It's "What If" Thursday MKF 11/14/02

[darkmagicwillow]

It's past midnight, so it must be time for the daily thread.

What if you woke up this Thursday morning as Willow Rosenberg? For you as Willow, it's September 2001 and tonight's the night you plan to bring Buffy back. You have all of your own memories and skills as well as hers. You look, sound, and otherwise appear just like Willow, even your aura. There's no way to reverse what's happened to you and you know what happened in season 6 will happen if you don't do things differently.

What do you do?

Do you bring Buffy back? If you don't, what do you do about the demon bikers? How do you run the household without her? If you do, what do you do about her and Spike?

Do you still use magic? What if it's not addictive? If you don't use magic, how you deal with the vampires? If you do, what about Tara?

What do you do about the nerds? Will you kill Warren before he gets to Tara?

What do you do with Tara?

If you want to make it harder on yourself, what if you wake up as Willow the day of Tabula Rasa?

[xita]

i'd take my tara and get as far away from sunnydale and anyone who ever lived there.

[jadedixon]

its not cool or fancy but i could just tell Tara to duck. well actually that doesn't work cuz Buffy still gets shot. So i'll just use my knowlage of warren showing up and have the cops waiting for him. and also cut it with the magic so i can get more tara lovin.

[taralicious]

Ah, nothing like a good temporal paradox, is there?
Change one event in the past and the future tumbles like a line of dominoes.
With my foreknowledge of the trio's evil scheme, I should be able to incapacitate them in such a way that they'd be incapable of what they wrought initially.
You take Warren out of the picture and Jonathan and Andrew will toe the line since Warren was the delusional misogynistic loser and the other two are just flunkies and yes-men.
With their interference now nullified, I would pledge to Tara that I'm through with the dark magics and plenty of Willow/Tara lovin' would ensue.
I would only hope that time wouldn't rewrite itself to account for the change and take Tara from me another way.

[BytrSuite]

I just ate a whole bag of microwave popcorn. Mmm, kettle corn. Now, I'm off to watch a movie, or fall asleep doing so. Yay!

I'm with xita. Take Tara and get the hell out of town. Yep. Maybe leave a note for Buffy. Whatever.

[KISMIC]

Hmm, first off great daily thread topic! Well I think I'd still bring Buffy back, I'm so very selfish in that, but I'd still just have to do it. But right after I'd give up the magic or tell Tara about it so that I could be taught how to handle magic but also respect the Wicca.

Straight off I'd ship the trio off and out of town or try to at least save Jonathon by letting him know that I knew what he was up to and that it just wasn't worth it - hey I still believe he could have been stopped from going the way he did.

I'd SLAP Xander and Anya either to tell Xander that he should grow up and just f*%$#@^ marry Anya or to tell them they are just too young to marry....Either way.

Spike well a good 'ol staking never hurt anyone *evil grin* Mwaahahaha...

After that I'd just let things figure themselves out, move to the bottom floor of the Summers house with Tara, ask her to marry me - in the unnoficial sense (Willow has to have realised that she can't live without Tara after all that happened).

......Then again just leaving Sunnydale with Tara would work just as well!

Well Thursdays over for me, in Oz, so just one more day then this weeks over meaning nearly a week of exams will be beginning

[saule77]

I could write an essay on this... But I won't

1. Buffy

I think I'd bring Buffy back because selfishly, I want not to have to carry out Slayer duties. Its infringing on Tara-snuggletime and we cant have that! The only thing I'd do differently at this stage is not program the Buffybot to come to me when damaged, so that she wouldn't attract the bikers to the cemetery before the end of the spell.... So the spell goes as planned.


2. Magic addiction

Willow was using Dark Magic quite heavily at the end of season 5 I was watching the finale (well, the last 4 episodes, really) the other day and she didnt go all dark eyed Willow only in Tough Love. That happened as well in Spiral when she erected a wall to protect the Scoobies from the Knights of Byzantium. So Id get a grip and listen to my girlfriend when she tells me its not good for me and that its not what magic is for
I wouldnt bring Amy back, just in case Its not even as if the little rat was grateful the first time round Hence no magic binge and no Willow joining the Dark Side of the Force.


