In a recent discussion about 'ships and the Spuffy pairing over at girlpire's journal, I mentioned that Buffy isn't an "enjoyable" character the way that Spike is. This got me thinking. In RL, would you ever actually be friends with any of the characters in the Jossverse? Even though Spike is the sex, if I knew someone like him in RL I'd probably find him a little creepy and stalkerish. I might gravitate toward Willow because she's an intellectual type, but at the same time she's wildly insecure about herself and I don't generally surround myself with people that lack confidence to that extreme. Tara is a dear, but I'm afraid she'd be so damn quiet and introverted at a social gathering, i'd just pass her right over. Faith is a hoot, but I think her partying ways would probably intimidate me, as well as the devil-may-care attitude.
So, who does that leave us with? Oz and Giles seem like possibilities. Oz is a musician, laid back and non-plussed. I could see myself enjoying that sort of calm. He would be a good confidant. However, his lack of talking could get old fast. And Giles seems like an interesting person. He reminds me a bit of my best friends father who's a professor. i could see sort of tagging along wherever he went, waiting for him to impart some advice or little bits of knowledge. Admiring his self-assuredness, good looks, and hidden depths (again, another musician).
Of the AtS cast, I'd say Fred and Lorne would be the most likely candidates. Fred is also so charmingly sweet and brilliant, I could easily see myself being a bit in awe of her and swapping horror stories of academia. I bet she would make an awesome best friend and know how to have a good time when happy hour roles around. And I have a friend who's just like Lorne, except not a green empath demon. A little fruity, flamboiant, snappy dresser, and pop-culture enthusiast? Yup, I think I would love spending time with him!
When you think about it, most of the characters are far too fucked up to live functional, non-self destructive lives outside of the context of demon fighting. They're dark and guarded with lots of baggage, which could make it very difficult to connect to them and form healthy relationships.
Who would be your RL Jossverse friend?
A Thought... - ClawofCat
03 May 2008 @ 01:49 pm
A Thought...
36 comments | Leave a comment
36 comments —
Never thought of my dad as a Giles type. But I can see it.
Also, due to current political circumstances, prepared to get chewed out next time you compare my dad to Ben Stein.
Also, due to current political circumstances, prepared to get chewed out next time you compare my dad to Ben Stein.
He's not really like Giles, but there is something about him that makes me think of your dad. Maybe simply the whole academia thing. I'm not exactly sure. And the Ben Stein comparison falls more along the lines of his voice/intonation.
Have you calmed down a bit since the other night?
And don't ask about my thesis. We shall never speak of it again. Know only that I am still working on it and decided that I'm going to write it as though it were an in-depth journalism piece since I was having a block trying to write it as a paper. Anthro and journalism are similar, so I can probably make it work.
Have you calmed down a bit since the other night?
And don't ask about my thesis. We shall never speak of it again. Know only that I am still working on it and decided that I'm going to write it as though it were an in-depth journalism piece since I was having a block trying to write it as a paper. Anthro and journalism are similar, so I can probably make it work.
I think I might get on quite well with Joyce.
She seems so nice, doesn't she? They never really developed her character beyond "Buffy's mom," but she must have lead an interesting life being employed in the fine arts field. Bet the lady had some hidden depths.
I'd have to say honestly that I'd be friends with Xander. I enjoy the nice guy. Heck, I married someone who looks a bit like Spike but is more geeky Xander than anything. That might explain my fondness for the both of them. But the nice geek guy thing? So very much my trigger button and the fact that he's an intriguing mixture of strength and submission...ooh baby!
Okay, I got off track there, didn't I? Also, I could hang out with Anya but I'm not sure we'd be close. I like my brutal honesty with a shade less brutality, and honestly her quirks would shift her fairly quickly into the acquaintance category. Maybe a phone friend...I can never have too many people to call late at night and she'd be interesting long-distance for short periods.
Okay, I got off track there, didn't I? Also, I could hang out with Anya but I'm not sure we'd be close. I like my brutal honesty with a shade less brutality, and honestly her quirks would shift her fairly quickly into the acquaintance category. Maybe a phone friend...I can never have too many people to call late at night and she'd be interesting long-distance for short periods.
Somehow I passed over the nice guy, class clown type in my peer social dealings. In reality, I'd say a lot of my friends are either brainy, academic types or artistic in some form or fashion (singers, musicians, artists). I could see how a guy like Xander would be a fun friend to have though, especially when he was still young and less hard-bitten.
I overlooked Anya. I feel like we'd jive on the perv factor and it'd be fun to share stories and one-up each other, but she's so darn awkward I don't know that we'd have anything to talk about past orgasms since i'm not a business entrepenur and can't talk about money. I haven't even taken any econ classes, so I'm at a real disadvantage.
