fandomhighdorms | The Roof, Thursday night

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The Roof, Thursday night

The Tick was on the roof of the dorms with Lockheed on his shoulder. It had been far too long since they came up here to just watch the evening. Down there somewhere was a bonfire. He hoped the kids were being safe with that. And over there was the town, quiet but with life dancing around in a ballet.

And out there was the water. And beyond that, the world outside Fandom. That was no longer his world. That world belonged to others. Soon the small dragon on his shoulder would return to that world. Well, he would go to a slightly different world. Same difference.

And so here they were. Enjoying the night.

[OOC: Tick is only here for

notstakedyet. That thread is locked but broadcastable. Otherwise, feel free to use for any roof-type needs.]

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Angel still didn't feel quite right about all his nightmares. For a change of pace he went up to the roof to see if location really did affect the brooding. He paused when he saw Prof. Tick there.

"Sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

"Don't be sorry, Angel!" Tick said. "Come join us! It's a beautiful night!"

Angel looked uncertainly at Lockheed, but came forward anyway. He looked out over Fandom.

After a moment, he said, "I'm gonna assume that fire's on purpose."

"It looks controlled, so that's my guess," Tick said.

"So, are you all set to get out of here and fight the Good Fight?"

Angel looked down at his hands. "Maybe?"

"Maybe?" Tick questioned. "Is something wrong?"

"I've been having these nightmares," Angel said. "Visions. Stuff that happens in my future. Stuff that happens when I fight the good fight."

"What kind of stuff?" Tick asked.

"People die," Angel said, looking up at him. "Anyone who helps me, anyone who fights with me either ends up dead or wishing they were."

"And because of that, you don't know if you're going to fight?" Tick asked, checking if he was following the reasoning.

"Not just that," Angel said. "Cal said something the other day that got me thinking. I've got this destiny, right? Fifty-fifty shot that I save or destroy the world. Even assuming I get to do the save, what kind of comfort is it to all the people who have to suffer along the way? All the people who died so I could become what I am today."

Angel winced, remembering who he was talking to when speaking about those he'd killed.

"I just - what if I'm chasing the wrong path here? There's just as good a shot that I fail. Wouldn't the better thing be to get me out of the picture?"

"Angel? That's crap," Tick said simply. "You're doing a dangerous thing. Fighting the good fight? It's not easy. It's risky. People will get hurt. Some will die. But egads, if they choose this life - and if they believe they must, they'll do so with or without you - they'll know the risks. But you're a good leader, Angel! They'll stand a much better chance of doing what they set out to do if you're leading them!"

"And you can't hide in bed from Destiny! It'll snatch up your covers, dump a bucket of cold water on your head, and yell, 'WAKE UP!' in your ear! If it's your Destiny, you'll save or destroy the world whether you want to or not! If you destroy the world while trying to do Right, at least the world will be a better place before then! And if you save it while trying to do Right, then you saved a world worth saving!"

"Huh," Angel said, since Tick did have a point. "Still - my destiny. I can't ask other people to take on that risk. Especially when I know how it turns out for them."

"Do you remember your Study Group? Nearly my whole class was involved in that. I have trouble believing that you asked them to take on that risk," Tick said. "How many people were willing to fight on your side then? How many demanded to fight on your side despite the fact that they knew the danger? And how many of them died? I know the answer to that last question: None."

"As for visions, I don't put a lot of faith in them. I've had visions. There was some truth, but it was mainly little me's hitting me with fish. That's never happened in real life. Who knows if your visions will come true?"

"Do you think I can do this?" Angel asked. "Do you really think I have what it takes to be a hero?"

"I remember fighting alongside you against the zombies. Even if that wasn't quite you," Tick said. "And I saw - well, not 'saw,' but work with me - you lead a group of people who in many ways had no business fighting a swarm of vampires. They survived. They did well. You lead them well. You understand Justice. You understand the Good Fight."

"Everything I've seen from you, Angel, shows me that you have the potential to be a great hero. If you take that Baton of Potential and run with it, I have no doubt that in ten years, if you come back here for a reunion, I'll be proud to see what you've become at the end of that race. I'll be proud to say that I knew you way back when you joined Track."

"Whether or not you face your Destiny and achieve that potential is up to you, though. You know the risks. What happens now is your choice."

Angel was quiet for a long moment as Tick's words washed over him. Finally, he said, "Thank you. That means a great deal to me."

"You're welcome! I hope I was able to help," Tick said.

Lockheed nudged Tick and grunted something. "Oh, I guess Lockheed wants me to give you something. Tick reached down and pulled a round object (http://www.cookiesinheaven.com/images/cookies/chocolate_chip_cookie.jpg) out of a bag at his feet ~~that was there the whole time, I swear~~. "Here."

Lockheed nodded his approval.

You wouldn't think it'd be possible for something to move Angel more than the Tick's words had done, but that turned out to be wrong.

"Thank you," Angel said. He looked Lockheed in the eye for the first time in months. "I'll try not to disappoint either of you."

Lockheed rolled his eyes. He wasn't big on this kind of sentimentality despite what certain cookies might make people believe. Really.

"I doubt you will," Tick said with a friendly smile. He then looked back out over the water. "Good luck, Angel. With all that Life... err, Unlife? and Destiny give you."

"You too," Angel said. "If you ever need an extra hand fighting zombies or anything, give me a call."

Angel gave Tick and Lockheed a nod of goodbye and went back to his room.

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The Roof, Thursday night

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