[Entranceway] IC Contact

[freewill]

"... Praying may garner better results than leaving a message."

Comments

[unregenerate]

Not real big on praying, Clarence, so how about a text. You know how to use the little buttons and everything, right? Or do I need to come by and give you some lessons?

[ Not just texting lessons, wink wink nudge nudge ]

[freewill]

[Unfortunately for Meg, Castiel's already been given some texting lessons. It isn't all that hard. All he has to do is push the appropriate letter. It takes him a long time to type out each message, though, which is why he normally doesn't text at all.]

Lessons not necessary. What do you want.

[He hasn't quite figured out question marks, though.]

[righteously]

You really liked Lord of the Rings. Not so much Star Wars.

[freewill]

Why are you texting me

[Dean of all people should know that it's so much easier to pray.]

This is probably the first time he's contacted Castiel again

[algidity]

So hey uh sorry about thinking you were homeless.

[ This is obviously how you start conversations, A+ Lahey. ]

I never thanked you for helping me when I was poisoned. So thanks... And sorry.

[freewill]

[It takes Castiel a few seconds to even put together who's contacted him, as their interaction took place so long ago.

But he does remember now. Isaac, the werewolf who had come here poisoned and disoriented. Castiel had left that money Isaac had forced on him in his room at one point, a way of returning it without getting into another argument over it.

At least Isaac seems to have realized his mistake now.]

You don't need to apologize. Are you more settled now

voicemail;

[righteously]

[It's not exactly a surprise that Cas doesn't pick up. Dean spares a moment to arch an eyebrow at that voicemail recording, but then the machine beeps and there's an awkward pause.]

Cas. Listen-

[No, wait, that's shitty. He's not trying to bark out orders.]

Look, I didn't mean-

[He blows out a breath.]

I'm sorry, alright? About the whole thing. Just... check in, would ya?

text;

[freewill]

[Castiel is where he's been for most of the time that's passed since their argument, which is the Resistance hideout.

As it turns out, not many people come here when it's not the full moon, and if anyone does decide to make use of the bunker, it's easy enough for Castiel to either make himself invisible or leave before he notices they're there.

But that is where he is. Not inebriated, for the moment, but he isn't quite willing to have a real-time conversation with Dean.

For once, text is useful.]

Checking in.

text;

[oversight]

Hey, have you heard from Dean? I can't seem to get him on the phone.

[Don't panic, or anything. It's not like Dean always answers unless he's mad, and he didn't seem to be mad the last time they talked, but sometimes Dean's a girl like that and jut doesn't say anything, am I right?]

text;

[freewill]

[There's a delay before Castiel texts back, as he takes a few minutes to thoroughly search the mansion and the surrounding area. The fact is that he hasn't heard from Dean since their conversation a couple of days ago, which wouldn't be so out of the ordinary as Castiel's been scarce since their argument.

But things have been smoothed over, and even if they hadn't been, this would still be cause for concern.]

Its strange. Theres no sign of him, but his room is exactly the same.

[text]

[unregenerate]

You see anything interesting on your nightly romps around the mansion or is it deader than disco?

[text]

[freewill]

[The text comes out of nowhere from Castiel's perspective. Meg doesn't make it a habit to contact him this way, so it's enough for him to put his guard up.]

Its been quiet.

[text]

[goesdown]

Consider this a show of good faith and find yourself somewhere to roost for the next few days. I suspect it will get worse before it gets better and I've got my hands full.

[ And then attached is a picture of Crowley making a gesture that one might recognize as a mock blowjob. ]

[text]

[freewill]

[The picture is easily ignored. Castiel has no idea why Crowley would even attach it -- he doesn't need to identify himself when he sends a message like this. The phone does that for him.]

From what I heard, you play a part in all this. Is that why youre asking me to stay out of it

voice;

[oversight]

[ It's late when he calls, some time well after people would normally be in bed. Maybe Cas will answer, or maybe he'll just call back, but either way, Blake's got the feeling it's necessary to reach out. ]

Castiel, I— It's Blake. Was wonderin' if you were 'round, if we could talk, or— [ A pause. Normally, he'd suggest a beer, but he isn't so sure that's the type of thing Castiel does on a regular basis. ] Just... whatever. Chat or take a walk or somethin'.

[ And then the thought occurs that Castiel would probably prefer to know what all of this is about, so he makes an amendment. ]

It's about Dean. Mostly.

voice;

[freewill]

[It's been a few days now after the event ended. The mansion and the grounds are all back in one piece, and Dean's room is completely emptied out. His guns, his record player, the picture of his mother -- all of it gone.

In fact, the only thing the room held was the set of drawers, and the only items in it were the ones that belonged to Castiel.

There's something final about it, and combining that with the fact that it's already been a week, it isn't looking likely that Dean will be back. Even if he does return, Castiel's guess is he'll have no memories.

Unsurprisingly, he's out and about when he gets Blake's call. Castiel tends to do his patrolling in the middle of the night, and he doesn't often get calls, so it's enough to draw his attention.]

Hello, Blake. Yes, we can talk. Where are you now?

[Does he want to talk about Dean? Not particularly. But Blake had been Dean's closest friend here, and so Castiel feels obligated to speak to him, regardless of his own feelings.]

1/2

[algidity]

Can you smite people out of existence here?

[ Random questions for 500, Alex. Ah, yes, the joys of being Isaac's angeldad. ]

Re: 1/2

[algidity]

If yes
would you if it benefit Wonderland as a whole?

audio;

[oversight]

Cas— [ Exasperated Blake is exasperated. ] What the hell's goin' on over there on Team Winchester? Christ, I feel like things are outta control.

