cape_kore | 010; accidental video/action; early hours of day 75

[As on-edge as they've been, it'd be impossible to miss her return even without the video. Now, he could just wait for her to get home and make her a nice cup of tea, but that would be too sensible, so instead he turns up next to her with no warning whatsoever and tries to simultaneously fuss over her and pretend he hasn't been worried.]

How many fingers?

[Two, for reference, though he's not holding them anywhere near still enough for it to be a very good test of her vision. And three more, if you count the ones he's using to check her scalp for bumps... as if head injuries are a serious issue for angels.]

Didja have a good vacation? And do you know if we have any carpet cleaner? There was an incident with some golden syrup and... yeah. It's icky.

[And, the only one of those questions to which he actually expects an answer:]

Are you okay?

[ She knows that Gabriel is there, but jumps a little all the same as he starts to talk and fuss away. It's just a little...intense, after her time out of the town. Time that she still can't entirely account for, but that's just something else to worry about later. For now she just blinks at the fingers being waved away in front of her face, trying to focus before giving up.

In the end it's the golden syrup comment that gets the first response. ]

You didn't, did you? There's stuff under the sink, it's not hard to find.

[ Because act like everything's fine and it probably will be, right? Big brother is the master at that one, after all. ]

It's fine. I'm fine. [ ...ish. ] I didn't go home, just...out of here. Wherever that was.

Under the sink. Gotcha. We tried using alcohol, but that just made it go a funny colour, so.

[This is how she'll know the story's made up. Neither Balthazar nor Gabriel would waste alcohol on stain removal. Content that she's at least mostly intact, he withdraws, though the term 'hovering' does still come to mind rather.]

And on a scale of Airplane to the Star Wars prequels, how bad did it suck? Actual detailed review optional. D'you need brain bleach?

[Which is code for 'Do you want to talk about it and do you need anything'. It should have been easier to just say that, but c'mon, this is Gabriel.]

At least you didn't burn the place down.

[ Hover away, Gabriel. It's actually a little comforting in the wake of being unceremoniously ripped out of the town. Not to mention let go without any more warning - because she's not stupid enough to think she escaped, not really. No, whoever was pulling the strings here was obviously done. They let her leave, but why? She can't figure that much out. Honestly, she'd rather not think about it too hard right now.

So she's not at all protesting to the mother hen act that's being pulled, because its a hell of a lot better a position than she'd been in just a short while ago. She'll take Gabriel's fussing over random kidnappings any day. ]

Like every mistake Lucas made with those films rolled into one, but at least I'm in one piece?

[ It's delivered with a light hearted voice and a slightly grim smile, but as to how bad it actually was? She can't really say, and not even because of the usual 'lets not talk about anything ever' reasons. She can't remember, and anything that has stuck is little more than a foggy haze. Probably more concerning than if she had retained her memories, honestly. ]

How long was I gone?

Oh, I don't know. I wasn't exactly keeping track - five days, give or take. Can't say for sure I noticed straight away when you left. Could be a day or two more than that.

[Given that he says that without any indication of shame or self-reprimand whatsoever, it's probably a lie. But it does bring him onto another important point - he's restrained himself from asking so far in favour of making sure she's okay, but he really does need to know:]

Lucifer disappeared not long after. Don't suppose you bumped into him on the way back?

It's okay. I didn't miss you either.

[ That actually gets a tired chuckle from her, and even as she runs a hand over her face and sighs there's a moment where she leans in. She nudges Gabriel with a light elbow to the side.

But he asks about Lucifer, and she really wishes that there was a definitive answer that she could give him. Even if it were a 'no', it's better than the alternative: a careful shrug and a non-committal noise. ]

If he was with me...I don't know. I can't really- well. I don't think I'm supposed to be able to recall much.

It doesn't matter. I was just...

[He shrugs, and doesn't bother finishing the sentence. It's blatantly untrue enough that anything he says will just fall flat anyway. But even though it really does matter, he has priorities. Right now, Anna is back and whatever she says, she's clearly not fine. He notices the leaning - difficult not to - and moves in a bit to provide some support.]

