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[ It's a fair point. One that Dean frowns at lightly and then raises his eyebrows in reluctant agreement. ]
We're not lookin' for trouble. But if what we think is down there is down there, it's gonna help all of us.
[ It's the whole point of this probably ill-fated expedition. Get the umbilical cord and test out if it actually does heal injuries. Hell, between the three of them they could do with a whole pile of them.
He watches on concerned as Sam takes a bite - it's pathetic, but at this point it's the first goddamn thing Dean has seen him eat - and nods slowly. ]
You know we will.
We're not lookin' for trouble. But if what we think is down there is down there, it's gonna help all of us.
[ It's the whole point of this probably ill-fated expedition. Get the umbilical cord and test out if it actually does heal injuries. Hell, between the three of them they could do with a whole pile of them.
He watches on concerned as Sam takes a bite - it's pathetic, but at this point it's the first goddamn thing Dean has seen him eat - and nods slowly. ]
You know we will.
[ Time. Yeah it flies but Dean hasn't been having all that much fun. The sarcasm is noted all the same and he nods with a look in his eyes that probably explains a lot about how much he gets that. ]
Two years? So you're a Deerington vet. I've been here five months and sometimes I still feel like I have no idea what's goin' on.
[ It probably should have been harder to confess that he feels so far out of his depth sometimes it's terrifying. It's been a long time since he hasn't felt like he's been both in charge and in control of what's his. The camp. The mission. Hell, just his life in general. ]
People keep showin' up from my world. ...and an alternative world to mine. Honestly, it's trippy as hell. There's another me running around here.
Two years? So you're a Deerington vet. I've been here five months and sometimes I still feel like I have no idea what's goin' on.
[ It probably should have been harder to confess that he feels so far out of his depth sometimes it's terrifying. It's been a long time since he hasn't felt like he's been both in charge and in control of what's his. The camp. The mission. Hell, just his life in general. ]
People keep showin' up from my world. ...and an alternative world to mine. Honestly, it's trippy as hell. There's another me running around here.
You think that's trippy?
[He leans forward, and whispers with raises eyebrows:]
I had to live around three other Peter Parkers at once, a while back.
A teenager, a thirty-something-year-old, and one with a gut.
That's not even counting all the Spider-Mans who weren't Peter Parker.
This crap is bananas. B-a-n-a-n-a-s.
Not to mention, I ran into two versions of my ex.
[He leans forward, and whispers with raises eyebrows:]
I had to live around three other Peter Parkers at once, a while back.
A teenager, a thirty-something-year-old, and one with a gut.
That's not even counting all the Spider-Mans who weren't Peter Parker.
This crap is bananas. B-a-n-a-n-a-s.
Not to mention, I ran into two versions of my ex.
[ Considering Dean's slowly coming around to the ideas of multiples, it hits a little less than it might have when he first arrived. Still, that sounds wild in ways that aren't all that fun.
But he is curious. It's been something that's been playing on his mind ever since he ran into the younger version of himself in those spider-infested caverns. ]
How did you deal with it? It's you but it's not you.
[ And then something else rolls to the front of his thoughts and he chews on his lip, rolling it between his teeth before forcing himself onward. ]
You ever talk to any of them and try to steer them away from mistakes you made?
But he is curious. It's been something that's been playing on his mind ever since he ran into the younger version of himself in those spider-infested caverns. ]
How did you deal with it? It's you but it's not you.
[ And then something else rolls to the front of his thoughts and he chews on his lip, rolling it between his teeth before forcing himself onward. ]
You ever talk to any of them and try to steer them away from mistakes you made?
[He nods, and even double-taps that spoonful of stew.
... It's pretty good, honestly.
......
So with that in mind, he says with some finality:]
Talk about flesh-themed sinkholes and umbilical cords should probably be off-limits at the kitchen table, for the record.
... It's pretty good, honestly.
......
So with that in mind, he says with some finality:]
Talk about flesh-themed sinkholes and umbilical cords should probably be off-limits at the kitchen table, for the record.
...probably.
[ Sam's right and they both know it. So the corner of Dean's mouth lifts up into a strangely soft and lopsided smile. Whatever. He can stop bringing gross topics to the kitchen table. ]
Official house rule it is. No talking about gross things at the dinner table.
[ Because they have one of those now and the novelty still hasn't set in. ]
Not like either of us got good practice at those but... we have one now, Sam. An actual honest to god dinner table.
