Once Gabriel actually focussed on Fletcher again, the Archangel noticed his boredom and his brewing apprehension at once. Gabe didn't get a chance to address it while they were in Kenspeckle's lab, but then they weren't, and the Archangel laughed again at Fletcher's awe. "Take it in. It's going to be like that until we leave and I have to hide myself again."
No point in straining himself when he didn't have to. A moment later Gabe squeezed the teen's arm reassuringly.
"Thank you," he said warmly, "for waiting. I know it can't have been easy." Fletcher was not someone prone to patience, and having too long to think could be a hazard on its own. That, Gabriel knew full well, and personally.
"Skul and I need to figure out where to go from here," he said. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to, but if you do, we'd appreciate your advice." He was entirely sincere. Right now, Fletcher was the only one who'd been here this past year who was willing to get even close to Skulduggery. Willing to help him at all. If Fletcher wanted to leave, Gabriel understood the need for space; but if he stayed, it would make things that much easier.
~~~
The old man guffawed, and unlike Ghastly's laugh, this one was amused. "Who said I was anglin'? Nothin' wrong with two people bein' in silence y'know, mister older-than-I-look. Worst place a man can be, alone with his thoughts. S'why God invented company."
With a shrug the old man knocked back his own glass without even a hint it affected him and grinned mischievously, challengingly, at Ghastly.
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No point in straining himself when he didn't have to. A moment later Gabe squeezed the teen's arm reassuringly.
"Thank you," he said warmly, "for waiting. I know it can't have been easy." Fletcher was not someone prone to patience, and having too long to think could be a hazard on its own. That, Gabriel knew full well, and personally.
"Skul and I need to figure out where to go from here," he said. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to, but if you do, we'd appreciate your advice." He was entirely sincere. Right now, Fletcher was the only one who'd been here this past year who was willing to get even close to Skulduggery. Willing to help him at all. If Fletcher wanted to leave, Gabriel understood the need for space; but if he stayed, it would make things that much easier.
~~~
The old man guffawed, and unlike Ghastly's laugh, this one was amused. "Who said I was anglin'? Nothin' wrong with two people bein' in silence y'know, mister older-than-I-look. Worst place a man can be, alone with his thoughts. S'why God invented company."
With a shrug the old man knocked back his own glass without even a hint it affected him and grinned mischievously, challengingly, at Ghastly.