We Float

Who: Gabe Wilder, Zadkiel Thrush, and Avinoam
When: July 4, 2096
Where: Primarily the streets near Anhalt
What: Gabe produces an Avinoam who decides to pay Zadkiel a visit. Then Gabe comes to find them, and fireworks ensue in more than one sense.
Status: Log, Complete


It had been Julie's call that sparked it. And the look that Sean had given him when he flipped on his cell phone and started talking- or gotten a talking to. His stomach had begun to clench almost immediately at the sound of her voice, the uncertainty about where they stood causing it to roll and tighten.

Gabriel said almost nothing as the call went on. "Yeah." "No." "Yeah." "I didn't mean." "I'm sorry." "Yeah." Nothing that deserved the sharp click of the receiver on the other end, the one sound that reminded him so much of his mother that his eyes watered. The hang-up on the other end of the line.

His father came up behind him.

"That her?"

Gabe nodded.

"Give me your phone." Gabe hesitated. Sean continued. "I said. Give me your fucking phone." Reluctantly, the younger man handed it over. With a short, brusque motion, Sean slammed it against the shop counter so hard that small pieces of plastic went flying. Gabe's mouth dropped open. "You give her this number, I'll cut your fucking balls off, son." The pressure in Gabe's stomach released as his father grunted, walking silently into the stockroom without another look.

He didn't bother to see what self he'd called. It wasn't worth it.

( It was the fourth of July. )