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[kickem]

Ray. Leave a message.

[Texts, calls (for 90s canon and modern day) and pictures and videos (for modern day)]

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[kickem]

[Hearing his own name is enough to get him twitchy, head jerking briefly around as if expecting to see someone obvious that might be watching.

Seems like 'shady scumbag' was an acceptable first assumption after all.

With no one in obvious sight, he opts for sniffing nonchalantly instead.]

Only Franklin I know is the guy on the moolah. Dunno about no hand. Dunno no Kowalski either. You got the wrong guy.

[But, trap or not, there's still the sound of a car door slamming as he climbs out.]

[hairlocked]

Of course you don't. That's why you're getting out of the car.

[ And there's another pause. He did say go into the church, so there is some waiting, and then he says: ]

Are you in the church yet?

[ Because he's not psychic nope. ]

[kickem]

[Ugh ugh, what an asshole this guy is, but Ray's stomping his way sullenly off towards the church, phone in tow.]

Yeah, I'm in the church. God's not even gonna greet me? Kinda rude.

[hairlocked]

Are you always present in your home? I don't think so. Besides, God has properties all over the world, give him a break.

[ More electronic feedback. Strange electronic feedback. ]

You've never been here before, but Ray Vecchio has. It's not mere chance that led you here, of all the 358 Catholic parishes in Chicago. Did you forget your glasses?

[kickem]

[That feedback is painful, but even when holding the phone away from him, Ray can catch the rest of the conversation. Or maybe it's less of a conversation and more just being talked at.]

Uh.

[Patting down his jacket.]

Am I gonna need them?

[hairlocked]

I'd much rather not, if it's all the same to you.

[ Which is Leoben doesn't mind being shot at if Ray is going to miss him every time.

He steps out in front of the altar with his hands raised up in a placating Christ like gesture, phone in his left hand. ]

[kickem]

[He'd much rather not, and yet Ray's suspicions- instincts, even- have him suddenly reaching inside his jacket with his free hand and drawing his gun from the the shoulder holster. Is there something about drawing guns in churches? Whatever, self protection should be understood.

He spins to face the appearance of the other, gun level but still only in one hand.

That. Looks like one really familiar dude and Ray's hesitating just long enough that his police instincts are forced to kick in.]

Phone on the floor! Keep your hands where I can see 'em.

[hairlocked]

[ He keeps his eyes on Ray, his hands in the air in surrender, stepping down the creaky wooden steps at the front of the church. He keeps his phone in the air for a moment longer, and then at last on the bottom step he leans down, obeying the instructions of the man with the gun. The man with the gun and his face.

But not a Two. No. A son of man. But look at those genetics springing back into play after all these years. It's adorable. ]

Come closer. Let me see you.

[kickem]

[Ray tucks his own phone back into his jacket, hand immediately going to steady the firearm instead.

He doesn't want to shoot this guy, this guy with his face, but there's too much uncertainty, too many questions.]

Who the hell are you 'sposed to be?

[Shuffling closer almost out of instinct and totally not because he was told to!!!1]

[hairlocked]

[ Steadying the gun isn't going to help him when he's way more likely to shoot Jesus in the head than get a bullet anywhere near Leoben himself. He keeps his hands up and steps closer. ]

I told you my name. I've been sent to help you. But if you don't believe me, go ahead and shoot me. Go ahead. See how many answers you get then.

[ He waits until it seems like Ray isn't confident enough to step any further forward, and then he takes a single step and waits, cocking his head very slightly to one side. ]

Are you going to shoot me, Ray?

[kickem]

[Ray keeps a good ten feet between them, as tempting as it is to get closer, but then Leo's stepping closer and making that decision for him.

He won't shoot. He can't. He's got no justification for it anyway beyond looking the same. Hardly a good reason to go around murdering.]

Nah. Nah I, uh.

[A huff, shoulder roll, and then a veeeery slow lowering of his gun.]

Okay, so this is insanity, right?

[hairlocked]

No, you're not crazy. That would be too easy.

[ He takes another careful step closer. Eight feet now. Eight feet is very much closer, and it's better than a photograph. Better than the fuzzy clip of Ray on the news, on top of that man, where he'd first drawn Leoben's attention. ]

Look at you. No matter how far a drop of water travels, it eventually flows along the same stream, the same river, on its way down to the sea. It's been a long time, but here you are. God's divine plan in action.

You can put the gun down. I won't hurt you.

[kickem]

You so much as twitch in a way I don't like, you're gonna get a bullet.

[But for now the gun is best left out of this, safety on and slowly tucked back into it's holster, still on display and ready to make a reappearance.]

You ever make any sense? I mean, I get this is weird, but uh miracles and God aren't gonna make sense of this weirdness.

[hairlocked]

It's all just a matter of perspective. You make sense to me; a mathematical improbability resolved into human form. Human. Human, every bit of you.

