Halfway

[applesaucemod]

Tonight each dreamer of Manhattan will find out they're half the person they used to be.

No, really. Or at least, they're half the human[oid] they used to be. One way or another, each dreamer has been transformed into a hybrid creature from mythology. Fortunately, they find themselves at stunning fjord where those of the more aquatic persuasion can relax in the calm waters (unless, of course, the rift decides to beach them for fun) while others remain on dry ground (then again, who says a centaur can't swim?). There are trees in which bird-people can roost and warm rocks on which the cold-blooded can sun themselves, and the water of the fjord is cool, clear, and inviting. There's nothing man-made to be seen, no hint of civilization other than the dreamers themselves…and in this state, are they really so civilized?


[OOC: The usual dream party rules apply: all players and characters welcome, regardless of whether or not the character (or any character of yours) is in the game. Despite the wording, characters who did not start out looking human are welcome. Characters may remember or forget everything that happens in the Dreaming at players' discretion.]

Comments

[has_a_horn]

Right. That's the question he doesn't really want to answer. He's gotten better at answering it, since he's gotten back, but no response to the truth is going to be good. To delay a little while, Gabriel pushes himself up from the conjured chair onto his dangerous looking feet.

He gestures with an arm and its corresponding wing- a mass of golden brown feathers pointed further down along the shore. "Come for a walk with me. I'll explain."

[fucking_ebay]

Peter shifts his weight uneasily, surprised Gabriel's just agreed to simply tell him. It's hard to trust that anything would ever be that easy when it comes to Gabriel. Frowning, he falls into step with the bird-man angel; at least now he's had enough practice that walking and talking at the same time is an option. "I saw you on the news," he says, though Gabriel's probably guessed. He considers mentioning that he only found out Gabriel was gone when Seth asked if Peter had seen him, but thinks better of it. Mention that and the subject of him punching Johnny might come up, and he doubts Gabriel would approve.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel will eventually get around to asking why Peter punched Johnny (which he totally already knows about) but that might but a subject for another day. Peter is one of Gabriel's oldest friends here in this universe. If he had told Daine, mad as she still is with him, he can tell Peter the truth as well.

He nods to Peter. He assumes that just about everyone has seen the news story by now. He doesn't like to think about what their reactions had been. "I've been with the TARDIS. Recovering, for a few days. I'm good as new, now." He's eager to reassure Peter, but he's not quite good as new in any sense of the word. He can look good as new now, which is a definite improvement, but he still has a way to go before his Grace heals.

He keeps walking, putting one foot in front of the other in an effort to steady his mind. He takes in a slow breath and keeps the tone of his voice light, though he doesn't look over to Peter to check on how he's receiving any of this. "Last week, I threw myself into the rift hoping it'd kill me. Instead, it chewed me up and spit me back out. That's what you saw on the news."

[fucking_ebay]

Peter lets out a little choking sound and stops cold, staring at Gabriel. He hadn't had any idea -- hadn't even known Gabriel was absent for days. Of course he'd had an inkling that Gabriel was unhappy, but who the fuck isn't? He tries to laugh like it's some kind of trick or joke (Gabriel delivered his bit about Godzilla just as seriously, didn't he?), but it comes out as more of a wheeze than anything.

"You're the archangel fucking Gabriel!" he says when he has his voice back. "You can't just -- just kill yourself! What the hell was I supposed to do --"

He cuts himself off with a stamp of a hoof. What the hell was I supposed to do without you, he doesn't finish asking.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel takes a few steps forward after Peter pulls to a stop, but he only turns back once Peter wheezes out something between a laugh and a shocked gasp. It's surprising that Peter seems so effected by the news. He'd known that Peter more or less considered him a friend, if a particularly frightening one. He didn't expect to see such distress on his face. Oh, Peter.

He walks back and reaches out a hand that settles against Peter's cheek briefly before dropping away.

He misunderstands what Peter has to say, thinking that he's asking what he could have done to prevent his suicide attempt. "You couldn't have done anything. I was headed that way no matter what." When was the last time he and Gabriel had talked, anyway? A month ago? What has Peter even been doing since then?

"If I ever try again, I'll have to do it myself." He smiles, transparently false. "The rift wouldn't do it for me." He shrugs, sending feathers rippling across his enormous wings in a way that makes the small gesture larger than he'd meant it to seem.

[fucking_ebay]

Peter's never figured out just what Gabriel is to him, but 'friend' is the closest word for it he can find (even if he'd still be reluctant to use that label out loud). In the past he's always been the unpredictable, unstable one in any relationship he's formed, friendly or otherwise, and he finds himself unable to cope with having the tables turned on him.

Another thing with which he's not coping well? That dismissal of his ability to do anything, even if Peter hadn't really been asking how to help, followed by that matter-of-fact assessment of how Gabriel will go about it on the next attempt. "Shut up," he snaps with a stamp of a hoof. "Don't even fucking talk like that!"

[has_a_horn]

It takes a force of will not to cross his arms protectively over his chest when Peter snaps at him. His hands clench then unclench at his sides as he tries to reign himself in. He's not angry with Peter, but he instinctively wants to react like Peter is attacking him. He'd thought that this would get easier, but each person reacts so differently to the news that it's impossible to get used to.

"I'm not...I won't, okay?" He doesn't want to hear any more of this. It's easier to just sweep it under the rug. "I need to stick around. Who else is going to stop you from punching my friends?" Hopefully, him knowing about Peter punching Johnny will be enough of a distraction.

[fucking_ebay]

Peter, on the other hand, doesn't resist the urge to wrap his arms around himself. The question is well-timed to put him back on the defensive and head off a display of emotions more embarrassing and uncomfortable than the anger that had taken front and center. He sputters a moment, no answer prepared, then goes with, "He started it!"

[has_a_horn]

Glad for the new distraction, Gabriel smiles. It's entirely possible that Johnny did start it, but he's guessing it's more complicated than that. "He punched you too? Why?"

[fucking_ebay]

Maybe it's only fair that Gabriel's pushing him on a point he really doesn't want to talk about, but Peter doesn't care about making it fair. He can hardly say, either, that it didn't start with Johnny punching him. "He's a dick, alright? And I barely touched him."