3. The Misogynistic Geek Squad

Id get Buffy to rat on Warren after Kathrinas murder. He goes to jail for a long long time and everyones happy. I really dont care what happens with the other two morons. Jonathans always been much more trouble than hes worth and the other one? Andrew who? Just cause he allegedly summoned flying monkeys


So thats me

Oh, and if I woke up the morning of TR, Id get Tara to stay in bed with me for a week

[urnofosiris]

Let the counsil summon another slayer or bust Faith out of jail, whatever. So I'm with Xita. I'd take Tara and leave. Dawn as well. She was part of their family, the only one who gave a damn.

Now in a few hours I will start my last 15 hour shift. Then I'm free till the end of this year. I have 6 more weeks of vacation days left. Hopefully I will have a new job soon so I can really enjoy my free time.
I will miss the people I work with now, especially my naughty nurse. As a parting gift I am letting her insert an iv needle in my arm at the end of this shift. I am romantic like that. [img:2b2374a9ff]http://smilies.crowd9.com/cwm/cwm/rcain.gif[/img:2b2374a9ff]
Actually I will miss working with them I should say, we will keep in touch for the occasional free time booze-a-thon. [img:2b2374a9ff]http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/contrib/blackeye/all_coholic.gif[/img:2b2374a9ff]

[mollyig]

Another one who would run, flee and maybe skedaddle with Tara . . . maybe to Ireland [img:7238f246b5]http://homepage.eircom.net/~mollyig/winkgreen.gif[/img:7238f246b5]

[Rosenberg]

Ah yes, an if only I knew then what I know now scenario. Is it possible for us to alter events, or are they fated to occur no matter what? Even with this precognition, do I have the power to change situations? Id so, I would probably still bring back Buffy because shes the Slayer. Somebody has to take care of the demon population so that I can spend more quality time with my soul mate. I would have tipped the police about Warren after Gone and before Dead Things so that Katrina wouldnt have to die. And if I knew that Tara was going to die because of my misuse of magic, I would quit cold-turkey. If the death of my lover isnt enough motivation to give it up, then nothing is. Oh, and Id remodel the basement so that I could use it as living space, just to be on the safe side.

[urnofosiris]

But Rosenberg, Tara did not die because of Willow's (mis)use of magic. Willow is in no way whatsoever responsible for what happened to her. Although if Willow had not had sex with her Tara would not have been there and she would still be alive, but that is just the homophobe in me talking. Willow already had quit cold turkey. She died so that Willow would go on a magic bender. Isn't that lovely? Tara died because Willow had stopped using magic already. That's Joss Whedon logic for ya. She died on that show because Joss Whedon had made up his mind long ago. They made it clear Buffy was very happy being dead and Willow brought her back because she feared she was being tormented. So I don't think she would have done it knowing what she knows now. There are other slayers to fight those demons and there are probably other places in the world that could use two wonderful lesbian witches and one magic key to help aid people in their problems.

[xita]

she died because willow killed that fawn. so all she'd have to do is not do that. Or so I am told on usenet, oh never mind *#&)#@*&


Off to more meetings today!

[theatremouse]

ya know, i did just wake up from a dream in which i was willow.....except the waking up part made me not willow....paradoxes...aaaa!
anyway, um, i do everything the same but in that "should we get out of bed moment" not.
OR
become a political activist and lobby for the illegalization of guns in california, thus, by the time may rolled around, nothin' doin' having one.....
seriously, in all versions of reality, the invention of the gun pissses me off the most. we've gotta get rid of those things....totally.
peace.
[img:c327625ab1]http://www.forum-smilies.com/fun_52.gif[/img:c327625ab1]

.....editing the blasted typos.....

[snuggle79]

That's easy. Xita said it already and i think the same.
I would take Tara and leave Sunnydale as fast as possible.
That's the best thing to do!
snuggle79

KISMIC, i love your avatar! That pic is one of my absolute favourites of Aly!

[Rosenberg]

Good point, Dr. G. I guess Im using the ME form of logic by using magic as a metaphor and causal effect for anything I want it to stand for. Heh.

I guess one could make the argument that if Willow hadnt misused magic in the first place, Tara would never have left her in Tabula Rasa. If Tara hadnt left her, there would be no need for makeup sex in Entropy and Seeing Red. If they hadnt had the makeup sex, Tara wouldnt have been standing in front of the window where she was shot. Hows that for extrapolation?

[urnofosiris]

Well we can go back a little further. If Willow had never used magic at all she never would have met Tara. You are right, it is her fault after all.

Oh and Bambi, that sweet innocent leetle deer.

So how about hamburgers tonight?

