All the Wrong Places - Part 3 To: Doyle From: Angel > Hi Angel :-) < stupid grin Hi Doyle. I'm not going to make one of those, and you can't make me. Grinning anyway, though. > > > Guess I can talk indefinitely. > > Good. I wouldn't mind. *Really* wouldn't mind hearing the sound of your voice, but I think that's gonna have to wait a few days until Wes and Lorne and the appropriate department figure out how to bring you back. > A few days? I was thinking more in the line of weeks. Or months. You must have a lot of faith in this Wes of yours. There are a lot of people working on it. A *lot.* I'll bet it'll be a week, tops. Maybe it's not fair to get your hopes up though, in case it takes longer, huh? Can you tell that time's passing? > Who's Lorne? Anagogic demon, reads people when they sing. From Pylea. > > But yeah, talk all you want. > You may be sorry you asked that. ;-) (That was a winking grin by the way. I'm not sure how much of this kind of stuff you know.) Don't know if I would have figured that one out. I think Lorne got his and my share of the ability to read people, singing or no singing. Still haven't changed my mind though. Talk to me as much as you want to. > > > You have more friends than me to talk to, I hope. > > Yeah... and no. > Okay that was... all encompassing. You want to expand on that? I've got friends, just... since last year when things went bad, it's been different. Stuff with Wes, then with Cordy. They were the two people I could really talk to, you know? I mean, there are a few other people, but it's not the same. I'm glad you're back. > > You're not, you're just in there. Having a little vacation. We'll have you back to work soon enough, so maybe you should enjoy the rest while you can. > Next time I have a vacation can it be somewhere warm and tropical? With scantily clad women feeding me and hanging on my every word? Sure. Once things settle down, we'll send you off wherever you want to go. But if you want warm and tropical, it'll have to be without me. Sunshine and vampires aren't such a good mix, remember? > Or at least somewhere a little less.... computery. Gotcha. No problem. I'd kind of think anywhere would be less computery than where you are now though. > > > I need to know about Cordelia too, Angel. Whenever you feel like you can talk about it. > > I don't know what you want me to say. > Whatever you feel that you can. I don't want to say any of it. I don't want to THINK about it, you know? > > I failed her, you know? Let her get taken away from us, on the night we should have... I was going to tell her I had feelings for her. You know? And I got thrown into the ocean, and she went up and became a Higher Being, or so they said. And when she came back she wasn't even herself anymore. > You and Cordelia? Wow. Didn't see that coming. Not that I blame you; Cordelia is something special. Guess this means when I get back I shouldn't be counting on her keeping that date with me then, huh? Um, not necessarily. Turns out she was under some major influence for a while there. No way to know what of it was her and what of it was... other stuff. Plus even if that HAD been her, I don't know if she would have... Anyway, it was a long time ago now. Lot of stuff's happened in between. She'd be better off with someone like you anyway. > > Now she's not possessed anymore, but she's... lost. I don't know how to get her back. > Wesley said there were people working on that. We'll get her back, Angel. Hell, you got *me* back and I was a lot further gone than she is. God, I just... need to be able to do something. This job is too much sitting and paperwork and not enough fighting and legwork. Not that we aren't doing a lot more good from here, don't get me wrong. > > > Sounds like a whole barrel of laughs. > > Yeah, that's what it is. Hear me laughing? > Don't laugh. You laughing tends to be scary. Oh sorry. Didn't know you were so easily frightened off. > > Not really that different from the old days at A.I. Except for the office and the equipment, and the psychics. Oh, and Files and Records, and Fred's heading up this whole science division. I don't even know what they do, actually. Sometimes she tries to tell me, but it mostly involves a lot more nodding. > Who's Fred? Girl that we brought back from Pylea when we went to rescue Cordy. Um, there was this whole interdimensional portal thing, and we had to go after her. But it all turned out fine. Yeah. > > But anyway, we're doing the same thing, just on a bigger scale. Okay, much bigger scale. > Think big as a motto, huh? Works for me. > > Oh, and I have twelve cars. > Aha, now the truth comes out -- the really important thing is the wheels. Do you still have the old convertible? Of course. Even took it to Pylea with us. Although I don't drive it as much it's nice to have the sun-proof cars during the day. > > > "Sir" maybe. But not "Mr." > > Don't remember you calling me "Sir." > That's because I'm incorrigible. Oh is that what they're calling it these days? > > > But I bet you're wishing that involved hitting something, aren't you? > > Jeez. You know me too well. > I do my best. Your best is a lot. I'm saving up my yelling at you about the Beacon thing until you're back in the flesh and I can get my hands on you. > > Anything in there in the