You shifted my... [He'd put his hand on his head, but really, there's no way to actually confirm that apart from where his symptoms go from here. Or one of Stephen's makeshift imaging scans in his astral projection form. He sounds thoroughly horrified, though.]
You just... [And horror shifts, as his fear typically does, to anger, all the better to defend against it.] Don't ever mess around with my brain again without asking. I didn't consent to that. [Even if it's a good thing. The thought of what else Gabriel can do with that kind of ability is truly terrifying.] I prefer my neurosurgeons to have degrees... and a modicum of ethics when it comes to treating patients who're alert and capable of making their own treatment decisions.
And that's why I didn't ask. You'd have never said yes, and it's such a little thing.
[ His eyes roll as he speaks. He does feel a little bad that he went ahead and did it, but he didn't see a better option from where he was standing. ]
Especially for me. But sure, I won't again without asking, scout's honor. At least now you know my ability lets me make micro adjustments like that perfectly. The aptitude means I'm never wrong. And now Bucky won't have to worry about complications.
You just moved my brain. In what world is that a little thing?
[Honestly!]
I'm having Stephen check it. [Because he doesn't trust whatever aptitude nonsense Gabriel's talking about.] And I might well have said yes under Stephen's supervision.
[ He raises an eyebrow, clearly not believing John's claim that he might've said yes. But then he nods. ]
Please do have Stephen check it. I can get him if you want.
And- yeah, I guess it's a bigger thing in this world. Back home, I removed a terminal blood clot from someone's brain with no pain and no mess. Just a tiny nosebleed. This was not anywhere near as complicated.
[There are so many things wrong with that, with Gabriel just... doing that. He knows that's extraordinary and the medical applications are amazing, but dear god, could literally anyone else have been given this power?]
Glad to know this is just a habit, nothing personal. Please do go get Stephen, if you're really offering. I'm sure he'd like to know what you just did.
Will do. And good luck with that letter. I'm gonna write Zephyr one, too.
[ He waves as he leaves the room and disappears for approximately twenty minutes, coming back with Stephen in tow. He's told the doctor that John wants to see him but not why. Maybe he's starting to regret his actions a little? ]
[Stephen comes along without argument; his assumption is that John's running up against a new symptom or wanting a change of medication, so he doesn't delay in accompanying Gabriel to the other doctor's home.]
The special ability I have that tells me how to perfectly fix any complex system, including brains. I also fixed the blood flow in spots.
I've broken up a blood clot in the brain telekinetically before, no side effects or complications. This was easy. And John feels better now- don't you, Doctor?
[Stephen turns to John as well. He suspects he knows the answer--why else would he be here now rather than having been called in to supervise?--but he asks anyway.]
[ The fact that John admits he's feeling better helps cool some of Gabriel's ire. He really does want to help. He's just not beyond forcing his way into helping.
So he lets out a small sigh. ]
John's told me he would've let me try with you around, but I figured neither of you would believe me if I just told you what I could do. Nobody does, when it comes to the aptitude. And like I said, it's not a big deal for me, so-
Why would I not? I believed you when you talked about your magic, back in Norfinbury. You've seen my telekinesis in action. Why is it always so impossible to believe in a mental ability?
[ Stephen may have hit a hot-button topic for Gabriel here. ]
Take a look at the work, Stephen. It's not only acceptable, it's perfect.
[Stephen narrows his eyes, though he does break eye contact to glance at John--not, of course, that he can see into John's skull in his current physical form.]
I have telekineses and actual experience as a neurosurgeon, but I'm not enough of an ass to experiment with the two together!
See, that's what you're not getting. It's not an experiment. My aptitude tells me exactly how to do it and how well it will work. It is never wrong. That's the whole reason it's a 'super power'. And my telekinesis-
[ He cuts himself off and smirks a bit. ] You know, I sort of figured you'd have a magic way to check him over. But if not, keep yelling at me, by all means.
[Gabriel's "superpower" sounds a lot like good old fashioned narcissism to Stephen. His entire demeanor sharpens, though, when Gabriel challenges his own prowess; there's a certain squaring of the shoulders as he draws himself up to full height.]
If you've hurt him--
[Stephen doesn't finish the sentence, but takes in a deep breath, letting it out with cold deliberation as he shifts his weight off the floor and sits, cross-legged, in midair with his cloak billowing out around him. It's harder when he's angry, but he lets his eyes slide shut and takes a few more deep breaths before his head lolls forward as he departs his body for the astral plane.
When his ghostly form emerges from midair a moment later, he adds:]
[ He highly doubts that Stephen sees all of it- the fact that he shifted the topic off of just how much better his own telekinesis is compared to Stephen's nascent ability, and onto something that Gabriel can't do at all. But if Stephen did somehow figure that out- consider it a gesture of friendship, buddy.
Gabriel outwardly smirks in response. But it's clear he finds the astral projection fascinating. He reaches out, trying to put his hand through Stephen's ghostly form. ]
[John can't disagree that Stephen's astral projection thing is 'neat,' but he lies there stone-faced, not wanting to give Gabriel the satisfaction of his agreement.]
Might want to make sure he didn't muck up your surgery.
