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[strangelic]

[ The man who appears on screen is wearing white hospital clothes, despite attempts to get him into something a little more him. They're comfortable, he protests. Over this he's wearing a much loved and heavily dry-cleaned (thanks, Dean) beige colored coat, the combination of the two making him look like a businessman - or perhaps a P.I. - who's had a little bit of a mental breakdown. Which...it's not far off from the truth.

In any case, he's sitting in the dark, looking drawn and tired, like he's either been trying very hard not to sleep, or the sleep hasn't been very good. It's a combination of the two, actually. ]

Did you know that human minds are most susceptible to influence when you're dreaming? If you wanted to teach yourselves how to communicate telepathically, for instance, it would be far better to do it when you're sleeping, when your brain isn't fettered by the constant needs of your body. Itching. Twitching. Fidgeting. All its aches and grumbles and complaints. Emotions. Recollections. Listening to other people chatter incessantly. Television. Arousal. You get the idea. It's all very distracting.

[ Seriously. Who let Castiel talk? Like ever.]

And let me tell you, some of those thoughts take up a lot of your time.

I--where was I? Ah. That is to say, I haven't ever slept before. I've visited dreams, of course, but experiencing my own is something else entirely. Something I'd rather avoid, if it's at all possible. So-- [ Deep breath. ] --I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Mnemonics, perhaps. The opposite of counting sheep. I'd drink coffee but I'm afraid I've discovered it has much the same effect on me as alcohol, which is to say I'd have to drink most of a plantation in order to have any kind of success.

Your assistance, please. I can't repay you, per se, but... Oh. [ He lifts his hands in front of him, and cups them together, and when he lifts them apart there is a little origami swan between his palms. ] I can do this.

Comments

[strangelic]

It wasn't always an ancient art, Dean. I first tried it when it was brand new, in fact.

[ He carefully puts all his things away and gathers himself up off the ground. ]

Do you like it?

[kickingand]

Course you did. [ But he nods, making his way over to the couch to gently plop the little crane down onto the arm rest. ]

It's great. Better than anything I could've done.

[strangelic]

[ He seems to sense Dean's worries, because a moment later he's stepping closer, smiling warily. ]

I was just asking... I was wondering how people keep themselves awake. You and Sam seem to have your methods, but I've found they don't work for me. I'm tired of sleeping, Dean. I don't enjoy it.

[kickingand]

[ Dean finally drops down onto the couch, tucked in against the corner where he scrubs absently at his check, staring down towards his knees. ]

Yeah, well maybe you'll cut it out soon. Might just be a, I don't know- phase.

[strangelic]

I hope that's all it is. If it endures longer than that...

[ What? What threat could he make, which could end how miserable it made him feel? He'd even heard that he couldn't die here, which should have been reassuring, but all it did was make him feel more afraid, more powerless. ]

My dreams aren't like yours, [ he admitted, miserably, and he sat at the other end of the couch, looking up at the ceiling as though it provided some kind of escape route. ]

[kickingand]

There's probably a reason for that, Cas. [ You know, the really obvious one. The you're an angel reason, the same one he gives for a whole hell of a lot of things. Dean sighs though, glancing over briefly towards Cas before giving his head a shake and suppressing his words for another moment against the rim of his mug. ]

It'll stop. Eventually.

[strangelic]

[ Dean would have to see his dreams to understand what Castiel actually meant. Fear and more fear. But he didn't want Dean to see them; he was ashamed of them, after all. If Dean saw them, he'd only know just how afraid of them he was. Just how deeply his guilt ran.

He changed the topic, hastily. ]

Do you have your cards?

[kickingand]

You want to play a hand?

[ The answer was yes, always yes. ] Course you do. [ Which was why Dean was already settling his mug of coffee on the floor so he could push up and off the couch and wander back to get his deck, returning only after another moment. ]

[strangelic]

[ Always yes. Castiel pulled his coat up, so that he could clamber onto the couch unfettered, sitting crosslegged with his hands folded in his lap. He waited patiently for Dean to return, picking at a loose thread in his pant leg, and for all the world looking like he could sit there waiting for hours. ]

May I deal first?

[kickingand]

Knock yourself out.

[ Dean tosses the deck towards Cas as he makes his way back around, stooping to pick up his mug of coffee before he drops back onto the couch as well and makes himself comfy, turning to face Cas with his legs tucked up underneath him. ]

[strangelic]

[ Castiel catches the cards, and settles back calmy, shuffling them with all the ease and flare of a Vegas magician, or dealer. It's much too clever, but then as a rule he generally is. He deals them each two cards, then lays down the river, and sets the rest of the deck aside, before gathering up his own hand.

And then, remembering their problem last time he played, he raised his other hand to his ear, gave it a little shake, and then produced dozens of tiny white and brown pebbles, which spilled onto the cushion in front of Dean. ]

Brown pebbles count for one, white pebbles for five.

