for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[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.

[splotchy]

Right. Well. I'm happy I could slip through then. Be of help. I don't know where I was but I know I missed you guys.

( And that's something she can hold onto. )

Well, you're probably tired from traveling.

[letsbe_clear]

We missed you too.

[Cordelia smiles back at her.]

And yeah, I am. And we will have a nice long car ride to talk. But I'm really glad you're here, Fred.

🎀

[splotchy]

I'm gonna make the most of round two, you'll see.

( Kind of round three, if round two was after she allowed herself to be rescued from Pylea. )