I overlooked Anya. I feel like we'd jive on the perv factor and it'd be fun to share stories and one-up each other, but she's so darn awkward I don't know that we'd have anything to talk about past orgasms since i'm not a business entrepenur and can't talk about money. I haven't even taken any econ classes, so I'm at a real disadvantage.
I think I'd be friends with Spike. Honestly. I can't explain exactly why, but of all the regular characters, he's the one I think I get best along with.
Spike seems like a good drinking buddy or the guy you go to for a pep talk after something shitty happens. He can build you up, give you your confidence back, reassure you. Oh, and easy on the eyes doesn't hurt ;)
Hmm, I think I could be friends with high school Buffy, when she still had that mix of seriousness and frivolity. After that, she got more and more screwed up, and I think she'd be hard to deal with.
I'd probably gravitate toward the nerdy types - Willow, Xander, Fred. I think Tara and I would get along really well, but I'm shy and she's shy, so probably neither one of us would make the first move in becoming friends. Lorne would probably be fun.
I'd probably gravitate toward the nerdy types - Willow, Xander, Fred. I think Tara and I would get along really well, but I'm shy and she's shy, so probably neither one of us would make the first move in becoming friends. Lorne would probably be fun.
I totally would have designated Buffy as a "Bitch Squad" member had I been in high school with her. She's not quite so bad as Cordelia and her lot, but there's still something stuck up, snooty, and privaleged about Buffy that I wouldn't have liked. Also, I was in all the AP classes. And you know Buffy... it's a wonder the poor girl can read.
Thumbs up to the nerdy types! Isn't it interesting all the different responses this post has gotten. It's sort of neat.
Thumbs up to the nerdy types! Isn't it interesting all the different responses this post has gotten. It's sort of neat.
Where did you come from!? Haven't heard a peep from you since the phone date.
So, your bff would be a cursing, hard-drinking, snarky Irishman? Haha. Priceless. He seemed like a good guy for the most part though.
So, your bff would be a cursing, hard-drinking, snarky Irishman? Haha. Priceless. He seemed like a good guy for the most part though.
I'd so hang with Faith. We're like separated at birth, baby. BFF!!!
And I'd love someone like Spike - but I have loads of dysfunctional guy-friends.
And I'd love someone like Spike - but I have loads of dysfunctional guy-friends.
Oh, I bet you and Faith could get into heaps of trouble. I wouldn't have guessed you're wild and crazy party girl though. Oh, the mysteries of 
hello_spikey. How intriguing.
Spike's way too needy. I'd have to be that friend to tell him to shut up and stop sulking and actually do something to change his circumstance. And to stop going after Buffy because she's clearly insane and wouldn't reciprocate his feelings. He's that delusional guy. We all know them.
hello_spikey. How intriguing. Spike's way too needy. I'd have to be that friend to tell him to shut up and stop sulking and actually do something to change his circumstance. And to stop going after Buffy because she's clearly insane and wouldn't reciprocate his feelings. He's that delusional guy. We all know them.
I actually used to date a guy who was like a carbon copy of Spike. It was awesome to have someone that devoted to me at first, but the stalking and needy, emotional outbursts got old real fast.
I think that back in high school Faith and I would have been besties. I was all about the party's & fun back then.
I think that back in high school Faith and I would have been besties. I was all about the party's & fun back then.
I actually used to date a guy who was like a carbon copy of Spike.
Whoa. Freaky. Was this before or after you started watching Buffy? It'd be interesting to consider whether you were attracted to him because of Spike or if Spike was attractive to you because of your guy. It's the whole chicken and the egg quandry, except BtVS style!
Faith sure knows how to throw down, that's for sure! Bet there never would have been a dull moment with her by your side :)
Whoa. Freaky. Was this before or after you started watching Buffy? It'd be interesting to consider whether you were attracted to him because of Spike or if Spike was attractive to you because of your guy. It's the whole chicken and the egg quandry, except BtVS style!
Faith sure knows how to throw down, that's for sure! Bet there never would have been a dull moment with her by your side :)
I'll have to go with Willow as Most Likely BF. She's an all-round smart girl, and I value intelligent discussion muchly. Also she's sweet and fun-loving, and who doesn't like that?
And probably Xander. Not so much with the academia, but I have a track record of hanging out with geeky, kinda stupid in a male-ish way, but really sweet guys. And he fits that pretty well.
I'd be closer to Willow, though.
I think I'd like Fred, too - yay, Texans! - but she's a little uber-smart for me. She'd start talking physics and I'd go 'uh-huh' and my eyes would glaze over.
Also, assuming she continued her growing-up trend in S7, I think I'd get on with Dawn. She's a pretty smart cookie, and she's more pop-culture-y than Willow, which I also like.
