196 Fic: Packed With Fiber
Nov. 18th, 2010 07:36 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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still_grrrTitle: Packed With Fiber
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG
Word Count: 960
Prompt: 196 — Breakfast
Characters: Buffy, Giles, Joyce, and Jhiera (from She)
Summary: Buffy extends a welcoming hand to some demons in need. Just not very enthusiastically.
A/N: Continued from part 1, Stay Frosty.
Buffy could have been enjoying her first morning-after Wheaties with her wholesome new boyfriend. A boyfriend who refreshingly seemed to think that overnights should include breakfast. But now she didn’t get to see if Riley actually ate Wheaties in the mornings, because duty, as usual, called. As duty went, this was above, beyond, and way too early.
“Cordy said she was sending girls!” whined Buffy. “Refugee girls. I was expecting dirndls and a rousing chorus of “Edelweiss”. This is a Miss Demon Dimension Swimsuit Pageant!”
Giles patted his brow with his handkerchief. “Be that as it may, Buffy, they are refugees. The situation they face in their home dimension is dire. If they were to be sent back, they would have their free will, their very personalities as it were, physically removed. If there were channels for interdimensional asylum seekers, we would not be involved, but such channels are unknown to me.”
“Where’s the Men in Black when you need them?” she grumbled. “So, they’re harmless?” Buffy regarded Jhiera’s chest, thinking sourly that someone’s eye might get poked out, at the very least.
“Um, mostly harmless, I suppose. Would anyone like some iced tea?” At enthusiastic nods from several of the statuesque young demon women, he headed for the kitchen. Buffy followed.
“Mostly harmless? What aren’t you telling me, Giles?”
“They do not harbor any evil intent toward humans. As part of the maturation process, the females of their species need to be kept cool, that’s all.”
“Or what?”
“If their temperature isn’t properly regulated, it can cause inadvertent combustion of bystanders.” He rummaged around in the freezer for more ice.
“Accidental spontaneous combustion? Is that all? Oh my god. You’re making iced tea! You said that was a sacrilege! And, it’s February.” She whirled around. “Is that why they aren’t wearing clothes?”
Giles was spared having to defend the women’s brief attire by the arrival of Joyce Summers. She sailed through the front door after a cursory knock, and immediately introduced herself to the leader of the newcomers.
“Oh, thank god you arrived safely! I was so worried. When Cordelia told me what you’ve all been through… Well, of course I want to help in any way I can.”
“Mom?”
“Oh, hello Buffy. Isn’t it awful?”
“What are you doing here? At 7:30 in the morning?” Buffy cast a suspicious glance at Giles, who rolled his eyes.
“I would have been here earlier, but I was making sure these poor women would have everything they needed back at the house.” Joyce absently fanned her face.
“Poor women? What? Mom, tell me you aren’t thinking of opening a halfway house for wayward bikini-clad demons at our house.”
“I’m surprised at you, Buffy. These women have been pursued by men determined to turn them into mindless slaves. Offering a helping hand is the least I can do. I thought I raised you to have a bit more compassion.”
“But, our house!”
“With you off at school, it’s too big for just me. Besides, it’s not fair to Mr. Giles to pack his apartment with half a dozen females, is it?” Buffy shot a look at Giles, who shrugged while loading glasses of iced tea onto a tray. “Besides, we already have a deep-freeze, so there’s room for all the frozen food they need to keep cool. It’s just until they find a more permanent solution.”
Jhiera had watched the argument as if it were a tennis match. After accepting a glass of tea from the offered tray, she finally spoke up.
“My girls and I are grateful for your assistance, Joyce Summers. We will not trouble you long.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all. I read The Handmaid’s Tale, and I certainly don’t intend to stand by and do nothing in the face of such an injustice.”
“Mom, could I have a word with you, please?” Joyce sighed and grabbed a glass of tea as she followed Buffy into the hallway. She rolled the glass against her temple as she listened.
“Are you sure you’ve thought this through, mom? I mean, do you even know what to expect if the men chasing these demons find them? You’re putting yourself into an awfully dangerous situation. I don’t like it. I am so having words with Cordelia for getting you involved.”
“Buffy, I understand that you’re worried, but this is something I feel very strongly about.”
“Since about 12 hours ago! And they’re demons!”
“It’s the right thing to do. It isn’t as if you haven’t protected demons before. What about your friend Oz?”
Buffy opened her mouth to protest, but shut it again. Defeated by mom logic.
“Okay. I can see you’re going to go through with this. What would you need me to do?”
“Thank you, sweetheart. It’s very gracious of you to protect these downtrodden women.”
“I guess.” Agreement reached, they returned to Giles’ living room. Buffy tried to think of a tactical approach to the problem before them.
“Do you think there should be full-time security? Do I need to move back in?” She thought again about the lack of Wheaties this morning and really, really hoped not. Juggling her new Initiative duties, her new hottie, classes, slaying, her mom, and a bevy of bathing beauties was starting to sound like just enough to be too much.
Giles spoke up from the kitchen, where he had retreated after the tea was distributed.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Buffy. These women are not without their own defenses. Perhaps you could just make it a nightly stop on your patrol route. That ought to be sufficient.”
“Yes,” said Jhiera. “We are strong, and when our associates arrive tomorrow, we will be stronger.”
“Swell. Welcome to Sunnydale. Try not to get eaten.”
Continued in part 3, Double Scoop of Oden Tal.
Author: Rebcake
Rating: PG
Word Count: 960
Prompt: 196 — Breakfast
Characters: Buffy, Giles, Joyce, and Jhiera (from She)
Summary: Buffy extends a welcoming hand to some demons in need. Just not very enthusiastically.
A/N: Continued from part 1, Stay Frosty.
Buffy could have been enjoying her first morning-after Wheaties with her wholesome new boyfriend. A boyfriend who refreshingly seemed to think that overnights should include breakfast. But now she didn’t get to see if Riley actually ate Wheaties in the mornings, because duty, as usual, called. As duty went, this was above, beyond, and way too early.
“Cordy said she was sending girls!” whined Buffy. “Refugee girls. I was expecting dirndls and a rousing chorus of “Edelweiss”. This is a Miss Demon Dimension Swimsuit Pageant!”
Giles patted his brow with his handkerchief. “Be that as it may, Buffy, they are refugees. The situation they face in their home dimension is dire. If they were to be sent back, they would have their free will, their very personalities as it were, physically removed. If there were channels for interdimensional asylum seekers, we would not be involved, but such channels are unknown to me.”
“Where’s the Men in Black when you need them?” she grumbled. “So, they’re harmless?” Buffy regarded Jhiera’s chest, thinking sourly that someone’s eye might get poked out, at the very least.
“Um, mostly harmless, I suppose. Would anyone like some iced tea?” At enthusiastic nods from several of the statuesque young demon women, he headed for the kitchen. Buffy followed.
“Mostly harmless? What aren’t you telling me, Giles?”
“They do not harbor any evil intent toward humans. As part of the maturation process, the females of their species need to be kept cool, that’s all.”
“Or what?”
“If their temperature isn’t properly regulated, it can cause inadvertent combustion of bystanders.” He rummaged around in the freezer for more ice.
“Accidental spontaneous combustion? Is that all? Oh my god. You’re making iced tea! You said that was a sacrilege! And, it’s February.” She whirled around. “Is that why they aren’t wearing clothes?”
Giles was spared having to defend the women’s brief attire by the arrival of Joyce Summers. She sailed through the front door after a cursory knock, and immediately introduced herself to the leader of the newcomers.
“Oh, thank god you arrived safely! I was so worried. When Cordelia told me what you’ve all been through… Well, of course I want to help in any way I can.”
“Mom?”
“Oh, hello Buffy. Isn’t it awful?”
“What are you doing here? At 7:30 in the morning?” Buffy cast a suspicious glance at Giles, who rolled his eyes.
“I would have been here earlier, but I was making sure these poor women would have everything they needed back at the house.” Joyce absently fanned her face.
“Poor women? What? Mom, tell me you aren’t thinking of opening a halfway house for wayward bikini-clad demons at our house.”
“I’m surprised at you, Buffy. These women have been pursued by men determined to turn them into mindless slaves. Offering a helping hand is the least I can do. I thought I raised you to have a bit more compassion.”
“But, our house!”
“With you off at school, it’s too big for just me. Besides, it’s not fair to Mr. Giles to pack his apartment with half a dozen females, is it?” Buffy shot a look at Giles, who shrugged while loading glasses of iced tea onto a tray. “Besides, we already have a deep-freeze, so there’s room for all the frozen food they need to keep cool. It’s just until they find a more permanent solution.”
Jhiera had watched the argument as if it were a tennis match. After accepting a glass of tea from the offered tray, she finally spoke up.
“My girls and I are grateful for your assistance, Joyce Summers. We will not trouble you long.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all. I read The Handmaid’s Tale, and I certainly don’t intend to stand by and do nothing in the face of such an injustice.”
“Mom, could I have a word with you, please?” Joyce sighed and grabbed a glass of tea as she followed Buffy into the hallway. She rolled the glass against her temple as she listened.
“Are you sure you’ve thought this through, mom? I mean, do you even know what to expect if the men chasing these demons find them? You’re putting yourself into an awfully dangerous situation. I don’t like it. I am so having words with Cordelia for getting you involved.”
