#riley x willow

[riley-summers]

You know what?! Screw it, let's do this...

Riley ship opinions, pt. 1, M/F edition (m/m version here, polyship version here)

If I missed one you want to hear my opinion on, put it in the replies and I'll add onto this post in a reblog.

Buffy x Riley: Is canon. Is the ship this blog is supposedly "about". I like it. Not *super* fond of how it played out in canon, but they're real cute in S4 and have some very sweet moments, like in Hush and Goodbye Iowa. Wish there was more content for it, especially fixit, canon divergent, AU, etc.

Riley x Willow: Gonna be honest, when I started S4 I thought they were teasing this as a ship. They could be cute romantically, especially if they had like a nerd4nerd dynamic going. I think I like it a bit better platonic. I think a really sweet scenario is some sort of AU where Riley is also openly queer (I'm sorry but I'm never not gonna read that man as a repressed bisexual), and he and Willow are friends who support each other.

Riley x Darla: Ok they never met in canon but that never stopped me before. In a more canon sense, I feel like they could have a really fucked up thing where they'd both be obsessed with Angel (cause you know Riley was) and they end up sleeping together or something. I do think in an AU they could be sweet and wholesome but honestly that's most all the ships imo.

Riley x Drusilla: See above when it comes to not meeting in canon. Drusilla would keep him as a pet. Riley, as a psych student, would be fascinated by how her mind works. How... cute?

Riley x Maggie Walsh: "Hello, thank you for calling Mommy Issues Central, how may I direct your call?" But in all seriousness this would be fucked up in so many ways but also somewhat plausible and you know what? I am here for it.

Riley x Tara: Another one I'd prefer platonic. I'm not entirely opposed to Tara in het ships (I kinda like the reading of her character that she's more attracted to like... the person as opposed to gender?) but I usually prefer her in f/f ships. Also, I just don't think Tara and Riley had much chemistry romantically. I'd like them as friends in the same type of scenario as with Willow tho, that could be cute.

Riley x Anya: Not really my fav, honestly. Didn't see much chemistry between them, like with Tara. Not huge on them romantically or platonic.

[oncemorewithqueering]

best buffy ship--poll:

okay so I was NOT expecting anyone to vote on my spike version of this, so...

here we are again.

[starryeyesxx]

[raisedbythetv89]

Me when the manipulative character manipulates irl viewers into ignoring all the bad and only seeing the good and then treating me like I’m the crazy one because I see through the manipulation and see the characters for who they really are instead of how they want to be perceived

[sunnydaleslayer]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 4x10

[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.

[on-this-day-btvs]

January 25, 2000

A New Man aired for BTVS season 4, episode 12. A lot happens in this episode. A few highlights: a drama-free surprise birthday party for Buffy, one of Buffy's best puns, Riley proudly announces his body count is 17, Buffy - even while still holding back - spars with Riley and it's no contest, and Willow and Tara practice magic in Tara's dorm room.

WALSH: So, the Slayer! BUFFY: Yeah. That's me. WALSH: We thought you were a myth. BUFFY: Well, you were myth-taken.

In this episode Giles's old "friend" Ethan returns. They spend time together, including at a bar where Ethan flirts. (With the waitress, totally with the waitress.) Ethan is later taken by Riley and other guys from "The Initiative."

This was the last appearance of Ethan Rayne. Ethan is played by Robin Sachs and is in four episodes total, Halloween and The Dark Age in S2, Band Candy in S3, and this episode. Sadly Robin Sachs passed away in 2013 of heart failure, at the age of 61.