Let's get you home, shall we? I'll put on the kettle, and I can have a nice cup of tea while you clear up all the mess we made.

Worried? [ Don't worry bro she'll finish that sentence off for you. ] it's okay, I am too. How's...Raphael taking this?

[ Carefully does it, because that particular archangel still scares her to all hell. Sometimes more than Lucifer, honestly, so she's still treading lightly there. Still, there's going to be time to worry about that later. Right now...she's exhausted, and she just wants to get back to the house that they've claimed as their own and try to piece her mind back together a little. With a slight nod, a hand passes over her face again quickly and she looks at Gabriel.

For a moment it's all too obvious just how tired she really is, drained if anything, and while that's hardly ideal at least she's back. At least here she has a bit more of a grasp on things, slightly more control. It's only a little, but it's something. ]

Someone has to do it, right? Come on, I'll sort it out. [ And she pauses awkwardly for a moment, but well. She's barely steady on her feet. Trusting her wings to do anything more than get her out of wherever the hell she had been before doesn't exactly seem wise. She clears her throat lightly, and (because she's kind of trying to hold onto her dignities here) adds in just as joking a fashion: ]

Going to let me hitch a ride?

Badly. He wants to keep the whole family together at our place, but I don't know how long that's gonna work.

[Which she will be thrilled to hear, naturally. He's hoping that now Anna's back he'll calm down a little, but he's not expecting much. Lucifer was the one Raphael had been particularly concerned for, he thinks. And in any case, Gabriel's not about to turf the family out - he likes having them all under one roof, so long as they can keep from bickering.]

Well, I don't know... give me a minute to do the weight calculations. What are you? 180, 190?

[He pre-emptively ducks the slap he suspects may be coming his way.]

Nah, I think I can cope with an extra passenger. You'll owe me, though.

[He reaches for her hand, and within seconds they're back in their living room.]

The whole family.

[ The eyebrows shoot up at that, but she doesn't give any more comments. It sounds like a recipe for disaster - and god, she has to find out how Chuck is coping with that one - but she's hardly about to argue. Whatever keeps the family from switching back to self destruct mode: Anna kind of likes the progress they've made here, thank you very much.

And yeah, there's definitely a shove aimed at Gabriel's shoulder for that comment, but at least he's got her smiling a little more genuinely with it. She rolls her eyes but keeps hold of his hand, and just like that there's the familiar sight of the crappy couch and useless TV. It's really, really good to be back. ]

At least you didn't completely wreck the place. [ She smirks and drops down onto said crappy couch, dropping an arm over her face and sighing. Exhaustion was an understatement, it seems. ]

[Balthazar has been lurking in the attic, trying his best not to drive Chuck insane with his presence. To that end, there's a makeshift screen around the writing area he set up for the Prophet, and the angel's spent time outdoors during the day. Now, though, he can sense Gabriel returning with Anna in tow, and he's downstairs in an instant.

Hope you didn't want any personal space, Anna, because he's in it at once, looking for injury and weighing the potential consequences of an abrupt hug without prior permission.] You're back!

[ The injury checking isn't exactly something she's surprised by - if even Gabriel is at it, they must have been worried. She's pretty prepared for that at least, but the hug, not so much.

Not that it's unwanted. It's not something she's prepared for, but that doesn't mean she's going to push him away. It's just that she's used to a completely different type of interaction from her siblings - they all are. They don't hug - honestly, the first time she'd ever done as much had been here, in this town. Balthazar though, he's like her. Like Gabriel. Like Castiel came to be, as far as she can see. ]

Yeah, I'm back, don't get too excited. You didn't drive Chuck insane?