computer I could hit? Or would that be one of those things I shouldn't do? > Err, considering we haven't figured out exactly where I am, hitting computers may be bad. Not sure what would happen to me if you break the system I'm in. Right. Don't touch the computers. Wes just called me and told me the same thing. You two working in stereo, that's something. > > > Gold star behaviour. > > Thanks. I knew you'd be pleased. > It's proof that you're never too old to learn. ;-) Fuck you. (grinning) > > > Do you trust him? > > Do I...? That's a complicated question. With some things, I guess I do. But then, maybe if you need to say "I guess with some things," the answer's no, huh? There's... a lot of history. > You want to share some of that history? I take it this has to do with what happened a couple of years ago? Wesley has been pretty forthcoming about what's happened since I've been gone, except for 2002. Yeah, he would be. I'll... give me a little time to think about this, okay? I want to tell you, I just need to think it over and make sure it's the right thing to do, because there are a lot of people involved. Let me ask you this -- if I told you something, and told you you couldn't tell it to anyone else, ever... could you keep that kind of a secret? Even from Cordy? > > I don't do a lot of sleeping myself. Too bad there's not some way to hook my brain into this thing, so that we could talk without so much typing. Don't think I'm gonna get that Lincoln tunnel syndrome thing, but sometimes my eyes start to kind of cross. Plus it takes forever. > Yeah, I'd love to be able to sit across a table and see your face while we talk. But slow or not, this is better than nothing, right? Oh yeah, don't get me wrong. I'll take Lincoln tunnel any day over not having you around. > Why aren't you sleeping? Lots of reasons, but mainly that thing I have to decide whether I can tell you or not. > > You still okay? > I'm doing fine, really. Though I'm starting to wonder if I should be asking you if you're okay... Are you? Yeah. Well, no. But I'm hanging in there. Get up every day, get dressed, come to work. Fight the good fight. It's just all kind of empty. - Angel __________ To: Wesley Wyndam-Pryce From: TTZRCLBDXRQBGJSNBOH Hi Wesley :-) > I've been using Pryce professionally for some time, but it's not necessary under these circumstances. Wesley will do for now. Wesley it is. > I completely understand the need to separate oneself from the past. Angel said you used to be a Watcher? > > Good. The speaking to Angel part I mean. I get the feeling he's been trying to isolate himself again this time in a big corporation instead of a dark basement apartment. > I suppose that's true, although I hadn't really given it a great deal of thought. He's good at brooding and hiding. It seems like he’s gotten even better since last I saw him. > I've been doing more than a bit of that myself, now that I think of it. I don't know you very well yet, but I've gotta tell ya, that's not a good thing for anybody to do. > > Thanks. I think I'm going to start exploring, but I don't want to go too far until I know where I am. So if I get lost at least I'll know where I want to get back to. > I've done a bit of investigating and haven't come up with anything yet, but I will. I know you will. :-) > Don't go too far, I don't want to lose you in there. Thanks. I'm being careful. But this... it's pretty fascinating once you start stretching out. > We had a falling out. It would be extremely complicated and lengthy to explain. A falling out that's still having fallout? Something you can't put behind you? > > No hurry. I'm not going anywhere. Least not anywhere I can't get back from. :) > We'll hope that's true. I came back from the dead. After that, anything else sorta pales in significance. > > He's been asking if there was a computer he could hit. Might want to keep him away from any machines that you think I might actually be in. Just to be on the safe side. Just in case he gets impulsive. > I'll make sure I point that out to him, although I'm quite certain he wasn't being serious, whatever he said. He probably wasn't serious, but I'm sure he hoped I would tell him to have at it anyway. > On the other hand, as you say, he does tend toward rash behaviour at times. Ya noticed that too, huh? > > If ya gotta go out, that's the way to do it saving the people that are most important to you. > Yes. Or, y'know, dying of old age asleep in bed. I think I'll see if I can try that next time. > > > Rather. Fortunately I was only in hospital for a couple of days, as I wasn't seriously injured. > > I'm glad to hear it. > Thank you. I've had far worse. Hope you have good health insurance. > > You've seemed to have had a rough time of it -- blown up, shot by zombies... > You've no idea. Tell me? > > Thanks. Guess the vocabulary will have to be improvised as needed. > And hopefully it won't be long before it's not an issue. Yeah. > > Life was so much simpler when all I had to worry about was some student bringing a snake or something for show and tell. > Show and tell? I used to teach third grade. Show and tell was a big thing -- the kids would bring in stuff and well, show them and tell the class about them. There's always a few kids who would bring in the grossest or scariest