milliways_bar | (no subject)

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There is a man in a suit and trench coat standing stock still in the middle of the bar.

Castiel is perfectly at ease; arms at his sides, occasionally turning his head to observe the comings and goings around him.

Just taking everything in.

That is why he was sent here. To learn from what he finds. Learning requires observation.

Of course, he's still getting used to inhabiting a corporeal body. It may not have occurred to him yet that, standing as he is in the path of patron traffic, he might be in anyone's way.

[OOC: If you are playing a demon this evening, please ping me before tagging at IFeelLikeAJoan. Many thanks!]

[Tiny Tag: Castiel]

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"Kinda. I learned how to do the basics from a friend and at school." Is the answer to the question as Tyler works his way around the tables to a well-lit booth. "And Ray helps me figure out what I might have done wrong sometimes in th grappler."

Like the reel-casing.

"Ray is an inventor." And from the grin, Ray's also likely the single most awesome person in the not-yet-10 boy's world.

Castiel follows in the boy's wake. He takes a seat on one side of the booth.

The grin would be very hard not to notice.

"He is your friend."

"Yeh, sometimes he lets me spend the night with him at the old Firehouse and plays ball with me." The box is shoved inwards on the table before Tyler takes the other seat and start arranging things neatly. Magnetic coils go in one grouping, soldering wire and iron another, casing possiblities in another, and the small box of tools opened before the gauntlet is taken out from the bottom.

It has a little wear n' tear.

"He's also teaching me sword-fighting, just in case I get into trouble."

Castiel frowns.

"Do you often get into trouble?"

The matter of swords is a little confusing. Castiel has watched humanity's progress since he was recalled from Earth.

Boys don't generally settle their disputes with swords these days.

"Not because I want to, but sometimes things..." Tyler stops a moment, pondering this. He doesn't really want to explain about his parents, the power deal, or.. "...there're some things back home that wouldn't mind eating me for lunch. Literally."

Boys generally solve their disputes by running from the bully, taking the swirlies in the unflushed toilet, or getting punched and then getting beaten up.

"And sometimes the steps he has me practice for sword fighting help with getting away from regular bullies."

"It is good to know how to fight monsters," Castiel says. His smile is slightly sad, though you'd probably have to examine his expression closely to see it.

He wishes that mortals did not have to know about things that would 'eat them for lunch' as the boy put it.

"What kinds of things have you seen?"

"One mostly harmless Class five Free-roaming Vapor named Slimer, who kind of haunts the firehouse cause he likes the guys, something with tentacles that I don't know the name off and kinda don't want to. Then there were those things up north, the spider-y ones and the aliens..." Kid is counting on his fingers now. "And those monsters that looked like angel statues when they stood still, but sent people into other worlds to feed off of their lives." The last one is said with particular rancor. 1930's Canada in winter is no place to be in summer clothes.

"And there are those guys here. ...Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar. I know monsters who visit here follow the rules but..."

No body wants to meet those two. Ever.

"But I've met some nice non-humans too." Just. You know, sayin'.

"That's about all of them."

Castiel raises his eyebrows. A lot.

He does not at all doubt that what the boy is telling him is true. Evil walks the face of the Earth in many forms. But it is rare, from his observations, that a child so young would have faced so many.

He feels that he needs to address point, though.

"They were not true angels."

The boy had said that they were monsters (demons, most likely). But he still feels the need to say it.

...Put simply, Tyler's life and world is weird.

And he's very self-concious of that fact.

"I know they weren't real angels." But in bringing that up...

Tyler pauses a bit, looking at him thoughtfully, the gauntlet half-way opened up now.

"We do not harm people."

Castiel knows that that is not strictly true. From the beginning of time, humans have sometimes been sacrificed toward a greater good, or caught between the warring camps of Heaven and Hell.

But not for sport. Or love of chaos or bloodshed.

Or to feed.

Well. Now Tyler doesn't have to figure out how to politely ask if he's human.

"I kinda thought so." Grin. "How long've you been human-shaped?"

"Not for very long."

Castiel looks down at himself briefly.

"This vessel was chosen for me only a week ago."

And, thus far, has only housed him when he has crossed the threshold of the mysterious door that has begun appearing in his vicinity.

"...it kinda kinda shows a bit, no offense meant, sir." Smile, and a hand is offered in customary greeting. "I'm Tyler, Tyler Marlocke."

Castiel extends his hand across the table and clasps the boy's.

"Castiel."

He looks faintly troubled.

"How does it show?" he asks.

It's been a long time since he's done this. And if he should be sent back to Earth, he will need to blend in.

"Well after I bumped you I was wondering why you were standing in the walkway. And..." Ponder. "I have a friend at school that isn't human, and when you talk, it's kind of... I dunno how to describe it. Kind of stiff, maybe? You both talk the same way, like you're not used to having conversations verbally."

"I am not," Castiel agrees with a nod.

"I will seek to improve."

Milliways seems to be an excellent place to practice that particular skill.

"Mal says it's gotten easier with each conversation he's had, so you're doing good so far, just by talkin' with people." Especially here, where everything is WEIRD. "Have you tried eating yet?"

For the moment, the assignment is forgotten because, for one thing Castiel is interesting (this may be Ray's curiosity rubbing off) and for another, the lad really is helpful at the core.

Castiel nods. "That makes sense."

And there is no lack of people here to talk to. Clearly his Father had known what he was about.

"Yes. I had bread and honey with Demeter. On my first visit."

"What else have you tried?" If that's all he's tried, Tyler'll more than happy to enlighten him on a few other tasty subjects.

Kids his age are stomachs with legs.

"What do you like to do?"

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