[ IT WAS A REFLEX!! THEY DID NOT MEAN TO!!! jacopo pulls back and gabriel leans back to stare at him. ]
We are pretending this never happened. [ please leave, they are still very ?! about this as they go back to fixing this man his coffee for some reason. ]
[ Says this before he leaves... And he will try to compose himself outside. You know like how those people BREATHE IN DEEPLY, drag a hand down their face, then punch something to calm down.
jacopo leaves and gabriel sort of stares off into space, plays back the last two minutes before deciding that is for the suppression box since they are ignoring it, and by the time he comes back gabriel is pouring him a cup of black coffee. ]
[ this is so funny, why. anyway, jacopo looks calm and gabriel hears that thought and he really kind of goes "damn, this man actually does just want me to talk nice to him?" this is not a shared thought though. instead, they're pouring coffee for themselves before leaning on the counter. ]
It's good to see you, too. A weird Thursday without you, to be honest. [ teasing, but also real. ]
[ okay, gabriel, why SHOULDN'T HE want to be treated nicely? That should be proper conduct? Even though he's kind of shitty and prickly to people generally? ]
[ what makes you think gabriel is a proper person. ]
You missed the Gabriel interrogation hour, for one. [ it's definitely a joke, but... kind of not. ] To her credit, Shadowheart did tell me she was going to talk about me like I wasn't there because they were trying to figure some things out. I can respect being told before people talk about me.
No. [ he tries to say it like a joke again but uh, the emotional feedback does come off as vaguely uncomfortable. ] It's fine, I get why everybody asked. I have coveted information that's in high demand.
They talked about their dreams, asked me about the old God a little more, and I think I heard about them trying to decide if contacting Satan was a good idea.
It's not... [ he stops and seem to consider what to say, a little spike of frustration. again, it's not like he doesn't get it. but. ] I know I don't really have a right to be uncomfortable about it when I have answers people want. But I also don't have all of them that I know they're looking for, and it's just going to disappoint them all over again. And while I am, in fact, an expert at disappointing people, I was hoping to do less of that here.
[ staring at his hand...kind of poking at it a little, like he's not sure if it's just for show or for paw-holding or what. ]
I think it gave them some answers and further confirmation that the New God's the one in charge of this shitshow. Does that count?
You can't provide what you don't have and you can't prepare if you don't know what to expect. Their disappointment doesn't mean you failed.
[ He grabs their wrist after the poke. This is more of a secure hand-holding kind of. A wrist-hold like wanting to pull someone up and out from somewhere. ]
I think that counts. What shape do they even take? Another aquatic animal?
[ sorry, he laughs a little, more out of disbelief than anything. but he allows it, which means jacopo's probably actually wrapping his hand around a wristband. something kind of soft and almost worn, at least. ]
I don't know. [ i think people might agree later. but he moves past that, because jacopo's asking a question and he shakes his head. ]
No, not an animal. Not like that, anyway. If I ever had to see another giant amphibian I might lose my mind.
For one thing, I spent my life thinking God was, like, a person and not a salamander. [ so yeah, grief. ] How am I supposed to explain that to people? It sounds crazy.
What makes you so sure I couldn't find someplace else? Or I could just come back when you're done using it. I've slept in worst places.
[ gabriel, telling jacopo about wandering around outside at ass o'clock in the morning and not clarifying that sometimes he just didn't bother going home. ]
Whatever you want, but you're free to leave him there, too.
[ Jacopo is cool with animals even if this is... a lion??? Cub??? If I remember correctly... or was this a cat I faintly remember for some reason YOU GOT A LION? ]
He's a lion cub. Some people might feel weird about that. [ some people are threatened by wild animals even if they're just cute little guys. ] He's nice to have around, he'll stay out of the way if you don't bother him too much.
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We are pretending this never happened. [ please leave, they are still very ?! about this as they go back to fixing this man his coffee for some reason. ]
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[ Says this before he leaves... And he will try to compose himself outside. You know like how those people BREATHE IN DEEPLY, drag a hand down their face, then punch something to calm down.
Okay, he will come back. ]
Hello.
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jacopo leaves and gabriel sort of stares off into space, plays back the last two minutes before deciding that is for the suppression box since they are ignoring it, and by the time he comes back gabriel is pouring him a cup of black coffee. ]
Hey. Welcome back to this side of things.
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His face is no longer red. It really is like earlier didn't happen, except that is a better greeting. YEAH. ]
It's good to see you again.
[ He'll take a seat on the stool by the counter. Hello. ]
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It's good to see you, too. A weird Thursday without you, to be honest. [ teasing, but also real. ]
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Was it? The tavern seemed popular like usual.
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You missed the Gabriel interrogation hour, for one. [ it's definitely a joke, but... kind of not. ] To her credit, Shadowheart did tell me she was going to talk about me like I wasn't there because they were trying to figure some things out. I can respect being told before people talk about me.
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Right... We were quite curious about you on our side as well. How did it go? What did they talk about? Did you like the attention?
[ lmao ]
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They talked about their dreams, asked me about the old God a little more, and I think I heard about them trying to decide if contacting Satan was a good idea.
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... You can say it made you uncomfortable, you know. Even though you understand why we were asking.
[ Offers a hand. ]
Do you feel like it led anywhere?
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[ staring at his hand...kind of poking at it a little, like he's not sure if it's just for show or for paw-holding or what. ]
I think it gave them some answers and further confirmation that the New God's the one in charge of this shitshow. Does that count?
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[ He grabs their wrist after the poke. This is more of a secure hand-holding kind of. A wrist-hold like wanting to pull someone up and out from somewhere. ]
I think that counts. What shape do they even take? Another aquatic animal?
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I don't know. [ i think people might agree later. but he moves past that, because jacopo's asking a question and he shakes his head. ]
No, not an animal. Not like that, anyway. If I ever had to see another giant amphibian I might lose my mind.
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The old god gave you that much grief? [ He finds it a little funny if he didn't also have to keep in mind that it could be depressing for Gabriel
Also just unrelated ] Do you have another bedroom in your place?
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[ but hm? ]
I don't, no. Why?
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I wanted to sleep.
[ THE ENTITY MAY BE TRAPPED BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL FREAKS ]
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[ don't just? offer your apartment?? ]
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[ HELLO? ]
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[ gabriel, telling jacopo about wandering around outside at ass o'clock in the morning and not clarifying that sometimes he just didn't bother going home. ]
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[ He shouldn't be surprised.... They told him of their habits back at home... but the holy shit....... ]
It's fine. I'll figure it out.
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[ he won't press it if he says no, it's fine, but man. ]
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Only for your late shifts—and I'll leave when you're done.
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[ Jacopo is cool with animals even if this is... a lion??? Cub??? If I remember correctly... or was this a cat I faintly remember for some reason YOU GOT A LION? ]
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