thing they could find. To make all the girls in the class scream. > > Life was so much simpler when I was alive, come to that. > Well, yes, that would rather come with the territory. Living is a good starting point for pretty much anything. > > Harder than you know. He had a chance and... Well, he's given up more than you know for Buffy. > I sense a story there. Yes. I... Let me check with Angel if he minds if I share. > > > > I suppose I can always just ask Angel. > > > Yes, you can. > > All right, I will. > Just remember that I really don't care to discuss it. Hey, you've made that perfectly clear, man. But you remember that I'm here to listen if you change your mind. > > Talking with Cordelia... now there's something to look forward to. Wonder if she'd still honour the date we'd set up before I died. > I'd imagine she would. Let's get her awake and then we'll see. I don't want to count my dates before they're hatched. Or something like that. She may have moved on to... other, better, pastures. > > For the record, I've no reason to doubt your word when you say you'll get me out. > I really wasn't offended. Well, only the tiniest bit, perhaps. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that I'm completely serious about this. It's not some idle promise. Thank you. I do know that. Feels good to have people working to get me all the way back. > > I think I would've preferred leaving her with a puppy named Doyle or something. > I don't think she's very fond of dogs. Stuffed dog then. Or stuffed... do they make stuffed Brachens? > > All right. Never let it be said that I keep prying when I'm not wanted. But the offer stands. > I do appreciate it, and I don't think that I'll be changing my mind. Ya never know what the future is going to bring. > > > If I can figure out a way for you to, I'll let you know. > > Thanks. Not sure what I could do from here, but... > Again, you shouldn't be in there long enough for it to become an issue. I'm beginning to believe that. :-) > > You haven't seen me at my best. Get myself around a single malt whiskey or five and I could talk all night about anything. > Perhaps we can do that some night, once you're out of there. I wouldn't mind listening to you talk. It's the Irish brogue, gets them every time. ;) But seriously, I'd like that. A lot, I think. > > Whether anybody else in the vincinity was talking about the same thing is beside the point. > Ah, endurance AND the ability to shut others out. Powerful tools. I'm nothing if not powerful. Then again technically I *am* nothing now so... take that as you will. > > > Having not had the questionable pleasure of hearing him talk a lot, I'll take your word for it. > > Yeah, usually he lets his actions speak for him. > And his actions are generally more than sufficient to get his point across. Yeah. Not much subtlety about Angel. > > > > Angel doesn't trust you? > > > I don't think he does, not entirely, no. > > Why? > The aforementioned falling out, for the most part. I went behind his back to in an attempt to protect him; he ended up feeling betrayed. And he can't let that go? Or you can't? > > > You can't see anything? > > It's been changing the longer I'm here, the more I interact. I see the words you write, but it's more like they're in my mind than in front of my face. If that makes sense? > Like some form of telepathy perhaps. Well, telepathic mail maybe; I don't hear voices, just see the words. > > It feels like I'm sitting...somewhere. But I can't feel my body. Or see it for that matter. I was trying to speak when I sent that first message. So it seems like my intentions get translated into something computerlike. I'm starting to experiment with 'reaching out' and maybe 'standing' and 'walking'. I'll let you know the results. > Do that, please. It could help. I... moving isn't so much like walking in here as it is stretching out for impossibly long distances. I think I found the security systems -- suddenly was seeing a lobby with people coming and going. I'm going to explore some more. > Is there anyone you'd like me to get a message to? I could go and tell Cordelia that you're here? There's no reason to believe that she hears us and, considering the mystical origin of her coma, there's also no reason to think that she's actually in there, but... I could. I... I'd like that a lot. She could be there, could be able to hear. If she could.. well, it would be nice if she knew I was back. And thinking of her. Doyle __________ To: Doyle From: Wesley Wyndam-Pryce Hello Doyle. > > I completely understand the need to separate oneself from the past. > Angel said you used to be a Watcher? Yes, that's true. I was Buffy's Watcher for a brief time in Sunnydale, just before Angel came to L.A. > > > Good. The speaking to Angel part I mean. I get the feeling he's been trying to isolate himself again this time in a big corporation instead of a dark basement apartment. > > I suppose that's true, although I hadn't really given it a great deal of thought. > He's good at brooding and hiding. It seems like he’s gotten even better since last I saw him. That's probably true as well. There was a time when I would have said differently, but now... > > I've been doing more than a bit of that myself, now that I think of it. > I don't know you very