[identity profile] tashlae.livejournal.com in [community profile] seasonal_spuffy
Title: Traditional Love Stories
Rating: PG
Timeline: more or less post NFA (and ignorant of the comics as well) but references to S2-7.  Basically.
Summary: This is not a love story.  It's sort of hard to say that when there's this much attempted murder. 
A/N:  I'm excited to be posting!  This is a little bit strange, but I hope everyone likes it. 



This is not a love story.

 

It's a bit difficult to say that when attempted murder occurs with some regularity.

 

This is a story about a human woman and a vampire man.

 

Many would say that love shouldn't come into the equation at all.

 

-

 

In every generation there is born a Slayer.  Yadda yadda yadda.  We know this already.

 

In every generation, there are hundreds upon hundreds of vampires.  Many of them don't survive the first month.  If there is a Slayer in town, we whittle that expectancy down to the first week.

 

However, sometimes someone comes along who is special.

 

-

 

If I told you that there was a vampire who fell in love with a Slayer, would you believe me?

 

I'm not talking about a vampire with a soul.

 

I'm not talking about a vampire like Dracula (and let's be honest, does he even count?  I mean really.)

 

I'm talking about a vampire.  A fangy, violent vampire in black leather with black boots and rough, calloused hands.  A vampire who has killed young children in the middle of the night and feasted on the fear of wars and rebellions.  A vampire who has killed Slayers.

 

The thing about Slayers, though, is they've done their fair share of killing.

 

You see, it's like this:  every vampire was once a human, therefore every dead vampire is still another dead being.  And even if sometimes they were worthless scamps (we're looking at you, Angel), sometimes they weren't.  Sometimes, if they hadn't been vampires, they would have lived out a nice life in society, failed attempts at poetry aside.

 

Anyways.

 

Remember that this vampire is special.

 

And we're still not talking about Angel.

 

-

 

Most Slayers don't fall in love either.

 

-

 

The first time this Slayer saw this vampire, he was trying to kill her.  But it's only fair, because she was trying to kill him right back and they were evenly matched.

 

The vampire had a girlfriend at the time, but she was quite literally a psychotic bitch, and so we don't talk about her much.

 

There were a few other times that our two met up, involving fighting and attempted death. 

 

But after that.  After that is what's important.

 

This vampire helped this Slayer save the world.

 

Yeah, you heard that right.  He helped her save the world.

 

Why did he do it?  Well, he likes this world you see.  He likes the food.  The football.  The people.

 

And he likes the Slayer. 

 

Though that probably wasn't one of his reasons at time.

 

Right then, she was a temporary ally, and that meant something.

 

-

 

Later on, things got interesting.

 

There was melodrama.

 

There was tears.

 

There was sex.

 

There was almost a wedding. 

 

And then he helped her save the world again.

 

-

 

That's right.

 

This vampire helped the Slayer save the world twice.  Probably more times, although these two are the more memorable ones.

 

He didn't even have a soul the first time around!

 

That's far more than you can say for Angel.

 

-

 

See, this time that he saved the world with the Slayer?  That time was different.

 

Because this time he died.  (We think.  And it still counts, even if you come back.)

 

There was this necklace, you see.  Tacky thing, but it had Special Properties.

 

(Be careful of what you pick up in thrift stores.  It's always the shiny ones that get you.  And the lockets.  Lockets are just overall bad news.)

 

He sacrificed himself to save the world.

 

It was a big step for a people-eating vampire.

 

-

 

It might be a cliché to say that he did it all for love.

 

But yeah.  He did it all for love.

 

-

 

The Slayer said that she loved him.

 

He didn't believe her, though. He told her he didn't, but thanks anyways.  Always polite, our vampire.

 

And then he went out in a blaze of glory.  (Literally.  There were flames and everything).

 

But then it gets tricky.  Cause he came back.

 

-

 

So at first he was a ghost, and because he was non-corporeal that probably doesn't count.  But eventually he was returned to human form, and then our vampire doesn't even call the Slayer!  He didn't even pick up a phone and say hello!

 

Okay, so there might have been an apocalypse going on and there might have been a dragon in it and lots of other things.  But still.  At this point in the story our vampire here is The Hero.  We're rooting for him.  He's the Badass Longcoat and we want him to get the girl.

 

So of course his own stupidity gets in the way.

 

Because he didn't call her.

 

And as you might expect, she got kind of mad.  Especially when she found out that there was an apocalypse and she wasn't invited.

 

So they fought, and they won, and it was a fight full of adrenaline and they saved each other's lives quite a few times.  And the Slayer's witch friend showed up and blew things up as well, because that's how she rolls.

 

And then the fight was over.

 

All the adrenaline was gone.

