Day 56: Bus 3

[rocksthecourt]

Waking carried a sense of disappointment along with it for the first time in a long time. Klavier actually sighed in irritation when he realized where he was. Damn it all. So they hadn't managed to move quickly enough to cover as much ground as they had hoped. It was a shame, really. Last night had actually proven to be relatively productive. If

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[poorexample]

It was a relief that Orihara wasn't taking Castiel's lack of consideration to heart. It seemed that he had found the experience interesting in its own way, and Castiel was simply grateful that his flighty actions hadn't led to the human being harmed in any way. There were a few things about Orihara that were odd -- wouldn't most humans have been frightened rather than excited about such a situation? -- but he'd agreed to help him, and that was not something to take lightly in this place, where his allies were so few.

He was not going to rely on the possibility that his powers would be returned to him sometime in the future. It didn't seem likely, and it was best not to focus on something beneficial happening when there was no proof that that would be the case. At this point, the only person he could really trust was himself; he wasn't going to forget that any time soon.

However, the mention of friends did strike a chord with him, if only because he knew that neither Sam nor Dean saw him as such at this point. Still, he didn't let that show, instead addressing the man's questions. "The one who seemed most threatened... He was also under the influence of that night's effects. It made him unnaturally paranoid." Castiel took care not to give out Gabriel's name considering their conversation the night before.

"But you're correct. By my count, that girl is supposed to be dead, but this place has no consideration for the flow of time. She does not count as a friend." He could not give Orihara nearly as much information as he had Renamon, but he at least deserved to know that much.

[predictator]

The information Castiel shared wasn't much, but even the smallest pieces would eventually add up to a larger, more complete picture... And amidst the pieces he'd just shared, there was a gem.

"Dead?" he repeated, trying to sound incredulous. It wasn't hard. "Ah... I read something like that on the bulletin board before-that there were a fair number of people who claimed they or others had been dead-but it all sounded so fantastical, I thought of it as nothing more than a joke. But that girl... she was really, truly dead?"

Even after having seen Castiel's no-longer-dead acquaintance with his own eyes, it still seemed more like something out of a fantasy than reality... but Izaya wasn't going to dismiss the notion just because it appeared larger-than-life. Coming back to life as if you'd never died at all was just as-no, it was even better than an afterlife. A lack of 'consideration for the flow of time' suited Izaya just fine. How was such a feat possible, how had it been done, and how could he repeat it for himself?

-But he was getting ahead of himself.

"If she's not a friend, she's what? A rival? An enemy?"

[poorexample]

Even though Castiel was aware of all sorts of supernatural creatures and events, even he had to admit that coming back from the dead was hardly normal. More than that, it wasn't supposed to be possible. It should have only worked through deals with the devil or an act of God.

Castiel still hadn't quite explained to himself how a Father who had abandoned Heaven had still chosen to bring him back to life. Then again, he'd never been given proof that it was God at all, had he? That was unsettling enough on its own.

None of that had anything to do with the current conversation, however, and so he pushed it from his mind as quickly as he could. "She did die, yes. That is incontestable. However, she's from long before that, pulled out of time like it was nothing. I even told her of her fate, but she didn't believe me." Not that Castiel had expected her to, but he had at least planted in the seed into her mind.

The final question was much easier to answer, however. "She's an enemy." They had been bred to be opposed to each other, more or less. The only thing they were rivals over was the trust of the Winchesters.

[predictator]

Interesting, interesting! Of course, all the rumors of time travel made this particular case he'd come personally into contact with less interesting than it could have been, since it meant that she had not, in fact, been brought back to life in the strictest sense-she was only back from the dead from Castiel's point of view. But just the fact that she was here when Castiel was so sure she had died was fascinating... This place may not have been the most pleasant place to stay on the whole, but being here was certainly far preferable to death and there were so many, many interesting people!

Izaya leaned back in his seat, resting his hands on his lap and lacing his fingers together. He'd only had a few chances to observe Castiel thus far, but especially after the other night, he felt it was safe to assess that the man was not exactly skilled in the fine art of persuasion.

"Of course she didn't believe you," he commented, tilting his head to one side with a wry smile. "If the two of you are enemies, why would she? Telling her she died is a simple thing, but making her believe that it's the truth..." It would be like Izaya telling Heiwajima Shizuo that he was supposed to be dead.

...Maybe he'd try that some time. With Shizuo's simple brain, there was a chance (albeit slim) he'd actually believe it.

"By the way," he added suddenly, "what was her name? I don't know if she and I might have any mutual acquaintances besides you, but after seeing me with you that night, I doubt she'll want to be very friendly... I'd like to know who to avoid."

[poorexample]

Orihara had a good point about the reasoning behind Ruby's reluctance to believe him. Enemies were naturally going to be wary of each other, but Castiel couldn't forget the fact that demons were the ones who were known for being untrustworthy, not angels. He'd had that point proved wrong by his superiors, of course, but he was well aware of his own incapacity to lie. He was good at withholding information, but out and out lying was another thing entirely.