[ She's teasing, because that's so much easier, but the smile at her face is genuine. If she hugs back a little harder, tightens her arms just a little more, well. She's allowed to miss her brothers, right? ]

[He'd stepped aside almost the moment they'd arrived back, and he's now sitting cross-legged in a chair on the other side of the room. The younger ones tend to be better with this functional relationships stuff - not that that's saying much - and they're closer with each other than with the archangels, that's a given, just as the inverse is true: he doesn't want to be in the way. Still, that doesn't mean he's going to just disappear. Or, y'know, stop making stupid snarky comments. Both of these may be disappointments, but he doesn't let that stop him.]

Despite our best efforts, no. Chucky's the paragon of sanity and balance he always was.

[Not that he's seen him much lately. He supposes if he were human in a house full of high-strung angels, he'd be keeping out of the way too.]

[Balthazar is all about the hugs. Especially since the physical contact reassures him that she's all in once piece, and that the one piece isn't too badly damaged. He holds on for as long as he thinks she'll let him get away with, and sits at the opposite end of the couch once he lets go, smiling at both her and Gabriel.]

I don't think we did. He's been spending a lot of time in the attic. I don't know if he's actually working or if it just feels safer there.

[ Anna's had time off, she's a lot more tolerant of those snarky comments than usual. Not that they ever really bother her, but Gabriel doesn't even get an eye roll at that, and even if her words might come close to scolding she just sounds too damn fond to really put it off.

She missed them too, okay? No big deal. ]

Play nice, Chuck's a good guy. Nicer than some around here.

[ Not naming any names, of course. She's the perfect picture of innocence here as she settles into the seat. It's easy enough to smile, because she's back and she's here, and no one has died while she's gone but...

It doesn't last. It's a little harder than usual to maintain the trivialities, and she looks around the room for a moment before shaking her head. ]

So I was gone for five days? That's...a lot of time I can't account for.

Eh. Five, four, two, eight... like I said, I wasn't counting. It's a wild stab in the dark... like Castiel's sex life.

[He studies his fingernails, because they're even more interesting than he is subtle. Shhh. He doesn't care about anyone. Everyone knows this. It is fact.]

Frankly, I've been on worse benders. And you don't have a penis drawn on your forehead in magic marker, and you still have both eyebrows, so really you've got nothing to complain about, compared to a stag fortnight with the Greco-Romans. [Beat.] You are as intact as you ever were, oui? I counted four limbs, but I'm reasonably certain that's the number you started off with, so...

[Aware that he's completely failing at pretending not to care, he makes a noise like a grumpy cat, and gets up.]

I'll put the kettle on. Balthazar, I assume you want tea - I always assume you want tea, it's the accent - Anna, coffee? Cocoa? Cocaine?

[Balthazar doesn't want to hear about Castiel and stabbing right now, much less his sex life. He gives Gabriel a look that's somewhere between reproachful and incredulous, but manages to keep his mouth shut for the remainder of his spiel.]

...Tea sounds fine. Sure. [Refocusing on Anna, he adds:] I told Raphael you're back, as well. I don't know if he'll want to see you for himself or not.

[ Balthazar is at least more subtle than Anna, who straight up rolls hers eyes at the comment - though at least she keeps quiet. Instead of saying anything she just gestures vaguely in Gabriel's direction, shrugging her shoulders. ]

All of the above.[ And very quickly after because really Gabriel don't take that seriously. ] Cocoa. Please, and thank you.

[ And there's probably more on her mind, given that she only pauses with her mouth open long enough to give Balthazar a chance to speak, but when he mentions Raphael she just goes quiet.

He's family, as much as either of these two, but it's complicated with Raphael. Even with the brief human rendez-vous, things were still tense, and honestly - he scares her still. Scares her almost like Lucifer did.

Heaven's forbid she actually say any of that though, so she just swallows and offers a weak smile Balthazar's way. ]

Well, I'm sure he'll get in contact soon enough.

Oh, he will.

