( 03 ) video ♧ a long year and everyone around me is disappearing

[became]

[ neal generally doesn't do afraid and disheveled. he does arrogant, smirky, charming, smug, oddly adorable, and occasionally on special occasions and bank holidays pissed off and/or heartbroken. however, those are all normally done with every hair still in place.

this neal is considerably more ruffled, literally and in spirit. black smoke'll do that to a guy. ]

Can anyone explain exactly what the hell is going on?

[ messy hair and mild profanity: this is a red letter day for mr. smooth. (this is why you take your network device when you get lost exploring, neal.) ]

And once you're done with that, I-- [ he breaks off, stares down at his hands, then inhales and lifts his head, a forced smile stuck in place. ] Just the explanation will do, actually.

Comments

/plans a big wedding

[became]

[ neal will just infer 'now i love you, you're my favorite person aboard!' from that slight change in the intensity of castiel's furrowed brow. ]

If you can teach me it and you need an extra hand, learning the chant won't be a problem.

in the oxygen gardens for an 'outside' wedding!

[rebelled]

Where are you?

[And this is him being nice. Get used to it, Neal.]

accompanied by the sweet smell of... junkies

[became]

In my room. You?

[ compared to prison, castiel's a real charmer. there are scales.

after a moment, neal adds: ]

I heard from Aberdeen you're collecting pieces of souls, something to do with the demons. Need another, by any chance?

so...basically half the ship

[rebelled]

[Wait. Hold on.]

You want to offer your soul?

at least our wedding will be well attended, right?

[became]

If I'm going to be around learning the exorcism anyway... why not.

and the celebrations will already be well underway

[rebelled]

Because it's both painful and potentially deadly.

How much have you been told?

this is gonna be the BEST most smelly wedding EVER

[became]

That, pretty much.

[ well-- not quite, but neal has a white knight complex a mile wide and a few miles deep, just for good measure. aberdeen's competence or ability isn't in question, but the part of his brain that likes to pretend he's living in his own arthurian novel won't let him leave her to it, alone. ]

no one will ever forget it!

[rebelled]

[Please excuse him while he makes a vain attempt at locking this. Spoiler: he sucks at it.]

You need to understand what you're offering before you agree.

Taking a portion of your soul may not cause any lasting damage, but it will hurt. A great deal more than you may expect. Combine that with the fact that a single mistake, a single slip during the transference, and your body could very well explode.

Are you certain you want to take that risk?

now to pick where to honeymoon...

[became]

[ neal sucks MARGINALLY LESS so. that's something. ]

I look like a wimp if I say no, now. [ there's cheerful resolve under the flippancy, because changing neal's mind once he has a set course tends to require... well. an act of god. ]

a romantic night for two in the medbay?

[rebelled]

No, you don't. You need to make this decision for yourself, regardless of outside opinions.

can we get that sexy dr. watson to join us?

[became]

...That was a joke. What do I need to say to convince you I've made the decision out of something other than machismo?

only if we hold it off long enough for some mccoy action too

[rebelled]

[You want to prove it, Neal? Fine. See if you can get away with lying to an angel's face.]

Your room number. Or my name.

it's a PLAN let's do this.

[became]

[ ...IT IS NEAL. also maybe he heard his name somewhere idk. ]

What-- Castiel?

i can hear the bells already. also, surprise!action

[rebelled]

[And this time he's actually listening out, which is why it's easy enough to find Neal amongst all the souls on board. There's a rustling sound, and then suddenly, Neal isn't alone in his room anymore. Castiel doesn't say anything though. Not yet. Instead, he's just staring openly.

Don't mind him.]

most beautiful wedding ever ;; and excuse neal while he freaks out

[became]

[ OH GOOD CHRIST no pun intended, there is a dude in neal's room. his room has a spontaneous dude in it. ]

Knocking is considered the socially acceptable first step.

/eats this subject line cause i have nothing witty to add D:

[rebelled]

I've been told.

[Repeatedly. But if he hasn't learned in the past two years, another few minutes won't change things.]

You may know the risks, but do you understand them?

/DROPS THE MIC AND WALKS OFF THIS BITCH or something

[became]

I wonder why.

[ the snark is reflexive as neal settles his own (metaphorical) feathers, rolling his neck a little to relieve the tension. ]

It's going to hurt. Badly. And if you screw it up, I could die.

[ he says the words like a joke, but his face is serious, staring at castiel without expression. once upon a time, neal wanted to be a cop-- be a hero, save people-- and even if that goal was discarded along with the identity of the kid who wanted so badly to do good, the base man hasn't changed.

he's not fond of this kind of pain, but he's dealt with that before; and he's been close enough to death for horrible reasons enough times that risking it for something right seems a good karmic tradeoff.

maybe it's blaine and his brother, or the new problem that is moriarty and the reminders he brings with them. or aberdeen and neal's bullheaded loyalty, once earned.

maybe he just feels like it; either way, he doesn't say anything else, just continues staring at castiel steadily and waiting for him to break the silence. ]

BOO YEAH

[rebelled]

[Be glad that he's starting to learn that personal space is a thing that most people like. It only took him two years to get this far.

He holds that gaze easily, torn between leaving the information where it stands; to just take the opportunity as it presents itself and to draw as much power as he can from Neal, or to be bluntly honest. As always though, it's the latter that wins out, his shoulders slumping a fraction as he speaks.]

To put it simply, yes. I'll need to access your soul, which would be similar to placing my hand within a nuclear reactor. One slip and you would explode.

[And with the current state of his Grace, there'd be no coming back from that.]

[became]

Yeah, as a personal favor to me? [ neal grimaces, one hand sneaking up to run through his hair, exhaling sharply. ] Don't slip.

[ he's committed, now, and once neal sets his teeth in an idea that's the last he'll hear of it. ]

[rebelled]

If you're still willing to go through with this, I suggest you contact somebody you trust.

[To keep a watch over him. He doesn't trust this ship in the slightest. And with the number of demons aboard, it's his duty to make sure he doesn't put others in avoidable danger.]

[became]

I will.

[ more likely he'll stumble home and faceplant in bed, then text sherlock in the morning, but what is personal health and safety neal can't even. ]

[rebelled]

[Nope, it's not going to be that easy. Castiel takes a quick look around; the bed will do because the chair's going to need to be occupied first.]

If we're doing this now, you need to contact them.

[became]

[ 8| facemaking central. ]

Seriously? Come on.

[rebelled]

Seriously.

[Can't you see his serious face, Neal?]

It's for your safety.

[became]

Jesus, fine.

[ quickly keying in a message to sherlock, with any luck he'll miss it. ]

All right, let's do this. I'm ready to get bad touched by an angel.