[reallyreal-madeingold]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV), Angel: the Series Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Angel/Riley Finn/Spike, Angel/Riley Finn, Angel/Spike (BtVS), Riley Finn/Spike, Willow Rosenberg/Buffy Summers, very minor background Xander/Anya Characters: Angel (BtVS), Riley Finn, Spike (BtVS), Maggie Walsh, Francis Angleman, Rupert Giles, Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, Anya Jenkins, Cordelia Chase, Allen Francis Doyle, The Initiative (BtVS) Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Eventual Smut, Eventual Happy Ending, Threesome - M/M/M, Lesbian Sex, Queer Themes, Mad Scientists, Unethical Experimentation, ethics boards don't exist in the buffyverse I guess, at any rate Maggie Walsh doens't report to one, character used as test subject, nonconsentual drugging and experimentation, Vivisection, Mild Blood and Gore, rated E for the smut but would still be a sold M without it (for the violence), Captivity, starts in S4 E7 the Initiative, Buckle up kids, this is gonna hurt, bisexual Angel (btvs), Bisexual Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Bisexual Riley Finn (BtVS), bisexual Cordelia Chase (btvs), sapphic Buffy Summers, Sapphic Willow Rosenberg, at least three queer awakenings, dream and hallucination sequences, Sleep Deprivation Summary:

Season 4. Angel shows up in Sunnydale to help Buffy, after Doyle has a vision of a terrible threat. The threat turns out to cause nothing more than a ruined Thanksgiving. Buffy discovers Angel lurking, they argue, an injured and helpless Spike shows up rambling about scientists and the military, and overall, Angel is having a terrible night. Which only gets worse from there. Captured by government scientists, subject to cruel experiments, and at the mercy of unethical scientist Maggie Walsh, Angel's only hope of survival is young soldier Riley Finn, who is beginning to question the Initiative's practices. Meanwhile, Cordelia and Doyle head to Sunnydale in search of their boss, while Spike tries to convince the Scooby gang to take him seriously--Angel could be in trouble, and Spike thinks he knows what's happened. As the days drag on and tensions rise, Buffy and Willow find themselves growing closer in new ways...

[dontwarnthetadpoles]

Under the impression that if I do not formalize the end of my semi-hiatus, it will never be real.

Hence this post which works as a reminder that I really think and I write a lot on certain dynamics, the arcs of the most essential characters (at least for me), the visions of Whedon and his creative and decision-making process, the intentions of the writers, the choices of the directors of BTVS and ATS, the acting; and that it could be interesting not to delete all these writings, to keep a trace of this brain activity by modifying and publishing these scattered thoughts, by making them real meta.

I like the idea of having a plan, so here is a guideline of the things that I want to do in the coming weeks. I want to share:

lots of unpopular opinions: mostly about the fandom, Whedon, the cast and crew, writers and showrunners,

more episode reviews of Buffy and Willow's relationship episode by episode: at least i need to finish season 1 (+ edit and fix the old and first reviews: add more pics and polish the writing styler),

in the same format of going through a relationship episode by episode, start a series that focuses on Willow and Oz's relationship,

finish the mega meta about Willow and Angel/Angelus's dynamic and what effects it had on their individuals arcs and the season arcs of season 2 and season 3, before Angel left for Ats,

to pick up where i left with season 4 and complete the review of Riley's arc and what i think he was supposed to become if the season arc hadn't been rewritten post departure of Oz and the death of Maggie Walsh.

Obviously I will advance slowly quietly at my own pace, and today is only a starting point but it's worth a try...

[luvutothemoon]

Brie: what is that?

Willow: it’s a panic room

Brie: like Jodie Foster?

Willow: I have no idea

————

Harry: hey! What is that?

Willow: it’s a panic room

Harry: like Jodie Foster?

Willow: what does Jodie Foster have to do with this?

[fandom]

Ships

Unexpected connections happen in two places: the Ships list and Feeld—a dating app for the curious. On Feeld, finding like-minded people is as fulfilling as finding yourself. In celebration of ships, here are this year’s iconic connections.

