Dirty Back Road Sequel, Part 11

[thedeadlyhook]

Angel explaineth more. Previous chapters here.

Chapter Eleven



For a second, Buffy wondered if she'd actually hallucinated what Angel had said. "What did you just say?"

"Funny," Spike said. "That was my reaction too."

This took some time to sink in as well. "You didn't tell him?"

"You mean, did he mention it before we marched off to a battle where we were more than likely to lose our heads?" Spike snorted. "Uh, that would be a no."

"There wasn't time." Angel shot Spike a warning glare.

"Right. You couldn't have squeezed it into your 'live this day like your last' speech or anything."

"Stop." Buffy held up a hand. "You--you were--" Live this day like your last. She couldn't say it.

They both could have died.

It made no sense. If Spike was really some champion of destiny, then why would Angel--?

Did he want them both to die? Was that it? This Wolfy Heart he kept talking about--was that his revenge? Had he just wanted to take Spike down with him?

Would he do that?

"It was just a fail-safe, Buffy," Angel said gently, reassuring. "We weren't in any real danger. The Senior Partners won't dare risk anything happening to their champion."

"Not the way I remember it," Spike said.

"Why do you think we both survived?"

"Well, maybe that was divine intervention for you. I had to hold up my end of a genuine fists-and-fangs brawl, thank you very much."

Buffy kept trying to make sense of things, kept failing. "You could have both been killed," she managed.

"Say, did he mention the part yet where it's only my head that's on the chopping block? That nothing happens to him if something comes after me?" Spike said mildly. He stirred the last dregs in his mug with one finger, popped the finger in his mouth, licked the last of the blood off.

Buffy face contorted. "What?"

Angel sighed. "I did what I had to, Buffy. The moment I signed away that prophecy, I was expendable. A redundant employee. If I hadn't done that bonding spell, the Senior Partners would have killed me."

"So you make it so you can't be killed but Spike can?" Buffy scoffed. "Gee, that sounds fair."

"This isn't about what's fair."

"Got that right," Spike chimed in.

Angel's eyes narrowed. "Why don't you explain this to her?" he snapped at Spike. "You're in this just as much as I am."

"Right," Spike sneered. "I'm destiny's bitch."

Buffy pressed her hands to her temples. "I just--I don't understand this! Angel, how could you do this? How could you?"

Angel looked at her. "Because for years and years, I fought for redemption, and then my destiny got pulled out from under me and given to some other guy." He pointed at Spike. "And you know what? I'm just a little pissed off about it. So instead of lying down and dying like a good little soulful noble vamp, I did something about it. And hey, maybe it's a little pointless and petty, but at least I got to stick it to the Senior Partners and their Chosen Champion, and boy I gotta tell you--it felt good." He jerked a thumb at his chest. "That's my motivation."

Buffy gaped at him, face white and shocked. Angel relented, his intense expression fading, the stiff set going out of his shoulders.

"It's a confidence game, Buffy," he said gently.

"A con job," Spike clarified. "Like those caper movies with blokes in tuxes who rob casinos."

Buffy cleared her throat. Her mouth was terribly dry and the shocks of the last few minutes had left her feeling drained. "So you're saying this is all an act?" she said faintly.

"More or less," Angel and Spike exchanged looks. "Nobody who knows us or our history would expect us to get along, anyway. And as long as the Senior Partners and the rest of the demon underworld think we're at each other's throats, we can find out things about Wolfram & Hart--their enemies, their allies. And we can play them against each other."

"My character's feeling a mite cheated," Spike said, examining his nails. "Fought for his destiny, earned it fair and square, only to have this joker decide no-one's gonna pry it out of his cold, dead hands."

"Save it," Angel snarled, then returned to talking to Buffy. "Long story short, I go around bragging to everyone who'll listen that I've got the Senior Partners right where I want them--"

"--while I'm talking to every shaman, witch, or demon I can find about getting this bleeding spell taken off. Because I want to captain my own destiny," Spike finished, and flashed a tight grin. "I usually call Angel a lot of names. That part's fun."

Buffy stood. She felt faint--she hadn't eaten in hours, and hadn't even realized how weak she felt until she was on her feet. The blood rushing away from her head suddenly made her vision go light. "I-I need to get something to eat."

