I have good news.
Nothing but good news actually, which is a very nice change of pace for me. I don't know if I've ever said it before, but this universe really sucks. I don't know. Illyria keeps calling me a king, but mostly I feel like a cosmic time-traveling dimension-jumping red-headed step-child. I lost Cordelia, and I've spent the last couple of years trying very hard to find the happiness I watched leave after she died. Sucked to be me, but in more ways than I can count I think it sucked worse for the women I've been with since then. Some I've tried to love, and with some I even succeeded. It doesn't matter. Don't get me wrong. For a while I think it should matter. Maybe even for years, but there comes a time when you have to let things go. I've been a pig because it's a lesson I wasn't ready to learn.

Anyway, so the good news.
I've been involved with Buffy Summers. Yeah. Hit rewind if you're having problems, because I'm not repeating it. I'm not trying to brag. This is the first time I've even said it aloud, and now that I've heard it come out of my mouth I think I might have blown a fuse upstairs. It's been sixty-one days since we started sleeping together. It felt awkward at first, because deeply personal things have happened between she and I not exactly conducive to a successful relationship. No. I'm not gonna talk about it. Not much point. I got over it, and she's been over it for almost as long. It's felt dangerous, too. Buffy hasn't exactly had much luck with her relationships. Neither have I, which might...I don't know. What are the odds? What are the odds that together, the bad luck we both suffer might cancel each other out? With that set aside for the moment, the idea of Buffy always felt dangerous to me, because I have a heart-beat. You'll never hear me say that again. Regardless of whether or not it's a valid point, I hate thinking about it.

Last but not least, it's felt wonderful.

I love her.

To what extent are you willing to share the writing of your characters with others?
If I was able to share the writing I've done with my character to absolutely everyone, I would. Sadly, and I'm not trying to hurt any feelings with my personal observations and disappointments, but the majority of people I've had communication with leave me thinking, 'what, that's it?'. I usually shrug my temporary dissatisfaction off and keep writing, assuming they're just as wrapped up in their own writing as I am with mine. Lately, I've questioned myself on my ability to write stories from a woman's perspective. It's a sensitive issue for me because much more than half of the characters I write with as supportive characters for Snyder are women.

Do you allow your peers to write your character into their stories, or do you get frustrated if they come to you with a suggestion involving your muse?
It's funny you should mention that. Lately, much of the stories I've written for 'thnetwork ' lately have been co-written with someone else I've known for several years. She does an excellent job, but she and I have had just enough arguments regarding stories, character development, and future love-interests for Ron Snyder and other characters that I'm a little surprised she keeps coming back for more. Here's the biggest issue I think. If everyone is happy, the stories get boring; I always end up making all of the characters suffer in one way or another to create a story with the necessary impact. Ron Snyder isn't any different, which is why he never ends up with the same love-interest. No. The character isn't a slut, his writer's just a vindictive asshole. It's for this reason, and the above answer to the first question that I strongly suggest you hang on to at least one writing partner you absolutely trust. Believe it or not, it's much easier to keep a writing partnership than it is to find one.

Just when you think you're never going to walk down the isle again...
Not that I was in the habit of saying 'never', but I had thought losing Cordelia was going to knock the romantic breath from my lungs permanently. I never even considered the possibility of connecting so closely to somebody of Faith's caliber. Even before she got my attention, I had already seen her as the perpetual outsider; she was always the one most comfortable alone. Jeez, I'm starting to sound like Andrew of all people. Faith was a diamond in the rough, with no indications she was ever going to need anyone. Yet, there was always an imaginary banner floating over her head only the most observant might have noticed. I don't know what hidden message the others might have gotten, but what I saw in Faith from the first day we met was obvious. Her banner said, 'change me'.

I love that woman. Just, just please consider for a moment that as sad as the message I gleamed from Faith may have been? Mine was worse. When Illyria sent her my way, the only broadcast I was probably capable of was 'save me'. See now why Illyria did what she did? I ask, because in more ways than one, Faith and I both accomplished what was needed from the other person.

Faith was changed.
I was saved.

I think my biggest problem was that I had.
If it wasn't to my liking, I took control of my destiny and made it my bitch. Afterward I took steps to change it. Then fate(Destiny's big sister) came along and bit me in the ass. It took my wife away from me twice, and before that it gave me a son only to take him away as well. My name is Ron Snyder. I'm a man who left his universe to be with someone he loved, only to lose her. I'm a man who rose up and built a secret kingdom hoping it would keep everyone safe, only to watch the people closest to me suffer for it. I took control of my destiny, only to find it never stopped controlling me.

Stealing this one from Plato.

You, hypothetically, have borrowed a deadly weapon from a close friend of yours-- a gun, a knife, a gem with the power to destroy solar systems, whatever-- on the condition of your solemn promise to return it if asked for.

One day, your friend comes to you, quite obviously furious, and asks the item back-- there's someone they need to kill, their temper too great to be restrained.

Do you Keep your promise, and become an accessory to murder or Break your word, no doubt saving someone's life?

