Cordelia & Angel

It's a big fandom and it's been a few years so I don't know if this has been touched on or if it was just so obvious as to not need commentary but it's Saturday and I'm in a Cordelia kind of mood -

Um, more than usual, that is -

so I'm gonna ask anyway.

Cordelia is known for being a bad actress. Is it assumed, or was it ever said, that this is because she either doesn't like to lie or she can't lie? Or is it that she can't lie because she's a bad actress?

And keeping in mind the fact that she outplayed Angel in Eternity and Lyle Gorch in Homecoming, is bluffing considered lying?

~~

Also, lately I've avoided referring to soulless Angel as Angelus. I don't consider them to be two separate entities or personalities or whatever, so I think it's a cheat to call him Angelus when he's being evil and Angel when he's not. One person, with and without a conscience, otherwise where's the meat in Angel's guilt? If Angelus is a separate being, then nothing is Angel's fault, right? And I don't really want to buy Angel's guilt is because he assumes responsibility for Angelus' acts even though he (and everyone else) sees Us as a seperate personality. It's just too easy to feel guilty about everything bad that happens in the world in that case, and then he's sort of a professional victim or wearer of hair-shirts.

I don't remember all of it, but I don't think they started referring to evil Angel as Angelus until AtS. Is this right?

I think it's much more interesting if it's just Angel that did those bad things and says those bad things and wants those bad things, because as a writer, there's more to work with and as a character, there's just more depth and nuance to him. I like the idea that the only thing that stops him is a soul (conscience).

I'm rambling, yes?

I'll stop.

If you have any thoughts, throw them my way. :D