Interactions: Charlie@Subject Zero, Eric@Undine, Reginald@lolme, Cassiopeia@Undine, (Plus, Sam@Liriiathe sinner mention)
Now, Gabriel hadn't provoked the ire of either parents, not in the way some of his siblings did. The only one who really gave him grief had always been Cassiopeia, but she was transparent with Gabriel. When the only insults she could muster happened to veer on the, 'How many people have you killed?' side of things versus calling him a brute, thug, or worthless tended to give him the opposite feel. That meant Cassiopeia, his mother, actually gave a rat's ass about his well being and the utter shock on her face when she just about thought he'd actually shot Eric's foot off. Priceless, but that didn't look like someone who actually believed he was a killer.
Of course, mother's snide remarks tended to burn, her words were scathing. That part was true. Maybe that was an indicator for how much she cared. Then again, that'd mean she hardly ever thought of Gabriel. So what? All this nonsense, hands off, negative reinforcement parenting felt too confusing to even begin wrapping his head around. At least his father added some kind of compliment (?) to whatever retort he made. Cassiopeia took a more subtle tactic, that or Reginald merely took advantage of whatever opportunity came his way. In this case, his mother dug herself a hole to crawl in and his father only dug a slightly smaller hole to stand in, but still hold himself in the light.
Sounded like Reginald. From the looks of it, in their almost hidey-hole near the front, Reginald was about to get his piece. Gabriel chuckled, that man deserved a stern talking to. His mom was far too lenient with him, anyway. From what he recalled back in his time of crisis. Reginald swooped in after Cassiopeia's little nonchalant turnabout, yet his mother came out the victor. Perhaps that's what this would become. Gabriel could only hope, in the matter.
Turning to look at Charlie once he spoke, Gabriel nearly responded, though Marisol's outburst cut him off. Don't... Gabriel struggled with his thoughts, jaw visibly clenched, say anything stupid, Gabe. With a deep breath, he pushed up from his seat before the plane officially started its trot. "Just a moment," he said, "I'll be right back." In an instant, Gabriel had garnered attention from one of the flight attendants, her smile as fake as his heterosexuality.
"Glass of water, please, before we take off?" He asked, putting a hand on her forearm.
"Of course, sir, but if you would kindly take your seat?" she responded, turning around to fetch what he needed. She returned a moment later with a tall glass and a mint. Was she trying to tell him something? Gabriel brought his palm up to his face and huffed a breath. Whatever.
Briskly walking toward his parents, Gabriel bent down to Cassiopeia's knees and held out the water. "So thoughtful, Gabriel," Reginald quipped, his eyes glinting, "if I didn't know, you'd offered Mr. Darvill's arm and other leg for that."
"Shut up, dad," Gabriel furrowed his brow, trying to hide his smile as he offered the mint to his father and turned toward Cassiopeia, "you've got steel skin, mom; a living fortress. Even I know that. If that prissy bitch from Fox couldn't rile you up, then neither should your kids." He stood only to bend down to place a kiss on the side of her head before walking back to his seat, acting like he hadn't heard Reginald's scoff and, "Mama's boy," from where he sat. Kind of. The wink didn't help as he leaned over to pat Eric on the leg.
"Just know they mean well," Gabriel finally replied, "it's... hard to understand how they work, but they work. I mean, look at all their kids, living successful lives, not on the front page of some editorial talking about absurd parties and OD'ing on sidewalks. Though, I'm tempted to say that's mostly our tenacity. Actually, now that I think of it, the majority of that success is on us. I know they pushed me for more, but I wanted something different. At least, we owe them for trying something, even if it turned out to be the worst idea in the world. An understatement, if I'm being honest.
"It's weird. I wouldn't worry about it, but try not to give them too much of your mind when you're trying to give 'em a piece of it; they still sob over Drunk and Disorderly over there, they'll sob over you too," he gestured in Samantha's direction without giving her so much as a glance. If there was anyone on this plane he wanted to give a piece of his mind to, it'd be her. Regardless of the itch at the back of his mind, Gabriel leaned over toward Eric.
"If at any point you feel the need to leave, I spotted two emergency parachutes by the cockpit," Gabriel's smile widened exponentially, not realizing his hand rested on Eric's thigh and squeezed, "I don't know about you, but I can only ever take so much of certain siblings."
