033 [text]

[wingsandwill]

I don't understand how humans survive.

[Someone has a cold.]

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[thelightbringer]

Oh sure, that makes sense now. [Joking, just a bit.]

When you first got here I was still fresh from the Cage. And you don't really know how it gets in your mind, this idea that any second now you might fall into Hell again. Coming here the way I did made that worse than it usually is.

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

How so?

[thelightbringer]

[Why do you only ask hard questions, Castiel?]

...Because I came here as I was realizing that Gabriel was really dead. I thought God might have finally picked himself up off his face and reacted to something...even just to send me back to Hell.

But it doesn't hurt enough here, so. [a shrug. He frowns, realizing that sounds as if he's not entirely convinced.] It took some time but I do know this is no fault of His. The alliance we have is real. When I could accept that, I finally let myself get to know you all again.

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

It has been strange, being here as we are.

[thelightbringer]

It has. ...But you know what they say about gift horses.

[Testing poor derp angel, because he finds it a little hilarious how few colloquialisms Castiel knows.]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Gift horse?

[thelightbringer]

[He leans forward on his elbows, gravely serious]

You can tell how old a horse is by its teeth. When people still got around by enslaving animals, that was useful to know.

Say Farmer Joe got you a horse and you didn't know how long it had before it was likely to die, so you take a peek under the hood--so to speak. Well that makes you an ingrate.

And that's the meaning of the phrase. Just be grateful for what you're given, and so on.

Me? I'd rather have my cake and eat it, too.

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Human social interaction is needlessly complicated.

[thelightbringer]

Oh, once you break it down it's not hard to understand. It's so easy a serpent can do it.

[He winks at him, and reaches out to touch the mug and see how warm it still is.]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Even broken down, much of human interaction seems to be guesswork in how the other might respond, and tailoring your actions accordingly.

[thelightbringer]

It's guesswork, but people are predictable once you figure out their motivations. How far they can be pushed.

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Until they react in a way that is unexpected.

[thelightbringer]

I've never met one of those.

[A pause]

Well, Xerxes was unexpected for a time.

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you have not. However your ability in this area is greater than most.

[thelightbringer]

I could teach you.

[Although he can't teach him a natural talent, he can explain the logic behind it. Although he finds that he rather enjoys watching Castiel learn it on his own.]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

I have attempted to learn.

[thelightbringer]

In a perfect world that you could write yourself, how would everyone interact, Castiel? What, exactly would you change about all these crazy relationships?

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

What is meant would be what is said, rather than redirection or what is seemingly code for something else entirely.

[thelightbringer]

You don't always mean what you say, brother.

[You're the liar angel, remember?]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

I'm well aware.



But I do such only when necessary.

[thelightbringer]

It's never necessary. 'Convenient', I can buy.

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Convenience is not a factor in my decisions, Lucifer, or I would still be a footsoldier in Heaven.

[thelightbringer]

[In return, Lucifer smiles, straightening a little and gesturing]

Good point. ...Do you want to know something, Castiel? I think you're the only other angel I can respect. I still think you're misguided about humans, of course, but... [a shrug, as if to say 'we can't ALL be perfect']

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Why?

[thelightbringer]

[He notes Castiel's reaction, and feels something between amusement and regret over it. Castiel still expects him to lash out every time he speaks against Lucifer.]

Because you're not some blind soldier. You aren't goosestepping along to the tune of My Daddy Still Loves Me.

You risked everything for what you genuinely believed in. I respect that. I worried after...well, He made an example of me. I'm glad that you didn't buy into it.