well yet, but I've gotta tell ya, that's not a good thing for anybody to do. Possibly not. It's unfortunate, in that case, that sometimes there don't seem to be a lot of other options. > > > Thanks. I think I'm going to start exploring, but I don't want to go too far until I know where I am. So if I get lost at least I'll know where I want to get back to. > > I've done a bit of investigating and haven't come up with anything yet, but I will. > I know you will. :-) I think I've narrowed it down some. The difficulty is that there isn't a "mainframe" computer here. It's possible that you're "in" the computer closest to where the spell was done, but I'm not entirely certain which one that is, and the letters still aren't providing any meaningful direction. > > Don't go too far, I don't want to lose you in there. > Thanks. I'm being careful. But this... it's pretty fascinating once you start stretching out. I really can't even begin to imagine. It *does* sound like a fascinating experience. > > We had a falling out. It would be extremely complicated and lengthy to explain. > A falling out that's still having fallout? Something you can't put behind you? Yes. He can't forgive me, and I can't totally blame him for that. > > > No hurry. I'm not going anywhere. Least not anywhere I can't get back from. :) > > We'll hope that's true. > I came back from the dead. After that, anything else sorta pales in significance. All right, I can agree with that. > > > He's been asking if there was a computer he could hit. Might want to keep him away from any machines that you think I might actually be in. Just to be on the safe side. Just in case he gets impulsive. > > I'll make sure I point that out to him, although I'm quite certain he wasn't being serious, whatever he said. > He probably wasn't serious, but I'm sure he hoped I would tell him to have at it anyway. That could be true. It's all right, there's a fully equipped gym here in the building, he can redirect his impulsiveness and frustration there. > > On the other hand, as you say, he does tend toward rash behaviour at times. > Ya noticed that too, huh? It would be hard to miss. > > > If ya gotta go out, that's the way to do it saving the people that are most important to you. > > Yes. > Or, y'know, dying of old age asleep in bed. I think I'll see if I can try that next time. We'll do our best to make sure you have the opportunity. What *is* the life span of a half-Brachen? > > > > Rather. Fortunately I was only in hospital for a couple of days, as I wasn't seriously injured. > > > I'm glad to hear it. > > Thank you. I've had far worse. > Hope you have good health insurance. For the most part it hasn't been an issue, thankfully. > > > You've seemed to have had a rough time of it -- blown up, shot by zombies... > > You've no idea. > Tell me? I had my throat cut about a year and a half ago. That was no picnic, I'll tell you. But I'm fine now. > > > Life was so much simpler when all I had to worry about was some student bringing a snake or something for show and tell. > > Show and tell? > I used to teach third grade. Show and tell was a big thing -- the kids would bring in stuff and well, show them and tell the class about them. There's always a few kids who would bring in the grossest or scariest thing they could find. To make all the girls in the class scream. The thought of you teaching schoolchildren is a bit disturbing. I don't mean that in a negative way exactly, just... you don't seem the type. I'm sure you were very good at it. > > Well, yes, that would rather come with the territory. > Living is a good starting point for pretty much anything. Except a career as a vampire, perhaps. > > > Harder than you know. He had a chance and... Well, he's given up more than you know for Buffy. > > I sense a story there. > Yes. I... Let me check with Angel if he minds if I share. Fair enough. > > Just remember that I really don't care to discuss it. > Hey, you've made that perfectly clear, man. But you remember that I'm here to listen if you change your mind. All right. Thank you. > > > Wonder if she'd still honour the date we'd set up before I died. > > I'd imagine she would. > Let's get her awake and then we'll see. I don't want to count my dates before they're hatched. Or something like that. She may have moved on to... other, better, pastures. She hasn't been in a position to explore any pastures for some time, unfortunately. > > I really wasn't offended. Well, only the tiniest bit, perhaps. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that I'm completely serious about this. It's not some idle promise. > Thank you. I do know that. Feels good to have people working to get me all the way back. We are. > > > I think I would've preferred leaving her with a puppy named Doyle or something. > > I don't think she's very fond of dogs. > Stuffed dog then. Or stuffed... do they make stuffed Brachens? I think not. At least, I've never seen one. > > > All right. Never let it be said that I keep prying when I'm not wanted. But the offer stands. > > I do appreciate it, and I don't think that I'll be changing my mind. > Ya never know what the future is going to bring. That's true. > > Again, you shouldn't be in there long enough for it to become an issue. > I'm beginning to believe