[ Kimiko doesn't entirely get that's not exactly a musical, yet, but she was in the process of watching 80s movies back home, before coming here. Her "catch up on movies" thing will have to wait. ]
( semi-boring movie, but the dance and the water. a+ )
Hatchetman. I like to watch movies where I know the bad guy is gonna' lose.
You heard of it? Wonder how much actual overlap some worlds have. Forget we're not all from the same one. Been five years since an actual movie was produced where I'm from. Been less since I was able to get my hands on a VHS and DVD player. VHS tapes hold up.
( he picks up the call because he still feels - he doesn't know what to call it, an obligation, a kinship in what they went through, something that has him listening to cas' frantic stops and starts. )
Cas, slow down, Dean is -
( he says 'gone.' and he pauses again, or pulls the phone away or something. )
Cas.
( he swears under his own breath, considers it for a split second and hangs up. he's not going to be any good over the phone like this. he pulls on clothing, going over it in his mind. dean's gone. which -- could mean, if he followed orientation -- he's arrested, he's dead but not staying dead, or, he's gone altogether and gone home.
he doesn't know what he'd want for the guy, considering he assumes things turned out less apocalyptic for him. he was never able to ask or get any answers. never able to know if he needed them.
coat on, he uses the stairs, and hightails it to the Up edge, to the elevator. there's a bigger line than he anticipates, probably an 'end of the night' sub thing he didn't pay attention to. he should brush up on those rules.
it's another ten-twenty minutes that he makes it to the Down housing for the first time. it reminds him of some of the shittier motels he and sam stayed in. but, once he's there and he realizes there are hallways and rooms, he dials cas again. and when cas answers: )
[ he's pacing the hallways when dean comes in, back and forth like a cornered animal considering escape. except he's going nowhere, and he's on the wrong floor for dean to find him, so he answers the phone, sounding a little breathless, harried— ]
Mine's the first room, but I'm not there. Come upstairs, I'll meet you.
[ he's beelining in the stairs direction when he almost runs into dean. he's pale-faced and grave, eyes wide in a way that speaks of pain, the kind that's only going to get worse. ]
( he moves back to the first room, halts, turns back, and in frustration all but sighs from the shitty communication. stairs he can work with, so he ascends them three at a time and almost barrels into - )
Cas.
( he looks past him, to get any indication of what's going on. )
Where's the other Cas?
( he reminds himself, the other Dean is gone. and he will get to the bottom of what that means. just not yet. one thing at a time. )
[ it isn't a long walk down the hall, but some of the panic sloughs off castiel as they walk — he begins to explain, in a steadier voice, what happened. ]
I've been trying to get ahold of him for a couple of days now. At first, I figured he was just busy at work, but after the second day I knew something was ooff— So I tried to get ahold of Dean, because if anyone was gonna know where he is... [ of course it would be dean. ] But the message bounced back.
[ he cuts a quick glance aside. the gravity in his expression says: that's never a good thing. ]
I went to their apartment after that. Nobody was home. Checked in at where they work but nobody had seen them. So I went to the registry—
Dean's not in the city anymore.
And Cas is—
[ he stops in front of a door, and moves forward to open it. there's no dramatic pause. it's just another small, shitty motel-style room on the inside. two beds. castiel lies on one. asleep, seemingly. ]
He's in a coma. I've heard this happens, sometimes. I don't know why.
( dean listens, falling in step, mentally preparing himself. He makes a mental note, if you message someone or call and the three beeps kick in 'we're sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service' is bad here. it's never good when someone falls off the face of the earth, of course, and he hasn't lived with a real working phone system for long, one he can rely on. but he remembers hunting. and he remembers losing hunter contacts.
castiel did a lot of detective work.
he sees the seams around the man, the curated blaisser attitude anything but as he's practically frantic.
but he's also impressed.
feels bad for the former angel turned angel again that this was his life. he'd stopped by the soul cellar, but had he noticed if the other cas or dean weren't there? he too has just been going through the motions.
first dean looks inside. the door opens and the shitty tableau comes into focus.
then he approaches. he looks back once at his castiel, and then back, and he lowers himself to a crouch, studying the other cas. )
You said you went back home. For a month. ( he turns his head back again, questioning. logic - to a point - he can do. he can work in facts. not figures, really. but the facts he knew were so specific, and so fucked, for so long. ) Could this be that?
