"I've been known for it on occasion," Gabriel said cheekily and with grin in return; but this one was a rare one, with only an edge of faux cheer and an undertone of true warmth. You're welcome, Re-l. He rubbed his hands together, half playfully and half to get rid of the sweat. "Now. My turn. Let's just hope I don't decide to try flying without my wings."

He took a deep breath, let it out, and then pressed himself against the cliff, reaching for the first handhold. He shuffled awkwardly across the ledge, slowly--much more slowly than Re-l had gone--and carefully and feeling ridiculously vulnerable to the open air behind him. The weight of his pack seemed to want to drag him backward. He kept his eyes on Re-l, but even without having looked, his imagination provided.

"So did I ever tell you about the time I got this guy kidnapped by aliens who made him slow-dance with them?" he asked with a strained smirk. Now he was the one who needed a distraction.