(Untitled)

[thursdays_angel]

In the beginning, Castiel had quietly delighted in being in the center of things in Milliways. In the middle of the floor. In the way. In the thick of the action

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[ever_noteful]

Up and into the rafters is just about the only place Meg doesn't think to look when she comes into Milliways.

So there's a girl more or less directly below him, and completely oblivious to the fact that she's more or less directly below him.

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel momentarily thinks of calling out to Meg. He would like to speak to her.

But this evening, that approach just seems taxingly slow and roundabout.

In a fraction of a second, Castiel disappears from the rafters.

He appears behind Meg, laying one hand on her shoulder.

And an instant later, they are both perched several feet above Milliways.

[ever_noteful]

Meg has objected to Castiel's means of getting her attention before.

Repeatedly.

So she's not especially optimistic that the pointedness of the comment is not going to be lost on him when she says, "Good evening to you, too, Castiel."

[thursdays_angel]

If the greeting pokes him with a sharp edge, he gives no indication.

"Good evening, Meg," Castiel says, leaning back against his beam again.

"I had hoped to see you."

[ever_noteful]

Meg settles into her own, um, seat, gingerly.

She's not used to hanging out in rafters.

"I've been watching for you, too, but Milliways hasn't turned up all that much lately, for me.

"How are you?

"And how is he?"

[thursdays_angel]

"I am largely unchanged."

He has merely been waiting, after all.

"Dean is.......improved, I believe."

"I have witnessed him interacting with more ease with other patrons."

Including Anna. That had been strange to watch. Even for Castiel.

[ever_noteful]

"That's good," Meg says.

"That he's doing better. And talking to people."

For a lot of reasons.

[thursdays_angel]

Better, but ready? That is the prominent question for Castiel.

"A favorable sign, surely."

"His mind is much stronger than when he first arrived."

[ever_noteful]

"How long has it been, here?

"I . . . living through the month of September twice has me a little turned around on time here, right now."

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel shakes his head slightly.

"I fear that my sense of time has suffered as well. At least, as humans reckon time."

A sojourn in Hell, followed by the Timelessness that is Milliways can be confusing, even for an angel.

"It feels like a great deal of time."

[ever_noteful]

And given how old Castiel is . . . that's disconcerting.

"Oh.

"Um. Well, I hope for your sake, you won't have to stay much longer."

Even while she kind of hopes for Dean's that they will.

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel nods.

"As do I."

"There is a great deal of work awaiting."

And Castiel is finding that there is a great deal of truth to the adage that it is harder to anticipate a difficult thing than it is to do a difficult thing.

[ever_noteful]

"You'll let me know how things go, right?"

She'll worry about . . . well, about all of them, really.

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel fixes his eyes on Meg.

"Of course. You have become a part of what is to come."

For better, or for worse.

[ever_noteful]

And that's just kind of completely intimidating.

But all Meg says out loud is, "Thank you."

[thursdays_angel]

Castiel smiles faintly.

"It is I who owes you thanks."

"I am not sure he would have recovered so well left soley to angels."