In Dreams ~ Drabble (2/4)

[clawofcat]

We continue on with part two of the series. This time William dreams...

Title: In Dreams (William)
Author: ClawofCat
Timing: Pre-Series
Rating: PG

William dreams of possession, a lover to put him first.

Like chess pieces he’s moved, circulated to each waiting hand, a high stakes poker chip to be won. Never a man, always a boy or a lad, he lives beneath

Comments

[louise39]

His veneer is his shield, his only defense, the daring, impetuous cad.

I assume this is set during the first decade after Spike was turned by mad Drusilla. He already knows that he will never be truly 'needed' by any of his family except as a vehicle of pain.

Spike dreams [a throwback to human days] of someone he can so please that she/he/they will accept him and his idea of himself.

Is this seeking for a possession? Or an love idol?

[clawofcat]

I assume this is set during the first decade after Spike was turned by mad Drusilla. He already knows that he will never be truly 'needed' by any of his family except as a vehicle of pain.
Yup, I was thinking this POV took place just prior to William's transformation into Spike, so maybe a year or less after his turning? And isn't it so tragic that Spike gives so much, but no one ever wants him in return? Poor baby. She just wants to be loved!

Is this seeking for a possession? Or an love idol?
There was some discussion of that point at the top of this thread. Give it a read through. sevendeadlyfun had some insightful points. But yes, I think we've agreed that Spike actually wants to be possessed, wants someone so devoted to him that he becomes there one and only. Spike is very bent on the idea of service and pleasing others. He just hasn't found someone that will accept that service and love him for it.

[of_too_minds]

I like this. I didn't find it too muddled or romanticized. William quickly became Spike as we saw on the show, but I suspect the Big Bad was a thin veneer at that point, much thinner than it would become over time. Spike could turn on a dime from being hard and brash to soft soft and romantic (as we saw in School Hard) so clearly there was much of William still in him.

As Darla said, who they were as humans informs who they are as vampires and William and Spike both clearly dreamed of a love he could devote himself too. All he wanted was to belong. He really ought to have been born during the Middle Ages, when he could devote himself to a noble lady love and write sonnets to her beauty and go into battle with her token on his lance. (And I'll stop babbling now...)

[clawofcat]

Thanks for contributing your thoughts. It's been interesting reading the reactions to these drabbles. To my surprise, they've inspired a lot of discussion around characterization, which is wonderful. I do love some good character analysis :) And, as you mentioned, the duality of Spike's character is something we've been able to observe and track through the shows canon.

William and Spike both clearly dreamed of a love he could devote himself to
Absolutely. Spike does go by halves. He goes all the way.

He really ought to have been born during the Middle Ages, when he could devote himself to a noble lady love
Hm, I think he would have been incredibly well-suited for that role. Human AU, anyone? As William (or even as Spike) I bet he was wild for literature on courtly love and Arthurian legends.

[basilio_the_cat]

Lovely! :)

[clawofcat]

Thank you!