I know I’m a few days late to the party, but celebrating International Buffy Day has gotten me dwelling even more on the beautiful tragedy that is Buffy and Angel.
Season 3 is honestly such a bittersweet masterpiece for them. While I absolutely love how clearly the writers showed they were still deeply in love—the lingering looks, the "Amends" of it all, the sheer domesticity of them just *being* in the same room after the trauma of Season 2—I have one major gripe.
Not Enough Kissing!!. I mean I know there's the fear of losing his soul but my stubborn Bangel heart was starved for more physical affection. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and used AI to "rectify" the situation.
Happy belated Buffy Day to my fellow hopeless Bangel romantics!
Every now and then when I rewatch Buffy, one of my most favourite thing to do is to reanalyse Bangel scenes frame by frame. More often than not, I find new angles or new meanings that I've missed despite the 982762836595th time watching it. Today, I found these from Amends. This is one of my favourite episodes and I love that it's the first time (perhaps only time?) we actually see them do the deed. It was a lusty and beautiful scene but it also made me wonder if only there was no curse and they could fulfill their sexual desires..oh what a treat that would be!..
The way his fingers tangled deep into her hair while drawing her body tight against his..the way his arm locked around her waist, crushing the distance between them. You can feel his hunger for her in that kiss—she eventually has to break away just to catch her breath, while Angel, needing none, instantly claims the curve of her jaw. Their passion translates so perfectly in this scene; the intimacy is just on another level. Unmatched!
...in an ideal world, if given a choice, Buffy would choose Angel and Angel would choose Buffy.
...she is the girl of his dreams(literally dreamt of marrying her) and she loved him more than anything in her life.
...they didn't break up because they wanted to and certainly not because they stopped loving each other.
...when apart, just hearing the other's name does something to them.
...they've broken up but they've almost always kiss each time they meet.
But unfortunately, writers think we always want drama and never ending heartbreak. Like the occasional fight with things thrown around is fine but we want to see our couples happy. Like you get us invested in a couple and build them up to be the best for each other and break them up. It's cruel...
Like why are writers afraid when things go good for the couple like whyy?? Are they afraid of writing happy scenes? Or have no idea what to do with couples when they're happy? WE FANS DESERVE BETTER!!!
With the Buffy revival, seeing that SMG is an EP, I hope one of the conditions she laid down was Bangel must end up together.. I'm banking on this because she's an Angel girl. Angel doesn't need to remain a vampire. Maybe he shanshued (with powers retained) and ends up happily married to Buffy, helping her train slayers.
Oh and this rant is also a small tribute to Rory x Jess who we were also robbed of a happy ending..
Thank god for fanfics because some show writers who are actually getting paid, SUCK!!!
if I am not mistaken, I have been a fan of your bangel fanfics for the past two decades. Thank you for all your work!
I’m working on this epic story called Point Peak- a post-canon novel where Buffy returns after a decade of spiritual initiations in the jungle and reunites with Angel at a remote Slayer healing compound.
I’d be so honored if you’d be open to beta reading either Chapter 1 or a few standalone vignettes from the Buffy/Angel sessions (the Red Book readings are a recurring motif). No pressure at all. I know time and energy are real things, but your take would mean a lot to me.
Let me know if you’re curious and I can send over whatever format is easiest ❤️
Thanks again for all the stories you’ve already gifted us 🤗
Heya! Thanks for the ask. I haven't written fics for a while and I'm trying really hard to get back into it. It's so nice to hear that there are ppl who liked my fics! Anyway, I'm soooo flattered by the ask so sure, I don't mind reading it. It already sounds promising. You can send it over via email in word or I'm also on AO3 & FF.net though I'm not sure how to send it there. Whichever works for you. Looking forward..
In just six months, we'll be celebrating another run of the I Will Remember You Marathon, an annual fanfiction marathon devoted to the relationship between Buffy and Angel.
And this year is extra special — it’s the marathon’s 20th anniversary!
Throughout November, we publish a new story every day in honor of the Angel episode “I Will Remember You,” which originally aired on November 23, 1999.
The marathon got its start in 2004 when it was created by Leni. The tradition has been kept alive since then by dedicated Buffy/Angel fans, including Chrislee, Dark Star, and Angelus2Hot. In 2023, the event was revamped by a group of authors and fandom artists and achieved its biggest turnout in more than a decade!
In addition to fics, the revamped marathon also welcomes artworks including fanart, fanvids, edits, and GIFs.
Sign-ups for the 2024 IWRY Fic Marathon in November are now open!
Authors sign up here.
Artists sign up here.
What kind of stories are accepted?
We will accept any piece of fanfiction, of any rating, that is 500 or more words long and focused on the relationship of Buffy/Angel (and/or Buffy/Angelus).
Where will the stories be posted?
The stories will be posted to a 2024 collection on the I Will Remember You Marathon Archive. We will provide clear instructions about how to post your story to AO3 collections closer to the event.
Can I help out?