"Of course, go right ahead, we'll wait here," Angel said. He looked concerned. "Do you, uh, need any help, or...?

"No, I got it," she mumbled and started to head for the kitchen.

"Um, pet?"

She turned. Spike held up the empty plastic bottle, shook it. "Was there some more of this?"

"Oh. Yeah." She crossed back to the couch, took the empty jug from his hand.

"I could go for a glass of that too," Angel said. "Or maybe, some coffee?"

Buffy frowned, but said nothing. Turned and drifted into the kitchen on autopilot.

__________

When she re-emerged a few mintues later, fortified by a bowl of fruit and a hastily chugged half carton of milk, the two of them were talking quietly. Angel was sitting on the edge of the couch; Spike had his head leaned back on folded arms, eyes closed. It was a strangely comfortable picture, and she scowled at it internally.

It didn't feel right that the two of them should be comfortable with each other. She was beginning to understand why this scheme of theirs was built the way it was.

She marched up to them, handed Spike the plastic blood bottle and thrust a mug of coffee into Angel's hand.

"When were you planning to tell me about this?" she demanded. "If this whole thing with Spike getting trapped hadn't happened, were you ever gonna say anything?"

Spike shifted on the couch. Angel drained his coffee, put the mug down on the table.

"We weren't," Angel said, folding his hands together, his elbows resting on his knees. "We thought it would be better--"

"That I not know? You thought that was better?" Buffy huffed. She felt stronger now, and Angel's entire attitude was beginning to really grate. He was making decisions for her again. Deciding what was best for her without even asking, and lo and behold, it looked like he was starting to do it for Spike, too.

Well, she had something to say about that.

"So let me see if I get this straight. Spike's some kind of special prophecy boy for the apocalypse." She held up one finger. "There's these evil lawyers who want to kill you, but won't, because they need Spike." A second finger. "And the two of you are just trying to confuse the hell out of them so they'll... what? Cry uncle? That's your plan?"

"Something like that, yeah." Angel sighed. "An old... friend of mine once told me that you should never play somebody else's game. That you have to make them play yours."

"And this is your game," Buffy said. "You're in charge."

"That's right. I am." He folded his arms, and his expression grew opaque. "And it's working, Buffy. Anyone who wants a piece of the apocalypse knows by now that everything is up for grabs--it's a power gold rush. Those that want to stand with the Senior Partners can't kiss Spike's ass hard enough. They're falling all over themselves trying to find a way to solve his little problem. Meanwhile, I've been approached by more than a few demons who woudn't mind seeing the Senior Partners taken down a peg or two, if not booted off this plane completely. We're making the demon world pick sides."

"And nobody's trying to kill either one of you?" she said sarcastically. "Because that'd be one way to solve the whole picking sides problem."

"Yeah, well. There is that." He shrugged. "It's a risk. It's in the Senior Partners' interest to protect us right now, but that doesn't mean they're not trying anything to get around this spell themselves, or that nobody wants to kill us just to piss them off, but we've managed to keep one step ahead of the biggest threats so far. Helps that we have information from both sides." He gestured at Spike. "Although if the underworld knew we were talking to each other, that might change things. Coming here tonight was a gamble. The fallout might not be pretty."

"And all this goes on until when? The apocalypse happens?"

"More or less," Angel sighed. "Or until the Senior Partners show their faces."

"Great. So your little cloak and dagger mission goes on forever." Or until both of you die. "That's just great." She began to pace.

Spike angled his head to study her. Angel leaned back against the couch, let his hands fall limply to his sides, frowned at her.

"Well, go ahead, spit it out," he said to Buffy. "This is kind of a one-time only deal, so if you've got any more questions, you'd better ask now. What's really bothering you?"

"What makes you think I'm bothered?" Buffy laughed, still pacing. "Just because the two of you are out there playing Russian Roulette with every demon in this dimension, why would that possibly bother me?"

"Um, actually, some of the demons I've met come from other dimensions," Spike offered. "Wolfram & Hart's pretty big time outside this plane." Buffy shot him a worried look.

"It's not that bad, Buffy, believe me," Angel said hurriedly. "Most demons won't lay a finger on either of us because they're afraid of the Senior Partners."