[ Sam's right and they both know it. So the corner of Dean's mouth lifts up into a strangely soft and lopsided smile. Whatever. He can stop bringing gross topics to the kitchen table. ]
Official house rule it is. No talking about gross things at the dinner table.
[ Because they have one of those now and the novelty still hasn't set in. ]
Not like either of us got good practice at those but... we have one now, Sam. An actual honest to god dinner table.
[Sam's lips tug into a smile; just a little.]
... Yeah.
[Sam's had one before — one he picked out himself, back in Stanford days. Back when he had a pretty lousy apartment, up until Jess was open to moving in together in a better place. They bought the cheapest table money could afford at Walmart. Ha.
It was a great table, always covered in plants, keys, and mail. He's not sure they ever actually ate at it.]
A lot better than a half-table in some seedy motel, huh?
Not a cigarette butt or questionable stain to be seen.
[The self-doubt is so heavy, in the back of his mind.
(Why would they let him sit at this table? Why are they being nice to him, after everything? Why is Dean acting like this can be normal? Aren't they worried he's going to lose it? Aren't they distrusting? Shouldn't he just go back to the basement, instead of letting Dean's words motivate him to stay?)
But it's an honest to god dinner table, and Dean's smiling a little bit, and he couldn't bring himself to retrace his steps back into the dark even if he tried.]
... Yeah.
[Sam's had one before — one he picked out himself, back in Stanford days. Back when he had a pretty lousy apartment, up until Jess was open to moving in together in a better place. They bought the cheapest table money could afford at Walmart. Ha.
It was a great table, always covered in plants, keys, and mail. He's not sure they ever actually ate at it.]
A lot better than a half-table in some seedy motel, huh?
Not a cigarette butt or questionable stain to be seen.
[The self-doubt is so heavy, in the back of his mind.
(Why would they let him sit at this table? Why are they being nice to him, after everything? Why is Dean acting like this can be normal? Aren't they worried he's going to lose it? Aren't they distrusting? Shouldn't he just go back to the basement, instead of letting Dean's words motivate him to stay?)
But it's an honest to god dinner table, and Dean's smiling a little bit, and he couldn't bring himself to retrace his steps back into the dark even if he tried.]
[ Knocking on that kitchen island they're sitting at, he finally gets up and claps Sam on the back. It's hard to really let this all sink in, and he's just as wary as Sam is that it's not going to last. But for right now? He just wants to appreciate what they have. ]
Better than what we had in camp too.
[ Dinner time at camp had been a little less formal. There was some community spirit, but the longer he was there the more Dean started to pull himself away from it. Sequestered himself into his own darkness, alone with everything he knew he had to do.
He forces a brighter smile and rounds that island to pull the stew pot away from the stove. There's enough left for Cas whenever he wants it. Enough to transfer over into tupperware and that's almost as weird as the whole dinner table thing. He's a tupperware guy now? ]
Movin' up in the world.
[ There's a moment where he's hoping that kind of comment will just get left alone for what it is. This isn't their world and there's so much they're up against. But just for this moment in time? Dean's going to enjoy it. ]
I was thinkin' about firing up the grill tomorrow for burgers. You in?
Better than what we had in camp too.
[ Dinner time at camp had been a little less formal. There was some community spirit, but the longer he was there the more Dean started to pull himself away from it. Sequestered himself into his own darkness, alone with everything he knew he had to do.
He forces a brighter smile and rounds that island to pull the stew pot away from the stove. There's enough left for Cas whenever he wants it. Enough to transfer over into tupperware and that's almost as weird as the whole dinner table thing. He's a tupperware guy now? ]
Movin' up in the world.
[ There's a moment where he's hoping that kind of comment will just get left alone for what it is. This isn't their world and there's so much they're up against. But just for this moment in time? Dean's going to enjoy it. ]
I was thinkin' about firing up the grill tomorrow for burgers. You in?
[Sam snorts in response, bringing the spoon back to his lips.]
If you can stomach it by tomorrow.
[He absolutely expects Dean to come back traumatized by weird bloated corpse walls.
Burgers? Good fucking luck.
But the question Dean posed to him, short and sweet, needs to be answered. After a moment, he obliges.]
... We'll just have to see.
[Not a yes, but not a no.
That's not too shabby, Dean.]
