012 | Audio

[tryingitall]

For those of you who knew Gabriel, also called Loki? He's gone. For well over 48 hours now. [Balthazar's voice over the feed is a near-monotone, emotionless.

With him, that's never a good sign.]

He came back once before, but I'm not sure we'll be seeing him again this time around.

I just...thought someone ought to know.

[Someone other than the other angels, that is. He's sure they're as aware as he is. He's less sure whether he should seek them out to mourn. There's a long, quiet moment of static before the feed cuts.]

Comments

[audio]

[angelofhope]

You never know. He could come back this time, too.

[Remiel is a little puzzled that a Gabriel — and he's presuming that was the angel — had also been called by the name of an old god. But questions of that nature can come later. Balthazar doesn't sound like he's doing too well.]

[audio]

[tryingitall]

You're only saying that because it's your job. [Despite the melancholy, there's a wry smile audible in Balthazar's voice.]

It's not impossible, I suppose. I just...he didn't want to go. Like me.

[audio]

[angelofhope]

Hey, I think this place could benefit from my job.

[He pretends to sound offended, and even throws out a huffy little mock-sigh. Exaggerated over-acting is why the neighbor's ten-year-old keeps sneaking over for baked goods. But he sobers up a little on that last part.]

Don't think this place listens to us, because you'd think it would want to keep people here who want to stay. But if there's already precedent for him coming back, you never know. Maybe it wants to keep us on our toes.

[audio, locked]

[tryingitall]

[He turns that over in his head for a few moments, then slowly clicks the feed to private.] Do people fear you often?

[Maybe it sounds like a non-sequitur, but it's not to Balthazar's mind. Hope hurts.]

[audio, locked]

[angelofhope]

[Remiel blinks slowly. To him, it's a strange question.]

No more than anything else that isn't human, I guess. Why?

[audio, locked]

[tryingitall]

Because I've seen a number of people, human, angel, and otherwise, hit the point where despair is more of a relief than hope.

...not to offend you, I mean. [To be fair, he's not really at that point, himself, although he feels he'd trod the line a number of times.]

[video]

[blackmagus]

[Fortescue clicks on a feed, sitting on her bed cross-legged with Jazz in her lap. Her expression is troubled. Gabriel has been a delightful presence, here and in the town, and one of her favorite people.]

Is his name gone from the door?

[video]

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar actually looks a bit drawn, tired and grey, but he musters a weak smile for her.]

It's gone. Not a feather left behind.

[video]

[blackmagus]

[Not a good sign. Fortescue sighs quietly. It's an endless parade of comings and goings around here, sometimes. On the other hand, this is Balthazar's family and that makes it so much more terrible.]

I'm sorry to hear it, Dashing. He was good company. [And good for ruffling newbie feathers, so to speak.] Does that put you all by your lonesome?

Re: [video]

[tryingitall]

[Bit of a run of bad luck for him, really. Losing Riley was hard. Losing Gabriel is worse.]

He was. And then some. [He sighs and rubs his face, then gives a listless little shrug.] Yes, I suppose it does. Wouldn't be the first time.

[video]

[blackmagus]

Just remember, you've still got people around here. I know it's not the same, but... [Fortescue smiles. It's subdued, but there, as she holds up a bottle of brandy that she pilfered from the kitchen.] There's company if you want some, love.

[video]

[tryingitall]

And I'm glad of that. I just...can't help waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[He eyes the brandy through the feed, considering it. Ultimately, he's more interested in contact than liquor though. At least this time.]

If you can stand my moping, I'm game. Where shall I meet you?

[ voice ]

[noblexcompanion]

Oh Balthazar... I'm sorry.

[ Donna had kind of a love/hate relationship with Gabriel. She liked him, but she also wanted to punch him in the face 99.9% of the time. Apparently that's a normal reaction to him though. ]

You never know, he might come back. Stranger things have happened.

[ voice ]

[tryingitall]

Thank you, love.

[He takes a deep breath, trying to act normal for her sake.] He wasn't in a good state the last time he came back. I hope whatever's happened he's...at peace, somewhere.

