as it turns out, spike not only has a gorgeous singing voice, but the guitar skills to match! buffy falls hard. 

this idea inspired by this delicious screenshot & comment from the musical episode behind-the-scenes video.

i mean, seriously, those are great guitar-playing arms to have…

as to why, when, and how we (& buffy) learn spike plays the guitar & sings. here's a few season-specific suggestions –

• season 3 - post-lover’s walk, spike stays to get over dru. somehow trips over a flier looking for a front man in a band. or perhaps the band candy reverts spike to his punk glory days...
• season 4 - instead of giles having his midlife-crisis-guitar-playing-situation, spike has his own, trying to find purpose post-chip. (or perhaps giles still plays in your reality, and they end up playing together while spike’s trapped in giles’ apartment.) open night mic at the espresso pump goes a whole different way...
• season 5 - trying to distract himself from his love of buffy. which works until she happens to be at the bronze while he’s performing…
• season 6 - buffy is confused why there’s a guitar at the house, post resurrection. turns out it’s spike’s, and he's been playing it at the house all summer...
• extra gold stars for season 1, 2 or 7... i was coming up blank with inspo for you!

must have:

• our beloved canon slayer/vampire universe
• rated R or above

optional notions:

• everyone is kinda low-key obsessed with how good he is, even xander. buffy thinks they’re all nuts until she actually sees him playing…
• buffy clearly struggles with her reaction, but it’s a gateway to seeing him as his true self & realizing her feelings...
• if angel or riley are around in your tale, they are embarrassingly & comedically aware of how hot it is, and buffy's reaction...

can't have:

• all-human (which i love in its own right, just not for this challenge!)
• comic seasons