snowblindrpg | [log] It's ice to meet you [open?]

[ A look of a realization crosses Gabriel's face and he frowns. ]

It was during that night that people were interrogating the red-lined. Right. I wasn't really online then, and that was probably a good thing.

[ Or he would've been the one prying secrets out of Vanitas. ]

Did they get anything too bad?

It would have been better if it was you.

[ His voice is quiet at that. He's admitting way too much lately, but at least he has control over it. Pulling out a cookie. ]

They did. The Librarian won't do anything with the information, but Kesara might be a problem.

[ Lately, she's been rather obsessed with trying to figure him out. She used everything to her advantage lately and it's impressive in it's own way. He's smirking for a moment before his expression drops. He already knows he might have to kill her. That's where things might get tricky. ]

[ Gabriel heartily disagrees with that first statement, but he's not going to say anything about it. He honestly feels he got off rather light, being so focused on Royce and Alfie. But even the amount of information he did get, the way his talk with Flynn went afterward...he looks down and away. He doesn't want to be out of control like that again, especially if it hurt someone he actually cares about.

When Vanitas mentions Kesara, he frowns. ]

I'm sure Flynn won't say anything to anyone about what happened that night. What sort of problem do you think Kesara might be?

[ It's still strange how much he wants to know about Gabriel. He notices something is up there, and can guess it wasn't a good time for him. He was with those two after all. He can feel resentment thinking about that. Thinking about the pit, and everything before...

He also doesn't like him making this expression. It's a big part of why he's made few stupid decisions and it's ridiculous. He does want him feeling better, but he's at a loss as to how. Gabriel can't feel, so leaning against him or patting him won't do much of anything for him. Frowning in response, and letting it go for the moment. He does offer another cookie over.

The frown at Kesara is interesting in itself. He does wonder what the limits of Gabriel's morals and how social he really is. He does seem pretty into the friendship thing and is a lot more social than Vanitas. Watching him keenly now to try to gauge is he happens to be attached to the kid or if it's just because she's a kid. ]

The kind where I don't think I can keep playing nice if she tries cornering me again.

[ Gabriel's eyebrows raise at that, but he doesn't frown or anything. If anything, he seems like he's open to hearing Vanitas' logic about this. ]

That bad, huh? Can she do anything with what she's learned so far?

[ He appreciates that a lot more than he can put into words or really show. His posture relaxes again as he finishes off the cookies.

He has to think about their conversations. With both the line talk and his memories of Ven at the helm, there's a lot to think over. ]

If she can wrap her mind around it. For an explorer used to fighting, she's rather innocent. She knows knows we used to be broken and knows it has to do with my Master. [ There's a pause as he recalls one of her questions. ] I think that's the part that she can't understand. Teachers are supposed to teach.

[ It does give him something like a double edged sword to use against her ]

I'm sure she'll figure it out eventually.

Maybe. But-- seriously, what's she going to do with that knowledge? You think she's going to try and blackmail you or something?

[ Kesara is learning how to 'play the game,' and that's a very delicate time for her trade. Gabriel would like if she survived it. Here in Norfinbury, at least the stakes on trading info are rather low. No one benefits from secrets. ]

Not worried about blackmail. Who would she even go running off to share?

[ The only ones who might care actually like him. Strange concept, but it works his favor here. ]

She wants to prove she isn't scared of me. [ Now to hit on the thing that will be a problem. ] I can't cut away my emotions here. If she hits on the wrong thing, I will kill her.

[ What are normal coping skills? If he kills a kid, even if she comes back, then it'll make things annoying for him here. He was lucky before when people just shrug Charles off as an asshole.

Kesara has people that care. Al and Steph cares about her. Then there's Gabriel. If Al and Steph give up on Vanitas, then what will Gabriel do? There's also Billy who traveled over to make sure he doesn't lock Kesara out. He hates thinking about this. Hates that this is now a worry he actually has. ]

It'll make things complicated. [ He's going to pointedly look away as he says that. He hates this. ]

Yeah. Murder tends to do that.

[ He says it like a joke, but it's really not. He lets out a thoughtful sigh. ]

If she comes at you again, will you let me know? I think I can convince her to be smart about it, but if she doesn't listen...

[ He trails off and shrugs. He's not likely to be the one to stop Vanitas. The fact that Vanitas seems worried about hurting her is a good sign, right? Even if it's probably not for the 'right' reasons. Gabriel doesn't really worry for the right reasons either. ]

Was she trying to push your buttons last time?

Does't help that there's a change the victims will come back.

[ Unless they are anti-social.

He does pause to study Gabriel for a moment or two. Trying to figure out the why. People being protective of him isn't normal, and it makes much more sense if people are protective of Kesara.

Though the shrugging doesn't line up with wanting to protect Kesara. ]

I'll consider it. [ He says it carefully. He knows he doesn't want to lose this, which means he's likely to share. ]

She was following me until I brought up her long nap in the drawer. [ Kesara sitting idle and being useless seems to be a big button for her. Not going to talk about Ventus and her hitting his PTSD on purpose. ]

[ Gabriel nods in faux annoyance about the victims coming back. It certainly changes things up, doesn't it?

As for the protection issue...Gabriel's used to being the one that's not protected. It sucks. So he notices that more. Maybe he's not the best person to be watching out for Vanitas, but he's committed to do so now. ]

Ah, so you pushed her buttons and she pushed back. You're worried about your emotions getting out of control? I've been there. I was sure I was going to end up offing Al for awhile there.

[ And he's pretty sure he won't now. Maybe having the Admin turn off the procedure isn't the worst idea ever. Maybe he could handle it. Regardless, he understands the feeling, even if Vanitas doesn't have any love lost on Kesara. ]

[ And then he remembers that Gabriel was a victim, too. Making a face at the realization because he does feel bad. Not going to say it because Gabriel probably doesn't need a reminder about it.

Just going to focus on the other part of the conversation. ]

I hate it. I used to be able to send my emotions out and cut them down.

[ It's a good thing his Unversed wasn't there with them.

He looks up at Gabriel at the Al part. ]

Not surprised. I still think about it at times. [ Al does bring out some odd emotions, but he looked ready to snap last time. ]

Do you? [ You'd think Gabriel would be upset at that revelation about Al, but he just smirks. ] Al sure makes friends with the right people.

[ That's not as much of a sarcastic remark as he makes it out to be. ]

You know, if I had the ability to send my negative emotions out of myself and turn them into monsters, I'd never want to give that up either. I can't imagine having to deal without it. Think you've been dealing pretty well, all things considered.

I even offered to put him out of his misery when he was his weaker self.

[ All skin and bones. It was hard to be around him like that and the conversation that followed... ]

He got mad. [ Looking away at that. It took a deeper turn that he really hadn't wanted to touch with Al.

Vanitas does laugh at the dealing pretty well. ]

I'm not, but I am getting better.

[ He remembers all the furniture he's destroyed when he first got here. ]

What a surprise.

[ 'His weaker self'. He wonders if Al took even more issue with that than the offer. Gabriel chuckles and shakes his head.

But he does notice Vanitas getting a little uncomfortable about that. He'll just pretend he didn't notice. Al is great at getting to the heart of matters and stubbornly making you talk about the thing you don't want to talk about. Gabriel gets it. ]

And okay, that 'all things considered' counts for a lot here. I didn't exactly knock it out of the park when I first got here, either. I didn't expect the rules to apply to me, y'know? They usually don't. Having to deal with all the limitations the rest of the chumps did- well, it just wasn't fair.

[log] It's ice to meet you [open?]

no subject

no subject

no subject

words and Gabriel needs a better buddy

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject