(o16)(video/action) ♐ no more dreaming of the dead as if death itself was undone

[slayerisms]

Angel's gone. For good gone. I've been -- [ She clears her throat and briefly drops her chin to look down and away, then fixes her gaze back on the datapad. ] I spent some time camped by the bacta tanks. When he didn't show after a week ... I checked out his place. It's empty. Like, way empty. Emptier than Angel keeps his place empty

Comments

audio ]

[reprobaverum]

Who's Angel?

audio ]

[slayerisms]

Doesn't really matter anymore, does it? He's gone.

audio ]

[reprobaverum]

Just because someone you were close to is gone doesn't mean it ... doesn't matter, Buffy.

audio ]

[slayerisms]

Disagree. I'm over it. Like, way over it.

buffy }

[imnot_likeyou]

[so they haven't talked since Sam's flounce via Cas but ... ]

I'm sorry.

buffy and sam }

[slayerisms]

It's easier this way.

[imnot_likeyou]

[he's not sure he buys that, but he'll let her think he does]

Is there anything I can do?

[slayerisms]

Look, I appreciate the community outreach and all, but I don't -- [ God, this is stupid hard. ] I'm fine.

not here but here and then action ] the anger swells in my guts; I won't feel these slices and cuts

[perspectiveguy]

[ Xander sits in his room, catching all of the feed. He's heard the broadcast, done a little research. He needs to check in with the Alliance. He's been lax in his rebelling but he feels like he has a great excuse. A heart-breaking, really difficult to -- put into words -- excuse. And so he sits, and listens and doesn't come into frame and doesn't turn on the function where she can see him looking

action ][ the anger swells in my guts; I won't feel these slices and cuts

[slayerisms]

[ When the door opens, Buffy tenses. He took long enough that the Spike thread somehow warped in time and already happened, I guess. She's looking ... Well, she's looked better. She exchanges a hurried, wide-eyed look with him that is clearly surprised by his appearance, and then skittishly looks away. She's not sure she can handle another "sorry" right now. ]

action ][ the anger swells in my guts; I won't feel these slices and cuts

[perspectiveguy]

[ He brings the milk up to his lips before looking up. He sets the carton down, grabs a plastic cup and pours himself a cup. He looks up again, back down, and grabs a second, filling it. Maybe it's -- a peace offering, a silent gesture that says, they'll get through this, or at least that he wants to. He brings one of the cups to Buffy and sets it down before sitting on the arm of the nearby chair and taking a sip. Nothing needs to be said and he wouldn't know what to say if he did. ]

action ][ the anger swells in my guts; I won't feel these slices and cuts

[slayerisms]

[ She looks down at the cup, then watches him sit down. Slowly, she takes it in both hands and takes a drink. Well, as olive branches go, it could be worse. It would be really nice if all this tenseness could evaporate. ]

video;

[knowmypurpose]

It's probably best that he's gone. Even if it does suck.

[Pause.]

And they don't even have cookie-dough-fudge-mint-chip here.

video;

[slayerisms]

Right. [ Her voice is a little hollow in the way she says that. God, seeing Cordy's face is more of a relief than she thought it'd be. She has to briefly shut her eyes to fight back the emotional response, and when she opens them again, she tries to drag more communication out of herself. ]

Cordelia, I -- What you did for me. Last week. [ Standing by her. But, no. Feelings are hard. She's a man. She lets it go. ]

Can I come over? I mean, I don't promise ice cream or anything, but -- T-there could be movies. [ She glances around. ] I just ... I need to get out of here.

video;

[knowmypurpose]

Hey. It's what needed to be done. [Ultimately, Cordy's not great at speaking her feelings either. So she's good with just letting it go.]

Movies would be good. [She misses Dennis and their movie nights 8(] Feel free to come over.

video;

[slayerisms]

I'll grab some stuff and be over in a little while. I even have nail polish. [ As if nail-painting will help. At all. ]

Buffy

[initiative]

[So many mixed emotions from this message. Obviously Riley isn't shedding any tears over the news of Angel's demise, but at the same time seeing Buffy hurting isn't exactly his most favorite thing ever. Then there's the fact that he's still technically mad at her, and you get the idea]

Then let's talk.

Buffy and Riley

[slayerisms]

[ Ouch. She frowns at the look on his face. ]

I -- Good. That's ... Talking is a good plan. [ She quiets. Yeah. This again. ] I -- Are you ... ? [ Fuck, this is awkward. ] How've you been?

Forever~ (... D:)

[initiative]

I went from concerned about my girlfriend, to glad she finally bothered to let me know that she's safe. How do you think I've been, Buffy?

[Sorry, she sort of walked right into that one and yeah he is a little butt-hurt here]

[slayerisms]

[ Yeah, she did. And by the look on her face now, she knows it. ]

Riley, I didn't mean to -- [ ... ] It was complicated. I -- There was a lot happening, I couldn't just -- A-And, I told Dean to make sure everyone knew I was alive. [ Her expression deflates a little, and she just looks kinda pitiful. ] I didn't know what to say.