Fear over any implied repercussions of refusing to help the man he'd just sworn to help no matter what was the last thing on Paddy's mind. He glanced at the group of people behind Gabriel, but when none of them seemed about to say anything, he decided to take it upon himself.
"That - that didn't even occur to me," he said evenly and with barely a hint of a stutter. As well as, to his knowledge, truthfully. "With all due respect... with all due respect, I am aware of what I'm allowed. I would like to continue helping Solomon Wreath, with or without permission. If you're not 'up to snuff,' then there's absolutely no chance I wouldn't offer to help, or to refuse, even if I wanted to."
He hesitated, and in the near complete silence following his words, was immediately aware of what that must have sounded like. Arrogant, maybe. Assuming. Pretentious. But he didn't back down, and he didn't take it back, because he knew it wasn't arrogance at all. The simple fact that Gabriel gave him the option to refuse made that clear, even if receiving the option felt almost offensive and condescending. "And I don't," he added as his own afterthought. "I don't refuse to help. Just in case that wasn't clear." Finally aware that he'd accepted the Archangel's proffered hands at some point, Paddy cautiously squeezed back. "It really is an honour to meet you."
After another moment of near-silence, the teenage girl spoke. "I like him."
The tall man who was all bundled up chuckled. "Well said. Good job." Paddy couldn't tell if he was directing that towards the girl with him, or towards Paddy himself. The man barely moved his head; it was impossible to tell where he was looking beneath those giant sunglasses. "Well, you both should have a lot to talk about. Lifetime of religion and all. So we'll just keep an eye out for now."
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Fear over any implied repercussions of refusing to help the man he'd just sworn to help no matter what was the last thing on Paddy's mind. He glanced at the group of people behind Gabriel, but when none of them seemed about to say anything, he decided to take it upon himself.
"That - that didn't even occur to me," he said evenly and with barely a hint of a stutter. As well as, to his knowledge, truthfully. "With all due respect... with all due respect, I am aware of what I'm allowed. I would like to continue helping Solomon Wreath, with or without permission. If you're not 'up to snuff,' then there's absolutely no chance I wouldn't offer to help, or to refuse, even if I wanted to."
He hesitated, and in the near complete silence following his words, was immediately aware of what that must have sounded like. Arrogant, maybe. Assuming. Pretentious. But he didn't back down, and he didn't take it back, because he knew it wasn't arrogance at all. The simple fact that Gabriel gave him the option to refuse made that clear, even if receiving the option felt almost offensive and condescending. "And I don't," he added as his own afterthought. "I don't refuse to help. Just in case that wasn't clear." Finally aware that he'd accepted the Archangel's proffered hands at some point, Paddy cautiously squeezed back. "It really is an honour to meet you."
After another moment of near-silence, the teenage girl spoke. "I like him."
The tall man who was all bundled up chuckled. "Well said. Good job." Paddy couldn't tell if he was directing that towards the girl with him, or towards Paddy himself. The man barely moved his head; it was impossible to tell where he was looking beneath those giant sunglasses. "Well, you both should have a lot to talk about. Lifetime of religion and all. So we'll just keep an eye out for now."