Video;

[thewaywardson]

[ The video starts with a man looking curiously at the screen. He has dark hair and a faint dusting of stubble on his skin, as though in a few hours’ time he may want to find a razor and have himself a shave.

It may be obvious from the way he’s inspecting the console that he isn’t completely at a loss around technology like this. He isn’t exactly familiar with it, but he’s clearly used a computer or something like it once or twice before. Enough that he isn’t fumbling with it or looking at it as though it’s some kind of mystical portal into another world.

It’s also possible that, prior to his turning it on, one of the kedan who showed him to his apartment explained it to him. ]

Hello. [ He pauses just for a moment, then continues. ] I am Castiel.

[ There’s an odd quality to his voice, deep and slightly rough around the edges, as though it’s still rather new and he hasn’t quite mastered it yet. ]

The kedan who summoned me told me that I’m here to help, but they… [ A slight pause, the corner of his mouth pulling into a tiny frown. ] …neglected to provide the details I require to do that. If anyone can share that information with me, I would appreciate it.

Comments

[guiltapalooza]

Oh. Um. No, it's a-- it's a link. You just have to click on it.

[Oh boy. Getting Giles vibes here, except without the snarky mocking undercurrent.]

[thewaywardson]

[ What? What link? And how does he "click" on it? This is why he needs Sam. Sam understands this kind of thing. ]

I don't understand.

[guiltapalooza]

[Willow has actually taught computer class before. She's got this.]

Okay. I'm sending an attachment of the audio recording. It'll come up and ask if you want to accept, and you just have to say yes and it should play.

[She even says that matter of factly and without judgement.]

[thewaywardson]

[ Oh, okay. That sounds easy. Say yes and the radio will play.

He looks expectantly at the screen, waiting for the attachment to arrive. He's not sure how that's going to happen, but he figures he'll know when it does. And once it appears, he follows her directions to the literal letter. ]

Yes.

[ Isn't he a model student? ]

[guiltapalooza]

[She's rolling her eyes over here, despite herself.]

No, you have to select it. There's a dialog box. Uh-- what year are you from?

[thewaywardson]

[ He leans forward, listening attentively, but he hears no dialogue save her own. ]

It was 2013. Is that important?

[guiltapalooza]

That's actually the future for me, [she says doubtfully.] How did you miss computers 101?

[She's typing continually while speaking. Maybe she can hack into his system and just get his console to trigger it automatically... She should be teaching him how to do it himself, but this would be more fun. And, she suspects, faster.]

[thewaywardson]

[ This never seems to go over well, and Dean told him that he's supposed to lie, but he's terrible at it. And besides, this isn't Earth. Perhaps the people here won't have such a difficult time believing it. ]

I'm an angel of the Lord. We don't have computers.

[guiltapalooza]

[The typing abruptly stops, and Willow's eyes abruptly refocus on the video feed instead of the coding window she has open.]

Wait. What? Is that a-- [Her brain starts to click over, but she still sounds deeply uncertain.] Castiel, like 'of God'?

[Oh look, she's an informed unbeliever.]

[thewaywardson]

You're familiar with me? Good. That makes this conversation easier.

[ Pretending to be human never works out very well for him. ]

I was introduced to computers a few of your years ago. They are still somewhat foreign to me.

[guiltapalooza]

Familiar with you is pushing it, [she mutters.] I know what angels are and I went to Hebrew school.

You're not really... what I was picturing. Not that I was picturing anything, but. You know.

[She's still not sure she buys it. She has no reason not to, but Willow's having a hard time with this.]

[thewaywardson]

Halos and wings. Yes, so I've heard.

[ That's what he assumes she means, anyway. He glances down at his body. ]

This is a vessel. My true form is capable of being seen without dire consequences only by a few. [ An awkward pause, and he adds; ] If it's any consolation, I do have wings.

[guiltapalooza]

[She's about to say it wasn't the lack of wings throwing her off, but rather the holy tax accountant vibe, before he fills in that awkward pause and she's successively diverted.]