If you can stomach it by tomorrow.
[He absolutely expects Dean to come back traumatized by weird bloated corpse walls.
Burgers? Good fucking luck.
But the question Dean posed to him, short and sweet, needs to be answered. After a moment, he obliges.]
... We'll just have to see.
[Not a yes, but not a no.
That's not too shabby, Dean.]
[ Now that he's back at full power, time returns to a more natural state passing by in a blink of an eye. When the message comes through he's in the bunker with a stack of books piled up high in the library. He's grabbed every book on Nephilims he can find which aren't many but he makes do. Setting down the book, Castiel answers in the same matter-of-fact tone that has become his signature. ]
I know who he is.
[ The question is: Does Dean? ]
Where are you?
[ He's already rising from his seat, wings spreading in anticipationg of flight. He only needs a destination. ]
I know who he is.
[ The question is: Does Dean? ]
Where are you?
[ He's already rising from his seat, wings spreading in anticipationg of flight. He only needs a destination. ]
Edited 2020-12-06 18:52 (UTC)
I can fly now.
[ He answers giving away his newly returned status as an angel once again. ]
I can be there now.
[ He answers giving away his newly returned status as an angel once again. ]
I can be there now.
I can stomach it. When have you ever known me not to be game for a burger?
[ Somebody's playing a dangerous game because his future holds nothing but grossness and the inability to eat meat for a couple days after the sinkhole adventure. But of course he's leading with some meat-eating macho bullshit.
And a small smile.
Yeah, Dean knows which way he's hoping it'll go. Hanging with Sam sounds like a good way to end the day. And he doesn't even care if he's leaning into territory that makes him sound like a 50s housewife, he just wants to feed the guy up. Put some meat back on those bones. ]
I'm gonna go work on Baby. She's still not fixed up and I want her back on the road. I hate walking. It's so pedestrian.
[ It's not uncommon for the sounds of banging, welding and cursing to be floating out of the garage. Now that he feels like he needs to do something with his hands, getting that car back on the road feels important for more than just driving purposes. He probably doesn't have to say that though. ]
[ Somebody's playing a dangerous game because his future holds nothing but grossness and the inability to eat meat for a couple days after the sinkhole adventure. But of course he's leading with some meat-eating macho bullshit.
And a small smile.
Yeah, Dean knows which way he's hoping it'll go. Hanging with Sam sounds like a good way to end the day. And he doesn't even care if he's leaning into territory that makes him sound like a 50s housewife, he just wants to feed the guy up. Put some meat back on those bones. ]
I'm gonna go work on Baby. She's still not fixed up and I want her back on the road. I hate walking. It's so pedestrian.
[ It's not uncommon for the sounds of banging, welding and cursing to be floating out of the garage. Now that he feels like he needs to do something with his hands, getting that car back on the road feels important for more than just driving purposes. He probably doesn't have to say that though. ]
[ He doesn't make it over to Eddie's immediately, but there's barely a couple hours between the kid's last message and Dean out in the front yard of his house. Knocking on the door had been a distracted kind of banging, eyes running a practised scan of his periphery. Feels all the more necessary these days because turns out he's got more than one reason to stay the hell alive.
Weird how things work out sometimes.
He's got a brown leather-wrapped, seen better days journal tucked under one arm, his other hand shoved into the pocket of his jeans because it's cold. Colder than he'd like, if he's honest.
So he's waiting out front for a kid he's hellbent on helping out. It's important, and it means something. ]
Weird how things work out sometimes.
He's got a brown leather-wrapped, seen better days journal tucked under one arm, his other hand shoved into the pocket of his jeans because it's cold. Colder than he'd like, if he's honest.
So he's waiting out front for a kid he's hellbent on helping out. It's important, and it means something. ]
[The corner of Sam's lips quirks into an uneven smile.]
You know, walking is a good way to clear your mind. Get some exercise.
... Especially since the town's not even that big.
[Is he teasing? He's teasing. Just a bit. And he also takes another bite of his food, apparently warmed up to the idea of eating most of it. When it's your brother making it and not sad convenience store food you'd bought between motels while you're running from your problems, it turns out you don't mind eating as much.]
You know, walking is a good way to clear your mind. Get some exercise.
... Especially since the town's not even that big.
