four - post flood

[amissbennet]

Though I cannot claim any sort of occupation, I find that I can be a fantastic listener when I set my mind to such. If anyone should find themselves in need of conversation, or perhaps an unbiased ear to disclose events to, I would like to offer my services. I cannot claim acquaintance of many of you and can declare friendships with even less. It is my intention, however, to endeavor to form acquaintance with a great many of you. Should this be an opportunity, then I embrace it.

[Private to Castiel]
Might I call upon you to partake a cup of tea with me?

Comments

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

[Elizabeth watched him move, empathetic enough to know that he was upset. She followed silently, hovering a few meters away to be within easy conversation but outside of his personal space. It was meant to show support, though she wasn't certain now what he was thinking or whether or not he would ever trust her or listen to anything she might have to say.

After giving him some time to think, she broke the silence.]

"Pray, tell me. What are you thinking?"

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

That I deserve to be in Hell.

[He looked over to her.]

I don't want to talk about this anymore.

[He stood up, taking a deep breath and allowing the emotions to wash over him, leaving him free of them.]

Let's leave this place, Miss. [He gave her a grin, trying desperately to hide the fact that, not a moment ago, he was angry.]

Let's leave this place.

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

[Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply, then closed it as he continued. She was torn as to what she should do, or say. When he seemed absolutely determined to leave, despite the smile on his face, she nodded in approval.] "Will you accompany me to the dining hall, then? For dinner?"

[She walked with him, allowing him to lead the way out of the Enclosure at least. Then she moved even with him, trying to maintain that air of strength. Even though he didn't want to speak on it, she felt that it had to be important for him to know he could speak on it.] "You are far too kind and good to ever merit a place in Hell. You cannot see this for yourself, I understand that. Do not argue. Either have faith in my judgment or do not. I will come to earn your trust in time, I hope."

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

[Ah, the subject of Hell.]

Ever been to Hell? It's an awful place. You get chains through your skin while demons rip you apart...every...single...day.

[He shrugged.] And Heaven. Heaven is empty. Void. I'm not even sure if that's where the Angels went. If that's where they are- I'm not welcome there.

[A soft laugh escaped him.] You have a misconception of what angels are. We- they- are not good and kind. They are not compassionate. Most angels hate humans.

[When they reached the dining hall, he opened the door for her.]

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

"I cannot feign that I have ever held interest in angels as a whole. I speak only of yourself. Regardless of your state of being, you are a good man. If you desire to go to Hell so deeply, then you shall. If you desire Heaven, it is achievable to you as well."

[She stepped inside with a smile on her lips, his gesture only acting as evidence of her words. He was charming, intelligent. If he could get over his pride and self-loathing, then perhaps they could get somewhere.] "You have lost faith in yourself and it is a terrible state I have found you in. I wish that I could do more."

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

[His pride as only a cover for the self loathing. He believed himself above humanity because he truly felt beneath them. For centuries, he had sat back, watching humans evolve into the creatures they were now. He had seen God's best creations skittering around the earth and felt only love when his brothers and sisters were feeling disdain. But he was now one of them. Now he was a skittering little creature and the only beings above him- the rest of the angels- felt only disdain for him.]

What I was doing before seemed to work just fine for me. [He chuckled and followed her inside.]

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

"You do realize, I hope, that you seek a path without any progress. You will never feel any better about life and may still turn worse. Not to mention you are reliant upon a substance which may not exist in every place you visit."

[She led the way for them to go pick up their dinners, then sat down at an unoccupied table off toward a corner so that they might be alone.] "Do you want nothing else of or for yourself?"

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

[He followed through with her and sat down quietly. He really didn't enjoy eating, but he had been forced to since he had been human. It was a necessity of being human, unfortunately.]

I want to be an angel again. That's what I'm trying to do, Elizabeth.

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

"Remarkable." [She exclaimed with enthusiasm and a wide smile.] "At last, we seem to have found a path upon which we can agree. Do you think you can accomplish this by drinking?"