Let's break it down to its basic components; we're talking about making a choice between protecting either my personal honor, and a life. This isn't a question I would need to stress about, unless the person we're talking about saving is someone about ready to take other lives Plato hadn't entered into the equation.

He or she obviously gave this weapon to you for a reason, and I think it's more important to honor the intent of the promise than the promise itself. Between the two of us? A real friend might not have forced such a powerful responsibility in the first place.  I'd send my friend packing.

Retired.
I want to be retired, and able to enjoy it without worrying about the network, the world, or the bad-guys always bent on destroying it.  Most of all?  I want to be able to wake up every morning with Faith.  I want to be able to put my arm around her in bed, and watch her sleep peacefully, knowing she and I won't come apart like Cordy and I had.  That's how I want it for us when we're older, with little worry and few concerns.  I want life to be so free of hassle I won't have anything to stress about, and I'll finally remember to bring up breakfast in bed for my partner.   

The important thing to remember about me is I'm not an idiot. Even cooler than that, I'm not an impulsive idiot. Well, not usually. I'm sure there's an attractive blond Senior Partner who probably thinks otherwise, but my point was that it isn't likely I'm going to jail without a good reason. So if I have a good reason, or if I've gotten arrested over something questionable for a good reason, the quickest way to get the Hell out so I can keep doing whatever put me there in the first place is to keep my mouth shut. Thank you for calling.

I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking I'm suddenly something of a womanizer, aren't you? It's only been a bit over a month since my ex-wife died, and I've already gotten involved again. There are a few(maybe more) things you need to consider before you go all judgmental and self-righteous on me.

1) I live in a hotel loaded with beautiful vampire-slayers, all of them ten or more years younger than I(thirty-five), and most of them look up to me. Had I been a womanizer, or a lecherous pig, wouldn't half of them have already gotten pregnant by now?

2) Cordy died before we got married again, it's true. What's also true is she's still around, but as an Oracle. I can still talk with her, but can't ever have a relationship with her. Not trying to sound like a major asshole or anything, but she and I were divorced once already. I think it was in my best interests for me to move on, don't you?

3) Faith and I became involved only after Illyria orchestrated the initial meeting in private between us. Earlier, Lyri spent the first week with me after I lost Cordy, and rather than sticking around and watching me waste away, she purposely left me alone and unaware she had already requested for Faith to keep an eye on me in her stead. Of course, I was in the shower when all of this happened, and didn't even know about Faith being in the room when I stepped out without a towel. Personally? I think we were both doomed at that point.

4) I'm in love with Faith Lehane. It took a month of time spent together, but that's what happened. If you think it wasn't long enough, keep in mind I'm not as guarded or emotionally stunted as most of you twenty-first century types. I know what I feel, and I remain true to myself regardless of my fears. If, like Buffy, you still don't think it was long enough, I invite you to call my complaints department.

Wait... Don't have a complaints department... Guess you're screwed.

We've all got our regrets and failures. What would your character give to redeem those?

Nothing.
I won't lie to you. The only regrets I have of late revolve around Cordelia Chase. It's often a mess of jumbled thoughts, pleasant memories, and fucked-up nightmares. I wish I hadn't still loved her while I was with Illyria, because I knew I had hurt Lyri without realizing it. I wish I hadn't been so quick to do what I did after Wolfram & Hart broke Cordy and I up over a year ago, because it was only recently I discovered The Network canceled Cordy's resurrection. This whole 'give-anything' statement is careless. I'm sure I've done it too, but the truth? The truth is, I wouldn't change a damn thing. I wouldn't make any sacrifices to fix things I have regrets over, because a person is quite often defined just as easily by their regrets as they are by the things they've accomplished. Something happens you're going to regret? Fine. Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and go out of your way to make sure it doesn't happen again. Then suck it up, princess. You're suddenly on your way to making yourself stronger, and quite often a better person. Not gonna' say the same about myself, because I'm just a guy. I'm just an average 'one-leg-at-a-time-meat-&-potatoes-biscuits-&-gravy' type, and my lessons to live by aren't learned easily; doesn't mean they're not worth something, so take it or leave it.

Show: "Darned if you do..."

"The piano has been drinking.
My necktie is asleep.
and the combo went back to New York.
The jukebox has to take a leak 
Cause t'carpet needs a haircut.
And the spotlight looks like a prison break
And the telephone's out of cigarettes
As usual the balcony's on the make
And the piano has been drinking, heavily
The piano has been drinking
And he's on the hard stuff tonight"

"The piano has been drinking
And you can't find your waitress
Even with the Geiger counter
And I guarantee you that she will hate you
From the bottom of her glass
And all of your friends remind you
That you just can't get served without her
The piano has been drinking "

"The piano has been drinking
And the lightman's blind in one eye
And he can't see out of the other
And the piano-tuner's got a hearing aid
And he showed up with his mother
And the piano has been drinking
Without fear of contradiction I say
The piano has been drinking"

"Our Father who art in ?
Hallowed by thy glass
Thy kindom come, thy will be done
On Earth as it is in the lounges
Give us this day our daily splash
Forgive us our hangovers
As we forgive all those who continue to hangover against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver from evil and someone you must all ride home"

