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[ No one else in the place seems to realise what an important moment is happening right under their noses.
For a start, Gabriel is speechless. That hasn't happened in a long, long time. It's not only that, but he finds himself standing up as Chuck comes close to the table, a stupid show of respect drilled into him millennia ago and apparently still second nature now. ]
Dad?
[ His voice did not just break. It did not. But as the man in front of him sits down, says his name, Gabriel knows he can't deny it. He sits down himself, well he half sits, half collapses into the seat and stares a moment longer, before he seems to collect himself. ]
It's... it's good to see you too. It's been a long time.
[There's no yelling yet, which is good. Better than expected, even. No immediate snark, like Lucifer had come out with. To be honest, He's not sure what to expect from Gabriel.
Chuck sets his elbows on the table, threading his fingers together.]
Should I go up an get us something to drink? You wanted a chai, right? Tons of sugar? [It's a terrible suggestion, pretending this is just some normal interaction between them, and He knows it. But habit is something that dies hard.]
[ Tthe yelling might come later, after the shock has passed. Or it might not come at all. This is Dad, for Dad's Sake. Gabriel might have badmouthed him to his younger siblings, he might have said some terrible things, but the fact was, they weren't to Dad's face. He really does not have the balls to do that, or to stand up against Dad in the same way Lucifer did. It was hard enough to do that to his brothers, never mind God.
He forces himself to breath, and nod at the suggestion. Chuck seems fine, calm and collected, at least in comparison to Gabriel who still needs to realise that his Dad is there. Right there. Buying him Chai. ]
Six spoons.
[ By the time Chuck is back, Gabriel's breathing is normal, his thoughts aren't spinning and he doesn't feel like he's as likely to hurl. All of which are really good things. ]
Wha- can I ask why you're here? Are you taking us back?
[ Because Lucifer should go. This place is bad for him, not as bad as the Cage but still terrible. Gabriel has... reasons to stay. Lots of them. He can't go. ]
[Chuck queues. Orders. Waits. Taps His fingers on His arms to some Mumford and Sons' song. Avoids looking across the cafe to His son. It had been easy once, relating to His sons. He has little faith that it'll ever be easy again.
He sits down again, more heavily this time than the last. The nervous smile is almost all gone, but He tries to rally it back into place.]
I'm here- The reason I'm here is- [He didn't know you were here, Gabriel. He's not here to save you.] I couldn't stand the Heaven they've got here. You've seen Little Eden, right? It's a real snoozefest. I was going out of my mind.
[ Gabriel reaches out for the cup, wraps his fingers around it and pulls it across the table. It's good to have something to hold onto, even if it is just a cup of reasonably bad tea.
Frankly, he didn't think Dad was here for them. He'd asked, just to get it out of the way, but while Chuck had been at the counter, Gabriel had felt the hope grow in him. He'd tried to shove it down, back into the depths of his Grace, but once the seeds were planted, it was impossible. He just wanted, for once, things to be about Them.
He should have known better. Keeping his face focused on the cup probably doesn't hide the disappointment, but at least it means he doesn't have to see Dad's face. ]
I like Little Eden...
[Some of it. Greg's house. The park he walks the dog in. The tiny little bakery. The fact it's green. He's not been there for weeks, and he does miss it. He misses it a lot.
He shrugs, and lifts his head up, setting his jaw]
But I don't like Heaven much either. So I guess I can't blame you.
[That feels like a punch to the gut. Chuck can't meet that stare.
There are too many things Chuck could say. Should say. Too much has happened since they last sat face to face, and so much of it hasn't been pleasant. He'd heard His son's prayers, all of them. Felt his despair all too keenly as a reflection of His own.
He'd known the minute Gabriel had died- and He'd refused to step in, because once He'd been drawn back in, Michael and Lucifer and all of Heaven would have demanded He take on the role He'd stepped out of so long ago.
But Gabriel wasn't supposed to come here.
Chuck lets out the breath He's been holding.]
You were right, you know. About humanity. You were the only one who ever got it right.
[It's not an apology or an explanation; Chuck can't or won't give those. But Gabriel will know how rare it is for Him to outright state that others are in the Right.
