RESURRECTED: THE NERD ALERT; On Topic-y Goodness

[S'ewing S'cubie]

On or about now Buffy is celebrating her 25th birthday. This makes her ancient for a Slayer. However she is not alone any more, and hasn't been for nearly three years.

We know that for a time she lived in Rome in something like semi-retirement having snuggles with the Immortal. The extrapolation is that she has tired of this unproductive lifestyle. Dawn is by now finished or nearly finished with her high school studies and is probably planning to attend university somewhere and is most likely wanting to be on her own. That means that the Slayer, too, is all on her own for the first time.

Using your imagination (and some of you have amazing ones. I know, I've seen your writing) WHAT IS SHE DOING AT NOW?

Questions to consider:

1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?
2. Did Spike or Angel survive the Battle of the Alley, and did they seek out Buffy afterward?
3. Is the newly rebuilt Watcher's Council looking out for Buffy? Does she have some form of retirement income from them? Will she work for them? If so, in what capacity? Has she seen or been in any way involved with, for example, the mentally deranged Slayer Dana? Is she in any contact with any of the other Slayers she created?
4. Is Buffy in contact with Giles, the Scoobies, Andrew, Robin and/or Faith and if so, what are they doing and how has their relationship changed?
5. Has Buffy gone back to college? Who is funding it and what is she majoring in?
6. What else can you think of that might describe Post-Chosen Buffy's life?

[Julia, wrought iron-y]

But, Diane, this means I have to think.

Julia, that's a whole lot like work

[Sue]

dianeu said:

On or about now Buffy is celebrating her 25th birthday. This makes her ancient for a Slayer. However she is not alone any more, and hasn't been for nearly three years.

We know that for a time she lived in Rome in something like semi-retirement having snuggles with the Immortal. The extrapolation is that she has tired of this unproductive lifestyle. Dawn is by now finished or nearly finished with her high school studies and is probably planning to attend university somewhere and is most likely wanting to be on her own. That means that the Slayer, too, is all on her own for the first time.

Using your imagination (and some of you have amazing ones. I know, I've seen your writing) WHAT IS SHE DOING AT NOW?

Questions to consider:

1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?
2. Did Spike or Angel survive the Battle of the Alley, and did they seek out Buffy afterward?
3. Is the newly rebuilt Watcher's Council looking out for Buffy? Does she have some form of retirement income from them? Will she work for them? If so, in what capacity? Has she seen or been in any way involved with, for example, the mentally deranged Slayer Dana? Is she in any contact with any of the other Slayers she created?
4. Is Buffy in contact with Giles, the Scoobies, Andrew, Robin and/or Faith and if so, what are they doing and how has their relationship changed?
5. Has Buffy gone back to college? Who is funding it and what is she majoring in?
6. What else can you think of that might describe Post-Chosen Buffy's life?

Zero, zippo, nada imagination. So all you get from me is flat answers. But it's a great exercise and I'm hoping to see some interesting thoughts.

1. Yes
2. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes
3. Yes; no; yes; training new slayers; possibly (could be how she learned about Spike); yes---occasional "girls nights out" when they are in town.
4. Of course; naturally; reluctantly (he was living in her condo in Rome; sure; threesomes--yuck, strike that altho I'm sure the fanfic exists somewhere; and this would take more than a one word answer so I'm skipping it.
5. No----so the second half of the question is irrelevent.
6. Sex with Spike. Loving, Spuffy sex with Spike. Loving, Spuffy sex with possibly human Spike.

[SpringSummers]

1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?

Definitely! No way Andrew didn't tell her right off the bat, despite Spike's request that he not tell her. Andrew does not have the kind of self-control that would be required. He spilled!

2. Did Spike or Angel survive the Battle of the Alley, and did they seek out Buffy afterward?

Yes, Spike and Angel survived the Battle. But no, I don't think either one would have sought Buffy out, afterward. Angel was heading into Season 6 with major, major, major issues to be addressed. That next year would have been consumed, for Angel and all the Fang Gang (I'm including Spike) with dealing with those issues. No time for Buffy, or inclination to contact Buffy, I don't think.

