{dirtnap} God & Death walk into a bar ...

[holyspirit]

There are about 200 different ways to possibly release Death from imprisonment. Regardless of the method, the very act of releasing him will break a seal - it is Death's release that is the seal itself, not necessarily the method of his release (though some of those are seals in themselves). Unfortunately, given that the Death of old has retired and Dean Winchester has taken his place, releasing him is not even close to a question. So Castiel will just have to be careful.

There is a reaper standing by, watching him skeptically, but there is little she can do other than watch and wait for her new master to be set free. She has been significantly weakened by her own imprisonment, and though Castiel had offered to restore her strength she had adamantly declined his assistance. She does not seem particularly inclined to trust him in regards to her own well being, though she does seem to trust him with the task of getting Dean out of the mystical prison he's spent the last quarter of a century in.

Things are needless to say, a huge goddamn mess.

Castiel speaks the last few words of the incantation and finishes the spell with the sacrifice of newborn calf. He feels the bonds keeping Dean trapped snap, and then pulls open the magically sealed casket and looks down at the figure laying within.

"Hello, Dean."

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[holyspirit]

Castiel still isn't sure what to say or how to say it. For all Dean is hard talking about these kinds of things, Cas is even worse for lack of practical experience.

"I didn't know what to say, I didn't know how to bring it up and even if I had I would have expected you not to want to talk about it." It is Dean after all. "You have always dealt better with actions than words, so I thought I could show you instead."

[dirtnap]

The worst of it is that Cas is right. Dean hasn't historically dealt well with talking about it and he can't refute Castiel's logic, even if it makes Dean a little uncomfortable. Hell, he doesn't even know how anything would work, because he's pretty damn sure that God and Death aren't meant to be bosom buddies. Then again, when have they ever followed the rules? They can make them now, moreso than they ever have before.

Dean licks dry lips, and nods, tilting his chin up to watch Castiel. "Okay. So we'll-- hell, we'll work it out, somehow. Right?"

[holyspirit]

Dean's response surprises Castiel. He had not been hopeful for a positive reception at all, and so when it comes, all the former angel can do for a moment is stare at him with a mix of surprise and uncertainty on his face.

"Do you mean that this is ... something you wish to pursue or ... or that we will find a way to make it not become a problem between us?"

[dirtnap]

The tilt to his chin is almost stubborn, back straight, like he's daring Cas to take it back, now. He's followed Cas to the end of the world, pretty much, and would do it all over again, because they always, always work better together, not alone. Besides, they've got all the time in this world and a million others, they can figure this out. It's sobering to realize, honestly, that there is a lot less stress with this- they make the rules. That's what it boils down to, they're ultimately the ones that do it, he doesn't answer to anyone, and if he's a little attracted to his angel-turned-god, then well, screw it, he's gonna be.

"Little late for take-backs, Cas," Dean says smoothly, and shrugs, doing his best for casual and failing utterly, because what if Cas really does want to take it back?

[holyspirit]

"I'm not taking it back, Dean." Cas wonders if there is something wrong with Dean's mind from staying so long in the box. Why on earth would Castiel kiss him and then take back the sentiment behind it. As if it meant nothing. "I just want to know, to be sure I understood you."

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[dirtnap]

"Okay. So there's no problems, then."

Except for the fact that, well, you know, Dean's pretty sure a century is long enough to confirm that he's a little out of practice in the whole dating thing, and he's not even sure how the hell they do this. It's not like the most stereotypical way of doing things is going to help - picking up girls from a bar isn't anything close to this...thing with Cas.

Dean inhales, holds it, and shrugs. "We'll wing it. 's what we do, right?"

[holyspirit]

"It's what we do," Cas agrees. He isn't anymore certain how to go about this than Dean is, but he has faith that if they want this then they will make it work. He takes another long drink of the beer Dean gave him, keeping his eyes on the other man, and then sets it aside and walks forward towards him. "We seem to have a lot of time to make up for."

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[dirtnap]

"Yeah," Dean agrees quietly. Hell, it's unsettling to realize that everything around him is years older, that he's going to outlive everything around him, even the people he cares about most. Sure, Cas and Sam will live a long, long time but that doesn't mean forever. It's sobering in a way he doesn't want to consider. Still, he shoves that back too, there's always time to think about it later - right now, he's focused on drinking the last of his bottle, and exhaling. "We've got the time."

[holyspirit]

He can't hear Dean's thoughts but he can sense his anxiety. "Talk to me, Dean." They haven't truly done that for a while. Dean used to confide in him all his fears and doubts, but then Castiel broke his trust. Cas hopes that he can earn some of it back. "I know you have fears and doubts. You can share them with me."

[dirtnap]

"It's just something Death said."

Dean closes his eyes a moment, taking to wandering the room in lieu of just standing there anxiously. He's still caught up in thinking that things are how they were, with Cas out of his mind and Dean on the edge of losing his shit because everything was going to hell.

"That-- eventually I'll reap God, too."