milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

castiel,
elle

(no subject)

When his elder brother suggests a possible course of study, Castiel listens. Even if she is not quite the same elder brother he knows.

The weather is not yet conducive to learning to ride, but the seasons pass swiftly. And until then there is research.

And so Castiel has his nose buried in “The Noblest Invention: An Illustrated History of the Bicyle.”

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"What're you reading?"

Elle could probably have gotten this answer from the cover. But it doesn't have an angel and shiny writing on it, so really, what else could be expected.

(Bugging Castiel also gives her a distraction from the dull pain still persisting slightly in her right side. Sorry, Castiel.)

"A history of the bicycle," Castiel replies. "It is strange that this one mode of primitive transportation seems to have such significance."

He looks up.

"Hello, Elle."

"It works."

Though it's not her favorite mode of transportation, either.

A little distracted, she adds, "Hi."

Castiel's head tilts to the side, studying her.

"Are you well?" he asks.

"Yeah."

It doesn't quite hit defensive, but she goes ahead takes a seat without asking.

"Why're you reading about bicycles?"

"I was told I should learn to ride one."

It hadn't been phrased in the form of an order. But it had come from Michael. Perhaps not the same Michael that Castiel is familiar with, but Michael nonetheless.

For Castiel, that is enough to make it an order.

"But I do not believe I can learn until the weather turns warmer. So, I am learning what I can until then."

Being told she should learn was pretty much how Elle got around to it, too. When her father decided it would also be useful to know if she needed a quick getaway.

It's why Elle asks -

"Do you need to?"

Castiel considers.

"I do not know. I have no way of knowing what I will need to know how to do."

He just trusts that his Father will lead him to the lessons he will need.

"But I was not aware, before, how much importance people place on this skill. As a rite of passage."

Castiel thumbs through the book, stopping at one passage he had studied for some time earlier.

"This man, John Lennon, says It's appropriate that our parents give us our first bike, for it's a metaphor for what they must do to raise us: Provide us with the tools we need to leave them."

Edited 2010-03-05 04:04 (UTC)

Elle has no idea what any of that really means.

(She's wishing that wasn't bothering her so much right now.)

"It's - good if you don't have a car."

Beat. "Or a motorcycle."

"And it's easier to steal."

She doesn't say that as flippantly as she might usually.

"I will bear that in mind."

"Though angels have their own way of moving from place to place that is much faster than all three."

Castiel does not know if there will be any practical need to know how to ride a bicycle.

Perhaps it's the learning to ride that will prove to be important?

"Then you're learning it for the..."

She says it like a foreign phrase, "'rite of passage' thing?"

He considers.

"Yes. I suppose I am."

"It seems to be a pivotal experience among people of a number of cultures. Perhaps it will help me understand humanity better."

It's still something of a struggle most days.

"And I am curious to see if the knowledge quickly becomes ingrained. Humans often say It's like riding a bike--you never really forget. I would like to see if it is true."

Elle shrugs one shoulder.

"It might not be the same for you."

"True. I am not human."

There is no knowing if the same rule will hold true for him.

"Do you know how to ride a bike?"

"Yeah. But I was -"

It takes her a long time to come up with this answer.

"- sixteen."

(Fifteen.)

"And I don't do it very much."

In other words, she didn't do the 'rite of passage' part.

Castiel is not sure what the significance of the age might be. He guesses.

"That is...old to learn?"

The book shows pictures of very small children, learning to ride on bikes with extra wheels for balance.

But for him, sixteen is still incredibly young.

Elle takes another moment to reply.

"I think - most people learn it before driving."

It's probably another answer that won't be helpful to Castiel.

Castiel absorbs that information without any sign of concern.

"Human life offers many rites of passage. I do not believe there is anything wrong with experiencing one later than some others do."

After all, Castiel doesn't know how to ride a bike or drive a car.

"I'm sure you have experienced your share. And will continue to experience them for the duration of your earthly life."

"I think I'm done with them."

That isn't said with any bitterness.

That does elicit a look of curiosity.

"Why?"

She hesitates, but -

"I can't think of anything else."

Edited 2010-03-06 02:09 (UTC)

"Why would you say that when your life can barely have begun?"

Castiel is not an expert at gaguing human ages, but she can't be much more than twenty.

With many years of life left to fill, if it please God.

It's been a long time since being young meant anything to Elle.

But she doesn't feel ruffled by the question - only perplexed.

"I just -"

Her eyes fall to the table, like she's trying to recall something.

"I only have what I've - already got."

"And what I can get."

She's not counting on anything else.

Castiel frowns, thoughts flitting, merging, trying to fit themselves together.

He thinks back to a talk he had had some weeks ago, that had left him praying for another young woman's peace of mind.

"Does this have anything to do with what happened to X-23? She said that the Facility found her. But you helped her."

Elle put him in mind of the way X had been during that conversation.

"X is like me."

She nearly mimics X's tone. But it's the only thing she can think to say.