I have no idea how it's been four months since my last vignette, but it has. I'm going to reply to replies, but let me first say, sorry it took me so long, and I'll try to do better in the future.
**MellindraX: Thanks ... I don't know if I'll ever be able to work in Willow explaining that particular train of thought to Tara, but if it's ever possible, it'll be there. That vignette was actually supposed to be totally different ... it ended up being all Willow thinking about Tara, when I sat down to write Willow and Tara casting a spell (almost 40 vignettes, and I have somehow managed to never >ever< write a scene where Willow and Tara cast a spell together - how do these things happen?).
**TexanZeppo256: Hi! Thanks ... I really enjoyed writing that one. And a 'chapstick lesbian' is an Ellen DeGeneres line, and a reference to the phrase 'lipstick lesbian', which refers to a femme (y'know, the kind of lesbian who actually wears lipstick - not that I've met one ... I think they're a myth).
**NewRuthRising: Yeah - no more holiday for you. And me, I need to go on holiday - so I can work less and write more *G*
**Cicca: Look at it this way - you missed the vignette for two months, but you only had to wait two months for the next one. And thanks ... I rather like 80's music myself. Though, actually, techincally, I like most music *G*
**Winters Dreamer: Heh ... hope you didn't get into >too< much trouble. Oh, who am I kidding? I hope you got into heaps and heaps of the fun kind of trouble *G* And I had totally forgotten about Tara in the short black dress ... I'm going to have to go back and read that one ('cuz, y'know, this series is long and spread out over so much time, I can totally forget I wrote them *G* It's kind of neat).
-Sass
And Now, Anya's Bachelorette Party:
Series: Vignettes
Number: 39
Title: What A Girl's Gotta' Do II: Disco Inferno
Author: Sassette
Feedback: Can be sent to
pink_overalls@yahoo.comSpoiler Warning: Season Six AU with no W/T badness involved.
Summary: So, I was just rereading the first “What A Girl’s Gotta’ Do”, and while I’m sure there’s no way I can ever top it, I figured we got to see Xander’s Bachelor Party. It’s time to see Anya’s Bachelorette Party, which takes place the following evening.
Disclaimer: I didn't create these characters. I’m just borrowing them, because it’s lots and lots of fun.
Rating: PG-13
NOTES: Takes place the day and evening after “What A Girl’s Gotta Do”, which is vignette #21, in case anyone missed it. And if I do say so myself – you don’t want to miss that one. Oh, and song lyrics appear in brackets [ ]. And I guess this could kinda’ sorta’ be considered a song fic. Sort of.
What A Girl’s Gotta’ Do II: Disco Inferno
Part 39 of the Vignettes Series
By Sassette
Willow shuddered as a jubilant Anya pranced through the door of The Bronze, breathing in deeply and beaming at everything. The phrase ‘Burn, Baby, Burn!’ came loud and clear through the sound system over and over, and Willow’s fingers twitched as she, Buffy, Tara, Anya and Halfrek made their way over to a table.
[Burn, Baby Burn!]
“Oh, this is so exciting!” Anya announced, spinning in place and clapping her hands together, displaying her usual enthusiasm for anything that was directly relevant to her life. Colored lights covered the Bronze with a surreal air, and a glittering disco ball spun enthusiastically over the dance floor.
[Burn, Baby Burn!]
“It’s Disco Night,” Buffy pointed out dryly, rolling her eyes at Anya.
[Disco Inferno!]
“Could be fun,” Tara said gamely, nodding at the hopeful look Anya cast her way. Tara was certainly feeling a lot better after her outrageous hangover, and she was determined that tonight would be a good time – especially after Anya had pulled her aside and confided that she was nervous. Anya wanted everyone to have fun at her bachelorette party, but was unsure as to how she could top Xander’s bachelor party the night before, as Tara’s breasts had made an appearance.
Tara had grimaced at the reminder, but the sentiment had gotten through just the same – this was Anya’s night, and she wanted it to be memorable and fun for all involved.
And it >could< be fun, Tara decided. It was a little goofy, and kinda’ dorky, but then again, so was she, so she should fit right in to the crowd of 70’s throwbacks. The large gathering of people certainly looked like they were having fun – many of them were even dressed up, and a good many of them were on the dance floor.
Tara and Willow had opted out of the 70’s clothes, the overly tight jeans their only concession to the style of the times, and Tara fidgeted a little uncomfortably as they walked to what had to be the only empty table in the whole place.
