taxonomites | 023: [ visual ] / [ location: Hyperion Hotel ] Before I come undone

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023: [ visual ] / [ location: Hyperion Hotel ] Before I come undone

No, no, no -

"No!"

Cordelia wakes up with a start, sitting upright on her bed with her hands clutching her blanket like a lifeline. For several moments she looks around her in alarm, wondering where the hell she is and where the others are, wondering if this is another one of those times she unfortunately opened her eyes only to be sliced and diced again and--

Then she rests her head on her hands, and breathes. It's over now. It's over and done with and they're all safe but the images are still burned in her brain, like a vision that's been put on eternal loop.

Slowly - mindful of the pains that plague her - Cordelia gets out of bed. She looks down at herself, sees the numerous bandages that are wrapped around her body, and sighs.

And here she thought she'd be safe in Taxon. Pfft.

She gets up, and walks over to the mirror. Cordelia looks at her reflection, and bites her lip.

God.

"Mummy girl much?" she whispers.

[ ooc: backdated to a day after the horrors. ]

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Wesley's being besieged at all sides. If he refuses now, he'll appear rude and Cordelia will turn it into the bloody spanish inquisition as to why he's acting the way he is.

So he smiles weakly, "It would appear that you have all the contingencies covered. How can I refuse the offer of snacks and such lovely company."

He has a feeling that he's the subject of some private joke that only he doesn't know the punchline of. He turns to address Winifred.

"You do? Well, I...yes, I suppose I should like to get them back at some stage, Miss Burkle. If you no longer have need of them, of course."

Edited 2010-05-31 02:37 (UTC)

"Finally. For a second there I thought I would have to play the 'look at how sad and pathetic I am right now, Wes, how can you even think about refusing something I want' card." Because, of course, she definitely could - and would.

"Great! So, what movie are we watching?"

Wes asks about his books and Fred looks down, a little embarrassed. "No, they're mostly in dead languages, and I never really got the hang of those, at least beyond Latin. I just figured I'd hold onto 'em in case you showed up." She barely keeps from adding 'again' to that sentence. "Guess I guessed right, there."

Cordelia says she was planning on playing the sympathy card, and Fred certainly wouldn't put that past her. She falters a little when asked about the movie, though. "I think that's more your decision than anything else, Cordelia. But probably something pretty light? This is when I'd generally suggest muppets, but-" She lets out a giggle and shakes her head. "Maybe a comedy'd be best. Wesley, do you have a preference?"

Lorne tiptoes into the room, having snuck into the hotel as stealthily as possible. Not that stealth means anything to vampire hearing, but he didn't run into Angel. He's dressed more casually than usual: just khakis, a purple shirt, and an unbuttoned white blazer.

He closes the door behind him carefully, then breaks out into a smile. "Hey there, gang! I brought Clueless and Chicago for tonight's entertainment." He holds up one DVD in each hand. "Unless you've already got something lined up."

"Lorne!"

She goes to the demon, her arms open wide and ready to hug him, now. "You came just in time - I was about to think of something to watch, but now I don't have to. You saved me from thinking!"

...that really isn't as bad as that sounded, honest.

If anything, Wesley is thrilled and relieved to see Lorne enter, movies in hand.

"Lorne! You saved me having to help with the movie choosing. My choices tend to clash with Cordelia's except for the City of Angels. And even then I maintain that Wings of Desire was more moving."

Lorne hugs Cordy a bit awkwardly, trying not to crush the DVD cases he's holding. Then he pulls out of the hug and sets the cases on top of the DVD player, and turns to wave at Wes and Fred. "City of Angels? I love that musical. I was there for one of the last - oh, wait, you mean the movie with Nick Cage. I used to love it, until I found out about the ritual sacrifices that guy gets up to. Every time I see him, all I can picture is his chest covered in goat entrails."

He fiddles around a bit with the DVD player until he gets Clueless to play. Then he sits on a chair next to the bed. "Good company and Alicia Silverstone. What more can a demon ask for?"

Fred's extremely pleased to see Lorne, especially bearing appropriate movies- they both had the same idea apparently, although he's far more prepared. She makes a bit of a face at the goat entrails- thanks, W&H, for making them all privy to that information. "Yeah, I think that might throw me off that one, too."

As Lorne sets up the DVD player, Fred pretty much bounces in place. "I'll go get snacks- sodas and whatever you want, but better ask now." Otherwise, risk the possibility that Fred will return with a combination of things that should never exist together.

