"Yeah, I've been noticing that," she said once her mouth wasn't so full, tilting her head to the side and resting it on her hand as she twirled the noodles around her chopsticks. "I'm not sure which is worse, having them here for a little bit and then them leaving or never having them at all. I think I'd rather they'd never come at all. It makes all this even harder to deal with, getting that taste of home and finding out what's going on."
Glancing up at Fred, she smiled a little and gave a small shrug. "But I know I'm here for a reason, for something important and bigger than myself and...that's kind of a slayer's thing, isn't it?" She didn't mention that before coming here, she had all but quit in front of Giles and Angel out of the fear of the prophecy coming true. She had only just started to come around to the idea - that it was her "destiny" when she woke up here.
Buffy saw Atlantis as a chance to be a normal teenage girl. Not having to worry about the entire world being on her shoulders - it was on everyone's here, some more specifically than others. After all, she hadn't joined any team and instead chose to go to school and work at a clothing store. It was what she'd hoped Sunnydale would be but, like that as well, this place had more hiding up its sleeve than she'd originally thought. There was no doubt in her mind that someday - possibly someday soon - she would have to whip out the old slayer tricks for some reason or another.
She couldn't help but frown listening to Fred talk, realizing that - Angel aside - she really hadn't asked one of the biggest questions of her that she probably should have to begin with. "Fred...how long have you been here?" she asked cautiously, not sure if it was wise to potentially bring up bad memories or feelings of homesickness. How long had this place been around, plucking people out of their lives? Immediately, she felt terrible and childish for bemoaning her own situation so much. Everyone else had people they were missing, too - for probably a lot longer than she was missing hers.
Biting her lip, Buffy adjusted herself in her seat and fought the urge to once again avoid the subject of Angel by putting food in her mouth. Instead, she took a sip of water and then a deep breath, deciding to just come out with it. "So, um...Angel, what's the deal with him, anyway?" she asked, trying to remain as casual as possible about it and almost immediately stuffing her mouth full of noodles again once the question was out and hanging in the air.