Edited (when i get a word wrong smdh) Date: 2024-09-27 02:16 pm (UTC)
[ castiel moves into the room after dean, hovering in the center, facing castiel's body, hands in his pockets. he isn't impressed with himself, but he's at least not ashamed that he managed to get this far before inevitably calling on dean. that's not something he's ashamed over, either. needing the support. he, too, has nothing left now, save for dean, and if dean hadn't arrived last month—
well, add it to the long list of things he doesn't want to think about. ]
I don't think it's same. [ there's disappointment in his voice. he would clearly like for it to be. ] I was gone, like Dean is gone now. Everyone thought I'd gone for good— Cas was upset about that, too.
[ they'd only known each other a month. but they were also the same person, so really, they'd known each other for a lifetime. castiel takes a deep breath and lets it out, slow, through his nose. ]
The last time I heard of this happening, the guy just... wasted away.
( cas shouldn't be ashamed of calling him. wherever they are, they still have a responsibility to each other, even if it's unspoken.
dean inspects cas' body, his facial expression. despite the other dean being gone as his cas says, he's not giving up on this cas. )
Sometimes they wake up.
( he's not pep-talking again, and this isn't a panic attack on either end. but, he only has so much in him. he wishes he could bring the darkness out of castiel, can't take away anything he's been through, but he feels fundamentally different here than of what he remembers. but, if he's honest with himself, all he remembers is a drug-addled blind devotion. )
And you came back. ( so Dean could come back. he finally leans back and rises to his feet again. he wants to say anything that happens, they'll get through it. they always do. did they cheat death? he doesn't know. can cas? this cas? ) So, without the other Dean, he's uncontracted and they move him into this shithole. Great caretaking.
( that he hates more. )
I know you're scared. And I know this place hasn't given you a fair shake. ( he pauses, blinking only briefly. ) I'm barely on my feet here and some days I don't even know if I am here. But I am. And so are you. And Cas, until his body says otherwise, is here. He's asleep. And you can worry. But, you can't let this consume you. Look, I like you off drugs. You're real. Nothing against your orgies, but, you coped how you coped. I'm not knocking it. But, you found your thing. You had your solace and you had your loyalty and I want that for you here. ( he tilts his head, real concern etched on his face. ) I'm worried about you, man. And I know there's no one bandaid that'll fix it all. And I know you've been through shit. We don't wait for the worst case scenario. It's not what we do. Maybe, maybe think of this - all of this - as your new beginning. And it started out like shit. You know, it was like a freakin Monday. But, I'm here. And it's Wednesday. And there will be more Mondays. There are always more Mondays. But, there are other days of the week. Other months. Actual, ass-backwards holidays here. And, shit to look forward to. End of the day, I can't have you hopeless. Cause I won't make it. Maybe it was misplaced, ( or foolish ) or, something else, but it's what we had there. And there's no reason we can't have it here. I need you to hope for something Cas. Hope for the other Castiel to wake up. If Dean is gone - we know he's got something to get back to. Means there's still work to do. Maybe. Maybe our work gets to be done.
( he's not saying he's going to lay down and take it, like he's not going to try and free everyone eventually. but maybe there's a way to move forward here. he doesn't know, does he. but only one way they can find out. )
[ he knows that dean is worried about him— and he should be. god, he should be. the only tether left keeping him above water is dean. if he were to be snatched away too, after just coming back within his grasp, he knows he wouldn't make it. (not that he has much choice but to live. which, ironically, makes it easier to give up, most days, than it would be if not.)
but something in his face softens at dean's words. they're surprisingly hopeful, after the five years they've had. maybe it's because lucifer isn't breathing down their necks, here. maybe it's because sam isn't tangled up in all this mess. or maybe dean is just tired of the way he was living before.
the reason doesn't matter. it matters that dean is saying these things to him. ]
You have me.