"Yeah, it's getting pretty hard to get into a good fight these days. In demon bars they treat me like the Dalai Lama," Spike agreed, then knit his forehead. "Well, not the human one--they'd eat him for dinner. But something like that, with the nonviolence. If there was such a thing. For demons." He made a fist, began studying his knuckles quietly.

"Spike's probably more of a danger to himself than most demons," Angel said, and reached over to cuff the smaller vampire on the back of the head.

"Hey! Watch it."

Angel paused, looked at Buffy again, considered. "Look. Buffy. Don't take this the wrong way, but... we really can't afford to have you involved in this."

She stopped pacing. "Why? You keep saying it, but you never say why."

"It's like this." Angel pointed at Spike. "As much as the very idea makes me want to run screaming, a good part of the fate of the world depends on this guy. Who's not exactly known for being the picture of good planning or judgment to start with. Being around you probably doesn't help. Case in point--what happened here tonight."

"That wasn't his fault," Buffy muttered, feeling the need to defend Spike somehow. Then frowned, realizing that instead she'd just implicated herself.

"Are you saying that I'm a distraction?" she said. "Wow, thanks, Angel. That's not at all demeaning. Why don'tcha follow that up by insulting my hair or telling me I'm fat?"

"That's not what I'm--" He blew out an irritated sigh. "Look, even if being around you didn't turn Spike into an amnesiac, you'd still be jeopardizing our position."

"Why?" Buffy said, her voice low and dangerous. "You think I can't take care of myself?"

"You're not invincible, Buffy. If any of our enemies thought they could get to us through you, they'd do it. You being a Slayer is only going to keep them away for so long. All they'd need to see is the smallest weakness from you and we'd end up getting your fingers in the mail."

Buffy's stomach lurched. "Well, to hear you talk, you'd think I hadn't had demons try to kill me for years. Including the two of you. And yet, here I am."

"There's Dawn to think of," Spike said quietly. "Don't much want to see her get kidnapped, tortured. Girl's a magnet for that sort of thing."

"You're a weapon that could be used against us, Buffy."

"I'm also a Slayer," she said. "I've protected Dawn, I've protected you--both of you--and I-I could... I could help you." She was breathing heavily. Her emotions were getting wound up, intense. "I could get the Council to--"

"The Council won't want to help us," Spike cut in. "We're demons, remember? Dealing with other demons. Since when do they care about that?"

"They'd care because I said so."

"Never mind, Buffy, we're not calling the Council," Angel said shortly. "I've tried calling them for help before. They're not interested."

"Plus there's the matter of us being bad guys in their universe," Spike added. "Might blow our cover a little if we started getting too much help from do-gooding Slayers."

She turned, looked at him. "But it doesn't blow your cover to be seen with me."

Spike hesitated, and their earlier conversation rushed back to her. Most of the demon underworld's already heard about you and me. Her cheeks pinkened.

Angel cleared his throat delicately. "Ah... the common opinion is that there's another reason why you'd, uh--"

"Skip it," she said hoarsely. "I get the picture. So how are you gonna explain tonight, if anyone's seen us? Hot threesome?"

The silence was suddenly deafening. Both men were suddenly very interested in studying the details of the apartment walls. Her eyes nearly bugged out. "Excuse me?"

"It doesn't matter, Buffy." Angel's voice sounded a little strained. "It's not going to be a problem because you're not going to be involved. We're both going to leave here tonight and your life can go back to normal."

She gasped. Turned to stare at Spike. He was sitting quietly, drinking his blood. The fall of curls over his forehead made him look absurdly little-boyish.

Angel kept talking. "This place isn't secure enough, and the longer we stay here, the bigger the risk to you."

"I'll take my chances." She couldn't take her eyes off Spike.

Angel sighed. "Don't get sentimental, Buffy. We can't afford it right now."

She turned back to him. "Sentimental?" she husked. Angel's calm voice was hitting Buffy in all the wrong ways, making her feel like a hysterical child being talked down to. "Oh. Now I get it. This is about you not approving of Spike being with me."

"Can't say I'm crazy about it, but no. That's not it," Angel said sharply. "We both walked right into your apartment tonight, Buffy. Did you even notice that, that neither one of us needed an invitation?"

