crack_van | This Year’s Vamp by China Shop (NC-17)

Hey, I’m

entrenous88 and I’ll be driving the van for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom this month. I’ve got a bunch of recs to give you during November, so let’s get this van a-rockin’.

Fandom: BUFFY
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Author on LJ:

china_shop
Author Website: China Shop’s Fic Index
Why this must be read:

Xander wakes up one morning and oddly enough, finds he isn’t breathing. Then he smells something cooking. It’s him.

Spike/Xander fics are fairly common, and body-switching as a device isn’t so very novel in the BtVS fandom, especially since we have a great two-episode canon example of it (from which this story takes its name). But

china_shop does a fantastic job with the scenario, managing twists on both the pairing and the situation that make this fic fresh.

“This Year’s Vamp” features a wonderful Xander voice, and combines his character’s tendency to notice details with his newly-acquired temporary vampire senses in a way that is both startling and funny.

china_shop gradually builds to a sense that Spike and Xander are getting to know one another from the inside out, along with all the complications that such knowledge brings.

Part of the pleasure here is reading sharply drawn images of how each character inhabits the other’s body and makes it his own. The smattering of pop culture references deftly used adds to the fun. From the moment that Xander wakes up smoking hot (yeah that, but also on fire in his newly occupied vampire body) to the closing humorous revelation of a final body-trespass, this is a Spike/Xander story that you’ll enjoy.

Warning for those who don’t like bloodplay. This fic has it. Good news for those who do like bloodplay . . . oh, this fic has it. Yes yes.

This Year’s Vamp

If you read and enjoy, please send feedback to the author.