[ is the first thing he thinks to say. ]
Not saying there's no reason to be worried about me. But you have me. It's, um. Gonna be hard, though. Cas— Cas didn't have any hope for his future. He'd seen the whole thing. All the way up to his death. He'll have some time, at least, but...
[ it's a tragedy, plain and simple. thinking about it makes his guts knot and tangle. he shifts his weight from one heel to the other, crossing his arms across his chest as he frowns down at castiel's body. his eyes linger for a moment on the ring that he wears on his left hand. ]
Dean... If this is gonna be a new start. If you want me to think of it like that. There are some things we need to talk about.
( he doesn't fight that he needs to have him, that Cas can be his own man now, his own angel, but he can also make his own choices. he also doesn't say that they have each other. because, isn't that unspoken between them?
or not.
the conversation shifts and dean shoves it in the back of his mind. other castiel will now be a project, too. it may not have been clear to them, or even to his other self, but dean survived because he had hope. if he had had no hope, than he wouldn't have been able to survive for all long as he had. carve what he could out of what was left.
dean does notice the other, unoccupied for the moment, bed. knowing this isn't their room, or space.
besides, it felt weird having a whole serious conversation in front of cas, comatose or not. dean still believes he's in there. so he's gonna respect that. )
Maybe we should pick this up back at my place. Give his new roommate some space.
[ he looks reluctant. not because he doesn't want to leave — it's depressing, hanging around here — but he's worried for cas' safety. he's going to have to find out who his roommate is and check in with them. and, if he isn't satisfied, drag castiel to his own room for safe keeping. there are things he wants to say to dean, things he wants to tell him about castiel's situation, but he isn't sure if it's better or not if he wait.
that's castiel's business, after all.
cas drags his eyes away and nods in agreement. ]
Let's go.
[ they take the stairs down. castiel stops at his own room to grab his coat before they ship off, walking shoulder to shoulder as they make their way to the elevator. but nobody bothers them, or even gives them so much as a second glance. they're let out into the grand, sprawling city minutes later, and by then it's only a short trip to the station. they find their seats on the train, and castiel kneels, smoothly, to sit by dean's feet.
the gawking looks of expectation and disapproval turn away from them when castiel makes it clear he's following by their rules. but he almost seems in his element, down here. relaxed and a little boneless, the way he leans in and his chest brushes dean's shin.
he sighs and rests his elbow against the bench seat. ]
( Dean lays a hand on the other Cas' shoulder, and upper chest, like he did once before with him, and then follows Cas out. he closes the door behind them and makes a mental note of the room number.
down the stairs they go, dean giving his Castiel a minute in his room, taking one look inside. dump doesn't begin to cover it, but that's how they get people to contract, he figures.
they walk in silence, making it to the elevator. because Cas is in the presence of another Dominant, they don't question him. they only get the tell-tale looks of disappointment considering neither of them is contracted. but Dean is still a Dominant and they respect that.
the city comes into view and they're led out.
on the train, Dean forgets the hierarchy and almost says something with Castiel at his feet. but, when he's reminded that other people are doing the same, and some are in each other's laps, he can't help but roll his eyes at the performative nature of this place. he puts a hand on his castiel's shoulder next. yeah, yeah, he too is playing his part. )
He didn't lose everything. He's been there. We've lost people. It's a part of the job.
( he compartmentalizes it, sure, and this isn't what their job used to be. not at all. but it's how it works in his mind. )
What'd I say about hope. You think that doesn't include him.