“So, Buffy –“ Halfrek said, as they all sat down. “Tell me about your father.”
“What?” Buffy asked, looking disbelievingly at the Vengeance Demon.
“Don’t you ever feel like that hurt little child? Don’t you ever wish –“
“Hallie,” Anya said in a warning tone. “No work tonight. You promised Besides – you shouldn’t piss off the Slayer.”
“Oh, fine,” Halfrek said, sighing heavily. “At least the music is good. I haven’t been to a club since the first time this music made the rounds.”
“You like >disco
“Who doesn’t?” Anya asked lightly, standing up and grinning. “Drinks?”
“No beer,” Willow, Buffy and Tara managed to say in unison.
“What? But – but this is a bachelorette party! Imbibing copious amounts of alcohol is part of the ritual!” Anya said, shocked and a little hurt that her friends weren’t getting with the program.
“Really,” Buffy said, glancing sidelong at Willow and Tara. “Beer is a bad idea.”
“What’s that look for?” Willow asked, frowning at her friend as she shifted in her seat, trying not to let the infectious disco beat get to her. ‘I Love the Nightlife’ by Alicia Bridges came on, and Willow paused to shake her head, trying to clear out the music. “We’re not the ones who devolved.”
“I meant for me, too!” Buffy said, holding up her hands in a placating gesture. “Really. Beer bad.”
“Anya,” Tara said, laughing a little at Willow and Buffy. “Really – we’re all here to have fun and celebrate your upcoming wedding. We just don’t want beer.”
“Okay,” Anya said, nodding and smiling, mollified by Tara’s assurance that everyone would have fun and heading off to the bar.
“So – are we going to dance?” Buffy asked, looking dubiously towards the dance floor.
“What?” Willow asked, her eyes wide. “Dance?” she went on, her voice squeaking on the word. “Oh, no,” she said, shaking her head rapidly from side to side. “No dancing – definitely not.”
“Honey?” Tara asked quietly, placing her hand on Willow’s leg and giving it a little squeeze. “Are you okay?”
“Just – y’know, I kinda’ spaz more than dance, and it’s, y’know, disco …” she said, trailing off lamely.
“Are you sure that’s it? ‘Cuz we’ve danced here before,” Tara said, a confused look on her face.
“Oh, I know,” Willow said, nodding. “I just – no, I don’t want to dance to this.”
“Sweetie – do you have some problem with Disco?” Tara asked softly. “Because –“
“What? No! What kind of problem could I possibly have with Disco?” Willow asked, her voice a little too cheerful and loud, her eyes a little panicked.
“Here you go,” Anya said, returning with drinks all around. “Water for the Slayer, gin and tonic for Halfrek and for me, and iced teas for the witches. You do like tea, right?” Anya asked, distracting Tara’s attention from whatever was going on with Willow.
“Oooh, tea,” Willow said, grabbing the straw and drinking, hoping that Tara wouldn’t resume her line of questioning.
**************
“Anya?” Buffy asked slowly, eyeing her best friend and her best friend’s girlfriend closely. “What kind of tea is that, exactly?” Throughout the evening, Willow and Tara had gotten sillier and sillier, until Tara had been recognized as the wet t-shirt contest winner from the previous evening. Then, things hadn’t been so pretty. Tara had been hit on countless times, and Willow was now glaring dangerously at anyone who walked too close to the table.
“It’s something called a Long Island Iced Tea,” Anya said, smiling sloppily. “And why haven’t we danced yet?” she asked, her smile shifting suddenly into a frown as she looked around at everyone.
“Oh, brother,” Buffy said, letting her head fall to the table. She banged it against the hard surface a few times, to the beat of ‘Boogie oogie oogie’, then stopped, turning her head to look at Willow and Tara and wondering what they would do this time, and whether or not she was going to live long enough to make it to the wedding.
“Dance?” Halfrek asked.
“Yes. Let’s all dance,” Anya said, getting up and grabbing Halfrek and Willow by the arms and attempting to pull them onto the bustling dance floor.
“What?” Willow asked, wondering idly just how many times she had said that this evening. Was her hearing going? Should she go get that checked out?
“Dance! Boogie! Groove!” Anya said, each word getting louder, the other patrons cheering as she yelled each word. Anya turned and waved at them all, doing a little shimmy, to the hoots and hollers and whistles of the crowd.
