sirenspull | 001: Video

Entry tags:

001: Video

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Balthazar's not sure he likes Raphael grabbing him by the arm, but he manages to restrain himself from flinching. He's certainly not afraid of the dog. He flattens his palm and waits mildly for the animal's approval.] Hello, there. Handsome fellow.

[The explanation is a further surprise.] Our elder brothers. [Our elder brothers.] Michael and Lucifer were here?

[It's a power play, but not one against Balthazar - this island has taken enough of his family, he's doing what he needs to do: Protect them.

Frasier's tail thumps against Raphael's leg and he noses at Balthazar's hand.]

Yes, they started the truce. They wanted to keep it, if one of us could make it back. Show it was possible.

I take it I'm accepted. May I pet him? [He glances up sideways at Raphael, still uncertain. Further talk of a truce is reassuring, though.]

Is it possible? [Twenty four hours ago, he'd have scoffed at the idea, no matter who it came from. He's still skeptical now. Then again, if the Darkness is as fearsome as it sounds, maybe angels have bigger problems to worry about.]

You may - though if he catches you sitting down, he'll try to climb in your lap.

[Or if he is standing - but Raphael won't give that warning. Some amusement for him was needed.]

Here? We manage. I avoid the demons, I haven't sought out Castiel unless I needed to make sure he was safe. Gabriel is married and owns a club - we are welcome there, I'll show you where it is later. Michael built this place - the top floor was his, and while Lucifer was here, they shared it. We did, while Michael was here. The top floor is still his. When I am here, I mostly stay on the fourth floor. You may stay in one of the other apartments, if you would like.

[He preferred to keep the younger ones close, but not enough to mandate it.]

Or since we have started a trend, it seems, Gabriel's Club and this place were both abandoned warehouses. Claim one and do what you wish - but I'd rather you know more about the Darkness first.

[Oblivious to the threat of dog slobber, Balthazar scratches behind the animal's ears enthusiastically. He never tried adopting a pet. Ohh, who's a good doggy??

He's still listening to Raphael, though. It all sounds a little too good to be true, but he can't think of any reason the archangel would make anything up.]

I'd like to see Gabriel again. And I'd be lying if I pretended a club didn't sound like fun, too.

[He straightens and shoves his hands in his pockets, awkward again.] It's a beautiful building. I...definitely want to visit, but I think I'd better get my bearings before I settle anywhere.

[Raphael wouldn't have, save he couldn't let anything bad happen to something Michael loved.

Fraiser thumps his tail harder against Raphael's leg, then inches forward to be pet more.]

It's a cabaret club - he made it into a zombie town last Halloween.

[Pride warms Raphael's voice. He was proud of Gabriel, even if he was confused by him.]

It's a small island. Bearings are not difficult to gather. Gabriel and I have been injured in the Darkness - if you have no where else to go and night is falling, come here.

[Because Raphael was likely to attempt to enforce that.]

There are some Darkness creatures with voiding powers, little brother. You'll be nothing more than human when faced with them.

[Raphael took a breath, settling his shoulders.]

There are also two others here you need to know about.

[Now Gabriel was always creative. Balthazar's lips quirk into a small grin, but it's fleeting. Watching Raphael, he's not paying much attention to the advance of the dog. Frasier may have to lean to get his attention back.]

Thank you. I appreciate the refuge. I'm in one of the Tower apartments. If you need me, I'm sure you can find me easily enough. And I'll be cautious. [Balthazar does have an ego, but he also knows his own limitations, and he's not interested in dying.

He blinks mildly at Raphael's body language. This looks like an uncomfortable topic.] Ought we to sit?

[Wait until he hears - or sees the video footage - of Raphael helping Gabriel make the zombies more lifelike. That's when Gabriel's genius really shines.

But Fraiser just noses at Balthazar's hand and switches to leaning against him instead of Raphael.]

You'll only have that free for a month.

[Not that it's been an issue for any of the angels.]

Only if you want to make the attempt to be still. I'm not the eldest being of our world here. There are two others.

[He would pay to see that footage, if he knew it existed.

