[barracks; open] Sittin' here restin' my bones, and this lonliness won't leave me alone

[sitherequietly]

Castiel hasn't been in the wood long, but he already finds this place very strange

Comments

[fellbychoice]

No matter how much Castiel would have been content to avoid her, Anna couldn't leave well enough alone. She was always testing her limits with her brother, trying to figure him out and piece together where she fit into his new life, and until she found the answers that she wanted she was perfectly content to bother every version of Castiel that showed up in the wood

[sitherequietly]

There was a moment where Castiel just looked at her. It's one thing to speak with her over the communication device, but it's another when she's right in front of him, and he wasn't entirely sure what to say. Eventually, however, he managed to pull himself together, and nodded.

"Hello, Anna."

[fellbychoice]

She stood silently for quite some time, trying to read into his reaction and judge how their conversation would go based upon that. He wasn't attempting to kill her, at least, so that was a good start.

"Have you been safe since you've been here?"

Despite everything, his safety was a concern of hers. She'd never want to watch him be harmed, even if she felt he still had a few good lessons to learn. But with him here, she could be the one to teach him those things, to get him to understand her point of view.

"It takes some time, but you eventually gain your bearings."

[sitherequietly]

"Yes. I've been spending time with Ruby, and she has been filling me in on what she knows."

That didn't make them friends, mind you. Ruby was just a convenient source of information who happened to be a demon. Also, Castiel wasn't very interested in Anna's lessons. He's come a long way from when she knew him last, and while he doesn't hate her for what she did, he's not sure whatever she intended to tell him would help.

"Hopefully we will all be able to find a way out of here soon."

[painhumbles]

Complications, especially when they're named Gabriel, have a way of finding people

[sitherequietly]

Castiel doesn't turn to face him at first. He's paying very rapt attention to a tree. It's a very interesting tree. In fact, it's more interesting than Gabriel at the moment, so he's going to keep looking at the tree until Gabriel proves to be more interesting.

(In all honesty, Castiel is feeling a little immature at the moment. Feel free to call him on it.)

"Hello, Gabriel," he says, glancing over briefly before turning back to the tree again.

[painhumbles]

Why question a good thing? The fact that Castiel has modes beyond 'stick rammed so far up his ass, it's stabbing his brain' is still a concept Gabriel can't grok, but can totally get behind when he's not being weirded out by it. Although when it's clear Gabriel's desperate need for attention isn't being heeded, he casually saunters over, so that he's blocking the tree. No trees for Castiel.

"You're looking particularly broody today. Lemme guess- Winchester Separation Anxiety?" Never let it be said that Gabriel's not blunt and to the point. Dean not coming back from the castle and, in fact, vanishing shook him up in ways he wasn't comfortable with, so the only way to deal with it was to be particularly uncouth about it.

[sitherequietly]

Castiel sighs as he turns to focus on Gabriel again, taking his attention off the tree. Fine, Archangel. You win.

"I'm not feeling any kind of ... anxiety. Dean has a large struggle ahead of him, but not long after that his life becomes quite pleasant. I'm sure he will be very happy."

See? Totally not missing Dean. In fact, why would he miss Dean at all? He's mostly being a jerk to him lately anyway.

[notalighieri]

Castiel is not alone in bouncing about the barracks. Restless and slightly agitated, Dante is doing his version of the same -although with less bouncing and a whole lot of more stalking about and avoiding people in general

[sitherequietly]

Manners are highly overrated.

Castiel would have been content to ignore Dante and keep his focus where it belongs, but apparently today was "Let's talk to Castiel" day and he isn't allowed to have that peace he so desperately wants. There is also something ... off ... about the man who spoke to him, but most beings from other worlds seem off to him, so he's not thinking anything of it at the time.

He doesn't give Dante anymore attention than he has to, which also means there's no eye contact. See? Manners are overrated.

"I am an angel of the Lord."

[notalighieri]

Overrated indeed. Dante has to give the trench coat guy credit for being one amusing character. Or; he will, once he's not focused on the reply he just got.

"An angel... of the Lord?" He repeats the words slowly and then lets out a laugh, obviously a bit sceptical and/or baffled. "Are you fuckin' kidding me?"

[sitherequietly]

"No."

He'll actually glance to look at him this time, just so he can see how not kidding he really is. Being an angel isn't something that Castiel jokes about. He takes his job very, very seriously.

And besides, it's a fact. Why would he lie?

[bell_bound]

Mogget has found a place in the barracks he rather likes: the Giving Tree. Perched in its branches, he has a good view of the area and people are less likely to disturb him. The only disadvantage is that it's still too cold for his liking.

People don't usually disappear. It might almost make Mogget feel dizzy watching this man bounce around the barracks with no apparent effort. Instead, it just annoys him. He waits for the man to get within earshot before calling down to him.

"Can't you walk like the rest of us do?"

[sitherequietly]

Castiel pauses at the base of the tree in surprise when he hears the voice, and then tips his head up to look for the source of the voice. His head tips to the side when he sees that it's a cat of all things, and he'll just look at Mogget curiously while he answers his question.

"Yes." Because he can walk. "Teleportation is faster."

Duh.

[bell_bound]

The cat's tail hangs down from a branch and twitches as Mogget responds. "And yet you haven't gone anywhere."

Mogget should know; he's watched him for the past ten minutes or so.

[sitherequietly]

"It has it's ... limits."

If he goes too far he winds up stuck in a tar pit or somewhere equally unpleasant. He's learning how far he can take it accurately, and what other limits the inhabitants of the wood have managed to place on his abilities. And no one ever said you had to watch.

After all, Castiel feels a little ridiculous talking to a cat.

[sent_farfaraway]

Eventually, all his popping around the place bring him to wherever Ruby is. Naturally, it scared the bejeezus out of her, because she hadn't been expecting that instant arrival.

"Shit, Cas." Her hand moved to her chest, because if she actually had to worry about a heart-attack, he might've given her one.

"Do you need a bell or something?"

[sitherequietly]

Castiel clearly felt no remorse for startling her. You should expect these kind of things, Ruby. Castiel might become the annoying little brother you never wanted.

"Why would I need a bell?"

And he honestly does want to know.

[sent_farfaraway]

Look, maybe she was used to being the one that did the startling. It wasn't like you ever tracked her down voluntarily before this whole... woods-thing. He was the last person she'd expect trying to find out where she was.

Not that he had been looking for her.

"So I knew when you were coming around. You know?" Her hand lifts up, making a small gesture as if she's going to ring a small bell, "Jingle, jingle?"

[sitherequietly]

"I do not need a bell." He didn't even know that dogs wore them and he considered them undignified. "Why would you need to know when I'm coming?"

You're going to take away his fun, Ruby. He secretly likes being able to give people heart attacks.