A Moment Of Perfect Happiness

[white avenger]

Angel lost his soul the first time that he and Buffy made love. Whether the same thing would happen again, without him either being human or being possessed by the spirit of a newly formed universe is anyone's guess, but there have to be other things, totally different, than sex with Buffy that would achieve the same moment. So, what besides Buffy do you think that Angel should avoid besides in order to keep his soul intact?

I would have thought that the birth of his son would have caused it, but possibly the death of Darla threw enough of a damper over the situation to keep his happiness incomplete.

 

[Robb Stark]

Angel has the memories of hundreds of years of slaughter, the reemergence of Angelus (twice), the downfall of Connor, his city going to hell, Twilight and Giles in his head. I don't see anything BUT Buffy being his moment of true happiness. Out of curiosity, why "must" there be anything else?

I mean, the first time he loses his soul, Buffy is the catalyst. The second time it happens he says "Buffy" as he's having his...um...climax. The only other person I could see, from what we know of the character and the current cast of characters, giving Angel that level of happiness is MAYBE Cordelia, who's dead.

To me, Angel's story makes it pretty clear that while he can get on without her, Buffy is what makes Angel happy.

 

[thetopher]

I can't really think of anything?

Really, after all he's done and learned about himself on Buffy and Angel and in the comics I doubt Angel will ever know peace again, not even if he got to be with Buffy again.
There would be that nagging voice telling him that he doesn't deserve any of it, any joy or happiness- I don't think he would allow himself that peace.

Now he knows the clause of the curse I think the only way to lose his soul is to be tricked into it magically, as he was in Season 4, and even then I'm not so sure.

As of S10 it seems that Angel is living day-by-day trying to make up for the damage he's done. 🙁


On the other hand...sharing a flat with Faith. 😀

But in all seriousness it would probably take a truly touching father/son reunion with Conner, plus Cordelia coming back from the dead, plus Buffy moving in with him (after saying that Angel was a better amn than Spike...in every way.)and Faith, all these things at once would drive him so deliriously happy to maybe silence all the guilty thoughts long enough for perfection to kick in.

It's not likely to happen though.

 

[Kean]

I think it is too narrow a view to just say Buffy is what makes Angel feel a moment of pure happiness. Losing his soul happened at a very specific moment in his life. An awful lot of why it happened when it did was because of a naivete and innocence he had that once lost can never be reclaimed. In that moment with Buffy he felt loved unconditionally, probably for the first moment in his entire life (human and vampire.) And with that feeling I think what Angel really felt is hope and possibility for a better life for himself with Buffy. Hope where there has never been any before is a truly potent thing.

Angel has seen too much, lost too many, failed too many times since then to believe in that any more. Even with Buffy I have doubts that perfect happiness is achievable again for him. But, that's the thing about love, when it is really, really right; it makes you feel like you can do anything, even when you know better. So, who knows.

We've seen that Connor doesn't trigger the clause (probably because being a parent is as terrifying as it is joyful.) So, baring Buffy, I honestly think the only way Angel could get to that level of happiness again is through drugs, like in Eternity.

 

[EVIL UU]

I don't know, personal growth?

The idea that Buffy is the only thing in the world that can make Angel truly happy is just shipper talk and also, crazy. Happiness is something that comes from the inside, it just happens and cannot really be controlled. If Angel truly wants to make sure that Angelus never rises again he should just cut his head off...or find a way to overcome the curse ( Personally, I'd talk to Willow, I mean, some random-ass demon gave Spike a curse-free soul, so like, what's the problem here? ) Otherwise, he's just playing Russian roulette with lives of the innocent.

 

[white avenger]

Angel was a better amn than Spike.

Angel a better amn than Spike? Somebody's slipped into Fantasy Land. I've heard both vampires sing.

( Personally, I'd talk to Willow, I mean, some random-ass demon gave Spike a curse-free soul, so like, what's the problem here? )

Why involve Willow in it at all? Just find out from Spike where the demon cave is and earn it himself. Spike had to work for his unconditional soul. Are you saying that Angel can't do what Spike did? Well, probably so, but, seriously, do you really want all us Spuffies to say that the only way that Angel could get his soul fixed is if someone made him a gift of it? Where's the fun in that?