Ineffable Husbands +17 Aziraphale & Crowley, Good Omens

Steddie Steve Harrington & Eddie Munson, Stranger Things

Destiel Dean Winchester & Castiel, Supernatural

Byler -3 Will Byers & Mike Wheeler, Stranger Things

Wenclair Wednesday Addams & Enid Sinclair, Wednesday

Bowuigi Bowser & Luigi, the Super Mario Bros. franchise

Huntlow +7 Hunter & Willow Park, The Owl House

Avatrice Ava Silva & Beatrice, Warrior Nun

Hannigram +2 Hannibal Lecter & Will Graham, Hannibal

Buddie -4 Evan Buckley & Edmundo Diaz, 9-1-1

Vashwood Vash the Stampede & Nicholas D. Wolfwood, Trigun Stampede

Zelink +80 Zelda & Link, The Legend of Zelda

Lumity -6 Luz Noceda & Amity Blight, The Owl House

Ghostsoap Simon “Ghost” Riley & John “Soap” MacTavish, the Call of Duty franchise

Blackbonnet -11 Edward Teach/Blackbeard & Stede Bonnet, Our Flag Means Death

Wolfstar +8 Remus Lupin & Sirius Black, the Harry Potter universe

Merthur +12 Merlin & Arthur Pendragon, Merlin

Jegulus +25 James Potter & Regulus Black, the Harry Potter universe

Bumbleby +48 Yang Xiao Long & Blake Belladonna, RWBY

Bakudeku -4 Bakugou Katsuki & Midoriya Izuku, Boku no Hero Academia

Dreamling -1 Dream of the Endless & Hob Gadling, The Sandman

Soukoku +60 Nakahara Chuuya & Dazai Osamu, Bungou Stray Dogs

Firstprince Alex Claremont-Diaz & Prince Henry of Wales, Red, White & Royal Blue

Wesper Wylan Van Eck & Jesper Fahey, the Grishaverse

Wangxian -8 Lan Wangji & Wei Wuxian, Mo Dao Zu Shi

Satosugu +23 Gojo Satoru & Geto Suguru, Jujutsu Kaisen

Imodna +8 Imogen Temult & Laudna, Critical Role

Kanej +44 Kaz Brekker & Inej Ghafa, the Grishaverse

Bubbline Princess Bubblegum & Marceline, Adventure Time

Ladynoir -17 Ladybug & Chat Noir, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Twiyor +6 Loid Forger & Yor Forger, SPY x FAMILY

Loustat +43 Louis de Pointe du Lac & Lestat de Lioncourt, Interview with the Vampire

Zosan Roronoa Zoro & Vinsmoke Sanji, One Piece

Marichat -12 Marinette Dupain-Cheng & Chat Noir, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Serirei +65 Serizawa Katsuya & Reigen Arataka, Mob Psycho 100

Adrienette -21 Adrien Agreste & Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Chenford +24 Lucy Chen & Tim Bradford, The Rookie

Petrigrof Simon Petrikov & Betty Grof, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake

Kavetham Kaveh & Alhaitham, Genshin Impact

Griddlehark +54 Gideon Nav & Harrowhark Nonagesimus, The Locked Tomb series

Raeda -13 Raine Whispers & Eda Clawthorne, The Owl House

Tomgreg -19 Tom Wambsgans & Greg Hirsch, Succession

Hanamusa Jessie & Delia Ketchum, the Pokémon franchise

Zolu Roronoa Zoro & Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece

Narumitsu -12 Phoenix Wright & Miles Edgeworth, Ace Attorney

Sonadow +23 Sonic & Shadow, Sonic the Hedgehog

Ineffable Bureaucracy Archangel Gabriel & Beelzebub, Good Omens

Spirk +9 Spock & James Kirk, Star Trek

Ballister x Ambrosius Ballister Boldheart & Ambrosius Goldenloin, Nimona

Nandermo -42 Nandor the Relentless & Guillermo de la Cruz, What We Do in the Shadows

Jonmartin -15 Jonathan Sims & Martin Blackwood, The Magnus Archives

Punkflower Hobie Brown & Miles Morales, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