that. :-) Good. > > > You haven't seen me at my best. Get myself around a single malt whiskey or five and I could talk all night about anything. > > Perhaps we can do that some night, once you're out of there. I wouldn't mind listening to you talk. > It's the Irish brogue, gets them every time. ;) But seriously, I'd like that. A lot, I think. I know some good places for quiet drinking. Er, not too quiet, you understand. But where one could have a conversation easily enough, if that were something one wanted to do while drinking. > > Ah, endurance AND the ability to shut others out. Powerful tools. > I'm nothing if not powerful. Then again technically I *am* nothing now so... take that as you will. Don't say things like that, even in jest. You're alive, you're here. You're just a bit separate at the moment, for a brief period of time. > > And his actions are generally more than sufficient to get his point across. > Yeah. Not much subtlety about Angel. No, that's quite true. > > > Why? > > The aforementioned falling out, for the most part. I went behind his back to in an attempt to protect him; he ended up feeling betrayed. > And he can't let that go? Or you can't? A bit of both, I think. He can't see my point of view, and I can see his all too well. > > > It's been changing the longer I'm here, the more I interact. I see the words you write, but it's more like they're in my mind than in front of my face. If that makes sense? > > Like some form of telepathy perhaps. > Well, telepathic mail maybe; I don't hear voices, just see the words. When you first became aware it must have seemed like some bizarre sort of dream. > > > I'm starting to experiment with 'reaching out' and maybe 'standing' and 'walking'. I'll let you know the results. > > Do that, please. It could help. > I... moving isn't so much like walking in here as it is stretching out for impossibly long distances. I think I found the security systems -- suddenly was seeing a lobby with people coming and going. I'm going to explore some more. Interesting. And you could actually SEE them? > > Is there anyone you'd like me to get a message to? I could go and tell Cordelia that you're here? There's no reason to believe that she hears us and, considering the mystical origin of her coma, there's also no reason to think that she's actually in there, but... I could. > I... I'd like that a lot. She could be there, could be able to hear. If she could.. well, it would be nice if she knew I was back. And thinking of her. I went and sat with her for a bit, told her what's going on. I like to think that she heard me. That's probably a sentimental fool's hope, of course. - Wesley __________ To: Angel From: TTZRCLBDXRQBGJSNBOH Hi Angel :-) > I'm not going to make one of those, and you can't make me. Aw, come on. Just one little grin? It only takes three keys; two if you don't give yourself a nose. You can even do one with fangs: :-[ Granted, not as much of a smile, but fangs. Not sure how you'd do your hair though. > Grinning anyway, though. Glad to hear that. :-) > > A few days? I was thinking more in the line of weeks. Or months. You must have a lot of faith in this Wes of yours. > There are a lot of people working on it. A *lot.* I'll bet it'll be a week, tops. You think that much of me huh? How many is a lot? > Maybe it's not fair to get your hopes up though, in case it takes longer, huh? Ah, what's a few hopes raised and possibly dashed between friends? If it takes longer I'll cope. It's... not that bad in here. > Can you tell that time's passing? Some, but it's not like I'm sitting and checking my watch every five minutes. > > Who's Lorne? > Anagogic demon, reads people when they sing. From Pylea. Does he have a karaoke bar? Cause he sounds like the Host of this place I went to a few times called Caritas. > > > But yeah, talk all you want. > > You may be sorry you asked that. ;-) (That was a winking grin by the way. I'm not sure how much of this kind of stuff you know.) > Don't know if I would have figured that one out. I think Lorne got his and my share of the ability to read people, singing or no singing. You can read people; you just keep getting out of practice what with all the brooding and hiding in the dark. Or the beauracracy, which seems to be the thing these days. > Still haven't changed my mind though. Talk to me as much as you want to. That's going to be a lot, Angel. I've years of not talking to make up for. > I've got friends, just... since last year when things went bad, it's been different. Stuff with Wes, then with Cordy. They were the two people I could really talk to, you know? I mean, there are a few other people, but it's not the same. You can talk to me, you know that right? About anything. > I'm glad you're back. So am I. :-) > > Next time I have a vacation can it be somewhere warm and tropical? With scantily clad women feeding me and hanging on my every word? > Sure. Once things settle down, we'll send you off wherever you want to go. But if you want warm and tropical, it'll have to be without me. Sunshine and vampires aren't such a good mix, remember? Funny that. They have nights where it's warm and tropical too. > > Or at least somewhere a little less.... computery. > Gotcha. No problem. I'd kind of think anywhere would be less computery than