"Because the piano has been drinking
And he's your friend not mine
Because the piano has been drinking
And he's not my responsibility"

"The bouncer is this Sumo wrestler
Kinda cream puff casper milk toast
And the owner is just a mental midget
With the I.Q. of a fencepost
I'm going down, hang onto me, I'm going down
Watch me skate across an acre of linoleum
I know I can do it, I'm in total control
And the piano has been drinking
And he's embarassing me
The piano has been drinking, he raided his mini bar"

"The piano has been drinking
And the bar stools are all on fire
And all the newspapers were just fooling
And the ash-trays have retired
And I've got a feeling that the piano has been drinking
It's just a hunch
The piano has been drinking and he's going to lose his lunch
And the piano has been drinking
Not me, not me, The piano has been drinking... not me."
--Tom Waits

You're damn right I have a plan.
I had a plan, and as troubling as some of the consequences have been, I'm never planning on destroying what I've created. There's too much at stake, so that's that. I lost Cordelia shortly before we were supposed to re-marry because of the network I created. The reasons or problems for which Cordy was resurrected to handle were solved by the work I did. Inadvertently, I gave the powers-that-be cause to pull the plug on my... on my wife. That's a difficult cross to carry, but I need to look forward. Buffy Summers recently tried to kill herself. After her soul was returned to her, she had proved herself unable or unwilling to cope with the memories she had of what she did without one. She hasn't woken up, despite the spells cast by Rosenberg to see she didn't die as a result of her recent suicide attempt. Right now, there's a line of people outside her door, waiting to sit down and talk to her about what Buffy means to them. I don't know. Maybe this will work or maybe it won't, but I've already spoken to her. I've already made a plan of action, and I've already promised her unconscious body I was going to succeed. Buffy Summers needs a new reason to live, and the people she's protected need someone to give it to her. That's what Faith and I are going to do. We're gonna' go to Ireland to speak with a group of Romani who might be willing to listen to me. If they aren't, I'll force them too, because I made Buffy a promise. I told her I would remove Angel's curse while still preserving his soul.

i told her I planned to give her back her first love.

I think I'm already there. 
It isn't something I'm proud of, some of the things I've done as a result of what's happened to me.  My relationship with Cordelia Chase ended because of Wolfram & Hart.  A small chip of my sanity broke off that night, regardless of whether or not I accepted it.  I wasn't a protector any longer.  I was an instrument of vengeance against a power far older than myself, and I was determined to see The Wolf, Ram and the Hart miserable.  This was what I did.  It was the week I changed the world; I made it safer for everyone, but at a cost.  Willow's spirit was almost broken last year, Buffy almost committed suicide two days ago, and Cordy has recently passed away.  All of these things have happened as almost a direct result of the network I've created against that damn law-firm, and deep down?  I blame myself for all of it.  I started something I wouldn't dream of ending, because to do so now would most likely bring the bad-guy's plan for an apocalypse on Earth that much closer.  The lesser demons I've organized against our enemies would begin to fight amongst themselves, the army of vampire-slayers would end up fighting the lesser demons, and I'd be left to watch all of it burn.  Xander would disagree with me because I've given him access to the dimensional hub, where he was able to get a working visual prosthesis.  Sahjhan would disagree with me because Cordy might have wanted him too, and many of the others would want to disagree with me because each of them still believe we've accomplished something incredible.  It's crazy they really feel that way after everything that's happened since this started.  They're crazy for believing in me.  

I'm crazy for allowing it to continue.
       

Ron Snyder has to fight to keep his heart where nobody can see it.
In his past he was Jim Kirk's chief of security (conceived long before the latest movie), but since those days he's been living in 21st century LA within the Buffy/Angel universe. He started as just a vampire hunter, until Wolfram & Hart screwed with him. In retaliation, he organized a cooperative network of demon-friendly businesses already against the law-firm and their plans for an apocalypse. The Watchers Council heard about what was done, and not only did they give Ron's network an army of slayers in LA, but they've since tried to follow Ron's example in every city already with a W&H branch. Basically, Ron Snyder has made orchestrating an apocalypse very dangerous for the bad guys.

Not happy about this development (well, they started it...), Wolfram & Hart has made it their mission to make Snyder and everyone else involved as miserable as they can. The list of things they've done over the last year is as follows...

1) Abducted, drugged, and tortured Ron
2) Caused Snyder and Cordy's divorce
3) Almost shattered Willow Rosenberg (first line of defense for The Hyperion)
by resurrecting Tara, only to remove her again without warning.
4) Tried to make Ron second-guess himself by paying a warlock to steal a slayer's
soul, revealing the demon held within each slayer. This soul was taken back, but
the slayer involved beat and raped Snyder before the soul could be replaced.

New development unrelated to Wolfram & Hart: Snyder's ex-wife died shortly before they were to marry again, partly because the problems Cordy was resurrected for have been solved by the presence of Ron's Network. I'm thinking about calling the next story 'Here Comes The Pain'. I know I'm starting to sound like the Energizer-Bunny, but this is really all I do all day. I'm very easy to work with, and I'm always ready to RP with new people.