“No!” Willow said vehemently, sitting back down. “No dancing, or or … boogie. And definitely no groove! I vote ‘no’ on the groove. There is no waffling on the ‘groove’ issue here. I’m running on a strictly ‘no groove’ platform.”
“Fine,” Anya snapped, turning back towards her uncooperative bachelorette party. “Buffy?”
Buffy just shook her head, knowing that it would be a good idea to stay at the table, keep a close eye on everyone, and try to make sure nothing bad happened. This time.
“Tara?” Anya asked, her tone plaintive after having been turned down by two of her friends. Willow merely looked into her drink, her hand clenching her glass, totally engrossed by the drip of condensation trailing down the side.
“Oh, absolutely,” Tara said, beaming at Anya as she bopped along to the disco beat. Anya smiled back and grabbed her hand, then the three of them headed off to the dance floor, disappearing into the crowd.
“Uh-oh,” Buffy said, frowning as Anya, Halfrek and Tara disappeared into the crowd.
“Uh-oh?” Willow asked, turning her eyes towards Buffy.
“Umm … Willow … you do know that –“ Buffy said, then stopped shaking her head.
“No, I don’t. Maybe Tara does,” Willow said, turning her head and gaping at the empty seat next to her. “Where’s Tara?” she asked, standing up quickly, her eyes wide.
“She went to dance,” Buffy said, nodding towards the dance floor.
“And where’s Anya and Halfrek?” Willow asked.
“They’re dancing, too.”
“My girlfriend is dancing with two vengeance demons!?”
“No.”
“But you said –“
“It’s one vengeance demon and an ex-vengeance demon, who is human now, and is our friend. It’s fine,” Buffy said, hoping to convince herself with the words, as visions of the previous evening and Xander’s bachelor party flashed unbidden through her mind. “Actually, maybe you’d better go out there,” Buffy said, wincing as she imagined a vast number of ways this evening could still go horribly, horribly wrong.
“Out there?” Willow asked with a horrified gasp. “I can’t go out there!”
“What’s gotten into you tonight, Will?” Buffy asked, looking at her friend, a puzzled look on her face. “You usually don’t have a problem dancing at the Bronze.”
“It’s … it’s the disco,” Willow said, sitting down heavily in her seat, a glum look on her face. “It’s –“
Buffy never heard what Willow was about to confess about Disco, because just then, the sound of Barry Manilow’s ‘Copacabana’ registered in Willow’s startled brain, and by some twist of fate – or perhaps interference from the Hellmouth – the crowd parted, and Willow happened to look up.
And there was Tara.
[Her name was Lola – she was a showgirl]
And some joker had managed to get ahold of a bucket of water and dump it over Tara’s head, her modest white shirt clinging to her body.
[With yellow feathers in her hair, and a dress cut down to there.]
And she was dancing.
[She would meringue, and do the cha-cha]
Willow stood, her eyes zeroing in on a young man she recognized from the previous evening.
[While Lola tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar]
Obviously, he felt that because Tara had won the wet t-shirt contest at Xander’s bachelor party, she wouldn’t mind. Willow stalked across the room and onto the dance floor to disabuse him of the notion.
[Across the crowded floor, they worked from eight ‘til four]
“Hey, buster,” Willow said, tapping the guy on the shoulder. “What are you trying to pull?”
“Huh? Oh, she won the contest last night,” the guy said with a toothy grin.
[At the Copa – Copacabana]
“I know – I was here,” Willow said, glaring at him as she tried to determine exactly what she would turn him into. Toad? Too cliché.
[The hottest spot north of Havana]
“Yeah, so me and the guys figured, since she was here two nights in a row … “ he said, his voice trailing off as he waggled his eyebrows.
[At the Copa – Copa Cabana]
“That’s my girlfriend!” Willow said, grabbing the guy by his shirt and pulling him close. He was too shocked by the aggressive action to do anything but look at Willow with wide, frightened eyes.
[Music and passion were always in fashion]
“So you an your friends better get out of here, or I’m gonna-“ Willow said, only to stop when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
[At the Copaaaaaaaaaa]
She turned around and looked into warm blue eyes, not noticing Buffy appearing and bodily removing the offending young man from the dance floor.
[They fell in love]
“Hi,” Tara said, smiling at Willow and shaking her head to move her dripping bangs out of her face, sputtering a bit. “I got a face full of water,” she said sheepishly, neither noticing a new arrival entering the Bronze.
[His name was Rico – he wore a diamond]
“Let me just grab you a jacket,” Willow said quickly, scampering off the floor. The new arrival passed her and sat down, scanning the crowd.