[ Yes, he does look immensely pleased with himself. Remembering all the rules, go Cas. ]

[kickingand]

You good to go it alone this time?

[ Dean watched Cas finish up his shuffling, watched as he carefully laid out the cards all where they were meant to be and finally scooped up his own, splaying them out between his fingers and looking over them to Cas, his question entirely honest. He didn't think Cas would need help any longer - he'd wanted to learn badly enough - but the offer was still there.

On the table, as it were.

Pushing a handful of the pebbles towards Cas and then moving some towards himself to leave room for the pot, Dean finally settled in to play, inspecting his hand, expression bland as he found himself already coming up with a pair. ]

[strangelic]

I have a handle on it, [ he agreed, throwing in a chip and turning over the first three river cards. He hummed to himself, thoughtfully, counting chances in his head, and rubbing his thumb over the little A in the corner of one of his cards. The other was a little less interesting, but--well, it was a good hand, in his opinion. A high card was better than nothing. In games between two people, a high card might even win, with less chance of a stronger hand all around.

So he nodded to himself, and added another brown stone to the pile, blinking up at Dean. ]

This is far more enjoyable than sleeping. I can't imagine why humans seem to enjoy it so much. [ A pause. ] Unless going to bed is merely an excuse to get naked, in which case I do understand. It is how God made you, after all--made all of us. More activities should require compulsory nudity.

[kickingand]

[ Dean kept half of his gaze up onto Cas, watching him close while the rest of his attention fell onto the cards in his hand. The possibility of pairs first caught his eye before the greater temptation of a straight became ever more prevalent, making it that easy to toss in a chip of his own into the pot. Cas was abysmally easy to read this, his focus on one of the cards in his hand more than a little bit obvious and Dean already knew he'd be paying attention to that little dead give away.

Though, his concentration muddled a bit at Cas' words, an eyebrow quirking as he lifted his attention further upwards, just giving Cas a look. ]

Says you and every nudist colony out there. Some of us like wearing pants.

[strangelic]

I'm not sure what a nudist colony is, [ he answered, softly.

But there you go. Typical Castiel, taking the wrong part from the conversation.

He hummed to himself, laying down his chips and turning over the cards, one at a time. It was impossible for him to hide his disappointment, when another ace failed to come up, but he straightened up and faced Dean anyway. ]

I think I'm going to call. [ Rather than raise, indicating he was finally uncertain about his hand, and unprepared to put anything more into the pot. ]

Do you remember your dreams? [ he asked, softly. ] I... I met someone, in mine.

[kickingand]

[ Dean's looked between the river in front of him and Castiel's expression, as easy to read as anything. Considering the sheer number of hands he'd played over his lifetime (likely millions by now) it was easy enough to tell his disappointment even before he called. Cas wasn't getting the cards he wanted to fill out his hand, whereas Dean was becoming ever more confident with his own. ]

I'll raise. [ He tossed in two white pebbles for good measure before focusing on Cas' comment. ]

Who'd you meet?

[ Avoiding the topic of his own dreams for now, it was by easier to sink into Cas' as he'd already offered his own tidbit of information. Especially if he met someone worthy of discussion. ]

[strangelic]

[ Castiel stared at the white pebbles in the little pile of brown ones almost sadly. He could risk it, on an early hand, sure enough, but he could tell by Dean's utter confidence in raising that he wasn't going to gain anything by meeting his bet, and consequently that he wouldn't be able to put him off by raising the bet himself. Dean was sure; sure he had a good hand, or sure that Castiel's was worse--that or bluffing very well.

He didn't need to take a sneaky cheating peek to know the truth, and he looked apologetically down at his ace. No good this hand. ]

Lucifer [ he said, almost nonchalantly, as though it weren't a big deal, when really it was an enormous deal. If Dean didn't know that Lucifer was here, then he'd be annoyed with Castiel for keeping it from him.

And if it were the other way around, he'd have questions himself. ]

Fold [ he added, quickly, to draw attention to the fact that Dean had won the pot. Typically, the cards would be laid down face down, but Castiel exposed his, and looked curiously, and hopefully, across at Dean. ]

[kickingand]

[ Giving Cas all the time in the world to decide what he wanted to do, Dean simply waited him out, watching his expression shift curiously. Everything played quietly across his face and that alone was fun enough to watch until he--

Shit.

Dean's eyebrows rose with interest and considering the fact that he was playing poker, it was by far easier to keep a straight face. He was already trying to do keep an expressionless clean slate and so he remained about as calm as ever before finally nodding a few times as he brushed a hand against his knee. ]

I met the guy, too- I mean, before. We've talked. [ Dean didn't need to ask which Lucifer, considering if he was stating he'd just met him, then the one from home couldn't be taken into account. But they were both playing it oddly cool; meeting Lucifer was anything but miniscule in the grand scheme of things and Castiel at the very least would be effected wholly by it.

