As time goes on, Johnny finds the process as meditative as Gabriel seems to, and falls into a comfortable silence under the pattern of brush strokes. His mind is wonderfully empty by the time he makes his way around, a rare, precarious state for him - he can feel his consciousness teetering on the edge of ruining it for him, on edge without something clear to worry about. But it's nice. He clings to it, not too tightly, wondering idly if they can make this into a habit.

That's all before a feather that comes up past his hip comes loose and falls to the floor.

He freezes up, staring at it, then chancing a look at Gabe, who doesn't even seem to have noticed.

"Uh," he blurts. It's weird to break the silence. "I - Sorry, is this..." He stares at the feather, afraid to touch it. Birds lose feathers all the time, just like humans lose hairs, but this one is so huge, it's hard to imagine it being okay. "Is this normal?"