Buffy, expecting her to snatch it back, slightly startled when Buffy leans forward instead, her lips brushing the skin on the insides of Faith’s fingers as she inhales, deeply this time.

It probably would be hot enough to short circuit Faith’s whole brain, to make her think of doing something really stupid, really reckless, like maybe closing the rest of the distance between them, like maybe kissing the smoke right out of Buffy’s mouth.

But she doesn’t get the chance because immediately Buffy wretches and coughs, face flushing its brightest pink yet, but not in a sexy, exciting way.

“Ugh!” she groans, while Faith laughs and slaps her back. Buffy spits onto the ground, bent over, and thrusts the cigarette wildly away towards Faith. “Yeah, okay, that’s disgusting.”

“Is not. Quit being a baby.” Faith snatches the cigarette back, twisting to stub the cherry out carefully on the side of her boot and slipping the half-smoked cigarette back into her pack for later.

“Agree to disagree,” Buffy’s voice is rough from coughing, there’s a teariness to her eyes that, disconcertingly, Faith can’t help but find a little sexy. “But you’re wrong.”

“Well, guess that settles it,” Faith shakes her head with exaggerated pity. “Not getting your bad girl diploma any time soon.”

“Guess not. Looks like I’m going to have to settle for the regular kind instead,” Buffy croaks. “Eugh, I might throw up.”

“No you won’t,” Faith rolls her eyes. “C’mon.”

She yanks Buffy’s backpack up from where it was dropped onto the ground, hooking one of the straps over her shoulder, using her other hand to steer Buffy out from under the bleachers and toward the gap in the fence around the school’s field, the one that lets out into the street.

“Where are we going?” Buffy asks, not shrugging away from the light pressure of Faith’s hand on the small of her back.

“It’s hot as hell out here,” Faith answers. “You’re buying me a soda.”

Buffy snorts but doesn’t complain and ten minutes later they’re tucked into one of the booths at the coffee shop Buffy likes, Faith nursing a too-sweet Italian soda while Buffy sips sullenly at an iced mocha. Faith always feels out of place in joints like this, populated with college kids and people with desk jobs and shoes that cost more than Faith’s TV. But Buffy looks like she fits in — like she's made for nice things, so perfectly suited to living comfortably that she doesn’t even notice that’s what she’s doing. Perfectly at ease, except for the downward turn of lips, the troubled look that won’t quite leave her eyes now that it’s quiet between them and she’s not distracted.

Faith’s trying to think of something to say, hating the way she gets smaller and quieter in places where she sticks out like this. “So. School’s out next week. You leaving right away or…?”

Faith wants to sound nonchalant, cool, like it doesn’t put a knot in her stomach to think about Buffy taking off to Los Angeles for the whole summer. Like she hasn’t studied the bus routes form Sunnydale to the neighborhood Buffy says she used to live in.

Buffy flinches. “I’m not going.”

“What?” Faith sits up straighter, almost knocking over her soda. “But you said—”

“My dad’s not picking us up this year,” Buffy mutters, staring down at the melting whipped cream atop her coffee. “He’s got work stuff, so instead of me and Dawn going to LA, he’s going to come down for a week in August and help me move into the dorm. He said it was his idea but Ted’s been talking about wanting me and Dawn to stick close to home this summer. Family bonding. And you know my mom goes along with basically whatever he wants. So, I don't know.”

Faith’s stomach swoops, teeth aching from the sweetness of the drink and the sudden tightness of her own jaw. “They told you last night?”

“Yeah,” Buffy says. “Just to kill any chance of me enjoying the last week of school, I guess.”

I’m sorry, B, Faith almost says and catches herself. Sorry for what? She didn’t do this. And what’s more, she remembers how it felt, when people said that to her. Patronizing, meaningless, stupid.

“Step-dick in action,” Faith mutters, instead and Buffy musters a weak little laugh at that, at least.

“You’re telling me. I'm supposed to be going to graduation parties and figuring out how to make a cap and gown look cute, not getting stomach aches every time I think about what I'll be doing next week.”

Faith doesn't know what to say to that, so she asks, “How’d Dawn take it?”

Buffy rolls her eyes. “Better than me, I guess. She responds well to bribery — dad’s paying for her to do this theater day camp thing that Amanda’s signed up for.”

Buffy's always doing that. Talking about people and things like Faith already knows all the details of her life, the people in it, who they are and why they're important. Amanda must be one of Pipsqueak’s friends, Faith can guess that much, but still.

It's worse when they're around Buffy's other friends, the shorthand they have, the familiarity and inside jokes that make Faith feel like such an outsider. Sometimes, usually when it's just the two of them, Faith thinks it might be kind of nice, a good thing: that she and Buffy haven't even known each other a full year and Buffy seems to forget that. Like Faith fits so well in Buffy's life she could have been there all along. Other times, it's frustrating and embarrassing, reminding Faith of just how much of a late addition she is, how different she is, how out of place.

“‘Course that wouldn’t work on you,” Faith says after a beat too long, feeling awkward, but trying not to sound like it. “Too much integrity.”

“Exactly.” A goofy, emphatic nod from Buffy.

“Not a bad enough girl.” Faith teases, knocking her boot against Buffy’s calf beneath the table.

Buffy blows a raspberry and sinks back into her booth, pouting cutely, kicking her back harder. “I’m sure Ted would disagree. According to him I'm the baddest girl in Bad Town.”

“Probably not the only thing we’d disagree on,” Faith agrees mildly. “Sucks, though. Know you were looking forward to getting out here. Seeing your dad.”

Buffy stirs her drink, takes a loud sip that rattles the ice cubes. “Dad’s been blowing us off more and more lately, so I’m almost used to it. Honestly, I don’t even mind staying in Sunnydale, it’s just—”

“Him.”

Buffy’s eyes flick up to meet Faith’s.

They haven’t talked about it a lot. When Faith rolled into town earlier this year, when she’d met Buffy, it had been right after the wedding. She’d been plainly miserable, had gotten into trouble that landed her in detention, which is how they’d even really started talking in the first place. Ted was old friends with Principal Snyder, apparently. Buffy swore the miserable old geek rode them even harder because of Ted’s complaints about her.

And here Buffy wasn't exaggerating: Ted had plenty of complaints. Buffy was too wilful — she didn’t try to make their family work. She spoke back to Ted, lied and cheated, was a bad influence on her younger sister, didn’t show the proper respect to adults. Anything Buffy did, he found a way to be upset or offended about. When she’d been dating that college guy, Angel, Ted gave invasive lectures about the dangers of ‘not protecting her virtue.’ When Buffy’d been dumped (on Prom night, no less), Ted had lamented the sudden absence of a ‘guiding male influence’ in Buffy’s life. Worse than all of this, he’d been disturbingly successful at making every conflict out to look like Buffy’s fault, leading to increasingly bitter arguments between Buffy and her mother.

He was controlling, manipulative, condescending and mean, all in a way that no one else seemed to really notice.

In short: Ted was a massive fucking dick.

He didn’t hit them, Faith was pretty sure. And nothing Buffy said or did made Faith think he might be the most severe kind of creep. The few times Faith had seen them interact, she’d watched carefully - his hands didn’t linger too long, his gaze was never leering and greedy, he didn’t crowd them with his body. But there was a tension to him, an anger barely suppressed that Faith recognized immediately. Something dark and cold lurking behind that bland smile, the firm handshake he’d offered her.

“Yeah,” Buffy finally says, releasing the mangled red plastic straw she’d been flattening between her teeth. “I just wish I didn’t have to be around him. At least Dawn will be at camp most of the day.”

“You… I mean, my place is kind of a dive, but if you need somewhere to stay…” Faith knows it’s stupid, but she offers anyway.

Buffy laughs, and she’s not trying to be mean, Faith can tell, and somehow that makes it sting a little worse when she says. “Puh-lease. Can you imagine? My mom would flip. Ted would probably chain me to a radiator or something if he thought I was running away.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Faith mumbles, heat scorching up her neck.

Buffy doesn’t seem to notice. She’s staring down at her cup of ice again, swirling it absently with her bent straw. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do. Stay out as much as possible, I guess.”

“So, basically what you’ve already been doing.”

“Yeah. But more.”

“You’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah. Guess Xander and Willow are gonna have to get used to seeing a lot more of me,” Buffy says. “And you.”

And she smiles, small but sincere, across the table. Almost shy, like she really means it, something natural and honest and just for Faith. And just like that Faith finds herself smiling back, that hot, painful little coal of resentment burning in her chest a breath ago snuffed out in an instant.

[reginaphalangelobster125]

You're My Perfect

Buffy Summers x Plus Size GN!Reader

Summary: You overhear something you wish you hadn't.

Warnings: self conscious reader, asshole Xander, sweet Buffy

Word Count: 700+

Request: Yes

Notes: This is my first time writing a plus sized reader so I hope it's okay!

“Run!” Buffy screamed at the top of her lungs.

You turned around to see a gang of vampires chasing you. There must have been five at least. Xander, Willow and Buffy were way ahead of you, almost free but you couldn’t keep up. One of the vampires grabbed your wrist and yanked you back, you were barely able to call out Buffy’s name through your ragged breaths. Her head whipped around when she heard you. She bolted back and leapt on the vamp that had you, just as his fangs were beginning to break the surface of your skin. She ripped him off you and drove a stake through his heart. You saw him turn to dust in front of your eyes.

“T-thanks, Buff”

“Are you okay? Did he bite you?”

“Nah, ju-just a scratch”

‘Let’s get you back to Giles’”

“You know, I’ll never get u-used to that”

“What?”

“The dust thing”

“Oh, right. I guess it doesn’t really bother me anymore”

You stand up, still breathing heavily and head back with Buffy. 

When you get back to Giles’ he patches you up while the others talk. You don’t mean to eavesdrop but they were in the living room and you were in the kitchen, not much distance between you.

“They were pretty tough, Buffy. Do you think something’s going on?” Willow asked.

“Maybe, vamps don’t usually work together unless there’s a new big bad in town”

“I think we’re glossing over something here girls” Xander moaned.

“What Xander?” Buffy responded with a signature eye roll.

“Hello? Y/n”

“What about Y/n?” Buffy straightened her back and tensed at his tone.

“Totally chubster? Always slowing us down? Almost got both of you killed tonight, am I making sense to anyone?”

You felt his words deep inside you, confirming all of your worst fears and insecurities. You couldn’t listen any longer, you grabbed your coat and ducked out before they could see you.