We would love to have you join in whatever capacity is best for you. Some roles to consider include:
Beta reading
Supporting the writers with reviews & comments on fics
Promoting the marathon on your platform of choice
If you are interested in participating in another non-writing or non-artist role, email us at [email protected]
I want to see Angel's soul bound or finally receive his redemption so they can have many sexy nights and impromptu sexcapades..then get married and have more sex and then create little broody vampires..
I can't sleep because I'm caught in my Bangel-feels tonight..Inspired by an animated photo I saw, I tried my best to replicate and made it Bangel..a bit dark but then again, colours are never my strength.
Twenty years ago the I Will Remember You Fic Marathon (IWRY) was born. Originated by Leni, then passed on to Chrislee, to Dark Star, and then Angelus2Hot, IWRY has remained the premiere event on the Buffy/Angel calendar and the centre of the B/A fandom itself.
This year we are hoping to mark these two decades of fan creativity and storytelling by making it the biggest IWRY in years.
In this spirit, one of our team approached the current moderator to ask if we could join her in the running of the event. She did not feel this was necessary. We respect her decision and all the work she has put into keeping the marathon going these past years. We wish her nothing but the best with it now and in the future.
However, we believe IWRY is deeply rooted in our fandom as a collective and community experience. We want to create spaces and events where all who wish to participate can participate. It is for this reason we have decided to run our own I Will Remember You Fic Marathon.
Sign-ups for IWRY Fic Marathon are open now.
If you are a writer or even just writer-curious, please put your name down and join us as we celebrate all things Bangel. We will accept any piece of fanfiction, of any rating, that is 500 or more words long and focused on the relationship of Buffy/Angel (and/or Buffy/Angelus). If drabbles are your jam, we will be happy to include those among the Another Minute bonus stories at the end of the event.
If you are neither writer nor curious, fear not! We would love to have you join in whatever capacity is best for you. Some roles to consider include:
Beta reading
Creating fanart, fanvids, edits, or GIFs
Supporting the writers with reviews & comments on fics
Taking part in our "Meet the Fandom" series
Helping us with the logistics behind the scenes
Promoting the marathon on your platform of choice
Anything we missed? Let us know!
If you are interested in participating in a non-writing role, email us at [email protected].
If you are a writer without an AO3 account, we have a number of invitations that we are happy to share. Just let us know on the signup sheet. If you are not a writer but would like to be active on AO3, just reach out to us directly via email.
The stories will be posted to a 2023 Collection on the I Will Remember You Marathon Archive. We will provide clear instructions about how to do this closer to the event.
Once again, we welcome you to the IWRY Fic Marathon and encourage you to take part in any way you can!
Please reach out to us here or at [email protected] with any questions.
When ppl say he is stoic and doesn't love Buffy enough..🙄
This!!! This is how he loves..quietly, consistently but importantly, the love is strong and steadfast..she will always be the one who owns his unbeating heart..
Okay, I always have a bit of a beef with our fave girl (or moreso the writers) during this scene here.
I wasn't sure if she was all soldier-mode and therefore, angsty or she was being sarcastic..even if she didn't remember IWRY, I would think the highlight for her would be the night of her 17th bday (even if it did become a nightmare afterwards) or perhaps, even their first kiss (which he vamped out after). I remember watching this and was like what??? That's what you choose as highlights? Like come on, man..your relationship is worth more than that.
And Angel's expression totally screams IWRY (OP, thanks for the GIF!) but of course, because the world is ungrateful(with all the sacrifices he's made to atone) and thrives on both of our heroes' pain, he can't say anything..my poor, tragic manpire. This is why I love you so..
A lot of people like to claim that what Buffy and Angel never really knew each other and that they were simply an idealized first love.
I’d love to hear your perspective about the ways in which they are NOT simply those thing but so much more?
I mean, it takes a lot of time to get to know a person. You can argue that Buffy and Angel never knew many things about each other. However, Angel knew pretty much everything about Buffy when they were together. We saw many times that Buffy talked to Angel about the little things in life - such as complaining about her mom's boyfriend in Ted - as well as the not-so-little things - like the meaning of life in Gingerbread. Moreover, Angel knew how Buffy became a slayer and witnessed her journey from normal girl to hardened slayer. He was there for some of the most defining moments in her life - he even, unwillingly, caused them. No one but Angel will ever know what Buffy went through because of Angelus. They alone know what it's like to have the best thing in their lives stolen from them and their entire world turned upside down. Giles losing Jenny or Willow losing Tara isn't even on the same level, because they didn't cause it. Angelus was literally a product of Buffy and Angel's love - the fact that something so pure and good betrayed them, violated them, and gave birth to something so ugly and destructive, was one of the most traumatizing experiences of their lives. Their idealized first love died when Angel's soul left his body. They learned there is no happily ever after and that dreams can turn into nightmares in the blink of an eye - Buffy felt violated by those events, comparable only to discovering Dawn was planted in her life. Furthermore, when Buffy finally accepted her faith as the slayer ("Me"), Angel(us) was there, and when Buffy's heart shattered and she killed someone she loved for the first time, Angel was there too. Angel has those memories and sharing them connects them on a deep level. Even after leaving her, Angel is the only person Buffy allows to see her vulnerable and give her comfort after her mom's death (later, she does it with Dawn as well), and the only person she seeks after coming back from the dead. She also protects him from the fight against the First Evil by sending him away, like she tried to do with Dawn. The fact that Dawn is the only person that can compare to Angel in Buffy's heart shows that he wasn't just an idealized first love, but someone who became a real part of her.
