Non-Rec: Shipposting, the Spander Edition

[isabellerecs]

While I’d read and enjoyed fanfiction before Buffy the Vampire Slayer I was never as invested as I got to be with Buffy so it has always felt like my ur-fandom. At that point I read only het stories and I even remember very vividly being on a fansite (Geocities ;)) that had a link to “Slash” with no explanation about what that was so I assumed that it meant gory stories a la slasher films. A very short time later Lord of the Rings came out and I found myself educated in the meaning of slash fanfiction and I returned to BtVS interested in what was on offer. Spander immediately jumped out at me not because I could see it as an extension of the text like some ships, but more because I was really interested in how authors might get them from where they stood in canon to making me believe in them as a pairing. Another part of their appeal was that they both functioned as outsiders in different ways and I, very much an outsider at the time, loved stories of them not only finding each other but in building ties to a greater community.

 

I’m not sure if I would have latched on to this pairing with as much adoration if I’d have encountered them first when I was older, but as it stands with the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia I still have great affection for this ship that dominated by late teens.

 

And because icon making seems to be my new favorite thing, I’ve got some of those too. :)

 

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Comments

[yourlibrarian]

I read a lot of Spander back in the day as well! I haven't seen as much lately but there were a lot of good authors writing it.

[isabellerecs]

Agreed, there were indeed some really terrific authors and fic for this pairing. Every once and awhile I pop over to AO3 and see what's in their tag, but as you say there's not been much new stuff. That certainly does stop me from combing through the Spander Files for hidden gems I might have missed back in the day. :D

Do you happen to have a favorite Spander fic? Mine was always "Reconstruction" by Wordsmith. :)

[yourlibrarian]

I haven't read it in some time, but Sunday Morning Coming Down was a favorite.

You can also find others in the Spander tag at Buffyversetop5. There have been nearly 400 recs made there.

[isabellerecs]

Wow, thanks! :D I do so love a recs comm.

[corvidology]

#5 really made me laugh! :D

[isabellerecs]

\o/ Yah, lol! \o/

[finch]

Hee, those icons are great. My feelings about Buffy become increasingly complicated as time goes on but Spander continues to work for me, maybe because they're far enough off book that I don't have to think about the issues, or maybe because Two Problematic Faves Taste Great Together, idk.

[isabellerecs]

Aw, thank you! I can't but agree with you both about the increasing issues with the source material and with the sufficient otherness of Spander. It's like it's next door neighbor to the canon, and thus not plagued by the same issues. "Two Problematic Faves Taste Great Together", oh so true. :D

Do you happen to have a favorite Spander fic? Mine was always "Reconstruction" by Wordsmith. :)

[spikedluv]

I was just telling someone that I needed to upload some Spander icons! I snagged a bunch of them.

(Also, this post reminds me that I should upload more of my Spander fic to AO3. o_O)

[isabellerecs]

Irony of ironies, I totally was reading one of your Spander stories that hasn't made it over to AO3 yet just the other night. The Hidden, Revealed. I'm really rather fond of that one. :D I remembered reading it, Lord, ages ago but after so much time I really only remembered that Xander patroled a blood whorehouse (and was respected for not discriminating). I, unfortunately, didn't remember that it was A) you who wrote it, or B) the title. So I ended up just putting in as many unique details as I could remember into google, and eventually, I found. it. :D It's gone into a whole set of Spander fics that I plan to rec next year.

[spikedluv]

Aww, yay, I'm glad you're fond of it. (Thanks for including it in your upcoming recs!)

It's been so long since I've revisited any of my Spander fic, I decided to give this one a re-read. I thought the beginning was a bit cringe-worthy, but it finished pretty strong. *g*

[isabellerecs]

The story did build on me, and I think part of the trouble I had finding it again was that I could not remember why Xander was patrolling by himself having forgotten the initial framing of the story. But I loved that you brought him to a place that was outside of the Scoobies' usual preview. I've always loved worldbuilding that fleshed out a wider community that was beyond the monster of the week or the Big Bad. :)

[lunabee34]

I love these!

[isabellerecs]

Aww, thank you! (Gah, I love your icon too! :D)

[lunabee34]

It's shareable, so snag away! The maker is in the key words. :)

[isabellerecs]

Thanks! :D

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Wheee, those are some fun icons! [got here by doing a site search for "buffy"]

[isabellerecs]

Aw, thanks! :D I am still rather nostalgic about Buffy, well mostly the Spander but yeah. :)