InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Liberalis is the SHIZZOW"

Cas, former angel of go-fuck-yourself (bangafewgongs) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2010-12-29 15:30:00

Entry tags:

!@event, !closed, #complete, castiel (end!verse), death

Who: Cas and Death.
What: A little negotiation.
Where: The roof of the center.
When: Now-ish.
Rating: PG.
Status: Complete.

For all that people had worried about him, Cas hadn't actually done anything worth worrying about since Parker had died. He wasn't stupid, and he knew that running out and getting himself killed wouldn't do any good. It wouldn't stop the Toclafane. It wouldn't bring Parker back. In fact, all it would accomplish was making ghost!Parker really annoyed with him. And he didn't want that. He really didn't want that. So he'd kept going as best as he could, and he'd let Jade and Dean be there for him.

But there was something he could do that wouldn't lead to pointless death...probably. He had been faking it well enough that they were no longer afraid to leave him alone, and he managed to sneak off to the roof when everyone else was preoccupied. Maybe it was a little bit insane to go out on the roof in the middle of an invasion, where there were flying metal death balls, but he hadn't claimed to be sane in a long time. No since the world had ended. And anyway, there was a reason for it. Looking up, he yelled loudly even though the intended recipient of his words would have heard him even if he'd whispered.

"Death!" he shouted. "I need to talk to you!"

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bangafewgongs
2010-12-29 09:09 pm UTC (link)

"There may not have been a need," Cas said with a shrug, "but it felt good. Cathartic and all that."

There were some people who would have been more serious with Death, more reverential. Cas was too old to care about things like that. There was a fine line between being respectful and being a kiss ass, and an equally fine line between respect and getting smote. And he knew where to stand in relation to those lines. "Thanks for coming," he said. "I mean, you could have just let them kill me, and we could have had this convo on the other side...but then I'd be bargaining for myself, and that's beside the point."

"I won't waste your time," he said after a moment. "What do I need to do to get her back?" He didn't say who. They both knew. And he didn't just ask Death to bring her back, because they both knew the score. You never got something for nothing, especially not with Death. "Whatever it is, I'll do it. I'm not stupid enough to think this will be like before, with people just coming back. Not with you here. So...what's the price?" Because he wasn't sure there was anything Parker could pay, and even if there was he was more than willing to spare her that. He would have done the same for Dean or Jade or Aziraphale or Eliot or Crowley. They were his people. He would never just let them die.

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maybeolder
2010-12-29 09:21 pm UTC (link)

Although Death would freely admit that humans tended to be much more creative when interacting with him, he had to appreciate the directness of the former angel. It was refreshing, if a bit rushed. Personally Death preferred to ease into such conversations but he also understood that there really wasn't any need in this situation. Cas had been around plenty long enough, even if he was still a veritable infant in Death's eyes, that he knew you didn't get something for free and the best way to figure out what he had to pay was to simply ask.

Of course, he doubted Cas was going to like the answer. But he did think he'd like it better than the alternative of not seeing his dear Parker for quite some time, if ever again.

"I had no reason not to come," he replied, first and foremost. He could have pointed out that it wasn't Cas' time and therefore no, he couldn't have simply let the Toclafane kill him, but Death knew that it wasn't necessary. Instead he simply did what Cas wanted and got right down to business.

"The price is a simple one," he said, his gaze flickering briefly to the city beyond before returning to the man in front of him. He did hate this part, really he did. If he had his way, he would happily bring the girl back just to spare the former angel what he was about to ask of him. However in this particular situation even his hands were tied in that regard. No one was getting something for nothing, not even those who Death felt deserved at least that small of a break. So with only a very brief pause, he named his price.

"You need but to do your job."

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bangafewgongs
2010-12-29 09:30 pm UTC (link)

"Fair point," Cas said easily. Death was nothing if not professional. If his actions were meant to end in his death, they would have. That they hadn't meant it wasn't his time. And he was all right with that, so long as he was able to get Parker back. He'd never dealt well with failure.

"You and I both know that nothing's really simple," he said, looking out at the city and the mess of destruction. He felt strangely calm, and that was almost enough to unsettle him. He listened to Death's price, turning to look at the being with confusion. "My job?" he asked. "I'm sorry. I guess I've been human a little too long, but I don't quite get what you mean by that."