And there's a dog shedding on his pants. Obligingly, he looks down and resumes scratching, but a bit more slowly and distractedly than before.]

I've spoken to Castiel already, as well. He told me a little. You're talking about Eve, and...our Father? [He speaks quietly, uncertain how awkward this conversation will be.]

[It's at Gabriel's club. And Chuck has footage of Michael and Lucifer drunk and doing tequila shots.]

Eve, Mother - Mother is what I've always called her.

[He and Michael hadn't yielded on that one.]

And yes, our Father.

[Raphael is stock still - it's almost eerie to see anything alive that still. But he's also tensed, like the air before a storm - he's furious, though it's not directed at his brother.]

He's even been harmed in the Darkness. When I say stay inside, I mean it.

[He's not above terrifying the young angel to keep him safe.]

We known for a few months now. Did Castiel tell you who He is?

I spoke to her. [He looks apologetic, and he's about to go on to describe the conversation, but the shift in Raphael's attitude changes his mind. He's always found this particular archangel downright frightening. Instinctively, he stills in response, hand resting heavily on Frasier's head.]

Cas said he was someone he'd known for a long time.

[Frasier leans more against Balthazar, pawing at his foot gently.

She's always preferred her children to us and after what Castiel has done - well. If she bothers you, call for me.

[She disliked the archangels least, it seemed.]

Someone I've known longer.

[He pretended to be their friend. Which is why he is so furious - he had walked out on them and then this game.

He didn't want the younger ones to suddenly feel that void when God was gone.]

Do you want to know?

[He hadn't gone looking, not until after the Leviathans had killed Michael.]

[Balthazar winces subtly. He had no part in collecting Alphas, of course--he was in the dark about that part of the plan until very recently--but by helping Castiel, he did more or less hold a candle to it, even if he did balk at the idea of opening Purgatory. He's not sure whether Eve knows that, or whether she'd care if she did.] I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.

[He's not sure what to make of Raphael's anger, focusing nervously on the dog.] If you want to tell me. Castiel seemed to think He wanted to...get to know us. Or something. I'm not sure what to think.

[Nor is he sure whether to admit he's heard from Chuck.]

You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?

[He doesn't miss the wince. Because if Balthazar did, Mother would be something to deal with.]

But you are welcome. I've told others. This place has enough of our blood. I'm unwilling to give it more. Especially that of my siblings.

[The anger shown is only the tip of it - he's fighting with himself to contain it. He's not even really sure what he's angry over. But some part of him is raging that Anna and Balthazar are here, again, and Michael isn't.]

The little prophet.

[Not even using Chuck's name.]

He pretended to be our friend, when I arrived. I ignore Him, mostly. We've only spoken a few times. There is no reason to not speak to Him, if you wish. He may or may not contact you.. I didn't want you caught off guard.

No. [He answers firmly.] Not directly. But I did work with Castiel at that time. He kept me in the dark about most of his plans, and to be honest, I didn't probe as deeply as I should.

I...think I'll be paying for it, if I ever return to where I left. [He crouches to be at a better scratching angle for Frasier, because it's much easier to focus on the dog.]

But that doesn't matter here, does it? [Raphael's rage is no less terrifying when Balthazar realizes where it's directed. Well, they've all been angry at God, haven't they? Justifiably so, if you ask Balthazar, but he's not sure he'll be able to hold onto the anger the way Raphael has.

It's different. The archangel knew their Father before he left, and apparently knew Him here before he realized who He was. Still, it makes him feel caught between a rock and a hard place, once again, where family is concerned.] Ah. Hmm. If He contacts me, I'll...talk to Him. Naturally.

Did He give you any reason for, I don't know, anything He's done? Or should I not ask?

Ideally we will not be returning to when you left.

[Fraiser slowly wags his tail, starting to shake his leg.

Raphael scoffs softly. He has a temper - and he's been nursing these wounds for a long time. He's watched his family be destroyed and knows worse is coming - and that as it stands, nothing will change.]

I didn't ask.

[He didn't care.]

If you have the courage to ask, by all means.