There's pride in his voice as well: despite his mistakes, actions, and inactions, despite not being the biggest or the most beautiful or powerful of his brothers, despite an absent father and a broken home, Gabriel had been the one to see what the others could not- the same thing his Father had seen in humanity.]
[ Gabriel's jaw twitches, his expression stays frozen as Chuck speaks. Yeah, there's things that could be said, on all sides. But that's not how their family works. They keep back the things they should be saying, like I'm sorry and instead they say all the wrong things.
It's so easy to be angry at each other. Angry and disappointed and hurt. But it's not so easy to turn the other cheek on everything that's happened and forgive.
Gabriel knew he was right about humans. He knew it, and he doesn't need Dad to tell him so. But despite that, the pure validation from those words, those three short sentences is enough to soothe so much pain. His fingers relax, knuckles slowly getting their colour back. He hadn't even been aware how tightly he'd been holding onto that cup. ]
The others never got a chance to see for themselves.
[And Gabriel wouldn't have ever understood what Dad had meant if he hadn't left Heaven, if he'd never run away from everything Dad had ever met for them to have. Maybe if Lucifer had gone out and seen, if Michael had just... not taken his Father's word as law but actually believed then none of them would have died for a stupid, unimportant, ridiculous prophecy.
That's the thing that will always upset him. All of this wasn't necessary. They just needed time to see.]
Thank you Dad. I meant it. It is good to see you again.
[He takes a breath]
So, Hell exciting enough? How long have you been here? Did you see the Doves?
[ Gabriel probably shouldn't preen so much at that, but he does. Son. It just makes him happy. Yeah yeah, he's still angry, but this is Family. ]
They've been flapping around making people feel things. Warm and fuzzy, like you want to stay home and cuddle with someone, platonically, you know? Well, mostly. I think some people had more intense reactions.
Heaven sent them, I think. Because Little Eden was gassed. That's what the rumour mill is saying.
[That's weird, son. This is without a doubt a strange, weird place. That's even without factoring for the existence of multiple other Creations, Heavens, Hells- it'd be laughable if Chuck weren't here experiencing it for Himself.
Chuck takes refuge in His drink. The motion jostles the bag of candy He'd bought earlier and stashed there.]
That explains the evil shrub on my front lawn they couldn't get rid of. [He raises two hands and manages (somehow) to indicate a rather demonic, tentacle-y shrub.]
Well, not normal ones. These ones were cursed ones, sent by Heaven. I mean, they looked normal.
[He shrugs. This is the only Hell he knows- unless you count the Heaven he lived in with Michael and Raphael after the Fall. That was worse than this by a long shot. But you can cope here, if you have things to keep existing for. And Gabriel has some of those]
Has it eaten anyone? Sh- I know someone with a shrub that likes to eat people. Or has tried, I don't know if it's succeeded recently. Most of the flora and fauna here is deadly. Sort of like the stuff Lucifer and me put in Australia.
[Gabriel grins, taking a long swallow of his chai to try and hide the big wide grin. And the pride. Yeah, it's not that much like Lucifer, but he's certainly got some similar traits]
[ Really there's so much more he should be telling Dad, or could tell Dad. He used to be so excited to show off what he'd been doing, what he'd made or what terrible prank he'd played but he's older now and a little more jaded. If Dad isn't going to answer his questions, he's not going to volunteer information.
Dad probably knows all of Gabriel's secrets anyway.
He smiles, a fleeting sort of smile as the candy is produced and he sighs very softly. He does like sweets. But he also knows that he's being bribed not to ask any more questions.]
[ Gabriel might like to pretend that he's going to be all high-and-mighty and resist the candy, but he can't, as soon as it's open he's reaching forwards to take a piece. ]
I... have you spoken to them on the network? Over the phone? Ease them into the idea you're here? Luci might not take it very well and he's... found settling in difficult. And Michael...
[Michael is in a bad way. He needs to rest. Not throw himself into trying to impress their Father]
Yeah, [Chuck reaches for his own piece of candy.] Yeah, I konw what that's like.
[His shoulders slump a fraction, admitting more than He ever will with words just how Chuck feels about how things ended up for Michael, for all of them.
