05 § video;

[definingfuture]

[Tony starts out sitting in front of the console. He's a little slow to start up what he wants to say-there's an awkward pause beforehand like he's just sizing them up through the video itself.]

So, I've been busy lately. And I've gotten a little distracted by other things, but-

[Something catches in his throat and cuts him off. Tony clears his throat and tries to look casual and calm. He's distracted and maybe in need of some sleep, with his attention wandering from the feed, but he's not going to drop the flippant tone. Especially not now.]

But apparently there have been some strange disappearances lately, and those people might actually still be around.

[He seems to want to say more, but his heart isn't in it. Maybe he should be offering to try to help those semi-disappeared people. Probably. Unfortunately he can't make himself do that.]

That's not what I want to talk about. I need... [Don't finish that, Stark.]

I need someone who knows how to take care of flowers. Horticulture isn't my thing and I have some and I have to make sure they, they don't die, so if you have any advice, I could use it. That or animal counselors. I'm sure those exist out there somewhere.

[ooc: cw for mentions of child deaths and violent arguing.]

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[thewaywardson]

My name is Castiel.

[ He can do without the Animal Whisperer nickname, though that's hardly the worse thing he's been called. ]

What is your name?

[definingfuture]

[He introduced himself by offering to talk to swizards. He's the Animal Whisperer.]

Tony. My name's Tony.

[He's imitating Castiel's mannerism a little, but that's mostly an attempt to feel him out.]

[thewaywardson]

[ The name itself isn't unusual, but that he's named an animal after himself strikes Castiel as a little strange. Curious, and genuinely interested to learn more about human proclivities, he asks; ]

Is it customary to name one's animals after oneself?

[definingfuture]

What? I didn't- [Oh. Haha, oops.]

The swizard's name is Logan. I was joking before.

[thewaywardson]

I see.

[ No he doesn't, but he's come to accept the fact that he doesn't typically understand human jokes. ]

Where is Logan? I will go speak to him now.

[definingfuture]

Uh. Metal Sector. There's a stable... [Is he serious?]

He's really just an animal, you know. They don't- I'm pretty sure they don't have much to talk about.

[thewaywardson]

[ The look Castiel gives him is similar to that of a teacher dealing with a particularly dull child. ]

We would say the same of humans. Would we be accurate?

[definingfuture]

[Oops.]

Okay, I deserved that. But, for the record, some people probably would be worse to talk to than pets, so there you go. Not entirely wrong?

[thewaywardson]

So would some angels. And most demons.

[ Blandly stated, it's Castiel's way of allowing the slight to the swizard to pass. ]

I will speak to him now. Should he prove unwilling to acquiesce to your wishes, I will mediate a compromise between you so that you both may be satisfied.

[definingfuture]

[Tony does appreciate that concession.]

If he understands you, just tell him not to eat the other animals. It's kind of a pain on boarding fees when people think your horse is going to eat its neighbors.

[thewaywardson]

I will do so.

[ And just like that, he's gone. He does not, however, think to turn the console off first. He simply disappears, on his way to convince Logan not to eat his neighbors. ]

[definingfuture]

[Tony blinks at the empty display for a few moments before leaving his own and flying out to the kedan stables himself. He isn't sure what to make of this angel, but if Castiel is going to try to tame Logan, he wants to see the results.

And if he's not as good a mediator as he thinks he is, Tony might have to keep Logan from trying something new for lunch.]

They just get weirder and weirder here.

[thewaywardson]

[ Castiel has never seen a swizard before, but that hardly matters. Appearing in the stables, he looks around, seeking him out. ]

Logan? My name is Castiel. I'm here to speak with you.

[ It's only polite that he introduce himself. ]

[definingfuture]

[It's not too hard to identify Logan. The kedan running the stables can't house him near their other animals, so he's in a corner stall with an empty one adjacent to it, and yet he still hisses when anything crosses the imaginary line he's apparently marked as his space. Castiel gets hissed at too, although that's just a default greeting at this point. He is an old, surly animal that hates everything. Mostly just because it is old and surly.

When it gets talked to, though, it settles for puffing up and posturing. This is typical alpha male for "what the hell do you want?"]

[thewaywardson]

[ Unperturbed by the hissing, he takes a few steps forward. It's important, he believes, that Logan knows he has his full attention. But he still respects his boundaries enough to stop a polite distance away. He's not here to antagonize the poor creature, after all. ]

I spoke with a man named Tony earlier. It seems he's concerned about you. Are you well? Do you require anything? If you have needs that he's not meeting, I can communicate them to him in his language.

[definingfuture]

[The swizard stops hissing once he realizes that Cass isn't going to attack or leave. He eyes the angel suspiciously, but otherwise settles in his stall. Everything about the creature exudes grouchy, battle-scarred old man, and its response is more of the same.

Don't need more kids in my face. And that includes the loud walker.

Tony, as if on cue, lands near the stables. His armor makes an audible landing impact, and the other swizards puff up slightly. Logan looks unperturbed, but if a lizard-swan could make an exasperated face, that would apparently be it.]

[When Tony gets to the stable, he looks a little surprised.]

So are you actually going to... talk to him? Or was that a joke? If it was a joke, you need more jokes. Just saying.