I will not attempt to pull you away from Him - I'd imagine, having never known our Father, that you would like to. You should have the chance.

[Balthazar is not at all sure what Raphael means by 'ideally', and he's afraid to ask. At least he appears to have made friends with Frasier. He wonders if the dog is oblivious to the tension in the room. Or maybe he's just so used to there being free-floating anger that he ignores it?]

You didn't want-- [He cuts himself off, unable to comprehend why Raphael wouldn't want an explanation. He does. He thinks he still would, even in Raphael's place, but he might be mistaken. Regardless, antagonizing the archangel is a bad idea.]

Never mind. Yes, I'm curious if nothing else. [He still can't think of any reason God would be interested in him at this point, though.] We'll see what happens, I suppose.

[Fraiser is simply friendly, and used to Raphael's occasional foul mood. Besides, angels mean friend.]

He abandoned us. So no, I didn't ask.

[Raphael was too hurt to care why God had left. If Michael were here, it might have been different.]

As is it is now, if we leave - which we don't have control over - we are sent back with no memory of what has happened here, at the moment we left. Michael was able to personally confirm this. Unless we are able to find a way to by pass this process, His interest here won't matter.

[The more he pets, the more the dog leans, so Balthazar finds it necessary to shift position, resting on one knee.]

I suppose I keep hoping there's a reason for everything, even if I don't like that reason. That's not faith, is it? I thought I'd run out of faith a while back.

[Possibly it's more like desperation, but whatever.]

You think there might be a way to bypass the memory loss, then? That would be significant.

[Fraiser is convinced he's a lapdog. Give him time and Balthazar will have a problem.]

There's always a reason for everything, Balthazar.

[No less desperation than his own.]

There must be.

[He'll make Michael listen. Something.]

[He's wary of that determination. He's seen it most recently in Castiel, so hellbent on fixing things he's started breaking them instead.

Raphael being that much older and more powerful, it seems there are bigger and greater things he'd be able to break. Balthazar wonders if either of his brothers are aware how much alike they look when they talk like this. If they'd be offended to hear him say it.] If you come up with any explicit ideas, I'd be happy to listen. I got whisked away from a crisis with no resolution in sight. No good resolution, anyway.

[The sensible thing would be to accept his time in Siren's Port as a chance to get his affairs in order. But Balthazar's a fool for a glimmer of hope and a brother in pain.]

[There's something intimidating when an archangel throws himself into a task, and Raphael knows it. He'd sneer, because he so strongly dislikes Castiel but he wouldn't be insulted.]

I need to know more about this place. That's all. Or figure out how to work with it to step back enough in time before the barrier existed. Then go home. It's only been a few hours, I can go back. Talk to Michael. Lucifer I doubt will be a problem.

[The problem was God wasn't even powerful enough to break the Pull. So he needed to work around it.]

[Raphael's not asking for his assistance, at least. That's a relief; it means Balthazar can keep his distance.

Of course, the day Raphael asks a lesser angel for backup is probably the day reality itself unravels. But never mind that.] Well, I'm observant. You know that.

[Observant is what he's made for.] I'll let you know if I see anything important. Just...don't ask me to choose between brothers. I won't. [Never. Again.]

[He's not, not yet. If this works, he will be. Because he'll need someone to go to Castiel and stop him, Dean, and Bobby from showing up.]

You are. There are ships which manage to come and go, bring supplies. I've been watching them.

[It's the best place to start, he thinks.]

If I can make this work, none of us will have to.

[And given he's talking about Michael and Lucifer - says a lot for what he thinks he can accomplish.]

Speaking of our brothers, fancy a trip?

[Now that's a tall order! But if it will halt the dissolution of Heaven, Balthazar might be game to try. Attentive now, he nods at the information, and there's a flicker of something intense behind his vessel's eyes.]

Fair enough. I suppose there would have to be some kind of outside contact. Just ships, though? Nothing by air?

[He stands up again, giving Fraiser one last friendly thump on the side.] Always. Where are we going? [Trips are good. Seeing long lost family is better.]

001: Video

Re: offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

Re: offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

Re: offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline

offline