falteringly | [ic contact]

[ He's quiet for a long while, expression a bit terse despite Dean being unable to see it. Then, there's the softest sound, like a sigh. ]

You can't protect him from everything.

I can here, from the stuff back home.

Omission is sometimes worse than the truth.

Yeah, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?

I don't understand how that is relevant.

I'm just sayin'-- don't dish out advice you can't follow.

[ BEST PERSON TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS LBR ]

[ Oh no you didn't. ]

What do you think it is that I haven't told you? I thought that was our agreement - no secrets.

I don't know-- is there anything you wanna tell me? Not like I've seen you in a while.

You asked for help, and I gave it. You saw me then.

Yeah, well... [ but he just sounds disappointed now. ] You know what, forget it.

[ There's a very, very, very long silence. ]

-- where are you?

[ he almost asks why but whatever. ]

My patrol shift-- so the tenth floor right now.

[ He doesn't give a reply, wouldn't if he had asked. Rather, he finds himself on the tenth floor and at Dean's back without much warning at all. ]

You could have asked me to accompany you. [ In case he hadn't noticed the alteration in number designation or something. ]

[ a familiar flutter of wings and cas is there. dean stops and turns to look at him without a greeting. ]

Didn't really cross my mind. [ or maybe it had since he did end up messaging cas and all. ] Plus, don't want you mojoin' around when you're... you know, a glass half empty.

[ For a moment, it's almost the same as it's always been, but then he goes on, reminds him of what he's constantly aware of. Castiel looks off somewhere to the side. ] I'm fine. [ Not really though. It's the closest he'll bring himself to a lie. ] But I have been walking more. It's... tedious.

[ And tiresome. And boring. He's going to start complaining if Dean doesn't watch it. ]

[ dean isn't quite sure he buys it, but for now he just nods some, and then ends up snorting quietly. ]

Exercise, man. Nobody really likes it. [ and speaking of!! dean starts down the hallway since he is on patrol duty and all. follow along, angel. ]

You doin' any better in this place otherwise?

[ Don't tell him what to do!!! Except he's following anyway, quiet as he looks at the structure of the hallway rather than anywhere in Dean's direction. ]

I'm still adjusting. But I suppose that's to be expected. How are you?

[ Don't lie to him!! Even if it's strange to ask!! ]

[ dean just nods. it's not hard to remember what it was like to be new in this place, how long the adjusting really took. ]

Make any friends. Except for Spike-- heard all about that. [ eying so hard ]

[ He's going to carefully avoid that question by not answering it and asking another. ]

And what have you heard exactly?

[ that you didn't run from him. but there's no point being angry about it, is there. it's in the past and if cas has other friends he doesn't feel the urge to run from without a word then... good, right?

right. ]

Nothing. Just that you met him. Guy's kinda weird-- has that stupid accent.

It's inevitable that I meet people, Dean. [ His tone implies a bit of exasperation, and honestly, he doesn't know why he's bring it up. Is it because he's a vampire? Castiel gives him a longer look, quickly dismissing the notion. That isn't what this is about. ] He's polite and has helped me on numerous occasions.

[ What have you done for him? Why does he have to explain this??? ]

[ cue brow raise. ]

Helped you how?

[ DON'T GET ALL WEIRDLY ATTITUDE-Y WITH HIM CAS. ]

[ He hesitates, taking the opportunity to turn the corridor into another. Eyes focused straight ahead, his mouth thins excessively. ]

I don't think it's of import. [ Except he goes on to explain: ] But he did offer me clothes after the jump.

[ COMPLETLEY NON-THREATENING. ]

How nice of him. [ dean actually has very little if anything against spike. sure the dude's a vampire but so had he been, and he's never seen spike fuck up. not on the ship, anyway.

it's cas he-- no. dean just moves on, focus on the hallway and not his friend. ]

Sometimes you might some in the lockers, too. Or other stuff.

[ Yes, well. The irony of that is the fact nothing good came of it the first time, and Castiel sees the pattern in repeats. It's been a theme for a while now. ]

I don't wish to look inside it. Once was enough. [ Which is actually difficult to admit if the soft tone of his voice is any indication. ]

voice.

voice.

voice.

voice.

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voice.

voice.

voice.

voice.

voice.

voice.

voice.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.