01. Video.

[bringsbadnews]

[The video feed is shaky for a few seconds before it becomes stationary. What looks like a black leather jacket is visible and the voice that comes through the feed sounds exasperated.]

So much for just "pressing the button and it will turn on". Why doesn't anyone use pen and paper to communicate anymore? Ink from the Order of Artek can go a long way.

[The feed jerks violently and suddenly a squinted eye is peering into it.] Hi? Is this thing on? Please be on.

[Angel rarely used his cellphone or computer these days. Harmony took care of all of that for him. Despite her many faults, she was a damned good secretary and was up to date on technology. After tinkering around it some more, he finally realizes it's on]

Look, I don't know why I'm here and I really don't care. I'm not planning on sticking around to find out. [Unless they are planning on helping him take on the lords of L.A., which he doubts.

Adjusts the video so his face is now visible. His skin is strikingly pale and even though his face looks like that of someone in their mid twenties, his eyes are that of an old soul.]

My friends and I are literally having a hell of a time back home, I need to be there with them. We can either do this the easy way and you can send me back home or we can do this the hard way. Last time I ended up in an alternative dimension, it didn't end so well for those in charge.

[Snirks as a loud roar is heard behind him.]

Comments

video;

[bigbad]

[Oh. No. This is the opposite of what Spike wanted. At least he can still hit Angel. Vampires aren't a problem for the chip.

He turns on the Forge and gives Angel a nasty smirk.]

Managed to figure out the Forge on your own? Or did you need lessons.

video;

[bringsbadnews]

[Spike's here as well? Not good, not good at all. Skips the pleasantries and gets to business] Who else is here with you? [Wants to ask if Connor's safe but he's not sure how safe the feed is.]

video;

[slay]

[ the actual most articulate response he will get ever


in her air-sucked-out-of-the-room, breathy, 16-year-old girl voice; ] Angel.

video;

[bringsbadnews]

Buffy--[Completely caught off guard by the way his beating heart reacts to her voice. Quickly composes himself and stares into his device.] What are you doing here?

[video]

[demonologist]

[Wesley is a little broadsided by this. He stares at the Forge, wide-eyed with disbelief. But he's hopeful, ever so hopeful that is is not a trick.]

Angel? Is that really you? You're actually here?!

[video]

[bringsbadnews]

Wesley, you're--[Alive.]

Yeah, it's me. Is this Wolfram & Hart's doing? If they think this is going to slow me down, they're wrong.

[Video]

[bibliophile_annex]

We don't have the power to send you back.

[Video]

[bringsbadnews]

I've gotten out of worse situations. There's always a way if you look hard enough.

video

[instrumented]

Pen and paper really would be more fitting considering the levels of technology, here, but the Forge is what's used. It isn't too difficult to get the hang of.

In any case, there's no leaving this place. Not of your own free will, at least.

video;

[bringsbadnews]

I've heard that before and found my way out.

[Okay, this is growing stranger and stranger. Squints his eyes at the device.]

How many people can hear me on this thing?

video

[olreliable]

You too? I'm officially working on a theory that this hell dimension is some sort of evil high school reunion.

[So what if Angel wasn't actually IN high school with them. He was a part of those years. Some of them.]

video

[bringsbadnews]

Your theory is the best one I've heard so far. [Because that's exactly what it feels like.

Hm, Willow looks very similar to the way she did when he last saw her, which could be bad news for him.]

I've heard there's a lot of magic at work here.

video;

[coy]

Angel! [She knows you from before!] You don't remember being here?

video;

[bringsbadnews]

[No recognition on his end, though she does vaguely remind him of someone he knows.]

I was here before? When?

video;

[miata]

Sorry Angel. You're stuck like all of us.

video;

[bringsbadnews]

So I've been told. I get that I won't be leaving any time soon but I don't think it's impossible to find a way out of here.

[commandery]

[Riley's not responding. I just want everyone to know he probably threw his forge on the ground when he saw this.]

[bringsbadnews]

[Riley, you mad?]

[video]

[knowsaboutviscera]

[... oh great. Let the drama begin.]

Yeah, I don't think that's happening anytime soon.

[video]

[bringsbadnews]

So I've gathered. [It doesn't mean he's going to take it to heart. The wheels in his head are already turning.

His lips begin to tug into a frown. He knows she has family and she's survived the Hellmouth, but he still doesn't like seeing or anyone else around her age dragged here.]

I'm starting to think everyone we know is going to show up here.

[Video]

[notaroundme]

It looks like you already got the worst news, about not being able to get home right away.

[She looks sympathetic; not all of them are sure they want to go home, but she can certainly understand. If she wasn't going back to what was likely nothing, she'd be angry too.]

If what they say is true, at least they won't notice you're gone. I know that doesn't really help though.

[Since it doesn't keep people from worrying.]

[Video]

[bringsbadnews]

Not by much. [It's enough to keep him from going insane from worry and guilt.]

I'm planning on studying the Door for myself and see what I can figure out. Sounds like a lot of others are already doing that as well.

video;

[watchher]

[ Ah. And on the list of individuals who make things inevitably complicated--

But Giles' job is exposition, and it's one he does well, so here he is. Not half as screw-you-and-your-evil-law-firm suspicious as Angel might be expecting, too; he's still a few years behind. ]

The situation has been explained to you, I assume?

video;

[bringsbadnews]

It has been. [Talking to Giles is always...uncomfortable for him.] Still wrapping my mind around everyone being from different times.

Video

[dublinbrogue]

[ Well here's a semi-awkward looking face. Having spoke to Wesley and well then Spike. He wasn't sure what to say just yet. Give him a moment.

Oh that roar works.]

...Do I even wanna know what that was?

Video

[bringsbadnews]

Doyle? [Stares at the video feed in disbelief. Even though he's already been told that Doyle is here and he came into contact with a living, breathing, Wesley, it's still a shock to see Doyle.

Quickly grins at him.]

Wanna come and see what it is?

Audio

[brewglory]

Do you generally find it effective to threaten no-one-in-particular?

Audio

[bringsbadnews]

Sometimes, it's worked before.