010 | Private Audio to assorted residents | Day 117

[tryingitall]

[Things suddenly got complicated. Crowley is a manageable annoyance, as far as Balthazar is concerned. He's been here before. Michael, though...

Honestly, he'd rather have Lucifer back, and he feels just a bit guilty for it.

The net result is that he's on edge and worrying what this means for certain friends and acquaintances around town.]

Private to Donna

I'd like to visit as soon as possible, if I may. Some of the new arrivals are...look, let me come and set up some warding for you, please, love?

to Ellen

Do you know how to angel-proof? Might want to consider it. We've got a volatile situation.

to Raphael

Have you met the boy with Dean's face? Alec. How close to Dean's genetic makeup is he, do you suppose, and what, if anything, ought we to do about cutting off potential trouble there before it starts? [Because he can't see Alec being anything but obnoxious toward Michael, and probably rather incautious, as well.]

to Castiel

[A brief, simple audio:] Cassi? Do me a favor and don't do anything foolish.

to Mina and Fortescue

Hello! I've been distracted by our new arrivals. If you're not worried, you should be. But I've promised to introduce you to one another. Would you be available to meet at the library after dusk? I can explain more then.

Comments

[servingmichael]

It's fine to mention her. Differing timelines and all, better in case she comes back.

How did your chat with Michael go?

[ The later is gentle, for a certain kind of gentle. ]

[tryingitall]

All right, I suppose. He didn't ask me anything I was uncomfortable answering.

I'm not sure how long that luck will hold. But I'll take what time I can get.

[servingmichael]

Timeline issues help, but that's good to hear. Who else knows about the weapons, by the way?

[ That is getting firmly shoved in the 'things Michael doesn't need to know' category. ]

[tryingitall]

[It takes him a moment to realize Raphael's offering to help keep that quiet. He takes a deep breath and smiles at him, weakly but gratefully.]

Castiel, naturally. I told Gabriel. I don't see either of them volunteering that information, though.

Samandriel might know through the grapevine, I suppose, since he's after my time. I don't know for certain.

...and the Winchesters know, but good luck keeping them quiet. [Then again, they've got no reason to make nice to Michael, either.]

[servingmichael]

[ One way or another, Balthazar paid for it. He didn't need Michael breathing down him neck too. ]

Sam won't be a problem.

[ Unless he wanted Raphael to withdraw his assistance, in which case, he'd die. ]

Dean on the other hand...

Supergluing his mouth shut shouldn't be considered an act of war.

[ And yet he was sure Castiel would take it that way. ]

[tryingitall]

Sam has some sense. [He agrees with a small smile, although he's unaware of that particular arrangement. He shakes his head at the mention of Dean, almost tempted to laugh.]

I agree with you, but I'm sure Dean doesn't want to have long heart-to-hearts with Michael, either. It's all a gamble, I suppose.

[servingmichael]

Yes, he does.

[ But at least the shake of his head puts Raphael a little at ease. ]

Dean doesn't think is the problem. We're tools or monsters, or both, to him and nothing more.

[ Raphael really hates Dean. ]

I should check on everyone else.

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar blinks. Raphael just hit on one of the things about Dean that bothers him the most, in fact, with pinpoint accuracy. He nods slowly in agreement, setting aside the question of how true Dean's perception might be in some cases.]

Yes. All right, that's probably for the best. [Tentatively, he reaches out and pats Raphael's arm, just above the elbow.] Thank you.

[servingmichael]

[ It's one of the biggest things that bothers him, the rest he doesn't understand. He knows it has to do with Castiel but he doesn't understand what it is, save knowing how Dean saw the angels and yet Castiel chose him over them. He doesn't recognize the reaction to that choice as jealousy, it's been too long since he felt it. And he doesn't at all understand he's worried Castiel is being used by Dean. ]

Check on Castiel for me?

[ He almost stiffens, funny how quickly Michael's presence had dragged him back to being distant. But he doesn't shrug him off the hand, instead he reaches over and gently squeezes his arm. ]

You're welcome.

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar recognizes his own jealousy, and even sees how it might be echoed in other angels, if for slightly different reasons. He also trusts Castiel to realize when he's being used. He still doesn't like Dean, though.

He forces a weak smile and nods, grateful for the light touch in return.]

I'll try. Castiel is tricky to follow up on, but I'll try.

[servingmichael]

[ Raphael doesn't, at all. But then he doesn't trust Castiel for much, these days. ]

He'll still answer you before me.

[tryingitall]

[As has been mentioned recently, Castiel does seem to be the reason they can't have nice things. Balthazar's image of him is changing, perhaps growing more nuanced and realistic than the blind adoration it's been in the past.]

That's true, I suppose. I'll do my best.

[servingmichael]

I know you will. We'll find our footing here Balthazar.

[ Or Raphael would...shove everyone into some kind of step that didn't end in spilled Grace. Even if it meant sitting on a few of them. ]