5 Fics About Blood in the Buffyverse
Nov. 1st, 2009 05:09 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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buffyversetop5Blood has always been an important element in the supternatural and magical context of the Buffyverse. As Spike says in The Gift, "It's always got to be blood. Blood is life. Why do you think we eat it? It's what keeps you going. Makes you warm. Makes you hard. Makes you other than dead." And, yet, on a show where blood was central to the conflict between vampires and humans/Slayers, as takers and givers of the substance, there was a limited amount of screen time dedicated to it. The following character studies delve into the symbolism and importance of blood on a personal level for both the human and vampire characters on the show. A number of these stories refer to or incorporate menstruation, so please be aware of that if the topic quicks you.
1. Grown by Prophecy Girl
Buffy, PG-13, assorted seasons
Summary: Buffy comes full circle.
Review: It's amazing how much can be said in just 425 words. This wonderful character study takes blood as the key symbol in Buffy's evolution from Girl to Slayer and uses it to dramatic and insightful effect. It seems that the nature of the beast is born from within.
2. Thirty Days by kita0610
Angel/Dru, Angel/Buffy, Angel/Spike, NC-17, assorted seasons
Summary: Angel's thoughts and memories on blood of various sorts.
Review: What to say about Kita? She's already been widely recc'd this round and I'm not sure I'll give her proper justice. This haunting piece delves into the significance of blood, the tragedy of how the lose of it affected Dru, how it heralded Buffy into a world of monsters, and how it gave Angel a family. But at what cost? It's lyrical, thoughtful and gets to the heart of the integral otherness of vampires - that they consume blood and they lose it. If anyone has a link to this fic on LJ, let me know.
3. Sanguis by starlet2367
Angel/Cordelia, R, AtS Season 3
Summary: As Cordelia's visions get worse, the onslaught of blood drives Angel to the drink of his control.
Review: What I love so much about this fic is how it highlights how close to the surface Angel's precariously controled base desires are. The duality of his identity - the mask he wears vs. the monster he is - is explored in a mature and compelling way, as are themes of gender identity. Wonderful characterizations and pacing catapult this fic into the top 10 character studies I've read.
4. Blood Types by tkp
Angel, R, assorted seasons
Summary: Some people taste different to Angel.
Review: tkp is a very gifted wordsmith and she uses her talents in this precise one-shot to explore, through vignettes, what the blood of Angel's lovers, victims and friends means to him and his relationship with them. I think blood as revelatory device is a highly underutilized tool in fanfic, so it's wonderful to see it done so simply and elegantly here.
5. Measuring Time In Breaths by lilbreck
Angel/Fred, NC-17, AtS Season 3
Summary: She had always enjoyed it when a boy would spend time doing just this. The only difference was that this time it wasn't the main event, wasn't the pre-show, and Angel wasn't aiming to please.
Review: This quiet, sleepy ficlet shows the softer side of Angel and how blood can bring him closer to someone rather than distance him. It's a sexy little indulgence fic told from Fred's trusting and perhaps relatively innocent POV.
**If anyone is interested in further recs that deal specifically with menstruation, I've compiled a fairly comprehensive list at my LJ, which can be viewed HERE. I'm always looking for additional stories. Drop me a link if there are any that I've missed. Thanks!
1. Grown by Prophecy Girl
Buffy, PG-13, assorted seasons
Summary: Buffy comes full circle.
Review: It's amazing how much can be said in just 425 words. This wonderful character study takes blood as the key symbol in Buffy's evolution from Girl to Slayer and uses it to dramatic and insightful effect. It seems that the nature of the beast is born from within.
2. Thirty Days by kita0610
Angel/Dru, Angel/Buffy, Angel/Spike, NC-17, assorted seasons
Summary: Angel's thoughts and memories on blood of various sorts.
Review: What to say about Kita? She's already been widely recc'd this round and I'm not sure I'll give her proper justice. This haunting piece delves into the significance of blood, the tragedy of how the lose of it affected Dru, how it heralded Buffy into a world of monsters, and how it gave Angel a family. But at what cost? It's lyrical, thoughtful and gets to the heart of the integral otherness of vampires - that they consume blood and they lose it. If anyone has a link to this fic on LJ, let me know.
3. Sanguis by starlet2367
Angel/Cordelia, R, AtS Season 3
Summary: As Cordelia's visions get worse, the onslaught of blood drives Angel to the drink of his control.
Review: What I love so much about this fic is how it highlights how close to the surface Angel's precariously controled base desires are. The duality of his identity - the mask he wears vs. the monster he is - is explored in a mature and compelling way, as are themes of gender identity. Wonderful characterizations and pacing catapult this fic into the top 10 character studies I've read.
4. Blood Types by tkp
Angel, R, assorted seasons
Summary: Some people taste different to Angel.
Review: tkp is a very gifted wordsmith and she uses her talents in this precise one-shot to explore, through vignettes, what the blood of Angel's lovers, victims and friends means to him and his relationship with them. I think blood as revelatory device is a highly underutilized tool in fanfic, so it's wonderful to see it done so simply and elegantly here.
5. Measuring Time In Breaths by lilbreck
Angel/Fred, NC-17, AtS Season 3
Summary: She had always enjoyed it when a boy would spend time doing just this. The only difference was that this time it wasn't the main event, wasn't the pre-show, and Angel wasn't aiming to please.
Review: This quiet, sleepy ficlet shows the softer side of Angel and how blood can bring him closer to someone rather than distance him. It's a sexy little indulgence fic told from Fred's trusting and perhaps relatively innocent POV.
**If anyone is interested in further recs that deal specifically with menstruation, I've compiled a fairly comprehensive list at my LJ, which can be viewed HERE. I'm always looking for additional stories. Drop me a link if there are any that I've missed. Thanks!