[ a performance, yeah. but a performance he can couch himself inside. he closes his eyes at the warm press of a hand to his shoulder, his entire chest a dull ache. he might straighten his back and tip up his chin for dean, but he doesn't know that his counterpart will fall into line. they've led very, very different lives, and castiel— he got what he wanted, at least in part. perhaps not the ideal version of what he wanted, but who gets what's ideal? who gets what they deserve, ever?
he opens his eyes. ]
He might not listen to you.
He might not want anything to do with you.
[ he knows castiel, this castiel, better than dean does. maybe better than his dean did, too.
cas blinks. watches dean. ]
But I hope that's not how things go. I was... thinking you might contract him, actually. Temporarily. Help him get the apartment back. I know he has the money for it.
And, uh. If you contract us both, I can stay with him. Take care of him.
( he might not. he may say 'to hell with it.' overtime, castiel became something more than the angel who raised him from perdition. he became an ally. a friend. and then he was stripped of everything that made him cas - and he became the yoga leader and the orgy-organizer.
even for a short time, he could tell that that Castiel and that Dean were important enough to one another to sign on the dotted line.
there's a good word, though. a buzzword they should hang onto. hope. he hopes. he better keep hoping.
that said. )
Is it that easy?
( would he want that? and then. )
You want me to sign you both. ( for him? for the other castiel? he studies him. ) You know you have more here. You don't have to go all in on me.
( it's hilarious how opposite this sentiment is. from the other night with the panic attack, from him basically saying they're all a unit. )
[ oh, dean. you're a funny guy. castiel tries not to smile, because he doesn't want dean to think he's laughing at him — but he's ridiculous to think that he has anything else here that he actually cares about. and yes, he does track that opposing sentiment. it's not like he was drunk that night. just having a panic attack.
if dean weren't here, he wouldn't bother at all. maybe for cas, he would— but if cas wastes away...
but hope, yeah. that damned thing. ]
To the end of October. These comas, when they do wake up, tend to last about a month — maybe more, sometimes. So I should be free by the time he's up and at'em.
Besides— Maybe I wanna go all in on you. That is, if you wanna contract me too. There aren't a lot of people in this world I'd trust myself to, Dean, and I already chose you when I decided not to go back to Heaven. It's an easy choice.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
for kumiko — tdm continuation
Date: 2024-09-21 04:39 pm (UTC)when she returns home. he used to like an optimist. is that part of him dead and buried? )
You have a favorite?
for castiel — tdm continuation
Date: 2024-09-21 04:51 pm (UTC)He can only imagine how much Cas' head isn't buzzing anymore. )
No more angel radio. All FM all the time.
( And, he assumes, Cas is alone with his own thoughts now. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 12:28 pm (UTC)But I really like Flashdance, too.
[ Kimiko doesn't entirely get that's not exactly a musical, yet, but she was in the process of watching 80s movies back home, before coming here. Her "catch up on movies" thing will have to wait. ]
You have a favorite movie?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 05:15 pm (UTC)( semi-boring movie, but the dance and the water. a+ )
Hatchetman. I like to watch movies where I know the bad guy is gonna' lose.
You heard of it? Wonder how much actual overlap some worlds have. Forget we're not all from the same one. Been five years since an actual movie was produced where I'm from. Been less since I was able to get my hands on a VHS and DVD player. VHS tapes hold up.
( for the most part. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 06:12 pm (UTC)[ It does exist in her world, but Kimiko hasn't heard of it, no. ]
I haven't heard of it. But movies where the bad guy loses do sound good, right now.
Speaking of overlap and worlds, you ever hear of Vought?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 07:05 pm (UTC)Haven't heard of Vought. That a movie? Real vague title.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 07:26 pm (UTC)This means we're not from the same one. I don't think anyone there hasn't heard of Vought.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 09:58 pm (UTC)[ He can hear others sometimes, but more often than not, it's his own thoughts rattling around in his head. It's odd. ]
I won't keep you. I'm sure my counterpart is very glad you are here.
