Brendon was already half-consciously imitating Ryan- because he had her little experience in the complex delicacies of human communication and conference (where he came from, everyone just tended to be in perpetual, harmonious understanding with little miscommunication or confusion), he was adapting as he went along, picking up queues like a smile he imagined was rare for Ryan and returning one of his own, almost as an encouragement. He did belatedly realise that he was probably being too warm and forward and betraying too much by using Ryan’s nickname literally fifteen minutes into meeting him (Brendon knew enough to know that most humans found such immediate kinship and relaxation strange, almost unnerving), but he realised too late. Luckily, Ryan didn’t seem too perturbed- though, when Brendon leaned a little closer to analyse his expression the best he could with his extremely limited social skills, he figured that the smile wasn’t an effortless one- and most of that guess was from everything he knew about Ryan before he even met him. Brendon figured that he wasn’t generally a very cheerful person- he looked unused to smiling so consistently, Brendon liked to think. He said nothing, just let his own, relaxed smile remain to keep the atmosphere light-hearted.

[i]That’s...[/i] Brendon found the surprise in his voice and demeanour endearing- humans were so earnest and they could never conceal anything, their emotions showed so plainly in their eyes even when they tried to keep their expressions straight. They were- [i]human,[/i] and that was much more than Brendon could say for himself. If he wasn’t deliberately being so transparent, aiming to seem trustworthy and pleasant, Ryan would think he was some kind of robot. [i]Thanks, I don’t hear that very much.[/i] He raised an eyebrow. [b]”Then you don’t get out very much,”[/b] He reasoned, closing his hands together and intertwined his own fingers as he shifted with his chair closer to the table. His voice wasn’t judgemental at all, simply honest, gentle- like he was trying to ease Ryan into reality, even when he knew he probably didn’t have to do that, and Ryan was all too frighteningly aware of everything that Brendon was picking up as time went by. Ryan was steeped in reality, buried to his neck- Brendon reflected for a moment that, if all else failed, he could galavant (maybe more gracefully than that) back up to heaven knowing he’d done his duty and tried his hardest. Ryan only got one shot here, and- there went being light-hearted. Brendon frowned, the tiniest, barely noticeable quirk of his mouth, but then he straightened his expression. [b]”You’re welcome.”[/b]

Brendon unlaced his fingers and started subconsciously drumming them on the table, a sense of nervousness he wasn’t at all used to rising in his gut and closing his throat- this was probably nothing, what was it around being so close to a human that made everything effect him so much? Usually, he was untouchable, compassionate but unable to experience empathy, as he was gifted- or cursed- with an immunity to emotional pain. At least, in heaven. Down here, he was vulnerable. Anyway, luckily, he regained his footing in the conversation with grace, conjuring up the first believable profession that came to his mind and exhaling a small sigh of relief when Ryan nodded, not questioning it at all. Again, he was grateful that Ryan didn’t ask many questions after he ran through his semi-biographical fake life story. Thank god for humans and their blind naivety. Brendon glanced up once he came to a vague close on his brief backstory, and was interested to find that Ryan had clammed up, trying not to betray his own sore spots but leaning closer across the table to seem attentive. Brendon was almost too busy appreciating the effort and feeling a strange sense of fondness for his charge to realise that he needed to flesh himself out a bit more to seem believable. His entire character was built on half-truths- but if he used the lies to be able to reach and help him in genuine ways, what did it matter?

[i]I’d love to hear sometime.[/i] Brendon nodded slightly, all the while wondering how the hell he’d pass off the kind of songs he was capable of singing for human music. Still, he smiled with subdued enthusiasm. [i]I play guitar, when I can find the time.[/i] That piqued his interest- he’d heard about guitars, heard guitars being played, but they were an earthly instrument and Brendon had no idea how to play them, even if musical talent was one of his (unironically) divine skills. It was just subjective, and very specific. [b]”I’m not much of an instrumentalist myself,”[/b] He returned cautiously, as though admitting a deep-set flaw. [b]”I hope you can find the time to teach me,”[/b] Was added as an afterthought, punctuated with a non-threatening smile. It was a suggestion, a request, not a demand or order. No pressure on Ryan- though Brendon was very keen on learning how to play these fascinating instruments. Brendon was going to continue, keep up their conversation about music so they found authentic common ground and he didn’t have to rely on his own ethereal charm to make Ryan comfortable in his simultaneously overpowering and immensely relaxing presence. But Ryan, apparently, had other ideas, and Brendon fell silent instantly to allow him to continue.

[i]I’m sorry about your dad.[/i] Brendon blinked, and subconsciously pressed his palms together, silently apologising to his own Father- [i]forgive me, I was not being truthful, I told lies to allow my charge to trust me. I repent this action but not the consequence.[/i] Just as fluidly, he separated his hands and let them move off the table and into his lap. [b]”It’s okay.”[/b] [i]I have a... complicated relationship with mine, too. So I know what you mean.[/i] [b]”I know,”[/b] Was Brendon’s automatic response, and he immediately froze, shoulders going stiff, thinking fast to try and fix that mistake. [b]”I mean,”[/b] He began, flustered, visibly losing composure for the first time since he met Ryan, [b]”I think I can just, tell. Kindred spirits, in that- area.”[/b] Brendon swallowed, inhaled, exhaled, allowed serenity to settle around him again. If he was nervous, flustered, it affected those around him- and that was the last thing Ryan needed. [b]”It’s difficult, but we’re still here, right?”[/b]

Right. Brendon realised that was a poorly thought out choice of words and closed his eyes briefly, berating himself for poor form this soon into his embassy. It was always difficult to settle in, but- maybe it was Ryan. Maybe Ryan made him lose concentration. He considered this as Ryan continued to speak. [i]The good news is, if you're looking for a found family, Vegas is a fine place to start. Lots of weird characters to make friends with.[/i] Brendon nodded. ‘Vegas’ was... Certainly a change of scenery. All humans were weird characters, to him. So he believed it when Ryan hyped up his hometown. [i]Out of curiosity, are you, like, religious, or something?[/i] Brendon’s eyebrows raised, surprised, and then he looked a little sheepish, like he’d been caught out. [b]Is it really that obvious? I mean- yeah, you could say that.”[/b] [i]Not that I mind. I'm more asking for your sake... I don't know how, um, open-minded you are.[/i] For a good few seconds, Brendon was the picture of confusion- eyebrows furrowed in a frown that said he hadn’t put the pieces together, his lips parted as if he was searching for the words. Slowly, though, not suddenly, it fell into place. [b]”What do you- mean?”[/b] It took him even longer to click on exactly what he meant. [b]”Are you..?”[/b] He trailed off, wishing he’d known- Whatever the answer would be before he got here. Brendon supposed he’d just [i]presumed.[/i] None of this was discussed in heaven, amongst angels. He was clueless, knowing of the existence of certain groups of people and nothing more. It wasn’t a taboo, but- it was.