[Is he teasing? He's teasing. Just a bit. And he also takes another bite of his food, apparently warmed up to the idea of eating most of it. When it's your brother making it and not sad convenience store food you'd bought between motels while you're running from your problems, it turns out you don't mind eating as much.]
[ Truth is he went a long ass time without a burger in sight. Apocalypses are bad for diners, and convenience in general. Not that he's planning on dredging that up. The first burger he had here was like porn for his mouth. It was a real special moment, dream or not.
He rolls his eyes all the same, shakes his head 'hell no', and claps Sam on the back on the way past. The mere view of Sam digging into that stew makes him feel like he's done something right. ]
I have no idea what you're talkin' about. I'm in the best shape of my life.
[ Something which he's slowly chipping away at with the addition of burgers back into his diet. Beats canned food but probably not freshly hunted game. ]
He rolls his eyes all the same, shakes his head 'hell no', and claps Sam on the back on the way past. The mere view of Sam digging into that stew makes him feel like he's done something right. ]
I have no idea what you're talkin' about. I'm in the best shape of my life.
[ Something which he's slowly chipping away at with the addition of burgers back into his diet. Beats canned food but probably not freshly hunted game. ]
Right.
[He hesitates, though, feeling a little nervous to be on his own in a house that he feels he really didn't earn. Before Dean leaves, he speaks up:]
Hey — Dean.
[A pause. A fidgeting of shaky hands, as he rubs the palm against the knee of his jeans.]
Thank you. For letting me... be here. I mean.
... Up here. In the house. I'll make it up to you guys.
[He hesitates, though, feeling a little nervous to be on his own in a house that he feels he really didn't earn. Before Dean leaves, he speaks up:]
Hey — Dean.
[A pause. A fidgeting of shaky hands, as he rubs the palm against the knee of his jeans.]
Thank you. For letting me... be here. I mean.
... Up here. In the house. I'll make it up to you guys.
I'm good.
[ Is all he says before zipping himself there in the second that follows. His wings barely disturb the air as he touches down. He waits for Dean at the edge of the water with his hands settled inside his coat pockets while overlooking the water. ]
[ Is all he says before zipping himself there in the second that follows. His wings barely disturb the air as he touches down. He waits for Dean at the edge of the water with his hands settled inside his coat pockets while overlooking the water. ]
[ As for Dean, he looks a lot like he usually does when he's out on patrol. A little cold around the edges, but focused. Complaining about walking is one thing, but honestly? He likes being able to get around and breathe in the fresh air. Even more since descending into the flesh falls sinkhole. Sometimes he imagines he can still smell what it was like down there now, like it got up his nose and won't leave him alone.
There's a machete strapped to one thigh, the Colt actually pressed into a holster at his hip rather than hidden away in the folds of his jacket.
Cas appears and Dean doesn't blink.
It's something he's grown used to again ever since he got pulled here in the summer. It's definitely winter now, and he jerks his chin upward in greeting as his boots crunch into the ground beneath and his breath fogs up the air in front of him. He's probably looking a lot better than the last time Cas saw him. Free of the flu and though he's tired as hell, he doesn't look in bad shape for once. ]
Glad to see you got your mojo back.
There's a machete strapped to one thigh, the Colt actually pressed into a holster at his hip rather than hidden away in the folds of his jacket.
Cas appears and Dean doesn't blink.
It's something he's grown used to again ever since he got pulled here in the summer. It's definitely winter now, and he jerks his chin upward in greeting as his boots crunch into the ground beneath and his breath fogs up the air in front of him. He's probably looking a lot better than the last time Cas saw him. Free of the flu and though he's tired as hell, he doesn't look in bad shape for once. ]
Glad to see you got your mojo back.
[ Stopping in the doorway, he glances back at Sam, eyebrows raised in anticipation. But he stays quiet, patiently waits for whatever it is that his brother's got to say to him.
The thank you is hard to hear, but only because it's hard to see Sam like this, believing he's so undeserving. He nods tightly, and then smiles. ]
This is your house too, Sam. And even when I'm first-thing-in-the-morning grumpy, I want you up here. And I want you to remember that anything you need - anything at all - just gotta ask.
The thank you is hard to hear, but only because it's hard to see Sam like this, believing he's so undeserving. He nods tightly, and then smiles. ]
This is your house too, Sam. And even when I'm first-thing-in-the-morning grumpy, I want you up here. And I want you to remember that anything you need - anything at all - just gotta ask.
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