Buffy's eyes widened. Oh. "Andrew invited you," she whispered, and let out a small laugh. "I-I didn't even--" I didn't even think of the two of you as vampires, she realized she was about to say, knowing even as she thought of it how ridiculous that was. She'd been looking right at Spike's vampire face at its most ferocious mere hours before, had been heating up blood in her kitchen. I didn't think of you like... other vampires, her mind amended. The two of you are just... you.

"You're off your game, Buffy," Angel said. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming you for anything, but I think you can see my point that we can't afford to take that kind of chance."

His indifference stung worse than she ever could have expected. "So I'm--" She laughed. "You don't care about my love life, or me, apparently, now that I'm too old and slow." Her eyes watered. "Well, you know something? I'm not old, and I'm not slow, and you don't get to make those kinds of decisions for me."

"I didn't make them for you," Angel said. "I just made them."

"Oh, but, hey! It's a big coincidence that you get to say what happens in my life.

"He agreed to this too." Angel pointed at Spike. "So before you get to feeling too sorry for yourself, or your poor little Spikey-wikey, try to remember that. He's not being forced into anything. Neither are you."

"Except for the spell," Spike spoke up. "Didn't agree to that."

"Executive decision."

Spike flipped Angel two fingers. "And stop badgering her, you prat."

"She doesn't need you to defend her honor."

"What I need is the both of you to stop treating me like I'm not a part of this!" Buffy insisted. She was starting to get mad now. "You're not the boss here, Angel. You don't get to decide for all of us."

"Actually, as a matter of fact, I do." Angel stretched out an arm along the back of the couch. "You had my destiny in your hands when I gave you that amulet. You gave it to Spike, and when he used it, he had power over yours. Now I've got power over his. Sometimes all you can do is put your fate in the hands of other people. You don't always get a choice."

"No," she said shortly. "You're wrong. We can make our own destinies for ourselves. I know. I've done it."

"You've done it for others. Not yourself. You were destined to die at sixteen, Buffy. You did. You didn't bring yourself back."

This made her go still. Angel just shook his head, smiled like he'd been told a good joke. Stood.

"Well, that's about it," he said. "That's all I've got to tell. And unless you've got something else to say to me, I'll be waiting in the car." He walked to the doorway, paused.

"I'm sorry, Buffy," he said softly. And then he was gone.

Comments

[tesla321.livejournal.com]

You know, all the Spikists are gonna be, Oh, that rat Angel, but, uh, I'm on his side. And, Spuffy action! Bonus points!

This is intensely interesting. I would love to give you as good feedback as you give me, but my doctor gave me a mild tranq for the incipient TMJ. So I'm kinda mellowing out.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, I did hope Angel would come off as having a convincing argument here. He's honestly acting in what he thinks is best for the world, and Buffy's personal objections are pretty small pebbles in the road from his perspective, especially since going by the end of AtS, he was willing to sacrifice himself and all of his crew to take on the SP. So nope, not the villain in this picture. Actually, nobody's really the villain here at all, which is the kind of situation I like.

The TMJ is that bad? Ouch. Rest and relax.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

That's Angel.

::stabs:: Angel.

Good stuff. More soon, please.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I'm cruel, aren't I? (grins)

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

That apocalyse had better come quick or Buffy's temper will start one.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Hee. Yes, she's right about getting to the end of her patience.

[rahirah]

Well, Angel does have some good points, but a lot of his argument is specious, too--perhaps Buffy isn't up to speed now, but she could probably get up to speed fairly quicky, and it's downright stupid to refuse help from someone who could potentially give a lot of it. Even if there's absolutely nothing Buffy could do, keeping her in the dark is dumb because of, well, what just happened. (Besides, if he's willing to sacrifice anything for his long-term goals, why does he care if Dawn or anyone else would be put in danger?)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

It's true that Angel's argument isn't a hundred percent airtight - basically, he just doesn't want her involved, so he's not exactly being as rational and calculating as he's pretending. It's an element of Angel's character that I wanted to play with, his tendency to act in what he feels is the best interest of people who are important to him, even if that involves pushing them away (e.g., his breakup with Buffy, the way he accepted losing Connor if it meant gaining him a normal life). It's a slightly daddyish aspect to his character that this older and more independent Buffy is having a harder time dealing with than she used to.