I think it is too narrow a view to just say Buffy is what makes Angel feel a moment of pure happiness. Losing his soul happened at a very specific moment in his life. An awful lot of why it happened when it did was because of a naivete and innocence he had that once lost can never be reclaimed. In that moment with Buffy he felt loved unconditionally, probably for the first moment in his entire life (human and vampire.) And with that feeling I think what Angel really felt is hope and possibility for a better life for himself with Buffy. Hope where there has never been any before is a truly potent thing.

Angel has seen too much, lost too many, failed too many times since then to believe in that any more. Even with Buffy I have doubts that perfect happiness is achievable again for him. But, that's the thing about love, when it is really, really right; it makes you feel like you can do anything, even when you know better. So, who knows.

We've seen that Connor doesn't trigger the clause (probably because being a parent is as terrifying as it is joyful.) So, baring Buffy, I honestly think the only way Angel could get to that level of happiness again is through drugs, like in Eternity.

And I completely agree with you. Just because one night with Buffy resulted in "perfect happiness" for Angel doesn't mean that they would, could, or even should attain that state again. The key word there is "perfect," and perfection isn't in the habit of occurring on a regular basis. Even with Buffy, Angel will now always have that moment of fear that history will repeat itself (it rarely does, but he wouldn't be able to dismiss that possibility, no matter how unlikely it might be)

 

[dtrain24]

The Flyers winning the Stanley Cup? 😛 Sorry, just a joke, David Boreanaz is a huge fan of them (Go Isles!)

In all seriousness, I don't think Buffy is the ONLY thing that could make him have pure happiness.

I like the theory that Darla's death dampened the birth of Connor for him.

That said, a lot of things would have to go right for Angel to experience pure happiness again without the use of drugs. As said above, true love, reunion with Connor, etc.

Not sure whether the demon Spike saw could help Angel remove the curse. He just gave Spike the soul, with no strings attached. Angel obviously already has one...but it would be worth a try to go see the demon and ask.

 

[EVIL UU]

@white avenger

Why involve Willow in it at all?

'Cause Willow did the cursing. She's the reason why Angel is Angel so asking for her help just seems to make the most sense to me. First logical step and all that.

Willow, I need your help. I-I've been feeling OK lately, I don't even brood that much anymore...
I have noticed! Angel, that's great! It's almost as if you're a new person...! Oh.
Exactly. It stresses me out. You know, I could just cause another apocalypse to acquire more guilt but...
Tired of being Mr. Cliché?
...
Don't worry. You and me buddy, we'll figure it out in no time!

Angel and Faith Willow #1 In stores now!

 

[Kean]

@white avenger


'Cause Willow did the cursing. She's the reason why Angel is Angel so asking for her help just seems to make the most sense to me. First logical step and all that.

Willow, I need your help. I-I've been feeling OK lately, I don't even brood that much anymore...
I have noticed! Angel, that's great! It's almost as if you're a new person...! Oh.
Exactly. It stresses me out. You know, I could just cause another apocalypse to acquire more guilt but...
Tired of being Mr. Cliché?
...
Don't worry. You and me buddy, we'll figure it out in no time!

Angel and Faith Willow #1 In stores now!

Oh but what would Whedon do if he didn't have a totally resolvable magical clause to hang over Angel's head... 🙄

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Just find out from Spike where the demon cave is and earn it himself. Spike had to work for his unconditional soul.

Spike with a soul had to work for his soul, separate people right?!? Spike without a soul had to work for a soul and then that person ceased to exist and Spike with a soul got to go about his business.

Why would Angel with a soul have to earn his curse free soul? He's already earned it over and over anyway, getting beat up by a demon with fire hands aint got nothing on thwarting multiple apocalypses.

Angel and Faith Willow #1 In stores now!

Yes please!

 

[thetopher]

Angel a better amn than Spike? Somebody's slipped into Fantasy Land. I've heard both vampires sing.

Yeah, it's Angels fantasy ideal, not reality- which is what I was getting at. Wasn't stating it as a universal truth or anything.

Sheesh, touchy Spuffies...

Plus Angel's dancing trumps Spike''s singing...and his bloody awful poetry. 😛

 

[white avenger]

Spike with a soul had to work for his soul, separate people right?!? Spike without a soul had to work for a soul and then that person ceased to exist and Spike with a soul got to go about his business.

Why would Angel with a soul have to earn his curse free soul? He's already earned it over and over anyway, getting beat up by a demon with fire hands aint got nothing on thwarting multiple apocalypses.