[Gabriel would laugh at that sentimentality, he thinks. But as much as he always loved Gabe, Balthazar was never his equal, or quite his match in personality.]

[ voice ]

[noblexcompanion]

[ Oh Balthazar, you don't need to put on a brave face for her. She knows what it's like when someone you love goes home - especially when you know you're never going to see that person again back in the 'real world'. ]

I'm sure he'll find peace. Even if he has to annoy the heck out of whatever powers that be wherever he is to get it.

[ voice ]

[tryingitall]

If angels even have that capacity. We're not built the same as you. We may not get an afterlife.

[No souls, after all.] I suppose oblivion would be preferable to torture, though.

[Okay, he's failing at acting normal.]

[ voice ]

[noblexcompanion]

[ No afterlife? But Balthazar... don't ruin Donna's dreams of angel paradise or whatever the heck she's picturing in her head. Oblivion doesn't sound appealing in the least. ]

You need some company? Or would you rather be alone?

[ voice]

[tryingitall]

[He can't help but worry their captors are doing something nasty to his brother, is all. Still, Castiel's died and come back. There's no reason not to hope, as weird as the world he comes from is, and as weird as the place they're stuck in is proving.]

No, no. If I'm alone I'll just depress myself worse. Come cuddle me and tell me stories about dancing on tables.

[ audio ]

[servingmichael]

[ Is it surprising that Raphael, who had been nesting on Gabriel didn't announce this?

Only to those who didn't remember how he took Gabriel's departure from Heaven, who didn't remember his reaction to Lucifer. Which, to be fair, pretty much excluded everyone.

But he responds to this. His voice is quiet - easy to ignore, slightly more than the faintest breeze - and equally emotionless. ]

I'm aware. Come here.

Re: [ audio ]

[tryingitall]

[Balthazar isn't surprised. He was, temporarily, concerned that Raphael had been ripped away, too. But, no, he's here, and Balthazar can't blame him for wanting some space.

He doesn't respond verbally. What he does do is obey, out of need and affection rather than duty. In the space of a few heartbeats, he comes to Raphael, all dimmed, tired Grace and drooping wings.]

Brother. [It's part greeting, part expression of sympathy, part plea to fix it, even though he knows Raphael can't fix it. But what else is there to say?]

Video

[cinereoargenteus]

Need a hug? [Coming from Garrett, this would usually be sarcasm. Unusually, he's completely sincere.]

Video-->action

[tryingitall]

[That's something of a surprise, but given Balthazar's current state of mind, he'll take it.]

I expect I do. I'm going to miss him and his trolling. [There's a flutter of wings, and a moment later, Balthazar lands down the hall from Garrett, within earshot, looking slightly uncertain.] Thank you for the sympathy.

Action

[cinereoargenteus]

[Garrett jumps a little when Balthazar suddenly appears out of thin air. One of these days, he's going to have to get used to that. The few steps it takes to cross the space between them gives enough room to shift into his fox form. It's always been easier to breach the invisible boundary of a personal bubble as an animal rather than as a human.

Balthazar will find himself with a small, cuddly fox pressing tight against his legs. He speaks around a muzzleful of teeth, an act that always leaves some of his words sounding rough and slurred.]

Always harrrd to lose people. I know the feeeeling well.

Action

[tryingitall]

[Oops. He forgets sudden angelic appearances still startle some people. At least he hasn't chased him off. And he's more than pleased to watch the shift into fox-shape. His smile is sad, but there's a hint of nostalgia, too, as he remembers another shifter he's been close to here. She couldn't speak in animal form, though, and he's so fond of words!]

It is. You're kind; and I appreciate the company. I needed the reminder I'm not alone. [He moves back enough so he can sit on the hall floor without squishing Garrett, then leans against the wall, hands loosely in his lap. The little fox is welcome to lean however he's comfortable.]

[cinereoargenteus]

[Garrett curls up right next to Balthazar, one paw stretched out over his leg. He doesn't think he's that kind, but he knows it's not the time to bring it up. Looking up at Balthazar, his liquid brown eyes are filled with compassion.]

It is alrrright to be sad. But it is betterrrr to be sad with companyyy then to be sad alone. Otherrwise, it eats awayyy at you.