[lynnenne]

I was going to give you some coherent feedback, but then I saw "hot threesome" and my brain went dead. I'm pretty sure this chapter was riveting.

*goes back to drooling*

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Buffy does seem to have a bit of dirty mind, doesn't she? ; ) Hee.

[ladycat713.livejournal.com]

"That's my motivation."

I'm thinking there might be more than a little truth in his 'made-up' motivation. And as for Buffy being off her game, there may be some truth in that .After all , she is dating the local supernatural scumbag.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Yep, the lovely part of his plan is actually that he and Spike don't have to method act very hard to keep it going.

And as for Buffy... well, she's retired, her lifestyle of late has consisted of shopping and dating, so Angel might not be too far off in his suggestion that maybe she's somewhat lost her edge. Although as rahirah pointed out above, there's no reason she couldn't get back up to speed.

[skylee.livejournal.com]

Just so I'm clear, is there actually a spell or did they just pretend there's a spell?

I'm not sure I agree with Angel's reasons for not getting Buffy involved, but I think they make some sense. Given what's at stake, Angel might not want to take any risk.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

The spell is real. Their demon audience would be able to tell if it wasn't, and the SP would definitely know if he were bluffing that much. The only part of the plan that's really an act is the part where Angel and Spike are on opposite sides.

And Angel is maybe being a little bit less rational than he thinks he is about not wanting Buffy involved. ; )

[stultiloquentia.livejournal.com]

Oh. OH. There's so much going on here that I don't know where to start. Angel(us)'s new MO -- how fascinating to see how the promise of Shanshu tied him down! Spike apparently submissively wrapping himself up in Angel's notoriously dismal karma (wtf?)! The Buffy/Spike I-love-you-but-I'm-busy-being-Chosen turnabout on season 7! I think that's the thread that fascinates me most: is it possible to be a lover and a fighter? Angel clearly thinks not; Buffy, over seven years, had the "yes" beaten out of her, but may have revised her outlook after Spike's death; Spike used to be a total "yes"-man, but seems to have recently morphed into a mini Angel.

"There's Dawn to think of," Spike said quietly. "Don't much want to see her get kidnapped, tortured. Girl's a magnet for that sort of thing."

Didn't we miss a phonecall in the last chapter? Why do I think Buffy's involvement is already sealed?

I'm so hooked on your writing. And I can't wait for The Slayer to decide the girl's had enough beauty sleep and come blazing back into the game. Woohoo!

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

(bounces) This is the kind of feedback that makes life worth living.

The whole freedom vs. destiny issue was one I really felt like poking at, especially since both BtVS and AtS ended on varying notes of "freedom" for their main characters. Buffy was "freed" from the duties of a Slayer by empowering more girls; Angel was "freed" from his destiny. But in both cases, freedom implies an ability to choose that was never really there before.

Spike used to be a total "yes"-man, but seems to have recently morphed into a mini Angel.

Yep, the tradeoff, of course, is that both Angel and Buffy's freedoms came from shrugging off that heavy weight of destiny, and Spike gets to pick up the load. I'm going to go into his whole take on this next chapter.

Didn't we miss a phonecall in the last chapter? Why do I think Buffy's involvement is already sealed?

(whistles innocently)

can't wait for The Slayer to decide the girl's had enough beauty sleep and come blazing back into the game. Woohoo!

Girl power, bay-beh!

Thanks so much!

[herself_nyc]

Oh DRAT THEM ALL.

This story is great.

It has a plot and everything.

:: dribbles ::

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I don't know what's wrong with me that I can't just jump straight to the smoochies. It's like, I keep wondering what everybody does all day. (throws up hands)

Thanks so much. Your praise makes me glow. : )

[kassto.livejournal.com]

Glad to see you mention that you're going into Spike's side of things because I have trouble figuring out what he gets out of this. It seems like he's almost had a personality transplant. Doesn't seem to fit, him walking round being destiny man. I always really enjoyed him NOT being that. He seems very weighed down. He seems to have deliberately set things up so there is no room for love in his life.

