[Michael looks up in surprise at the outburst. Maybe he's not particularly empathetic, but of course he trained himself to read human moods long ago. That's important, for emotional tortures. And ah, he hasn't really seen Ebenezer like this. He's actually upset! Last week that would've delighted him, but now he just feels sort of weird and bad about it. At least he already knows the answer to this one - he needs to be nice. Say something comforting, go on. He can do it, probably.
Can he do it without playing a part, though? He searches for words for a moment. When he does speak, his tone is...well, it's not Angel Michael's overweening sympathy. He's trying to be genuine here, and he's just not actually that nice. He's trying, though.]
It already has been. All of us, all of our lives. I don't really get what you're dealing with back home - [clearly, the weird comments Ebenezer occasionally makes about it make no sense] - but here and now, we're all in the same boat.
[He's trying to connect it back to himself, to his own experiences. Right now, it's really the only way he knows how to sympathize. It's true, though - just think, if he'd gone ahead and killed someone last week. It wouldn't have just been a betrayal of everyone here, it would have been a betrayal of his friends. A betrayal of himself, or at least the self he's trying to create. The self that maybe he already became.
Michael puts the pot on to boil and turns to lean back against the counter, arms folded and jaw set. Definitely not even looking at Ebenezer; he's not so far along in his character arc that he can speak about his own feelings so easily.]
I remembered some important things last night. Things that have made me...realize...that I'm not exactly the person I thought I was, yesterday. And I think...I might not be the person I am right now anymore, either. [Head Architect of the Good Place, it said, like he isn't what he is.] I don't know where this is going to end up anymore. I hate that they could just take that away from me...
[This is going a little farther than he intended. Michael frowns hard at the wall.]
...I'm not trying to teach you anything. I'm not qualified. I was only doing that because I knew it bothered you, and I don't want to act that way anymore. [His frown deepens, but he knows what he should say:] I'm sorry.
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Can he do it without playing a part, though? He searches for words for a moment. When he does speak, his tone is...well, it's not Angel Michael's overweening sympathy. He's trying to be genuine here, and he's just not actually that nice. He's trying, though.]
It already has been. All of us, all of our lives. I don't really get what you're dealing with back home - [clearly, the weird comments Ebenezer occasionally makes about it make no sense] - but here and now, we're all in the same boat.
[He's trying to connect it back to himself, to his own experiences. Right now, it's really the only way he knows how to sympathize. It's true, though - just think, if he'd gone ahead and killed someone last week. It wouldn't have just been a betrayal of everyone here, it would have been a betrayal of his friends. A betrayal of himself, or at least the self he's trying to create. The self that maybe he already became.
Michael puts the pot on to boil and turns to lean back against the counter, arms folded and jaw set. Definitely not even looking at Ebenezer; he's not so far along in his character arc that he can speak about his own feelings so easily.]
I remembered some important things last night. Things that have made me...realize...that I'm not exactly the person I thought I was, yesterday. And I think...I might not be the person I am right now anymore, either. [Head Architect of the Good Place, it said, like he isn't what he is.] I don't know where this is going to end up anymore. I hate that they could just take that away from me...
[This is going a little farther than he intended. Michael frowns hard at the wall.]
...I'm not trying to teach you anything. I'm not qualified. I was only doing that because I knew it bothered you, and I don't want to act that way anymore. [His frown deepens, but he knows what he should say:] I'm sorry.