for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[letsbe_clear]

It's Fred.

[One of the people she originally wanted to be one of her two when the Powers That Be first called her back. One of them who truly deserved to live, not die the way she did.

She can't wait to see her.

Which is why she's the first out of the car when they pull into Jody's driveway, and fortunately Jody saw them coming and is already at the door.]

Hey, Jody.

[The older woman pulls her into a hug.]

How's she doing?

["Currently eating me out of house and home," she says with fondness because Jody does love to feed people so it's not really a hinderance. "She'll be happy to see you."]

[redeems]

We're happy to see her. Jody. Thank you for taking her back with you.

( For looking out for her.

"Angel, Cordy, is that you?" Fred calls from inside. She comes up from behind Jody, spots them, and then throws her arms around Cordy, squeezing tighter than she should. "Sorry, not having had a body for a long time, I'm still learning my own strength. And I'm just happy to see you both." Angel smiles and then she hugs him, too. )

Hey, Fred.

[letsbe_clear]

["Of course. You guys made good time." And then she'll retreat back into the house and give them a moment. Cordy just smiles, staring at Fred and taking in the fact that they're all together again.]

We're happy to see you too. And am glad you landed somewhere friendly. It doesn't seem like everyone else is getting so lucky.

[redeems]

( "Maybe they didn't land friendly, but they found friendly people, at least it looks like from here," Fred says, holding her borrowed phone. "But, you're right. It's a small world after all." )

We should get inside. ( Fred nods, noticing something, eyes widening as she sees Angel in the direct sun.

"Angel, you--" ) Have a nice ring. But, I still get squirrelly in the sun. I've made friends in high places and the Powers decided I needed to be mobile during the day and the night.

[letsbe_clear]

Apparently Spike recently got one too and is annoyed I made got one for Angel and not him.

[She and Spike text. Or at least they did before he died (again) and they are resuming now that he's alive (again).]

[redeems]

( "The Vamp-Off continues," Fred says, holding the screen door open for them. "Are you still arguing about who's saved the world more?" )

There's no argument there, it's me. He was evil for a long time before going to the African desert for a soul. Who goes to the African desert to do that?

[letsbe_clear]

[Cordy would point out that maybe willingly going in search of your soul might be slightly better than being cursed with one, but she's not looking to resurrect this fight.]

Spike does, apparently. But not important.

[She looks back at Fred.]

How are you doing? All of this must be a lot to get used to.

[redeems]

It's kind if important.

( It is, in fact, not.

"Oh, I'm doing just fine. Jody is very nice and made me my first homecooked meal in, well, ever, now. I was just waiting to see you two. And, maybe, leave with you? Niceness aside, I don't want to impose more than I already have. I'm. also guessing we're not affiliated with a certain law firm anymore?" )

[letsbe_clear]

[Cordy shakes her head.]

We are not with Wolfram and Hart anymore. We've actually been working with a group called the Underground who helps supernatural creatures who are trying to fly under the radar or restart their lives or whatever the case may be. We'll probably take you back there with us, but it's a long drive, so I think we were hoping to fall on Jody's good graces, at least for the night.

["Of course," Jody smiles. "Claire's out of town so there's an empty bed, plus we have the guest room."]

[splotchy]

Oh, but Jody says the girls are coming for dinner tonight. Alex and Patience. She has a really pretty name. I like that Jody takes in strays. No offense. Kind of reminds me of our little troupe we had back at the Hyperion.

( She misses those days. )

It's real good to be together again. And it sounds like your Underground is probably something I can help with while I get back my land legs.

[letsbe_clear]

Definitely.

[Cordy glances back to Jody.]

How is Patience doing? Any bad visions lately?

[Jody shakes her head. "Nothing too crazy. She's starting to get better with interpreting, which is good. She's helped Claire out on a few cases too."]

Good. She still has my number if she needs it.

[redeems]

Patience has visions, like her grandmother used to. It was passed down through her family.

( "Better than a kiss," Fred says, considering. )

And Claire, Patience, and Alex were all taken in by Jody. Is Kaia still dreamwalking?

[extrasauce]

On and off. She's getting better at reigning it in, though, which is good. And safer for everyone involved.

[But there's still a lot of trauma there.]

She's getting a lot of therapy. Trying to talk Claire into it too, but she's content to still stick with hunter therapy.

[Cordy makes a face. "Yes, because that works so well." Jody gives her a commiserating look.]

We're talking about it, at least.

[redeems]

Sometimes, talking's enough.

( But, actions matter, too. )

Speaking of therapy, Cordelia and I have connections that Fred might want to take advantage of if she wants to work through anything. You can also put that out there for anyone else who's recently returned.

[letsbe_clear]

[Cordy blinks, before nodding in agreement.]

Yes, Sweets is great.

[A beat.]

Taylor may be a little much, no offense Taylor.

[Who is not even here to be offended.]

[redeems]

( Angel's being a little bit of a hypocrite and has never had good 'therapy' experience. Or, being handled. He doesn't take well to either. But he knows some others do. And Taylor has gone on. )

Taylor's smart, she just... doesn't stop... talking.

[extrasauce]

[Jody laughs, before shrugging.]

Sometimes that's considered a good thing, given that her profession is to talk to people, but she is also supposed to listen too.

["She does," Cordy nods. "She also just loves a good ramble."]

And who doesn't.

[redeems]

I've known some ramblers in my time.

( "Rambler," Fred says, holding her hand up.

Later on, after dinner, Fred knocks on the guest room Cordy and Angel are staying in. Angel is showering off the traveling, but that's good, cause she's looking for Cordy. )

[letsbe_clear]

[Cordy pokes her head out the door, in the middle of her own night routine, but she smiles when she sees it's Fred.]

Hey. Everything okay?

[splotchy]

Yeah, Claire's bed is like really comfortable, but from the pictures I've seen of her, you'd think she -- Not the point. I - I wanted to - know more. About you and about Angel. And, you mentioned Spike is back, so, Spike obviously... wasn't for some time. I just - don't understand how you're here. I love that you are. I hated what Jasmine did to you and to all of us and to poor Connor for all those months...

( Somebody stop her or she won't stop herself! )

[letsbe_clear]

[Cordy nods as she steps further out the door, moving with Fred into the living room so that they can have a little privacy.]

Right. So, I died, and then Angel and Spike got pulled into a hell dimension when they were trying to take the Senior Partners down. But a few years back, the Powers that Be came to me with a deal. They needed an oracle to help divert an apocalyptic situation, and I negotiated enough to get two members of our team back also.

They picked Angel and Spike.

[splotchy]

( Fred is led to the couch, taking a seat, engaged with her story. )

They picked Angel and Spike. They picked Spike? ...Who else was on the list?

[letsbe_clear]

Our team. You, Wes, Gunn ... I don't know. I asked for the team, and they said that they'd pick two and surprise me. Honestly I think they were surprised I tried to negotiate at all.

[But of course she was going to negotiate. Screw her once, shame on you. Screw her twice, shame on her.]

[splotchy]

You always were a top notch negotiator. Do... you think they changed their minds and sent me back as like a reward for doing a good job?

( She kind of hopes they think of her as good enough. She was snuffed out so young because of that cretin, Knox. )

[letsbe_clear]

If they did, it's only because something else is coming and they're trying to bribe me.

[Which she's not looking forward to if that's the case.]

But I doubt it. If it was, it would be just you and not ... everyone else.