10. [backdated to Sunday night]
I can feel the virus ending, and I'm a sentimental sap, so I'm leaving notes for a couple people. If I didn't leave you a note, I'll see you in four years, I guess. Well, I'll see everyone else in four years, too. I think I'll just... write them now.
[locked to Spike]
Spike,
I know you're going to see this when you're older, and I'm sorry I missed you. It was kind of interesting to get to speak to evil you again, especially with me here in England and you back in Sunnydale. Sometimes I do wonder if this version of events ends up with California in hell, too, but well... that's not important right now.
It's hard to know things that no one else can know. I get that now. I got a lot of sympathy for you during this virus, more than I had before. And with everything that happened with Buffy, and her not remembering it - yeah. I don't have to put it into words. You know better than I do.
What I wanted to say was, you're stronger than you think you are. With everything you've done for us, and everything I know you're going to do... since, already you're practically part of the gang, and no soul. So with soul you must do even more. And if you can do all of that, and get through all of that, you can do this, too.
I know younger me doesn't appreciate all the water under the bridge, everything with Glory and with you taking care of Dawn after Buffy died, and you always rooting for me and Tara, and... just being there in the background, watching us. I know you were watching. And I appreciate it more than I ever told you. Give younger me some time, and I know she'll appreciate you, too.
So I know it doesn't help with high school Buffy? But you have your own Buffy, and even though you can't get to her, she's still there. She still remembers you, and so do I. Don't forget that.
But do get out of hell. Come on, Spike, you can do better. Your soul is so you don't go to hell. Try to remember that, too.
Chin up,
Red
[locked to Oz]
Oz,
Don't take this ominously, because time is wonky and who knows what's going to happen with your version of events. Not that I'm saying anything about my version of events either. And with both those things, what can I even really say to you that means something?
Well, I can say one thing. Whatever happens, I know I still love you. Because I do. I still love you.
Willow
[locked to Sylar]
Sylar,
Sorry for lurking through your profile and finding your name, that is a little creepy, I admit. But I didn't want to address it to "that guy that almost ended the world, too, and is trying to reform now, too". That seemed kinda long. So, Sylar.
I bet you think it's corny of me to be writing this, and okay, it is. But I'll probably never see you again, so now is the prime time of corniness. And it meant a lot to me to get to talk to you. For a while it felt like that moment was going to define my life, watching Tara die, Osiris refusing to resurrect her, and me going Darth Willow. Like I couldn't think of anything else. I'm getting past it now on my own, but seeing you be so matter-of-fact about it was nice.
Because, honestly, it reminded me of my friends. We're all about the jokes in the middle of the horrific circumstances. Coping mechanism of choice in Sunnydale. I didn't get to know that much about you, since one conversation doesn't motivate anyone except me to spill their soul, but somewhere out there I'm pulling for you.
Whatever that's worth, I think you could be a hero if you wanted to be one. But I can't exactly knock it if you don't want to try anymore, either. Losing people gets old. There's another option somewhere between hero and villain, and if you're not cut out for either, make your own.
Just don't kill more people. Yeah, I saw that cavalier attitude, buddy. No cavalier. They're dead. They only get one shot at this life thing, like us. (Unless you happen to have an obsessed witch friend who performs resurrection spells, but I don't recommend that either.) And that's your PSA from Willow.
This has been your long sentimental rambling letter from a perfect stranger of the day,
Willow Rosenberg out.
[locked to Claire]
Claire,
Try to give my younger self some time to get over her pettiness and her bitchiness. She's seventeen, it's required. I think if you can last through that, you and her could be some pretty awesome friends. That's just my thought, anyway.
I just have this feeling that you're a good person. And I'm all for knowing good people.
Willow
[private locked]
Me,
You're not going to remember any of this. I think the community will protect the timeline and make you forget, but just in case it doesn't, I'm doing a spell that'll make sure of it. And I locked all the other letters away from you so you can't see them, either. Sorry to go to such lengths. It must be freaking you out about what was so important or horrific or both that you couldn't know.
There's a lot of reasons you can't know, and you can't know them, either. I really am sorry! If there's anyone I'd be sorry to, it's myself, I promise! Selfish girl here. So I wanted to tell you all that, and also what I told a couple other people, that I think you already know but maybe need to hear anyway.
It's all worth it. All of it.