[Rosenberg]

Well we can go back a little further. If Willow had never used magic at all she never would have met Tara. You are right, it is her fault after all

LOL! Well, there you go. It IS all her fault. If she hadnt used magic in the first place, she would never have met Tara, and we wouldnt be having this thread right now because the Kitten wouldnt exist. And I probably wouldnt be going to Moonlight Rising, so I would never have the opportunity to be able to meet the good doctor and my world would be a much poorer place.

[Warduke]

So I wake up as Willow, on the day that she's suppose to bring Buffy back from the deadwhat do I do?

First thing I would do, I'd tell Tara that I found out where Buffy was (in heaven) so there would be no resurrection, then I would call up Angel and let him know that the biker gang was coming to town, and I'd tell him about the nerds and what they're planning to do, and finally I would take Tara and get the hell outa town.

Oh I almost forgot, I'd tell Xander that he's a piece of crap, and tell Anya that she can do so much better, then I would take GREAT pleasure in dusting Spike

[Tulipp]

What a great topic.

I was going to wait and come up with something really interesting, but then it hit me....

If I woke up as Willow, knowing everything that had happened in season 6, I would then know that after Buffy got over her initial heaven withdrawal, she remembered that she had a reason to live and a fight to fight, so I would still bring her back. Only I would tell Tara and Xander what was involved, and after the deer sacrifice, maybe Tara and I would do a little cleansing ritual or something.

However.... I'm going to cheat and use the excellent idea above to get Angel and the gang in town to take care of the demon bikers while the Scoobies and I dig up Buffy's grave in preparation for her return. And then....here's what I would do....

Send Buffy to a therapist to deal with new lease on life.
Send Xander to a therapist to deal with his father issues.
Send Dawn to a therapist to deal with the whole "I'm not the Key; I'm a klepto" problem.
Send Anya to a sex therapist because everyone else is going, and she would feel left out.
Send Tara to music school since she obviously has a really nice voice.

[BytrSuite]

Oooh, Brian. That's a much better scenario. Hee.

[Spice Faerie]

I'm torn with this. See, part of me would want to take Tara and Dawn and move somplace safe. The other part of me would know the big bad that's coming in Season 7 and would want to be around to stop it. Thus, I'm stumped on whether to bring Buffy back or not. I mean, she's doing pretty okay in Season 7 so maybe the whole "poor me, they yanked me out of heaven thing" is wearing off. As for the nerds, I'd turn them into the proper authorities.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it. It might not be a bad idea to take Tara and Dawn off to England to the coven. I mean, they were able to teach Willow a lot in a short amount of time think of what they could teach all three of them if they were there perminently. Well, maybe not perminently but for an extended period of time, at least. Dawn's using magick now so it certainly wouldn't hurt her to learn the proper ways of it all.

Okay, maybe they could do that but first I'd have them stop in Vermont and get married because Willow and Tara should totally be married. Then they could go learn from the coven. That would work. Then maybe they'd be able to go back to Sunnydale with more knowledge and power than when they left and would be able to beat this "from beneath you it devours" dude in Season 7... Just my two cents.

Spice

[Rosenberg]

Warduke, you do a very nice job of tidying things up (especially the part about Spike). I kind of feel like adding, and they lived happily ever after though.

[tommo]

If I woke up as Willow, I'd probably spend the rest of the week exploring those gold and copper mines that I hear are quite the thing these days.

I think my first words before I plunge into that deep and moist hole of golden promise, y'know, aiming on releasing the torrent of uh...treasures that are surely there, would be; "Slayer? What Slayer?"

Just a thought.

[Caoilin]

I'm with Brian and Ruth: let the dead lie, call in the reserves, dust the wanker and spend the rest of my days "treasure hunting."

Mmmmm. Golden promise. Lovely.

[sikarja]

If I woke up in Willow's body?

Resurrect Buffy, then deal with the Hellions maybe with Angel's help. Then stake Spike and stop overusing magic. Then get rid of the nerds as soon as possible preferably with the help of the police, but other means would be totally acceptable too.

But first of all I'd tell Tara what happened. Because even if I had Willow's body, memories and skills, inside there it would be me instead of Willow and it's Willow that Tara loves, not me. I'd help Tara in anyway I could to get Willow back in her body, and even if I somehow knew there was no way to reverse it I'd tell her, because otherwise it'd be cheating.

n/p and Oceans - Intelligence Is Sexy

[darkmagicwillow]

It looks like I found a good topic for today!