But even as he said the words, he got it. Human. That wasn't what he really was. And the chain around his neck was a constant reminder of that fact. The crystal hanging from it felt like a millstone around his neck as he realized exactly what Death meant. "You want me to take it back," he said quietly. "You want me to be an angel again."

He waited for affirmation, part of him hoping he was misunderstanding.

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maybeolder
2010-12-29 09:37 pm UTC (link)

In all honesty, Death was rather relieved Cas had figured it out so easily. He hadn't wanted to spell it out in so many words. And yes, he knew he could point out that he had a reason for requiring it, that he wasn't the only one who wanted to see it happen, that fate had things in store for Cas that his returned Grace would only aid him in when they came to pass. He didn't bother though. There wasn't any point. The fact was, the price wasn't open for negotiation and the reasons for it were all but moot. If Cas wanted Parker back, he had to become an angel again. It was that simple.

Or, rather, not quite that simple for Cas. But that wasn't Death's problem. Either he would accept the terms or he wouldn't. There was no in between.

"Yes," he finally responded, seeing no reason to drag that part out either. "Your Grace was hardly given back to you out of the kindness of your host's heart. Take it back, do that which you were created to do, and I will restore your friend to life..." He trailed off, considered, then added, "When all of this mess with these creatures has passed, of course."

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bangafewgongs
2010-12-30 12:32 am UTC (link)

"I understand." He was quiet for a long moment as he thought it over. It wasn't even a question of if he'd do it or not. He would, of course. It wasn't even up for debate. He wouldn't let Parker stay dead just because he had issues with his family. It was selfish, and he wouldn't do that.

"Okay," he said, nodding. "You have a deal." It hurt just to say the words, but he knew it was something he had to do. He reached up and grabbed the chain around his neck, pulling so it broke. Then he took the crystal and threw it to the ground.

It hurt. It hurt more than he had expected, and he had to bite back a pained cry. It wasn't a physical pain so much as an overwhelming sense of...something. There weren't words for it. There was so much and he couldn't quite handle it. And it was so familiar. It was something he hadn't even realized he'd missed and the human emotions that he had grown used to over the years couldn't quite process it. But as familiar as it was, it was different. It was more. The intensity of it brought him to his knees. And he half expected the explosion of power that had come with Anna's return to grace. But that didn't happen. Just an overwhelming feeling.

That faded and he looked down at his hands with the realization that he wasn't just what he had been. "Wow..." he said. "I get it now. I really get it." Getting to his feet, he brushed himself off and looked at Death. "I trust you'll keep your end of things." It made sense that Parker wouldn't come back now. That just risked her dying again and all of this being in vain. "I guess I have some work to do."

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maybeolder
2010-12-30 01:52 am UTC (link)

Death waited patiently for the process to complete. He knew there wasn't a thing he could do to help ease Cas into the change. It was something the angel had to go through, had to experience first hand, in order to truly appreciate everything once it all slid back into place. Which is precisely what happened and, as Cas admitted he finally 'got it', Death managed a very vague, knowing smile.

"Of course," he agreed, tipping his head ever so slightly. He could have been insulted that Cas would insinuate he might not keep up his end, but he wasn't. There was a fine line between rudeness and respect, in Death's eyes, and far more often than not it tended to lie in the intentions behind what was being spoken rather than the words themselves. Most never realized such a fact but, then again, Death rather liked being mysterious. It made things far more interesting when dealing with the mortals, especially.

"That you do," he agreed once more, his attention flickering to a few Toclafane that were hovering a few buildings away. He knew they wouldn't attack while he stood there. If they did, he'd likely wipe out every single one in the city just to teach them a lesson. However he also knew they had yet to really figure out that the man beside him was no longer a man. He almost considered sticking around, in an invisible capacity, to see if they would dare draw closer once he was gone.

He didn't, though. He was rather busy after all, and really did need to get back to it. So rather than drag the meeting out any longer than was necessary, he said, "Once the... guests have been disposed of, Parker will be returned to life likely confused but no worse for the wear. And if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to and now, I believe, so do you."

And then he was gone, back to those being slaughtered by the Toclafane and, all too soon, on to make deals with others who were wise enough to consider making the attempt.

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