Gabe just sighed heavily.

"...I'm a little out of practice with this, all right?" he said quietly.

"And you're right, there IS a connection." he confirmed. "...not sure how strong it may or may not be, considering you said she's becoming distant with her closest friend." he then admitted.

"But I suppose a more... honest... approach may be called for here." he then said. "At least at first." he added.

He then sighed again, and glanced out the window they were sitting by.

"...I long for the day when that dark elf is gone..." he muttered to himself.

Gabe was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering her question.

"Well... can't do anything about that damn dark elf." he growled. "Buuut I blame Liz for that." he told her. "Pretty much everyone up there AND down THERE does." he went on.

"Which... stands to reason. It IS her fault." he snarled further.

"Until recently, I was incapable of moving on after loss." he then sighed.

"Just goes to show no man is an island, I suppose. Even one created to supposedly stand above a mortal man." he shrugged.

"Oh, and I also can't stomach alcohol." he reminded her. "None of us can." he went on. "Last thing this existence needs is an archangel that's under the influence." he shuddered.

"Uh... hm." Gabriel muttered.

"Ok, right, listen, this is just between you and me, all right?" he asked.

"But there's a specific... mana lock inside us, that when alcohol enters our body, it reacts and causes us immense pain, before literally ejecting it out. Like an instant vomit reflex." he told her.

"But, see, we can still taste it. We can swish it and then spit it out." he went on.

"But the boss lady CAN remove it, if she feels we deserve it. Ie: if my brother and his wife go out to dinner for their anniversary, and he, say, wants one glass of wine with dinner." he continued.

"However, that is extremely rare, and Uriel had to promise her it would be 2 glasses AT MOST. And she held him to that." he assured her.

"It's essentially a counter-measure to stop us from screwing up royally, but the occasional exception CAN be made."

"I'LL deal with her sanity and mental wellbeing." Gabriel assured her.

"I will do all I can to make sure that remains intact." he said. "Even if it means I have to resort to measures that cause her to push me away, I'll make sure she is able to sleep soundly, and enjoy her life, without that curse claiming her." he promised.

"After all, I am what I am, and I am WHO I am." he went on.

"It's what I do, and... I chose to do it." he said further.

"I want to." he continued.

"It's a purpose in my existence." he added with a small smile.

Gabe looked away guiltily for a moment, and sighed.

"I..." he stammered, silent now, before looking back.

"For whatever it's worth, I'm glad I helped while I was in your life." he told her.

"And I promise you won't lose Erica." he then vowed.

"I'll go see her immediately after we're done here." he said further, before pausing.

"Or... well, when she's home." he clarified.

"...has she been sealing herself away like a hermit...?" he asked her hesitantly.

"Well, then I need to act fast." Gabe responded.

And so he did. His meeting with Ebony didn't last too much longer, and when they parted ways, he used his mana to get to Erica's place of residence, making sure to land somewhere that wouldn't be too noticeable. That ended up being just behind her place, and he made his way out from behind it, walking towards her front door, when he paused at it, and sighed.

He was about to knock, when he saw there was a doorbell, so he pressed it, hearing the echo of it ring inside the house.

He then took a small step back, and waited, preparing himself for whatever it was that he was going to see. Assuming she answered her door, he was unsure JUST how paranoid and hermetic she was getting, or had gotten by this point.

'...remember, Gabriel... not too forceful, but you need to show that you are here to help, and won't give up on that.' he told himself mentally, trying to stop himself from potentially scaring Erica.

"....." Gabriel was silent for a moment, before sighing heavily.

"Clearly." he said.

"Given that opening query, I'd wager you're expecting someone else at the door sometime soon." he went on.

"...may I come in?" he asked.

"I'd like to talk to you." he told her.

"About something... quite important."

Gabriel stepped inside, and when he heard her mention 'smoothie' and 'kiwis' together, he perked up some.

"...I do." he said, calming himself down.

"However, that can wait." he told her, turning around and looking at her.

"Erica... I..." he started to say, before pausing, thinking about it, and sighing.

"I don't think there's any way to go about this, other than being direct." he muttered.

"You've not been having a good time lately, have you?" he asked.

"...to massively understate it."

Gabriel followed her, shaking his head a little.

"Nobody 'put me up to this'." he told her.

"Ebony DID mention that she was quite concerned for you." he the admitted with a small sigh.

"But please don't blame her for anything." he continued.

"I'm here because... well... I am concerned for you." he said further.

"I've heard that you're suffering."

"....equal parts for all." Gabriel responded.

"Anyway, I... I think I can help you." he told her.

"If you'll allow me to." he went on.

"You shouldn't be suffering as you are." he then said. "It's not right." he lamented.

"But I can help alleviate you of these horrible nights." he told her further.

"Will you allow me to try and help?"