“I think that’s a little harsh Xander” Willow responded.

“A little?” Buffy turned to Willow.

“Well, you’ve gotta admit Buffy, they do slow us down a bit” “And what do you suppose we do, kick them out?”

“No! I just think maybe it’s better if they don’t come on patrol”

“I can’t believe you, Will! Xander, I expect, but you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Xander barked.

“I means that you’ve never been supportive of our relationship”

“Of course not! They can’t walk to the mailbox without breaking a sweat!”

It took everything in Buffy not to deck him right there. She walked out and looked for you, just to be met with an empty room.

“Giles? Where Y/n?”

Giles popped his head from around the corner.

“They left, seemed to be in quite a hurry”

“God, they must have heard Xander”

“Heard Xander say what?” By the time he got the words out Buffy was already out the door.

You rushed down the street, trying to get home as fast as possible and leave this terrible night behind you. Tears ran down your cheeks and began to soak your shirt. Through blurred vision you saw a figure in front of you, it was Buffy. Even blurry she looked beautiful.

“I-I don’t wanna talk”

“Okay”

She took your hand and led you to a nearby bench. You sat down and she just held your hand in yours.

“Why are you with me?” You muttered, your breath so shaky it broke her heart.

“Because I love you”

“But why? You’re beautiful and smart and amazing, you could be with anyone you wanted”

“I am”

You scoffed before you looked up to see the sincerity in her eyes.

“You heard Xander, didn’t you?”

“He’s right you know, I do just slow you down”

“No you don’t. You help me keep going when I feel like I can’t. You do everything but slow me down”

“You don’t have to lie to me, I can take it”

“I’m not lying”

“But you’re perfect! I’m nothing”

“You’re my perfect” You didn’t believe her but you saw her eyes, properly this time. You saw the love she carried for you in them, you saw the love you held for her. You saw your home. Buffy leaned in, her lips grazed against yours as though they were asking for permission, which you gladly granted.

“I love you too”

Tags:

@pinkthick @craftytacopiecash @meryuniverse @aliljaybird @thesimppotato11 @vixyl7 @macbaetwo @castielshunterwife @scarletluvsdanno @twentyonetornmyheart

[specialagentlokitty]

Giles x reader - happily married

Would you be up for a Giles married to reader who happens to be buffys aunt? - @sitkafay 💜

It had been a while since you had been in town, you had been away on work and all you wanted to do was go home, find your husband and go to sleep.

So, when you walked through the door of the house you set your bags down and looked around.

“Rupert?” You called.

You waited for an answer but there was none, so you grabbed your bags and took them upstairs, not even bothering to unpack them, all you did was go back down the stairs to put your jacket on the hook and made your way back upstairs.

You collapsed on the bed and let the jet lag take you to a much needed world of sleep, though it didn’t last as long as you hoped.

The door was thrown open, and you could hear the voices of people down the stairs.

“Giles?!” They called.

You furrowed your brows and grumbled a little, pulling the blanket of your head.

“Giles we need help!”

You pulled the blanket down, jumped out of bed at the sound of the voice.

Making your way to the stairs you walked halfway down them and looked at the small group of young adults standing in the living room.

“Well, look who we have here.” You grinned.

They all turned around and you grinned a little, making your way down the stairs.

“(Y/N)!”

Buffy wasted no time in running over crush you into a hug which you were more than happy to respond to.

You hugged her tightly, a smile on your face and you pulled away.

“My god Buffy, it’s been years since I saw you last, you’ve grown so much.”

She smiled.

“And you’ve gotten older.”

You playfully glared at you, and she grabbed your hand to lead you over to her friends and you smiled warmly at them all.

“Guys, this is my aunt (Y/N). You remember the one who was always travelling for work?”

Buffy then turned to you.

“(Y/N) this is Xander, Tara, Anya, Willow and that’s spike. We don’t like spike.”

You looked at the man who was eyeing you up down with a little grin on his face.

He went to step forward and was pushed back by Xander and he went to glare.

“Can’t a guy say hello now? Bloody unreasonable.” He grumbled.

“Not when it’s Buffy’s aunt you can’t, in fact you can’t ever, why are you ever here?”

They began to bicker.

“Children! Children!”

They all turned to you and you gestured for them all to sit down so they did.

Spike huffed and left the house.

“Why are you at Giles’ place?” Willow asked.

Buffy turned to you.

She gave you a sheepish look and you laughed a little, shaking your head at her.

“Please don’t..” she grumbled.

“Oh I’m so going to now.”

You turned to her friends and she jumped on you, covering mouth with her hand so you couldn’t say anything.

“Come on tell us!” Xander grinned.

“No! There’s nothing to tell!” Buffy yelled.

“Maybe she came looking for you?” Tara offered.

“Oh she definitely came looking for somebody else.” Anya smirked.

You carried on pretending to fight with your niece, until she finally gave in and let you go, giving you a pleading look.

You grinned a little and leant back in the chair, looking at her friends.

“So, what brings you guys by?”

“Do you know about demons?” Anya asked.

“Anya!” Willow hissed.

You laughed slightly.

“I know a bit, not much. I don’t think I’ll be much help to you.”

“Do you know where Giles is?” Tara asked.

You shook your head.

“I’ve been here a few hours maybe, I was asleep until you heard of elephants came bounding in.”

They grinned a little at you, and you looked at Buffy.

“Can we hang around until he gets back?”

“Yeah, of course. Just don’t break anything, now, I’m going back to sleep, you guys behave.”

You got up, hugging your niece you went to leave but she stopped you, and you looked at her, sighing softly.

Sitting back down on the chair, you let her squeeze herself next to you and you kicked your feet on the table.

“Go on then, tell me about all your adventures. If I fall asleep don’t take it personally I’m tired.”

So, that’s what they did.

They all excitedly told you everything that had been going on, especially Buffy who wanted you to know everything about everything she knew.

You knew about her being the slayer, and you were supportive of her just like her watcher was, you helped her when you could.

She loved telling you about her life, because you always just listened, no snide remarks or comments, no judging her choices or things she did, you just listened.

They got talking to themselves, and you had fallen asleep in the chair.

Buffy noticed this and shook your shoulder.

“Go to bed.”

You nodded, trudging back to bed and they carried on their discussion.

The door was opened and closed, and when Giles turned around he saw all eyes were on him.

“I’m going to change my locks, what on earth are you all doing here at this time?” He asked.

He looked at his watch to see it was early hours of the morning.

“Demons.” Anya said.

“Help.” Xander said next.

“Please?” Willow and Tara grinned.

He sighed, taking his jacket off he set it on the side and gestured for them to carry on while he went to the kitchen to make drinks.

He brought the tray out, setting it on the table.

“Well, it definitely sounds like demons, I’ll have to have a look through some books, but I’m pretty sure I know who these demons are, they’re rather easy to handle.”

They nodded and Buffy looked at him with a blank face.

“There’s something upstairs by the way, you might want to check that out.”

He furrowed his brows and handed the book to Willow, making his way up the stairs.

Turning the light on, he looked around and his gaze landed on the bed.

A wide smiled spread on his face, and he took his glasses off, setting them in his pocket as he made his way over, sitting on the bed he placed a hand on your shoulder.

“No…” you mumbled.

Giles leant down, gently pressing his lips to your forehead.

“Welcome home…”

You opened your eyes and you beamed a little at him, placing a hand on the back of his head so you could kiss him.

It was a kiss he happily responded too, placing his hand on the side of your face as he felt the feeling of your lips on his for the first time in months.

He pulled away and you sat up, shuffling over so you could tuck yourself against him in a hug.

He smiled, kissing your head a few times.

“You never said you were coming home..” he whispered.

“Wanted it to be a surprise, but the gang of heathens needed you help… and they woke me up…”

He chuckled a little at your disappointed tone.

“Well, I shall send them on their way, then you can go back to sleep darling.”

You shook your head, titling your head back to kiss his jaw.

“No.. it’s fine, help them.”

“Are you sure? I can ask them to come back, I don’t believe they would have an issue with that.”

You hummed a little as you stood up, stretching as you walked off.

Giles got up to follow you, and you stood near the wardrobe, looking for something more comfortable to wear.

With a little grin, he reached out, taking both your hands in his and turned you around, your back against the wall.

He let go of your hands, settling for cradling your face instead and you balled your hands into the fabric of his sweater as he leant down to kiss you again.

You didn’t want it to end, but when someone shouted his name he sighed and pulled away, giving you an apologetic look.

“I do love you, but if I don’t go down they’re going to come up.”

You laughed, patting his chest.

“Get, I’ll be down in a minute.”

He quickly kissed you before walking away and you found some more comfortable clothes to change into before following him.

You wondered into the kitchen to find something to eat, Buffy standing next to you to help raid the cupboards.

“Since your back now does this mean we can go shopping?” She asked.

“As in you want to spend your money or you want to spend my husbands money?”

She grinned.

“Your husbands.”

You hummed, glancing into the living before turning back to her.

“How long until they find out?” She asked.

She was trying to keep it a secret because she knew he friends would never let her live down the fact that her watcher, and old librarian was in fact her uncle.

“I’m gonna go with not long.”

She furrowed her brows and you pointed to Anya.

“She’s seen his wedding ring.”

“I don’t know how they haven’t noticed it before.” Buffy said.

Anya whispered something to Tara, who whispered to Willow who passed it on to Xander.

You walked into the living room, sitting back in your chair as you flicked through some books, silence taking over for a while.

But of course it never lasted.

“Giles!”

In an instant both yours and your husbands head shot up to face the boy who had just shouted in shock.

“What?” You both asked.

“Oh my god they are married!” Willow squealed.

Buffy hid her face and you laughed while Giles turned away in embarrassment.

“Buffy’s watcher is her uncle!” Xander laughed.

You reached up, placing your hand on your husbands, and he looked at you with a smile.

“How does it feel knowing you’re never going to escape him Buffy? You’re stuck with him now.” Anya said.

“Okay I’m going home!”

She ran towards the door while he friends ran after her.

“Congratulations Giles!” They yelled.

The house became empty and Giles sighed, sitting on the arm of the chair and you rested your head against his side.

“I’m never living this down, am I? They’re going to taunt me about this for the rest of my life.”

“Ouch, am I really that bad?” You teased.

He smiled, standing up and offered you his hand which you took so you could stand up.

“Nothing could ever compare to how perfect you are dear.”

“You’re such a suck up Rupert.”

He grinned a little.

