[Aaand of course it couldn't last, and although Michael's words sting a bit, they don't hurt nearly as much as they might have not long ago. It's enough that defensiveness causes a flare of annoyance to rush through him, but not enough that it takes over and causes him to feel more than a brief urge to retreat and avoid the conflict.

Instead, his eyes narrow and he gives Michael an unimpressed look, but doesn't back down.]

You know, I've been giving responsibility another chance lately, but it just keeps reminding me of why I avoided it for so long.

[And he's none too enthused about having been proven right to do so, and even less enthused about the fact that, despite his words, he doesn't have any plans to turn the leaf back over and go back to the entirely self-serving life he'd been leading before. This sucks. No wonder Michael's so stuffy all the time.

But Michael is also his brother, and if the conversation so far is anything to go by, Gabriel has his inklings of what the sudden jabs are actually about. So rather than pushing back further, or arguing Michael's first comment, instead he just holds his hands up in a gesture of surrender that soon turns into a shrug.]

But fine. I get the hint, you're still pissed at me, no surprise. I'll figure something out and stop bothering you, so you can get back to lording over some cows or whatever the hell it is you're doing here.