AkiAngel Aki Hayakawa & the Angel Devil, Chainsaw Man

Ronance -49 Robin Buckley & Nancy Wheeler, Stranger Things

Superbat -11 Superman & Batman, the DC universe

Shuake Ren Amamiya/Joker & Goro Akechi, Persona 5

Geraskier -48 Geralt of Rivia & Jaskier, The Witcher

Hualian -18 Hua Cheng & Xie Lian, Tian Guan Ci Fu

Sulemio Suletta Mercury & Miorine Rembran, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Sterek -5 Stiles Stilinski & Derek Hale, Teen Wolf

Gumlee Prince Gumball & Marshall Lee, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake

Shadowpeach Sun Wukong & the Six-Eared Macaque, Lego Monkie Kid

Drarry -29 Draco Malfoy & Harry Potter, the Harry Potter universe

Wilmon Prince Wilhelm & Simon Eriksson, Young Royals

Harringrove -34 Steve Harrington & Billy Hargrove, Stranger Things

Kazurei Suwa Rei & Kurusu Kazuki, Buddy Daddies

Lestappen Charles Leclerc & Max Verstappen, Formula 1 drivers

Zukka -5 Zuko & Sokka, Avatar: The Last Airbender

Codywan +8 Commander Cody & Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Solangelo -23 Will Solace & Nico di Angelo, the Percy Jackson universe

Catradora Catra & Adora, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Shadowgast -4 Caleb Widogast & Essek Thelyss, Critical Role

Stucky -43 Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes, the Marvel universe

Tarlos -18 TK Strand & Carlos Reyes, 9-1-1: Lone Star

Johnlock +21 John Watson & Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock

Sasunaru -24 Uchiha Sasuke & Uzumaki Naruto, Naruto

Locklyle Anthony Lockwood & Lucy Carlyle, Lockwood & Co.

Lokius Loki Laufeyson & Mobius M. Mobius, the Marvel universe

Supercorp -67 Kara Danvers & Lena Luthor, Supergirl

Piltover's Finest Caitlyn Kiramman & Vi, Arcane

Helnik Matthias Helvar & Nina Zenik, the Grishaverse

Prohibitedwish Scarab & Prismo, Adventure Time

Klance -12 Keith & Lance, Voltron: Legendary Defender

Reylo Rey & Kylo Ren, the Star Wars universe

Hanazawa Teruki & Kageyama Shigeo, Mob Psycho 100

Cockles -44 Misha Collins & Jensen Ackles, Actors

Percabeth -46 Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase, the Percy Jackson universe

Astarion x Tav Astarion & Tav, Baldur's Gate 3

Timkon Tim Drake & Conner Kent, Young Justice

Davekat Dave Strider & Karkat Vantas, Homestuck

Cynonari Cyno & Tighnari, Genshin Impact

Creek Craig Tucker & Tweek Tweak, South Park

Klapollo Apollo Justice & Klavier Gavin, Ace Attorney

Style Stan Marsh & Kyle Brovlofski, South Park

Korrasami -11 Korra & Asami Sato, The Legend of Korra

Bill x Frank Bill & Frank, The Last of Us

Nick x Charlie -51 Nick Nelson & Charlie Spring, Heartstopper

Dreamnotfound -50 Dreamwastaken & GeorgeNotFound, Streamers

Dinluke -33 Din Djarin & Luke Skywalker, the Star Wars universe

Rhaenicent Rhaenyra Targaryen & Alicent Hightower, House of the Dragon

The number in italics indicates how many spots a ship moved up or down from the previous year. Bolded ships weren’t on the list last year. Explore your desires on Feeld. Within a safer, inclusive space, you can feel free to connect more intimately to yourself and others. Choose from over 20 gender and sexuality options and explore solo, or with a partner. Curious? Download the app today.

[sunnydaleslayer]

Willow Rosenberg and Riley Finn

Buffy The Vampire Slayer 4x07

[secretsofthewilde]

Well. I did say that only one person needed to ask and I'll share. So here you go @raisedbythetv89 @richtea-biscuit

The actual academic essay I wrote and submitted is available to read here (x) for now at least, but as it was written for an assignment with a set word count and parameters, I ended up having to take out the section I had originally written about Cordelia and also there are a lot of references to the set textbook readings I was given. So it might not be the lightest of reading.