“Isn’t that why you fell in love with me? That and I am ruggedly handsome if I say so myself, with a rather charming British accent.”

“I’m sorry, would you like to marry yourself?”

He rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around you waist, and you wrapped yourself around his shoulders.

“I love you.” He whispered.

You leant up, brushing your lips against his.

“I love you too.”

[sunnydalelibrarian]

Buffy Rewatch: Season 2: Episodes 1-4

2x01: "When She Was Bad"

"Use the Force, Luke" "Do I even have to dignify that with a guess?"

Willow and Xander being too fucking cute! Can you imagine how different things would've been if they hadn't been interrupted here? Talk about a badass entrance though! My girl is back!

And my baby is traumatised 🥺

Giles is one Snyder-talk away from snapping, poor man

"Every time a pretty girl walks by, every boy turns into a gibbering fool" cue Jenny walking in and Giles being utterly speechless and immediately ditching Snyder (who continues to talk to himself!) 😂 The way Giles fully forgets Snyder even exists in that moment has me in stitches

His look of "not now, children!" But also how happy he is to see Buffy though 🥺

The way Willow and Xander were betting on how long it would take Giles to consult his books and Jenny actively trying not to laugh at them 😂

Oh Buffy sure is working through some stuff!

Okay but did the Anointed One have someone run to the store to buy him an edgy black turtleneck over the summer? What happened to the kid clothes?

I love Cordelia so much, even she's a bit concerned about Buffy when she's being mean

Oh Xander! Somebody skelp him upside the head

Buffy, baby, I know you're hurting but let's not take it out on everyone you know. You're just playing with everyone's feelings here. Look at Willow's heartbroken little face!

The fact that Cordelia's the one to call her out though! Like, Cordy knows she's a bitch but she also knows that Buffy doesn't act like that so she has no qualms about calling her on it

"Willow, I think we're all a little too old to be spelling things out" *Xander immediately gets it wrong* 😂

Sorry but can we address how lonely Cordelia and Jenny's lives must be at this point in time that they can be missing for a whole 24 hours before anyone notices?

Oh Buffy my baby 🥺 that's it, take it all out on the skeleton

Not Cordelia trauma-bonding with Jenny over being kidnapped by vampires! Cordelia complaining about the stains left on her clothes by all that horrific stuff meanwhile Jenny's expression just screams "fucking hell girl, priorities!"

The look on Buffy's face looking at Xander and Willow and she knows she's home

2x02: "Some Assembly Required"

Oh Angel and Buffy are so awkward, dude she's 16 what's your excuse?

Wait, so Xander's a kid but Buffy, who is the same age as him, is totally fine to date? Dude... 😬

Finding the girl's shoe in the dirt is a really creepy shot

Giles overthinking how to ask Jenny on a date 😂 Again, why is he such a mood? How flustered he is!!

"Well, thank you, Cyrano!"

Giles: "Graverobbing? Well, that's new. Interesting." Buffy: "I know you meant to say gross and disturbing." Giles: "Yes, yes of course. Terrible thing. Must put a stop to it. Damn it."

Cordelia: "Hello, can we deal with my pain please?" Giles: (perfunctory, half-hearted)."There, there."

Again, Angel, why are you being fucking creepy?

Oh but Chris' home life is so sad. His mom barely even registers he exists anymore.

Buffy, honey, props for trying but Giles is beyond help 😂 Look at him, he's so flustered! Honestly, credit to Jenny for deciding now is the time to take pity on him rather than mess with him. She really said "fuck it, if I wait for him to make a move, I'll be here all day!"

Oh bless him he's so pleased! His little skip 😭

I love how this episode is basically just the plot of Frankenstein in a high school

All jokes aside, horrible things really do just keep happening to Cordelia, she has the worst luck in the world

Okay but Jenny's date outfit is so cute, I'd totally wear that

Not Xander and Willow crashing their date!

Damn, that makes two episodes in a row Cordelia's been kidnapped. My girl really cannot catch a break.

Dammit Xander! 🙄

2x03: "School Hard"

I will never stop hating Snyder. He was such a dick to a bunch of teenagers for absolutely no reason

Oh, Willow's braids are so cute! "I'm a rebel" said so innocently, I love my girl

Spike Spike Spike!!! That is still the most badass entrance/character introduction of all time! They really wanted to drive home the "this guy is trouble!" theme, huh? I love how vampires have no breath but that's not gonna stop Spike smoking!

"If every vampire who said he was at the crucifixion was actually there, it would've been like Woodstock"

The way he immediately switches out of vamp mode when Dru walks in. He gives her his jacket as soon as she says she's cold. I love how soft he is with her 🥺 My favourite trope is "big bad dude is a total simp for his girlfriend"

I know Joyce has no idea what's going on but Buffy's trying her best, give her a break

"Rupert, you have got to read something that was published after 1066." "Very funny." I love how Giles and Jenny are just joined at the hip during the first half of this season

The fact that none of them can stand Snyder! Students and staff, everyone hates this mf

Not Giles and Jenny's immediate exit stage left 😂

"Once [Spike] starts something, he won't stop until everything in his path is dead." Gee, Angel, wonder who he learned that from?

Did Spike actually cart Dru's dolls all the way from Prague? I love them so much. She's talking absolute nonsense, off in her own weird world, and he's just like you're quite right, darling, now how about you eat something?

Giles taking a break from the explaining to point Willow's crossbow away from their faces, and her little smile 😂

I love that Cordelia's there helping, she's just one of them now

Has Jenny just been in the library this entire time? Babe, don't you have, like, the teacher part of parent-teacher night to be doing?

Ooh, Willow coming in clutch with the brass bust, that's my girl!

🎶 someone's in the ceiling 🎵

I love how Joyce is having none of Snyder and his shit, Buffy is so her mother's daughter

"People still fall for that Anne Rice routine?" Oh I do love Spike

"You were my Yoda" Spike is a Star Wars fan confirmed!

The confirmation that Snyder knows exactly what's up in this town and he's still an asshole

"I will understand if you decide to start avoiding me" - sad foreshadowing aside, Giles' little smile after Jenny takes his arm anyway is so cute

Oh poor Willow and Cordelia still stuck in the closet!

Spike kills the Anointed One and Dru's just looking at him like "hell yeah that's my man!"

Episode 4: "Inca Mummy Girl"

This one always makes me so sad. She was literally just a girl 🥺

Tbf I would also want to strangle the guy who just smashed a five-hundred year old artifact

"Slaying entails certain sacrifices, blah, blah, bitty blah, I'm so stuffy, give me a scone!" 😂

She was just a girl! She just wanted a normal life and we don't even know her real name

Honestly, good for her. She's only taking back the autonomy that was stolen from her

So she was supposed to be the Slayer, right? That's what we're meant to infer from this?

I don't remember Oz's band being this good?? Damn

[violettathepiratequeen]

March 10th, 2025

Hello there, gentle viewers! On this the 28th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s pilot episode, “Welcome to the Hellmouth,” I am starting the project that I created a tumblr account for in the first place.

Welcome to Buffy Slays, where I’ll be going through all 144 episodes of BtVS over the next twelve months, highlighting as many of the GOOD moments, lines, character choices, worldbuilding moments, etc. etc. from this show (not including the movie, Angel the series, the upcoming reboot, or any comics) as I think people will have the patience to read, haha. I will have something good to say about every single character, and every single episode, and while I’m not saying I can keep out the negativity entirely… this is meant to showcase ONLY the positive elements that came together to create this world beloved by so many for 28 years! I know there are a lot of negative elements to this show as well, and there are plenty of things that rankle me and infuriate me and that I would have done differently if I could. This blog is not intended to sweep any of that under the rug, but is an attempt to not forget that there are a million good qualities about it, too. 

Every view expressed in this series will be my personal opinion, will have a heavy emphasis on Spuffy, and will occasionally be controversial, sometimes extremely so. If you disagree, that’s okay! Of course we're all different and have our own thoughts! I'll be covering a lot of ground, and inevitably there will be something that I really enjoyed that others didn't (but hopefully the opposite will be true too, I'll hit on some things everyone loves!) But I do ask for respect of my beliefs and polite disagreement in the comments, and I will delete anything that isn’t.

I posted my ranking of every episode a couple days ago, as well as the rankings of my top 75 Spuffy moments, which I’ll also include and expand on in this series. And I’ll be having some arbitrary segments in these posts, just because I can, and it’s fun!

I was very late to this show, discovering it for the first time in 2020, and I know there are new people entering this fandom all the time! So, if you're reading along and haven't finished the show, consider this your Spoiler Warning for discussion of future episodes and major plot points in any and all of these posts.

This project has been years in the making, and with all my actual fanfiction writing projects still going on, I don’t anticipate really having the bandwidth to engage in discussions on these posts, or at least not until they’re all done. But obviously comments are very much appreciated anyway; thank you very much for reading and letting me know your thoughts!

So, here we go! 

Season 1, Episode 1, “Welcome to the Hellmouth.”

Buffy Summers and her mom move to Sunnydale, California, for a fresh start, unaware of the evil lurking in this quiet suburb. Somewhat reluctant in her role as the slayer, Buffy quickly makes friends and enemies at her new school. While also meeting her new "Watcher," Giles, the staid school librarian, her newly assembled team encounters the ever-abundant unearthly creatures in Sunnydale. (Pulled from the BTVS wiki)

Episode Number: #1 Episode Ranking: #65 out of 144. Writer: Joss Whedon

Top 5 Quotes:

“Because you are the Slayer. Into each generation a Slayer is born, one girl in all the world, a Chosen One.” —Giles

“Prepares me for what? For getting kicked out of school? For losing all of my friends? For having to spend all of my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because I might endanger them? Go ahead! Prepare me.” —Buffy

“Seize the moment, ‘cause, tomorrow you might be dead.” —Buffy

“Oh, me and Buffy go way back, old friends, very close. Then there was that period of estrangement where I think we were both growing as people, but now here we are, like old times, I'm quite moved.” —Xander

“Excuse me, I have to call everyone I have ever met right now.” —Cordelia

How “Welcome to the Hellmouth” Slays:

This show is known for subverting expectations at every turn, and it starts out strong, with having Darla be the vampire in the scenario at the beginning of the episode. I also think it’s so fun that she is just shown as a dumb vampire lackey in the first couple episodes before she’s killed, but oooooh is she gonna have SUCH an arc later on in the Buffyverse! And she’s the first character in the whole show!