3. Is the newly rebuilt Watcher's Council looking out for Buffy? Does she have some form of retirement income from them? Will she work for them? If so, in what capacity? Has she seen or been in any way involved with, for example, the mentally deranged Slayer Dana? Is she in any contact with any of the other Slayers she created?

I think Buffy is receiving income from "employment" as a Slayerette trainer and protector. Yes, I think she was involved in helping Dana, and continues to keep her finger in that. She and Willow "created" all the Slayerettes, and yes, I think they are part of her job, part of her "everyday."

4. Is Buffy in contact with Giles, the Scoobies, Andrew, Robin and/or Faith and if so, what are they doing and how has their relationship changed?

I think Buffy is in contact with Giles and Robin and Andrew and the Scoobies - and to a more limited extent, Faith.

I think Faith & Buffy both head up their own separate "training facilities" and "evil fighting" operations - Buffy in Europe, Faith in America. I think Giles, Willow, Xander, Andrew & Robin are in England, heading up the "headquarters" for the "corporation."

But I don't think Buffy is reporting to Giles. I think Buffy is in charge - the person at the top, even if she is not located at "headquarters." I think she goes to London from Rome regularly to check in.

5. Has Buffy gone back to college? Who is funding it and what is she majoring in?

No - Buffy hasn't done that yet. She's considering it, but she wants the whole Slayerette/Rebuilt Council thing more stable first; she wants time to find and groom a successor for her position as head honcho, also.

6. What else can you think of that might describe Post-Chosen Buffy's life?

She's no longer with the Immortal; he was her "getting over Spike" transition guy. She's just dating around a bit now. Like college, she's postponed any thoughts of marriage and/or children until she feels better about "letting go of the reins."

[Sharky]

I'll take these one at a time:
1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?
It's a rainly night in Rome. The Immortal's out of town, checking on some real estate he purchased from Marco Polo that it now appears Polo didn't really own. Buffy, Andrew, and Dawn are sitting around the apartment, watching DVD's.

Buffy: Voldemort's a vampire, you know.
Andrew: Is not. He's the greatest wizard who ever lived, but he got seduced by the Dark Side like Vader.
Dawn: Isn't that a non sequitur?
Andrew: Au contraire, Keygirl Glowypants. "Ain't-It-Cool-News" says that Lucas and Rowling are going to tie both series together in the eighth movie, "Harry Potter and the Light Saber of Skywalker".
Buffy: Oh, puh-lease! Give me Harry's wand and I'll drive it right through Voldy's chest. Then we'll see who's ashy-trashy.
Andrew: You think you know everything, just because you're the Chosen One! Well, you're just a face in the Chosen Throng now! Some of us know things you don't...
Buffy: Yeah, like every word Jar-Jar was supposed to say in Episode 1 that ended on the cutting room floor...
Andrew: Well, yeah, but I mean important things, things you'd like to know, things like who's not as ashy as he used to be..
Buffy: What are you talking about?
Andrew: Ummm, nothin'. Oh look, Hermione's part cat now!
Dawn: Don't try to change the subject. How would you like it if I let Giles read this? (She reaches under the seat cushion and pulls out a sheaf of paper clipped together with a binder clip.)
Buffy: What's that?
Dawn: Something I printed off Andy's computer when he was out with the Olsens and I was researching that Germalincus demon thingy you were worried about. (Reads Title) "Young Watchers in Love", the untold story of the thwarted passion that briefly blazed between Rupert Giles and Ethan Rayne...
Andrew: (Grabbing for paper) You wouldn't! That's private!
Dawn: Oh, it's private all right! More private parts in here than a Howard Stern retrospective... Now, give it up! Who's not as undead as they once were?
Andrew: (Sighs) Well, let me tell it my way. Sit tight, dear Summers girls, and I'll tell you a story I like to call, "The Return of the Prince... of Peroxide."

[Spaced Out Looney]

dianeu said:

On or about now Buffy is celebrating her 25th birthday. This makes her ancient for a Slayer. However she is not alone any more, and hasn't been for nearly three years.

We know that for a time she lived in Rome in something like semi-retirement having snuggles with the Immortal. The extrapolation is that she has tired of this unproductive lifestyle. Dawn is by now finished or nearly finished with her high school studies and is probably planning to attend university somewhere and is most likely wanting to be on her own. That means that the Slayer, too, is all on her own for the first time.

