001: Video

[tryingitall]

[The first images that appear are fuzzy close-ups of a hand. Calloused, tan fingers, a grass-stained palm, and—ah! He’s been covering up the lens accidentally. Balthazar has never had occasion to use one of these things before, and, already uncomfortable and disoriented, he’s a little slow to learn. Oops.] Oh. There I am. Do I look that bad? Eurgh.

[He does, in fact, look ill; eyes shadowed, skin pale and clammy.] I’ve decided I don’t enjoy pain, except in very small, controlled doses.

[There’s a long pause, during which Balthazar looks like he’s trying to construct a speech, or maybe just keep from throwing up. Or both. He may not be dealing with the shock of arrival very well. In any case, he gives up on profound observations quickly.] However, I do enjoy alcohol, in large, uncontrolled doses.

[His smile is wan.] No, I’m not asking. I don’t take candy from strangers.

[Another pause, with him staring elsewhere, frowning mildly. The questions he really wants answers to--what the hell happened? why am I here? what do I do now?--don't seem to have simple answers. And the question 'who else is out there?' may have answers he doesn't like.]

…So, are there games on this thing? [Beep-boop-boop. Hello, button mashing.]

Comments

[Video]

[ofthursday]

[It's been a long while since he saw Balthazar here--months and months--but not all that long since he'd last been at home, and saw his brother there. It isn't a good memory.

That's why he's cautious as he opens the feed, because he doesn't know what Balthazar last remembers, and if he's anything like Anna Castiel might be the last person he wants to talk to, no matter how glad Castiel is to have the chance to see him again.

His voice is quiet when he finally speaks.]

Hello, Balthazar.

Re: [Video]

[tryingitall]

[The beeping pauses at once, but it takes a space of several very loaded seconds before Balthazar tries to speak. He doesn't look thrilled to see Castiel, but he doesn't look angry, either, or panicked. Just very, very uncertain.]

Castiel. Hello. [He was looking for Angry Birds, not angry brothers.] Have you been here long?

[Testing the waters.]

[Video]

[ofthursday]

[Castiel looks just as uncertain, guarded, not because he's worried about Balthazar being a threat or anything of the sort, but because his brother hating him is a lot more likely a lot worse.]

I have. Over a year, all together.

[Keeping it awkwardly casual.]

[Video]

[tryingitall]

[Okay. He can handle this. It's just Castiel. A smile blossoms on his face, but it's a bit sickly.]

If you wanted a vacation, you should have told me. We could have gone to the Caribbean or something.

...my ending up here wouldn't have anything to do with you, would it? [He's read the information packet, but he's still trying to understand.]

video;

[matri]

And the feathers multiply...

[Oh my Dad she is getting bored of this already.]

video;

[tryingitall]

We're fruitful, too! [Okay, the cheer is decidedly forced, and it's more of a stall tactic than an answer. Because if this is who he thinks it is...that's more than a little unsettling.]

video;

[matri]

[Oh she's long since passed unsettling and parked herself into downright annoyingly terrifying. Or at least, she hopes. Because if not, then she could easily crank up the nerve to bother all the angels out of their halos.]

Bountiful beasts of burden, is what I'd call you. [And yet her tone isn't quite so morose.]

[Video]

[mikhail_in_me]

[Teito really didn't understand much of that transmission.]

I don't think anyone likes pain..well..okay some probably do, but most don't. And you do look pretty bad..maybe you should go to the hospital.

[Video]

[tryingitall]

[Oh, this one looks young. Balthazar's not going to explain the context in which he might enjoy pain. Nor is he going to ask for liquor.] I didn't realize there was a hospital. Thank you, but I'm sure it'll clear up in a couple hours.

Since you're talking to me, anyway, though...been stuck here long? [Still acclimating, he'll take help and info wherever he can get it.]

Re: [Video]

[mikhail_in_me]

Well..I've been here a few months. [Teito looks like he is actually counting them out in his head.] About three I guess..though apparently I had been here before for awhile. I just don't remember it.

video/private;

[paterelohim]

[Talk to them, Eve said. Reconnect. You owe it to them, you said you wanted to be a better Father. And she was right.

So here he is, curled pitifully into himself on his couch, knees curled in close, a sleepy Hellhound's head in his lap. He looks small, timid, and old.]

Hi. Did... someone already tell you about me?

video/private;

[tryingitall]

...hi. Hello.

[Hello? Hello. Something in the back of Balthazar's head is screaming 'no'. He could turn off the feed. Hide in the closet. Take a shower. Break some things.

If he can't get out of the city, though, there's only so far he can run.

Hello, it is.]

That depends.

[Pause. Well.]

I'm Balthazar. Nice to meet you.

video/private;

[paterelohim]

[He curls into himself a little more. God, he feels pathetic. He knows he looks pathetic. It's anti-peacocking, to make himself look as small and nonthreatening as possible.]

Hey, kid.

[Some heartwrenchingly honest affection slips into his voice.]

Video:

[servingmichael]

[He actually expects Balthazar to ignore him. However, he's saying something anyway.]

Balthazar. This place seems to be making an attempt at collecting the Host.

Video:

[tryingitall]

[Say what you will about Balthazar; he's not cavalier enough to ignore an archangel. Not for long. He doesn't look all that happy to see him, though.]

Raphael. I'd heard you were about. [His lips twitch uncertainly.] Maybe we're more valuable as a full set.

Video:

[servingmichael]

[Raphael isn't going to ignore any angel that shows up.]

Were that the case, I'd actually be happy.

[Balthazar can't know how much that stung, with Michael no longer here.]

Did someone give you the spiel about nighttime?

[audio]

[afallenstar]

You got thrown here too, then?

[ She's just faintly amuse at this point. Confusion is so yesterday. ]

[audio]

[tryingitall]

[He feels an unwilling twist of anxiety at the sound of her voice, wonders why she's sticking to audio, and decides seeing her might just make the feeling worse, so it's a good thing. All of this makes for a marked hesitation, but his voice is warm when he responds.]

Looks that way. Anna, darling, how have you been?

[audio]

[afallenstar]

Been better.

[ And that's exactly as far as she's willing to go into it. He can't see it but she's kind of smiling, and after a moment she continues. ]

Been worse too though, so there's that. I take it you've been given the run down on our new home?

audio;

[mulletrock]

Who the hell're you?

[Dean gets that he's an angel based on the responses but he's not one that he's ever seen before.]

[tryingitall]

[Oh, he'd know that grating voice anywhere! But clearly Dean doesn't recognize him. He's not sure whether that's a disappointment or an opportunity.]

Just another dick with wings. I take it we haven't met elsewhere yet?

[mulletrock]

Nope, but ask the rest of your family and they'll say I'm behind the times.

[uberboned]

I didn't realize we called for a family reunion. Hey, bro. [Gabriel's faintly amused, all things considering. It may have been awhile since he's seen Balthazar, but he has to admire any of his brothers who actually looks like they got the stick surgically removed from their ass. It's like he taught them something.]

[tryingitall]

[Here's another one he never expected to see again, and with less baggage to complicate the encounter. Balthazar breaks into an honest smile.] If this is a family reunion, I want to have a long talk with whoever booked the location.

[uberboned]

I always thought Canada was a portal to Hell. Turns out I was right. It grows on you, though.