[thewaywardson]

[ About to open his mouth to respond to Logan, Castiel is interrupted by the arrival something loud. Loud and Tony, he discovers as he turns to look at the source of the noise. Slowly, he thinks he may have the start of understanding about the problems the two of them are having.

The question Tony asks him gets a flat look. How many times, in how many different languages, does he need to explain that he can speak to animals? ]

He says you walk too loudly. [ Castiel eyes the armor. ] Is it necessary to wear armor to visit him? Perhaps you would be less grating if you came here without it.

[ He shoots a glance at Logan to see what his reaction to that suggestion is. ]

[definingfuture]

[Tony looks completely lost when Castiel asks him if he has to wear the armor. Uh, of course he does. He's Iron Man. And then Castiel tells him why he said that and that sounds even more absurd.]

Grating? The bird thinks I'm grating?

[If swan-lizards could facepalm, Logan would probably be doing that. Although at least he's not trying to bust out of his stall to deal with the obnoxious noise personally. Instead, the swizard bobs his head once to Castiel. It's the assent of an old man that is used to kids being annoying, but clearly would like some peace and quiet.]

Fine, but he tries to bite anyone that gets close. The armor's protection. He could take someone's hand off.

[Tony glances over at Logan too, who at this point puffs up and shows off his teeth in response. Hey, Tony asked for it. Plus, it's clear that Logan likes intimidating the other male, even if he is human.]

[thewaywardson]

[ Since learning about humans more directly from his time with the Winchesters, Castiel tries not to judge them too harshly. But watching Tony interact with Logan, he thinks that the swizard isn’t the only one who finds him grating. ]

It’s my understanding that humans don’t appreciate being treated like they’re less than something else. You would be wise to apply that same standard to all life.

[ It’s chastising, but he says it mildly, like a patient parent would to a slow-witted child. ]

Perhaps Logan bites because you fear him. If your expectations of his conduct are so low, what reason does he have to surpass them?

[ He shoots another glance at Logan, offering him a commiserating half-smile as he says; ] I would probably bite him too.

[definingfuture]

[Oops. Tony raises his eyebrows at the correction and looks from Castiel to Logan and back again. The swizard looks highly unimpressed by everything, but in the way an old man does when he's dealing with a young child that simply can't help himself. Chicks. Tony misses that part, but he does notice that Castiel is logically making a decent point and he shrugs, putting up his hands in defeat.]

Okay, okay. I guess I could try to be quieter.

[Tony says that with the absent smile of someone who has no idea why he's agreeing to what he's agreeing to. Other than the part where the angel is telling him he's oppressing his draft animal. Logan, however, takes that answer by fluffing his feather and looking pleased with himself. At least Castiel seems to get it.]

[thewaywardson]

[ That's a start, Castiel can give him that. And it's not like he's the epitome of successful social interaction. He's not and he knows it. But simply because he doesn't know how to do something properly doesn't prevent Castiel from offering his opinion on it. ]

Logan is your friend, is he not? You take care of him, provide shelter for him and feed him, protect him from harm? Perhaps it would help to show him affection.

[ Not that Castiel's the greatest at doing that either, but he's been on Earth long enough to know that it helps smooth over an individual's dealings with another. ]

[definingfuture]

My what?

[Tony looks at Castiel as if he just started speaking in a different language. Or maybe like he started shapeshifting right in the middle of his sentence.]

Well, no. I mean, I do, but I don't think that makes us friends.

[He looks at Logan, who is completely indifferent toward the two at this point, and frowns. Tony might not be a master of relationships, but he's reasonably sure that this time it's not just because of his screw ups that what Castiel is saying doesn't sound quite right. A pet is a pet.]

I guess I could try to do more with him.

[He sounds doubtful about this, but he's making effort at least.]

[thewaywardson]

[ No, it may not automatically make them friends, but surely it lays the groundwork. To Castiel, at least, it seems like it should. ]

Don’t you want to be on better terms with him? You are his caretaker. Being at odds with each other seems unproductive and wasteful.

[ He looks at Logan again. ]

Is there anything further you would like me to convey to him?

[definingfuture]

[Does he want to be on better terms with him? The question strikes Tony as odd. It's not something he's really considered. Maybe that's his problem, though. He doesn't try to be on better terms with anyone when he could. Tony frowns slightly, but ultimately comes to a decision.]

Okay, I'll try to keep it down. But tell him not to bite me.

[Tony looks at Logan, who is watching them impassively from his stall. The swizard still has the posture of a grouchy old man, but he's at least looking a bit more relaxed than he was. In answer to Castiel's question, he fluffs his feathers and gives the animal equivalent of an eyeroll.

Dumb kids. Tell him more fish.

Tony apparently does take some care of Logan, despite is questionable commitment. The swizard may be grumpy, but things between them aren't actually as bad as Tony makes them out to be.]

[thewaywardson]

[ Although he’s watching Logan, Castiel is still listening to Tony and he hears his agreement to try to get along better with the swizard. That’s really all the angel wants out of this, both of them trying.

He glances at Tony. ]

Logan would like to have more fish. I gather that that’s his favorite food.

[ He looks back to Logan. ]

And Tony would prefer if you don’t bite him. Humans have fragile skin and weak bones. They are easily damaged by other creatures.

[ The words themselves may seem disparaging, but Castiel’s voice is matter-of-fact. Compared to angels, humans are extremely fragile. ]