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[thebalrogslayer]

 Professional
(always unanswered unless a recognised number)



"You've reached Gabriel West.  Unfortunately, I'm unavailable at the moment, but leave your name and a contact method and I'll get back to you as soon as I'm able."

Personal



"Hi, it's Gabriel!  I can't get to my phone right now, but leave me a message and I'll get back to you.  Cheers!"

Comments

[arrowpoint]

...Oh true, that's right! I'm twenty-one what can he do about it?

[Pause.]

You don't think he'd kick me out of the mountain, would he?

[thebalrogslayer]

... [On the one hand Gabriel wants to say that Thorir wouldn't ever leave someone out in the open and exposed with so much danger going on, but on the other hand, would Thorin? And how much is the latter influencing the former now?]

I don't know. [He admits.] I think he would be betrayed by it. If you want to go without going behind his back you'll have to do your best to convince him. Why did he say you couldn't go?

[arrowpoint]

[Hrm, well he didn't want to be out of a place to live. His mom didn't want him spending money on hotels anymore.]

He was like "your mind isn't ready" or something dumb like that.

[thebalrogslayer]

[SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. Except probably best not to say that.]

These aren't alien creatures or monsters we'll be dealing with. They're humans, the same as you and I, with hopes and dreams and fears. It's going to be bloody and nasty, and I expect that people are going to die. [Gabriel isn't very happy about that. He doesn't sound particularly pleased. But he's going not for the love of the battle or to try and save Locke, but to protect his own. If he can defend Thorir's back then hopefully he won't have to kill (or be killed).]

[arrowpoint]

[Liam goes quiet as he considers Gabriel's words. It was really something he was trying to push out of his mind, as was the memory of what he'd already done. When he speaks there is a slight waver in his tone, suggesting there was a disconnect between what he was saying and what he was feeling.]

I know... I've...killed somebody before.

[It was a shame that Liam couldn't realize that what Thorir had said was right, and that not being ready in this case might even be a good thing.]

I just want Locke to be safe again, you know?

[thebalrogslayer]

[That is a surprise, and Gabriel raises an eyebrow unseen.]

I understand. I think everyone wants to see it safe again. But that doesn't mean you have to fight. There will be other ways to help.

[arrowpoint]

Like what?

[He doubted his usual saving the environment thing was going to help so much in this case.]

[thebalrogslayer]

It's not going to take one fight for all the lies to go away completely. It's going to take people who haven't been too involved in any fighting, people who can fit in fairly well, to... well, do PR for lack of a better term. I'm sure that that won't be the only thing that needs to be done either. [At least Liam should be able to look harmless.]

[arrowpoint]

You mean like... be public about it?

[So far Liam was trying to be on the down low, really. He hums and seems hesitant, making a noise like he wanted to say something else, but thought better of it.]

[thebalrogslayer]

Or we'll find another way. But there will be other sides away from fighting.

You don't want to announce yourself like that?

[arrowpoint]

...I think dad would be pretty cool about it, but my mom would kill me. She doesn't even know I'm numbered, and it might look bad for the company or something. Not that Dad knows either, but... yeah.

[thebalrogslayer]

[Gabriel pauses, and then,] So you're going to keep it hidden from them?

[arrowpoint]

Well, they might make me come home, you know?

[thebalrogslayer]

What if they find out by themselves? Wouldn't you rather tell them in your own time?

[arrowpoint]

I'd rather not.

[Pause.]

For all I know maybe uncle Teage already told them, I don't know. I think they'd have asked me to come home by now.

[thebalrogslayer]

Well, it is your choice. As long as you know what you're doing. [Much like that subject that Liam originally called him for that Gabriel doesn't wish to remind him of.}

[arrowpoint]

Yeah, I got this. My folks don't know a lot of stuff, and I've turned out okay.

[Liam no]

[thebalrogslayer]

[Yeaaaaah Gabriel's not 100% sure about that certain salads shall not be mentioned but he's hardly going to tell Liam that.]

I hope that they don't find out, then.