Using your imagination (and some of you have amazing ones. I know, I've seen your writing) WHAT IS SHE DOING AT NOW?

Questions to consider:

1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?
2. Did Spike or Angel survive the Battle of the Alley, and did they seek out Buffy afterward?
3. Is the newly rebuilt Watcher's Council looking out for Buffy? Does she have some form of retirement income from them? Will she work for them? If so, in what capacity? Has she seen or been in any way involved with, for example, the mentally deranged Slayer Dana? Is she in any contact with any of the other Slayers she created?
4. Is Buffy in contact with Giles, the Scoobies, Andrew, Robin and/or Faith and if so, what are they doing and how has their relationship changed?
5. Has Buffy gone back to college? Who is funding it and what is she majoring in?
6. What else can you think of that might describe Post-Chosen Buffy's life?

Ooh, this is fun!

1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?

Yeah, Buffy forced Andrew to tell her after she suspected something in The Girl In Question.

2. Did Spike or Angel survive the Battle of the Alley, and did they seek out Buffy afterward?

Yes, they both survived.

I don't think they sought out Buffy, in the wanting to get back together sense. Buffy probably heard through the grapevine about what went down and that they survived. I like to think that over time, the three of them managed to work out an amiable friendship as colleagues in the fight against evil, thus proving Spike's "you'll never be friends" bit wrong.

3. Is the newly rebuilt Watcher's Council looking out for Buffy? Does she have some form of retirement income from them? Will she work for them? If so, in what capacity? Has she seen or been in any way involved with, for example, the mentally deranged Slayer Dana? Is she in any contact with any of the other Slayers she created?

I don't think Buffy needs "looking after." I think she'll be able to heal given time and her relationship with Dawn.

I don't think Slayers can ever really "retire," I think Welcome To The Hellmouth showed that. I think she will continue slaying until the day she dies, possibly in the line of duty and possibly by natural causes. She will be older than she would have been had she only ever been the Only Slayer, but still youngish. She won't die of old age. But she will have lead a good life and she will die happy. It will have been a good day to die.

As far as the Watchers Council, I'm split between what wishful thinking and human nature. Ideally, I see the new world order being a loose network or slayers and watchers, decentralized but connected by a common spirit. Slayers on average would be younger, more diverse, and more evenly split between male and female. There would be no one physical headquarters location that could be blown up. Slayers so inclined could take on Watchers duties as well, in trade off sort of fashion.

However, I suspect that there would be power struggles between factions and things that might be good in the long run sacrificed for choosing what's easy in the short run. Remnants of the Old Order (surely, if Giles survived, at least a few other Watchers did too) might not be so willing to give up their authority and their way of doing things. Lack of experience might also cause our folks to make critical mistakes in establishing the new way of things. Also, bureaucracy tends to build up over time.

I think all the Slayers, and Buffy would be no different, are in contact with each other, so yes, and yes, she would be in contact with Dana.

4. Is Buffy in contact with Giles, the Scoobies, Andrew, Robin and/or Faith and if so, what are they doing and how has their relationship changed?

I think Buffy is in contact with everybody. While she might grow closer to Andrew and Robin (in the sense of getting to know them at all) and improving her relationship with Faith, I think that the events we witnessed throughout the course of the show, particularly season 4 on, are going to leave a permanent mark on the relationships between Buffy/Giles/Scoobies. I think they will still talk and work together, and occasionally socialize together, but I think they will remain scattered across the globe and focus on their specific pursuits and their own lives. If they do grow closer again, I think it many many years to work through all the issues between them.

5. Has Buffy gone back to college? Who is funding it and what is she majoring in?

Maybe, it all depends on if she's decided what it is she wants to do with the other part of her life. I think that when she decides what she wants to do, she will go forth with convinction, earning whatever degrees are necessary to pursue her interest.

I have absolutely no idea what Buffy what career Buffy would decide to do and so no idea what major she would choose.

