[ He looks so lost that Anathema's not sure what to do with it. Gabriel isn't mortal, and so doesn't work by the usual rules of comfort and emotions and how she might treat an actual upset human man. But she's trying. We preach charity but I had never experienced it. ]

You call it charity, but frankly, I think it's just... being polite. [ She hadn't considered not extending him that courtesy, when they first met. There's a brisk, efficient kind of politesse to the woman, but it's there nonetheless. She'd been raised well. ]

Do angels not practice what they preach? Weren't the others kind to you up there?

But regardless, I— I don't know. You're here now, aren't you? Couldn't you suspend the rules for a bit, if you wanted to, if you wanted to try being excited about things? This isn't Her world. You don't have the same job you did back home. It's a new, stupider one, but still.