vayreaux:

notcharismacarpenter:

cordelia chase → season three (ats) 

Honestly, I think one of her best lines was ‘So? Demonise me, already.”

She was (by a lot of fans) considered ‘the bitch’ still, as if people were still stuck on season 1 of Buffy where ‘mean Cordelia’ picked on poor Willow and Buffy. The amount of character growth she undertook from her first appearance onwards was just outstanding and I had NEVER seen a character like it before.

She was selfish, vain and pragmatic. She would only associate with those people who would help her achieve her goal. She knew her own power, and took crap from NO ONE. She had no time for anyone who could not confidently hold themselves. Why respect anyone who doesn’t respect themselves?

She was, of course, sixteen. As she grew up that same fierce sense of self remained, and when her eyes opened to a world of darkness and supernatural her view on life changed to reflect that. She did what she could to help people (and stop the apocalypse) whilst still maintaining her cheerleading, dating, and blazing through all standardised tests. AND looking fabulous while she did it.

I’m getting on to a bit of a ramble here. But this line, is so much a summation of who Cordelia is/was. She was demonised by people for being a bitch, for being vain, for being selfish. But Cordelia looked at anyone who criticised her and said- “So?”

She was brave, she was strong, because she had an unwavering sense of self worth. She may not have been a slayer, or an immortal, or a Watcher- She was Cordelia Chase, and NOTHING would stand in her way.

So. Demonise her already. The girl who dared to care AND gave a damn about her appearance. The girl who was unafraid to speak her mind, and would call out both bullshit and deserved praise as she saw it with brutally complete sincerity. The girl who focused on her own well being before others- still caring, but refusing to be a matyr.

She put her life in danger to help others, but (example- when Faith was in town and there was a threat she would kill them) was sensible with the extent of her abilities. She grabbed people by their boot straps and raised them up when the darkness looked overwhelming.

She taught me that there comes a time when you need to put others needs before your own, but it’s also healthy to priortise your own wellbeing. Care, help, give it all you’ve got. Love others, but mostly- Love yourself.

Because you matter. And the only person whose opinion on that matters, is your own.