Oh, there's the motive. [ kind of teasing. ] It's a nice thought. I don't think anybody's given me flowers before.
[ and they seem both amused and a little touched. ]
Actually though I'm glad you're here. Speaking of occasions... [ reaching under the bar, they are coming back with a cupcake! and they stick a candle in it and light the flame. ]
Hey, the bouquets were her idea, but I picked who to make them for. [ HUFFS. ] Someone else could probably make it better, but... I'm glad you like it.
[ blinks in surprise when they pull out a cupcake though? ]
How did you...? I didn't even tell anyone my birthday was today.
Who cares if somebody could've made it better? They didn't, you did. That deserves the acknowledgement, I think. [ they seem pretty straightforward about that and they're putting the bouquet into the vase with some water to set on the bar counter. color...
anyway. yeah. ]
Call it a special delivery from God. [ a pause. ] Pretty sure they got really into the idea of birthdays because the Angels celebrated theirs a little while ago and decided it's a thing for everybody. So I'm the messenger with instructions of "if they come, acknowledge them."
[ fitting for someone named gabriel, they guess. ]
I think... God wants to be better, and do things differently than they have. That means acknowledging people more. It is a little funny though, you're right. People say God is good and merciful and powerful, but there are plenty of gods who ignore people. I think that's why they really believe in their project.
They probably know that, and I also don't blame people for not believing. Not like I really believe in them half the time either. But maybe that just means they have to work harder to be a god worth believing in.
[ once the candle's blown out, they reach forward to pull it out so he may enjoy his cupcake. ]
It's one of those small things we take for granted, right? Even if it's a dumb little tradition, it has to count for something.
You don't? Aren't you an angel, too? I thought that was their whole thing.
[ not that he disagrees with the god thing. it'd be nice if a god was worth believing in, but shouldn't angels already believe?
accepts this cupcake... still a little bemused about it but it's... nice. ]
I guess so. They say it's too childish, after a while, so no one really bothers. And if this redemption thing works out, maybe I won't even need a wish. [ ... ] What would you wish for? If it were your birthday.
No. The Angels and I are a little different. I'm not sure what I am to God, but I asked for the bartending gig when I heard about the trial. Seemed like something I'd be okay at, plus gives them a little back-up when they need it.
I don't know if there's really anything wrong with being childish sometimes. Maybe it's not so bad to hold onto something a little less serious. But I hope it works out for you. The redemption. [ they look at the extinguished candle in their fingers. the urge to go "i wish i was a little bit taller, i wish i was a baller, i wish i had a girl who looked good, i would call her" is very strong, but that's not a real answer and gabriel seems to think someone like laurence would respond better to a honest answer. ]
If I had a wish? [ ... ] I don't know. Maybe for clarity? Or maybe... something that I know is impossible, but it's a wish regardless. Sometimes it's better to make those big wishes anyway. Just in case.
...Thanks. [ for hoping it works out, but he's sure they'd say the same to everyone else, too, which they should. ] And I guess it is fine once in a while... just not something I would've thought of.
Might just be because I'm fully integrated here and you guys aren't. The Angels get special permission for their jobs. Maybe I'll ask someday.
[ they shrug. ] I wouldn't think it's something people too much stock in, so... can't blame you. And just clarity about anything. Questions I have, things I want to do, what I should be doing. Stuff like that.
Well, that's not fair. How're we supposed to know if you actually like our flower bouquets like this? [ teasing, ]
I think some people just really want to believe it. [ he's curious, though... ] What do you want to do? Besides bartending in heaven for a bunch of freaks.
[ it's teasing, but there's a little honesty in the response: ] It's probably one of the nicest things anybody's done for me in a while.
[ moving on though. ]
There's also nothing wrong with believing in it either. Sometimes believing is the only thing that keeps you going. [ laurence can't see their face, but he can probably gauge that there's some kind of smile there. ] That... is a very deep question that I'm not is entirely appropriate to answer for what's meant to be a light conversation. [ a pause. ] And maybe I want to learn more about you guys while you're here.
[ yeah, that's the trick of it. you drop a bomb and then run away from it. ]
Ha, ha. I'll keep that in mind if I need to make a career switch. [ no note about laurence asking again though, so it seems gabriel won't encourage or stop him from that. ]
Even if I may never see you again after this, you're still here right now. That's what's important to me.
I'm trying to be. But I wasn't always, no. First I spent way too long thinking about the past, and then I spent way too long thinking about the future. So now I'm here.
Tell me about it. I can say I'm trying all I want, but actually doing it has been... challenging's a good word, I guess. I think I like focusing on everyone else's pasts and futures more than my own right now.
I dunno, man. I kind of like that you're all a bunch of weirdos. Keeps things interesting. [ kind of a joke, but. ] If I had an option to leave early, I don't think I'd take it.
That interesting, huh? I can't believe you wouldn't be interesting too if you're taking a job like this, but maybe that's just because all our worlds are so different?