(A couple of small typos --Dalai Lama, I believe is the correct spelling, and a few paragraphs below that, there's a ``defeaning silence'' which should be ``deafening''.)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

He is pretty weighed down right now - it's tricky, what I want to do, go forward from where the show left off, with his growing sense of responsibility, conscience, etc, however - and hopefully I can explain this successfully next time - he doesn't have the same attitude toward it as Buffy or Angel. Although since these two have been his most obvious examples for how a hero acts... there might possibly be a little karma coming Buffy's way. I can say no more.

Thanks for the typo catch - sometimes I get a little itchy to post and forget to spell check like I really oughtta.

[elisi]

Oh! Wow, that just blew me away!

I'm just a little pissed off about it. So instead of lying down and dying like a good little soulful noble vamp, I did something about it. And hey, maybe it's a little pointless and petty, but at least I got to stick it to the Senior Partners and their Chosen Champion, and boy I gotta tell you--it felt good.

Very good! A pissed-off-Angel is so much better than one who just gives up! And I like his plan!

Angel was sitting on the edge of the couch; Spike had his head leaned back on folded arms, eyes closed. It was a strangely comfortable picture, and she frowned at it internally.

Heh! Comfy Spike'n'Angel! I love it!

"An old... friend of mine once told me that you should never play somebody else's game. That you have to make them play yours."

Lindsey was a friend? Does Angel feel a bit sorry for having him killed?

Oh dear, I better stop quoting, or I'll never finish commenting - it was just such a rich chapter! But I think Angel pointed out a lot of good points to Buffy - she obviously still has that It's All!About!Buffy! mentality, and she doesn't like to hear that she's superflous! Must stop now and look after poorly child!

[elisi]

And can I just say - re. the previous comments by kassto - that your Spike rings very true! The way his character was starting to develop, I think this was where he was going. And I have a little essay about him and why he stayed in LA etc, that I'll post soon - I think you'll find it interesting (or possibly just say: But I knew that already!).

[shapinglight]

That was a very interesting chapter, and I, too, loved the 'hot threesome' comment.

Poor Angel! The show ending when it did put the character in an invidious position in many ways. ME pretty much showed a man in despair who was prepared to do pretty much anything - including betraying an innocent man to his death and inducing his friends (and Spike) to give up their lives just to hurt the Senior Partners a little bit. It was in character in many ways. Angel does have a tendency to make executive decisions for people (he made one for Buffy, and he made one for Spike when he didn't tell him about him giving up on the Shanshu for himself). He also is not immune to the same petty jealousies that affect us all. However, at heart, I agree with Cordy, that he is a good man (it was easier for him to be good when she was around, though) and sadly, that got lost in the finale.

I think your Angel works really well here, though, as a follow-on from what we saw at the end of the show. I could believe that he'd do what you've had him do and know himself well enough to know his own motives are far from pure yet still do it anyway. I also believe in his relationship with Spike, as you showed it, which is one of exasperation mixed with a little jealousy and also a good deal of fondness, to which neither of them would ever admit.

Great chapter - and, although Angel didn't come out of it a shining knight exactly, I could understand him quite well.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much - this is exactly the kind of effect I was hoping to achieve, Angel as someone whose intentions are good, but methods aren't always, who really wants to help, but realizes he can't remain stainless and do what he needs to. He's a unique combination of self-sacrifice and self-loathing and arrogance and humility, and I've just been having the bestest time trying to write him.

[makd.livejournal.com]

Most excellent chapter, as they say in SoCal. I've read it several times, because it's so rich; there's just so much there.

I love the way you've included all the textures that make up Angel - no simple white hat, he . Your Spike and Buffy are excellent too, of course.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Angel really came alive in this chapter for me. There's just something about his whole daddy/boss/older brother thing that really gets me in a sweet spot... and having the three of them in one place really let me play with their core dynamics. Like in "Lover's Walk," the one who holds all the cards gets to do most of the talking, and in this scenario, that's Angel.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, Angel is as insufferable in this chapter as I perceive him to be. I’m afraid I react to him as some do to Buffy. My natural inclination is to bristle at his arrogance and at his idea that somehow he is more important than Buffy (or Spike) in the grand scheme of things, and thereby, it is his right to choose for and manipulate everyone else. I’m very curious to see how it all will evolve!