[He was escorted to his chair when he saw Lola dancing there]
Grinning as she spotted Tara, she stood up, walking confidently over to Tara and wrapping an arm around her waist from behind. “Hey, Tara, right?”
[And when she finished, he called her over]
Willow returned to the dance floor, Tara’s jacket clutched in her hand, only to see Tara being embraced by Cyndi Green – UC Sunnydale’s lesbian version of Parker Abrams.
“Huh?” Tara said, pulling away from the unfamiliar arm, and spinning in place.
[But Rico went a bit too far, Tony sailed across the bar]
“Hey!” Willow yelled, handing Tara the jacket and squaring off with Cyndi, her eyes narrowing.
‘
“Oh, it’s the girlfriend,” Cyndi said, rolling her eyes. “I was just going to ask Tara to dance.”
[And then the punches flew, and chairs were smashed in two]
Willow didn’t know what came over her at that moment, but her arm pulled back, and her fist flew forward.
She never knew whether or not her punch would have landed, as an overprotective slayer hauled her back about a foot and a half.
[There was blood and a single gunshot – but just who shot who?]
“Oh, I see you’re dancing with someone else – I’ll just dance with Tara then,” Cyndi said with a smirk, reaching for Tara’s hand. “And I’ve seen you dance – this beauty deserves someone who can get down and have a good time,” she said, leering suggestively at Tara.
[At the Copa – Copacabana]
“I’ll show you down! I’ll knock you down on your –“ Willow said struggling against Buffy’s hold as Tara dodged Cyndi’s reaching hand and put on her jacket, zipping it quickly to cover her wet clothes.
“This is a great party,” Halfrek said, smiling at Anya as the scene before them unfolded. “My money’s on your redhead friend.”
[The hottest spot north of Havana]
“Hold on, slugger,” Buffy said, struggling with the flailing Wiccan.
“No bet,” Anya said as Buffy held Willow back, shaking her head. She knew better than to bet against a sure thing. “But this is great, isn’t it? Too bad Buffy stopped her.”
[At the Copa – Copacabana]
“Hey, Tara –“ Cyndi said, ignoring Willow and turning her attention to the shy blonde who had caught her eye in art history class. “I just want a dance – and don’t you think your girlfriend is being a little unreasonable about this? Just because she can’t dance -”
[Music and passion were always in fashion]
“Can’t dance? Can’t dance?” Willow said, her voice rising as she went very still in Buffy’s grasp. “You can let go now, Buffy,” Willow said after a deep breath. “I challenge you to a dance-off, then. A disco dance-off.”
The music stopped with the sound of vinyl scratching and everything went eerily silent as the DJ and everyone around finally clued in to the excitement unfolding on the dance floor.
“A disco dance-off?” Cyndi asked with a laugh. “Have you been drinking?”
“No!” Willow said sharply, shaking her head. “Well, yeah,” she admitted. “But still. Right here, right now, and if I win, you leave Tara alone.”
“My money’s not on the redhead this time,” Halfrek said to Anya quietly.
“No bet,” Anya said with a sigh.
“And if I win?” Cyndi asked, looking over at Tara with a speculative gleam in her eye.
“You can try your best with my girl, and I won’t stop you,” Willow said with a little smirk. This was a fool-proof plan. Even if she lost, Tara would never give Cyndi Green the time of day.
“Umm …excuse me,” Tara said, glaring at both women, finally getting a word in edgewise. “Don’t you think I just get to say ‘buzz off’ to Cyndi, and that’s the end of it?”
“No,” Willow and Cyndi said in unison, their eyes locked as they glared at each other.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” the DJ said, the booming voice over the speakers. “You all heard correctly, so everyone clear some room. We’re going to have a dance off!”
The crowd went wild, and Buffy groaned and shook her head as everyone cleared some space. Tara just stood there, bristling at the idea of Willow and Cyndi fighting – err, dancing – over her.
“Tara,” Buffy said, taking her arm gently. “Remember when Willow forbade you to enter that wet t-shirt contest?” she said quietly, as Willow and Cyndi moved to opposite sides of the dance floor, their eyes still locked in a battle of wills that would only be surpassed by their upcoming battle of the Disco.
“Yes,” Tara said, her teeth grinding together.
“Remember how you did it anyway?” Buffy asked.
“Yes,” Tara said, her eyes closing briefly as she remembered those mortifying moments.