She has a feeling this night's going to be a lot better for all of them than it was originally.

"...goat entrails." Cordelia's face is a picture of perfect revulsion. "You know what? I don't even want to know."

She goes to sit on her bed. Whereas earlier she's pretty much afraid of crawling back to it? Now she can't wait. Cordelia glances at the door, wishing that Angel was here, too - but then her gaze shifts to Lorne. Silently, she vows to do anything she can to fix things. Outwardly, she smiles at Fred. "Anything that's not low-cal or diet for me, please. I'm thinking tonight's an excuse to get fat."

"Just coffee would be great, Freddles," says Lorne. He's beaming at his three dear friends, all reunited and unbroken. He promises to himself to do whatever it takes to keep things this way.

"Perhaps I should help you with that, Winifred. I'm not sure you'll be able to carry snacks and drinks for four people." Wesley offers, purely out of politeness and because he's very logistically minded, of course.

Fred smiles wide at the offer, purely pleased at the fact that she'll have help carrying the drinks, of course. "Thank you, Wesley," she replies. "Well, we'll be right back, then!" She gives Cordelia a bit of a knowing grin, then heads out into the hall.

Once out of the room and toward the kitchen, Fred gives Wesley a bit of an apologetic smile. "Sorry for pushing that on you, but Cordy's missed you, and she's not the only one. I'm glad we're going to all be together here, even if it is for something like watching a silly movie. Maybe especially for that." They never really did have time for that much, especially once they'd moved to W&H. "Thanks for staying."

"Oh, it's quite alright. It's important that we help Cordelia get past this latest ordeal." He ignores the part where she admits that she missed him. "This situation is a little strange for me because only a few days ago, it was only Angel who was absent, dealing with the death of the slayer."

He walks at a respectful distance, still unsure of how to broach the subject without embarrassing the both of them.

"Different timelines and all. It's been...rather like trying to jump onto a merry-go-round while it's already spinning."

She blinks a bit, hearing about when he's from. It's earlier than she even though, although she knew he was from very soon after meeting her. The timeline thing- maybe it would be good if they talked about it in more detail.

She shakes her head slowly. "I can only imagine- well, no, I know about it a little 'cause Angel and Lorne are both farther along than me, but not the amount that you are. And trying to figure it out with all the Taxon craziness makes it even harder. If-" She hesitates on this word, because she doesn't know if it's fair to offer this, but someone should. She stops walking and turns to him. "If you want to know what happens, at least in my timeline, I'll tell you, you know. It's not fair, having everyone all ahead in the book except for you."

Wesley stops as well, turning to face her. He has so many questions. Some of which he's not so certain he'd want the answer to.

"I...appreciate the offer." He regards her for a moment, the silence stretching out a little over-long. "Where to begin..." Why was it so hard just to ask the bloody question? Perhaps if they kept walking? He starts to head towards the kitchen again, hoping Fred will follow. "I've been speaking to Illyria. She told me some things which I found rather unsettling."

Oh, starting with the hard stuff, aren't they? Fred follows Wesley, keeping up with him as they reach the kitchen. She reminds herself about the coffee pot and decides to just hatch some of the drinks, and that gives her a little time to process what he says about Illyria. "She's really pretty tactless," she mentions, frowning a bit. "I mean, I know I'm not exactly Queen of Eloquence and Total Politeness, but I sure seem like it net to her."

She looks up to Wesley again, a half-apology already written on her face. "What did she tell you? I'll try to explain, the best I can."

Wesley searches for some suitable snacks but finds the cupboard rather bare. He moves over to Fred to wait for her to finish hatching the beverages so that he can take his turn. He stands near her, but there is a reserved quality to his demeanor as he waits for her to comment.

When she finally does, he looks off to the side, trying to decide how to proceed.

"Fragments. Everything is from her narcissistic perspective. She doesn't appear to know how to dissemble the way that we humans do. She actually thought she was giving me a boon by telling me about what was in store for me in the timeline she is from. She talked of the circumstances surrounding your demise." He shifts his gaze to meet hers. "There was also mention of my state of mind afterwards..."

"...oh," is her initial response, as she stares down at the ground. Angel had told her about Wesley, how badly he'd been hurt by what had happened. She honestly felt terrible about it- she knows she would've done everything possible to keep from abandoning them, but it still happened. She finishes getting drinks, taking a moment to think what Illyria's words might mean to this Wesley.

