phantom liberty taking place post-boat drinks for angel bc he meets kerry and finds a newfound determination to figure out a solution to the relic, to Live. waugh
like i think pre-kerry he was kind of settled on their inevitable outcome. that it wasnt going to be good, either way, that either he or johnny had to go and both of those were difficult but thats all the info they have and thats what everyones told them. still, putting off that meet with hanako because he just doesnt want it to become real yet, theres still time, and sure hes coughing up blood and hes passing out more frequently and he thinks hes having a heart attack sometimes, but theres still time to exist. with johnny. it doesnt have to end yet (it has to end eventually but at this stage, i dont think angel would ever choose an end without johnny. its both of them or nothing)
which, trying to make the most of his remaining time with johnny, is when he meets kerry. and it gets serious fast. hes never had someone like this before, someone so important (someone real), and he thinks oh my god i have to live as long as i can, for kerry, and he Also thinks oh my god i have to save johnny, for kerry. he remembers that call from so mi, agrees to meet her, and Then during pl when hes cut off from johnny he realises that not only could this be the solution, that this is real and tangible and she actually knows the relic this could work, but he also realises that the silence is killing him more than anything else and that emptiness isnt okay and he cant be without johnny
it all cements for him that he needs to survive, for johnny and kerry if nothing else, hes not gone through all of this bullshit to give up and he Has to find a solution for this. which there will b a solution but as for what it is i still havent got that far yet . i have to make it up i know the game wont give me happy ending <3