Replacing the Zippo

[Mount. Elements]

[X]Tell Giles and Buffy what you found out

[X] Write-in: Ask Marcie whether she wants to be introduced to the bar.

For the first vote, I don't want to try to manipulate demons into doing good. That's just begging for things to go wrong. Though, the downside of telling Giles and Buffy is that Buffy doesn't currently know about Xander spending time at the demon bar.

As for Marcie, I'd rather ask Marcie what she wants to do. Does she even want to be introduced?

 

[ArcanaVitae]

[X]Tell Giles and Buffy what you found out

[X] Write-in: Ask Marcie whether she wants to be introduced to the bar.

 

[ComiTurtle]

[X]Tell Giles and Buffy what you found out
[X]Reveal Marcie to the bar
[X] Write-in: Ask Marcie whether she wants to be introduced to the bar.


I get asking her, but perhaps affirming her existence is better for her than giving her the option to not? (Also technically there isn't a write in for that decision.) From a purely strategic standpoint her being unknown is in our favor for defense and espionage, but Marcie isn't a tool she is a person and our friend. Again asking makes sense and is a good gesture, but Marcie was confused but clearly pleased when we found her and tried to reason with her, I think she more likely will be accepting of the reveal than against it? Also you never know... it could lead to ways to allow her to become visible. (I am very interested in if we get her a costume for Halloween if she would become visible or just an invisible version of that thing, we can't let it be something monstrous though. I'm looking forward to that episode.)

Letting Giles / Buffy know lets us hopefully skip much of the Reptile Boy ickiness. Buffy learning about our demon bar hangouts probably isn't going to be great, since while Ford's whole thing is way worse there are similarities there. At least we're not trying to become a vampire.

 

[Mount. Elements]

I get asking her, but perhaps affirming her existence is better for her than giving her the option to not? (Also technically there isn't a write in for that decision.)

Click to shrink...

We've done write-ins for votes where there was no write-in option in the past, but if @Blacksheep prefers, then I'll remove my write-in vote.

As for your first statement, I don't really like taking away other characters' agency. For me, letting people decide for themselves is generally better than deciding for them, even if they might make a "bad" decision. After all, Xander in-quest has the mentality of a teenage boy with the memories of an adult. It's quite possible for him to make a "wrong" decision or badly execute a good idea, just like how he flubbed trying to get everyone to participate in group activities to reduce the group's stress levels.

 

[Tascion]

[X]Tell Giles and Buffy what you found out

[X] Write-in: Ask Marcie whether she wants to be introduced to the bar.

I like the write-in. At worst, I'm fine with it being ignored. I think acknowledging Marcie is good for her.

As for telling Giles and Buffy, well they've got to find out about Xander's info gathering sometime. However, they're not my main concern. This info feeding to the slayer will demonstrate Xander's loyalties and priorities to the bar. I expect that will prompt some of them to at least consider plugging that leak of information to their foe. Giles will argue that Xander should never go back to the bar. Buffy will agree, and might also burn the bar down or something.

Speaking this information is good, but I think it'll also make things complicated.

 

[Blacksheep]

We've done write-ins for votes where there was no write-in option in the past, but if @Blacksheep prefers, then I'll remove my write-in vote.

Click to shrink...

Write ins are always acceptable! If I'm not offering the room for one that's simply because I haven't considered the possibility, not that I am not open to it

 

[Mount. Elements]

As for telling Giles and Buffy, well they've got to find out about Xander's info gathering sometime. However, they're not my main concern. This info feeding to the slayer will demonstrate Xander's loyalties and priorities to the bar. I expect that will prompt some of them to at least consider plugging that leak of information to their foe. Giles will argue that Xander should never go back to the bar. Buffy will agree, and might also burn the bar down or something.

Click to shrink...

Xander already told Giles about the bar, but my understanding is that the others don't know. As for it demonstrating Xander's loyalties, Buffy thwarted the Master's resurrection based on info from the bar that she received from Giles so it won't be definite proof for the demons. We will need to keep an eye out for if the demons start recognizing the pattern though.

On the plus(?) side, some of the demons might already know and be setting the Slayer on their enemies. They complained a lot about the vampires behind the resurrection plot.