Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spander Goodness

[shinra_lackey]

Ok, I've been putting off and putting off updating my rec journal because of all the backlog I have. Therefore any and all incoming recs for the next month are gonna be be pretty random. Gomen ^^

Today's topic will be Buffy the Vampire Slayer, focus on Spander fics, since they're my OTP. Most of these won't be new to the die-hard fans of the fandom, so sorry for that.

Nessuno by riani1 (complete, Spander, AU)
Through the Looking Glass by kimberly_a (series, complete, slash, Spander, post-series)
S2!AR by reremouse (series, complete, slash, Spander, post-series)
Wilderness by reremouse (series, complete, Spander, post-series)
Xanpet by Seige (series, WIP, slash, BDSM, Spander, post-series)
Dogs of War by tabaqui (complete, Spander, AU)
Credence by tabaqui (series, WIP, Spander, some Xander/Oz, AU)

Nessuno by riani1 (complete, Spander, AU) A long and plotty, ride that is utterly satisfying and does a magnificent job casting the Buffy characters in a different setting.

1498, Renaissance Italy. Intrigue and magic and danger in the Rome of the Borgias and the Inquisition, where a mercenary called Guglielmo il Sanguinante stumbles across a young novice named Alexander.

How the author casts the Buffy characters is really clever and the story is involving and fun to read. I especially love riani1's take on Spike and his relationship with Angel. This was a page turner and I read it all in one go.

Through the Looking Glass by kimberly_a (series, complete, slash, Spander, post-series) Xander is living off on his own in San Francisco, away from Slayer and the Hellmouth, when one day he sees a dead man walk by: Spike. Of course Xander has to go stalk him.

So Xander was weaving his way through the steadily streaming foot traffic, grumbling to himself about unrealistic architects and vaguely pondering what to have for dinner, when he saw a shock of platinum blonde hair in the rush-hour sidewalk crowd. It wasn't the hair color that caught his eye -- San Francisco as a city had a hair sense quite similar to Oz's, after all, and nothing was too extreme -- it was something else. The tilt of the head, maybe? The curve of the neck?

His phone suddenly rang again and Xander jumped, pulling it out of his pocket. "Harris." When he looked up again the blonde head was gone.

S2!AR by reremouse (series, complete, slash, Spander, post-series) During the crazy times of Season 2, Drusilla gives Spike a present while he can't walk around. Xander is not pleased and ends up missing a heartbeat. My summary may sound extremely corny, which it is, but the series is delightful with a caring sire!Spike and a goofy vamp!Xander.

"Thanks, pet. None for yourself?"

"I'm not old enough to drink."

"You're old enough to murder a few fast food workers instead then, are you?" Spike leaned forward, carding his fingers through Xander's hair, then clenching them, tugging his face back until those big dark eyes were fixed right on him. "Get it through your head, boy. Human laws don't mean nothing to a vampire. You'll do well to get used to it."

"Sorry."

"And don't mumble."

"Sorry." Xander flinched away from Spike's glare, and wrapped his arms closer around his legs. "Look, I'll learn. I don't know anything about being a vampire other than insert-fangs-there, do-not-insert-stake-here."

Wilderness by reremouse (series, complete, Spander, post-series) Xander is in Africa and doesn't seem ta care whether he lives or dies. Laying down for the vultures, Spike finds him when he's sent by the Scooby Gang. I really enjoy how desolate reremouse writes Xander and what lengths Spike has to go to get him back from the brink.

Xanpet by Seige (series, WIP, slash, BDSM, Spander, post-series) Ok, if you like hot BDSM starring the boys, you'll like this fic. While I've read quite a few master/slave type fics, most of them don't do it for me and rapidly dissolve into h/c. This fic does not. Which is why it's really fascinating. Set post-wedding fiasco and Xander has left Anya at the alter. All seems well and good until Spike makes a wish that he had Xander as his Pet during the height of the Scourge of Europe. Well, Vengeance demons are not good people to piss off and Xander and Spike are whisked away. I do have a few qualms at the beginning about how much of an ass Xander is to Spike, but got over it when the juicy bits came later. Unfortunately this is a work in progress and I don't know when the author updates.

Dogs of War by tabaqui (complete, Spander, AU) The Initiative has declared martial law on Sunnydale under the guise of a terrorist attack and Xander is all alone in Sunnydale Underground trying to avoid capture. Hmmm... what i really love about this fic is the grand expanse of all the shit that has gone wrong in Sunnydale. This outcome is so bleak, but plausible that you're really rooting for the Scoobies to triumph.

Credence by tabaqui (series, WIP, Spander, some Xander/Oz, AU) Post-Glory, Spike has left Sunnydale and has gone to Seattle where he's trying to have his chip removed. While there Xander and Oz appear with Oz very the worse for wear. Why am I reccing this fic? Hyena!kink. Yep, the hyena is a strong presence in Xander and he's trying to form a pack with Oz. The problem is that Oz ill from what the Initiative has done with him and doesn't want that from Xander. Spike? He just wants Xander.

WIP Updates will be posted when I have them a little more organized.