Anyone who is or ever was a cheerleader would get an eyebrow raise and a turned back from me (sorry buffy), and Faith and Gunn would scare the bejesus out of me. I think I'd have had a crush on Giles in HS, though. :P
And probably Xander. Not so much with the academia, but I have a track record of hanging out with geeky, kinda stupid in a male-ish way, but really sweet guys. And he fits that pretty well.
I'd be closer to Willow, though.
I think I'd like Fred, too - yay, Texans! - but she's a little uber-smart for me. She'd start talking physics and I'd go 'uh-huh' and my eyes would glaze over.
Also, assuming she continued her growing-up trend in S7, I think I'd get on with Dawn. She's a pretty smart cookie, and she's more pop-culture-y than Willow, which I also like.
Anyone who is or ever was a cheerleader would get an eyebrow raise and a turned back from me (sorry buffy), and Faith and Gunn would scare the bejesus out of me. I think I'd have had a crush on Giles in HS, though. :P
So, in other words, you'd want to be a Scoobie? All you'd need to do is replace Buffy and then you could hang with Xander, Giles, and Willow. Snowy the Vampire Slayer has a certain j'ne se qua to it, don't you think? :P
elphie_7 on May 6th, 2008 02:15 am (UTC)Probably season 7 Andrew. We would make up stories together and frolick through a field of flowers. I adore him <3
Ahahaha! How cute! He does have a very active imagination. For some reason I imagine Andrew on AV squad and thoroughly enjoying mad libs. You'd have to be careful with him though. He does have a penchant for stabbing his friends in the back ;)
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Oh! BtVS s3 dork!Wes, early AtS Wes, or hard-bitten, dirty, likes-heavy-bondage-and-has-begun-drinki
My friends are quite like Willow and Xander. I like to hang out with that sort of people. I would probably go with college!Willow because she's less insecure and actually fun. Xander is also fun to hang out with, my best friend is so much like Xander it's scary.
I know a few Cordelias and Anyas but I seriously don't like hanging out with them. Tactless people annoy me, they might be amusing on TV but in RL they're just rude.
I know a few Cordelias and Anyas but I seriously don't like hanging out with them. Tactless people annoy me, they might be amusing on TV but in RL they're just rude.
My friends are quite like Willow and Xander.
That's so cute! Do you think knowing people like them in RL influenced your enjoyment of the show early on? It must be nice when you feel like you can relate to the characters.
I know, if I had been in high school with that lot, Cordy would have totally been on my bitch-list. Anya is sort of endearing in a clueless way, but I agree. It might be tough to really get to know her. She's so socially awkward and doesn't even know it.
That's so cute! Do you think knowing people like them in RL influenced your enjoyment of the show early on? It must be nice when you feel like you can relate to the characters.
I know, if I had been in high school with that lot, Cordy would have totally been on my bitch-list. Anya is sort of endearing in a clueless way, but I agree. It might be tough to really get to know her. She's so socially awkward and doesn't even know it.
In BtVS, I'd be friends with Joyce and in Angel, um . . . that's hard to choose. S1-3 Wesley or Cordy, probably. During S4-5, I really have a hard time envisioning any of them as hanging-around-together-friend-material,
Joyce is such a sweet woman. She seems like the type of person that would be incredibly easy to get to know and talk to. There's gotta be a lot more to her than simply being "Buffy's mom." All these hidden depths.
During S4-5, I really have a hard time envisioning any of them as hanging-around-together-friend-material
Yeah, things got pretty dark, pretty fast for our heroes. I think they were all too busy contemplating how to stave off self-destruction (or get their faster) to form meaningful social ties.
During S4-5, I really have a hard time envisioning any of them as hanging-around-together-friend-material
Yeah, things got pretty dark, pretty fast for our heroes. I think they were all too busy contemplating how to stave off self-destruction (or get their faster) to form meaningful social ties.
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Stalk at will. Most of my posts are unflocked for anyone who happens by to throw their two cents in.
I think I'd get hang out with Spike pretty well, but have to tell him to shut the hell up when he got whiney
Yeah, sometimes that guy really does need a reality check and a friend to keep him honest.
I reckon my besty would be Faith, but we'd probably both end up in
Uh, oh! Got another wild child here! I'm surprised how many people said Faith. She's just so intense and wild, I know I'd be totally intimidated by her.
I think I'd get hang out with Spike pretty well, but have to tell him to shut the hell up when he got whiney
Yeah, sometimes that guy really does need a reality check and a friend to keep him honest.
I reckon my besty would be Faith, but we'd probably both end up in
Uh, oh! Got another wild child here! I'm surprised how many people said Faith. She's just so intense and wild, I know I'd be totally intimidated by her.
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