However, Ruby could think what she wanted. He'd definitely unsettled her during their talk, though he wouldn't feel completely at ease until he'd spoken with Dean and commiserated with him about the demon. Just how much did Dean even know? Castiel felt as if someone who was supposed to be a close friend was bordering on a hopeless case simply because he was so far behind.

That wasn't something he needed to discuss with this human, though. Instead, he focused on Orihara's question, pondering it for a moment. But in the end, he had no reason to keep Ruby's identity a secret. The more people who knew about her and thought her to be dangerous, the better. "Ruby is her name," he said after a pause. "You're right that you would be well-advised to stay away from her." He doubted that she would be targeting random humans, but she certainly wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of one who was in her way.

With that taken care of, Castiel couldn't help thinking of the deal that he had struck with Orihara, and so after a small pause he glanced over at the young man. "Do you think you would be available to work together tonight? I can assure you we will stay on task this time." It wasn't often that Castiel allowed himself to get sidetracked, but his flight returning to him was hardly something he could have ignored.

[predictator]

Ruby. Izaya noted the name, but not for the reason he'd told Castiel he'd wanted to know it. Quite the opposite, in fact: he wanted to know whom it was he wanted to keep an eye on, and Castiel's warning only made him ever more curious. Ruby could be the key to answering several questions, after all...

He might just need to arrange a meeting.

When Castiel changed the subject to their deal, Izaya nodded once. "Tonight would be fine," he said. "Let's meet in that same place as before... Ah, assuming that's acceptable, of course. We can arrange another location if need be." The main hall was a central enough location that even with his own recent room change, it was more convenient than meeting elsewhere... However, if Castiel had other ideas, Izaya didn't mind continuing to be accommodating. It would be a shame to ruin what was (he hoped) a good impression too soon.

[poorexample]

It was difficult to judge whether his warning had been taken seriously or not, but Castiel knew he couldn't say much more than he had. Orihara had a name now, along with knowing what Ruby looked like. With that in mind, he would hopefully be able to stay well out of her way unless the demon decided to track him down for some reason. If Orihara was lucky, Ruby would have too many other things to concern herself with to bother seeking him out.

There was no reason for them to change around the meeting place, since he doubted that anyone would be able to track them or have much reason to. He did feel some paranoia after that bulletin note from yesterday, but he didn't need to mention that to Orihara or drag him into it, and so he shook his head in response.

"The main hall should work fine. Would you prefer we make an attempt on the same lock, or is it better to look for a different door to get through?" They knew what the front of the building looked like from the outside, after all, so maybe it would be preferable to find something that would be more of a mystery to both of them.

[predictator]

Izaya stayed quiet for a few seconds after Castiel's question, considering it. He wasn't sure if Castiel's meaning in asking was to learn what secrets might be behind a different door or not, but it was his own first thought on the matter. Certainly it could be more useful if they found a different locked door that Izaya hadn't been through before, but...

"Having picked that one myself, I can say that I don't think it will be too difficult for a beginner to practice on... But more importantly, I'd rather not waste time looking for a different door," he responded. "That said, if you know of another you know will be locked, we can certainly try it instead if you'd prefer."

[poorexample]

Castiel had to admit that the human was bringing up a good point. While he doubted that locked doors were that hard to come by in the institute, locating one would take up precious time -- and he'd been severely lacking time in his nights. The important part of the exercise was learning how to get the door unlocked rather than seeing what was behind it, but the efficient part of him wanted to accomplish both at the same time.

"We can try that one again, if you believe that is best," he said after a pause. The bus gave a jolt when it hit a bump in the road, but the angel quickly righted himself. This vehicle rode even more roughly than Dean's car. "There was another door I came across that is closer to the patient blocks, but it was locked very tightly. It might not be the best one to start on." It was that very door that had given him the idea to learn this trade in the first place, but he could always try it another time.

[predictator]

Izaya gave a slow nod. "Alright... We can try that one later on, after you've gotten the feel for it," Izaya suggested. How long it would be until Castiel had gotten the feel for it depended on how faster a learner he proved to be: unfortunately, the only methods of lock picking available within the institute relied on finesse, and if he had none... Well, it would be a long line of lessons and the cost could end up outweighing the payment. He hoped that wouldn't be the case.

He felt the bus slowing. Izaya turned his head to look out the window; there was a small town spread out beyond it. "It seems we've arrived," he commented to Castiel as the bus finally came to a halt. A few people in the front were already pulling to their feet to disembark. "I'll see you again tonight."

[poorexample]

In a way, Castiel's thoughts were running similarly to Orihara's, mainly in that he was wondering how long this entire process would take. It was certainly a worthwhile skill, though the fact that he hadn't thought to learn it until now bothered him. He realized he'd never needed it, but he should have somehow anticipated this...

Or perhaps he was being too hard on himself. It wasn't often that Castiel could even realize that, but how could he have known he'd end up trapped in a mental hospital with Dean, Sam, Gabriel, and Ruby -- and with all of them from differing points in time? And with a lack of powers?

Though it seemed that they had reached their destination, and so he was able to move away from the self-berating and focus on what more there was to learn. "Yes. I will be there," he said with a nod as he got to his feet and headed toward the bus' exit.