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The Long Way Home (To Willow) IV

To: "Buffy Wants Willow List" <buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: The Long Way Home (To Willow) IV
From: "Howard Russell" <howardrussell2000@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:59:02 -0400
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Hello Everybody!

This is my take on the Wiffiness of the new Buffy comic. The first story arc (The Long Way Home) was four issues and they're all out now. If you don't want to know details, don't read.

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First off, let me say how nifty it is to have to do Spoiler Space! After all these years, new "Buffy" is great.

So, Joss killed Kennedy. YAY! And it was a temporary, mystical death so Willow isn't heartbroken. Me, I'm heartbroken that it was only temporary. Not trying to start a debate on the merits of Kennedy; just saying *I* didn't like her.

But that does free up Willow for Buffy smoochies.

Buffy? That whole "The Girl In Question" episode of "Angel" was a scam. The 'Buffy' dating the Immortal is a decoy, just to keep all eyes off the real Buffy...who's still single (and horny!)

You have to wonder why Joss made sure all three Scoobies were romantically unentangled right off the bat. I think it's a deliberate setup for Scooby-'shipping.

In issue two, Amy puts Buffy into a mystical sleep that will only be broken by true love's kiss. Sadly, this doesn't mean Buffy has to return the feelings, just that the kisser must truly love Buffy. Not a sisterly-love, either; "passionately devoted" love.

Excerpt from issue 3:

[In the room are Willow, Xander, and approximately seven of the new slayers, including Satsu, introduced this issue. Buffy is layed out on a bed, asleep.]

Willow: Buffy needs to be kissed by someone who's in love with her. And someone in this room is.

{Notice how *certain* Willow is that someone in the room is *in love* with Buffy? It isn't that she hopes someone is. It isn't that they'll go through the ranks of the slayers until they find someone who works. Willow says it's a fact that someone *already in the room* is in love with Buffy. Besides Buffy, there's only nine people in the room, seven of whom Willow just met. So, for Willow to be that certain, it's gotta be herself or Xander.}

Willow: They might not even have realized it, and they probably don't want anyone to know about it. So everybody's gonna shut their eyes -- and keep 'em shut if they wanna keep 'em -- and that person will step forward and give Buffy a kiss. Okay?

{Willow is certain that the one in love with Buffy wants to maintain secrecy and privacy. And she's quite adamant about keeping it, according to the expression on her face. It seems very important to Willow personally. Again, only it being Xander or herself explains her attitude.}

Buffy: [In the dreamscape] I have a funny feeling on my mouth.

Buffy: [Sitting up in real world] CINNAMON BUNS!

{Buffy's shout appears to be a complete non-sequitur. We saw her dreamscape and there were no pastries.}

Buffy: Or...uh...I just had the weirdest -- WILL!

{Buffy seems very pleased to see our Willow.}

Why did Buffy shout "CINNAMON BUNS!"? There's an incident in issue 4 provides an explanation. Buffy borrows Satsu's lip-gloss and notes that it's cinnamon flavored. The implication seems to be that it was Satsu that kissed Buffy.

I say nay!

I think it's a deliberate misdirection. In issue 3, when we saw Buffy sitting up, we saw a shocked Xander and a pleased Willow. Satsu was still off behind them. And in the issue 4 scene, Satsu had no reaction when Buffy noticed the flavor of her lip gloss. They clearly showed before and after on Satsu's face and there was no change.

Satsu can't be the only girl who wears cinnamon lip gloss. And how many fics have speculated that redheaded Willow wears cinnamon? I think Satsu is a fake-out. I think Willow did it.

And remember, it was just an implication. Nothing definitive has been said/shown. It's still up in the air just who broke the spell. For all we know, Xander did it and the "CINNAMON BUNS!" shout was merely a "Don't warn the tadpoles!" moment. There's still the potential for it to be canon that Willow loves Buffy. *crosses fingers*

Sarah Warn, Editor in Chief of AfterEllen, hopes it isn't Willow. She said "[W]e wouldn't want to reinforce the idea that lesbian/bi women can't be friends with straight women without wanting to sleep with them." If it were anyone but Willow, I'd agree. Tara or Kennedy, I'd be right there with her. Even Satsu, would fit the stereotype. But this is *Willow*! Willow whose unrequited love of her friend Xander was a major part of *three* seasons of "Buffy." Willow, who even crushed on Giles for ghod's sake! I don't buy that Willow, with her many crushes, would never think that way about Buffy.

Me, I hope it turns out to be Willow. I think it would fit her character. Beyond that, it would tickle me pink.

Your fellow 'shipper,
Howard
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"So dip me in chocolate and throw me to the lesbians."
--Richard Thomas

My Homepage:
http://www.howardrussell.com/
Wiffy Goodness C2: (Select "Rating: All" for more fics)
http://www.fanfiction.net/c2/24163/3/1/1/

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

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