[ And won't be needing Castiel as a placeholder anymore. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 10:03 pm (UTC)But, yeah. I'll see you around.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-23 10:12 pm (UTC)un:thebadcastiel | private | voice (backdated to sep25, 11pm)
Date: 2024-09-26 03:03 pm (UTC)[ he moves the phone away to curse again, softly, under his breath. his voice is shaking. ]
—If you could get down here to public housing. Please. I need your help.
un: hallie parker | private | voice — action
Date: 2024-09-26 05:10 pm (UTC)Cas, slow down, Dean is -
( he says 'gone.' and he pauses again, or pulls the phone away or something. )
Cas.
( he swears under his own breath, considers it for a split second and hangs up. he's not going to be any good over the phone like this. he pulls on clothing, going over it in his mind. dean's gone. which -- could mean, if he followed orientation -- he's arrested, he's dead but not staying dead, or, he's gone altogether and gone home.
he doesn't know what he'd want for the guy, considering he assumes things turned out less apocalyptic for him. he was never able to ask or get any answers. never able to know if he needed them.
coat on, he uses the stairs, and hightails it to the Up edge, to the elevator. there's a bigger line than he anticipates, probably an 'end of the night' sub thing he didn't pay attention to. he should brush up on those rules.
it's another ten-twenty minutes that he makes it to the Down housing for the first time. it reminds him of some of the shittier motels he and sam stayed in. but, once he's there and he realizes there are hallways and rooms, he dials cas again. and when cas answers: )
I'm here, which room?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-26 05:21 pm (UTC)Mine's the first room, but I'm not there. Come upstairs, I'll meet you.
[ he's beelining in the stairs direction when he almost runs into dean. he's pale-faced and grave, eyes wide in a way that speaks of pain, the kind that's only going to get worse. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-09-27 03:07 am (UTC)Cas.
( he looks past him, to get any indication of what's going on. )
Where's the other Cas?
( he reminds himself, the other Dean is gone. and he will get to the bottom of what that means. just not yet. one thing at a time. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-27 03:36 am (UTC)[ it isn't a long walk down the hall, but some of the panic sloughs off castiel as they walk — he begins to explain, in a steadier voice, what happened. ]
I've been trying to get ahold of him for a couple of days now. At first, I figured he was just busy at work, but after the second day I knew something was ooff— So I tried to get ahold of Dean, because if anyone was gonna know where he is... [ of course it would be dean. ] But the message bounced back.
[ he cuts a quick glance aside. the gravity in his expression says: that's never a good thing. ]
I went to their apartment after that. Nobody was home. Checked in at where they work but nobody had seen them. So I went to the registry—
Dean's not in the city anymore.
And Cas is—
[ he stops in front of a door, and moves forward to open it. there's no dramatic pause. it's just another small, shitty motel-style room on the inside. two beds. castiel lies on one. asleep, seemingly. ]
He's in a coma. I've heard this happens, sometimes. I don't know why.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-27 02:14 pm (UTC)castiel did a lot of detective work.
he sees the seams around the man, the curated blaisser attitude anything but as he's practically frantic.
but he's also impressed.
feels bad for the former angel turned angel again that this was his life. he'd stopped by the soul cellar, but had he noticed if the other cas or dean weren't there? he too has just been going through the motions.
first dean looks inside. the door opens and the shitty tableau comes into focus.
then he approaches. he looks back once at his castiel, and then back, and he lowers himself to a crouch, studying the other cas. )
You said you went back home. For a month. ( he turns his head back again, questioning. logic - to a point - he can do. he can work in facts. not figures, really. but the facts he knew were so specific, and so fucked, for so long. ) Could this be that?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-27 02:33 pm (UTC)well, add it to the long list of things he doesn't want to think about. ]
I don't think it's same. [ there's disappointment in his voice. he would clearly like for it to be. ] I was gone, like Dean is gone now. Everyone thought I'd gone for good— Cas was upset about that, too.
