entranceway | 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.]

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Oh yeah, he knows. [She rolls her eyes. Dean - well, his normal self - probably got that more than anyone.] But I think I've done enough ass kissing to keep him off my scent for at least a little while.

[Their conversation had surprised Meg, too, but it marked a good moment for her, circumstances aside. Her words are honest and her tone is straightforward when she answers him.]

He asked me what side I'm on... if I would help him, and said that he'd need help pinning down his location. [She pauses briefly, fixing him with a serious look.] Then he told me that Dean had killed you, too... [Of all things, loyalty is one principle that means something to the demon, and at this point, of all people, she least enjoys seeing Castiel in pain. Unfortunately, that's now how these things usually go.

She sighs, and her voice softens.] I'm sorry he did that to you, Cas.

[If nothing else, demons do seem to be susceptible to "ass kissing." Castiel can only hope that Meg knows what she's doing, that she isn't being played in turn. She's been a demon for much longer than Dean, he reminds himself. She can handle herself.

It makes sense that Sam would want to figure out who was on their side and who was on Dean's, as quickly as possible, and Castiel truly believes that Meg means to help them.

Though her apology quickly makes him uncomfortable, and he shakes his head.] It's not you who needs to apologize. [Though even if they do cure Dean, Castiel won't want to hear any apologies then either. This isn't Dean's fault, not really. Castiel has gone off the deep end enough times himself to know how this works.]

Pinning down his location has been difficult, even for me. And now that he has that First Blade, we need to be even more careful.

[She's aware of the fact that she's in WELL over her head, but Meg is also confident in her own abilities. Dean might have the big bad first blade, but she's been doing this for centuries. Oddly enough, they're probably on the best terms they've been on since meeting, but she's not holding her breath on that lasting.]

When he rebuffs her sentiment, Meg rolls her eyes.] I'm not apologizing for him. I'm saying that it sucks you got killed by your best friend. I do care, y'know.

[She's not trying to rehash their conversation with Crowley by any means - talk about beating a dead horse - but there's some part of her that feels a pull to care about his well-being.] I think I could probably get him to come out of the woodwork if we play our cards right... but we need a plan. [a pause] You think Gabriel would help out?

[Getting killed by his best friend. Meg sees it that way, but Castiel has forced himself not to think of it in those terms. Dean is not Dean right now. He would have never harmed him if he'd been in his right mind. Just as Castiel would never do the majority of what he'd done while he'd fashioned himself a god.

Still, the point here is that Meg is offering some kind of sympathy, and so the least he can do is accept that. He nods.] I know. [He knows that she cares, and that may actually be the strangest thing about the past twenty-four hours, his murder included.]

He might. [Gabriel has been on their side ever since he took on Lucifer to allow for Sam and Dean to escape. Castiel hadn't been present then, but he's heard the story enough times by now.] What do you have in mind?

[After spending... significant, intmate time with him, Meg would disagree that Dean isn't entirely Dean. He's in there. Twisted and gruesome, yes, but she knows the truth. It's not something she's planning to rub in his face, but she purses her lips as she considers the fact that Dean's probably going to out her the first chance he gets.]

Mm... just thinking out loud. We're gonna need some serious juice, and he's got it. I don't mind playing bait if it helps, but if you couldn't take him out... [There's concern and heavy implication in her tone. It's hardly an insult or meant to point out any shortcoming; it's a grim observation of exactly how powerful Dean really is.] He gets involved, maybe we've got a fighting chance.

I have the power to kill him. That's not the issue.

[Castiel hasn't had it in him to go that far, to actually murder his friend, even if he isn't truly Dean anymore. He knows that it's what Dean asked for, and he also knows that it's the most logical thing to do at this point, if only to grant them some extra time to plan, but that doesn't make him any more capable of doling out the killing blow when push comes to shove.]

It's a matter of capturing him without getting stabbed yet again. [Dying the first time hadn't been pleasant, and Castiel would rather not repeat the process.] If you can lure him into a Devil's Trap, then that's half the battle. He would probably assume you wouldn't willingly trap yourself.

[It's a risk, but if Meg's willing to put herself on the line so they can finish this, then Castiel will have to trust her.]

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