Castiel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
freewill) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
entranceway2015-03-23 09:36 am
freewill) wrote in entranceway2015-03-23 09:36 am
005 ☄ video
[Castiel isn't one to make use of the network unless he has good reason for it, but this falls squarely into that category. When the feed starts up, he's seated in the music room, which is one of the only areas in the mansion he could find that has an empty seat and isn't affected by one of the residual events.
He clearly isn't there to play the piano, though. He's got his phone pointed at his face and his expression is nothing short of grim. It's been a trying past few days.]
I've conferred with someone else about this and it looks to be a plague that's affected a number of us. I have memories that don't belong to me.
[There's already been some yelling about it over the network, whereas Castiel is much more controlled. He wants this fixed, if that's even possible.]
I may be able to put them back where they belong, if I can find their owner.
[At that point, he lifts up a piece of paper where he's sketched out some patterns from memory.] Does anyone here have tattoos that look like this, along their chest, arms, and back? [There's so much more he could say -- about being the Chosen One, or knowing the archangels Michael and Gabriel, but he would rather not air this mystery person's dirty laundry on the network for everyone to hear. Hopefully the mention of tattoos will be enough to grab someone's attention.
He lowers the paper.] And... if anyone has memories of being an angel, we may need to talk. [He would also rather not go into any further detail about what he's missing. It's hard to, when he only knows the very basics of what he's lost.]
One last warning: stay out of Dean Winchester's way. He's still dangerous.
[Castiel reaches forward for his phone and the feed cuts.]
He clearly isn't there to play the piano, though. He's got his phone pointed at his face and his expression is nothing short of grim. It's been a trying past few days.]
I've conferred with someone else about this and it looks to be a plague that's affected a number of us. I have memories that don't belong to me.
[There's already been some yelling about it over the network, whereas Castiel is much more controlled. He wants this fixed, if that's even possible.]
I may be able to put them back where they belong, if I can find their owner.
[At that point, he lifts up a piece of paper where he's sketched out some patterns from memory.] Does anyone here have tattoos that look like this, along their chest, arms, and back? [There's so much more he could say -- about being the Chosen One, or knowing the archangels Michael and Gabriel, but he would rather not air this mystery person's dirty laundry on the network for everyone to hear. Hopefully the mention of tattoos will be enough to grab someone's attention.
He lowers the paper.] And... if anyone has memories of being an angel, we may need to talk. [He would also rather not go into any further detail about what he's missing. It's hard to, when he only knows the very basics of what he's lost.]
One last warning: stay out of Dean Winchester's way. He's still dangerous.
[Castiel reaches forward for his phone and the feed cuts.]
Video
It must be difficult for her to understand or parse in any way, just as the memories that have been inflicted on Castiel make less and less sense the more he thinks on them.]
You shouldn't have been exposed to them. [He appears to be more regretful than angry on that count.
The areas in the mansion that haven't been altered in some way are few, but Castiel still leaves the choice to her.]
You can choose the place.
Video
Just don't burn my eyes out. I'd like to keep them. They match my hair.
[That is her attempt at a joke. A poor one, but from what little she knows, he doesn't seem to be a 'bad' guy, per se... just a weird, scary one.]
Video
[It's not exactly something that he makes a habit of. Even the first time, it hadn't been intentional. But Castiel can understand why she would be wary.]
There's been talk of falling items outside. We should go somewhere with cover, like the woods.
[Being pelted with objects while trying to have a serious conversation doesn't sound like a good idea.]
Video
... I'm not sure how to give these memories back to you. So I can't guarantee anything... but I will try.
[She gets up, daring to trust that this guy won't murder her. Or anything worse.]
Video → Action
[Castiel's heard that others have retrieved their memories, specifically that Kaneki did. If it's as simple as Kaneki says, then all it should take is exchanging stories.]
I'll see you there.
[He ends the call and flies to the edge of the woods, far enough in that he isn't being hit by flying objects every few seconds. No doubt the girl will be walking here, so he leans against a tree to wait.]
Action
Angel. Mister Angel...
Action
Interesting.
When she calls out for him, he pushes off from the tree and approaches her.] My name is Castiel, if that wasn't made clear in those memories. [They hadn't actually exchanged names yet, but it seems worth doing now. She already knows more about him than anyone really should at first glance.]
Action
... Saki Hanajima.
[There are calm waves coming off him... Though her face doesn't change expression, she is relaxing. There are no dark, murderous impulses coming off of him, so his waves say. She's safe.]
Action
Still, he doesn't draw too close, in the event that she still has reservations.]
I was told that if you describe the memories to me, they'll be returned. [Kaneki isn't the sort of person who would like to him, either.] It seems too easy, but we could try.
Action
[She closes her eyes, concentrating...]
... I'm... No, you. You're in a barn. Two brothers have summoned you. I've seen them here in Wonderland... but they try to shoot you. It doesn't work. They ask you you are, when you answer, they try to stab you. It doesn't work either. Neither does the crowbar.
... I have to wonder why they thought the crowbar would work when a gun didn't.
Anyway... you touch one of them, and he passes you. You needed to speak to the other one, saying you're an angel, and when he doesn't believe you, you show off your wings. I rather like them.