Gail

[(Anonymous)]

In my grousing about Angel last night, I neglected to heap praise on the plot and the execution thereof – lovely intermingling of characterization and storytelling. I expect Paul Newman and Robert Redford are hiding in the wings! :)

Gail

[kathyh]

Um...wow! I've only just discovered this story and read it through in one great gulp. It's riveting, fascinating, with excellent characterisation and above all things...a plot. I really need to read it all again to give more coherent feedback but I absolutely love what you've done so far.

I hope you don't mind if I friend you?

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Please feel free to friend me! Welcome, friend!

Thanks for your kudos - here's to hoping I can maintain this level of plottage from here on in! At its core, this is essentially a Buffy-contemplation piece, so eventually we'll be getting rather more back to looking at her point of view, what's going on inside that head. And then figuring out along with her what she really wants out of life.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

This has so much power; you capture each character so well: Angel brutally determined and steadfast; Buffy flustered, stubborn but loyal; Spike quiet, pensive and at odd time flippant.
I love Angel's speech:
Angel looked at her. "Because for years and years,...
I really get the feeling that's been brewin' and stewin' for a good many years.
Ditto this bit:
"It's like this." Angel pointed at Spike. "As much as the very idea.....
The contempt he feels that Spike got everything is palpable.
I think the Buffy & Angel back-and-forth word battle is great - it's a battle of stubborn, unflinching wills, both holding fast to their position, unwilling to see the other side, yet so skillfully you remind us Spike is an ever-presence.
The hot-threesome bit - guh! You know we're all thinking it *g*
Best chapter yet, I think.
And the Odyssey? Bring it on!!! :)
PS - you've kind of got me worried a bit about Dawn, where is she?

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

This has so much power; you capture each character so well

Gosh. (scuffs foot) Thank you.

Angel brutally determined and steadfast; Buffy flustered, stubborn but loyal; Spike quiet, pensive and at odd time flippant.

I love this description.

I really get the feeling that's been brewin' and stewin' for a good many years.... The contempt he feels that Spike got everything is palpable.

It's something he doesn't have to reach very far inside of himself to method act for, but at the same time, I think he's realized that letting go of the prophecy freed him. That's what I took away from "Not Fade Away," that as someone without a destiny - and to some extent, without hope - he's free to act in ways he never could have before.

PS - you've kind of got me worried a bit about Dawn, where is she?

Next chapter, you'll find out, I think. ; )

[spikefan.livejournal.com]

at least I got to stick it to the Senior Partners and their Chosen Champion, and boy I gotta tell you--it felt good." He jerked a thumb at his chest. "That's my motivation."

Buffy gaped at him, face white and shocked. Angel relented, his intense expression fading, the stiff set going out of his shoulders.

"It's a confidence game, Buffy," he said gently.

Wow, what a chapter! Now I'm even more impatient for the next installment.

It cracks me up when Angel rationalizes some of his quasi-Machiavellian actions with the claim of doing what was best for the person involved. Angel's rant may be part of the con game, but it has an unfortunate ring of truth to it. ("Machiavellian" is perhaps too strong a word for some of Angel's actions because of the implication of disregard for others. I think Angel takes others' feelings into account, but the outcome often looks pretty much the same as if he didn't.)

"My character's feeling a mite cheated," Spike said, examining his nails.

LOL. Somehow I can imagine an AU James Marsters griping about his character's development and screentime, along the lines of the rumors of such goings-on over at Dawson's Creek.

Pleeeeeeze don't make me wait too long for more.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

("Machiavellian" is perhaps too strong a word for some of Angel's actions because of the implication of disregard for others.

Actually, Machiavelli was very keen on presenting a very pleasant, placid face to the public, the picture of affablity - his philosophy was that you should endeavor to keep friends, but be ruthless to your enemies. (It's why the term in the generic tends to be used to mean "two faced.")

LOL. Somehow I can imagine an AU James Marsters griping about his character's development and screentime, along the lines of the rumors of such goings-on over at Dawson's Creek.