The fact that we don’t see the origin of Buffy becoming the Slayer (yet) is a really good move. I just think for what the show is trying to do, it might have been a slower start to watch her get Called, and it’s cooler just to have her already in it, already with it, and already so ready to be done with it.

Principal Flutie! He’s just so quirky and darling and trying to be cool, and for someone with only four episodes, he holds a giant space in my heart.

I don’t love mean girls characters, ever, but Cordelia Chase is the exception… and it’s because her first scene is her being nice and helpful to Buffy. Even if her second scene is being awful to Willow, that first impression shows that she is actually a real human, capable of helping others and being charming and making friends, and it paves the way for her redemption arc later.

While not expressly stated in this episode, Buffy makes hints to the fact that she was a popular girl in her old school, and the movie that preceded this backs that up. She struggles to fit in at Sunnydale High, despite meeting and befriending Queen Bee Cordy, but the fact that she can come away from being the Queen Bee herself into someone so humble and down-to-earth is awesome to see. And even though Cordelia is her first friend, Buffy is bothered by the way she talks down to the outcasts, and seeks Willow out, befriending her and being kind to her and subtly assuring her multiple times that it’s okay to demand to be treated decently. Because she doesn’t like to see anyone being bullied.

Giles being SO giddy to meet Buffy, and so excited he gets to be her Watcher! He was my first favorite character on this show, and while now he’s slid down to like fifth place, I’ll never forget how much I loved him, and his relationship with Buffy in this first season.

This. Dialogue. Is just. So. Special. It’s clever, it’s smart, it knows what it’s doing, and isn’t just cheesy words to fill air time like I sometimes feel a lot of shows are!

Buffy having Giles to talk to about all the vampire and Slayer stuff, because really she has no one else, and even if she’s trying to avoid it, honestly, having this parental figure who knows what’s up and is meant to help her is massive. And she doesn’t mention her previous Watcher in this episode, but obviously she had one, because who else would have taught her?

The exchange with Angel, when he says he’s a friend, and she says maybe she doesn’t want one. His response is “I didn’t say I was yours” which just makes me giddy, haha. Because a certain bleached blonde someone in about two seasons will inform them that they’ll never be friends, and that was stated RIGHT in the first episode.

This girl just wants to have fun! I LOVE Buffy going to the Bronze despite not knowing anyone, and trying to have a good time! This trend of her trying to be normal and wanting to have fun and just be a girl will continue for a long, long time, and ahh it’s so sweet to see her here before the world totally crushes her.

Buffy denies very vehemently to Giles that she doesn’t like Angel, despite him not having asked. And I love this because… it’s what Buffy does. She denies her attraction, she pushes her feelings down until they explode out of her. It’s such a telling part of her character, and I’m just… so impressed that it was right there in episode one, haha.

Buffy is actually good at what she does! Despite trying to run away from it, and being super new, and not actually getting into a fight until close to the end, we see she knows what she’s doing. She fights, she quips, she can identify a vampire on sight, and she’s not afraid to go where the danger is. Actually, she IS scared, a little bit, when Luke gets the jump on her, but she keeps her confidence, and her bravery, and she KEEPS TRYING. One of my favorite things about Buffy EVER is the way that she TRIES. It’s so encouraging to me, who has a really, really tough time trying to do anything. She and Spike both, they try so hard and always get back up when they’re knocked down, and I just… need that motivation and inspiration so much.

The fact that vampires turn to dust when you stake them and don’t leave a body is honestly such a good bit of lore. It’s less horrific for Buffy if she doesn’t have to see the dead body, it makes cleanup easier and less gruesome, and since sunlight will burn vampires to ash in most mythologies, makes sense that any way of killing them turns them to dust.

Buffy, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Giles. The main cast of Season 1. And really, they’re all just… brilliant. They hit their marks, the actors are great at the roles they play, and they all have arcs and personalities not just in this first episode, but over the course of this little 12-episode first season. They pull you in and make you care, right away, and as someone who REALLY struggles with watching something new and identifying with anyone until at least halfway through the season, this is a pretty incredible feat, to make me love everyone in the title sequence in just 45 minutes, haha. 

This is not an exhaustive list, lol, I literally watched these episodes with pen and paper in hand and wrote down every single thing I liked. But these are the highlights for me.

Xander Harris Is A Bro:

Okay, so I am extremely defensive of Xander in a way I know a lot of people aren’t. I see his flaws and know his flaws, but I also see a lot of good in him that I think gets overlooked. I wanted to write a fic incorporating every good, brotherly, heroic, kind thing he does in this show, but uhhhh having a segment in this series instead where I point out his shining moments is way easier, haha.

Jesse is the kind of guy I thought Xander was going to be, the kind that was and sometimes still is portrayed so often in media. Rude, cocky, arrogant, single-minded, puts down his friends, says inappropriate things to girls, and with the emotional range of a teaspoon. But Xander broke the mold, in my opinion. He’s still a teenage boy, and teenage boys are not going to be saints by any means. Especially coming from the household that Xander did. But Xander in contrast to Jesse is sweeter, and softer, and more emotionally aware, if only by a little. He knows how to have girls as just friends, and knows how to make jokes that are actually funny and not just mean-spirited or horny. He has a long, long way to go from this episode, but standing next to Jesse, I could see so much potential in him to have such a strong character!

Xander’s friendship with Willow is really something special. Obviously we’re only talking about the first episode right now, but oh, we’ll be coming back to this. They’ve known each other and been best friends since kindergarten, and even if she has a crush on him, Willow shows in this episode she’s happy just being his best friend. I honestly believe they were each other’s rocks through their childhoods, and they supported each other in every way. They have a teasing camaraderie that no one else they meet in this show will ever be able to come close to, and they will always have known each other before any of the other main characters in this show do. And also when Buffy tells Xander Willow left the Bronze with someone, he’s so proud of her for scoring a guy, haha. 

Xander is clearly attracted to Buffy from the start, but he really doesn’t hit on her at first. His first line, “Can I have you?” was a slip of the tongue he was immediately embarrassed about, and it was while helping her pick up the stuff she’d dropped in the school hallway. He asks about her, wants to get to know her, and believes what she says about vampires and being the Slayer almost instantly. Following her into danger the second he sees it’s real. Into a cemetery at night, into a crypt of vampires. And when Buffy tells him to get out of there, he takes Willow and Jesse with him, freeing Buffy of distractions.

What Makes Buffy the Vampire Slayer a Good Show:

Among many other reasons, I think a huge reason I classify BtVS as a "good" show is that I really just view it as telling the story of Spuffy, from start to finish, and it does so by taking its time and spending the first season just on Buffy's origin before even introducing her endgame love interest lol. And it ends when Spike dies. Stories that take their time to do it right and tell it well just hit different.

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And that’s a wrap on Episode 1! Thank you so much if you made it this far! I don’t have exact posting days, but, with some exceptions, there will be roughly 12 posts a month.

Previous: Ranking the Top 75 Spuffy Moments

Next up: “The Harvest.” 

(Credit for GIFs in this post: @detectivedawnsummers)

[marigoldbaker]

yeah yknow what i wrote this today. i will put it here only :) i don't know WHO the target audience is (3 ppl?) but. sometimes a girl wants to put her girl places

Buffy noticed the girl first. Her hair was red and frizzy in a way that was basically asking for a Cordelia Chase dressing-down, and she wasn’t exactly thin, but she was surprisingly pretty even with all that happening. She was dressed like a grown-up, which…honestly, probably wouldn’t stop Cordy from saying something anyway, though it minimized the possibility that the blow would be cutting enough to take the girl out at the knees. Lady. She held herself like a girl, though, and she was about as tall as Buffy and Willow, which was probably what had thrown Buffy off in the first place. That, and the fact that she was sitting like Willow while Giles yelled at someone on the phone.

“—no, Thea, I am not being unreasonable, you’re being unreasonable!” Giles was saying. “To me? To a Hellmouth? Do you not have any other friends you can call upon?” A brief silence, presumably while the other person answered, and then Giles said, “Oh, I’m sorry, yes, of course your other friends are conveniently either indisposed or in England. Really, Thea, how terrible is—well, that’s hardly—she’s twenty-three, that is certainly old enough to make her own choices!” Another pause, during which Giles’s face reddened, and he said, “That is beside the point!”

“You can always send me back!” said the girl, raising her hand. British-y, Buffy observed, but not necessarily Watcher-y; the Watchers she’d met all felt a little more seasoned than this girl, and Giles probably wouldn’t be half so upset about another Watcher on the Hellmouth.

“Oh, I can, and I will, and as soon as I get this sorted with your mum, you are going back,” Giles snapped. Something on the other end of the phone caught his attention. “Yes, Thea, she is going back, because I hardly think that her falling in love with—what did you call him, a failed wizard? How is that even possible? No, don’t tell me—”

“He’s already buying a plane ticket,” said the girl helpfully.

“Marigold,” said Giles, “for the love of God, please let me manage this on my own.”

“Can I have the phone?” asked Marigold.

“Christ!” said Giles, shoved the phone at Marigold, and stalked into his office.

It was at this point that Marigold finally noticed the other person in the room. “Oh, hello, Buffy!” she said, as though they’d been friends for quite some time—which, yeah, sure, maybe everyone in England knew about Buffy, or at least everyone in England who knew Giles, so Buffy decided to just sit down and watch this. Way more fun than trying to do early-morning trig homework.

Marigold shifted the phone to her ear. “Hi, mumma!” she sang out. “You know he’s not going to change his mind. Mhm. Well, you know I’m not going to change my mind, and neither is my sweetheart. Hm. Yes. Yes. So is your plan to just send me to get killed on the Hellmouth, then? Because you know I’m very accident-prone and have a tendency for—well, yes, Mr. Giles is here, but there’s really only so much Mr. Giles can do, given the circumstances, and especially if he’s watching over a Slayer of his own, and I’d hardly call protecting me a Slayer’s top priority when really what she’s doing is—no, I am not being difficult. You’re the one who sent her daughter to a Hellmouth rather than accepting that she is getting married, never mind what you have to say about it.”

Oh, this was definitely going to be the topic of lunchtime conversation. Buffy pulled out a bag of popcorn.

The rustle of the bag opening caught Marigold’s attention. She glanced half over her shoulder, grinned a bit, and said, “By the by, mumma, Mr. Giles’s Slayer is positively adorable! So I hardly intend to put her out, asking her to protect me—yes, well, if you think I’m making unwise choices, perhaps you shouldn’t have sent me mostly unsupervised to a foreign country! Why, who knows what sort of wizards I might meet here? In point of fact, I believe Mr. Giles mentioned an Ethan Rayne surfaced here more than once—”

The dial tone rang out. Marigold dropped the phone delightedly and called, “Mr. Giles, she hung up on me!”

