[video]

[happytobleed]

[ It's a different type of disorientation from the last time he'd left and come back. The last time, he'd been hurt, his grace half-torn from his body.

He's no stronger this time, even if it's on borrowed grace, but he's more composed and it's easy enough to reach into his pocket for the device that hadn't been there a moment earlier. ]

Can anyone tell me how long I've been gone? The last time I remember being here was shortly after we left the town. Maybe a few weeks.

[ It's clear that he's walking through a dim hall as he speaks, heading towards his living space. ]


[ Private to Dean ]

Dean, are you here?

Comments

[ video ]

[foundacause]

Clarence...

Been a long time since we left the town.

[ Does she seem quieter than usual? Probably. ]

It's good to see you.

[ video ]

[happytobleed]

I've been gone a long time, then?

[ His first instinct had been for Dean, because he's only just lost him, but Meg... it's good to see her, even if he doesn't want to think about the fact that they're both dead now. ]

[ video ]

[foundacause]

Long enough... yeah.

[ She's missed him, okay? Not that she wants to admit that. He's turned her into a sap. Ugh. ]

You okay, Feathers?

[ video ]

[happytobleed]

No. Where are you? I don't want to do this over the network.

[ He doesn't want to risk Dean hearing what's happened. ]

[ video ]

[foundacause]

[ Okay, definitely not good. ]

I'm in my room. You remember the way, right?

[ video ]

[happytobleed]

I remember the way.

[ He cuts the video and shows up soon after, pushing her door open without knocking. ]

Dean is dead.

[video]

[blackmagus]

[Fortescue squints at her phone. This is probably a bad sign of some kind, but it does explain the lack of a trenchcoat as of late.]

It's hard to tell around here, darling, but I'd say... [She considers.] A few months, perhaps. Are you feeling all right?

[video]

[happytobleed]

[ A conflicted look passes over his face. That's a difficult question to answer, but he nods. ]

Physically. Have things been bad here?

[video]

[blackmagus]

Bad?

[She thinks, edgily, of her recent thoughts, of the fact that this place might not be real. Just a figment. Just a game. If that's true, she can't afford to show her hand. She shakes her head.]

No, I wouldn't say so. Strange, as per usual, but not bad. We had a blob invasion very recently.

[video]

[happytobleed]

Blobs of what?

[ His brow furrows. Anything from this place can't be good. The few times they've been given rewards, they've come with punishments afterwards. ]

[video]

[blackmagus]

I don't honestly know. [Fortescue shrugs.] It was a bit like living Jello that wanted to suffocate us to death. Sprung itself on a group of newcomers like nobody's business.

[ video ]

[lost_my_shoe]

Cas?!

[ Hey buddy! Hey! Moose missed you! ]

Hey buddy. How're you doing?

[ video ]

[happytobleed]

I went home again.

[ He pauses. ]

You and I need to talk privately.

[ video ]

[lost_my_shoe]

[ His brows furrow. That doesn't sound too encouraging, Cas. ]

Yeah, sure. What's up?

[ Oh wait. Private right? ]

You wanna meet up someplace?

[ video ]

[happytobleed]

Select a destination. I'll do my best to get there.

[ video ]

[lost_my_shoe]

The library?

[ Why does Sam suddenly feel incredibly sick to his stomach with nerves? ]

video, private

[venatical]

[ Yeah, Dean's here. It's not too long ago that he woke up with the realization that he'd been missing, too, but he doesn't know for how long yet. That's fairly routine; it's not the first time he's disappeared and woken up here, and it won't be the last. It's freaky as shit and he doesn't appreciate being screwed around with like that, but he can't do anything about it right now.

What he can do is answer this private message. A private message from someone who also just woke up, and who apparently knows Dean enough to message him like this, but Dean doesn't have any idea who he is. He's never seen this guy before in his life.

His expression is hard, suspicion edging in. ]

Yeah, I'm here. Now it's my turn to ask a question. Who are you?

video, private

[happytobleed]

[ No. That's about the last thing Castiel wants to be faced with after what he's just learned back home. ]

You don't know who I am?

[ Castiel, normally ever-steady, visibly flinches. Whatever this place is doing, it's never clear how long it will last. Dean doesn't look any younger, but that doesn't mean he isn't mentally younger and that's just the start of the possibilities of what this could be. ]

Do you know who you are?

[venatical]

[ The hell kind of question is that? It's not this guy's place to ask Dean what he remembers; he's the one that's being weird, the one that Dean doesn't trust right now. ]

Yeah, I know who I am. And that's two answers you got. I'm still waiting for mine.

[happytobleed]

My name is Castiel. I'm--we're family, Dean. That's what you told me. You can ask Sam if you don't remember.

[ He doesn't like doing this through the device, not when Dean is the sort to hang up if he doesn't like a conversation. At least in person, Castiel could overpower him. ]

Where are you?

[venatical]

[ You start bringing up family, bringing up Sam, and you get Dean's attention quick, but not in the good way. He sits up a little straighter, tensing up. Does he want to meet this guy in person? ]

Cafeteria.

[ And Dean does hang up then. ]

[idjitminder]

[Groan. Growl.

Has he mentioned he doesn't like this place?]

You find out, you let me know too? I don't like missing this much time.

[happytobleed]

Bobby? When did you get here?

[ How long has he been gone? Dean doesn't remember him and Bobby is here. ]

[idjitminder]

[He thumps the door he'd been stuck behind.] Hell if I know, son. Got here, got stuck and sounds like I'm missing a pretty huge chunk of time. Again.

[happytobleed]

I'm missing some things, as well, but Dean and I have been here for months.