Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

"Owen?" Xander asked in disbelief. "Poetry Owen?"

"He's also very cute and sensitive if you haven't noticed," Willow said. "Buffy is really into him."

"No, Buffy fights demons, she isn't into poetry," Xander said quickly.

"Actually, I think sensitive guys are kind of her thing."

"I have to put a stop to this."

"You'll have to be quick. They are going on a date tonight."

Xander ran his hands through his hair, "I need a miracle."

"It can't be tonight!" Buffy said as she she and Lilah entered the library.

"My miracle," Xander muttered in disbelief.

"What's tonight?" Willow asked.

They listened in as Lilah explained the rise of the Anointed One and the danger it spelled.

"That sounds pretty serious," Xander observed. "We have a duty to stop..."

"I get it. If you are so into it, why don't you come along?" Buffy asked.

"Sure, I'd..."

"Now Buffy, it could be very dangerous," Lilah warned.

"I don't have a..."

"It's always dangerous," Buffy reminded her.

"I really can..."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you should drag others into it," Lilah stated.

"I'm really not being dragged if..."

"If I'm missing a date, at least I'd like some conversation," Buffy demanded.

"I'm good for a lot more than..."

"Very well," Lilah said as she turned to him. "Xander, if you can make it, but all means join us tonight."

"As I've been saying..." he started, but they were already headed in different directions.

"You are already killing the conversation," Willow said with a chuckle.

Xander pointed a finger at her, "I have no comeback for that."

-

Xander hummed happily to himself as he walked through the halls of Sunnydale.

"What's wrong?" Cordelia said as she stepped in front of him.

"Other than the fact that you're talking to me," Xander began, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"You're happy, Owen asked out Buffy and not me, and the cheerleading try outs got delayed," Cordelia pointed out. "Something is wrong."

"I'm allowed to be happy, you shouldn't be surprised by that, and I agree, an absolute tragedy."

"What do you mean I shouldn't be surprised?"

"Well, there's you, and then there's Buffy...it's kind of an easy choice," Xander pointed out.

"Yeah, me!"

"That's where you are wrong. Every guy would choose Buffy over you. Evidence, Owen."

"Explain to me why."

Xander shook his head, "That would take quite awhile and I have places to be."

"Fine, meet me at the Bronze. Explain it to me there."

"Didn't you hear me say I have places to be?"

"Bronze, tonight, I'll even pay," Cordelia said as she walked off.

Xander watched her go. "Did Cordelia just invite me on a date?"

Where does Xander go?

A) The Bronze: Cordelia - Explain why boys prefer Buffy.

B) The Graveyard: Buffy and Lilah - Keep them company.

https://linkto.run/p/0GXRJV5H

*Sometimes votes will be about who Xander goes with. When it is uneven groups the impact is greater on the smaller group. In this poll, Xander would have a bigger impact on Cordelia then Buffy (put another way, the effect that would occur to Cordelia is split between Buffy and Lilah). This impacts the "Normality" scale, and might also have plot changes.