Giles poked his head out of his office and said, “And why did she do that?”

“I like to believe I was so desperately insufferable that she’s on the next plane over to Sunnydale,” said Marigold, “and then she’ll take me back home, and I can do what I like without her deciding on my behalf to send me here. Which, of course, I don’t mind overly, I just think she isn’t thinking very critically—”

“Nor are you,” said Giles. “Marigold, how old is this man?”

“Oh, wow, Giles,” said Buffy, unable to keep herself out of this part of the conversation. “So I date a guy two hundred years older than me and you don’t bat an eye, but this totally British grown-up is dating some wizard guy who’s probably totally human, probably way younger than Angel, and that’s a problem?”

Giles didn’t seem to know what to say to that.

“Buffy!!!” said Marigold exuberantly, as if they’d been besties forever, which, actually, Buffy kind of liked. Besties in dating older guys, apparently. “Come sit next to me and tell me all about your paramour. Mr. Giles didn’t say anything about that!”

“Thea is going to kill me,” said Giles to the ceiling. “Thea is going to fly here, see this conversation happening, and kill me.”

“Entirely your fault for negotiating with Thea,” said Marigold primly.

“I didn’t—you showed up at my house—she told me after the fact!” said Giles, who seemed too outraged to string a full sentence together without a few others tagging along.

Marigold took the phone and began dialing another number. Giles sat down heavily in the chair next to Buffy and buried his face in his hands. “Hello, sugarplum!” she sang. “Oh, of course it’s me! Don’t worry about that; this phone’s a Council phone, so it can make international calls magically and free of charge—”

“Are you calling him?!” said Giles, and made a mad dash for the phone.

Marigold yanked the phone out of the wall and danced back. Normally that usually ended a call, but the phone crackled with a funny, fizzy sparkle that tickled Buffy’s nose delightfully. “I just wanted to make sure you know that I’m having a lovely time and there really isn’t any need to come down and collect me!” she continued, scrambling back and away from Giles as he tried to grab the phone away from her. “I’m personally looking at this as an all-expenses-paid vacation while mumma gets her head on straight about this marriage, which absolutely is happening, so don’t worry about that either.” She listened. “Yes. Well, I am with a Watcher and his Slayer, so I’m surely going to be completely fine and there’s no need for you to come down and—sugarplum? Sweetheart?”

She frowned at the phone, shaking the receiver. After it became clear that either the other person had hung up or the weird magic connection had cut, she tossed it back absently towards Giles, who hadn’t been prepared for this and caught it directly to the face. He crumpled.

“Oh,” said Marigold, “fuck!”

“Eh,” said Buffy. “This is just Tuesday for him.”

[enigmatist17]

Part 1 - AU where Angel comes to help Spike after he escapes from the Initiative

-----

Buffy and Riley didn't notice as Cordelia slowly closed her phone and stood, one hand nervously swiping some imaginary strands of hair from her eyes.

"Cordelia? Is something the matter?" Wesley asks, currently bouncing back and forth between research texts with Giles.

"Um...Riley, is it?" Buffy and Riley look up from their conversation, the soldier a bit confused by the woman he'd only met a few days ago looking at him with concern? Disgust?

"Yes ma'am, how can I help?"

"You uh, wow you're really just like cardboard." Cordelia shook her head, and pressed on before he could express his offense. "So fun fact, Angel's coming, and you need to stick close to Buffy because he's totally going to rip your throat out if you piss him off." She finished with a grin, the room going silent as everyone stared at Cordelia and Riley.

"On a level of general irritation to dealing with Wolfram, how angry are we talking?" Wesley asked suspiciously as Giles headed for his defense stores.

"Like Doyle... like Doyle angry." Cordelia gripped her phone for a moment as her voice trembled before shaking her head. "Says he wants to talk, but you know how temperamental he can be."

"You're being nicer than usual."

"You got here fast." Wesley swallows thickly, the sight of Angel practically materializing in Giles' kitchen making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. "Is Sp-"

"Yes." The answer is more a growl than an actual response, and his eyes scan the room before fixating on Riley.

"We are talking, right?" Buffy had moved between the two men, and for a moment the two lock eyes before Angel shrugs, crossing his arms.

"You know Hos- the guy who escaped?" Riley bit his tongue, watching eyes colder than anything he'd ever experienced in training lock onto him.

"What did you do to him."

"Me? Nothing." Riley winced as he stumbled over his words, extremely uncomfortable that the vampire could probably hear the beating of his heart increasing as those eyes just stared.

"You should tell him." Buffy's voice is light, but both men are well aware that she's stamping down as much of her frustration as possible, so Angel slowly uncrosses his arms.

"Buffy I can't just tell one of them-"

"What can't you tell little old me?" Angel's lip twitched in a barely repressed snarl, and before Riley could move for the pistol strapped to his thigh, someone loudly cleared their throat.

"As much as I am loving this whole macho manly man dick measuring contest, we need to play nice now." Cordelia gives her brightest smile as all eyes shoot to her, and Angel to everyone's chagrin looks embarrassed, stuffing his hands in his pockets as Giles barely hides his chuckle with a forced cough.

"Man, I need some popcorn." All eyes turn toward the now open door as Xander walks in, freezing in place with Willow curiously peeking from behind his shoulder.

"Hey guys, welcome to the shit show." The two finished entering Giles' home as Riley sits back down with Buffy, constantly looking toward the far corner of the room, where Angel had joined Wesley to quietly murmur about something.

"Nice to see Deadboy hasn't really changed." Xander, helpful as ever quipped, earning an annoyed look from the vampire in question. "But Cordy, you look..."

"Amazing? I know." The brunette smiled, and despite their rocky departure, it's not long before she draws him to the couch to catch him up on everything she's done in L.A.

"H-Hi Angel, hi Wesley." Turning to his left, Angel is surprised to see Willow standing near his side, trying to look at the book they were rifling through.

"Hello Willow." The aspiring witch gave a smile, and her hands fiddle with a small pouch.

"Pleasure to see you again." The former Watcher gave a small bow and looked at what was in her hands. "May we help you with something?"

"I uh, I can help you." Willow held out the pouch, and Angel carefully accepted it with a raised eyebrow. "I um, I read up about vampires who get hurt, o-or starved, because that's what Spike is like right now? So, I found these different herbs and stuff, a-and if you mix it in the blood you give him, it should help accelerate his healing."

"You did this for him?" Angel is surprised as he opens it, seeing varying bags filled with dried powders labeled for a feeding schedule.

"I may not like him, n-not that it's like a bad thing, but no one deserves to be starved, you know?"

"...thank you, this is very sweet of you." Angel's praise was soft, making Willow blush a little bit, and he gently reached out to squeeze her shoulder.

"L-Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"

"Will do." He nodded, and Willow wandered off to join Xander on the couch.

"She's still such a lovely girl." Wesley hummed, glancing down at his books.

"That she is." Angel shook the bag before closing it back up, stowing it in his breast pocket for later. "Was Cordy really worried that I was going to hurt the kid?"

"Well, yes?" Wesley coughed, avoiding his gaze. "Angel, may I ask you something?"

"Go ahead." Angel leaned against the closest wall with his arms crossed.

"You hate Spike, don't you?" Wesley began cautiously, heart thudding in his chest as he kept his gaze away. "You're quite upset with his state however, helping him despite the fact he nearly tried to kill you, so I must ask...why?"

"Hate is not the word I'd use." Angel sighed, closing his eyes briefly as Wesley watched without a word. "As much as he's done a lot to cause pain and irritation, Spike is family, the blood we share supersedes everything. I can't explain it in ways you'd understand, but he's a childe of mine, and I just...have to help."

"I'd say I understand, but for the most part I don't." The former Watcher winced as he scrambled for the right words. "You know I follow where you lead."

"I know, and I really can't thank you both for leaving everything to come with." Angel gave him a small smile, missing the look of surprise from Buffy across the room.

"Speaking of Mr. Hair dye, what are we going to do with him?" Cordelia asked, the conversation with Xander and Willow having trailed off as both men looked over. "I mean, I don't think we can exactly leave him here, not with the government doing all their...wait, what are you doing anyways?" Cordelia looked behind her, Riley once again squirming in discomfort.

"We -" He glanced over at Buffy, who just squeezed his hand. "I can't disclose government information to civilians."

"We don't need a whole dossier." Angel crossed his arms, his words twinged with a growl that had everyone sitting up a but straighter. "What. Do. You. People. Do."

"Learn about the enemy." Riley's response is terse, and he's trained his gaze on the floor.

The silence could cut through steel.

"By any means necessary, right?" Willow crossed her arms as Giles did the same. "That's horrible."

"I just help keep the peace."

"By hunting down demons for capture." Angel filled in the blanks, rather unimpressed.

"...that's the crux of it."

The silence dominates once more.

-----

The sounds of the shower alert Angel Spike is once again awake when he returns shortly before dawn, the older drawing curtains closed to make sure the main area was kept from the sun. His jacket is slung over the back of the couch, the torn duster carefully spread over the coffee table and cleaned at the least, judging by some blood-soaked gauze tossed to the side. Angel scoops up the trash and tosses it before going to the half-emptied duffle from earlier, pulling out the several types of sewing kits and varying thread he'd scooped up earlier to place them beside the familiar jacket.

"Reckon I can fix it."

"Most likely." There's a small grunt of acknowledgment as Spike retreats back into the bedroom, Angel moving to get himself a mug and Spike two of blood. The powder Willow had given him mixed in with ease, and by the time Spike returned with clothes that shouldn't have been loose, Angel is offering his mug.

"Cheers." Spike raised in before his face changed with a slight wince, looking down at the blood in hesitation before bringing the cup to his lips and taking a large sip. Whatever reservations there could have faded when Spike chugs, reaching for the second mug before he has enough time to set down the first.

"Ease up, I'm not cleaning up vomit." Angel rolls his eyes when the other gives a grumpy growl, but slows down as his grandsire scoops up the empty mug and takes it to the sink.

"Dunno what's in this, tastes bloody amazin'." The smaller man hums, one hand snatching Angel's jacket and draping it over himself like a blanket.

"Healing powder, though I don't think it tastes like anything." Spike grumbles something he can't quite hear, but a quick peek shows that the other keeps drinking. "Do you need more?"

