[audio . open]

[delightme]

Alexander Wilton has opened communication!

[This call was actually supposed to be only for Gabriel, but since he's really drunk, it's going out to everyone. His voice is a little slurred, although it's still mostly intelligible.]

Do you remember flying? I think...I think that's why we fall. Flying--. Flying was our little peephole into freedom, you know. I bet Father did that on purpose. He always...always had a poor sense of humor.

[Silence.]

I flew. I think. It felt like it, anyway. Maybe I'm imagining it. I can't seeeee my wings. Of course not. I just... I wake up these days wondering why the hell I do.

Comments

[ audio ]

[tartanisstylish]

John Gates has opened communication!

. . . It was very similar.

[ Pause. P a u s e . Fret. ] How much have you had?

[delightme]

Hm? Oh. Did I--? Eh. A lot, I suppose.

[tartanisstylish]

Enough, perhaps.

[delightme]

No. No, I think I'll just...keep going.

[tartanisstylish]

. . . If it helps.

[delightme]

Better than nothing, as they...well, whatever.

[tartanisstylish]

Right. Mm.

Good that you flew, at least. Er. Congratulations.

[delightme]

What? No. Terrible--terrible, that, actually. Couldn't even... They're fake, not there. It's sooooo...disturbing.

[tartanisstylish]

Not invisible? Just not there.

[delightme]

Something like that.

[tartanisstylish]

[ The noise he makes is sort of a quiet 'eurgh'. ]

[delightme]

[And Balthazar finishes a shot.]

[trickntreats]

Sylvester Wilton has opened communication!

It's kinda hard to forget, bro.

... Where are you?

[delightme]

Take an educated guess.

[trickntreats]

I mean 'which one'.

[delightme]

Doesn't matter.

[trickntreats]

It does if you don't want me to kick your ass for making me work once I eventually manage to find you.

[Even though he might anyway.]

[delightme]

[There's humor in Balthazar's tone, but it's very bitter.] Make you work? What... What are you going to do, Gabriel? Soul-read me? Fix me? You're... You're ridiculous.

[trickntreats]

Whatever I have to. Where are you.

[Any humour that had been present in his initial reply is gone. Of his family, the only ones he has here are Aziraphale and Balthazar. Gabriel doesn't intent to lose either of them to anything, let alone self-destruction.]

[delightme]

Seeing as there are...oh...a whole twenty or something of us here, I'd saaaaay...the only bar open. [Meanwhile, the drunken blond will continue to be unhelpful, not really sure if he wants the help or not.]

[trickntreats]

Because it's not like you at all to break into a bar where there's no one to regulate your intake.

[Fine. He's going to start by taking his caravan around the bars nearest Balthazar's place. Not getting out of getting the help, bro.]

[delightme]

[Balthazar doesn't say another word, just hangs up the phone and downs another shot.]

[trickntreats]

[Dad damn it. It takes a couple of hours, but eventually Gabriel pulls up outside an apparently closed bar whose lights are nonetheless lit. A moment later he enters the bar with a slam of the door, glancing around for his brother.

[He's not feeling the joviality tonight. He hadn't heard much from Balthazar since the arrival in the city, and the idea that the other angel has been going out and drinking his wits away every single night? It sends shivers down Gabriel's spine.]

[delightme]

[Most people might jump at the sight of Gabriel barreling into the bar, slamming doors, but Balthazar is neither most people nor sober. His actions are sluggish, his glass empty. He's simply holding the glass and had not filled it in at least an hour.

Despite his brother's obvious anger, Balthazar gives a slight wave and not phased at all.]

[trickntreats]

[At the sight of Balthazar Gabriel manages to pull an utterly fake smile onto his face.]

Tag; you're It.

[He strolls over in that tense way of someone not nearly as relaxed as they're pretending they are, and after a moment's pause takes the glass out of Balthazar's hand to set it on the counter. Despite himself, his expression softens into something more tired, more sympathetic, and equally bitter.]

Come on, bro. Let's get you out of here.