THE TAUNTER. Buffyverse Term/Concept/Idea/Intratext.
Buffy's suggested nickname for The First in "Chosen."
The night before the final Battle of Sunnydale, in which Buffy and her forces defeat the army of The First, closing the Hellmouth for good, a restless, sleepless Buffy is visited by The First in the form of Caleb. The following dialogue ensues:
THE FIRST/CALEB: Pretty, ain’t it?
BUFFY: You’re not him.
THE FIRST/CALEB: No, you killed him, right and proper. Terrible loss. This man was my good right arm. Course it don’t pain me too much. Don’t need an arm. I’ve got an army.
BUFFY: An army of vampires. However will I fight—
THE FIRST/CALEB: Every day our numbers swell. But then you do have an army of your own. Some thirty-odd pimply-faced girls, don’t know the pointy end of a stake. Maybe I should call this off . . .
BUFFY: Have you ever considered a cool name? I mean, since you’re incorporeal and basically powerless… how about the Taunter? Strikes fear in the hearts of—
THE FIRST/CALEB: I will overrun this earth. And when my army outnumbers the humans on this earth, the scales will tip and I will be made flesh.
BUFFY: Talk on. I’m not afraid of you.
THE FIRST/CALEB: Then why aren’t you asleep . . . in your dead lover’s arms? ’Cause he can’t help you. Nor Faith, nor your friends. Certainly not your wanna-slay brigade. None of those girlies will ever know real power unless you’re dead. You know the drill.