[Stephen takes a swipe at Gabriel's hand in return to knock it away. The movement of his arm and the push against Gabriel's hand aren't quite in sync; this is telekinesis rather than the touch of his astral form, which Gabriel's hand went right through.]
If you're done, I have work to do here.
[He's just going to glower and sulk his way over to John's sick bed.]
John, I need to put my hands inside your head now, but it's not going to have a direct impact on your physical form. May I?
[See? He's asking for consent. Because that's what you do.]
[ Gabriel is oh-so-tempted to use telekinesis on Stephen's body to make him feel the push against Gabriel's hand. But he has no idea if it'll do that or just pull the man out of his current state, or if nothing at all will happen.
So instead, he just watches, rolling his eyes when Stephen deliberately asks 'may I'. ]
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You just... [And horror shifts, as his fear typically does, to anger, all the better to defend against it.] Don't ever mess around with my brain again without asking. I didn't consent to that. [Even if it's a good thing. The thought of what else Gabriel can do with that kind of ability is truly terrifying.] I prefer my neurosurgeons to have degrees... and a modicum of ethics when it comes to treating patients who're alert and capable of making their own treatment decisions.
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[ His eyes roll as he speaks. He does feel a little bad that he went ahead and did it, but he didn't see a better option from where he was standing. ]
Especially for me. But sure, I won't again without asking, scout's honor. At least now you know my ability lets me make micro adjustments like that perfectly. The aptitude means I'm never wrong. And now Bucky won't have to worry about complications.
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[Honestly!]
I'm having Stephen check it. [Because he doesn't trust whatever aptitude nonsense Gabriel's talking about.] And I might well have said yes under Stephen's supervision.
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Please do have Stephen check it. I can get him if you want.
And- yeah, I guess it's a bigger thing in this world. Back home, I removed a terminal blood clot from someone's brain with no pain and no mess. Just a tiny nosebleed. This was not anywhere near as complicated.
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Glad to know this is just a habit, nothing personal. Please do go get Stephen, if you're really offering. I'm sure he'd like to know what you just did.
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[ He waves as he leaves the room and disappears for approximately twenty minutes, coming back with Stephen in tow. He's told the doctor that John wants to see him but not why. Maybe he's starting to regret his actions a little? ]
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Hello, John. Any changes? How are you feeling?
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[Might as well get down to the heart of the matter immediately.]
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Just a little, to help with the concussion. It's not a big deal.
[ But yes, please take a look and see that his work is perfect, Stephen. ]
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[Stephen immediately rounds on Gabriel.]
Moved it how? Telekinetically? What the hell made you think that was a good idea?!
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The special ability I have that tells me how to perfectly fix any complex system, including brains. I also fixed the blood flow in spots.
I've broken up a blood clot in the brain telekinetically before, no side effects or complications. This was easy. And John feels better now- don't you, Doctor?
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John, did you consent to this?
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[A pause before he relents just slightly.]
But I don't feel as nauseous or... fuzzy.
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So he lets out a small sigh. ]
John's told me he would've let me try with you around, but I figured neither of you would believe me if I just told you what I could do. Nobody does, when it comes to the aptitude. And like I said, it's not a big deal for me, so-
[ He shrugs. ]
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[No. Not the right question. Of course Gabriel will reply that he knows exactly how delicate of an organ the brain is.]
Why would you expect to be believed?
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Why would I not? I believed you when you talked about your magic, back in Norfinbury. You've seen my telekinesis in action. Why is it always so impossible to believe in a mental ability?
[ Stephen may have hit a hot-button topic for Gabriel here. ]
Take a look at the work, Stephen. It's not only acceptable, it's perfect.
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I have telekineses and actual experience as a neurosurgeon, but I'm not enough of an ass to experiment with the two together!
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[ He cuts himself off and smirks a bit. ] You know, I sort of figured you'd have a magic way to check him over. But if not, keep yelling at me, by all means.
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If you've hurt him--
[Stephen doesn't finish the sentence, but takes in a deep breath, letting it out with cold deliberation as he shifts his weight off the floor and sits, cross-legged, in midair with his cloak billowing out around him. It's harder when he's angry, but he lets his eyes slide shut and takes a few more deep breaths before his head lolls forward as he departs his body for the astral plane.
When his ghostly form emerges from midair a moment later, he adds:]
Don't think I don't see what you just did.
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Gabriel outwardly smirks in response. But it's clear he finds the astral projection fascinating. He reaches out, trying to put his hand through Stephen's ghostly form. ]
Neat.
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Might want to make sure he didn't muck up your surgery.
[Just to get back on point.]
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[Stephen takes a swipe at Gabriel's hand in return to knock it away. The movement of his arm and the push against Gabriel's hand aren't quite in sync; this is telekinesis rather than the touch of his astral form, which Gabriel's hand went right through.]
If you're done, I have work to do here.
[He's just going to glower and sulk his way over to John's sick bed.]
John, I need to put my hands inside your head now, but it's not going to have a direct impact on your physical form. May I?
[See? He's asking for consent. Because that's what you do.]
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So instead, he just watches, rolling his eyes when Stephen deliberately asks 'may I'. ]
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[He's staring at Gabriel as he says it.]
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