6. What else can you think of that might describe Post-Chosen Buffy's life?

She would learn to appreciate (not in a bitter sarcastic way or going overboard way) being the Slayer, as a gift, not a burden. Getting to know the other Slayers, and how they react to being called and how they view their duties should be very enlightening.

In some ways, ATS picks up where BTVS leaves off; ATS is about young adulthood, where Buffy et al are right now. In that show, we see that all the characters carry with them, the results of their childhoods. So too Buffy and the other characters of BTVS struggle with moving out on their own and be haunted by their experiences in Sunnydale and the not so proud things that they've done. They will continue to have to face the consequences of their actions.

Buffy in particular will have a lot to deal with, since most of the issues that arouse during the course of the show she repressed and shoved to the side because 1) it might not matter because tomorrow she might be dead and 2) there are always more lifethreatening things to deal with.

Now that the situation has changed, I imagine that Buffy will start the slow painful process of unraveling her psyche, with the help of a psychiatrist (who's in the know about the whole Slayer-Demon thing) or a very patient, sympathizing Dawn.

I also like to think that if Buffy has anything to say to her dad, she found the opportunity to say it.

[SpringSummers]

sharky said:

I'll take these one at a time:
1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?
It's a rainly night in Rome. The Immortal's out of town, checking on some real estate he purchased from Marco Polo that it now appears Polo didn't really own. Buffy, Andrew, and Dawn are sitting around the apartment, watching DVD's.

Buffy: Voldemort's a vampire, you know.
Andrew: Is not. He's the greatest wizard who ever lived, but he got seduced by the Dark Side like Vader.
Dawn: Isn't that a non sequitur?
Andrew: Au contraire, Keygirl Glowypants. "Ain't-It-Cool-News" says that Lucas and Rowling are going to tie both series together in the eighth movie, "Harry Potter and the Light Saber of Skywalker".
Buffy: Oh, puh-lease! Give me Harry's wand and I'll drive it right through Voldy's chest. Then we'll see who's ashy-trashy.
Andrew: You think you know everything, just because you're the Chosen One! Well, you're just a face in the Chosen Throng now! Some of us know things you don't...
Buffy: Yeah, like every word Jar-Jar was supposed to say in Episode 1 that ended on the cutting room floor...
Andrew: Well, yeah, but I mean important things, things you'd like to know, things like who's not as ashy as he used to be..
Buffy: What are you talking about?
Andrew: Ummm, nothin'. Oh look, Hermione's part cat now!
Dawn: Don't try to change the subject. How would you like it if I let Giles read this? (She reaches under the seat cushion and pulls out a sheaf of paper clipped together with a binder clip.)
Buffy: What's that?
Dawn: Something I printed off Andy's computer when he was out with the Olsens and I was researching that Germalincus demon thingy you were worried about. (Reads Title) "Young Watchers in Love", the untold story of the thwarted passion that briefly blazed between Rupert Giles and Ethan Rayne...
Andrew: (Grabbing for paper) You wouldn't! That's private!
Dawn: Oh, it's private all right! More private parts in here than a Howard Stern retrospective... Now, give it up! Who's not as undead as they once were?
Andrew: (Sighs) Well, let me tell it my way. Sit tight, dear Summers girls, and I'll tell you a story I like to call, "The Return of the Prince... of Peroxide."

Oh - now . . .you have to finish this!

[Lola m]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.

1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?

She found out a year or two later, when Giles needed to tell her because the truth of what happened in L.A. was important to the averting of an apocolypse. She was not happy with Giles and others that kept it from her, but mostly couldn't believe that Andrew managed to keep a secret, much less a secret that involved Spike.


2. Did Spike or Angel survive the Battle of the Alley, and did they seek out Buffy afterward?

They both survived the Battle, barely. Each was wounded very very badly and spent some time in an alternate dimension, healing. Illyria took them there, but decided to stay instead of returning with them. Turns out there were a whole bunch of plants that were willing to worship her. And since she doesn't care for shrimp anyway, she's perfectly happy there.

Neither one of them sought Buffy out. Angel was still trying to find a way to watch her from afar and Spike was still convinced that she couldn't possibly care. Of course, that all changed when she broke down their door, punched each of them once and then gathered them both into a big happy sniffly embrace.