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

It makes me feel less human. [He shrugged.] And that is the point. [To distract himself from her, he began to poke around at his food.]

But I don't want to talk about that.

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

"Why ever not?"

[It was a simple question, honest and sincere. Elizabeth took a sip of her water and began cutting at her food. Her manners were superb, though most of her attention now was on Castiel. She barely cast her food any glance more than necessary.]

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

[Castiel shook his head.] This food is not bad, don't you think? [He took a sip of the water.] And clean water. That always amazed me. Well, since I got back. Clean water was kind of hard to come by.

[It was obviously his way of ignoring her.]

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

[Elizabeth paused in her actions, frowning at him. Again, like a child. They had been making such progress.. She took a couple bites of her food and then continued cutting politely at it. There had to be some way of approaching this that he wouldn't mind.]

"What if we were to make an arrangement?"

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

Arrangement? What kind of an arrangement? [He sighed, sensing that he was about to enter into something he might not otherwise like.]

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

"I will supply you with as much drink or whatever else I can come into possession of that you desire for one week, if you then refrain from partaking of any of those substances which I would deem unacceptable for the three weeks following."

[She stopped eating again so that she could look at him, watch him. Elizabeth desperately hoped he would agree to the baragain. It wasn't ideal, but it seemed the only way.]

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

[He laughed. Oh, she was a tricky one. And he might have agreed to it before. But he had a different supplier now. One who didn't give him what he wanted because he was trying to get something out of it.]

No deal. I'm sorry. I get my drinks from someone without an ulterior motive.

[Now, if she had offered him the drugs, he would jump on that one. But, well, this was good enough.]

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

"Certainly you must realize that I need endeavor to end whomever it is that provides you with your drink. I see no reason for us to continue to create discord with each other, but if that is the way that you intend for things to progress, I would not dare to disappoint you."

[Elizabeth was neither frowning nor laughing, offering a subtle smile in the hope of appearing as open as she truly was. Castiel was a difficult man, stubborn and proud. The warden took another bite of her food, silently trying to think of what might be able to help him. In a seeming change of subject, she added.] "Whom do you consider friends on this Barge, Castiel?"

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

You're not getting information out of me, Elizabeth. [He stood up and looked down to her.] Do you mind if I go back to my room? This conversation is going in circles and we're just going to end up in the same place.

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

[Elizabeth stood with him, furious with his complete apathy.]

"Have you actually entertained the notion at all that you might be a person worthy of redemption? Or that if you perhaps resigned yourself to be anything less than miserable, your stay on the Barge could become bearable or even pleasant? You are determined to be so entirely disagreeable and are so whimsical in your civilities that I dare say you were assigned to me for the sole purpose of testing my tolerance. I might forgive your follies if you were not so proud in displaying them.

Yes, I say. Please return to your room and grant me the privilege of a moment's rest, for I posses doubt in my ability to remain tolerable."

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[holythursday.livejournal.com]

[He only laughed at her, glad that she was at least human enough to show emotion.] Good on breaking through that sense of snobbery long enough to talk to me like a real person.

[Grinning, he leaned across the table, his hands planted right in front of her and he rose a brow at her.] My time on the Barge has been quite pleasant, actually. That is, until you started bothering me with your questions and your rules.

You are...not...God.

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

[His humor at her frustration didn't help matters any. She leaned forward to close most of the distance between them, seething.]

"You are acting as a waste of life and insulting God in doing so." [She snapped at him.] "Perhaps the reason you are no longer an angel is to challenge your faith and loyalty; I dare say you would be found entirely without virtue at present."

Re: Spam

[holythursday.livejournal.com]

[Again, he smirked.] Probably. [With a wave of his hand, he turned and walked off, away from her, away from the food. The drink. The alcohol. It was the only thing he had.]

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[amissbennet.livejournal.com]

[Elizabeth glared after him before she fell back onto her seat, now too angry to eat. She had not much such an insufferable man since-- well, since Mr Darcy. Except she was convinced that he had some redeemable qualities, whereas Castiel was just.. unacceptable.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.]