[ Human, every bit. He glances up toward the roof of the church. ]

Are you seeing this, Kara? Do you see, now? I was right.

[ With his eyes on Ray again, attention wondrous like a child, he took another careful step forward, then reached out his hand. ]

I'm real. That's what you're wondering, right? Touch.

[kickem]

Jesus Chr-- [Oh, church.]

Hnn, I known some freaks in my time but you're somethin' else.

[But he is curious, of course he is. Exceptionally so, his eyes even rolling upwards at the addressing of whoever 'Kara' is before snapping his gaze back to his God loving twin who looks just as fascinated by this as he feels, even if he's trying to keep it under a prickly layer.

There too much curiosity not to try though, and even if this could all be some elaborate trap or weirdo hallucination, he still slowly reaches a hand out, palm forward, lean slightly away like he's ready to bolt in the other direction at any time.]

[hairlocked]

Yes, I'm something else.

[ He's very still and measured in his movements, unlike Ray, everything deliberate, and as the other man reaches out his hand, Leoben reaches his out too, hand flat, hand touching fingers, barely touching. There's that beautiful magical moment suspended between them before Leoben moves like a snake striking, like lightning, lunging forward and wrapping his arms around Ray in the most generous and eager of hugs, pressing his face right into Ray's neck.

Where he stays attached like a very warm, happy limpet, breathing in through his smile and then letting out a content huff. ]

Yeah, that's good.

[kickem]

[He's real. That touch confirms as much. Either that or Ray's imagination is extremely persistent. He'd have been happy to stay like that but there's movement and Ray's body has a split second tense up of panic as he prepares for fight or flight. There's no way he could be quick enough for that though, movement that almost seemed too fast to be human and thank fuck it's a hug and not his neck breaking.]

Uh.

[Just. Gonna stand and accept it, he guesses, arms flopped uselessly by his side until he oh-so slowly brings one up to pat lightly at Leo's back.]

Hi?

[hairlocked]

[ Sorry about your imaginations, Ray.

He holds him nice and tight, clearly showing not much interest in letting go or moving away, and not a whole lot of understanding about strangers and personal space and all those other lovely things. Because well, look how perfect he is. Perfect little human him, and Leoben wants to know everything there is to know about him. ]

Hi.

[ Not letting go ever. Maybe a tiny squeeze at the pet, and tilting his head over to nuzzle deeper into Ray's neck. Mostly because he hasn't been shoved away yet. ]

[kickem]

[Well, this is kind of awkward. Hugs shouldn't last this long, especially not between two strangers, even if they do look identical.]

You gonna stop or I gotta knee you in the balls?

[Ball kneeing isn't something that should be done to another guy, but this is an extreme circumstance.]

Some kinda explanation would be great too. I mean uh. Did mom have another kid that I dunno about? You like some kinda Hunchback or Nightcrawler, livin' your life in churches?

[hairlocked]

[ He hesitates for a second, and then he reluctantly peels back, staying close because he's won the distance and he's not inclined to give it up that easily. ]

You wouldn't believe me if I told you. It's not in your nature. But I've been here--been here a long time. An angel watching over humanity. An angel.

[ He glances over his left shoulder. ]

Still, I didn't choose the church. That was all you.

[kickem]

I didn't choose a church, you told me to come in here. This place gives me the creeps.

[Or maybe it's just the same face guy that gives him the creeps, but at least he's let go for now, giving Ray enough space to crack his neck to the side briefly and huff out a noise of annoyance.]

So you're an angel? Yeah I don't believe you, you're right.

[hairlocked]

What else do you call something that watches over humanity for millennia? I've been waiting for you. But don't take my word for it. Few would.

[ He ducked his face in a little closer, looking Ray in the eye from the closest possible distance before his eyes cross. ]

Do you know what I think? I think you don't believe in anything you can't see or touch. If a tree falls in the woods but there's no one there to hear it, did it make a sound?

[kickem]

[The duck in close has him leaning just slightly away, as much as his rooted position will allow for. Personal space, bro.]

Look, I see a lotta weird stuff and all of it can be explained. You're just gonna have to accept that I find you bein' some guy sharing my genes a whole lot more likely than an angel watchin' over people forever. You look kinda young to be around for millennia.

[hairlocked]

Is it so difficult to believe that I could be both?

[ He steps past Ray, out of his line of sight past his left shoulder, and as he does so he swivels on the spot, jangling the keys he'd lifted from his pocket in that moment of closeness. ]

You drive a Pontiac, don't you? Because you're right, the church is creepy. Let's get out of here.

[kickem]

Wh-- Hey! Those are my keys!

[Master of observation as he turns to watch the other step past. He'd argue, but getting out of here sounds like a damn fine idea.]

You're not driving my car, gimmie my keys.