008 | Video | Day 107

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar appears on the screen with lines of static rippling across his upper chest. He looks in good enough health and spirits, at least, but serious.] Hello, Kore. I'll be quick to the point since the communicators are squirrelly these days.

One: I assume we're all avoiding the ocean inasmuch as possible. Are people still fishing, and if so, where? If not, how is that affecting food stores? Anyone in need?

[The image distorts and gets swallowed up in white noise for a moment, a few words cut off.] ---ouple pounds of purslane and dandelion greens and picked another crop of radishes; I'm happy to make trades. I've also caught something that looks like a rabbit with tusks. It's up for grabs, because the hell if I'm going to skin and gut it myself.

Two: Given the way conditions are deteriorating, I'm wondering if we ought to initiate some sort of buddy system. Pairs, trios, small groups to look out for one another?

Comments

[tryingitall]

Keep telling yourself that. [Weird is the least nasty thing he'd like to call Dean at times. At the moment he's treading the line between mellow and bitter, but, mindful of the need to keep his alliances, he's restraining himself.

He's also very curious what's wrong with Sam.]

I'd love to know why we've got an angel chain here, myself. It works to my advantage and I'm not complaining, but it's odd.

[venatical]

Maybe this place got a taste for you guys. Have to say, it's one of the things that makes me the most nervous. I know how powerful you guys can be, and this place is doing a pretty good job of keeping all of you in check. [ Yes, even when he's a dick who provokes them, he is very well aware of what they can do. Just because he knows that doesn't mean he'll bow down to them. ]

Doesn't really bode well for the rest of us.

[tryingitall]

Once you get a taste for angel, I hear, it's hard to go back. [It's a casual statement, almost deadpan, but he might be trying to needle Dean. Just a bit.]

I agree, though. I have yet to see anyone here more powerful or knowledgeable than an archangel. Whatever the secret to escaping is, it's not force or arcane understanding.

[venatical]

[ Ha ha, only this time Dean actually thinks that's a little funny, until he has to worry if Balthazar knows anything about... not that anything's really gone on between him and Cas, but there's definitely enough to tease him about. ]

Yeah, which leaves us with what, exactly?

[tryingitall]

[Don't worry, Dean. His picking will get more obvious before too long.]

Luck, I think. Maybe trickery, if we can get more information about who we're trying to trick.

[venatical]

[ Dean stops, thinking about that for a minute, and then makes a face. ]

Not the first time I've been up against those odds.

[tryingitall]

No, and I will concede you've done remarkably well against them. But you tend to have Pyrrhic victories, and I'm not sure I want to be on call as sacrificial lamb.

[He's not aware how sensitive a topic this is just now. Then again, he might not have softened his phraseology even if he knew.]

[venatical]

[ What, like, again? isn't what he says. Look, tact! He has some sometimes. ]

Don't know what that means, man, but I'm gonna assume "awesome."

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar might just appreciate that tact.] It means you hobble home victorious while holding your intestines in with a broken arm. Figuratively.

Speaking of the walking wounded, though. How bad off is Sam? Hard to tell over the network, and he implied it wasn't a topic he wanted to discuss.

[venatical]

[ Dean considers that mental image, his eyes narrowing. ] That only happened like once maybe.

[ Ouch, what a rough transition. Dean's expression closes off. ] He's... He's alright.

[ He lowers his head, trying to work past his kneejerk reaction to close off completely. ] Cas isn't sure how much he can do for him.

[locked private]

[tryingitall]

You must be the worst insurance risk on the planet.

[He's quiet a moment, watching Dean's reaction. He expected the sensitivity, but Dean does seem to be trying to be civil, at least. That's something.] That bad? Damn. [It's a neutral 'damn'. Balthazar's not sure he's sympathetic and he's not sure he's upset...but he understands brothers, and how unpleasant this must be.]

Raphael wouldn't be the one to ask, I suppose. Well...he would, but there's some inherent risk to approaching him. Do you need painkillers or sleep aids?

[venatical]

Think I screwed the pooch on that one. [ Though Dean struggles with the idea of making amends to him. It's extremely tempting to try it if Sam isn't going to get better, he has to admit, but Raphael's a pompous asshole who seems to expect Dean to thank him so much for wanting to wipe out humanity in the name of some peace that Dean really doesn't trust. And why should he if angels were drilling into each other's heads and using mind control? Yeah, that's an A+ track record full of reasons why Dean should trust him. ]

But... that would be nice, yeah. Thanks. For the offer.

[tryingitall]

Yes. Well. I'm not interfering there. [Raphael still scares him, even if he's seeing more of the archangel's softer side now.]

I'll drop what I've got off on your porch. You can be in charge of making Sam take them. [And if Dean has Cas check them over first to be on the safe side, well, Balthazar wouldn't be surprised. His own track record with them isn't flawless, even if he's sort of trying to make nice now.]

[venatical]

[ Of course he will. It's just that when it comes to Sam, he's not sure he'll turn down many offers for help. ]

I can handle that part.

[ And with another awkwardly nonconfrontational nod, he cuts the feed. ]