Spike's Invitation

[white avenger]

Why do you think that Buffy hasn't invited Spike into Dawn and Xander's apartment? I personally think that there are two quite probable reasons. One, because she has either been asked not to by Dawn, Xander, or both, or, because she doesn't consider the apartment as her home, therefore she actually can't. Her statement about "still no invitation" when she's climbing (or falling) through the window could support either or both of those theories.

Dawn might have asked Buffy, or Xander on Dawn's behalf, not to invite Spike in because of Dawn's residual feelings about the rape attempt in Season 6, since the last thing that we have ever seen her say to him was that if he ever hurt Buffy again, he would wake up burning. As far as we know, they have never settled their differences over that matter, since, as far as I can recall, that was the last time that they ever spoke.

If Buffy doesn't consider the apartment as being her home, which she almost certainly doesn't, if her statement about finding a place of her own is any indication, she wouldn't be able to invite him, which would then fall back on reason number 1.

I can't think of any reason other than her being either unable or not allowed that would keep her from performing such a simple courtesy to someone who she considers, at the very least, to be a close friend, and quite possibly her BEST friend at the moment. Besides which, that could lead to a great scene later, when, after getting her own place, she finally does invite him in, sort of like the similar scene from Season 5% in "The Gift," maybe for dinner, and then him helping her make the place "comfy," like his crypt was in Season 6. (Hey, it's my fantasy. You Bangels can all go and come up with your own.)

 

[bear999com]

I'd say it's Xander's wishes

Even though she doesn't invite him in it's clear she trusts him by listinging to his warning.

 

[sisterofmercy]

Yeah I think it's either the fact that it was Xander's apartment and he's never been keen on him, or the technicality that Buffy was not able to be the one to invite him in as it wasn't strictly her home.

 

[VisionGirl]

I don't know. I guess I interpreted the conversation differently than a lot of people. I don't think she trusts him completely. I dont' think she trusts anyone right now (well, Dawn & Xander maybe, but that's it). She probably trusts him more than a lot of people, but I think her guilt is getting in the way. I think she feels really, really alone, and is not letting him in, literally or figuratively.

 

[zobothehobo]

I picture after she gets her own place she invites him as soon as he gets there... I also picture they spend a great deal of time there talking... I mean like you said, he is her BEST friend at the moment.

As far as why he's not allowed in now, I kinda figured it was Xander who didn't want Spike in his house, not Dawn.

 

[The Unspoken]

Xander let Spike move in with him in season 7, so I can't see why he wouldn't extend an invitation if Buffy wanted him to. Looks like she doesn't, for whatever reason.

You're right though that we don't really know how Dawn feels.

Maybe they just want the fire escape to function as the new back steps.

 

[TaylorSwift]

To me, is not a matter of trust specifically applied to Spike. Buffy listens to Spike in that scene and they chat like old friends so it's not an issue. I think she just doesn't feel like it for two reasons: 1.it's not her apartment so I would react like her, she probably didn't discuss inviting Spike with Xander and Dawn (whatever problem with him they might have) and 2. she's not ready to let anyone in right now, exactly like VisionGirl said.

 

[StarSlayer]

Although Buffy doesn't invite Spike in (because it's Xander/Dawn's apartment or she's not ready to let anyone in, whatever), I find it very interesting that she herself goes out onto the fire escape. (Yes, I could be reading too much into it, but I don't care 😛)

 

[prophecygrrl]

Do Xander and Dawn know that Spike and Buffy have these regular chats? I got the feeling that they didn't, and that if Buffy hasn't told them about Spike yet, she can't have asked them to extend an invitation to him yet either. I think Buffy's having trouble inviting anyone in at this point, like VisionGirl said, although I definitely agree that Spike's probably one of her best friends at the moment. I love that he's Buffy's number one fan, lol. And yeah, even when she's stumbling back in the apartment and she calls over her shoulder that he still doesn't have an invitation, she makes sure to remind him to come back soon. Which is nice. 😀

 

[Kean]

I don't know. I guess I interpreted the conversation differently than a lot of people. I don't think she trusts him completely. I dont' think she trusts anyone right now (well, Dawn & Xander maybe, but that's it). She probably trusts him more than a lot of people, but I think her guilt is getting in the way. I think she feels really, really alone, and is not letting him in, literally or figuratively.

I agree. She down right refused to confide in him about what was upsetting her and when he pushed the issue she jumped in the window and ended the conversation. While they are talking it seems to be either shop talk or superficial chit chat.

Dawn actually appears to be the closest confidante at the minute.

 

[VisionGirl]

I agree. She down right refused to confide in him about what was upsetting her and when he pushed the issue she jumped in the window and ended the conversation. While they are talking it seems to be either shop talk or superficial chit chat.

Dawn actually appears to be the closest confidante at the minute.

Exactly- I'm not getting this "best friend" thing at this moment. I think it has the potential to be there, but she's gotta lot of her own crap to work through. He was with her through a lot of this stuff (OK, not the space-frakking, but he knew about it), & he initially thought that what she did (break the seed) was a good thing, but she's having huge mixed feelings about everything. Besides the fact that she only broke the seed because Giles died, which he did not see. In past seasons, he's been her truth-teller, and he kind of functioned like that in s8 too. I think it's too much for her right now, she needs him so badly but can't even talk to him for very long.