I think you're all kinda underestimating what things were like before I ended up here. That interesting. [ but they ponder on this. ] I don't know if I would consider myself interesting though. Less than the Angels for sure, but you've got a point about different worlds. Most people never even considered that a possibility.
Most of my life in the Tower hasn't been that special, either. The whole point is to live like normal people, after all.
[ it's just that recent events have changed that. can't keep going on like usual anymore. ]
I'd hardly even considered leaving home, let alone thinking about entirely different worlds. It sounds like something out of one of those books Iris always liked - just some crazy fantasy stuff.
Normal people, huh. [ they're not even sure what that really means anymore to be honest, but they won't ask. this is important to laurence's worldview so they leave it. ]
I think your world might feel like crazy fantasy stuff to some people, too. I've never heard of demifloras before. And then you have mages and healers and all sorts of stuff around. [ hm. ]
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[ and they seem both amused and a little touched. ]
Actually though I'm glad you're here. Speaking of occasions... [ reaching under the bar, they are coming back with a cupcake! and they stick a candle in it and light the flame. ]
Birthday delivery.
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[ blinks in surprise when they pull out a cupcake though? ]
How did you...? I didn't even tell anyone my birthday was today.
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anyway. yeah. ]
Call it a special delivery from God. [ a pause. ] Pretty sure they got really into the idea of birthdays because the Angels celebrated theirs a little while ago and decided it's a thing for everybody. So I'm the messenger with instructions of "if they come, acknowledge them."
[ fitting for someone named gabriel, they guess. ]
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So they wanted a birthday, too? That's kind of funny, actually. I never thought a god would care about things like that.
...Thanks.
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[ a gesture to the candle. ]
Make a wish.
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Not everyone here even believes in this god, though.
[ hmmm. it takes a minute, but he manages to think of something, nods to himself, and blows the candle out. ]
...I haven't actually done that in years.
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[ once the candle's blown out, they reach forward to pull it out so he may enjoy his cupcake. ]
It's one of those small things we take for granted, right? Even if it's a dumb little tradition, it has to count for something.
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[ not that he disagrees with the god thing. it'd be nice if a god was worth believing in, but shouldn't angels already believe?
accepts this cupcake... still a little bemused about it but it's... nice. ]
I guess so. They say it's too childish, after a while, so no one really bothers. And if this redemption thing works out, maybe I won't even need a wish. [ ... ] What would you wish for? If it were your birthday.
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I don't know if there's really anything wrong with being childish sometimes. Maybe it's not so bad to hold onto something a little less serious. But I hope it works out for you. The redemption. [ they look at the extinguished candle in their fingers. the urge to go "i wish i was a little bit taller, i wish i was a baller, i wish i had a girl who looked good, i would call her" is very strong, but that's not a real answer and gabriel seems to think someone like laurence would respond better to a honest answer. ]
If I had a wish? [ ... ] I don't know. Maybe for clarity? Or maybe... something that I know is impossible, but it's a wish regardless. Sometimes it's better to make those big wishes anyway. Just in case.
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[ what's up with that ]
...Thanks. [ for hoping it works out, but he's sure they'd say the same to everyone else, too, which they should. ] And I guess it is fine once in a while... just not something I would've thought of.
Clarity? About what?
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[ they shrug. ] I wouldn't think it's something people too much stock in, so... can't blame you. And just clarity about anything. Questions I have, things I want to do, what I should be doing. Stuff like that.
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I think some people just really want to believe it. [ he's curious, though... ] What do you want to do? Besides bartending in heaven for a bunch of freaks.
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[ moving on though. ]
There's also nothing wrong with believing in it either. Sometimes believing is the only thing that keeps you going. [ laurence can't see their face, but he can probably gauge that there's some kind of smile there. ] That... is a very deep question that I'm not is entirely appropriate to answer for what's meant to be a light conversation. [ a pause. ] And maybe I want to learn more about you guys while you're here.
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You could probably write motivational posters with stuff like that. [ it's a little soft, though. ] Fine, fine. I'll ask again later.
Even though you may never see us again after this?
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Ha, ha. I'll keep that in mind if I need to make a career switch. [ no note about laurence asking again though, so it seems gabriel won't encourage or stop him from that. ]
Even if I may never see you again after this, you're still here right now. That's what's important to me.
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...You're really one of those "live in the moment" kinds of people, aren't you?
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I'm trying to be. But I wasn't always, no. First I spent way too long thinking about the past, and then I spent way too long thinking about the future. So now I'm here.
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...I think I can understand that. It's hard not to think about those things, sometimes.
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[ it's just that recent events have changed that. can't keep going on like usual anymore. ]
I'd hardly even considered leaving home, let alone thinking about entirely different worlds. It sounds like something out of one of those books Iris always liked - just some crazy fantasy stuff.
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I think your world might feel like crazy fantasy stuff to some people, too. I've never heard of demifloras before. And then you have mages and healers and all sorts of stuff around. [ hm. ]
Were you comfortable there? Home.
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