Me
[ooc: Sorry for the tl;dr, guys, my character made me! :( Feel free to have your reaction comments here, or talk to post-virus headachey Willow. She'll respond!]
[locked to Spike]
Spike,
I know you're going to see this when you're older, and I'm sorry I missed you. It was kind of interesting to get to speak to evil you again, especially with me here in England and you back in Sunnydale. Sometimes I do wonder if this version of events ends up with California in hell, too, but well... that's not important right now.
It's hard to know things that no one else can know. I get that now. I got a lot of sympathy for you during this virus, more than I had before. And with everything that happened with Buffy, and her not remembering it - yeah. I don't have to put it into words. You know better than I do.
What I wanted to say was, you're stronger than you think you are. With everything you've done for us, and everything I know you're going to do... since, already you're practically part of the gang, and no soul. So with soul you must do even more. And if you can do all of that, and get through all of that, you can do this, too.
I know younger me doesn't appreciate all the water under the bridge, everything with Glory and with you taking care of Dawn after Buffy died, and you always rooting for me and Tara, and... just being there in the background, watching us. I know you were watching. And I appreciate it more than I ever told you. Give younger me some time, and I know she'll appreciate you, too.
So I know it doesn't help with high school Buffy? But you have your own Buffy, and even though you can't get to her, she's still there. She still remembers you, and so do I. Don't forget that.
But do get out of hell. Come on, Spike, you can do better. Your soul is so you don't go to hell. Try to remember that, too.
Chin up,
Red
[locked to Oz]
Oz,
Don't take this ominously, because time is wonky and who knows what's going to happen with your version of events. Not that I'm saying anything about my version of events either. And with both those things, what can I even really say to you that means something?
Well, I can say one thing. Whatever happens, I know I still love you. Because I do. I still love you.
Willow
[locked to Sylar]
Sylar,
Sorry for lurking through your profile and finding your name, that is a little creepy, I admit. But I didn't want to address it to "that guy that almost ended the world, too, and is trying to reform now, too". That seemed kinda long. So, Sylar.
I bet you think it's corny of me to be writing this, and okay, it is. But I'll probably never see you again, so now is the prime time of corniness. And it meant a lot to me to get to talk to you. For a while it felt like that moment was going to define my life, watching Tara die, Osiris refusing to resurrect her, and me going Darth Willow. Like I couldn't think of anything else. I'm getting past it now on my own, but seeing you be so matter-of-fact about it was nice.
Because, honestly, it reminded me of my friends. We're all about the jokes in the middle of the horrific circumstances. Coping mechanism of choice in Sunnydale. I didn't get to know that much about you, since one conversation doesn't motivate anyone except me to spill their soul, but somewhere out there I'm pulling for you.
Whatever that's worth, I think you could be a hero if you wanted to be one. But I can't exactly knock it if you don't want to try anymore, either. Losing people gets old. There's another option somewhere between hero and villain, and if you're not cut out for either, make your own.
Just don't kill more people. Yeah, I saw that cavalier attitude, buddy. No cavalier. They're dead. They only get one shot at this life thing, like us. (Unless you happen to have an obsessed witch friend who performs resurrection spells, but I don't recommend that either.) And that's your PSA from Willow.
This has been your long sentimental rambling letter from a perfect stranger of the day,
Willow Rosenberg out.
[locked to Claire]
Claire,
Try to give my younger self some time to get over her pettiness and her bitchiness. She's seventeen, it's required. I think if you can last through that, you and her could be some pretty awesome friends. That's just my thought, anyway.
I just have this feeling that you're a good person. And I'm all for knowing good people.
Willow
[private locked]
Me,
You're not going to remember any of this. I think the community will protect the timeline and make you forget, but just in case it doesn't, I'm doing a spell that'll make sure of it. And I locked all the other letters away from you so you can't see them, either. Sorry to go to such lengths. It must be freaking you out about what was so important or horrific or both that you couldn't know.
There's a lot of reasons you can't know, and you can't know them, either. I really am sorry! If there's anyone I'd be sorry to, it's myself, I promise! Selfish girl here. So I wanted to tell you all that, and also what I told a couple other people, that I think you already know but maybe need to hear anyway.
It's all worth it. All of it.
Me
[ooc: Sorry for the tl;dr, guys, my character made me! :( Feel free to have your reaction comments here, or talk to post-virus headachey Willow. She'll respond!]