Besides, as I've said before, I (& maybe Buffy too) want to know more about where Spike got this info and what he was doing the rest of the season. In the Riley one-shot, Whistler asks Angel "You're pretty far down this one, yeah? Bought the costume? The army? Working her ex? Her other ex?". He's obviously speaking of Riley & Spike here, but what does he mean? How exactly did Angel "work" Spike? Feed him some incorrect information? Convince him he needed to take a certain path? Sigh, I suppose I need to get the IDW Spike series to know that, but I'm open to spoilers if anybody's reading those! 🙂

 

[StarSlayer]

Exactly- I'm not getting this "best friend" thing at this moment.

It's been four months and Spike's just been there for Buffy, not at all judging her or her decisions. "Are you parked on the roof again?" They've clearly been having chats like this for a while now. The whole scene just reminds me of "Empty Places" and "Touched." 🙂

 

[VisionGirl]

It's been four months and Spike's just been there for Buffy, not at all judging her or her decisions. "Are you parked on the roof again?" They've clearly been having chats like this for a while now. The whole scene just reminds me of "Empty Places" and "Touched." 🙂

Yes, I can see that comparison. It's just that Buffy doesn't look incredibly comfortable with it at the moment! But it might be in the way I read the entire issue. Despite her huge smile in the coffee shop (which I think was incredibly fake & pasted on), I got a huge sense of sadness & aloneness from her. So maybe I'm just projecting that on to all her relationships.

 

[WakingNightmare]

I just thought it was because she knows if Spike comes inside, she won't be able to keep her hands off of him 😛

 

[Kean]

Yes, I can see that comparison. It's just that Buffy doesn't look incredibly comfortable with it at the moment! But it might be in the way I read the entire issue. Despite her huge smile in the coffee shop (which I think was incredibly fake & pasted on), I got a huge sense of sadness & aloneness from her. So maybe I'm just projecting that on to all her relationships.

No, I think you are on the right track. I think this issue highlighted Buffy's isolation very clearly. For all intents and purposes Buffy doesn't appear to have a best friend right now. The Scoobies are over, she says that herself. Spike may have been turning up for months at Buffy's place but that hasn't translated into sharing of emotions and feelings. Buffy is quite clearly keeping him at a distance.

I imagine she will be doing that a lot in the coming months, with everyone.

 

[StarSlayer]

Yes, I can see that comparison. It's just that Buffy doesn't look incredibly comfortable with it at the moment! But it might be in the way I read the entire issue. Despite her huge smile in the coffee shop (which I think was incredibly fake & pasted on), I got a huge sense of sadness & aloneness from her. So maybe I'm just projecting that on to all her relationships.

Of course she's feeling sad and alone! Giles is dead, the Scoobies are split, she's living with Xander and Dawn (sleeping on their couch), and she can't even look at Angel (no one can except Faith). Spike's not asking her for anything. 😉 He knows how she feels and he's helping her look at the big picture. It's hard for Buffy because she's still caught up with everything that happened, so of course it's not going to happen right away. But, it's classic Spuffy. Just being there, listening to the other's feelings, and offering any support. That's my two cents anyways. 🙂

 

[sosa lola]

I believe the reason is Buffy herself. Not Xander or Dawn. She's not comfortable enough to be with him in the apartment.

Until we get a scene that says that Xander and Dawn don't want Spike in, then it's just Buffy. She's the one who doesn't want him in. That's the fact for now.

 

[Kana]

I'd say it has to do with Buffy's choice. Isn't she staying with Dawn and Xander? Even if it isn't her place, she'd still be able to invite him in. Andrew was merely 'crashing' with Dawn in Italy but he was able to invite Angel and Spike in.

 

[sosa lola]

I'd say it has to do with Buffy's choice. Isn't she staying with Dawn and Xander? Even if it isn't her place, she'd still be able to invite him in. Andrew was merely 'crashing' with Dawn in Italy but he was able to invite Angel and Spike in.

That was Andrew's apartment. Buffy and Dawn were never in Rome, except in #23 in Buffy's case.

 

[white avenger]

All of this "discomfort" that Buffy seems to display out there on that fire escape could just as well be embarrassment that she isn't allowed to invite Spike inside, an act of simple common courtesy between two friends. Even her comment, "still no invitation" could have meant that she had been asking Xander and Dawn to allow him in and they had both refused. As has been pointed out previously, with no new magic possible anymore, there would be no way to dis-invite him if they changed their minds later for whatever reason.

Until the issue is directly addressed, or Buffy gets her own apartment, ke, even in Season 7 when he allowed him into his apartment, or when they were working together. Soul or no soul, Xander does not trust Spike and would not want him in his and Dawn's new home, regardless of what Buffy might want.

Dawn, as far as we know, has never settled her issues with Spike's attacking Buffy in Season 6, and if that is indeed the case, she, also, would not want him having access to their apartment.

Even if Buffy COULD invite Spike in on her own, doing so would be contrary to their explicit wishes, and since she is only a guest there, she wouldn't. Therefore, unless the issue is directly addressed or until Buffy gets her own apartment, we can only speculate.