exsilium | oo5 ⊗ video ⊗ fifth move ⟹ backdated to oct 5th.

[ charles is visibly distressed when he appears on the screen, this time. he's in what seems to be some underground facility, and there are other faces behind him—notably collette, emma, galadriel, raven, and others. his eyes remain closed for a second and you can hear him take a deep breath. then: ]

We have... borrowed a gentleman by the name of Richard Lawson...—from the United Earth. He is a cabinet member of the President's. Yes, the President of the United Earth. [ charles clears his throat, steels himself. ]

We've learnt a great many things about the United Earth from his head, and we feel it best to share that information with all of you, here on the Network.

[ charles states the next words with a heavy voice. ]

The President of the United Earth is not human. "He" is—artificial. Artificial Intelligence, or what you would call an A.I.. The United Earth... has never seen his face, as far as we have deduced.

We will try to answer questions about what we have learnt to the very best of our ability, but do be patient. Ah—[ he closes his eyes again, considering. then he nods as though he's made the right decision and he knows it. ]

That is all.

( note: wow i knew i forgot something like a winner. THIS TAKES PLACE DURING/AFTER these linked shenanigans: [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] )

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[She laughs. Not -- offended, but. Oh, Castiel.]

Well, we're not blood siblings. That must be it.

[And then, later.]

Nobody else I'm related to is blue, though. Just so you know.

That makes you special, then.

[ No, he doesn't mean it to be flirtatious, despite how it might sound. ]

I guess it does.

[Too bad, Cas, that's how she'll take it for now.]

[ Perfect, he doesn't need his words going misinterpreted all the time. ]

So when did you find out that you were different from your brother?

Oh, I've always known we were both different. It's sort of how we met.

Was it? [ Now he's curious -- Don't leave him hanging, Mystique. ]

[It's kind of a personal story, but Cas has told her a little bit about himself...]

I was stealing food from his house when he caught me. I was pretending to be his mother at the time.

[ He was in similar dire straights when Dean showed him that a different path was available to him, but it wasn't so cut and dry as Mystique's story. ]

...That is unusual, but unsurprising. Are you fond of your adopted brother?

Not as fond as I used to be of him, but -- we still care about each other.

[They're just fundamentally different in a part of their lives that's pretty important.]

[ Castiel can understand the concept of drifting apart from loved ones... from family. But his family is largely militaristic, so it's not exactly the same thing -- he's fairly certain, however, that it's not a pleasant feeling no matter your background. ]

He calls you Raven. Is that your original name?

That's the name my parents gave me, but once they left me to starve to death because they thought I was a freak I figured I didn't owe them much in the way of keeping it.

[Shh, she totally just changed it not too long before coming here. It'll be their little secret.]

It is your given name, no one can take it from you. Yet you seem to have discarded it as easily as any identity you might temporarily assume.

...It must have been difficult for you.

[ Shh, this is the best he can do for sympathy. He's still learning, you know. ]

[At least he's -- kind of trying.]

You could say that. It was hard enough being different from other people, but knowing your parents hated you for it made it worse.

My condolences. [ A year ago, he might have said nothing, or pointed out that it was at least some closure, compared to the silence he received. But there were those who taught him the importance of family -- and oddly none of them were angels. ]

...I am... something of a black sheep myself. Although, the circumstances in which I found myself rebelling against my family were very different from your own.

Well, did they try to throw you out?

[She brushes a hand through her hair. It can't be that different, can it?]

In a way, yes. [ The angel squints. It's VERY different. ]

It's... complicated.

[She squints right back.]

...well, if you ever want to talk about it. I'm all ears.

[ Maybe, but not right now. Something seems to come to mind; a convenient deviation from the current uncomfortable topic of his own life... something they had spoken of before and one he had neatly sidestepped at the time. ]

...I appreciate the offer. But there is another favor I would ask of you.

[Angels asking her favours. Well, he had so far been a good friend to her. She blinks at the screen.]

... and what is that?

[ Castiel sighs, as if recognizing that his request may be met with some... resistance. ]

I need to sift through your memories for the image of the man who shot you.

[...yeah, living with a telepath for years and making him promise not to look into your head? Kind of makes you wary of this kind of thing.]

To what end?

To confirm my suspicions and potentially seek a resolution.

[ She's smart to be wary, and really... what reason has she to trust him? ]

Edited 2012-10-14 03:20 (UTC)

...look, living with a telepath didn't made me receptive to having my head poked around in, believe it or not.

[That's ... quite true.]

I realize you have little reason to trust me, but I mean you no harm. It... would put my mind at ease to know for certain.

[ So really, it is him asking a favor, and he's nothing to offer in return. ]

[It's her own curiosity that gets the better of her. Knowing that Dean knows the man who shot her is enough for her to want to know who he is, really.]

Well, in that case.

Video; private

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