Essentially the essay poses the argument that for all the supposedly progressive feminist intentions of the show, we regularly see gender and sexual stereotypes still being reinforced within the show especially through the way that the women are treated for their relationship with sex. That is to to say that while the ‘Scooby gang’ typically seems to contest gender norms, with the male characters often appearing as submissive to Buffy and the female characters themselves each threatening gender norms in their own way, the intimate relations between the characters often undermine these initial contestations. In my essay I explore this through comparing Faith and Buffy's relationship with sex during the early seasons of the show.

Below is my section on Cordelia which unfortunately didn't make it into the essay, followed by a summary of my essay points on Faith and Buffy. I'm mainly sticking to seasons 1-3 for this essay because while I do mention season 4 at one point briefly, the introduction of Riley and Tara mark a change in the nature of sex and what it means in the show.

Part 2 (which is a look at Willow) has also now been written and can be found here (x)

Cordelia Chase

Cordelia starts out as a mild social antagonistic force to our Scooby gang, she is a bully. As the show progresses though she slowly starts to build connections with them, however she isn't allowed into their group until she is depicted as having romantic feelings for Xander, rather than just sexual. When it comes to Cordelia and Xander's relationship she is the dominant one. She has more social power than him and the Scoobys, as well as being more financially and academically stable than him. She also is the only one with a car, meaning she is the one who drives them to their dates. And while this at first seems to be challenging gender stereotypes of powerful men providing for an attractive but weaker woman, the problem is that she isn't allowed or accepted into the Scooby gang until after she sacrifices her social privilege to commit to a public relationship to him. Prior to this sacrifice any relationship or attempt at casual sex we saw Cordelia make was framed as shallow behaviour from her to be scorned or done for comedic effect. We see both her and Buffy seek intimate relationships in these early season, but only Buffy's attempts are framed as sympathetic. It was only when she expressed an emotional connection to Xander that she was presented as a sympathetic character to the audience.

Buffy Summers

Buffy and Angel are the first intimate relationship we see explored in the show and so it's the one that sets the audiences' initial expectations for intimacy. While Buffy is dominant within her social groups and her general use of violence to defeat enemies is something that we would say challenges gender norms, she rarely maintains these traits (or at least they are made much weaker) in scenes that explore her relationship with Angel. Once she's romantically interested in him she routinely takes a submissive role in their relationship; she goes to him for help and advice, places his well being over her role as a slayer, and waits for him to be the one to define and initiate their relationship.

 Unlike Cordelia’s early relationship with Xander, the audience is meant to be invested and sympathetic towards Buffy and Angel. From the get go we have it established that the two love each other, but despite their doomed fate we are meant to want to see them together and therefore we are sympathetic to Buffy's attempts at intimacy with him. When they do have sex and Angel loses his soul, these painful consequences is sometimes seen to be done as a punishment for Buffy having sex, but I think it's more to do with the tragic nature of their gothic romance rather than that - because Buffy and Angel did have the emotional and psychological connection that the show requires in order for their intimacy to be viewed as 'good'. In contrast though, once they break up we see Buffy try to have sex casually with other non-supernatural students but this only results in her getting hurt. When she and Parker have sex he dumps her the following day after using her; which is her punishment for attempting to have sex with something who she didn't really love like Angel. Buffy's also interesting in that her attempt to have a not only loving but sexual relationship also sets her apart from the other slayers - Kendra doesn't have sex, Faith doesn't do emotional intimacy, but Buffy tries to have both.

Faith Lehane

Faith gets to be the sexually free and explorative girl that Buffy is unable to. While she does struggle to do so, within the first three season Buffy does successfully create and sustain a heteronormative relationship that is both sexually and emotionally intimate. While Buffy might flirt with other guys that aren't Angel, she's still easily the "good girl" who cares more about the emotional connection with a guy than sex; in comparison Faith is someone who presents very confident in her sexuality and actively seeks casual sex without any emotional connections. If Buffy is seen to be masculine because of her traits as a slayer than Faith can be seen as hyper-masculine. So she challengers gender stereotypes in that her seeking casual sex and her dominant flirtatious behavior are traits typically reserved for a stereotypical "bad boy" type of character.

