"Well yes, that's because it sucks. No offense, Vivi, but walking is the worst, I can't believe you're stuck like that." No he's not going to pick him up either, Vivi hadn't asked him to and he wasn't about to offer anyway. He needed both his hands for swords.
For someone as aggressively proud as Gabriel, implying his name (and therefore all of the accomplishments attached to it) was unimportant, was as close to lying as he could possibly get and god was it painful. Now, if he'd known Vivi already knew and wouldn't have cared in one direction or the other, of course he'd be a lot less conflicted about it.
But then again, maybe it wasn't even entirely the fear that he might have to strike down the little construct if he was totally honest with him. It was hard to deny that it felt almost wrong to do it on a moral level, considering... well, all the accomplishments attached to that name, and the fact that he now stood in the middle of the aftermath of his 'grandest' accomplishment. Talking to what may well be all that really remained of it.
And on a level, he did know. How could anyone in this place not know who he was after all? ... But he was already playing pretend with himself, why not ignore all that uncomfortable stuff for just a little while longer? It wasn't actually important after all, was it? He'd already done most of the important stuff before he returned to Hell, everything else aside from this sweep of Lust and finding The Machine was just optional. It was an expression Vivi wouldn't be able to see of course, with the helmet covering the angel's face, but as the child spoke it almost seemed as if Gabriel glared at him briefly.
What's going through your head anyway?
"It's more than just not wanting to, you wouldn't-" Nope, nope, stop digging this hole. Vivi had already demonstrated he was probably smarter than the average nine year old, and he wasn't keen on getting any closer to the writhing knot of unidentifiable feelings that had taken up residency in his chest. "I mean yes. Other stuff. Of course."
Which... would require staying within ear shot, but since the subject matter had changed and would remain changed, he supposed he could remain a little closer.
"That you haven't been ripped to shreds yet is something of a surprise, Vivi. How long have you been walking around here?" He drifted after him, a brilliant light amid the now darkened streets. Less of a beacon, and more of a horrible warning to anything that might catch sight of it. Stay fucking clear was the message there.
no subject
For someone as aggressively proud as Gabriel, implying his name (and therefore all of the accomplishments attached to it) was unimportant, was as close to lying as he could possibly get and god was it painful. Now, if he'd known Vivi already knew and wouldn't have cared in one direction or the other, of course he'd be a lot less conflicted about it.
But then again, maybe it wasn't even entirely the fear that he might have to strike down the little construct if he was totally honest with him. It was hard to deny that it felt almost wrong to do it on a moral level, considering... well, all the accomplishments attached to that name, and the fact that he now stood in the middle of the aftermath of his 'grandest' accomplishment. Talking to what may well be all that really remained of it.
And on a level, he did know. How could anyone in this place not know who he was after all? ... But he was already playing pretend with himself, why not ignore all that uncomfortable stuff for just a little while longer? It wasn't actually important after all, was it? He'd already done most of the important stuff before he returned to Hell, everything else aside from this sweep of Lust and finding The Machine was just optional. It was an expression Vivi wouldn't be able to see of course, with the helmet covering the angel's face, but as the child spoke it almost seemed as if Gabriel glared at him briefly.
What's going through your head anyway?
"It's more than just not wanting to, you wouldn't-" Nope, nope, stop digging this hole. Vivi had already demonstrated he was probably smarter than the average nine year old, and he wasn't keen on getting any closer to the writhing knot of unidentifiable feelings that had taken up residency in his chest. "I mean yes. Other stuff. Of course."
Which... would require staying within ear shot, but since the subject matter had changed and would remain changed, he supposed he could remain a little closer.
"That you haven't been ripped to shreds yet is something of a surprise, Vivi. How long have you been walking around here?" He drifted after him, a brilliant light amid the now darkened streets. Less of a beacon, and more of a horrible warning to anything that might catch sight of it. Stay fucking clear was the message there.