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

[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. ]