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[kickem]

Ray. Leave a message.

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[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.

[hairlocked]

[ Leoben; master of walking backwards, holding his hand up high, jangle jangle, because he always has to be told twice. He's flashing the very brightest of his grins as he leads the way back. ]

What are you so afraid of? I can drive a car.

[kickem]

I'm not afraid. It's my car. Only one other guy allowed to drive my girl and it's not you, similarities or no.

[Trailing after at a speedy pace, not even making an attempt to snatch, but instead holding his arm out expectantly.]

Keys or you get smited by the fist of Ray.

[hairlocked]

You're going to hit me?

[ Eyes sparkling in challenge, and he moves just a little further back, stepping into the little wooden doorway and then throwing the keys out to Ray. ]

Catch!

[kickem]

I will if I gotta.

[Because punching is a way of life for Ray. Thankfully no punching needs to be done right now, because keys are flying his way and for once in his life he successfully catches with only the slightest fumble.]

You just tryin' to get a free ride somewhere?

[Heading out towards the car, face twin always in sight.]

[hairlocked]

Sure, I went to all the effort of wearing your face just to get a ride across town.

[ He steps back a few more ducking steps, and then neatly slides across the hood (sacrilege) and beams over the roof at Ray before popping open the passenger side door.

He's in before Ray can change his mind, adjusting the seat forward slightly, sliding his hands across the paneling. The textures are nice. ]

Where are we going?

[kickem]

Hey, hey!

[Barked out at the hood slide because that's so damn rude and now he's going to have to spend hours waxing that hood again. But ugh, the guy is in his car and feeling up the interior so Ray's dropping into the drivers seat and just staring over at him.]

I thought you were gonna answer that?

[hairlocked]

[ It's so rude, like ignoring Ray's stare to reach across and stroke his lovely leather steering wheel, and then as he ducks back down, kneads his hand on top of the gearstick, and then he sparks up and looks over his shoulder into the backseat, clearly taking everything in. ]

I don't have anywhere to be. I go where the stream takes me.

[ Grinning up at Ray. ]

Where were you going?

[kickem]

[Ray's still trying to work out if this guy has mental issues or just high right now. He's assuming both, even as he swats the feeling hand off his wheel.]

Yeah, well no streams around here. So why don't we take a nice leisurely drive to the station or uh, the uh hospital and we can see about getting your head checked?

[hairlocked]

[ He folds both of his own hands into his lap, taking the chastising with complete patience. Which is much the same way as he takes the comments about the hospital and the police station. It all sounds perfectly fair, yup.

He's still waiting for Ray to start the car, looking bright and eager. ]

You were going somewhere before you stopped at the church. Not the station, or the hospital. Take me where you were going.