RP: Is this Heaven?

[rainbowmods]

There is a reception area, and at first glance, it looks to be like most reception areas: there is a front desk, a hallway that leads away, boasting a row of doors appearing to go on forever; there are two other doors immediately visible, one bearing the words Conference Room and the other Committee Chair, both etched in fine glass. All of the décor is elegant, if cold: everything is done up in blues and whites, and the chairs and couches provided look like they were chosen more for their appearance over their actual functionality.

If not for the sense of other in the room, it might seem like an ordinary office building.

It isn’t.

Welcome to heaven! Feel free to explore. A very freaked out Gabriel will probably greet you at some point.

Comments

[sarcasticsra]

"I'm not sure I see how any of that objectively qualifies as 'bad' in human terms," Gabriel says, confused. "Angels have stricter rules--or, at least, I thought we were supposed to--but humanity has always been... freer. Perhaps that's..." He stops. His own personal dilemmas have no place here.

[bookblather]

Okay, it was official, Jack was upping his estimation of this guy from "enjoys company" to "would give blowjob if desired." Did angels have dicks? Something to ask Miranda when she was feeling particularly irritable. "Technically drugs are illegal," he said. "And nobody likes anyone with an interest in the same sex. Being against Leviticus and all. What's perhaps?"

[sarcasticsra]

"Oh. Leviticus." Gabriel says the word like most people would say congress. "Human laws are often arbitrary." But then again... aren't Heaven's? Doesn't today prove that, of all things? "I was going to say, perhaps that's why I haven't visited Earth as much as I ought. I think... I'm envious. My entire existence has been drawn up in rules, in order, and lately... well, it appears that humans may not be the only beings capable of arbitrariness. I suppose I just wonder what it might be like to experience humanity's brand of freedom."

[bookblather]

Jack gave that some serious thought before answering. It only seemed fair.

"Difficult," he said, eventually. "But fun. I mean, living without other people's rules is terrifying, because you have to make them all up for yourself, and sometimes you get them wrong. Like Leviticus, I guess--oh, does that mean the Bible doesn't come from Heaven? Because I have an argument to win."

[sarcasticsra]

"It was written by humans," Gabriel says. "Angels would have been much more confusing."

He smiles, sheepishly, at his own joke, but then he is out of practice.

[bookblather]

Jack laughed, and grinned at him. "Nice. And that's that argument put paid. Not that Carmen will believe me, but whatever, I'll know I'm right."

[sarcasticsra]

Gabriel smiles back at him, pleased that he got him to laugh. "Sometimes that's all you need," he says.

[bookblather]

"Definitely." Jack went on smiling at him. He kind of liked smiling at Gabriel. "So I guess you don't do a whole lot of annunciating anymore?"

[sarcasticsra]

"Not particularly," Gabriel says, a trifle dryly. "Most days I feel like--what's the human expression--a glorified babysitter?" He shakes his head, glancing around the room. "My apologies, it never occurred to me to ask--would you like to sit down?" Just in case, he waves his hand and a couple chairs appear, far more comfortable than the others in the room. Angels don't actually need them, but humans generally like comfort, he thinks.

[bookblather]

"Sure, why not," Jack said, and plopped down in one of them. "And glorified babysitter is close enough. I know my sister bitches about being one all the time--sorry, complains." He grinned again. "Didn't mean to swear."

[sarcasticsra]

"I probably should be more bothered by it," Gabriel admits, sitting down as well. "Although I'm finding it harder to justify all the things I should do or think, these days. There are a lot of things about the world that I haven't allowed myself to know or experience, out of what I think was misguided propriety, and I'm beginning to regret it."

[bookblather]

"Only the good die young," Jack murmured. "Yeah, that's a thing. If you're ever interested in experiencing some of that, look me up."

[sarcasticsra]

Gabriel can't deny he's intrigued. "How do you mean?" he asks curiously.

[bookblather]

Intrigued, Jack leaned forward on his toes and stuffed his hands deep in his pockets. "Well. Depends on whether or not what I've heard about angels is true."

[sarcasticsra]

"Humans have a lot of fairly odd ideas about angels," Gabriel says apologetically. "Can you be more specific?"

[bookblather]

"I meant the part," Jack said, "where you're sexless unless you really want to make an effort."

((Jack is quoting Good Omens, for the record.))

[sarcasticsra]

Gabriel supposes he should have guessed. That basic idea is a fairly common one. "Oh. No. Angels are, as a general rule, omnisexual."

[bookblather]

"Aw, man, that totally screws my pickup line," Jack said. He waggled his eyebrows. "I was gonna ask you if you wanted to make an effort and then wink."

[sarcasticsra]

"You have a very appealing wink," Gabriel says without thinking, and then the rest of what Jack has implied catches up to him. "I--really? You would consider--with me?"

Gabriel has enough knowledge of humans to know that Jack is an extremely attractive one, so the idea is surprising. That's when he realizes he's leaned forward without actually being consciously aware of it, and that is highly unusual.

He wants Jack. The idea seems simple, but it's been so long since he's allowed himself to want. He scarcely believed he was still capable of it.

[bookblather]

Jack was savvy enough to realize that "um, duh" might be flattering but was not charming. Instead he said, "More than consider. Just sayin', no pressure."