 

The witch best friend pulled Angel away to go talk to him about the logistics of something or other that she made sound very important and urgent.  She's good at the sort of thing, which is why she gets to deal with the Council.  They're also all kind of scared of her since she almost ended the world.

 

Everyone else seemed to go away too.

 

And then it was

 

just

 

them.

 

-

 

"Buffy," he says, his voice full of heartbreak and exhaustion and exhilaration.

 

"Spike," she says, a little bit angry and a little bit excited and happy and everything else all at once.

 

She inhales, he exhales.

 

And then she runs into his arms.

 

-

 

He smells like blood and sweat and leather, with a tang of smoke and whiskey.  He smells like hours spent not sleeping and grief and shock.  He feels like he always did though, and he holds onto her.

 

Her hands grip his shoulders and he bows his head into the curve of her neck.

 

She feels him cry, feels him shudder, and all she can do it hold on.

 

-

 

"I thought you were dead."

 

"God, Spike, I thought you were dead."

 

-

 

The vampire squeezes the Slayer's hand and lightly traces a thumb through the veins that he can see, the ones close to the skin.  She's paler than he's probably ever seen her.  She isn't spending time in the California sun anymore.

 

"I'm sorry," he says, because he can't say anything else.

 

"I should slap you," she says.  "I really should."

 

"You really should," he agrees with her.

 

"You just-"  she breathes in shakily, and he can hear the catch in the her throat.  "I said that I loved you.  And you didn't listen."

 

"I'm a right jackass," he grins a little at her and her hold tightens.

 

"Do you believe me now?"

 

You don't have to worry.  He does.

 

-

 

This isn't a traditional love story.  That's been pretty clear from the beginning.

 

They've stopped trying to kill each other, of course.  There are much better ways of  working out tension.

 

But we have a Slayer and a vampire.  And he's not the tragic hero, or even the normal hero.  He's not supposed to get the girl, right?  He's not even supposed to get her and then lose her (and then find her again and then lose her again and then...)  Besides, this Slayer would like to argue that it's her who gets the man, not so much the other way around.

 

We'd say that the whole tale just proves that opposites attract, but they're not really opposites.

 

In fact, they're very much the same.

 

As our friend Will Shakespeare would say, the course of true love never did run smooth.  But that quote is kind of overexposed.   And did you know, there's a second half to that quote that suits them far more.  It goes like this:  Love is a familiar.  Love is a devil.  There is no evil angel but love.

 

People always forget about the second halves of things.

 

There's a second half to this story too.  The one where the beloved couple ride happily off into the moonlight, perhaps on a horse, merrily making out the whole way. 

 

And they'll get there.

 

They just have to avert an apocalypse first.

 

 



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2010-05-27 02:02 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] sandy-s.livejournal.com
I like it...very unique! :o) And the first Spuffy I've read in a while...simple but extremely clever. Nice!

2010-05-27 02:20 (UTC)
snickfic: Buffy looking over her shoulder (Spuffy fluff)
- Posted by [personal profile] snickfic
*jaw drops*

Okay, I loved this. And I feel like I shouldn't, because you're just telling me what I already know, right? It's not like I don't know the story. But it's the voice that sells this thing - your narrator is so wonderfully self-aware, and you know just when to push in for a close-up of Our Heroes and when to pull out for some wry perspective on the thing. You really make the informality work for you. Even your overexposed Shakespeare quote is perfect this way. All this, and with all your comments to "you" and "we" you make this fic as much a love letter to Spuffy shippers as about the Spuffy ship itself.

I love Spuffy, don't get me wrong, but I love this because of your voice. It's fabulous.

Lines to show what I mean:
I'm not talking about a vampire like Dracula (and let's be honest, does he even count? I mean really.)

The vampire had a girlfriend at the time, but she was quite literally a psychotic bitch, and so we don't talk about her much.

And he likes the Slayer.... Though that probably wasn't one of his reasons at time.

Because this time he died. (We think. And it still counts, even if you come back.)

It might be a cliché to say that he did it all for love.... But yeah. He did it all for love.

At this point in the story our vampire here is The Hero. We're rooting for him. He's the Badass Longcoat and we want him to get the girl.

Sorry if I effused all over you, but this fic just worked for me.

2010-05-27 02:41 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] seapealsh.livejournal.com
Different but clever. I enjoyed it.

2010-05-27 03:00 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com
Wonderful look at them. Very uniquely done. Good job!

2010-05-27 04:43 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] zanthinegirl.livejournal.com
What an interesting way to tell a story. Witty storytelling technique; I really enjoyed it. Though I spent a fair amount of the story trying to decide who the narrator is. I'm leaning to Dawn at the moment, but not positive.


Liked this one a lot!

2010-05-27 06:06 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] urania-calliope.livejournal.com
Oh oh oh! This was wonderful!