[ they'd only known each other a month. but they were also the same person, so really, they'd known each other for a lifetime. castiel takes a deep breath and lets it out, slow, through his nose. ]
The last time I heard of this happening, the guy just... wasted away.
Sometimes they wake up.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 03:02 pm (UTC)dean inspects cas' body, his facial expression. despite the other dean being gone as his cas says, he's not giving up on this cas. )
Sometimes they wake up.
( he's not pep-talking again, and this isn't a panic attack on either end. but, he only has so much in him. he wishes he could bring the darkness out of castiel, can't take away anything he's been through, but he feels fundamentally different here than of what he remembers. but, if he's honest with himself, all he remembers is a drug-addled blind devotion. )
And you came back. ( so Dean could come back. he finally leans back and rises to his feet again. he wants to say anything that happens, they'll get through it. they always do. did they cheat death? he doesn't know. can cas? this cas? ) So, without the other Dean, he's uncontracted and they move him into this shithole. Great caretaking.
( that he hates more. )
I know you're scared. And I know this place hasn't given you a fair shake. ( he pauses, blinking only briefly. ) I'm barely on my feet here and some days I don't even know if I am here. But I am. And so are you. And Cas, until his body says otherwise, is here. He's asleep. And you can worry. But, you can't let this consume you. Look, I like you off drugs. You're real. Nothing against your orgies, but, you coped how you coped. I'm not knocking it. But, you found your thing. You had your solace and you had your loyalty and I want that for you here. ( he tilts his head, real concern etched on his face. ) I'm worried about you, man. And I know there's no one bandaid that'll fix it all. And I know you've been through shit. We don't wait for the worst case scenario. It's not what we do. Maybe, maybe think of this - all of this - as your new beginning. And it started out like shit. You know, it was like a freakin Monday. But, I'm here. And it's Wednesday. And there will be more Mondays. There are always more Mondays. But, there are other days of the week. Other months. Actual, ass-backwards holidays here. And, shit to look forward to. End of the day, I can't have you hopeless. Cause I won't make it. Maybe it was misplaced, ( or foolish ) or, something else, but it's what we had there. And there's no reason we can't have it here. I need you to hope for something Cas. Hope for the other Castiel to wake up. If Dean is gone - we know he's got something to get back to. Means there's still work to do. Maybe. Maybe our work gets to be done.
( he's not saying he's going to lay down and take it, like he's not going to try and free everyone eventually. but maybe there's a way to move forward here. he doesn't know, does he. but only one way they can find out. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 03:16 pm (UTC)but something in his face softens at dean's words. they're surprisingly hopeful, after the five years they've had. maybe it's because lucifer isn't breathing down their necks, here. maybe it's because sam isn't tangled up in all this mess. or maybe dean is just tired of the way he was living before.
the reason doesn't matter. it matters that dean is saying these things to him. ]
You have me.
[ is the first thing he thinks to say. ]
Not saying there's no reason to be worried about me. But you have me. It's, um. Gonna be hard, though. Cas— Cas didn't have any hope for his future. He'd seen the whole thing. All the way up to his death. He'll have some time, at least, but...
[ it's a tragedy, plain and simple. thinking about it makes his guts knot and tangle. he shifts his weight from one heel to the other, crossing his arms across his chest as he frowns down at castiel's body. his eyes linger for a moment on the ring that he wears on his left hand. ]
Dean... If this is gonna be a new start. If you want me to think of it like that. There are some things we need to talk about.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 04:20 pm (UTC)or not.
the conversation shifts and dean shoves it in the back of his mind. other castiel will now be a project, too. it may not have been clear to them, or even to his other self, but dean survived because he had hope. if he had had no hope, than he wouldn't have been able to survive for all long as he had. carve what he could out of what was left.
dean does notice the other, unoccupied for the moment, bed. knowing this isn't their room, or space.