On Angel's side, Buffy was there for the birth of Angel as we know him. Angel's life began with Buffy. He modeled his life after hers to an extent. She wasn't just his first love at all. Helping her gave him purpose, and through her he learned how to face his demons, literally and figuratively. His life in L.A was only possible because of Buffy. Angel's journey to overcoming his past and depression began with opening up his heart - to Buffy - and being loved for all he was. Angel found a home in Buffy - she will always be his home, and it is clear that the impact she had on him, and his love for her, are eternal. Buffy showed Angel the compassion he couldn't show himself at the time, fought for him when he couldn't fight for himself, and showed him he was worthy of so much more than hiding in the shadows. In Amends, she changed his life forever. I can't possible understate how important that episode is to Angel. It's the biggest turning point in his life. As far as we know, that was the only time Angel attempted suicide, and Buffy saved him and set the course for his life as a champion of the people. She only saved him because she understood him, because she saw his crimes in her dreams and knew all he had to atone for, because she felt his helplessness and knew what it was like to fight forces bigger than her and lose. And because Angel knew Buffy knew all those things, he believed her - her words weren't meaningless platitudes. Angel's deepest, darkest, most shameful parts of him are Angelus, and truly no one knows Angelus better than Buffy, even if most of his crimes are unknown to her, she knows the essence of him. No one has been destroyed by Angelus yet continued to love Angel like Buffy did. Faith was hurt by Angelus, and so were other people close to Angel, but Angelus only targeted Buffy that intimately. Buffy saw and fought Angelus yet chose to love Angel. That means that, to Angel, she was perhaps the only one who truly knew him, even if there are so many things she never learned about him (Angel's over 240 years old!!). You can know a lot about someone, yet not know someone's deepest, inner "heart". Buffy and Angel truly didn't know so many things about each other, but I believe they thought of the other as the only one who really knew them. I believe that their time apart didn't totally change this - of course there is a distance between them now, and they are not who they were, but their most vulnerable and precious selves still live inside each other, and they are always ready to embrace each other, no matter what happens in their lives... Angel and Buffy believe the other will always accept them, and that mutual understanding is the foundation of their post-breakup relationship - it's why their guard is always down when they reunite, and why they act as if no time has passed, or as if they have all the time in the world.
Furthermore, throughout their time apart, they faced similar things. There is a lot Buffy never learned about post-Sunnydale Angel, but we know she would've understood him completely based on her own experiences. Same for Angel. There is this understanding between them that their love runs deep and they can always turn to each other. To me, it's clear that, in Buffy's eyes, Angel was the one she loved the most and who knew her at her most vulnerable, and that, to Angel, Buffy was the only person who went through hell and back because of him yet loved him even the more after (he never had that with Cordy, who died and was never targeted by Angelus, or Darla, who also died and never really knew Angel - Wesley is the one who comes the closest to Buffy in that regard, imo).
I really don't understand how Buffy and Angel were an idealized first love - there is nothing ideal about their love, although tragedy is romantic to us viewers. If we put ourselves on their shoes, however, to Buffy in particular, her time with Angel was traumatizing. There's nothing ideal about it, even in retrospect. Thus, the fact that Buffy is clearly aware (cookie dough speech) of how tragic they were and still dreams about a life with Angel, and loves and respects him, shows it wasn't an idealized first love.
I'm running out of words here. I wish I could write something more beautiful and profound, because Buffy and Angel's connection as both heroes and individuals, and how it isn't confined to their short time together, is my favorite topic, but, sadly, this is the best I can do. Thanks for the ask! Sorry for not doing better... I just love their love so much, the fact that it is unconditional, unreserved, eternal, yet true - they know the good and the bad about each other, their love isn't based on lies.
Favorite Cannon-ish Bangel fanfic. I can't really think of anything so decided on this cause Joss is a meanie who keeps tearing them apart! Some of us are okay with happy endings, you know!! Also, in case anyone needs new fics to read.. though I think a lot of Bangel peeps would probably have come across this.
I have read a few but these two are like comfort food for my Bangel-lovin soul. It's WIP(and I constantly pray for updates) but it's definitely worth a read.
The Journey, not the Destination by Xena Avenger
Awakening by BuffyL
And because I can't resist, I'd like to end off this wonderful week with a sweet gif that I believe how it should rightfully be!! May their love last for this lifetime and beyond (for Angel's sake). Thanks to this wonderful fandom for keeping Bangel's love alive!!!
