Re: The essential B/W moments for fic writers?

["Howard Russell" <howardrussell2000@xxxxxxxxx>]

ebailey140 wrote:
Then, right at the beginning of S5, came Dawn, who immediately took over Willow's old role in Buffy's life, getting all the protectiveness and affection that Buffy had previously given Willow.


That's an interesting way of putting it.  Add to that this interesting tidbit from Joss: In season five, Dawn was Buffy's love interest.  Now, he DID say that that wasn't to be taken sexually--that it was just a sisterly love--but it was to be the consuming love for Buffy that season, hence the reason that Riley left and Ben didn't pan out.  If Dawn was taking over Willow's role, it adds up to be that Willow was Buffy's love interest for the first four seasons.

And it's true.

Before Tara, Buffy doted on Willow.  Buffy supported her and showered her with affection.  She protected her and rescued her.  She was Willow's princess in shining armor, slaying dragons (vampires) on an almost weekly basis for the sole reason of protecting Willow.  Especially the season finales: Buffy willingly going to her death when Willow was emotionally hurt; finally going to kill Angel when Willow was put into a coma; refusing the only certain way to defeat the Mayor, choosing instead to barter it for Willow's life.  How many died during "Graduation Day, Part II" because Willow had to be saved?  Buffy traded those lives for Willow's without any regrets.  These are the reasons that even the non-Wiffies see their relationship as trancending a normal friendship.

In the fourth season, their 'ship was shattered--intentionally--primarily from "Hush" on.  In "Hush" was Willow and Buffy's ONLY scripted hand holding.  It was a passing of the torch, if you will, from Buffy holding her hand early in the episode and Tara holding it at the end.  But that raises an interesting point--all the hand holding and arm-in-arm scenes prior to that episode were unscripted.  They were the work of SMG and AH on their own; their interpretation of the 'ship called for them to hold hands almost every episode, walk arm-in-arm together when paired with a straight couple doing the same.  Post Tara, it was her hand that Willow was holding where once it was Buffy's.  I've heard rumors that it was deliberate; that the subtext between our two girls was quashed so that W/T would not be threatened.  Buffy and Willow could no longer be physically affectionate lest the OTL of W/T would be called into question.

That marks the difference between almost all pre and post Tara fics.  Pre-Tara, our two girls take their already very close friendship to the next level; post Tara, their quest to recapture their friendship of years past takes them over the edge into passion.  Because their friendship was severely toned down after Tara appeared.  It only makes sense really; once she fell for Tara, she realized her true feeling for Buffy and pushed her away in favor of Tara.  She wouldn't want to repeat the mistakes of her past and be caught fluking again.  Better to ensure that such a fluke couldn't happen.

So almost all of my favorite 'shippy moments come pre-Tara.

For essential Wiffy moments, I'd have to site the entire first season.
They don't act like new friends, they're like life-long commrades.  They are so close to each other, they act like lover's from a Harlequin romance.  They communicate on all levels--not just in words but in tiny gestures and knowing glances--they are immediately physically affectionate, they support each other in all things without question, and each faces their own fears for the other.  They have a relationship that all couples everywhere can envy; that's why I'm a Wiffy 'shipper.

And don't forget "Doppelgangland."  See how devastating even the idea of Willow's death is to Buffy.  Only the death of her mother effected her as deeply.

For character scenes, I look to their fights.
Dead Man's Party
Bad Girls
Fear, Itself
Two To Go/Grave
When fighting, their inner motivations were revealed.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

Your fellow 'shipper,
Howard


--
They met again and quickly the kiss grew steamier.  Willow's hands began to roam across Buffy's back as Buffy entwined her fingers in Willow's hair.  Time stretched as the embrace grew more passionate.  The girls broke the kiss but didn't separate, just leaned their foreheads together and panted.

"Wow. That was..."  Buffy took a deep breath.  "You sure you never?"

"Uh uh.  I was just following your lead."

http://www.geocities.com/howardrussell2000/


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater?
Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/pkgkPB/SOnJAA/Zx0JAA/RoMolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     --'Choices'

Community email addresses:
     Post message: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Subscribe:    buffywantswillow-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Unsubscribe:  buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     List owner:   buffywantswillow-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shortcut URL to this page:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow

Official archive for the list:
     http://www.ikoly.com/fanfic

Other links to Buffy/Willow fics:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/links  
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
   buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
   http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/