"No, likely going to be sick if I do." Spike is lying, he could drink for days, but his stomach decides it doesn't want to listen as it roils at the first decent meal in ages. "Bloody soldiers."

"I met one, dating Buffy of all people." Angel tries to not sound irritated, but Spike giggles. "He hasn't said much. Yet."

"You'll make him sing, peaches." Spike sets the mostly drained cup on the coffee table before tucking his legs underneath the coat.

He's so bloody tired.

"I know I will." Angel isn't much warmer than he is, Spike's mind supplies, but it feels like the arm that magically appears around his shoulder is as warm as the sun. "You need to rest."

"Can't, not for long." Spike mumbles, rubbing his cheek against Angel's shirt unconsciously. "They'll find me..."

"No, they won't." The pompous voice is so soft, so gentle, and Spike wonders what he's done to deserve it. "You can rest, I'll be on the lookout."

"You can't lookout for shit." Spike tries to keep his eyes open, but the task is herculean.

"I'll get by." There is the soft voice again, and now a hand is running through his curly hair. "Sleep."

For once, Spike listens.

[emma-m-black]

Soul Mate Magic - Chapter Twelve

Rupert Giles x OC (FanFiction) - MATURE 18+

A new magical transfer comes to Sunnydale High, and ends up discovering a magical connection with our favorite Watcher.

OC is 19+ (Not a Minor), Age Gap, Slow Burn-ish (with a little preview thrown in there during the Bandy Candy Episode).

____

Okay so I just finished writing Chapter 20!! I'm so glad that some people seem to be enjoying this story and reading it haha 🩷 I cannot wait to get these all uploaded, and it is taking all my willpower to not just post everything right now, but I'm gonna try and do a few days in between each post.

____

Author Master List

Read: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven,

Chapter Twelve:

Since Christmas Eve, Rose had barely a moment to herself, suffocated by the constant presence of her new-found friends. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate their concern, but their pitiful glances and whispered conversations behind her back gnawed at her nerves. She needed time—time to breathe, time to think. She craved silence from their endless protection. When classes finally resumed, it was her first chance to at least be alone in the crowd, despite Buffy and Giles’s lingering disapproval.

The ride to Sunnydale High in Oz’s van was a brief escape, but not nearly enough. By the time Rose sat down for English, the weight of everything pressed on her once again. She let her mind wander, her pen idly scratching across the notebook page when she felt it—a flicker of magic, like the brush of cold air against her skin. Her notebook lifted ever so slightly off the desk.

Her heart pounded as she found a folded scrap of paper underneath. The ink had bled through hints of jagged letters on the other side. Rose glanced at Willow beside her, but her friend was engrossed in her own work. Slowly, with careful fingers, she unfolded the note beneath her book.

If you want answers, you need to get away from your annoyingly attached friends. Use the cafeteria exit. Your equally annoying family isn’t watching it. - Ethan

Her breath caught in her throat. Ethan. A trick, maybe, but what would her family gain from pretending to be him? And why now? Despite the warning bells ringing in her head, it was tempting. Ethan was part of Giles’s magical past—a piece of the puzzle Rose had been desperately trying to solve.

It’s worth the risk.

There was no slipping away unnoticed if Willow caught wind of her plan. Rose steadied her breath, whispering a word beneath it, “Subsisto.“ The world around her froze mid-motion: the teacher, the ticking clock, the tapping of pencils. Time held still as she darted from her seat, her bag and books clutched to her chest.

Once in the hall, the spell’s effect ebbed. She could already feel it faltering. Heart hammering in her chest, she rushed toward the cafeteria exit, knowing Willow would soon be on her trail. Sunlight blinded her as she burst through the doors, but she barely had time to register Ethan’s dark, triumphant smile before everything went black.

When Rose awoke, cold tile pressed against her cheek, the metallic stench of mildew filling her lungs. Disoriented, she blinked through the haze clouding her mind. Where am I? A dingy bathroom spun into focus, and her stomach twisted as fear anchored in her gut.

“What—?” Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Ethan’s face came into view, a smirk plastered across his face as he crouched in front of her. “Why, hello love.”

Her first instinct was to lunge at him, but a sharp jolt of pain held her back. She looked down—her wrists were bound in thick iron cuffs, etched with runes that pulsed faintly. Chains rattled as she struggled, securing her to a rusted pipe behind her. Panic surged through her as she reached for her magic, only to find emptiness. The familiar spark was gone.

“They negate your magic.” Ethan’s voice dripped with amusement as Rose continued her futile attempts to summon her power. “Did you really think I’d meet you without a way to nullify your power? Plus, this keeps you hidden from both your lover and your family.”

Rose gritted her teeth. “So, this was all just a trap.”

“Yes and no,” Ethan replied, standing up and dusting off his hands. “I needed to separate you from your babysitters. As much as I enjoy chaos, I have information you want and I don’t need the band of misfits trying to kill me.”

Her mind raced, but it kept circling back to Giles—how furious he would be, how reckless she’d been. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

Ethan’s smile widened, a glint of malevolence in his eyes. “Because it will kill Ripper to know the truth, and nothing gives me more pleasure than watching him self-destruct. So don’t worry, today is not the day you die, Rose.”

His words struck like a knife, slicing through her resolve. The air around her felt heavier, suffocating. “Why do you hate him so much?” Rose spat, though her voice wavered.

“Hate? Oh, darling, I don’t hate him. I pity him.” Ethan crossed his arms, his tone thick with sarcasm. “Your white knight, hiding behind his books, preaching about morality when he’s done worse than most of the monsters he fights.”

Rose’s heart pounded in her chest. “If I’m here to just listen to you slander him, you’re wasting your breath. Rupert is a good man.”

“Is he now?” Ethan’s gaze bore into her. “Tell me, those feelings you have for him—do they feel real? Or are they just a spell, carefully crafted to bind you to him?”

Her blood ran cold. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s a spell, love.” His voice was low, almost gentle, as though he enjoyed watching her break. “Years ago, Ripper and I performed a little ritual. A spell to draw out the one person whose magic would perfectly complement our own. Someone who would satisfy every need, every desire. We were lonely men dear, you have to understand. However, it is my luck that your pesky family curse has made everything so much more fun. “

Rose’s breath hitched, the world around her narrowing into a suffocating tunnel. “A spell?“

Her heart splintered under the weight of his words. Everything she had felt—her attraction to Giles, her growing connection—was it all fabricated and by Giles himself? Tears stung the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to give Ethan the satisfaction of seeing her crumble.

“We thought we did it wrong, that it didn’t work. Then, to my surprise, about five years ago, I found him. Hugh was my everything; we complimented each other perfectly... until the Watchers killed him for using dark magic.” Ethan’s voice was quieter now, but the bitterness behind his words cut deep. Then he left the room, his retreat leaving a hollow silence.

Rose’s pulse quickened, her heart pounding against her chest. It wasn’t just the realization that Ethan had lost someone—someone who completed him, just like she thought Giles did for her—but the creeping fear that slithered into her mind. Was her bond with Giles just an illusion? Just another manipulation?

“So this is all revenge on Rupert because the Council killed the man you bewitched into loving you?” she asked, her voice strained as she pulled at the cuffs, trying to loosen her wrist even a fraction.

Ethan reappeared, a twisted smile tugging at his lips. “No, I’ve wanted revenge on Ripper for much longer than that. Hugh... he gave me a purpose, a new life. But now that he’s gone, what else is there?” He stepped forward, the glint of something cold in his hand catching Rose’s attention.

Her heart dropped as she saw the blade—a ceremonial dagger, its hilt adorned with the same runes that marked her family’s coven. Recognition hit her like a punch to the gut. “How did you get that?” Her voice trembled with fear she could no longer suppress.

“You’re not the only one with friends, love.” Ethan’s smirk deepened as he leaned casually against the doorframe. He twirled the dagger, the metal catching the dim light, making her stomach churn. “Now, here’s where you find yourself, Rose. I want access to your coven’s magic. In exchange, I’ll give you the spell to sever the magical aspect of your romantic connection with Ripper. He’ll still be your guardian in this little curse of yours, but you’ll be free from the... nasty effect your death will have on him.”

Rose felt the walls closing in, her breaths growing shallow as panic settled in her chest. “Why would I even bother? I’m going to die anyway. What difference does it make?” The words came out sharper than she intended, though beneath them was a thread of desperation she couldn’t mask.

“The spell, love.” Ethan’s eyes gleamed with a cruel satisfaction. “Judging by how close you two were when I first met you, I’d wager you’ve already consummated your bond—emotionally and physically. That’s how the spell fully connects, you see. It ties you to each other in ways you can’t escape. If you die...” He let the words hang in the air, his grin widening. “Rupert dies too.”

Rose’s heart stopped, her blood running cold. “What?” Her voice barely escaped her lips. A strangled whisper as the weight of his words settled on her like a shroud. “But...”

Ethan’s smile widened. “But I’m alive, aren’t I? See, I severed the connection between myself and Hugh long before his death. I’m not one for being tied down and when I realized the love, I felt was a result of the spell, I found a way to break it.” He paused, watching her intently, savoring her unraveling. “Unfortunately, we really did love each other, so it still felt like my heart was being ripped out when his was pierced with a dagger. So, here’s your dilemma, love. If you die, are you going to take Ripper with you?”

“No...” Rose’s throat tightened, her vision blurring as tears welled in her eyes. The book Anya had shown her—the passage about the bond—it had been true. All of it, just not in the context they thought. “No,” she whispered again, as if saying it enough times would make it false, but deep down, she knew. She had known for a while that what she felt was deep down was only magic.

“You really are unlucky, aren’t you?” Ethan cooed, circling her like a predator, savoring its prey. “Cursed by your ancestors and bewitched by a warlock... It’s almost poetic.”

The first tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it, but once it started, more followed. She couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions crashing into her all at once. The love she thought was hers—real and pure—was a fabrication, an enchantment woven into the very fabric of her being.

“So... it’s all a lie?” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper. The room felt impossibly small, the walls pressing in as her heart broke into pieces.

“No, not entirely. The love I felt for Hugh was still there after I broke the spell, even when I didn’t want to feel it.” Ethan crouched down in front of her, brushing a tear from her cheek with a mockingly gentle touch. “The connection would have been there, but without the spell and given your age differences, you’d have dismissed it as a fleeting crush. And Rupert, well, he would’ve remained the saintly, rule-abiding Watcher, keeping his distance, never acting on his feelings.”

