A Call Home

[queencor]

Okay, so I'm still massively avoiding. Whatever, I'm allowed sometimes. I'm entitled. I don't have to explain myself! I'm still in Sunnydale. I've been spending time with Anya. We're trying to come up with ways to get our money, and I'm trying to come up with ways to not be totally messed up over Gunn, and I'm doing better with the money situation

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[vampdetective]

I wander downstairs to snag a little blood from the office fridge, and the phone rings. Okay, this a business, right? I pick it up.

"Angel Investigations, we help the..." I hesitate. I can never remember if it's helpless or hopeless. "Uh, how can we help?"

[queencor]

Inwardly I groan. "Angel...hang up, I didn't actually want to talk to you, I wanted to leave you a message." I say. God, I didn't want to talk to him! I'd hoped Fred would answer, or, like I said, no one would, and I'd get to leave a nice non-interactive message. Damnit. None of my plans work out.

[vampdetective]

"Cordy? Is that you?" I smile inwardly. I knew she'd come around sooner or later. Gunn's death was Angelus, not me. Okay, she sounds annoyed, but that's pretty much just Cordy, right?

"Well, if you want to leave me a message, here I am. Fire at will," I say. I'd really like to clear the air with her. I'm still a little weirded out by the chat with Oz.

[queencor]

"What? No." I scoff. "I wanted to leave you a message...this is talking to you, not leaving you a message." I point out. He's so difficult sometimes...though...it is nice to hear his voice, even if I am still totally off with him.

[vampdetective]

"Cordy, c'mon, you know I still don't have the voicemail down. Why can't you just talk?" I think for a minute, and then add, "Tell you what, you just talk, I won't breathe or anything, and it'll be just like leaving a message."

It's so very good to hear her voice, even if she's pissed off. I hate this. I didn't do it, but I did.

[queencor]

"No, that's way too stalkery. Why can't you just hang up and just pretend the phone isn't ringing when it does?" I ask. We're having a conversation. Okay, maybe not a real one, but still. I almost sort of hope he doesn't do what I've asked.

[vampdetective]

"Stalkery? That's totally unfair. Me listening to your voicemail as it comes in...uh, happens all the time." Yes, pretend you know what you're doing. "When I remember how to use it," I admit.

I sigh. She's been with me through so much, but I can understand why she wants to avoid me now. Hell, who else did I kill in the past and can't remember?

[queencor]

I lean back and get comfortable, twirling the phone cord around my finger. "Oh please, you've never known how to use it." I say. "I swear I've walked you through it a thousand times. I even gave you written instructions and you still couldn't figure it out." I say. I pause. "....Angel, are you--what I mean is is everything there going okay?" Are you okay?

[vampdetective]

Am I okay? Good question. It's not like it's the first death I'm guilty of, by a long shot.

I sigh. "It's...a lot to deal with. I keep trying to remember, but there's nothing there. Nothing." Not that it probably matters. I was Angelus, I wouldn't have needed a reason to do it.

[queencor]

"Nothing there? What do you mean? You don't care? It was Gunn!" Then I stop. "Wait, you said 'remember' didn't you. Nevermind." I fall silent again. I clear my throat. "How's everyone else holding up? That was part of my message. Which you should still hang up and let me leave."

[vampdetective]

I don't say anything for a minute. She thinks I don't care? Nothing could be further from the truth.

But it's a relief when she changes the subject. "They're...well, I don't really know. Except for Oz, he seems okay. Oh, and he heard from Faith, she's in Arizona. Or Nevada. Travelling." I hesitate a minute, and then ask, "Did you know they're--I mean, are they...?"

[queencor]

I roll my eyes at the mention of Faith. "Oh, miss 'I'm going to sleep with everything with a heartbeat--or not--in the L.A. area'? Pardon me while I don't care if she's gone." I pause. "Huh?" I ask intelligently. "Are they what? Like, a thing?" I ask. I'd sort of sensed weirdness, but never actually asked anyone if they knew anything. Wasn't exactly high on my list of priorities. "Wouldn't surprise me if she made a move on him, but, Oz is...well, Oz. Don't they seem to be, oh, completely incompatible?" Then it hits me. "Oh my god don't tell me you're not over her."

[vampdetective]

"No!' I deny instantly. "Of course I'm over her. It's just she seems to be confiding in him and...well, it seemed like maybe more was going on. And you notice things like that more than I do." I'm silent for a few moments, tapping my fingers nervously, and then add, "I wonder what she sees in him? I mean, he's so...short."

[queencor]

"Okay first you ask if there's something going on, now you're asking what she sees in him. Have you decided there is something going on then? Pick a direction, Angel." I say. Then think about his question. "I don't know. Oz is just...Oz. He's got that quiet intelligence thing going on, and he's talented, and talent is always sexy. Look at Trent Renzor. He's not very attractive, but he gets up on stage? Everyone in the room wants to--....changing the subject now." I say. "But I don't know. Oz is attractive. He's got lots of qualities that a girl'd want. Just, y'know, not a girl like me."