Since there's no name change between soulless and ensouled Spike, and I didn't specify, how do you know which one I was talking about, or even if I was speaking of both? Anyway, the key word there was "unconditional," not "soul," as in, no strings attached, do what (or who) you will without losing your soul. The soul, he's already got. The "unconditional" part would be what he was trying to earn.

 

[SiegePerilous02]

Oh but what would Whedon do if he didn't have a totally resolvable magical clause to hang over Angel's head... 🙄

Well, he could end the story, like any decent author😛 Seriously, it's not just Willow whom Angel could have consulted. There's Wesley, the Powers by way of Cordelia, Lorne, using his W&H lawyers, etc.

Course, by then he was so miserable anyway, that it's kind of a moot point. And Wesley made a good point in "Smile Time" that most people have to live with semi-perfect happiness; Angel's moment of perfect bliss was likely a once in a lifetime thing, he's always going to have that memory in the back of his head for the rest of his (un)life, so it's unlikely it will happen that way again. He could have it anchored to get rid of that clause, but outside forces could still likely find a way to take it away from him.

And both Angel and Spike are pretty lousy singers.

 

[Firstina]

It's just occured to my mind - in season 3 of Angel in Couplet there was a line:

CORDELIA: I guess we could probably 'com' without actually 'shucking.'

ANGEL: Well, I don't know. That could be a slippery slope that once you're on, that you could - slide.

CORDELIA: At least I won't be upsetting the average around here. Nobody in *this* office is ever gonna get any.

Considering that the only "true happiness" problem in that department he had with Buffy I am starting to get some inappropriate thoughts about Bangel relationship in season 3. What the hell did they do exactly on these training sessions?😉

 

[bespangeled]

The Flyers winning the Stanley Cup? 😛 Sorry, just a joke, David Boreanaz is a huge fan of them (Go Isles!)

In all seriousness, I don't think Buffy is the ONLY thing that could make him have pure happiness.

I like the theory that Darla's death dampened the birth of Connor for him.

That said, a lot of things would have to go right for Angel to experience pure happiness again without the use of drugs. As said above, true love, reunion with Connor, etc.

Not sure whether the demon Spike saw could help Angel remove the curse. He just gave Spike the soul, with no strings attached. Angel obviously already has one...but it would be worth a try to go see the demon and ask.

I kinda have the feeling that you can get anything you want if you pass the trials.

I'll tell you what - AU idea - if Wes hadn't taken Connor there is no way Angel wouldn't have had moments of extreme happiness.

 

[Wesley Pryce]

Angel lost his soul the first time that he and Buffy made love. Whether the same thing would happen again, without him either being human or being possessed by the spirit of a newly formed universe is anyone's guess, but there have to be other things, totally different, than sex with Buffy that would achieve the same moment. So, what besides Buffy do you think that Angel should avoid besides in order to keep his soul intact?

I would have thought that the birth of his son would have caused it, but possibly the death of Darla threw enough of a damper over the situation to keep his happiness incomplete.

Great thread, love the concept

 

[Fuffy]

I read a theory about the subject on TV Tropes some time ago saying that he only loses his soul after making love with Buffy or Cordy, as he didn't lose him soul after making love with Darla.
I agree with the theory 🙂

 

[bespangeled]

If knowing he could turn into a psychopathic murderer and kill everyone he loves won't do it, then I can't think of much that will. Although, he could ask his bed partner to slap him in the face repeatedly at unpredictable intervals.

 

[janas]

I read a theory about the subject on TV Tropes some time ago saying that he only loses his soul after making love with Buffy or Cordy, as he didn't lose him soul after making love with Darla.
I agree with the theory 🙂

The ironic thing here is that with Darla he had an epiphany. A moment of perfect happiness and he loses his soul. A moment of perfect despair and he regained his soul.

Darla: You're not evil. I-I don't understand. Was I... Was it... not good? Well, I don't accept that. You can not tell me that wasn't perfect. Not only have I been around for four hundred years, but I used to do this professionally. And *that* was perfect.
Angel: Yeah. And it *was* perfect, Darla. - It was perfect despair. And you were the reason. You've always been the reason. You were the thing that made me what I am, and I thought if I could save you, I'd somehow save myself, but... but I was wrong. And when I failed... When I *failed*, you saved me. And I have to thank you for that. There is nothing I can do for you now, Darla. I can't even hate you.