Skul had phrased a few things which added to the misconception. Now, Gabriel had no issues with that misconception in and of itself. It was somehow amusing to be aware of a misconception due to simple perspective or ignorance, and to add to it. Gabriel wouldn't have called it cruel, because no one was hurt in the teasing; it was good-natured.
And Gabriel had no issues with sex. Obviously, he didn't need it or want it himself. He wasn't even really equipped for it, so the assumption was so wrong as to be ridiculous, and Gabriel couldn't take it seriously.
Davina Marr's disdainful assumption of necrophilia had been much worse. Such an act was perverse if Gabriel had truly been human, and Marr knew it. To make such an assumption with awareness was degrading, and even worse because of his angelic nature, whether Marr knew it or not.
This was somehow different again, and Gabriel didn't even realise it until Valkyrie explained. There was an intimacy to being in a closed room, a darkened room. To being vulnerable. To knowing he could descend into the depths of a beloved memory, completely unaware of the passing of time in a way he'd never been before as an angel, and know that he'd be safe. That Skul was there, would be there, had been there when Gabe came aware again.
That Skul would willingly offer his hand and soul as a comfort.
The fact Valkyrie added the part about skin made it clear what sort of intimacy the two women were thinking of, but it didn't matter. Gabe had been more vulnerable than he'd ever been in that room, and part of him felt somehow embarrassed that someone might have even come close to noticing how much it meant to him. Some things were meant to remain intimate. Sex, if there had been truly been sex, would have been one of them, but there wasn't any.
There was just this. And it was important to him.
"Oh," he said, and realised belatedly that his cheeks were a bit red. He hoped no one noticed. "Well, at least someone's still finding it amusing, I suppose."
~~~
Because Solomon was watching closely, he saw all of it. He saw the restrained shock. The self-reprimand. Some measure of wariness, but not enough to stop the intense curiosity. And Solomon wondered exactly what would happen if someone tried to control an Archangel's true name.
It was almost a pity he wouldn't be able to be there.
"Who knows," he said with a graceful shrug. "Divine or not, for a being to be called 'angelic' certainly implies they think greatly of themselves. Or perhaps they simply have no convention for taken names in his world. Yet, how then do prayers work? It's rather curious, don't you think?"
The hook was baited. Although Solomon kept his voice light, detached with curiosity, he expected that whether or not China suspected there was, in fact, a hook wouldn't matter. China Sorrows was a woman of control. If Saint Gabriel had indeed been immune to her ... charms ... and had indeed grown angry, knowing his name now would only spur her on in an attempt to control even him.
Solomon wondered if he ought to warn her, then remembered her taunt, and decided she could handle herself.
no subject
And Gabriel had no issues with sex. Obviously, he didn't need it or want it himself. He wasn't even really equipped for it, so the assumption was so wrong as to be ridiculous, and Gabriel couldn't take it seriously.
Davina Marr's disdainful assumption of necrophilia had been much worse. Such an act was perverse if Gabriel had truly been human, and Marr knew it. To make such an assumption with awareness was degrading, and even worse because of his angelic nature, whether Marr knew it or not.
This was somehow different again, and Gabriel didn't even realise it until Valkyrie explained. There was an intimacy to being in a closed room, a darkened room. To being vulnerable. To knowing he could descend into the depths of a beloved memory, completely unaware of the passing of time in a way he'd never been before as an angel, and know that he'd be safe. That Skul was there, would be there, had been there when Gabe came aware again.
That Skul would willingly offer his hand and soul as a comfort.
The fact Valkyrie added the part about skin made it clear what sort of intimacy the two women were thinking of, but it didn't matter. Gabe had been more vulnerable than he'd ever been in that room, and part of him felt somehow embarrassed that someone might have even come close to noticing how much it meant to him. Some things were meant to remain intimate. Sex, if there had been truly been sex, would have been one of them, but there wasn't any.
There was just this. And it was important to him.
"Oh," he said, and realised belatedly that his cheeks were a bit red. He hoped no one noticed. "Well, at least someone's still finding it amusing, I suppose."
~~~
Because Solomon was watching closely, he saw all of it. He saw the restrained shock. The self-reprimand. Some measure of wariness, but not enough to stop the intense curiosity. And Solomon wondered exactly what would happen if someone tried to control an Archangel's true name.
It was almost a pity he wouldn't be able to be there.
"Who knows," he said with a graceful shrug. "Divine or not, for a being to be called 'angelic' certainly implies they think greatly of themselves. Or perhaps they simply have no convention for taken names in his world. Yet, how then do prayers work? It's rather curious, don't you think?"
The hook was baited. Although Solomon kept his voice light, detached with curiosity, he expected that whether or not China suspected there was, in fact, a hook wouldn't matter. China Sorrows was a woman of control. If Saint Gabriel had indeed been immune to her ... charms ... and had indeed grown angry, knowing his name now would only spur her on in an attempt to control even him.
Solomon wondered if he ought to warn her, then remembered her taunt, and decided she could handle herself.