Stealing the opportunity to focus on the cards, Dean only quirked a small grin as he offered Castiel a show his own cards and thus, his straight. He couldn't really deny him the chance to see and Dean didn't truly mind breaking a rule or two. ]

[strangelic]

[ It was easier to concentrate on the cards than the words, and Castiel took in a careful breath, and looked down, taking in Dean's straight, his expression softening. ]

I knew you had a good hand.

[ Which was...well, it was a long way from how terrible Castiel had been at this game when they started, and meant he was truly beginning to understand it. He took the cards back from Dean, folded them into the pack, and then passed it across to him to shuffle--he was the dealer now, after all.

He skipped the accusation. He was enjoying the camaraderie too much. ]

About me. He came looking.

[kickingand]

[ Dean shrugged an easy shoulder, though after a second he looked a touch more pleased with himself. Not that he had anything to do with his own hand, luck of the draw and all that, but a man could still enjoy his own winnings.

Taking the deck from Cas, he began his own shuffling, focused on the cards while he spoke. It was easier that way, to push everything else aside and pretend he didn't have his own things to think about. Which he did. A multitude of them, but Castiel didn't seem distressed by whatever it was that he and Lucifer had done. Which, he supposed, was an incredibly good thing. ]

You came up. [ Shuffle shuffle shuffle-- After another second, he dealt out the cards and lay down the river. ] It turn out okay?

[strangelic]

[ Castiel looked down at his hands quietly, brows furrowing this time as though in deep thought. Something twitched in his jaw, but it was only the briefest of tics before he raised his eyes again, looking at Dean quietly. ]

He lectured me. [ A simple answer, but it was full of so many things. So many shades of doubt, and guilt. ] I don't know what to make of him yet. He cares for humanity... It's... It's just another peculiarity of this place.

[kickingand]

[ As if he didn't see that, Cas. Granted, it was a fairly good cover up all things considered, but Dean still registered it in the back of his mind as he looked over his own cards, half trying to ignore Castiel's words and half willing himself to recognize what was being said. ]

He lectured you? That's a new one. [ And likely means a thousand more things that Cas isn't saying, but it's not as if Dean is speaking many words of his own, either. ] I'm pretty sure his... whatever you want to call it, doesn't have shit to do with being here.

[strangelic]

Yes, well. [ He chewed his lip, frowning at his cards a little more intently. ] It was strange being treated as a little brother. The last time an archangel spoke to me that way...

[ Castiel froze, going almost white in the process, and then he pulled his knees right up toward his chest and changed the subject. The last time an archangel had spoken to him that way, Castiel had burned him out of existence with a thought. So no, it wasn't a great subject to go lingering on. If his heart were his own, it would be beating faster, but in fact Castiel only felt his spirit pulling taut, like a piece of thread reaching breaking point, threadbare and trembling with the effort of holding itself together. ]

I raise, [ he bluffed. Castiel had a pair of threes this time, but if he bluffed well enough maybe he could make Dean think it was a pair of Kings. Cnsidering they'd only put a small blind - an opening bet of one brown stone each - into the pot so far, it was courageous of him to try it on. The river was a four of hearts, a two of spades and a nine of clubs, but there was still a chance for either of them to make a low straight, even if a flush was out of the question, and more than enough of a shot for Dean to make a higher pair. ]

[kickingand]

[ Dean would've thought that, perhaps, Lucifer would've been a manageable subject if it had gone well enough for the archangel to speak to him with some measure of kindness. Maybe offering Castiel back his family, in a singular aspect, was what would save him in ways Dean couldn't, would be the gravitational pull required to return Cas his mind. But the way he clammed up immediately had Dean thinking otherwise in the span of a heartbeat, as if a line had been drawn that Cas had just barely toed over before being smacked away, playing with fire and ending up searing himself a little too sharply.

Instead, he turned back to his cards, a 3 and Ace of diamonds, playing at their edges with the pad of his thumb. There wasn't much he could accomplish himself yet, but Castiel raised, something Dean looked over curiously, searching out a tell tale sign that might give a glimmer of indication as to whether or not it was worth his own hand to do the same. Which it undoubtedly was, as Dean was unwilling to step out of the game quite yet. ]

I'll call. [ Turning over the next card in the river- ] Met more people than I can keep track of.

[strangelic]

[ Castiel frowned at the next card, a King, and couldn't help but chew on his lip. There were a lot of high cards in the river now, and all Dean had to do was match one of them, with one more card left to lean toward that potential.

But even he, determined to avoid any kind of acknowledgement of the situation as it was, couldn't hide his response to Dean's comment. Met more people than he could keep track of? He raised his eyes toward him, and narrowed them pointedly. ]

Lucifer isn't people. [ He was more than a little affronted by the offhandedness, even if he'd done just the same thing himself a moment before. He didn't think he needed to repeat what Lucifer had done to each of them, to be honest. It wasn't easily forgotten. ]