(Untitled)

[stilljustandrew]

[Same continuity as this.]

It's been about six hours since Andrew entered the Security office. Crowley was kind enough to take a note to the bar for him, which is one weight off his mind.

Right now he's sitting cross-legged on the cell's cot and reading up on Sulcar demons.

Comments

[mr_gaeta]

"Congratulations," says a dry voice above him, just outside the cell. "You're the first brig rat I've ever had to babysit."

Despite the tone, Gaeta hasn't exorcised all of the concern from his expression, or his posture.

He also has a deck of oddly-shaped cards in one hand.

[stilljustandrew]

"Hey," says Andrew happily, looking up. "You got my note?"

[mr_gaeta]

"Yeah. I did."

Gaeta eyes him. You are entirely too cheerful for someone inside a cell, says the look.

"What happened?"

[stilljustandrew]

"Kind of a long story," he says, closing the book he's reading, with his pocket notebook in between the pages to mark his place. "Want to come in and sit down? Baby'll let you through."

[mr_gaeta]

His eyebrows lift in mild surprise. "Oh, if -- "

Unsure of where exactly to look, he glances up at the ceiling. "Um. May I?" he asks; almost before he's finished speaking, the glass wall shimmers and disappears.

Certain aspects of this place, he thinks, are not going to get any less unsettling the longer he spends here.

As soon as he crosses the threshold, the wall shimmers back into place. Gaeta takes a seat on the cot next to Andrew, absently cutting the hexagonal deck and shuffling it back together.

"I brought some cards," he says -- perhaps somewhat unnecessarily -- and holds them up. A pause; then, a slight smirk. "Tell me the whole story I'll teach you how to play Triad."

[stilljustandrew]

He peers at the cards with some interest -- the unusual shape's caught his attention.

"Okay, so. You remember how I told you a few months ago there was that incident with the graffiti-writing demon? And it attacked a few people and I threw holy water at it?"

[mr_gaeta]

He nods. "Mm-hmm."

Gaeta turns the deck between his hands, watching Andrew closely.

[stilljustandrew]

"So here's the thing."

He turns to face Gaeta a little more, shifting so that one leg's curled under him and the other hangs off the edge of the cot.

"A while ago I talked to Crowley. And he was still really ... I could say really angry, but it's more than that. He was really shaken. That I could get away with using holy water against a demon, here. Instead of calling Security."

[mr_gaeta]

The absent turning and shuffling of the deck slows down.

"Did you...elect to stay in here yourself?"

[stilljustandrew]

He shrugs one shoulder.

"I broke the no-violence rule. And I did it using a deadly weapon."

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta's forehead creases, just a little.

"I thought they made exceptions if you were acting in self-defense."

It's not an argument -- Gaeta, of all people, isn't one to argue for breaking rules without punishment -- but it is a request for clarification.

[stilljustandrew]

"Yeah -- I figured cutting it down to two days was reasonable on those grounds, and because the demon wasn't seriously hurt. And Crowley didn't argue."

[mr_gaeta]

He exhales a nearly soundless chuckle, and lets it ease into a small, fond smile.

"Well, I'm not sure I can say I'm glad you're in here." Gaeta sets the deck on the cot's edge, and drapes an arm over Andrew's shoulders. "But...I am glad you're the one who decided to sentence yourself."

[stilljustandrew]

He leans into the hug.

"Seemed like the logical thing to do," he murmurs.

[mr_gaeta]

"Mm. No wonder we get along."

He rubs Andrew's shoulder, then leans to press a quick kiss to his temple.

Lightly teasing, "So how's it feel to join the world of crime?"

[stilljustandrew]

A quick, crooked smile, almost a wince.

"The world of crime's not as much fun as it sounds."