Are they nice wings? [she can't help but ask curiously.] I mean, do you get to fly and swoop around and do good deeds? Cause that might be kinda fun.

[thewaywardson]

I am fond of them.

[ There's another pause, and some of Castiel's uncertainty can be see on his face. Just like a note of disappointment and disapproval - not directed at her - can be heard in his voice. ]

Angels are... not like humans believe. We're warriors of God. Soldiers. Not guardians.

[guiltapalooza]

[She can tell there's more behind that than what he's saying, but Willow isn't unfamiliar with the idea that ordained duties have a dark side to them. She looks at him half in more curiosity, and half in concern.]

Sometimes the guarding has to be a little more proactive. And you seem nice enough to me. Just... not so hot with the 21st century.

[That's Willow, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.]

[thewaywardson]

I have been... proactive. It isn't always successful.

[ That proactivity is what led to his fall. The first one. Castiel's intimately acquainted with falling from grace. He's done it often enough. ]

Human customs are often strange and nonsensical. But I have learned how to use your "mobile phones."

[guiltapalooza]

Well... No. It isn't. [She sighs faintly, hearing an echo of all the years she's supported Buffy through her failures in that.] But you don't really have a choice. You have to keep going, right?

And hey-- mobile phones. That's one up on me. Those only just came out when I'm from.

[thewaywardson]

I do have a choice. [ That, at least, he sounds proud about. ] Free will isn't just for humans anymore.

When are you from?

[guiltapalooza]

[That makes her smile a little.] No, I mean, being a good person means you can't stop trying. You have a choice, but it ends up not being so choose-y in practice.

It was 2002 when I left.

[thewaywardson]

That is before I took a vessel.

Perhaps it works like that for humans. It isn't so easy for angels.

[ He wishes that it was. Then maybe they wouldn't make so many mistakes. ]

[guiltapalooza]

So before that you were all mystical glowy unseeable by human eyes? [Is she getting this straight?

He definitely sounds conflicted with his angelic nature, and Willow innately wants to reassure him, but doesn't know how to go about it. She doesn't even really know him-- her reflex to comfort others is just too strong to be denied.]

I guess I wouldn't know. We don't have any-- that I know of. I've met a lot of demons, but they're not really religious type demons. Just visitors from other dimensions that like their mayhem and slaughter.

[thewaywardson]

I was a multidimensional wavelength of celestial intent approximately as large as the Chrysler Building.

[ He says it matter-of-factly, like there’s nothing the least bit unusual about it. But on the topic of demons, his tone changes to one of curious interest. There aren’t many people who walk away from one demon encounter, let alone multiple ones. ]

You are a hunter? Most haven’t met an angel before. We only revealed ourselves because of the Apocalypse.

[guiltapalooza]

Wow. That must look impressive on your resume. [It's a joke, but Willow does look suitably impressed, looking him over with new eyes. It says something about her life that she believes that part so much more easily than she believes him being an actual angel.

Not recognizing the word in this usage, Willow sends him a puzzled glance.] Well, I don't hunt anything. I'm more... back up and research girl for the Slayer. We've had several almost apocalypses and definitely no angels. The Hellmouth's opened once or twice and everything. I'd think they'd show up to party.

[thewaywardson]

I don't have a resume.

[ Nor does he understand all the references that follow. He's silent for a moment, puzzling it over, until he reaches the conclusion that she's talking about one of the doorways into Hell. ]

Gateways into Hell have been opening frequently. There's been unrest since Lucifer was freed.

[ Because it sounds like she works for a hunter, he doesn't go into detail, assuming she already knows. ]

It wasn't much of a party.

[guiltapalooza]

[Of course he doesn't have a-- Right. Literal. It's sort of like talking to Angel, except an actual angel who's even more clueless. Willow can adjust.]

Uh... No Lucifer. For me, I mean. And Hellmouths opening tend to be-- catastrophic, so not that either.

We're from different dimensions. I don't think our rules are all that, shared.