can't seem to find our state of grace

[tryingitall]

Who: Balthazar and OPEN
What: Exploring and chatting.
When: Day 54
Where: All over the place, but eventually the bar and House 11. Encounter him anywhere you like.
Warnings: Probably none, will update if that changes.


Balthazar's not sure whether to be optimistic about this brave new world or not. There's no question but that certain individuals here are a threat. Raphael and Lucifer? Scary. Whatever's got them all trapped here? Also scary. At the moment, though, the weather is fairly pleasant, there's no looming apocalypse, planned or otherwise, and even the demons here seem to be, if not civil, at least tolerable.

Probably the other shoe will drop before long, but until then he's going to try to enjoy himself.

Hence the search for the bar he hears is around somewhere. He circles through streets, looking over houses, buildings, and...hmm. Rubble. That's a little worrisome. But not too far off he finds what he was looking for, and slips curiously through the doors.

Comments

[tryingitall]

It's thoroughly chilling to watch the human mask fall away, and to be reminded he's drinking with an archangel. Even if Gabriel's the least likely of the four to squash him like a bug, Balthazar's unnerved by the reminder that he could.

Actually, he can't even be sure he's the least likely to try it.

He makes a mental note to keep his tongue better in check from now on.

"I suppose not. I'm just an aberration." He shrugs and finishes the last crumbs of poptart, avoiding Gabriel's eyes while trying to pretend that's not what he's doing at all.

[hung_garian]

"Hey, don't get me wrong, it's a good sentiment. And you're not the only one - not by a long shot."

To his ears, at least, it falls a little flat. At least talking morality with Balthazar leaves him feeling less jaded than arguing about it with Castiel, but the last thing he wants is to scare the family away, especially those of a similar disposition. Honestly, it would take a lot more than Balthazar might realise to get Gabriel to harm one of his siblings... even if harming anything else comes far more easily than he's always entirely comfortable with. He could say that outright, but that just wouldn't be him, so he settles for shrugging and pretending not to notice.

"So, uh... you all finished with that?"

[tryingitall]

He's not sure whether he's actually offended the other angel, but the return to Gabriel's usual tone soothes his nerves, and he glances up to smile, nodding. "I think so, but it was excellent mead. And the poptarts were an oddly appropriate accompaniment."

"If I end up planting a vineyard, shall I make you some wine?" As if it would be a simple thing to do. "I'll have to obtain some oaken casks first."

[hung_garian]

"Yeah, height of culinary achievement, right?"

A grin, easier this time than the last one. Balthazar's drinking horn disappears much as the other one had, and Gabriel tips his chair back again. All is well.

"If you're making some anyway, sure. Don't know if a vineyard's quite what they were thinking of in terms of urgent food supplies, but hey, you've got my vote. I'll show you how to make the mead, too."

[tryingitall]

"Absolutely! The Barefoot Contessa has nothing on you, brother." Balthazar feels comfortably buzzed, between Gabriel's mead and the drinks he had at the bar. All in all, it hasn't been that bad a day.

"Well, I'll let them eat some of the grapes, too." He shrugs, then grins. "Do you mean that seriously, about the mead?"

[hung_garian]

"I'm just waiting for the day I manage to outdo Nigella Lawson. That'll be a day to really celebrate."

He stretches out. The mead hasn't had too much effect - the drinking horns weren't so huge, and angel still trump pagan god - but he's settling back nicely into human, and between the drink and the company, especially given the dangerously dark turn that conversation had nearly taken, he's quite pleased.

"Course I mean it. Not like Odin's gonna be mad. He won't know - besides, he's dead." He says it casually enough. Odin had been supposed to die in Ragnarok anyway, and hey, Gabriel was dead too, so it was fine for him to say it. It didn't count as disrespect. "And we can't have you cleaning the whole town out of booze every time you wanna get a little tipsy."

[tryingitall]

"I'll look forward to seeing that. Will you be using poptarts?"

The atmosphere has turned easygoing again, and Balthazar's happy to set aside the more risky topics for the foreseeable future. He really did miss Gabriel after his departure.

"That would be very much appreciated," he says, stifling a laugh. "I promise I'll keep the recipe a secret."

[hung_garian]

"Oh, no way. Those are far too healthy. My signature move has to be something that could induce a diabetic coma in someone without diabetes."

He gets to his feet, although slightly reluctantly. It's tempting to just sit there all night, talking about nothing at all, but it doesn't sound viable. Besides, he's aware that even though he feels comfortable getting clingy, Balthazar probably isn't. Being alone for so long and then being here with a brother with so many similarities makes it easy to overreact. He doesn't want to risk boring Balthazar or doing something to drive him away.

"So - good talk. Should do it again sometime. You're still living here, right? If only technically."

[tryingitall]

Balthazar might surprise him, long term. He hasn't had much fun on earth without his siblings, either. Plus, it means quite a bit that Gabriel approves of at least some of his behavior. But he's still getting acclimated. As long as Gabriel's not about to vanish for centuries again, he's content.

"Absolutely. With or without alcohol, even." He nods. "I'll be around, no worries."

[hung_garian]

"Good. Guess I'll see you soon, then."

He means it. Balthazar gets a clap on the shoulder before Gabriel disappears. It's a little abrupt, but hugs and handshakes aren't his style anyway. What's left of the mead stays in its bottle on the counter, with a blue post-it on saying 'help urselves'.