[5: accidental video]

[out_of_minutes]

[Post- this thread, ohboy.]

Castiel is wandering the halls, looking even more glum than usual. His default expression can't be said to be happy, but it's clear this is more than just default-blank. Cas is sad.

Every now and then he pauses and stares into nothing, and puts one hand to his lips, feeling them. He might even occasionally sigh Dean

Comments

[can I handwave that they eventually discussed the library in that other thread?]

[paper_knight]

He knows that overly-formal tone,and speaks at first without turning, tipping a book he was examining back onto the shelf.

"Castiel. Hello."

Remembering their last conversation, he nods at the shelves.

"Come to read up on humanity?"

[Works for me XD]

[out_of_minutes]

"Something like that," he replies. He's only ever researched esoteric matters, and only when he's had to; his inherent knowledge of such things is vast. His knowledge of most things to do with humanity - and not just humans as subjects, but about being human, however, is small. This place is larger than he expected: he has no idea where to begin his search.

"Do you know where I might find books concerning relationships?

Or about 'gay panic,'" he adds, remembering what Santana called it.

[paper_knight]

"Gay panic?"

Thank you for dropping that on the man from 1969, Castiel.

"I don't..."

Blink.

"Self-help was over there, I...I think. That would have relationship advice."

[out_of_minutes]

"Ah. Thank you." He toddles off in the direction Mark indicates, doing his best to act like he knows what he's looking for. He begins to scan the titles on the spines. It would be nice if one of them were to say 'What To Do When Your Friend Of The Same Apparent Gender Kisses You And Then Runs Away', but he's doubtful that will be the case.

[paper_knight]

He doesn't want to know he doesn't want to know he doesn't want to--dammit now he's getting nothing else done.

He follows Castiel. It's not a section he visits often--or ever--because when has he ever been good at taking advice--so he doesn't even have the pretense of being helpful. He's just nosy.

"Uh. Who needs advice? You?"

[out_of_minutes]

Cas looks back around, seeing that Mark has followed him over.

"Yes."

[paper_knight]

"...Why?"

[out_of_minutes]

"I find myself insufficiently equipped to deal with my... situation."

He sighs, sagging. Everyone else has heard about it now, it seems; may as well add one more person. "Dean kissed me," he finally says, more direct if less eloquent. He doesn't elaborate, just stands there pinning Mark with a lost expression.

Should've talked to AU Mark.

[paper_knight]

If Castiel was expecting a prompt and well-thought out answer, he's going to be disappointed.

Mark actually colors a little. "Oh. Uh." He really wouldn't have thought that of Dean. Or thought much of men kissing men at all. "Are you sure you should be telling me that?"

Re: Should've talked to AU Mark.

[out_of_minutes]

"Should I not have?" It honestly hasn't occurred to Cas that there's potential impropriety here. Even his halt to Dean's action, pointing out his own lack of feminine qualities, was not for moral reasons but because he'd thought he knew Dean's preferences.

He doesn't realize that the real problem is his telling so many people something Dean would rather keep private. He sees no reason to hide it, himself. Possession of what might be termed 'manners'? Not so much, or only selectively: "I am sorry." Now Cas is embarrassed, for having made Mark uncomfortable.

Re: Should've talked to AU Mark.

[paper_knight]

"It's all right with me."

Or at least, Mark's not going to blame Castiel because he stuck his nose somewhere it didn't belong.

"It might not be all right with Dean."

[action]

[out_of_minutes]

"I did not think of that. I feel no shame in it, for my own part. I... merely thought he regretted his choice of partner." Regretted me.

Cas is feeling more and more confused about this whole situation.

[paper_knight]

"You haven't spoken about it with him?"

It's taken him some time to adjust to Castiel's relative stoicism, but the hurt under his words is starting to register.

[out_of_minutes]

"No. It was clear he wanted me to leave him." It really wasn't very long ago, though; only a couple hours at the most have passed since it happened, momentous as it felt to Castiel.

[paper_knight]

"Maybe you should try talking to him again. After some time. In private."

There's a little emphasis on that last word. He doesn't understand the situation at all, but he can guess that it will be harder on Castiel if he's told the entire mansion about what happened.

[out_of_minutes]

"I will try to do so. When he is ready." Notice Cas isn't making any promises.