And then comes the spanking and group sex happy life for the three of them together. With Xander.


3. Is the newly rebuilt Watcher's Council looking out for Buffy? Does she have some form of retirement income from them? Will she work for them? If so, in what capacity? Has she seen or been in any way involved with, for example, the mentally deranged Slayer Dana? Is she in any contact with any of the other Slayers she created?

The new Watcher's Council has been reorganized in a much more egalitarian way. Slayers and Watchers work as partners and friends in small, fluid, groups rather than one on one. (Not enough Watchers yet to have one for every Slayer, plus they've found that a group of close knit people works better.)

Watchers and Slayers each receive enough monetary support (including insurance, a savings plan and a 401K) for a comfortable, but not rich life. Pursing other interests, like school or other work, isn't discouraged as long as the slaying still gets done. (The small groups of Slayers helps with this. Not as much pressure on any one Slayer and they can band together as needed.)

Buffy doesn't work a lot with Dana, but has spent some time with her informally. She does work a lot with the other Slayers - most of them look up to her as a role model and leader - something that she says she is not comfortable with but secretly makes her very happy.


4. Is Buffy in contact with Giles, the Scoobies, Andrew, Robin and/or Faith and if so, what are they doing and how has their relationship changed?

She is in contact with all of them, but it will never be the same as in Sunnydale. Each are too busy with so much that needs to be done and they are so scattered. Recently, they've decided to institute a monthly get together of the Scoobies and so on. Hosted by a different person in a different part of the world each time, everyone in the gang attempts to attend each one so that they can remain close. Email and phone calls just aren't enough, they decided. They're all growing up, having more of their own interests and lives, and so on. It's good, but not the same.


5. Has Buffy gone back to college? Who is funding it and what is she majoring in?

Buffy keeps saying she's going to go back to school and yet she never does. Something always comes up.


ETA: Love all the other answers I've read so far too! Sharky you must continue!! ;D

[Onjel]

sharky said:

I'll take these one at a time:
1. Did she ever hear about Spike's resurrection?
It's a rainly night in Rome. The Immortal's out of town, checking on some real estate he purchased from Marco Polo that it now appears Polo didn't really own. Buffy, Andrew, and Dawn are sitting around the apartment, watching DVD's.

Buffy: Voldemort's a vampire, you know.
Andrew: Is not. He's the greatest wizard who ever lived, but he got seduced by the Dark Side like Vader.
Dawn: Isn't that a non sequitur?
Andrew: Au contraire, Keygirl Glowypants. "Ain't-It-Cool-News" says that Lucas and Rowling are going to tie both series together in the eighth movie, "Harry Potter and the Light Saber of Skywalker".
Buffy: Oh, puh-lease! Give me Harry's wand and I'll drive it right through Voldy's chest. Then we'll see who's ashy-trashy.
Andrew: You think you know everything, just because you're the Chosen One! Well, you're just a face in the Chosen Throng now! Some of us know things you don't...
Buffy: Yeah, like every word Jar-Jar was supposed to say in Episode 1 that ended on the cutting room floor...
Andrew: Well, yeah, but I mean important things, things you'd like to know, things like who's not as ashy as he used to be..
Buffy: What are you talking about?
Andrew: Ummm, nothin'. Oh look, Hermione's part cat now!
Dawn: Don't try to change the subject. How would you like it if I let Giles read this? (She reaches under the seat cushion and pulls out a sheaf of paper clipped together with a binder clip.)
Buffy: What's that?
Dawn: Something I printed off Andy's computer when he was out with the Olsens and I was researching that Germalincus demon thingy you were worried about. (Reads Title) "Young Watchers in Love", the untold story of the thwarted passion that briefly blazed between Rupert Giles and Ethan Rayne...
Andrew: (Grabbing for paper) You wouldn't! That's private!
Dawn: Oh, it's private all right! More private parts in here than a Howard Stern retrospective... Now, give it up! Who's not as undead as they once were?
Andrew: (Sighs) Well, let me tell it my way. Sit tight, dear Summers girls, and I'll tell you a story I like to call, "The Return of the Prince... of Peroxide."

Yayyyyy! A new fic writer is born! More please! #claps#