Random Fandom Fun Poll #4

[gryfndor_godess]

[Poll #1808335]


My Opinion: At that age and with that range of experiences, I actually don’t think Buffy would have killed him.  We know from S5 that Buffy isn’t always willing to accept that kind of choice, and if Angel hadn’t become Angelus, I think their love would have been pure enough to sustain the same kind of thought process she had about Dawn.  And that’s just if Buffy thought about it rationally.  Emotionally, if she were unexpectedly faced with that choice as the world was ending, I don’t think she could have suddenly killed him, either.  Even though “Prophecy Girl” proved that Buffy would sacrifice herself to save the world, I don’t think she could have sacrificed Angel.  Without the pain and “loss of innocence” that Angelus caused her, I think Buffy would have stayed hopeful and idealistic enough to not be able to kill the man she loved.

By the way, none of this is meant as a criticism of Bangel or Buffy.  I would understand completely if she were unable to kill him in this scenario, and I wouldn’t consider it a weakness on her part.  I don’t think I could do it if I were in her shoes.

Comments

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I definitely see what you're saying--your thoughts all make sense to me. But what I immediately thought when I read the question was, "This is Buffy. One of my favorite things about her is the way she comes up with a third option when both the obvious options suck." Like what she did with sacrificing her own life instead of Dawn's or the empowerment spell in "Chosen." I like to think that if this had happened, she would have come up with a completely different solution. I have no idea what it would be, though!

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

I think she definitely would have looked (and probably found) another solution, too, if she'd had the time, but I don't know if she could have done it in the short interim between learning about Angel's blood and Acathla opening.

[smells_corrupt.livejournal.com]

Absolutely not. She had enough trouble killing Angelus as it was, no way would she be able to kill him if he hadn't lost his soul/summoned Acathla. And it would be completely understandable.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

:)

[pocochina.livejournal.com]

I think she'd have done it. I almost wonder if it would've been a little easier? When he did totally deserve it, she took on a lot of self-blame and was all conflicted about hoping she'd get him back and messed up by his mind games. If she just had to do it to save the world, that might've been a more straightforward decision. (Though if it was really that straightforward, Giles probably would've stepped in anyway? and she wouldn't have had to.)

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

I agree that Giles might have taken the matter out of her hands if he weren't incapacitated. I can also see Angel doing it himself to take the burden off Buffy.

[diamondtook862.livejournal.com]

Wow. This makes me want to read fic where this happens and Buffy does kill him, with Spike being the one who takes his blood for Acathla. Of course, this sounds like a Bangel fic, so to make it better, there'd be all sorts of conflicts where Buffy and Spike develop a relationship with each other post Angel-sucked into hell-ness.

I think she'd do it though. I agree with Lirazel that she'd have found another way, but if it came down to it, I do think she'd have done it. And been scarred for life in a completely different way.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

I would read that fic. Although I'd want Angel to be saved from hell.

It would be interesting to see how the difference affected her emotionally; I think she'd become closed/withdrawn/"hard" much more quickly/noticeably than in canon.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Sure. To her mind, that's exactly what she ended up doing in the end. I think it might have been maybe a little easier since Angel probably would have accepted as opposed to being completely clueless about what was happening.

[gryfndor-godess.livejournal.com]

I can see that point, that it might make little difference since she considers Angel and Angelus two completely separate people. Agreed on Angel accepting; if Buffy couldn't do it after all, I think he would.