When Faith is first introduced to the show as an ally to our Scooby gang, her sexual confidence and behaviours are initially something that Buffy herself wants to replicate. The only time that we actually see her engage in sex on screen however is when she initiates sex with Xander, which coincidently also marks the last episode where she is considered to be someone trust worthy. Faith is the one to initiate sex with Xander, and she remains in a dominant position of control of the scene that we observe. The moment seems to subvert the trope of the confident male "deflowering" the inexperienced and submissive women (who in this scene would be Xander). However the scene is immediately cut with Faith kicking Xander out of her apartment after he tries to initiate an emotional connection with her, and this is framed for comedic effect. By framing their whole sexual encounter as comedic, it's undermining how Faith's sexual confidence seemed to challenge gender roles and instead framing deviations from expected heteronormative behaviours as something to laugh at.

It's also important that the very next episode (Bad Girls) is the one where we clearly see the descent of her mental stability as her reckless behaviour (both sexual and violent) in one-night results in her accidentally killing someone. What was initially seen as traits of a sexually confident woman, and therefore challenging gender roles, then becomes depicted for the rest of the season as signs of her mental instability and her eventual role as an antagonist. This is her punishment for engaging in casual sex; for not having the emotional or psychological connection that is needed for sexual actions to be accepted or approved of by the narrative.

Conclusion

Within the first three seasons of Buffy we see that the female characters are able to challenge gender roles in many ways, however this isn't extended to sex. They can enjoy and seek sex out at times, however they will suffer as a consequence if they don't fulfil certain heteronormative conventions during those times.

Buffy and Faith are allowed to be powerful slayers who are in charge, but in order for their power (and how they challenge dominant ideologies) to remain acceptable it needs to be limited to their battles in the streets rather than in the sheets.

[ponyosmom35]

proposal

Simon Ghost Riley X reader

Liability chapter thirty four

Synopsis: Simon is freaking out before he proposes.

warnings: tooth-rotting fluff, crying, slight angst, cursing

Liability series:

https://www.tumblr.com/ponyosmom35/733401347573088256/simon-ghost-riley?source=share

Simon had always been confident. He held himself tall when he walked. His presence commanded respect within his workplace and his personal life. Mask or no mask, Simon was confident. He was the type of person you trust with your life. The man you wanted supporting you, watching your back. He is the best at his job, one of the most feared men on the planet. There were less than ten people in the world who knew his name, but they knew his mask. They knew the stories about him. 

Simon Riley had never been more scared in his life than in this moment. All of the war and violence he’d seen couldn’t compare. Now he stood in the middle of their backyard pacing back and forth. He’d set up lights and a picnic underneath the willow tree. He had her favorite wine and he’d made her favorite meal, pasta and made fresh bread with oil and vinegar to dip it in. He had macaroons for dessert. The ring he picked out three months prior was in his pocket. Every few seconds he would check to ensure that it was still in fact there. Now all he had to do was wait for her to arrive back from a shopping day with her mom and her cousin, who of course were in on the plan. 

He was sweating bullets. Never had he felt so anxious. His hands were shaking and his heart was beating out of his chest. He was attempting to calm himself dwon with all of the tricks he’d been taught but it was to no avail. He went over his words, trying to keep himself together enough to remember his speech. He’d never been good with words, he wasn’t much of a talker, never able to express his love and gratitude for her in the way that he wanted. He knew that she felt it, she never expected him to profess his undying love, she knew him well enough to understand. She felt it every day. 

His phone buzzes and he sees that her mother was two minutes out. He curses and runs his hands through his blonde hair which had grown out due to her request. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, he looks over his setup one last time before walking to the door to greet her. He watches her get out of the car, laughing at something her mother said as they grab the bags from the back. His heart swells at the sight of her and he pushes back the tears forming in his eyes. He opens the door and walks outside, meeting them. 

