ʙᴏᴛʜ ɪɴ ʜᴇʟʟ

[sockdere]

ʙᴏᴛʜ ɪɴ ʜᴇʟʟ Of all the places in this world, there's nowhere worse you could be than where you are now. You're in hell - metaphorically or literally - and laying down and just dying seems more and more like the valid action to take. But you can't go any lower and death could be a no escape. There's only one thing keeping you from being a jaded, broken husk: you've fallen in love with someone who shares this fate. It's a love so different than the norm, that only those who've known this desolation can fathom. Perhaps they give you hope, they're an innocent worth keeping safe, they showed you unexpected kindness, or they're simply something to cling to. No matter what, you'll protect them and you wouldn't dream of leaving this place without them. They will leave, though... ...even if you don't. ☣ ＣＯＭＭＥＮＴ． ＩＮＦＯ． ＰＲＥＦＥＲＥＮＣＥＳ． ☣ ＲＥＰＬＹ ＴＯ ＯＴＨＥＲＳ． ☣ ＴＨＲＥＡＤ. ＣＡＰＴＵＲＥＤ → For a crime you committed or not, you're in a prison. ＶＡＬＵＥ → Something about you is worth quite a deal to the wrong person. ＳＣＩＥＮＴＩＦＩＣ → You're nothing but an experiment, a lab rat. ＰＥＲＳＥＣＵＴＥＤ → Your mistreatment is not because of what you've done. It's for who you are. ＦＲＥＡＫＳＨＯＷ → All of your oddities are on display for the amusement of others. ＦＯＲＣＥ → You have to do horrible things, though not of your own will or design. ＲＡＣＫ → There's not just isolation or imprisonment on your plate - there's physical torture as well. ＢＲＩＭＳＴＯＮＥ → "Hell" is no hyperbole; you're in the fiery pit itself. ＷＩＬＤＣＡＲＤ

Comments

[beees]

Maybe God intended for us to discover free will on our own all along. The times he intervened, after all, were while we were trying to stop the Apocalypse.

[It helps encourage him, this belief that God has helped them because they're on the right path, and doing what He had always intended them to do. Castiel prefers that explanation for why God left in the first place too - Maybe leaving Heaven was a way to force the angels to figure out how to stand on their own.

The offer drags his attention back to Balthazar. It's been a long time since anyone's preened his wings for him, and there's no denying that, especially after their ordeal, his feathers are in pretty sorry shape.]

All right. Thank you. I'll look after yours after.

[He's comfortable enough, curled up together, that it takes him a few moments to unwrap his wings from around them and stretch them out with a good shake, before shifting so his back is facing Balthazar.]

[tryingitall]

[Where, he wants to know, does Castiel get this boundless well of philosophical optimism? Balthazar still can't help but think He gave up on the lot of them. Whether that was deserved on their part or not, he can't be sure, but to a certain extent he feels deceived, betrayed by...he's not even sure what. The archangels, or the Host itself, maybe.

But Cas he can trust. He ruffles the other angel's hair gently, but says nothing for the moment. He'll try to look at it his brother's way, at least for now. It's a kinder outlook.

The flash of wings makes him feel better altogether. He's missed wing preening, and the dark iridescence of Cas' feathers is one of the prettiest sights he knows of.]

Mmm. I'll take you up on that if you're not careful. You're all rumpled, but still glossy...let's see... [He starts with the primaries, relaxing into the task at once. It's strangely meditative.]

[beees]

[Castiel runs a hand through his hair to push it somewhat back into place, but otherwise lets the ruffling slide. He's feeling a minor, but pleasant buzz from the alcohol, it's warm, beautiful, and they're free. There's not much that's going to faze him.]

I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. You need it just as much as I do, I imagine.

[He relaxes as Balthazar goes to work on his wings, and takes another drink from his bottle. His eyes close and he sighs contentedly.]

[tryingitall]

[Since when is Castiel's hair ever in place? Not that Balthazar's is either, but he likes his ruffled like he's just rolled out of bed. The I-have-a-mild-hangover look should not be attractive, but somehow it gets him a lot of mileage.]

I definitely need it. I need your hands all over my wings. [He teases gently, deliberately making an innuendo of it.

His own hands are gentle, though, and precise in the attentions they administer. He smooths one feather at a time, then strokes them flat with his palms, working from the far end of the wing in closer to Castiel's back. Partway through he starts to lean against him lazily, though.]

[beees]

[There's ruffled, then there's totally disheveled. Or at least, this is the argument he would make, when truthfully, it's more just about undoing Balthazar's mess.]

Unless you've been looking after them yourself when I haven't been paying attention.[That might be an innocent comment, or maybe not.

Castiel rests one hand in the sand as Balthazar leans against him.] Hmm. That already feels better. Thank you.

[tryingitall]

No, it's no fun just doing them myself. [He's not sure whether Cas is being playful or not, but he'll run with it, either way.]

And it feels better because I have magic fingers. [He almost purrs the words, but he's more being silly than being sultry just now, and he's aware of it. He does pause to nuzzle the nape of Castiel's neck, though, just because it's there, then works his way out along the other wing, in no hurry.

In between preening, though, he's drinking, possibly at a higher rate than his brother. Apple brandy is a little sweeter than what he's used to consuming; it goes down very easily, indeed. It'll take another couple bottles to make him tipsy, but he's starting to feel a very welcome buzz.]

Your wings are smoother than most, you know. Silky. Has anyone ever told you that?

Sorry for the delay!

[beees]

That's what I suspected you would say. You knew I would offer eventually. [He reaches for his bottle and takes a long drink to hide his smile, choking back laughter at Balthazar's magic fingers comment.]

You're being ridiculous. You know that, don't you? You are very good at it.[He lets out a deep, comfortable sigh as Balthazar nuzzles against the nape of his neck.]

Are they? No one's ever mentioned it before.

<3

[tryingitall]

Well, hope springs eternal. [He can tell when Cas is amused, though he can count on one hand the number of times he's seen him actually laugh out loud. Oh, but this is cute, though, watching him stifle a chuckle with a mouthful of liquor.

Balthazar is used to decadence; brandy on the beach is decadent in its way. Being with Castiel feels wholesome, though, and the blend of the two emotions is a quicker way to make him giddy than drinking would be. He huffs a soft laugh into the hair at the back of Castiel's head, nuzzles again, and then pets a wing.]

I like being ridiculous. It's a luxury we don't get much, on duty.

And yes, they're silky. Like running my fingers through the night sky. Where do you keep the stars? [He makes a tickling motion against the downy feathers near a joint.]

Welcome back! <3

[beees]

I suppose that's true. I have noticed that you enjoy being as ridiculous as possible as often as you can. [He doesn't even try to sound annoyed. Balthazar will no doubt see right through him anyway. They've been friends for far too long.]

[Brandy, the beach, and Balthazar. Castiel couldn't be happier, really. He's not even focused on the war any more; choosing to focus on the moment instead. He lets his eyes close and relaxes into Balthazar's touch.]

Hmm. I don't think I need to hide stars in them. [His wing flares out reflexively as he's tickled.]