Not often. Not often because up until recently it was never needed, because if not the Lord than Gabe's siblings would always be around as an aid. And yet, at the same time, it was the easiest thing in the world to ask for. Help had always been present, and Gabriel had never felt the need to refrain from asking for it, regardless of the source.

The Archangel gripped Skulduggery's hand, using that contact as a stabilising influence, and managed a wobbly but grateful smile. He couldn't sense much in this state. He could sense that there was turbulence, but not what was causing it, and when Skul managed to calm himself Gabe just felt glad.

"Always found relaxing a bit hard," he whispered. "M'Lord was always saying not to let things get my goat. S'such a weird phrase." It had taken him so long to get it. It wasn't that he was unaware of the nuances of language, it was just that, coming from his Master ... he'd never had reason to guess his Master's meaning or intent. Never had to take Him as anything other than literally.

The focussing was easier. Angels, when they wanted to, could focus for days in quite an inhuman manner. Of course, that also depended on what to focus on. Michael and Rafe were better at it than Gabriel. Gabriel had tended to find it hardest when there were distractions to be had ... distractions which made him feel distressed. It was so much easier when he was looking just for the sake of beauty.

Of course, that was a different kind of focus. A focus on a thing, instead of on nothing at all. Gabe's brow furrowed. Who would want to focus on nothing? Where was the fun in that, when there was so much of the world to experience? Even that state of experiencing each individual atom was still a state of experiencing. "Not exactly," he admitted, shifting so he was half-curled around where Skul was seated and Skul's hand was clutched back against the Archangel's chest. "Usually we focus on something, not on ... nothing. I don't know if I've daydreamed before."