Penumbra - part one

[duckondebut]

This fic was born directly out of this discussion: Wesley and co. seem to remember everything that happened in s3/s4 save for Connor himself. What kind of narrative would Cyvus Vail have implanted in their heads to explain everything that happened to them without Connor? This story attempts to answer that.

I did want to keep this story short, but I

Comments

[pocochina]

!!!

“Not quite all of us have the luxury to bring into account Angel’s past romantic entanglements when we’re inches from death, Cordelia.”

OH SNAP

[duckondebut]

<3333333

Wesley's so much fun to write, gah. I can't seem to stop.

[sunclouds33]

Still moving through your AtS fanfic and enjoying it a lot. I second pocochina's love for:

“Not quite all of us have the luxury to bring into account Angel’s past romantic entanglements when we’re inches from death, Cordelia.”

I've often thought about what Veil's false memories contained. Obviously, the memories needed to remove Connor and somewhat adhere to everyone's personalities. However, they also needed to have some event to displace Wes as Boss of Angel Investigations, include Jasmine and Cordelia's possession, include some version of Weslah, but also result in a more trusting, firmly on Team AI!Wesley.

It struck me as a very suspicious way for Angel to profit as much as he could given the circumstances- rewrite the memories of Connor but not give up his Big Chair as Boss instead of surrendering the CEO position to Wesley if Angel was really going to go back to pre-Connor memories completely.

[duckondebut]

However, they also needed to have some event to displace Wes as Boss of Angel Investigations, include Jasmine and Cordelia's possession, include some version of Weslah, but also result in a more trusting, firmly on Team AI!Wesley.

YES. It's... quite a balancing act, as I'm discovering as I keep writing. There has to be estrangement, enough that Wesley is briefly out of AI and driven towards Lilah, but not so much that he feels completely abandoned by them. IDK THIS IS HARD but so much fun

rewrite the memories of Connor but not give up his Big Chair as Boss instead of surrendering the CEO position to Wesley if Angel was really going to go back to pre-Connor memories completely.

But Angel didn't go back to pre-Connor memories as much he just... removed Connor from events that had already happened. And W&H were very careful to emphasise that he called the shots, which was just as well for Angel.

Thanks again for reading! I'm over the moon that you're enjoying my writing.