where you are now though. Yeah, that's pretty much the truth. > I need to know about Cordelia too, Angel. Whenever you feel like you can talk about it. > > > I don't know what you want me to say. > > Whatever you feel that you can. > I don't want to say any of it. I don't want to THINK about it, you know? Yeah. But sounds to me like you're not having much luck with that. The not thinking about it I mean. > > Wow. Didn't see that coming. Not that I blame you; Cordelia is something special. Guess this means when I get back I shouldn't be counting on her keeping that date with me then, huh? > Um, not necessarily. Turns out she was under some major influence for a while there. No way to know what of it was her and what of it was... other stuff. Plus even if that HAD been her, I don't know if she would have... She would have. I mean, it's *you*, Angel. Of course she would have. > Anyway, it was a long time ago now. Lot of stuff's happened in between. She'd be better off with someone like you anyway. I think that would be up to her. And don't sell yourself short. Pretty much any woman faced with you and me is going to choose you. > > Wesley said there were people working on that. We'll get her back, Angel. Hell, you got *me* back and I was a lot further gone than she is. > God, I just... need to be able to do something. This job is too much sitting and paperwork and not enough fighting and legwork. Yeah, sounds like you need to burn off some nerves. Isn't there anything you could assign yourself that involves hitting things that aren't the computers around here? > Not that we aren't doing a lot more good from here, don't get me wrong. I know you are you're you. You're going to do as much good as you can wherever you are. > > > > Sounds like a whole barrel of laughs. > > > Yeah, that's what it is. Hear me laughing? > > Don't laugh. You laughing tends to be scary. > Oh sorry. Didn't know you were so easily frightened off. Nope, you don't get rid of me that easily. > > Who's Fred? > Girl that we brought back from Pylea when we went to rescue Cordy. Um, there was this whole interdimensional portal thing, and we had to go after her. But it all turned out fine. Yeah. You've had a busy couple of years haven't you? > > Do you still have the old convertible? > Of course. Even took it to Pylea with us. Although I don't drive it as much it's nice to have the sun-proof cars during the day. Sun proof cars? What cars with no glass? > > > > "Sir" maybe. But not "Mr." > > > Don't remember you calling me "Sir." > > That's because I'm incorrigible. > Oh is that what they're calling it these days? What would you call it? > > I do my best. > Your best is a lot. Thanks. > I'm saving up my yelling at you about the Beacon thing until you're back in the flesh and I can get my hands on you. What, because I sacrificed myself before you could sacrifice yourself? You do remember that you were about to do what I did before I stopped you, right? So yelling at me for doing it is going to be kind of hypocritical, don't you think? I apologise for hitting you though. > > Err, considering we haven't figured out exactly where I am, hitting computers may be bad. Not sure what would happen to me if you break the system I'm in. > Right. Don't touch the computers. Well, aside from talking to me. Then you can touch them. Just not hit them. > Wes just called me and told me the same thing. You two working in stereo, that's something. Just covering the bases. :) Wesley seems to be an okay guy. > > > > Gold star behaviour. > > > Thanks. I knew you'd be pleased. > > It's proof that you're never too old to learn. ;-) > Fuck you. (grinning) :-p < me sticking my tongue out > > > There's... a lot of history. > > You want to share some of that history? I take it this has to do with what happened a couple of years ago? Wesley has been pretty forthcoming about what's happened since I've been gone, except for 2002. > Yeah, he would be. I'll... give me a little time to think about this, okay? I want to tell you, I just need to think it over and make sure it's the right thing to do, because there are a lot of people involved. All right. I can wait. Not like I have someplace urgent to be or anything. > Let me ask you this -- if I told you something, and told you you couldn't tell it to anyone else, ever... could you keep that kind of a secret? Even from Cordy? Of course. You can trust me, Angel. You know that. Speaking of... can I tell Wesley about the day that didn't happen? The one where you turned human? I won't if you don't want me to, but it's come up obliquely and... > > Yeah, I'd love to be able to sit across a table and see your face while we talk. But slow or not, this is better than nothing, right? > Oh yeah, don't get me wrong. I'll take Lincoln tunnel any day over not having you around. That's actually carpal tunnel, you know. And... I might have found something to help with seeing your face. I'll let ya know. > > Why aren't you sleeping? > Lots of reasons, but mainly that thing I have to decide whether I can tell you or not. Not trying to pressure you here, but it sounds like you have something you're carrying that would help to talk about. If you can't talk to me, talk to someone, okay? > > Though I'm starting to wonder if I should be asking you if you're okay... Are you? > Yeah. Well, no. But I'm hanging in there. Get up every day, get dressed, come to work. Fight the good fight. It's just all kind of empty. Okay, now I *am* going to pressure you. I need you to tell me what's got you so... empty to use your word. That's not right. You shouldn't be feeling like that and I want to do whatever I can to help. Though about all I can do right now is talk and listen so... I'm listening. Doyle __________ To: Doyle From: Angel Hi Doyle. > > I'm not going to make one of those, and you can't make me. > Aw, come on. Just one little grin? It only takes three keys; two if you don't give yourself a nose. You can even do one with fangs: :-[ I said no. Nope, not even one. > Granted, not as much of a smile, but fangs. Not sure how you'd do your hair though. Hey! Should I be offended? > > Grinning anyway, though. > Glad to hear that. :-) Yeah. It feels really weird, but not bad. > > There are a lot of people working on it. A *lot.* I'll bet it'll be a week, tops. > You think that much of me huh? How many is a lot? Well, I didn't take an exact count, but I bet it's a couple of dozen easy. > > Maybe it's not fair to get your hopes up though, in case it takes longer, huh? > Ah, what's a few hopes raised and possibly dashed between friends? If it takes longer I'll cope. It's... not that bad in here. Good. > > Can you tell that time's passing? > Some, but it's not like I'm sitting and checking my watch every five minutes. I don't even have a watch. Oh. Guess you don't either. I'd promise not to look at a clock you know, as a show of solidarity but then I'd miss some vital meeting and everything would fall apart. Not really, but that's the idea you get. Every piece is an important part in the machinery, blah blah blah. And Fred gets to play around up there figuring out how to make a microwave run on M&Ms or something. Again, not really, although every time I see her she's got a pack of those things in her hand. It might be a taco replacement, come to think of it. Oh. Sorry if I keep making references to stuff you don't know about, I just kind of forget. When we first brought Fred back from Pylea, she had a taco thing going on. > > > Who's Lorne? > > Anagogic demon, reads people when they sing. From Pylea. > Does he have a karaoke bar? Cause he sounds like the Host of this place I went to a few times called Caritas. Hey! Yeah, that's him. What'd'ya know. Small world. > > Don't know if I would have figured that one out. I think Lorne got his and my share of the ability to read people, singing or no singing. > You can read people; you just keep getting out of practice what with all the brooding and hiding in the dark. Or the beauracracy, which seems to be the thing these days. Tell me about it. > > Still haven't changed my mind though. Talk to me as much as you want to. > That's going to be a lot, Angel. I've years of not talking to make up for. Hey, I probably do too. More than you. > > I've got friends, just... since last year when things went bad, it's been different. Stuff with Wes, then with Cordy. They were the two people I could really talk to, you know? I mean, there are a few other people, but it's not the same. > You can talk to me, you know that right? About anything. Yeah, I know. Thanks. > > Sure. Once things settle down, we'll send you off wherever you want to go. But if you want warm and tropical, it'll have to be without me. Sunshine and vampires aren't such a good mix, remember? > Funny that. They have nights where it's warm and tropical too. Yeah, but you don't want to be stuck keeping me company, sitting on the beach at night. You want to sit in the sun, soak up some rays, check out all the hot girls in bikinis. > > I don't want to say any of it. I don't want to THINK about it, you know? > Yeah. But sounds to me like you're not having much luck with that. The not thinking about it I mean. I guess not. > > Um, not necessarily. Turns out she was under some major influence for a while there. No way to know what of it was her and what of it was... other stuff. Plus even if that HAD been her, I don't know if she would have... > She would have. I mean, it's *you*, Angel. Of course she would have. No guarantees. > > Anyway, it was a long time ago now. Lot of stuff's happened in between. She'd be better off with someone like you anyway. > I think that would be up to her. And don't sell yourself short. Pretty much any woman faced with you and me is going to choose you. Um... Doyle? You do remember that you're ALIVE, right? Even inside the computer you're more alive than I'll ever be. People want, you know, other people who actually breathe and eat food and stuff. Not vampires. I was probably just trying to fool myself the whole time. > > God, I just... need to be able to do something. This job is too much sitting and paperwork and not enough fighting and legwork. > Yeah, sounds like you need to burn off some nerves. Isn't there anything you could assign yourself that involves hitting things that aren't the computers around here? Oh, I do. Hit things and stuff, I mean. Just not as much as I used to. Trained teams are more efficient, better equipped to handle demon fighting, fill in the next line with your own corporation catch phrase. > > Not that we aren't doing a lot more good from