Personally, I'd resurrect Buffy, letting everyone know what the ritual really entailed and using one of the various suggestions to avoid dealing with the demons myself even though I miss Tara's first axing, but then I'd ignore Giles and cast the demon source spell to find out where the M'fashnik came from. I get angry with Giles every time I see that scene. Sometimes the problem is too little magic and this was one of them. Then I'd have the cops nail the nerds while they had all the money from the bank robbery lying around. After that, it's time to move away from Sunnydale, perhaps to a place with a nice music school...perhaps someplace in England like Spice Faerie suggests. I've always wanted to live in Europe for a year or two.

I like Xita's suggestion--direct, simple, and effective. Why would anyone who's not a demon live in Sunnydale anyway?

Angel: He's a very good way for dealing with the demons, Warduke. I hadn't thought about his gang.

Buffy: I think you're right, Tulipp. Bringing her back was the right thing to do in the long run, but this time I'll know what she's going through and perhaps that can help. I like how you sent everyone off to the therapist, especially Anya, and Tara going to music school was perfect.

Spike: Spike has been one of my favorite characters on Buffy, but I wouldn't want to deal with him in real life. Given how much Dawn likes him, I might have trouble staking him though I'd definitely uninvite him at the least.

Xander and Anya: KISMIC, Slapping Xander would be fun and they are too young to get married, or at least Xander is. Of course, if I could convince Sweet to take Xander home to be his queen, that might be the best of all worlds. (-;

[slowontheuptake]

I think I'd start with an important thing I'd dig buffy up before doing the resurection spell. In a nice bit of continuity a season one ep shows that Buffy has a very real fear of being buried alive. Waking up in her version of hell was definatly not a good start.

Then I would have a scoob meeting and lay out the next years events for everybody (exept Spike). That would take manipulating future mistakes out of my hands.
Maby Buffy would deal quicker. Xander might get over his stupid father fear. Anya may realize that she is using Xander as a crutch to keep from defining herself (after I explain 'Selfless') and leave his sorry ass instead. Buffy may keep herself from ignoring her sister thus cutting off whiny, klepto Dawn at the pass.
I'd take Spike aside and explain that if he wants to do the right thing he should head out to Africa and get his soul now and stay out of the Sunnydale High basement. I would also explain that if he doesn't take that path I will stake him immediatly.

Now the important stuff I would take Tara to the coven with me as soon as possible and learn to control my powers as she would learn to harness hers. This would be interspaced with lots and lots of sex.
I would come back to Sunnydale with the ability to take on S7's big bad and Tara by my side.
Oh, and I would drag Giles' sorry ass back across the Pacific with me.

[Kalita]

Okay, I've been thinking about his a couple hours and I have a somewhat honourable (I think) plan.

Much as I'd love to ravish Tara all day (week/month/year), I'm an adult and there are things to do.

First, wake up and tell Tara a simple version of the truth - can't do the spell, bikers to worry about. More details later.

Then, assemble the scoobies, tell them that current plans are off and that the bikers must be dealt wtih. Keep Spike alive for now for muscle; call the LA folks and see who's willing to help and who can get there by late evening.

Have a very cold welcome for the biker demons upon arrival. Stage things just right so that it seems that the Slayer, alive and well, knew they were coming and mopped the floor with them. That takes care of the Bot's cover.

Once that's done, tell everyone that you know Buffy's in heaven and that she should stay there. Go to prison and visit Faith, forgive her, tell her the sitch and arrange her release/escape as required. Have Spike leave town at stake-point. Offer little mercy.

Catch the nerds as they leave the bank robbery, red-handed.

Go home and ravish Tara for the rest of the week. By then, I'd have EARNED it.

[WiccansIllusion]

I agree with half of everyone else.


Take Tara and get the hell outta Dodge.


or wait, make that sunnydale.

[Sheridan]

The problem is the beginning of S6 isn't the critical moment, the place you need to intervene is back at the Gift. By the time you get to Bargaining you've got two rough choices. Take Tara and Dawn and leave Sunnydale to burn. Yes Angel and co could stop the bikers and the troika but that would just leave an opening for something else to fill the gap. Bring back Buffy regardless of what you know then you still have the guilt trip and if the universe really does demand a life for a life you might still have to deal with some variant of what happened in SR. On the other hand if instead of sending Spike up the tower Willow and Tara used their magic to pin down Glory while Buffy went after Dawn then the vortex doesn't open and nobody has to sacrifice themselves.