[ Gabriel entirely brushes off the psychoanalyst jab. He used to do this to everyone, so a friend can handle it for a bit. ]
It's- okay, I can't claim to know what it's like to be a kid. I don't remember my childhood. But when you were a kid, how important were apologies to you? Was it devastating when you thought someone was mad at you?
If you just tell them you're sorry you upset them, I bet it would help things a lot. Tell them that you've been through a lot and it makes you angry and scared sometimes, that you don't think they should have to be in charge but you didn't mean to hurt their feelings. Anything like that would tell them that you're actually ready to move on.
Maybe the parents won't feel better about you, but- seriously, who cares about them? I'm mostly being nice to them to get more information.
[ A little untrue, as he does genuinely like Zephyr's family so far. But when it came down to it, the kid is the important one. ]
[Those are all very good points and despite Stephen's resistance, Gabriel's planting a seed at this moment. At this moment, though, he's not ready to hear it, and he's certainly not ready to hear it from someone he's been inclined to keep at arm's length.]
It seems everyone knows how I feel except me. Thanks for enlightening me; that's extraordinarily helpful. Step by step instructions and everything.
[He's not angry and scared, you're angry and scared. He shifts like he's going to turn back to the portal from whence he came; he's losing this argument and he doesn't care for it.]
[ Gabriel smirks, but it's lacking any of his normal malice. There's a reason he hasn't brought up Dormammu explicitly- and he's tempted now, but that's just going to get Stephen to shut down entirely, he suspects.
Not that that's probably going to make a difference in a second. ]
I mean, when the sociopath has to tell you how to make a kid feel better- yeah, maybe you need 'em. So you're welcome.
[ If Stephen looks back before the portal closes, he'll glimpse the genuinely hurt look on Gabriel's face. It seems like that jab hit his target, at least. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-08-09 06:31 pm (UTC)It's- okay, I can't claim to know what it's like to be a kid. I don't remember my childhood. But when you were a kid, how important were apologies to you? Was it devastating when you thought someone was mad at you?
If you just tell them you're sorry you upset them, I bet it would help things a lot. Tell them that you've been through a lot and it makes you angry and scared sometimes, that you don't think they should have to be in charge but you didn't mean to hurt their feelings. Anything like that would tell them that you're actually ready to move on.
Maybe the parents won't feel better about you, but- seriously, who cares about them? I'm mostly being nice to them to get more information.
[ A little untrue, as he does genuinely like Zephyr's family so far. But when it came down to it, the kid is the important one. ]
no subject
Date: 2018-08-09 06:48 pm (UTC)It seems everyone knows how I feel except me. Thanks for enlightening me; that's extraordinarily helpful. Step by step instructions and everything.
[He's not angry and scared, you're angry and scared. He shifts like he's going to turn back to the portal from whence he came; he's losing this argument and he doesn't care for it.]
no subject
Date: 2018-08-09 07:23 pm (UTC)Not that that's probably going to make a difference in a second. ]
I mean, when the sociopath has to tell you how to make a kid feel better- yeah, maybe you need 'em. So you're welcome.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-09 07:36 pm (UTC)I don't even know you, asshole. We're not friends and you're not my confidant. Don't write to me again.
[And he's out through that portal, waving a hand to collapse it behind him.]
no subject
Date: 2018-08-09 07:49 pm (UTC)