“So, do you really think you have a leg to stand on trying to talk Willow out of something that isn’t nearly that stupid?” Buffy asked bluntly.
Tara relented, and allowed Buffy to lead her off the dance floor, but made the attempt to at least reason with her friend. “But Buffy – Willow can’t dance. She just kind of … jerks her arms around. Not that there’s anything wrong with that … “
“Tara,” Buffy said with a small sigh. “The way you’ve been stared at and hit on tonight, if Willow wants to disco dance for your honor – just let her, okay? And if anyone had said that sentence to me earlier and asked me what the chances were that I’d say it tonight, I’d’ve laughed at them.”
“All right!” the DJ declared, looking at the now clear dance floor. “Now … what song to pick … ?”
“Stayin’ Alive,” Willow said immediately, her voice carrying easily as she stared down her adversary. A little grin formed on her face and she shook her head a little, a faraway look in her eye and a slight smile on her face.
“Well, well – girl knows her mind,” the DJ said. “Now – since you picked the song, your dance-off opponent gets to pick who goes first.”
“Oh, she can go first,” Cyndi said, smiling in anticipation at Willow’s impending humiliation.
Willow’s smile grew dangerous and she waited patiently at the edge of the dance floor, the crowd still and silent, waiting in anticipation.
“You going to step onto the dance floor?” the DJ asked after a long moment, looking at Willow quizzically.
“Start the song,” Willow said, her smile growing larger.
The DJ did, the driving beat and funky guitar filling the room, Willow’s head bobbing in time for a few beats as she picked up the rhythm.
And then Willow walked – no, strutted – onto the dance floor, as Tara, Buffy, Anya and Halfrek gaped. Who knew she could >move< like that?
After she had strutted and bopped around the dance floor, Willow ended up in the very center of the room, and struck a pose. No, >the< pose. The Disco Pose, one hand on her hip, jutted sideways a little, and one finger pointing strongly into the air.
The crowd went wild, not because of the pose, no – everyone who ever danced to a disco song eventually did the pose, but because Willow did the pose really, really well.
“Ummm … Tara?” Buffy asked in an undertone.
“Yes, Buffy?”
“Does she, ummm … do this a lot?”
“Every day the earth rotates backwards and the skies turn orange.”
Willow let her eyes drift half-closed, a little smile quirking the corner of her mouth as she boogied, hustled, and otherwise got down – remembering back to a childhood story, of her father, winning her mother’s heart on the dance floor of a discotheque by doing the entire John Travolta dance sequence from ‘Saturday Night Fever’.
And he had taught Willow. The entire thing.
She let herself go, moving into each step, each slide and jump, the crowd yelling and cheering, until Willow couldn’t hear the music so much as just >feel< that funky Disco beat.
Tara was completely transfixed. She had known Willow had moves – God, Willow had moves – but dance moves? Disco dance moves? Never in a million years would she have guessed. Never had she suspected. Never would she have ever imagined that Willow could dance like this, and that she would find it deeply, achingly, heart-stuttering, stomach-fluttering, head-spinning.
The crowd drifted away from her consciousness when Willow turned, those green eyes locking onto her own, and Willow was just dancing for her. She knew she must have a ‘reserved-for-private-time’ hungry look on her face, but she couldn’t help it, couldn’t stop it, and wasn’t sure if she wanted to, when she saw the gleam of recognition in Willow’s eyes and knew that she felt it, too.
Her breath caught as a particularly athletic part of the dance arrived, part of her brain worrying that Willow was going to injure herself. But Willow pulled it off – she pulled the whole thing off.
The music and Willow stopped, and Cyndi dropped her head, slinking out the door without a word to anyone, knowing she couldn’t beat what she had just seen. But no one noticed, and no one cared, as all eyes were on Willow, standing there in the middle of the crowd.
Tara stepped forward, walking swiftly towards her girl, ignoring the screaming crowd. She grabbed two fistfuls of Willow’s shirt and pulled her close, her lips locking onto her girlfriend’s as the DJ put on ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ over the wild cheering and thunderous applause from the crowd.
by NewRuthRising » Sun Aug 31, 2003 10:58 am 
How did I miss reading a new vignette for nearly two months?!
80s music!
by the end,
, does my heart good to see you post. That was so fucking funny. Willow dancing lol, and I can just see her all drunk and pissy lol dancing for Tara's honor. Such things going on in your head darlin, i don't know where you get them 
at: 2/17/04 12:14 am