[ Gabriel recognises that slump. He might not have the best relationship with Dad anymore but he still doesn't like seeing Him so despondent. ]
It's better than what they would have done on Earth. It could have gone better, but it could have been much, much worse. We're all together again though, that's the important thing.
[He nods, before reaching fro his cup and taking a long swallow of chai.]
Lucifer and me have talked a few times, I saw Mike when he landed here. But... it's hard. We've all changed a lot since we were all together.
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For a start, Gabriel is speechless. That hasn't happened in a long, long time. It's not only that, but he finds himself standing up as Chuck comes close to the table, a stupid show of respect drilled into him millennia ago and apparently still second nature now. ]
Dad?
[ His voice did not just break. It did not. But as the man in front of him sits down, says his name, Gabriel knows he can't deny it. He sits down himself, well he half sits, half collapses into the seat and stares a moment longer, before he seems to collect himself. ]
It's... it's good to see you too. It's been a long time.
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Chuck sets his elbows on the table, threading his fingers together.]
Should I go up an get us something to drink? You wanted a chai, right? Tons of sugar? [It's a terrible suggestion, pretending this is just some normal interaction between them, and He knows it. But habit is something that dies hard.]
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He forces himself to breath, and nod at the suggestion. Chuck seems fine, calm and collected, at least in comparison to Gabriel who still needs to realise that his Dad is there. Right there. Buying him Chai. ]
Six spoons.
[ By the time Chuck is back, Gabriel's breathing is normal, his thoughts aren't spinning and he doesn't feel like he's as likely to hurl. All of which are really good things. ]
Wha- can I ask why you're here? Are you taking us back?
[ Because Lucifer should go. This place is bad for him, not as bad as the Cage but still terrible. Gabriel has... reasons to stay. Lots of them. He can't go. ]
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He sits down again, more heavily this time than the last. The nervous smile is almost all gone, but He tries to rally it back into place.]
I'm here- The reason I'm here is- [He didn't know you were here, Gabriel. He's not here to save you.] I couldn't stand the Heaven they've got here. You've seen Little Eden, right? It's a real snoozefest. I was going out of my mind.
[He doesn't want to admit He's dead.]
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Frankly, he didn't think Dad was here for them. He'd asked, just to get it out of the way, but while Chuck had been at the counter, Gabriel had felt the hope grow in him. He'd tried to shove it down, back into the depths of his Grace, but once the seeds were planted, it was impossible. He just wanted, for once, things to be about Them.
He should have known better. Keeping his face focused on the cup probably doesn't hide the disappointment, but at least it means he doesn't have to see Dad's face. ]
I like Little Eden...
[Some of it. Greg's house. The park he walks the dog in. The tiny little bakery. The fact it's green. He's not been there for weeks, and he does miss it. He misses it a lot.
He shrugs, and lifts his head up, setting his jaw]
But I don't like Heaven much either. So I guess I can't blame you.
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There are too many things Chuck could say. Should say. Too much has happened since they last sat face to face, and so much of it hasn't been pleasant. He'd heard His son's prayers, all of them. Felt his despair all too keenly as a reflection of His own.
He'd known the minute Gabriel had died- and He'd refused to step in, because once He'd been drawn back in, Michael and Lucifer and all of Heaven would have demanded He take on the role He'd stepped out of so long ago.
But Gabriel wasn't supposed to come here.
Chuck lets out the breath He's been holding.]
You were right, you know. About humanity. You were the only one who ever got it right.
[It's not an apology or an explanation; Chuck can't or won't give those. But Gabriel will know how rare it is for Him to outright state that others are in the Right.
There's pride in his voice as well: despite his mistakes, actions, and inactions, despite not being the biggest or the most beautiful or powerful of his brothers, despite an absent father and a broken home, Gabriel had been the one to see what the others could not- the same thing his Father had seen in humanity.]
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It's so easy to be angry at each other. Angry and disappointed and hurt. But it's not so easy to turn the other cheek on everything that's happened and forgive.
