A grinning black and lime paper mask on a purple puddle with its smiling reflection.

Original artwork, not a still

Xander

I laugh in the face of danger. Then I hide until it goes away.

— Buffy the Vampire Slayer ‧ 1997

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The opening sounds like a declaration of fearless defiance, but the next sentence replaces bravery with concealment. Xander keeps the grand gesture while admitting what follows it. The joke allows confidence and fear to coexist, turning a boast into a candid account of avoiding trouble.

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