flameandpassion | 73 [Video]

[Rei is sitting on the floor, her knees to her chest. Her back is pressed against an invisible wall -- a chamber, of sorts, made out of energy. She is perfectly still, breathing slow and even, her eyes fixated on whatever is in front of her.

The feed continues this way for five minutes, then ten -- and still, Rei does not move, save for her fingers moving in tiny intricate designs upon her legs. She doesn't even blink. Her expression is completely blank and neutral, devoid of emotion.

Finally, the priestess speaks, and her tone is perfectly even. She does not look at the camera.]

I know what you did. I saw it. You can hide as long as you want, but I'll find out. I'm not going to stop looking until I know the truth. He deserves more dignity than what you gave him.

[She is silent for a moment or two more before she inhales deeply.]

I need to speak to Sam and Dean Winchester. And Raven. In person.

[Another pause.]

...I'm fine now.

[Four hours of solid meditation works wonder for the anger of hellfire.]

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["No," Rei wants to say, "the secret is why." But Rei can't quite bring herself to say it -- Castiel becomes God -- because that makes it final. A possible future, that's what Castiel kept insisting, but Rei was faced with yet another vision that had come true. Possible futures bleeding into certain futures -- it made her physically ill.]

I saw a vision of it, of him -- and he's not himself. He lost everything that he ever was. He turns into a monster. They tore out his Grace so he wouldn't be a threat to anyone, even though he didn't -- he didn't even know what I was talking about, and it isn't as if the idiot can lie. He wanted to change things so badly that he just --

[Rei releases a breath she didn't know she was holding.]

... he can't go home.

[What was she expected to say to all that? Meditate with Rei about how the future isn't set in stone? Yeah, because that went well the first two times.

As she thinks, she awkwardly fiddles with the knobs on the tub. The ice cold water trickles slowly into the drain while she chews on her bottom lip. Finally, she shuts the water off, takes a breath, and dives in.]

Life would be a lot easier if everyone knew exactly what to do. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I know. Better than a lot of people. That night when you...

[She looks away from her PCD.] I honestly thought I was doing the right thing, and I was doing it for the both of you. When you care so much it makes you stupid you end up doing really, really stupid things and--

[She stopped herself.]

Castiel will come back, okay?

[The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. She wondered if that were true. She supposed -- if you cared to look at it that way. But no matter how hard Rei tried, no matter how hard Rei worked, she could not see Lucifer differently. She had come close -- several times -- but he is an enemy. He will always be an enemy. He would always be the enemy. No matter how many times Castiel tried to tell her that changing him was the key to saving his world. She couldn't find it in her to believe him.

But she had told him, when he was upset, that he should never allow anyone to tell him not to try to change his future, even Rei herself. He had agreed, seriously, as always, to tell her that she was wrong at every given opportunity. What made this any different? She may believe one thing -- he obviously believed another -- and Jinx seemed to, as well -- and all Rei could do was hope that she was wrong.

She's silent, for a very long moment, before she forces a faint smile.]

I know he will.

[After that, she doesn't really know what to say. She shifts awwkardly in the tub until she takes the time to actually lay down in it. Her feet played absently with the faucet.]

...you owe me new boots.

You owe me a new jaw.

[BEING PUNCHED HURT, BITCH.]

Deal with it.

Please. That wasn't even close to full strength.

Whatever you say.

[She pauses.]

-- are you recovered?

73 [Video]

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