Dear Landlord

[oversight]

Who: Castiel (freetobe) and John Blake (oversight)
Where: Fifth Floor
When: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; evening
Rating: PG
Summary: Upon noticing Castiel's less-than-typical lack of presence, Blake seeks out the angel to check up and check in.
The Story:
It had been a couple days since Dean's disappearance and John was beginning to wonder if all of his friends and family had left with him. The mansion, generally a bustling place, felt quieter than usual, even with the most recent event. Of course, he appreciated the quiet much more after being forced into strange narrations, rhymes, and verses; however, it was the persistence of the quiet after the fact that had him unsettled. And being unsettled meant venturing out for a little investigation.

First stop? Fifth floor. Rumor had it Dean's brother and a few other family members were hanging about the mansion and it was a good bet to assume they'd want to be close by. For now, Blake had his sights set on the angel Castiel. With Dean gone, Castiel was the go-to. His connections within the mansion were an obvious advantage, and if anyone had a mostly-stoic assessment to offer, it would be him.

More importantly, though, John was beginning to worry. If Castiel's transparency as of late was any indication, Dean's disappearance from Wonderland was taking a toll. It wasn't out of the question — John himself was feeling something akin to mourning over the loss — so he stepped up to the angel's door, knocking lightly with the intent to peek in on his friend.

"It's Blake, Castiel," he said, voice raised a little to compensate for the door between them. "You in there?"

Comments

[oversight]

"Yeah, think you're right about that," Blake agreed, his hand coming up to rub at his chin. "Lotta hard work already went into this whole ordeal. Be a shame to quit now. Didn't really think that was a possibility — not with so many proactive people here — but thought I'd check in and ask, anyway." Everyone deserved an out, right?

As he walked along, John reminded himself that there was still much to be done. There'd always be new things to do, always be something that needed planned or tended to. At the moment, they were a loose organization, but when Winchester had been around, they'd felt a lot tighter as a group. That sort of thing was essential, Blake believed, in order to keep a united front in the face of anything and everything Wonderland tossed at them.

"So, sayin' that, you're dedicated to workin' with me? Makin' this happen whether they come back or not? Think we've got James and Daryl and Shannon still ready to help out, too, so I can kinda see where we are by knowin' where you are."

[freetobe]

"This is our mission. I won't abandon it."

Castiel is willing to adapt if circumstances change, change his strategy and approach. But in the end, too much work has alrady gone in this. If Dean... doesn't return, it's more reason to continue than before. Most other people are of little concern to him even though he recognizes that they're innocents for the most part who deserve protection. They deserve to go home.

And if Dean doesn't reserve, Castiel has all the more reason to return to his original mission, the one back in his home world, where he gave up everything for Dean's cause, too. The connections he's made here still pale in comparison to his dedication to that.

[oversight]

"Good to hear. Expected as much," he added. Blake had been more than impressed by the angel's dedication and he felt it was something of a disservice for him to have ever wondered in the first place. Then again, sometimes people react to loss differently than one might expect. He was considering saying as much — explaining why he'd bothered asking at all — but he didn't think it actually mattered all that much to Castiel.

He ran a hand through his hair and looked on, unsure of how to follow that up. If he were to just say what he wanted to say, he's not sure it would come out in such a way that Castiel would appreciate. But that's not uncommon for John.

"Gonna be all right, then? For sure. Can come and see me if you need anything, y'know." It's the best he could do to reach out.

[freetobe]

Castiel watches John for a while, gaze as unreadable as usual, as if he's trying to determine John's intentions but can't quite. Luckily he tends to be pragmatic and writes the questioning of his dedication off as John's own need for reassurance. They need that sometimes, humans. Castiel finds that quaint. He reaches out a hand, curling his fingers as he wants to touch John's shoulder and give it a friendly pat or a squeeze, but halfway through the motion he hesitates and lowers his arms.

Awkward and stiff, that's what Castiel is at the best of times. He doesn't do reassurance, because he's brutally realistic about their chances, and a bad liar. Hugs with Dean come more easily these days, because it's Dean and he initiated those weird physical comforts. Touching John's shoulder... Castiel isn't sure if that would fall under 'appropriate' on the human scale, and John is one of the few mortals whose opinion Castiel would like not to involve discussions about personal space, because he likes John, but doesn't take joy in poking him like a particularly fascinating specimen.

Instead, he tilts his head. "What would I need of you?"