This wasn't what Gabriel was used to. Frustration and anxiety bubbled beneath that bone deep exhaustion, well aware of how alien this sensation was, and what its continued growth meant. Twenty four hours, before the lingering embers flickered and died. And him with it. He shouldn't be in here, he was wasting time.

He had to conserve energy, he had to linger here for just a while, just a little bit... To hope that he'd regain anything at all was futile, but...

"No- No He... There is an expectation of perfection, but-" But what? But what? To say forgiveness was possible would be a lie, he'd just said it himself after all. "It's... If He were..." If He were here, would it have been any different? Oh, Gabriel remembered Lucifer, how could he not remember his brother? If He were here, it would be all the same. "... If He were here... Perhaps He could have been swayed now." But it was far, far too late for that. The truth sat so bitter on his tongue, and his voice wavered faintly. No, he didn't believe that even were He here, his decision could be changed. But to admit that was a step too far for Gabriel.

He did at least have one thing he could hold on to: "... Heaven used to be."