2010-05-27 06:56 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] jennylayne.livejournal.com
Very nice, I loved the breezy style.

2010-05-27 09:55 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] diebirchen.livejournal.com
See me admiring you? Yup!

(no subject)

- Posted by [identity profile] diebirchen.livejournal.com - 2010-05-28 01:59 (UTC) - Expand

2010-05-27 10:08 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] petzipellepingo.livejournal.com
This is just... neat.

As our friend Will Shakespeare would say, the course of true love never did run smooth. But that quote is kind of overexposed. And did you know, there's a second half to that quote that suits them far more. It goes like this: Love is a familiar. Love is a devil. There is no evil angel but love.



People always forget about the second halves of things.



There's a second half to this story too. The one where the beloved couple ride happily off into the moonlight, perhaps on a horse, merrily making out the whole way.



And they'll get there.



They just have to avert an apocalypse first.


Yup, that's my two favorite crazy kids.

2010-05-27 13:42 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] katiekat641.livejournal.com
Love it. Very interesting style.

2010-05-27 14:07 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] spygrrl76.livejournal.com
Normally I'm not big on stories that are told in a really, really different way, but loved this one. And I think it is because of the theme of the story - how Spike and Buffy's love story is so very far from traditional so it should be told in a non-traditional way. But what you also did so well is demonstrate what a great love story it is. Awesome!

2010-05-27 14:12 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] spikereader.livejournal.com
Great story, love the unusual and different way you've told it.

2010-05-27 15:18 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] louise39.livejournal.com
Well done and clever way of telling this story of my two favorite crazy kids. Very enjoyable.

I don't think it was Dawn speaking. The 'crazy kids' doesn't sound like her. Andrew?

2010-05-27 18:02 (UTC)
ext_175851: (shippy)
- Posted by [identity profile] sidhlairiel.livejournal.com
That was amazing <3 Wonderful narrative voice and a really unique way of telling their story. And I loved their reunion with just the perfect mixture of anger, snark and romance.

*adds to memories*

2010-05-27 19:04 (UTC)
ext_7259: (Default)
- Posted by [identity profile] moscow-watcher.livejournal.com
Wonderful story. I love the fable "feel" of the narrative, the gentle smile you look at them with.

2010-05-27 20:35 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com
I adored this! It's so simple, we all know the plot, but you've really nailed a new narrative voice that makes it all live for the reader. Your ending is satisfyingly complete but still leaves them doing what they do best.

2010-05-27 20:41 (UTC)
- Posted by (Anonymous)
OMG I loved it...loved the snarky narration.This is so Buffy and Spike..it's not a love story, but they LOVE each other. Period.

Thanx for posting this...made me smile. :D

~Ami

2010-05-27 22:52 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com
Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful and poignant and has some really funny lines to boot! I love "And the Slayer's witch friend showed up and blew things up as well, because that's how she rolls" and "They just have to avert an apocalypse first." Also, all the lines about Angel. The narrative voice is also really clever and original, and I like how it could be Buffy telling from the future (although unlikely given the insults to Angel) or a more mature Andrew or you, know, no one in particular. I like how the tone is sort of a combination of multiple characters' tones, what with the wittiness and one-liners and disdain for certain characters. Great fic!

(no subject)

- Posted by [identity profile] gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com - 2010-07-02 00:55 (UTC) - Expand

2010-05-28 00:17 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com
I loved this. The narrator is flip but I love how its cutting to the chase, though some of the asides made me laugh (lockets are bad news?). The tone was light and refreshing and I enjoy how the narrator pokes fun at the big heroes.

This was a unique, highly entertaining piece. Thanks for sharing it.

2010-05-28 20:29 (UTC)
sarian71: (Storyteller)
- Posted by [personal profile] sarian71
This was delightful and refreshingly different! :)

It'd be wonderful to see an actor on stage, doing this as a monologue.

2010-05-29 21:24 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] abelina.livejournal.com
I was trying to pick out some favourite lines, but it was hard, because they were all pretty fantastic. So perfectly Spike and Buffy and I love the outsider's take on it. It almost actually sounds like Willow!voice, but whether it is or isn't doesn't matter because this was fantastic.

2010-05-30 01:02 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] timeofchange.livejournal.com
I love this. Great voices.

2010-05-31 18:33 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] nmcil12.livejournal.com
What a wonderful piece - and great thanks for the Shakespeare continuation - I have to do an image now.

Loved the 3rd party presentation -

2010-06-02 19:28 (UTC)
- Posted by [identity profile] coalitiongirl.livejournal.com
Oh, I really like this. I like this a lot. The voice here is removed, and yet, so connected that I can hear any of the characters telling this over, sentence by sentence (with LOLable little sidebars), and so matter-of-fact that it shouldn't be emotional at all...and yet it is. Thank you for sharing it with us!
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