"We'd become close," she tries to explain. "I mean, we all had, we'd been through a lot together. But- you and me, especially. I imagine you'd take what happened, with Illyria, pretty hard." She attempts a reassuring smile, but it doesn't quite reach her face or overtake the frown there. "I'm sorry."

So what Illyria had claimed was true. They'd had strong feelings for each other. Wesley shakes his head and steps closer, feeling as though he ought to be the one comforting Winifred.

"No, don't apologise. None of this was your fault. Clearly I failed you in some way. Couldn't find the answer in time. Couldn't stop her."

He looks down at the counter between them, regret heavy in his heart for something which, for some, had already happened but he has still yet to live through. He asks the next question softly, barely above a whisper.

"Just how close were we?"

She felt her lip tremble a little as she tried to get a hold of her emotions. When he blames himself, she shakes her head vehemently, frowning. "Wesley, I'm sure you would've done everything you could. All of you would. I just wasn't-" She cuts herself off, not wanting to finish that sentence. She wasn't strong enough. It overtook her and then she was gone.

It's almost a relief to hear that question, the one she knew was coming. It helps her smile a little and put a hand over his, squeezing it lightly. "We'd been dating for a few weeks....and from what I could tell, it'd been a long time coming." She remembered Cordelia telling her about the dinners for everyone Wesley had set up in order to have a little more time with her.

She'd been staring at their hands on the counter, but she does eventually let go, knowing she has to tell him this. "But I don't- please don't feel like I'm trying to push, or expecting anything here...I- I don't want you to make you uncomfortable, or...anything." She ducks her head a bit, knowing how awkward that came out. "It is what it is. Or was, or will be." She almost laughs at that, a brief bright smile appearing. "I'm going to have to figure out the proper tense for all these timeline things someday, so it doesn't sound quite so weird. I wonder if there are any."

She doesn't want him to shoulder any blame for her future death and that just makes it harder for him to do what he feels he must.

Wesley looks down at her hand covering his. It feels nice, even a little thrilling but what must his future self have felt from her affectionate gesture? A jolt of passionate desire? A deep warmth of feeling that can only be described as abiding love?

He doesn't know. And perhaps, given the outcome it would be best not to know.

Just a few weeks, but it had been a long time coming? How long had he wanted her before he'd had the courage to say anything.

There's that smile again and for a moment he can see why it happened. Catches a glimmer of what sparked something within him but he stifles it. Pushes the feeling deep down within himself. He gives her a smile back which doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yes, I expect it will remain confusing for some time to come. I appreciate you being frank with me, Winifred. I think it would be for the best that we not try to force anything. After all, events are different here, from what I gather. I'd very much like to count you as a friend, if I may?"

She's disappointed, to be honest- which just makes her think that it was probably a good idea, approaching it the way she did. She'd have pushed too much if she told him right away, whether she'd want to or not.

She manages to conceal the disappointment, however, with a quick glance at the ground, and then an emphatic nod. "Yes. Of course, Wesley- I'd be upset if you didn't." It isn't that her smile's insincere, it's just not quite all there right now. "I didn't want to force anything, either. Or have it be weird, although I guess a certain level of weirdness is probably going to always be normal for us, since- y'know, that's sort of our career." She shrugs- that isn't said as a complaint. She honestly prefers weird, at this point. "And, of course, the whole 'trapped in an alien city' thing," she adds thoughtfully.

She stares down at the drinks she's collected for a moment, then realizes- "Oh, they're probably wondering what happened to us by now. Maybe we should get back? If there's anything else you're wondering about, timeline-wise, would you mind if we went over it tomorrow? I'm still good for going into it, I just thought about everything that happened, and we'd be here all night about it."

He knows that he's disappointed Winifred on some level. It's unavoidable considering her feelings and memories being at a different point in time from his. He has to believe, though, that it's the best decision to make for the both of them.

"Weird is certainly the norm as far as our day to day lives are concerned. Being stranded in Taxon is just one more problem for us to tackle head on. We'll prevail, just as we always do."

He does his best to smile more naturally, to allow himself to connect, if somewhat reservedly.

"You're right, we ought to get back. I should hatch us some snacks first. How does ranch corn chips, pretzels, caramel popcorn and red vine licorice sound? Perhaps later we could have hot dogs...and tacos?"

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023: [ visual ] / [ location: Hyperion Hotel ] Before I come undone

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