All the secrets.

[bringsbadnews]

You think I like keeping this all to myself? I don't but what do you expect? [He can't tell them about the future, how can he? Every single one of his friends from L.A. who are with him, end up dying. It's not exactly a feel good and inspiring topic to bring up.]

It doesn't matter, I'll find a way to change what happens. It's what I do. [Along with making terrible decisions, including some recent ones, but who's counting?]

Comments

[ascents]

[ YOU SUCK. ]

Um. What's the most memorable phone call you ever received in your life? Or unlife, whichever.

[ HA. ]

[bringsbadnews]

[That gives him the answer he needs.]

I'm the only one from L.A. and Sunnydale who remembers beyond that. Everyone else is from either a year or a couple of years earlier. Including you.

[ascents]

And?

[bringsbadnews]

And there are other thing that have happened that make it difficult to be around everyone at times. [It's like being surrounded by ghosts.] They have questions I can't answer.

[ascents]

...you don't want them to know what will happen to them in the future.

[bringsbadnews]

Yeah. [His voice grows quiet and the look on his face says "How can I?".] There are other things too [like the face that he's human], but that's the big one.

[ascents]

Other things?

[bringsbadnews]

There's always something else, isn't there? Our complications have complications.

[ascents]

What do you expect? You're Angel. Being you or being around you is just like asking for a crapload of complications to rain on on your parade.

Not that I'm complaining. Much.

[bringsbadnews]

Thanks for the reminder. [Huffs.]

[ascents]

What? I was only telling the truth, Miss Sensitivity.

[bringsbadnews]

Sometimes the truth is better off left unspoken. [STORY OF HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW.]

[ascents]

Yeah, well. Not like not saying it makes it not true. And that is a sentence I don't ever want to repeat. Too much nots.

[bringsbadnews]

I'm planning on changing what happens to them. If we can learn how the portal works then people can decide if they want to stay or return home.

[ascents]

Ooh. Portals. Already loving the sound of those. [ only not. ]

...you do realize that, being that you're the only one who knows if them going back is the better option or not, that most people will most definitely choose to go home than be stuck in some la-la-land, right?

[bringsbadnews]

That's the thing. Once we figure out how the portals work, I'll tell them.

[ascents]

Even if they didn't ask you?

[bringsbadnews]

The whole reason I'm doing this is to give them a second chance. [pauses and studies her.]

Would you choose to stay?

[ascents]

A second chance that they may or may not ask for. That's... not something for you to decide, Angel.

[ sighs. ]I don't know. It all depends on what I know about my future, and if I know that you know what will happen to me - because if I do, then you know I'm going to ask about it. And once I learn about it... [ pause. ]

It's a hard question to ask.

[bringsbadnews]

They're getting it.

[It's as simple as that.]

If you...[He hesitates for a second and then he continues on. Because this Cordelia knows about everything that's happened and was there to set him back on course.]

If you, Doyle, and Wes all decide to not to stay, it'll be hard but I can accept it. I was prepared for losing everyone when we took our stand, and you all have something waiting for you. But Fred...Fred has to stay. If she doesn't then there's nothing else for her.

[ascents]

[ it's never that simple, angel. ]

Again, not for you to decide, big guy. Some things are just meant to happen, you know? What if you not allowing Fred to come back undoes all the good thing she does in our world? Or what if she still chooses to return - will you force her to stay, just because you think that's what's best for her?

[bringsbadnews]

It's too big of a sacrifice for anyone to make! She doesn't just die, her soul is destroyed! [Frustration bubbles to the surface and he's very close to going into shut down mode, where he blocks out everyone and sticks to his own convictions.]

[ascents]

And you think I don't know that? Or... will know about it, whatever.

[bringsbadnews]

Then why are you going on about choices? The answer should be obvious to anyone who knows or finds out.

[ascents]

God, Angel - when is that ever your call?