“Whats the damage?” he asks as he places a hand on her back

“Oh shit! Si you scared me” she laughs “you don’t wanna know”

“Simon dear, how are you?” her mother asks as she gives him a hug

“I’m doing great, how was the shopping day?” he asks, trying to be nonchalant

“It was wonderful, we got a lot of really cute things”

“I’ll have to do a shopping haul for you” she says wrapping her arms around his middle 

“Can’t wait” he responds 

“Well I’ll leave you kids to it, talk to you later” her mom says before hurrying to her car, she frowns at the odd behavior. “That was weird, I was gonna ask her if she wanted to have dinner”

“I actually made dinner for us already” he says smiling down at her, she looks up with a smile as her eyes light up

“What is it?”

“Come on, I’ll show you” he says taking the bags and setting them on the table. He takes her hand and leads her out to the backyard. She gasps in surprise and jumps into his arms. 

“A picnic! Oh my god that is so fucking cute!” she says

“You mentioned you wanted to have one the other day so I thought why not tonight” he shrugs, his heart rate going through the roof. He attempted to keep himself together as they walked over to the setup. The sun had just begun to set as they sat down, he was thankful that she was so chatty. She talked gushed about the picnic and took several photos of it. 

“Listen there is actually something I wanted to talk to you about” he says as she sips her wine. 

“Good or bad?” she asks 

“Good” he nods 

“Okay” she smiles, he opens his mouth to talk but all of the words he prepared escape his mind. He looks at the women he loved and tears fill his eyes. He felt such an intense burst of love, he could barley contain himself. 

“Oh my god Si whats wrong?” she asks, setting down her glass and placing her hand on his face, she lifts his chin and looks into his eyes and wipes his tears. 

“I love you so much” he says 

“I love you too Si” she smiles 

“I never imagined that I would be lucky enough to find someone who fully accepted me for who I am. Someone who was able to get past all of my issues. I have so much baggage, but you’ve never hesitated to help me work through it. You take such good care of me, even now I wake up next to you and I wonder if I could be dreaming. This didn’t seem like something that could ever happen to me. How could someone love me after what I’ve done?” he says, pausing as he notices tears fill her eyes as well. 

“Falling for you was the easiest thing I’ve ever done” she says 

“Falling for you was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Nothing compares you. My life had been nothing but darkness until the day you walked into the base. The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I knew that you would be a problem for me. And you were, the second you talked back to me I knew that I was in for it. Nobody had ever stood up to me the way that you did. It was over on that first day, I knew it deep down. I tried to push it away but you stuck into me like a fucking thorn” he admits, she laughs and wipes a tear off of her cheek. 

“You didn’t let me shut you out, I’m so fucking grateful for that. You are the only person in this world that could hurt me y/n, everything I do is to make sure that you’re safe, that you’re taken care of. I love you so much, you’re happiness is everything to me, if I can bring just one smile to your face then I’ve done my job. I used to think that I was born for war, that I was a weapon. But now I realize that I was put on this earth to take care of you, to love you forever.” he says as he reaches into his pocket, she gasps loudly as she spots the box. He opens it gently and she covers her mouth with her hand as tears fall down her cheek. 

“would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asks. she is unable to respond as she cries into her hands. Simon sniffles and places a hand on her back, rubbing it gently. 

“Say something love, you’re killing me” he begs 

“Of course I’ll marry you Simon” she says 

Simon places the ring on her finger gently and pulls her into his lap he kisses her passionately. After several seconds they pull away, hugging her tightly as they sob into each other. 

“I was not expecting that” she says 

“I was so nervous I thought I was gonna pass out” he admits, wiping the tears from her face. 

“You were nervous? Did you think I was gonna say no?” she asks pulling back

“I just wanted this to be perfect for you”

“It was, this was everything I could have ever dreamed of, absolutely perfect. I love you so much” she says kissing him again. 

“You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world” he mumbles into her lips.