A sob caught in her throat as another tear slipped free. Ethan’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched her crumble. “But I could have never expected what I would find here in Sunnydale, here you are... bound to him in ways you can’t control. Tell me, Rose, do you really want to take him with you to the grave?”

Rose closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the cold wall, feeling utterly defeated. Her mind raced, spinning through the impossible choices laid before her. She couldn’t bear the thought of Giles—Rupert—dying because of her. But to sever the bond meant surrendering to Ethan, allowing him into her coven’s magic. Was there any way out? Any path that wouldn’t end in ruin?

“I can’t do the ritual like this.” Her voice was hoarse, broken as she lifted her shackled wrists slightly in a half-hearted gesture.

“I’m well aware,” Ethan responded smoothly.

“Well?” Rose whispered, her voice trembling as she glanced down at the enchanted cuffs biting into her wrists.

“I’m not stupid, love,” Ethan replied smoothly, his tone condescending as he eyed her restraints. “I’m not releasing you until we’re ready for the ritual. Besides, I’d like Ripper to stew in his own guilt a little longer before we meet up again. Once the time comes, we’ll gather with your do-gooder friends, and once you’ve brought me into the coven, I’ll give you the spell to sever your connection with your beloved Watcher.”

He straightened himself, his gaze cold and calculating as it bore down on her. “But I think I’d like to see you a bit weaker before that. Can’t have you overpowering me, now can we? You see, with those cuffs binding you, the longer you and Ripper are apart, the weaker you’ll both become.” His smile was a cruel, deliberate thing, full of satisfaction. “Gotta even the playing field somehow, because I want to enjoy watching Rupert lose yet another woman he cares for.”

Rose’s heart pounded painfully in her chest as Ethan turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him. The moment she was alone, the silence of the musty bathroom swallowed her whole. It was as if every fear and doubt she’d been holding back came crashing down in an unrelenting wave. Her breath hitched, and before she could stop it, the sobs ripped from her throat, raw and helpless.

Her body shook as she cried, the weight of Ethan’s words crashing over her. Every tear that fell was a reminder of how trapped she was—physically, emotionally, magically. The truth carved itself deeper into her heart with every ragged breath. Her love for Giles twisted into a cruel, unnatural connection. It wasn’t real, none of it was real.

And yet, the pain that tore through her wasn’t a lie. The fear of what was happening to them—of what could happen to Giles—was all too real. Ethan’s game, his twisted manipulation, had reduced her to this—bound, broken, and desperate, with no clear way out.

Each sob that wracked her body felt like a betrayal of her own strength, but she couldn’t stop.

Chapter Thirteen

[mcgnagallsarmy]

Spuffy style Reading Challenge - #27: Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge #3

1st month - Secret, Heaven, True, House, Come, Only, Know, Winter:

A Wonderful Awful Idea by The Danish Bird [NC-17]

With nothing apocalyptic looming on the horizon and hoping to avoid a certain thick-headed commando, it seems like the perfect opportunity when Giles mentions a monster terrorising the good people of Lake Tahoe. What could be more merry than a Christmas trip to the mountains to investigate? The gang is all coming along, defanged vampire in tow. Buffy should totally be able to deal with the demon, ignore Spike and their recent “engagement,” enjoy some resort-town shopping, and be back with Mom on Christmas Eve. Right? What could possibly go wrong? Set in season 4 at the beginning of Doomed.

2nd month - Heir, Night, Bride, Down, Women, Hand, Teach, Guest:

Drive by Holly [NC-17]

Freshly turned and very grumpy about it, Buffy finds herself in a weird place. One where her friends smell like food, her former mortal enemy smells like heaven, and the so-called love of her life has made it clear that killing her is on his to-do list. Throw in some overly zealous army guys and this is not Buffy's idea of a party. So she and Spike decide to hit the road at least long enough to figure out why neither of them can hit anything else. And since they're both single and free, well, Buffy wouldn't say no to a distraction from the never-ending laugh riot that is her life. And Spike can be very, very distracting. Good thing soulless vampires can't fall in love or she might be in trouble.

3rd month - Story, Hunt, Plot, City, You, Cry, Another, Paint:

I Can Get Money by scratchmeout [NC-17]

Spike puts his past to good use to get money for Buffy. However, things become complicated when her ex shows up and targets Spike.

4th month - Darling, Funny, Familiar, Somewhere, List, Meet, Never, Word:

First Alternate by Soulburnt [NC-17]

After ‘Not Fade Away,’ Angel gets the Shanshu. A thrilled Buffy gets her curse-free soulmate. And Spike? He gets his heart shattered again. Gutted and seeing no point in staying in a world without his Slayer, Spike doesn’t hesitate when pursuing a deadly demon through a portal. He finds himself stuck in an alternate reality where he truly died closing the Hellmouth. He also finds another Buffy, one who is devastated that her Spike didn’t believe she loved him. They console each other over their losses… but are they only consolation prizes? Or can two heartbroken people get a second chance for love?

5th month - Library, Dark, Drown, Ex, Iron, Done, Love, Stranger:

If I'm Butter Than He's a Hot Knife by scratchmeout [NC-17]

Buffy meets a man at a bar on Valentine's Day.

6th month - Ink, Fragile, Road, Summer, Breath, Every, Push, Sorry:

Favor by EllieRose101 [NC-17]

Spike asks an impossible thing of Buffy––and is stunned when she says yes. Could he really have gone up in her estimation?

7th month - Mine, Again, Honey, Paradise, Still, Club, Train, Legend:

Eucharist by Holly [NC-17]

He had it all. The prophecy and the girl, merrily ever after and all that rot. But life doesn't stop.

8th month - School, Cut, Sky, Fate, Wing, Belong, Justice, Way:

The Time We Had by Dusty [NC-17]

She was there and then gone. All his life long.

9th month - Twice, World, Man, Quiet, Sweet, Hold, Shallow, Invisible:

Pardon My French by Girlytek [R]

In retrospect, it was probably a bad idea to let Buffy perform a spell in French. Begins at No Place Like Home.

10th month - Vampire, Here, Mist, Death, One, Missing, Bite, Witch:

Sweet William by cawthraven [PG]

After the fall of Sunnydale, Buffy’s living in Boston and working as a waitress, grateful that here, not everyone knows her name. She’s free for once to be herself—and to grieve.

11th month - Spice, Life, Hello, Keep, Truly, Couple, Joy, Young:

Candy Corn Mischief by honeygirl51885 [NC-17]

Spike gets roped into taking Dawn trick-or-treating.

12th month - Snow, Season, Ice, Merry, White, Under, Mistletoe, Inn:

A Christmas Wish by all choseny [PG-13]

On one lonely Christmas Eve, Buffy makes a wish to a stranger and is given a glimpse of what might have been with Spike.

[davidchiemcore]

transcript for DRDT Prologue Episode Three

Teruko: Why don’t we talk to that person next?

Xander: Hello there, we–

Arturo: Arturo Giles, Ultimate Plastic Surgeon. That’s what you want out of me, right?

Ultimate Plastic Surgeon - Arturo Giles

Arturo: We both have made sufficient introductions, so I’ll be taking my leave now.

Xander: Whoa, wait. Why are you leaving so soon?

Arturo: You two are far beneath my standards and are not worth my time, that’s why.

Xander: Excuse me?

Teruko: Erm, what standards are you talking about?

Arturo: Tch. Do I need to spell it out any more for you two?

Arturo: You two are ugly. And I don’t talk to ugly people. So get out of my sight.

Xander: …

Xander: …I’m confused.

Arturo: What is there to be confused about? I made my point perfectly clear.

Xander: Your standards for talking to people is based on their physical attractiveness? That doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Xander: Also… I’m not that unattractive. I’m not, right, Ms. Teruko?

Teruko: …It’s okay, Xander.

Xander: Wait, what’s that supposed to mean??

Teruko: Anyway, Arturo, you said your talent was Plastic Surgeon? I guess to an extent, it would explain why you’re focused on physical beauty so much.

Teruko: But going as far to say that you won’t even talk to people you think are unattractive is, how do I say, ridiculous.

Teruko: Do you possibly think that you’re so astonishingly attractive that you think you’re above us?

Arturo: Ugh, making me explain things to you… This is why I hate interacting with the hoi palloi.

Arturo: It doesn’t matter what I look like. After all, in the end we are nothing compared to those people.

Teruko: “Those people”?

Arturo: Yes, indeed… Those people… THose celebrities, actors, idols, who adhere so strictly to a beauty code and who have sacrificed everything for their appearance.

Arturo: That upper class who has attained a higher form with their perfect standards of beauty… Their elegant forms! Their stunning grace! Everything about beautiful people is so heavenly!

Arturo: Indeed, compared to those otherworldly gods, average people like us are merely a lower caste meant only to idolize them!

Arturo: That is the true purpose of my talent. I am only meant to serve those who are beautiful, help them attain even more magnificent forms!

Teruko: …

Xander: …

Teruko: Xander, we’re talking to a lunatic. I don’t have any clue what he’s even talking about. I think we should leave, right now.

Xander: Hey, no backing down, Ms. Teruko. Besides, we’re trying to gather information, remember?

Teruko: Something about this guy just makes me want to stay as far away from him as possible.

Xander: Hey, Mr. Arturo.

Arturo: Oh. I forgot I was still talking to you. What do you want?

Xander: First of all, can you stop talking about “attractive people?”

Xander: Second of all, do you know anything about our current situation?

Arturo: First of all, no.

Arturo: Absolutely not. Secondly…

Arturo: Hmm. All I can say is, the infirmary seems abnormally well stocked.

Arturo: Normally, an infirmary for a regular building would not contain surgical supplies, partly because there are not many people who are trained to use them.

Xander: The medical bay has that sort of equipment? I didn’t see anything like that; it must have been in storage.

Xander: Has whoever brought us here anticipated that there would be a surgeon amongst us and brought the necessary equipment?

Teruko: The alternate explanation is that whoever made this place expected that, for whatever reason, we’d be seeing a lot of serious injuries in the future.

Arturo: The latter explanation seems more likely. After all, there is quite a variety of equipment that would serve no use for cosmetic surgery, which is my speciality.

Arturo: …Not that two peasants like you would know anything about it. Run along now and leave me be.

Xander: Peasants? Is that really how he views others?

Teruko: I think I’m starting to slowly understand his worldview the more I talk to him.

Teruko: …No I don’t!! Just what on earth is he going on about??