Gabriel knew he was right about humans. He knew it, and he doesn't need Dad to tell him so. But despite that, the pure validation from those words, those three short sentences is enough to soothe so much pain. His fingers relax, knuckles slowly getting their colour back. He hadn't even been aware how tightly he'd been holding onto that cup. ]
The others never got a chance to see for themselves.
[And Gabriel wouldn't have ever understood what Dad had meant if he hadn't left Heaven, if he'd never run away from everything Dad had ever met for them to have. Maybe if Lucifer had gone out and seen, if Michael had just... not taken his Father's word as law but actually believed then none of them would have died for a stupid, unimportant, ridiculous prophecy.
That's the thing that will always upset him. All of this wasn't necessary. They just needed time to see.]
Thank you Dad. I meant it. It is good to see you again.
[He takes a breath]
So, Hell exciting enough? How long have you been here? Did you see the Doves?
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[The air around them lightens as they both relax. It's not perfect, there are still things they'll need to talk about at some point in the future-
but it's a start.]
The... doves?
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They've been flapping around making people feel things. Warm and fuzzy, like you want to stay home and cuddle with someone, platonically, you know? Well, mostly. I think some people had more intense reactions.
Heaven sent them, I think. Because Little Eden was gassed. That's what the rumour mill is saying.
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[That's weird, son. This is without a doubt a strange, weird place. That's even without factoring for the existence of multiple other Creations, Heavens, Hells- it'd be laughable if Chuck weren't here experiencing it for Himself.
Chuck takes refuge in His drink. The motion jostles the bag of candy He'd bought earlier and stashed there.]
That explains the evil shrub on my front lawn they couldn't get rid of. [He raises two hands and manages (somehow) to indicate a rather demonic, tentacle-y shrub.]
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[He shrugs. This is the only Hell he knows- unless you count the Heaven he lived in with Michael and Raphael after the Fall. That was worse than this by a long shot. But you can cope here, if you have things to keep existing for. And Gabriel has some of those]
Has it eaten anyone? Sh- I know someone with a shrub that likes to eat people. Or has tried, I don't know if it's succeeded recently. Most of the flora and fauna here is deadly. Sort of like the stuff Lucifer and me put in Australia.
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So, all Hell's like this town? Mad Max with with demons instead of bogans? [He wrinkles a nose, assuming the answer before Gabriel can give it.]
This really isn't like Home, is it.
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[Or so he's heard. This place is special. This is where they trial everything before rolling it out]
No, it's not. But it's home now, and that's... that's okay. I don't know how well Luci or Mike will settle in but I guess we wait and see.
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Have you- how long have you been here?
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[but what is time to an archangel anyway?]
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He's glad this Hell isn't the one they had back on Earth, but still. That's too long.]
You look like you've made it work.
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I guess? This place was had a me-shaped hole.
...That sounds so wrong I'm sorry Dad.
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And you're doing okay?
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[For a start he might not be having this amount of fun.]
You said you were bored upstairs... are you less bored here? What have you been doing with yourself? Have you seen Luci? Mike?
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But the next question- ] Oh, I forgot, I got this for you.
[He reaches into His jacket and pulls out the bag of candy. It's not avoiding the question it's just. A present.]
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Dad probably knows all of Gabriel's secrets anyway.
He smiles, a fleeting sort of smile as the candy is produced and he sighs very softly. He does like sweets. But he also knows that he's being bribed not to ask any more questions.]
Thanks Dad. We can share, if you want.
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I haven't seen your brothers yet.
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I... have you spoken to them on the network? Over the phone? Ease them into the idea you're here? Luci might not take it very well and he's... found settling in difficult. And Michael...
[Michael is in a bad way. He needs to rest. Not throw himself into trying to impress their Father]
He might need some time.
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[His shoulders slump a fraction, admitting more than He ever will with words just how Chuck feels about how things ended up for Michael, for all of them.
He chews the candy in silence for a moment.]
You've seen them?
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It's better than what they would have done on Earth. It could have gone better, but it could have been much, much worse. We're all together again though, that's the important thing.
[He nods, before reaching fro his cup and taking a long swallow of chai.]
Lucifer and me have talked a few times, I saw Mike when he landed here. But... it's hard. We've all changed a lot since we were all together.
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