here, don't get me wrong. > I know you are you're you. You're going to do as much good as you can wherever you are. I do what I can. Too bad it never feels like enough, you know? > > Oh sorry. Didn't know you were so easily frightened off. > Nope, you don't get rid of me that easily. Good. > > > Who's Fred? > > Girl that we brought back from Pylea when we went to rescue Cordy. Um, there was this whole interdimensional portal thing, and we had to go after her. But it all turned out fine. Yeah. > You've had a busy couple of years haven't you? You have no idea. Unless Wes... nope. You have no idea. > > > Do you still have the old convertible? > > Of course. Even took it to Pylea with us. Although I don't drive it as much it's nice to have the sun-proof cars during the day. > Sun proof cars? What cars with no glass? Nope, necro-tempered. Glass, I mean. Vampire dust-proof. Got it in the office building too -- means people can have their shades open and I can walk around without showering everyone with vampire confetti. It's a good deal. Cars are in an underground lot. I can go places without worrying about the whole sun thing, if I want to. > > Oh is that what they're calling it these days? > What would you call it? Nah, I guess incorrigible works pretty well. > > > I do my best. > > Your best is a lot. > Thanks. No, thank you. > > I'm saving up my yelling at you about the Beacon thing until you're back in the flesh and I can get my hands on you. > What, because I sacrificed myself before you could sacrifice yourself? You do remember that you were about to do what I did before I stopped you, right? So yelling at me for doing it is going to be kind of hypocritical, don't you think? Don't care, I'm gonna do it anyway. It was my job, not yours. Life or death situation, vampire takes the line of fire. Just the way it is. > I apologise for hitting you though. Sucker punch. > > Right. Don't touch the computers. > Well, aside from talking to me. Then you can touch them. Just not hit them. Right. Don't hit the computers. > > Wes just called me and told me the same thing. You two working in stereo, that's something. > Just covering the bases. :) Wesley seems to be an okay guy. Yeah, he is. > > Fuck you. (grinning) > :-p < me sticking my tongue out Okay, you win, because I am NEVER going to make those little faces. > > I'll... give me a little time to think about this, okay? I want to tell you, I just need to think it over and make sure it's the right thing to do, because there are a lot of people involved. > All right. I can wait. Not like I have someplace urgent to be or anything. Yeah. I mean, thanks. > > Let me ask you this -- if I told you something, and told you you couldn't tell it to anyone else, ever... could you keep that kind of a secret? Even from Cordy? > Of course. You can trust me, Angel. You know that. Oh, I know if you say you will, you will. It's not that I don't trust you. More that it's kind of big, and I don't want you feeling bad about it later. When I agreed to take over W&H, it was on a couple of conditions, and one of them was that everyone who knew about Connor would have him sort of... magically wiped from their minds. To protect him, you know? Connor's my son. I had a son. With Darla. I know, wild, huh? But he's gone now, doesn't remember me anymore. Has a whole new normal family and stuff. It's better this way. But Wesley doesn't remember, has a whole bunch of false memories in his head about that time. Also, supposedly, an inclination not to want to talk about them. I think it's some kind of failsafe, make it less likely for people to be able to look at those memories and examine them too closely. > Speaking of... can I tell Wesley about the day that didn't happen? The one where you turned human? I won't if you don't want me to, but it's come up obliquely and... It's okay. Tell him if you want to. Not like it matters much now. > > Oh yeah, don't get me wrong. I'll take Lincoln tunnel any day over not having you around. > That's actually carpal tunnel, you know. Oh, right. I thought there was something wrong about that. > And... I might have found something to help with seeing your face. I'll let ya know. Seriously? > > Lots of reasons, but mainly that thing I have to decide whether I can tell you or not. > Not trying to pressure you here, but it sounds like you have something you're carrying that would help to talk about. If you can't talk to me, talk to someone, okay? I'm talking to you. Not too good at it though, I know that. > > > Though I'm starting to wonder if I should be asking you if you're okay... Are you? > > Yeah. Well, no. But I'm hanging in there. Get up every day, get dressed, come to work. Fight the good fight. It's just all kind of empty. > Okay, now I *am* going to pressure you. I need you to tell me what's got you so... empty to use your word. That's not right. You shouldn't be feeling like that and I want to do whatever I can to help. Though about all I can do right now is talk and listen so... I'm listening. The empty thing is Connor and Cordy mostly. And Connor AND Cordy. It's a really long story and I think I've done as much talking for now as I can though, so can it wait until next time? Thanks, Doyle. I'm really glad you're back. - Angel Next Part Main Page Send Feedback