Xander: If something goes wrong, it’d be useful to have someone like Mr. Arturo around who has medical training.

Teruko: It’s just that…

Teruko and Xander: I wouldn’t want this creep to operate on me!

Teruko: Next person is…?

Levi: Hello. Do you two wish to introduce yourselves to me, now?

Xander: That’s right.

Xander: I’m Xander Matthews, the Ultimate Rebel. And this is Ms. Teruko Tawaki, the Ultimate Lucky Student.

Levi: Hmm, it seems like you’re trying to create a striking appearance with your style of dress but are mostly wearing accessories on top of a school uniform. Do you come from a private school?

Xander: Oh, right, this uniform. It’s my old boarding school’s uniform. It’s pretty lame.

Levi: On the contrary, I think it accentuates your personality well.

Levi: You are trying to make use of whatever clothing or style is forced upon you by society and altering it to create something new and original.

Levi: Just from your clothing alone, I can tell that you are an unorthodox person who doesn’t like to be constrained by rules but knows how to make use of what he’s been given.

Xander: Whoa! You can tell that much by my clothing? That’s incredible! Who are you, anyway?

Levi: Ah, my apologies. I was so focused on analyzing you that I neglected to introduce myself.

Levi: I am Levi Fontana, the Ultimate Personal Stylist. It’s a pleasure to meet you.

Ultimate Personal Stylist - Levi Fontana

Xander: Ah, guess that explains why you know so much about clothes. No wonder you seem like such a cool person. I suppose someone like you knows everything there is to know about style.

Levi: I don’t wish to mislead you into thinking that I am an expert in my field. I am actually a novice when it comes to fashion.

Levi: The truth is, I only turned towards this talent recently. I was quite a different person in my past…

Levi: Although that is not something I wish to discuss, my apologies.

Teruko: He turned his gaze to me.

Levi: As for you…

Levi: Oh, dear.

Teruko: Ah, geez. Are you going to talk about my outfit now? I know that I’m probably dressed a little too shoddily for my first day of school. I probably look like a mess.

Levi: No, it’s not that.

Levi: Judging from your battered outfit and your bandages, you seem like a person who gets injured very frequently.

Levi: I’m very sorry. I don’t know whatever circumstances you were in prior to our meeting, or what caused those injuries of yours. It’s a real shame.

Levi: As long as I am your classmate and acquaintance, I will do my best to keep you safe from now on.

Teruko: A–ah, that’s incredibly nice of you. Thank you so much.

Levi: If there is anything the two of you need, just let me know and I will be happy to help to the best of my abilities.

Xander: I’m relieved; it turns out that Levi’s an incredibly nice person.

Teruko: Right. I wonder what happened in his past, though? He brought it up but didn’t elaborate.

Teruko: It’s probably best not to pry.

Teruko: Hello there.

Ace: Huh? The fuck do you want, bitch?

Teruko: Eh?

Xander: Hey, don’t talk to Ms. Teruko like that. What gives you the right to be so rude?

Ace: What gives you the right to talk to me in the first place, asshole?

Xander: You’re being the real asshole here!

Ace: You wanna fight??

Teruko: …I think this is only going to escalate unless I step in.

Teruko: We don’t want to start a fight, okay?

Teruko: Well, I don’t want to start a fight. Xander may be halfway there already.

Teruko: My point is, I just want to know your name and talent, and maybe a little bit about yourself? We have no negative intentions, I assure you.

Ace: Why should I tell you who I am? Why exactly do you deserve this information, huh?

Levi: His name is Ace Markey. He is the Ultimate Jockey.

Ace: Why did you tell them that–OH GOD IT’S YOU

Ultimate Jockey - Ace Markey

Teruko: Oh! A jockey. That explains–

Teruko: –nothing. By the way, Levi, did you do something to Ace? He seems quite frightened of you.

Levi: I assure you I have not done anything, at least to my knowledge.

Ace: Bullshit! You’ve been watching me ever since I got here! You’re probably, like, planning to beat me up or something!

Levi: I have been watching you because you have tried to start a fight with every single person that has talked to you thus far, and I would like to avoid the chance of an actual fight breaking out.

Ace: Are you just making things up? When is the last time I even did such a thing?

Xander: Are you kidding me? Just now, you had asked me if I wanted to fight.

Xander: Which, by the way, I’m perfectly willing to accept.

Ace: EEYAAAAAAAAAAAH!!

Ace: W–W–Wait, don’t come over here, I was just kidding! Please don’t actually fight me! Y–You look so scary, holy shit, get away from me!!

Xander: So, you talk louder than your fists, huh? You’ve been rude to us this whole time, but the moment you face any sort of consequences you instantly become a coward.

Ace: What was that?!

Levi: Please stop, both of you.

Xander. Tch. I’m not going to get riled up again over the empty words of someone so weak-willed. Besides, it’s clear to me that you’ve got nothing useful to say. Ms. Teruko, let’s leave.

Teruko: Just another minute, Xander. I still want to ask some more questions.

Xander: Suit yourself.

Teruko: …Xander sure is way too serious about this sort of thing.

Ace: What the hell do you want with me?

Teruko: Don’t come any closer. If you do, I’ll curse you with my bad luck.

Ace: Wh, wh, what?! Is that really true? S–Stay away from me at all costs! I won’t touch you!

Teruko: Wait, you took that seriously? I wasn’t serious at all. Look, I just want to have a normal conversation without you starting a fight.

Teruko: …A normal conversation standing 10 feet apart. Why did you back up so much?

Ace: How far is far enough?? Don’t come near me!

Teruko: …

Teruko: I just wanted to know why you’re so aggressive, especially when it seems that you’re unwilling to actually have a confrontation.

Teruko: Isn’t it tiring acting like that all the time? Why do you even want to come to this school?

Ace: Oi, speak up. I can’t hear you all the way over here.

Teruko: …

Ace: …Hm? You askin’ why I came to this school?

Ace: To be honest, I didn’t fuckin’ want to!

Ace: I don’t want to be an Ultimate. Hell, I don’t even want to be a jockey!

Ace: I hate horses and racing is so dangerous, it’s terrifying. What if I fell off and broke a bone? What if I died??

Teruko: Um, why are you even here then? You know you could have just… turned down the Academy’s acceptance letter, right…?

Teruko: …He can’t hear me anymore.

Xander: Don’t waste your time with this guy, he’s not going to say anything worthwhile.

Xander: Anyway, what exactly did you say to him? He keeps moving away from you.

Xander: …

Xander: He’s like, on the other side of the room.

Teruko: I just meant to frighten him a little, I really didn’t think he’d take it this seriously.

Xander: A guy like that will get scared by anything that moves.

Xander: Come on, let’s move on.

Min: …

Teruko: This person looks intensely buried in some sort of textbook.

Xander: Hello there.

Min: …

Xander: Hey, do you mind putting your book down so that we can talk to you?

Min: …

Teruko: She looks pretty engrossed. Maybe we should come back later.

Xander: I’m Xander Matthews, and I’m the Ultimate Rebel. This is ms. Teruko Tawaki, the Ultimate Lucky Student.

Teruko: You never give up, huh?

Min: …

Teruko: Uh, I don’t know if she heard us.

Min: …

Xander: Hey! Stop ignoring us! We’re not going to leave until you give us an introduction, you know!

Teruko: She slams her book shut.

Min: Hmph. Alright, I understand.

Min: I’d really prefer not to be disturbed when I’m in the middle of reading, but it seems that you two aren’t going to leave me alone.

Min: I am called Min Jeung, the Ultimate Student. It’s nice to meet you.

Ultimate Student - Min Jeung

Xander: Ultimate Student, eh? Any relation to your talent, Ms. Teruko?

Teruko: I don’t think there’s any connection between an Ultimate Student and an Ultimate Lucky Student. They just happen to have similar names.

Min: I have finished introducing myself, so…

Teruko: She opens her book and starts reading again.

Xander: Are you kidding me? We’re not done with you, so stop reading! Haven’t you got any respect for your peers?

Teruko: We’ll just ask you one question, and then we’ll leave. What do you know about the situation we're in?

Min: I don’t know anything more than you do. I think if I investigated a little, I could find something out.

Min: But right now, I’m more focused on memorizing this anatomy textbook I found in the medical room.

Xander: Wait a minute. Memorizing?? I’m probably nowhere near as smart as you, but that still looks way too dense!

Min: I can handle it. In a day, I could probably fully memorize the contents of multiple textbooks like this one.

Teruko: That’s incredible. I guess you are the Ultimate Student for a reason.

Xander: Well, that’s not what’s important here.

Xander: You woke up in a mysterious place with all your classmates, not knowing how you got here or what’s going on, and your first instinct is to start… studying?

Xander: I understand that you are the Ultimate Student, but still…

Min: You may disapprove, but it’s a simple fact that I must be constantly working to hone my talent in order to maintain it.

Min: Every single bit of free time I get is an opportunity that I can and should be using to do something productive. That is the only way I can maintain my position as the Ultimate Student.

Min: My school performance cannot be anything less of perfection. That’s the work ethic I live by.

Xander: I would understand if you were studying towards a specific profession, or a particular purpose in life. But just to keep your grades up?

Xander: Do you do anything else in your free time, other than cram?

Min: Sometimes I sleep.

Xander: Do you have any hobbies?

Min: I participate in various clubs.

Xander: Do you have any friends??

Min: Yes, I–

Min: I don’t need to prove myself to you! Just why do you think you have the right to pry into my life, anyway?

Xander: This is messed up.

Xander: See, Ms. Teruko? This is what I mean when I say society is messed up. We’re teaching people that the only thing that matters are useless rankings or grades, not actual talents.

Xander: And for what, to raise an entire generation of kids who can’t even see in front of their own faces, much less their futures?

Min: I can see through my bangs just fine.

Teruko: I think she’s missing the point.

Xander: What do you plan to do after you graduate? What good is memorizing a bunch of meaningless things once you needn’t take tests anymore?

Xander: Have you ever even thought of your own life outside of school??

Min: …

Teruko: She went back to reading.

Teruko: Xander… You may have good intentions in mind, but I don’t think lecturing strangers about how their talent and lives are pointless is necessarily the right thing to do right now.

Xander: Oh.

Xander: Well, when you put it like that… I guess I did come off as too rude.

Xander: Sorry. I just get so worked up over these things; it’s hard to stay calm when I do.

Teruko: You’re a lot to handle.

Teruko: Why don’t we just move on to the next person, then?