Is there somethin' bigger happenin' here? Dean doesn't want me involved, but you know I can't stop that from happenin'.

Just need to know I gotta pick up the slack, or if I oughta be aware of somethin', or— [ He sighs. ] We prob'ly need to talk offline. Soon.

audio;

[freewill]

[Castiel had viewed that showdown between Sam and a man he doesn't know, and he would have intervened himself if Blake hadn't gotten there first.

His interruption would have only made things worse, and pushed tensions higher. Sam shouldn't have left his room, and Castiel still doesn't know how he got out in the first place.

So he's relieved that Blake is contacting him now, and the man's confusion is understandable. There's a lot about the Winchesters he doesn't know.]

He was supposed to remain in his room. I restrained him.

[That's a moot point now, isn't it?] Is he safe? Where are you now?

prayer

[justrunsasaloon]

[Possibly the most improper prayer he's heard.]

Hey Cas, got your feathery ears on?

[freewill]

[Nope, not even close. Dean seems to get more creative and inappropriate with each subsequent prayer.

Just a few moments after her call, Castiel appears at Ellen's side with a rustle of feathers. He shifts to face her, looking first for any injuries or other signs of distress.]

Always. What did you need?

voice | backdated to July 10th

[halfwinchester]

<sub>[After seeing this, Adam takes a while to work up to the message. He doesn't even know if it'll go through or if an angel understands the concept of owning a phone, but his reasons to try win out over his reasons not to. When everyone he knows are either too close to Dean or not close enough to understand why Adam's gut roils with tension, his list ends on Castiel.

He can't think of who else to ask.]</sub>

Castiel--

_{[A breath, and then:]}

It's true? About Dean? What did it?

[freewill]

[Castiel does understand the concept of a phone, though it's not all that often that his rings with an actual call. Sometimes texts come through, but this is different. Not that he's surprised that someone's trying to contact him in light of what's happened to Dean, but...

He will say, he hadn't expected Adam.]

Yes, it was him. [He would know Dean anywhere, regardless of the dissected state of his body.]

I don't know what or who. The details have been vague -- we may have to wait until he revives to learn the answer to that. [He doesn't sound too happy about it, either.]

text » private

[driven]

have you seen the network?

[freewill]

Yes. [By which he means that he keeps an eye on it in general.] What aspect of it?

[lightgunhustler]

I know there's been a lot of vampire crap going on around here lately and you've been busy dealing with some of it on your own, but I have an important question, Cas.
Has Dean mentioned anything to you about daggers or trying to take out Original vampires on his own?
I know we were both working on ways to protect ourselves and everyone else from them, but if he's trying to do this by himself, he's doing it in a way that's about to get him torn to shreds.
They're not happy.

[freewill]

He didn't mention anything to me.

[Most likely because he realized it was a stupid idea that Castiel would oppose.]

What did he do?

text;

[goesdown]

How could you not have predicted this? Now that thing is on that side and we're over here with our cage. Divine help, as always, Cas.

Never mind. I'll figure it out myself.

[ Crowley will be unable to answer responses. ]

text;

[freewill]

My powers have never included precognition.

We can have the cage ready for when it breaks through to this side.

text » 1/2

[ganking]

Please tell me youre not a weird talking creepy puppet thing
Or a cartoon

text »

[ganking]

or an action figure.
Know you're all about turning into those

prayer

[ofletters]

Cas-- I don't know where you are, or if you're even alive, but we were right, he's--

[ silence ]

--He's a demon and he got the jump on me, just make sure--

[ silence

and if Cas does respond, there won't be an answer ]

text. after sam's network.

[intelligently]

Is this going to be like Angelus again?
That was to do with souls.

[freewill]

It's similar.
Did you ask him for a hex bag?

voice; late night

[ganking]

[ dean has no right to call him. he has no right at all yet that void which had once been filled up with various people -- sam, jo, cas -- has been empty for so long now it's beginning to hurt. so he does what he's not supposed to (because when does he do anything but?) and he does it at the dead of night, like it might somehow mean cas wouldn't be awake to answer.

of course he'll be awake. cas is always awake. maybe dean finds some comfort in that. some small sliver of forced hope... unless, of course, cas is awake and still decides to leave him unanswered.

at least then dean would know where they stand. ]

Hey-- [ the single greeting is a rough mess, voice unused in the past few weeks. he tries again. ]

Are you-- are you busy?

[freewill]

[The call comes through when Castiel is patrolling through Wonderland's extensive forest. It's not often that he gets a direct call in general, let alone in the middle of the night. The light and sound from his phone causes the wildlife around him to startle, rodents scurrying into their holes and birds taking wing to further trees.

Castiel finds himself hoping as he grabs for his phone, but he doesn't actually expect it to be Dean. It's been weeks now since he's had any contact from him, and Castiel would have wondered if something had happened if he didn't have his senses to tell him that Dean was still alive within Wonderland.

He answers immediately. Dean sounds horrible and Castiel's chest wrenches with both despair (at imagining what Dean's been going through, locked up in his room) and relief (that he's reaching out to him, finally).]

No. [His patrols are a distraction, something to do, nothing more.

He could ask if he should go to Dean, or if he only wants to talk, but in the end Castiel gives into something much more human.] It's... good to hear your voice.

[intelligently]

I understand what you meant.
About turning into a monster.

[freewill]

The event?

[intelligently]

If you hear a scream I'm not in trouble.

[intelligently]

Or multiple screams. There could be multiple.