[He's not unobservant. He can see how nervous Raphael makes her, and he can imagine how he's likely to react to Anna returning without Lucifer. But since he's confident Raphael won't actually hurt her, he doesn't let it bother him, and settles for just letting it bother her instead. He can't find it anything but amusing when not too long ago Raphael was a winged toddler.]

One tea, one cocoa, one chocolate margarita. Coming right up.

[And, fair play to him, he does actually leave to make the drinks manually. He's doing this properly. It's the proper thing, right? (And it's absolutely not just an excuse to get out of the room and leave them to it.)]

[Balthazar understands why Raphael makes Anna jumpy--or thinks he does. Archangels are scary, and Raphael has historically been one of the less personable ones. Lately, though, Balthazar's gained a new appreciation for all the siblings in this place, and he's recognized Raphael's very real desire to protect them. Especially the younger group.

He's not taking anything for granted yet, but he's feeling safer around Raphael here and now than he ever has before.

Gabriel, on the other hand, is as much a cipher as he ever was. A fascinating, annoying, compelling cipher. He shakes his head as he retreats.]

A chocolate margarita sounds like a dreadful idea to me. But to each his own, I suppose. [Turning back to Anna, he pats her on the arm gently.] Don't ever vanish again, all right?

He can definitely keep that one.

[ Family is family, but most families don't kill and torture their own quite so rampantly as the angels do. She's still wary, even these days, and regardless of how well they're getting on, how much things seem to be improving, she can't let her guard down.

She doesn't know everything that's coming for her, if she ever gets sent home, but she knows enough. ]

And leave you two on your own? Not a chance. I'm amazed the house is still intact.

[ And she really grins at that, family fear be damned, because despite everything else she's back. She's back here, with them, and it's not home - but honestly home isn't all that preferable anyway. ]

I'll make you a deal, I'll avoid a vanishing act if you promise the same.

[Sometimes, Balthazar tries to look at the Host objectively, analyze and convince himself why the concept of them all as siblings doesn't work in the way human relationships do. But feelings tend to overrule that, and in the end he's left with a lot of devotion he doesn't know what to do with.

But Anna's safe for now, and joking makes everything better.]

Oh, come now, we're not that bad. Anyway, if we broke everything, Gabriel could theoretically fix it. [He leans back in his seat, releasing some lingering tension in a small sigh. This is okay. Things are okay.]

Deal. I'm not going anywhere. I've got a question for you, though.

Theoretically, but I wouldn't expect that much out of him.

[ And oh, how fond it sounds when she says that. There's no denying that there's a special place in her heart for Balthazar and Gabriel. After all, they all ran. They all left, to get out and make some semblance of a different life for themselves. They all made it, too, for different amounts of time, but for a little while there they'd all made it.

Life has a way of getting in the way of that, and they all share a different fate too but well...no one likes to think much about that. ]

If you're going to ask me if I remember anything useful, rest assured it's still a no.

[Balthazar chuckles softly and shakes his head. He's not getting in between Gabriel and Anna, not even for just a friendly bickering match.]

No, no...possibly it's better you don't remember what happened. [His expression clouds briefly, but it's not long before the sparkle of mischief is back.] There's this fellow who goes by Ghoul around, you see. He sounded very concerned about your absence.

[ Well that's certainly one way of looking at the memory loss, one that she hadn't actually considered before.

...Not that it's going to stop her from letting Raphael try to do what he can about it, because regardless of how unpleasant it might be they're still her memories, and she still wants them back.

But it's hard to dwell on that too long when Balthazar continues, and that look combined with the mention of Ghoul certainly brings her out of any consideration about missing memories that might have been happening. Anna's good at hiding her emotions, but not so much when she's been caught by surprise, and Balthazar definitely has that element to his advantage.

She clears her throat quickly, sits up a little straighter and replaces that look of surprise with an attempt at something more neutral as she nods. ]

I...know him yes. We're- [ What exactly? Complicated? That's hardly the answer she wants to give over. ] Acquainted.

[ So smooth, Anna. So, so smooth. ]

010; accidental video/action; early hours of day 75

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