with v1 standing on a small ledge, he suddenly realizes something: he's
actually face-level with gabriel, for once. i mean, his height had never
particularly bothered the bot. but, it was nice, at least, not having to
crane his neck upwards to look at the taller, floating angel for once.
he momentarily tunes gabriel out, as he simply stares at him, rather in
-tensely, too. there's a quiet whirr, as his video feed zooms in, gaze dart
-ing around the front of the other's helmet, carefully taking in each detail.
v1 doesn't say anything, but leans in just a little, absentmindedly,
curious. but eventually, he seems snapped out of his little trance.
he finally starts to explain himself, too, now leaning back again.
" 15-8, 19-15-18-18-25. 9 23-1-19 12-15-15-11-9-14-7 1-20 13-25 18-5-6 -12-5-3-20-9-15-14 9-14 25-15-21-18 1-18-13-15-18. (oh, sorry. i was look
-ing at my reflection in your armor.) " then, a robotic laugh, 'ha-ha-ha!',
but whether that's true, or if it's just an excuse, is entirely up for debate.
// they stop trying to kill each other for 2 seconds and v1's already being annoying abt it. god bless <3 asdfghjkl sillies...... embarrass! that! angel!
with the click - click - click of heels, the archangel steps with relative ease over scattered corpses and debris, only offering passing guilty glances to the dead littering this soon - emptied layer of hell. a contemplative silence had fallen over him, before repeating a mantra he had fallen into. the past's wrongs will be made right. he had offered this to the machine, finally turning to look at him again — only to see the bright yellow light of his eye practically drilling into him.
a warmth rises up gabriel's neck with a light sense of embarrassment. it's hard to tell if the machine had been listening at all. the idea starts to boil in his chest. does he not care?! no, he knows the answer to that. it was made for one thing, and one thing only. doesn't he know what that's like?
... of course, such moralizing and justification and interpreting was completely moot in the face of v1 growing closer.
gabriel stood his ground as the robot examined his features, yet his blood pumped faster. what is he doing? he swallows down on impulse, tensing, not moving... it's only as v1 snaps out of it that his body relaxes again.
" — ah. " he speaks softly, taking a breath. " really? were you that captivated by your own image, machine? you were staring for quite some time, you know. "
indeed, he had only noticed v1's claimed interest in the reflection after he had already been staring for an unknown amount of time, but it wasn't difficult to assume. such a strong gaze isn't something to break out of that easily. not to mention, he knows damn well his armour had lost its sheen hours ago. ( he did not have time to polish the hell - worn metal, and his disconnect from god's light has truly done him no favours. ) there's no way he had been staring at himself.
but, sure. let the machine believe he fell for it. any bit of power over this situation is welcome! after all, why would v1 stare at him so intently if not for the sake of preparing for a fight, like a hawk watching its prey. the flush of warmth spreads beneath the helm.
" have you really not been listening at all? i was attempting to hold a conversation, you know. " ... okay, not entirely true, he was just kind of lecturing and philosophizing. but still!