besides, it felt weird having a whole serious conversation in front of cas, comatose or not. dean still believes he's in there. so he's gonna respect that. )
Maybe we should pick this up back at my place. Give his new roommate some space.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 04:34 pm (UTC)[ he looks reluctant. not because he doesn't want to leave — it's depressing, hanging around here — but he's worried for cas' safety. he's going to have to find out who his roommate is and check in with them. and, if he isn't satisfied, drag castiel to his own room for safe keeping. there are things he wants to say to dean, things he wants to tell him about castiel's situation, but he isn't sure if it's better or not if he wait.
that's castiel's business, after all.
cas drags his eyes away and nods in agreement. ]
Let's go.
[ they take the stairs down. castiel stops at his own room to grab his coat before they ship off, walking shoulder to shoulder as they make their way to the elevator. but nobody bothers them, or even gives them so much as a second glance. they're let out into the grand, sprawling city minutes later, and by then it's only a short trip to the station. they find their seats on the train, and castiel kneels, smoothly, to sit by dean's feet.
the gawking looks of expectation and disapproval turn away from them when castiel makes it clear he's following by their rules. but he almost seems in his element, down here. relaxed and a little boneless, the way he leans in and his chest brushes dean's shin.
he sighs and rests his elbow against the bench seat. ]
... Cas is gonna be gutted. He lost everything.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 05:11 pm (UTC)down the stairs they go, dean giving his Castiel a minute in his room, taking one look inside. dump doesn't begin to cover it, but that's how they get people to contract, he figures.
they walk in silence, making it to the elevator. because Cas is in the presence of another Dominant, they don't question him. they only get the tell-tale looks of disappointment considering neither of them is contracted. but Dean is still a Dominant and they respect that.
the city comes into view and they're led out.
on the train, Dean forgets the hierarchy and almost says something with Castiel at his feet. but, when he's reminded that other people are doing the same, and some are in each other's laps, he can't help but roll his eyes at the performative nature of this place. he puts a hand on his castiel's shoulder next. yeah, yeah, he too is playing his part. )
He didn't lose everything. He's been there. We've lost people. It's a part of the job.
( he compartmentalizes it, sure, and this isn't what their job used to be. not at all. but it's how it works in his mind. )
What'd I say about hope. You think that doesn't include him.
( he'll talk to him, too, if he has to. )
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 05:20 pm (UTC)he opens his eyes. ]
He might not listen to you.
He might not want anything to do with you.
[ he knows castiel, this castiel, better than dean does. maybe better than his dean did, too.
cas blinks. watches dean. ]
But I hope that's not how things go. I was... thinking you might contract him, actually. Temporarily. Help him get the apartment back. I know he has the money for it.
And, uh. If you contract us both, I can stay with him. Take care of him.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 05:49 pm (UTC)even for a short time, he could tell that that Castiel and that Dean were important enough to one another to sign on the dotted line.
there's a good word, though. a buzzword they should hang onto. hope. he hopes. he better keep hoping.
that said. )
Is it that easy?
( would he want that? and then. )
You want me to sign you both. ( for him? for the other castiel? he studies him. ) You know you have more here. You don't have to go all in on me.
( it's hilarious how opposite this sentiment is. from the other night with the panic attack, from him basically saying they're all a unit. )
How long do you have left with Artemis?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-30 05:56 pm (UTC)if dean weren't here, he wouldn't bother at all. maybe for cas, he would— but if cas wastes away...
but hope, yeah. that damned thing. ]
To the end of October. These comas, when they do wake up, tend to last about a month — maybe more, sometimes. So I should be free by the time he's up and at'em.
Besides— Maybe I wanna go all in on you. That is, if you wanna contract me too. There aren't a lot of people in this world I'd trust myself to, Dean, and I already chose you when I decided not to go back to Heaven. It's an easy choice.
But it's your choice, too. I won't push it.