video.

[rebelled]

[he's in the middle of the upper floor of the gardens when he finally decides to contact the network; the area chosen because it's one of the few places he can find solace in. can find time to get his head back in order again and think of his next step.

(too many people are affected. too many people are being hurt.

he almost killed--)

the feed opens on a somewhat disheveled looking castiel, his expression deadly serious as he addresses whoever is listening.]

As I am sure you're all aware, there is a...situation currently taking place aboard this ship. Those of you who have not done so already would to well to keep yourselves locked away from the affected at this time. If you require assistance, speak with Sergeant Brad Colbert. To those injured, the medical facilities are still open.

[a pause, and that certainty wanes a little. he has a proposition, but--]

There may be a way to stop this.

[emphasis on the may.]

The affected individuals are in a state similar to sleep, but not quite. They are...dreaming, in a way. There are three of us here who are capable of entering the dreams of others. However, while I was able to enter one such dream, I was unable to affect anything that was occurring within it.

I...don't know if it is due to what is happening to them or not.

[or if it's simply because he isn't strong enough. not with his grace draining by the day.]

If anybody has any suggestions, please, state them now.

[and then that's it. or at least as far as the ship-wide transmission. too bad be doesn't actually know his brothers' numbers to lock something to them. so after a moment of hesitation--]

Gabriel. [and a tightening of his jaw as he adds--] Lucifer.

I-- Your assistance would be beneficial.

Comments

[majestyofthethrone]

Can you please be careful?

[rebelled]

[there's an uncomfortable look on his face when he answers, if only because its only been a few hours since The Incident. he's nowhere close to forgiving himself yet.

he simply nods in response, half prepared to leave it at that. except--]

Stay in our room until this is over. Please?

["our", because it's his only way of making it clear that he isn't running away again this time.]

[majestyofthethrone]

[That particular turn of phrase makes her relax, even if he can't see it.]

I promise, if you can't find me there come look in the music room. I'll bar the door.

text.

[forgodssake]

the things they are seeing/responding to
those are the dreams?

I'm a telepath and get a bit of a sense of their perception
I thought they might be hallucinations but I could not affect much

[rebelled]

In a way, it's both. I suppose the easiest way to describe it is to say that they are living their dreams. Each person that exists within their mind is transposed upon those physically around them. That is why they are likely to attack others. They view them as objects from their nightmares.

[though it would be so much simpler to understand if charles could see it for himself.]

You're able to read minds. Are you able to change them?

voice.

[forgodssake]

[ He switches to voice, for ease of communication. Video is still a little weird, sometimes. ]

Normally. I've found that on my own, I can't penetrate their delusions-- or their dreams, as you say. The most I've managed is putting them into a more comatose state as a hold over.

[ Thinking thinking. ]

If I were able to get past that barrier, as you do, then it could be a different story. Best case scenario would be direct manipulation, least being that we could rationalise with them. Or nothing, save for having tried.

text.

[mindtricks]

if we got into their dreams, do you think we could change things?

text.

[forgodssake]

I don't know
even if we could, I would advise against very violent or jarring change
it could be more harm than good

the best would be trying to get the dreamer to break down their own dreams
similar in principle to how it's best not to wake a sleepwalker, but let them wake up

[Video]

[alldamned]

Been stayin' locked up tight.

[As if that's any different from the usual. Benny's not the most social creature, but you'd better believe that when something changes around here, he takes notice. He frowns into the feed -- it's not unusual for Castiel to look serious, but this is different from Purgatory. This isn't the kind of thing Benny knows how to help fight.]

You're lookin' a little worn around the edges, pal. [Hard not to notice.] Not sure what good I can be, but-- you gotta take it easy. Don't let this thing strip you down to your pinfeathers.

[rebelled]

[the concern is noted, and quickly set aside. he doesn't want to focus on that. not after how he'd dealt with the last time he was low on grace on the ship. so instead--]

Where have you been?

[and hello to you too, benny. how was your hallway trip?]

[alldamned]

Wish I could tell you.

[Hi, Cas. It was alright. Not much good for sightseeing.]

This place is like a maze sometime. [Pause.] Think I've been out of it awhile.

[He hadn't exactly been counting days while trapped.]

video; private

[groundhogday]

[ If Gabriel hadn't already run into Lucifer, he might have cared a little more about his name getting broadcasted everywhere, but there's not much to hide from around here, so he keeps his annoyance to himself for now and just locks his reply. ]

Oh are you asking for a favor, baby bro?

[rebelled]

For the sake of those trapped aboard this ship, yes.

[because as much as he knows being in debt to either of his brothers here could be dangerous (more so when it comes to lucifer, of course), he can't just sit back and let this problem continue. not when they can do something about it.]

Will you help?

[groundhogday]

[ Objectively, it really is in Gabriel's best interest to stop people from running around and being all stabby when he's weak like this, but the idea of stringing Cas along a little does seem like fun.

He lifts a finger to his chin and puts on his best contemplative face. ]

What will you give me?

video;

[last_ofthe_jedi]

Sometimes I'm able to alter someone's perception of things but I've never tried to do it on purpose before.

[Luke's received some training but not much, and even though his raw Force power is far stronger than that of most Jedi which has allowed him to advance very quickly, he's still rather unsure of himself.]

I know I can do it, I just don't know how difficult it would be. I suppose perception is all a dream is, so... theoretically I'd be able to affect a dream, right? At the very least I could probably communicate through it.

But then, like you said, these may not be normal dreams.

[rebelled]

There is nothing normal about them.

[because dreams don't work like this. they don't exist beyond the imaginations of the sleeping. and they aren't interconnected.]

There is another who has offered their skills. If we are capable of opening a path for you, perhaps the two of you could work in unison to manipulate the dreams.

[last_ofthe_jedi]

[Though he still looks unsure the prospect of help does seem to make him more hopeful.]

Two is better than one. It's worth a shot, at least. Where do you need me?

[mindtricks]

I'm a telepath. I might be able to help.

[rebelled]

Do you have any experience with this?

voice.

[sacrifica]

How do you enter dreams?

( CURIOUS. Another vampire? Some magic? Something she could help with if she could not out herself to do it? )

[rebelled]

It's difficult to explain.

[mostly because he doesn't know how to. his abilities are things that come naturally to him, so putting it in to words is hard to do.]

My Father created us with the ability to do so.

video;

[familybusiness]

[He's no telepath, but Dean confirmed that he was safe, a friend, and so there's no reason not to offer anyway.]

Anything I can do to help?

[The most he's managed so far is helping keep a few of the crazies from killing anyone.

The mention of Lucifer is also...troubling. For Reasons. But now's not the time.]

[rebelled]

[he can't help it. as selfish as it may be, seeing sam on the other side of the conversation brings a smile to his face. (it still isn't safe for him to be there. and yet--)]

Thank you for offering, Sam. But my brothers can't be trusted. You would do well to avoid them both.

[lucifer specifically. but he doesn't know how much dean's told him yet.]

video - private

[wentdowntogeorgia]

My, with an invitation like that, how could I refuse?

[Because, wow, maybe when asking for someone's help you should say their name without looking like you'd bit into a very sour lemon. Rude, Castiel. Rude.]

[rebelled]

Are you agreeing to help?

[straight to the point, because he's just had a less than welcome conversation with seraphim about lucifer. as though his opinion of the other angel wasn't bad enough already.]