Heh. I know very little about the behind the scenes actor stuff, but I always enjoy recognizing meta-commentary, places where the characters' plight - narratively, physically, what have you - is reflected in their motivations. For instance, you could make a good case for Buffy's "came back wrong" situation in S6 being a little statement on the move to UPN. (Which wouldn't exactly be GOOD meta-commentary, but... well, there it is... shrug.)

I'll be working on the next chapter this weekend. Hopefully won't be too long!

[toysdream.livejournal.com]

Aww, Angel-tastic! And I dunno what your other ninety billion readers are complaining about - I think it's a good plan, at least compared to "hey, let's throw our lives away in a pointless gesture of defiance." I always felt cheated that they gave us back Dark Angelus for merely a piddly two or three episodes, so it's a real treat to see him strutting around Buffy's apartment being all Shades of Gray-ish.

Like kassto, however, I wonder what Spike's getting out of this. If I had to guess, I'd be tempted to put it down to spite - "Buffy doesn't want me, I'll go and join Peaches and his stupid crusade" - but I imagine you have a more heroic motive in mind for the guy than just being a big sulky baby. :-)

Nifty bits:

Right. You couldn't have squeezed it into your 'live this day like your last' speech or anything.

Dude, he was busy being inspirational. Would've ruined the effect if he'd added "Except you, Lorne. You just have have to cap this one guy and then you get to walk. Oh, and Spike, there's this one other thing..."

This isn't about what's fair... Got that right.

See, this works for me. I can imagine Spike going along with Angel's loony revenge scheme, just as long as he has plenty of opportunities to complain about it.

That's my motivation.

I still love this line. Can't you just picture the scene?

A con job. Like those caper movies with blokes in tuxes who rob casinos.

And this was just hella funny.

So yeah, Angel and Spike get to turn that feuding-brothers dynamic to their advantage, and no matter how well it works for scamming purposes it's certainly making for some great banter. As for Buffy, well... I guess I'm glad she's got her appetite back.

"Spike's probably more of a danger to himself than most demons," Angel said, and reached over to cuff the smaller vampire on the back of the head.

Aw, they're so cute! You just want to pick 'em both up and stuff them in your pockets.

Except for the spell. Didn't agree to that... Executive decision.

Spike's bitching is still funny, and as for Angel, he's clearly learned something from his stint as a CEO. As much sympathy as I have for Buffy, and as justified as her outrage may be, I think I'm just enjoying Angel entirely too much to take the Slayer's side here. :-)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Aww, Angel-tastic! And I dunno what your other ninety billion readers are complaining about - I think it's a good plan, at least compared to "hey, let's throw our lives away in a pointless gesture of defiance."

Well, I am kind of insinuating that Angel's plan didn't quite include that martyr quality that sorta-kinda could be seen as compensation for his two-episode performanace as a super badass mofo willing to serve up the innocent in service of a larger cause. But hey, sue me - like you, I felt the need to extend that whole shades-of-gray thing. That was the gooood stuff.

Like kassto, however, I wonder what Spike's getting out of this. If I had to guess, I'd be tempted to put it down to spite - "Buffy doesn't want me, I'll go and join Peaches and his stupid crusade" - but I imagine you have a more heroic motive in mind for the guy than just being a big sulky baby. :-)

Hm. Uh, yeah, well. You'll have to see, won't you? Not that I think he's above sulking. And right now, Buffy's trying to get the word out that she does kind of want him, so... a little more complex than that. Christ, I hope I can make this work...

I still love this line. Can't you just picture the scene?

You bet I can. Right down to the expression on DB's face. Kinda like that scene in "Just Rewards," where he really gets a good rant going about how "Fair? You asked for a soul - I didn't!"

Aw, they're so cute! You just want to pick 'em both up and stuff them in your pockets.

The buddy dynamic is pretty irresistable. The more I write it, the more I see the point of all that slash fic. ; )

Spike's bitching is still funny, and as for Angel, he's clearly learned something from his stint as a CEO. As much sympathy as I have for Buffy, and as justified as her outrage may be, I think I'm just enjoying Angel entirely too much to take the Slayer's side here. :-)

Obviously, Angel's learned how to delegate. Spike has learned how to be a disgruntled employee and Buffy has learned that she doesn't have to wear all that "flair."

Ohgod, it's turning into Office Space....