Then there's the eye-burning thing, which you sort of have a reasonable excuse for. And you... pulled this man from hell, as God commanded you to do.
Action
As soon as Saki starts to explain, the memory crashes back into him, playing out in his mind's eye. Everything from Dean and Bobby's attacks to his explanation to Dean returns to him in full color, settling into the empty slot it left behind. It's a satisfying feeling, like something has finally been set to rights.]
I did pull him from Hell. That I remembered. But... it worked, thank you.
[He lifts his hand up to his temple and closes his eyes for a few moments, as if enjoying the memory all over again as brand new. It might not seem like a pleasant one, but it had been the start of a very important chapter in Castiel's life.
He opens his eyes then, and studies Saki carefully.] Do you have any others...?
Action
... A warehouse this time. You're holding a jar of blood. You... have a brother.
He asks what the problem is... and it's that the man you saved from Hell is on the way. Your brother asks how he knows... you reply there's a traitor. Your brother... is a terrible liar. You know it's him. But you lie, and say you don't know. You'll find the human on your own.
You're upset... I can't blame you. You say your friends and family abandoned you... Your brother says you still have him.
You...
[She hesitates here, clearly uncomfortable. Maybe there's better context to this, but as someone who has a brother she loves so very dearly - and as someone who almost killed someone - this next part makes her shake.]
You're behind him. You stab him... you say you'll always have him. He turns to light... and then... and then he's gone.
Action
When she describes a bad lie, though, Castiel remembers it. He remembers Balthazar's face, flickering with doubt and uncertainty. This is a memory he would rather not have shared with anyone, especially not a stranger.
He shakes his head almost violently as she finishes.]
You should blame me. What I did was wrong.
[Castiel had felt abandoned at that moment, believing that all of those closest to him had turned on him -- but they'd had good reason. He'd been completely unreasonable then, driven by desperation and the need to do the right thing in what felt like impossible circumstances.]
Action
... I don't blame you. I don't know you. Whatever these memories are... no matter what they show, they are only a fraction of your life. Little stories without clues or context. It would be wrong of me to judge you in any way.
[Scared of you, yes. Judge you, no. That would be rude.]
Action
He bows his head, a combination of shame and gratitude.] I have nothing but regret for what I did to him, but... thank you.
[He's pinpointed three memories that aren't his own, which are still floating around in his mind. That may mean that Saki has one more for him. At this point, he's reluctant to even ask, but in the end his desire to be whole again wins out.]
Is there one more?
Action
[A deep breath, and her eyes close again.]
You and those brothers from before... you're in a bank. An anvil has crushed someone... presumably, since there's blood and shoes sticking out from it. A police officer says if you chase the crazy, or it chases you, and the young brother says it depends on the time of day.
He probably thinks he's funnier than he really is.
Anyway, the older brother asks about the victim, and you learn it was a security guard from the bank who called in a robbery... done by a robber nicknamed "the Black Hole".
Apparently this robber leaves no fingerprints or signs of entries, but leaves behind big black holes. The younger brother leaves with the officer to check her files.
The older brother asks if you can lift the anvil, and after you roll your eyes, you do. Quite impressive, really. But after those first two memories, I wouldn't have guessed you had an attitude.
There's a big black x on the floor underneath the anvil. The brother says that the killer is playing by cartoon rules. You two actually have an odd argument about the rules of animation... western animation, primarily. You really ought to see the anime of my land, Japan. Now that can be fairly strange.
But though you have determined that the holes are how the robber goes in and out, the hole in question isn't working as you touch it. You're both left clueless.
Action
Until now. Castiel can now remember the roughness of the anvil when he'd easily moved it, and the way that the wall hadn't given under his touch despite having one of those black holes on it.
He lets out a breath and nods. Finally everything is back where it should be, save for the extra memories he still has, which must belong to someone else.]
I think that's everything. [Unless she says otherwise.] That last one takes place after the others, which might explain the... attitude.
[He actually manages a tiny smile then.] Thank you.
Action
[She looks up at him, and then tilts her head a little.]
... I won't tell anyone else what I've seen. As I said, it's not my place to judge you. But you shouldn't let the past burden you when it can't be fixed.
... I find myself scared of your abilities. But not of you as a person.
... As an angel. Whatever. You get the idea.
Action
I promise you I have no intention of using my power to hurt anyone innocent. [There are other situations where he might need to use them, but he isn't one to attack anyone for the sake of it.]
The events here may force my hand, but other than that, I focus more on trying to atone for those past mistakes.
[And this situation has offered him another opportunity to do that. Castiel pins Saki down with his gaze.]
If you're ever in need of help with anything, you can contact me and I'll do anything in my ability to be of assistance.
Action
[She opens the umbrella now, holding it over her head.]
Very well. I'll keep you to that, Castiel. Though all I can return is offer you good conversation, and the occasional shoulder to cry on... As long as your tears don't melt my skin off.
Action
I don't cry, but you don't need to concern yourself with giving me anything in return.
[He's capable of crying, but he doesn't. His tears might have medicinal properties or be a useful ingredient for spellwork, but that's about all.]