“Buffy, I understand that you’re worried, but this is something I feel very strongly about.”
“Since about 12 hours ago! And they’re demons!”
“It’s the right thing to do. It isn’t as if you haven’t protected demons before. What about your friend Oz?”
Buffy opened her mouth to protest, but shut it again. Defeated by mom logic.
“Okay. I can see you’re going to go through with this. What would you need me to do?”
“Thank you, sweetheart. It’s very gracious of you to protect these downtrodden women.”
“I guess.” Agreement reached, they returned to Giles’ living room. Buffy tried to think of a tactical approach to the problem before them.
“Do you think there should be full-time security? Do I need to move back in?” She thought again about the lack of Wheaties this morning and really, really hoped not. Juggling her new Initiative duties, her new hottie, classes, slaying, her mom, and a bevy of bathing beauties was starting to sound like just enough to be too much.
Giles spoke up from the kitchen, where he had retreated after the tea was distributed.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Buffy. These women are not without their own defenses. Perhaps you could just make it a nightly stop on your patrol route. That ought to be sufficient.”
“Yes,” said Jhiera. “We are strong, and when our associates arrive tomorrow, we will be stronger.”
“Swell. Welcome to Sunnydale. Try not to get eaten.”
Continued in part 3, Double Scoop of Oden Tal.
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Long comment ended up long (part 2 of 3[?]), reposted for link
Date: 2010-12-03 02:37 pm (UTC)Yes. And eleusis_walks has discussed (http://eleusis-walks.livejournal.com/48816.html?format=light) how specifically, "[i]n a very real sense, Buffy depicts the way the largely white feminist movement has absorbed and repurposed the narratives of women of color for the use of progressive movements primarily benefiting white women," analyzing the relationships between Buffy & Sineya; Willow & Jenny Calendar; Buffy, Spike, & Slayers of color (Kendra, the Slayer in China who goes unnamed on the show, Nikki Wood); Buffy, Willow, Spike, & Slayers around the globe from "Chosen" onward (and Dana in "Damage," co-written by one of the same writers as LMPTM). From a distinct but overlapping perspective, thuviaptarth talks (http://thuviaptarth.livejournal.com/92385.html?thread=1152481&format=light#cutid1) about the specific way this sublimation of characters of color to a white narrative in the Buffyverse operates in reference to giandujakiss's vid "Origin Stories." (http://giandujakiss.livejournal.com/360051.html?mode=reply&format=light) The second major problem, in my view, of how the Buffyverse represents race is that almost every time it tries to deal with race head-on as a thematically important component of an episode or a plot arc, it fails because not only because of general whitewashing but because of all the times it constructs COC as implicitly "racists" themselves against demons, or as people who fall prey to bigotry/hysteria that ends up victimizing (not integrally murderous) demons. In addition to what has been discussed by eleusis_walks and thuviaptarth, various other things come to mind: A highly racialized "vengeance is paramount" trope re: the "gypsy clan" from which Jenny descends, as represented by the original (nameless) people who cursed Angel and by Uncle Enyos (later killed, of course, by Angel/us). Kendra's attitude and initial actions toward, and persistent wariness of Angel. The entire characterization of Forrest as the "hard liner" of the Initiative soldiers we know. The explicit characterizations of Gunn and Chain as rashly aggressive and almost inviting retaliation from vampire gangs in "War Zone" (whose racial narrative is, for me, mainly saved by Angel's last words to Gunn in the episode - that Gunn might not need Angel, but Angel might need Gunn sometime). The depiction of the racial narrative in "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been", in which Angel acts as the "colorblind" ambiguously-good white guy (from the transcript: Angel steps closer with a slight smile: "It's just blood - Judy. - It-it's all just blood."), explicitly sympathizes with and tries to help Judy on the basis of being a sort of "tragic mulatto" caught between two worlds himself (Judy: "Nobody believes that! Not even my *mother's family*. I'm not one thing or the other. I'm nothing." Angel: "I know what that's like.") and later ends up literally being lynched by a mob of people at the hotel, set on him by Judy (who's afraid that they'll find out she embezzled from her former employer, who fired her because they discovered she was passing). The entire episode is a racial allegory (the people who lynch Angel are acting through hysteria - supernaturally encouraged by the Thesulac - and in several cases, through fear their own "otherness" will be discovered), yet it rings false to me in large part due to the overall context I have described. Season 3's "That Old Gang of Mine" is the epitome of this intensely problematic trope; Tim Minear basically disowned the episode as just being a lousy episode, but it's operating in the overall context of these examples, and not at all alone.