A/N Before I go any further, I will acknowledge that the incident with the Three and Buffy and Angel's first kiss happened before Angel destroyed Darla. That doesn't change the fact that it was incredibly stupid and out of character for anyone, let alone a Vampire Slayer, to just buy Angel's story and offer their throat to him. The level of trust needed for such an act is so far beyond where Buffy should be at that point and should never have gotten to with a vampire in general, makes this an even more suspect scene. Buffy shouldn't trust a human with her throat, let alone a vampire, especially when she has no proof he's telling the truth.
Sphg, your review is exact why my stories have become increasingly grim in tone and trying to delve into the psyche's of the characters. Why I'm researching, I can't gloss over the flaws, I can't ignore them, I refuse to, so I have to keep finding reasons for those flaws and sooner or later, I'll have to address the Mayor in my stories and his motivations. So far I've managed to avoid it by finding creative ways within each story to stop him, but so far, he's really the only thing I haven't tried to address.
And Giles? An outside explanation of some sort has always been my go to explanation for his behavior, especially in regards to his treatment of Faith, but the only logical explanations for it being his choice to treat her like that is obsession with Buffy or maliciousness toward Faith on purpose, because there's no good reason for him to neglect her like that.
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"Buffy," Joyce struggled to understand what Buffy was telling her. "I get that vampires exist for real, I can't unsee that man turning to dust, I think I can accept Magic, it would explain why I behaved the way I did from eating that chocolate. I believe in souls, so maybe I can even accept that Magic somehow took a human soul and put it back in a dead body that was already possessed by a demon. I might even be able to understand how you think you came to love Angel and I say think because I'm also absolutely convinced that he took advantage of you and knew he was taking advantage of you. He had to, he pursued you, than jerked your feelings around and made you pursue him. Remind me to show you some of the parenting books I've read, they include ways of identifying predators trying to prey on children for sick reasons. Some of the things you mentioned, including him getting you to pursue him after pulling back from you, are characteristic of predatory behavior. It's my fault for failing to teach you what to look for yourself. He might actually believe he loves you and you might actually believe you love him, but it's in no way healthy for either of you, but especially you. He's damaged you, Buffy and not just because of the demon and it's actions. But because you can't recognize that he was manipulating you or the effects it had on you, either while it was happening or in the aftermath. And what of Mr. Giles, did he ever see what this relationship was doing to you? Especially in light of the fact that he was also manipulating you?"
"Not until after I did something else really stupid." Buffy confessed.
"What did you do, Buffy?"
"I thought Angel and I had a storybook romance, straight out of a romance novel. Willow found out how to get the soul back, the Magic that would make it possible, she risked her life and maybe even her own soul to give me back Angel. Only it was too late, Angelus had opened a portal to Hell, the world was literally ending and the only way to stop it was to send the newly reensouled Angel to Hell. Willow and I condemned a soul to Hell. And then he came back to me, Mom. From Hell and I hid it from everyone. I didn't want to lose him again. Xander saw us kissing and told the others he was back. I was so angry at Xander, how dare he act like there was something wrong with Angel and me loving each other. He no idea what it was like to be as alone as we both feel and how good it feels to connect with someone who's so much what like you are. I made a wish, just a wish, that Xander know what it's like to be Angel, a vampire under a curse forced to be alone. A demon granted my wish, Mom. She made him a vampire under a curse. A fictionalized vampire from an actual romance novel. He's nothing like Angel, he's not a dead body with a demon in it, he's alive and he has his soul. But he's also a vampire, something he hates and he's the only one and he might be alone for centuries. I cursed a guy who's saved my life more than anyone else because I convinced myself that he was jealous that I love Angel and not him. I completely missed the fact that all he ever had was a crush on me and he was well over it. He loves Cordelia, so much that he's terrified of losing her and thanks to my wish, he may very well lose her. To old age if nothing else. Because he's never going to get any older."