divide & conquer - semi advanced discussion
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kaela
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Oct 22, 2015 06:23PM
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The pub was relatively quiet tonight; apart from the soft rasp of the violinist's instrument and the crackle of the fireplace, everything was silent. Castiel was perched upon a bar stool, hugging a frighteningly large mug of beer in his calloused hands. The funny thing was, this certainly was not his first drink. He's had maybe 2 or 3 before that; Castiel certainly wasn't an alcoholic, not like him but it was a nice place to escape. By simply sitting and watching time pass on around him was an enigma for Cas - he wondered how people could exist so peacefully and so serenely. But that was a lie; he knew how these innocents could live such a happy life. It was because of him, because of Castiel and his soldiers that citizens could turn their head the other way. If he didn't remind himself of this every so often, Cas was sure he would lose his mind wondering why he continued down this path of service and duty.
Don't get him wrong, Castiel loves his blade. The feel of it when it clashes against another, the flow of fighting with it like an extension of his arm made blood flow and adrenaline rush. It was the aftermath that made Cas think. Maybe it was trauma from killing too many people, maybe it was an infection of the mind, but whatever it was wouldn't deter Castiel from his duty. To serve the kingdom and all it's people is his job; it is his life.
When the guard was off duty, there were a few things that Rhynn liked to do that she was actually able to do, given that she did have a fierce reputation that she had to keep up. Most of them involved sparring or practicing, but both of those were only so helpful without someone to yell what you were doing wrong and heckle you into improving. So she had to go searching for someone to do the yelling and the heckling. There were only one or two people since all of her brothers had gone back home for the time being along with her father, and her normal partner wasn't readily available. So she had to go searching for him. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on whether you looked at it from a tactical or social standpoint, she knew exactly where he would be.
"You're getting predictable in your old age." The female archer said dryly as she dropped into the seat beside him, looking over at him. The almost permanent accessory of her bow was slung over her back with her quiver, as per usual, and because of that alone no one bothered to try and hassle her. "Lucky for you I'm not an assassin." She pointed out, though her tone was mostly joking. Mostly, there was still a note of warning in her tone.
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The sound of Rhynn's voice brought a slight smile to Castiel's face. Of course she was here; who else would drag him from the merciless pit of his own psych? Turning in her direction, Cas raised his glass to his best soldier then pushed it away. It was the best course of action, as if he had kept the drink, Rhynn probably would have taken it from him mid-sip - she's done it before, so she will do it again. He knew his regular attendance here wasn't assuring for anybody; hell, it didn't even assure him. Castiel couldn't remember the turning point - the point when he gave in to the cries of the people he killed and became such a constant visitor that Rick had his tab open 24/7. He knew he needed to change; he just didn't know when.
"Old age? It's going to be a long 2 years for you, my friend." With Castiel at twenty six years old and Rhynn at twenty four, they were considered relatively young warriors. Even more so since Cas was the Captain of the Royal Guard. "And if you were an assassin," he stood up defiantly, "you would be dead. Don't let a little alcohol fool you Rhynn." Another factor of coming to the bar on such a regular basis was also that Castiel's tolerance for intoxication raised itself incredibly. In that moment, he could barely feel the tell-tale tingliness of being tipsy. He wasn't at his best, but Castiel could spot an assassin - no matter how much you think otherwise, they tend to stick out. Their eyes... their eyes held no emotion. No fear. And they were almost always alone. Castiel was good at that part; sussing out the scene, analyzing the environment within milliseconds. It was one of his greater strengths.
This was getting a bit ridiculous, and Rhynn hadn't hesitated to tell him so dozens of times and dump half a dozen of those damn swimming pools he called mugs over his head. She sighed slightly as she studied him, folding her arms and leaning forward to rest them onto the counter of the bar. Keeping her thoughts to herself was not exactly her style, but she had told him what she thought of his drinking enough times that it would be foolish and redundant to repeat herself yet another time. He knew exactly what she thought of his drinking habit, why remind him?
"Since when does anything fool me?" She snorted, then shook her head. "Unless you're actually going to leave, Cas, sit down. We both know there'd already be an arrow in your neck if I was here to kill you." She pointed out, completely calm and at ease. All members of the guard were at least adept in all types of combat, but Rhynn was easily the best distance fighter with her archery. "Come on, the last twenty four years were long enough. Besides, I'll probably be dead before I'm twenty six. I mean, I'm good, but I've already beaten the odds of my life expectancy. I'm great, but someone will be lucky."
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With next to no knowledge of how friendship worked, Castiel still considered Rhynn his only person. A person who's been there for him more than anybody he's ever known in his life, and because of that he will forever be indebted to her. Rhynn's disapproval seeped from her skin; he could have felt it from a mile away, but Castiel couldn't stop. He was turning into his father and he so dearly didn't want that. Castiel didn't know how to stop.
"Of course, forgive me for questioning your brilliance milady." Castiel grinned, bowing low to the floor. After years of being around this woman, he knew her personality inside and out, as well as the fact that being treated like an incapable female pissed her off more than anything. At Rhynn's logical reasoning, Cas took his seat once more. He wanted to prove her wrong; he really did. Someone will be lucky. Those few words ripped through Castiel's state of ineptitude and his pupils dilated, mind coming back to the present. Such small words, but so forceful at the same time.
"Rhynn... you will live to be old and gray and wrinkly. I will kick your ass if you dare to leave me in this hell of an existence - you hear me?" Cas spoke ferociously. Rhynn was like a sister to him - a life without her would be an empty one, not to mention the fact that there would be nobody else to drag him from the pub at midnight.
(view spoiler)
"Oh don't worry, I'll come back and harass your sorry ass until you're begging me to go into the light just so you can get some peace and quiet." Rhynn smirked, though she was a bit taken back by his almost aggressiveness about it. Not that she let that show with anything other than a single raised eyebrow, she was far too good for that. "Besides, I don't want to get old. I'll have to depend on people to do things for me, I'll go to sleep in constant fear I'll never wake up. No thank you. I'd much rather die middle aged and still shooting, thank you very much." She laughed, shaking her head.
She flicked her long brunette braid back over her shoulder, smirking slightly. Rhynn was not a vain woman, nor was she a very feminine one, but her sole physical pride was her hair. It wasn't that she adored it a lot, but she couldn't bring herself to do the logical thing for a fighter and cut it short. She kept her hair more for sentimental reasons than for appearance ones. "You'd better be begging my forgiveness, I'm god damned brilliant and you better remember that." She grinned at him, lightly punching him in the shoulder. Though her definition of 'light' was a bit harder than most.
"You can't go dying on me either." She warned, pointing a stern finger at him. She had other friends, yes. But Castiel was easily her best friend, and she was well aware of that fact. "And if you keep drinking the way you do, it'll screw up your insides and you'll die. And I'll have to wear a dress to your funeral and that is not worth it for me." She smiled slightly, studying him.
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The nauseating smell of beer and dirt finally permeated Castiel's nostrils as he came to a bit of an epiphany. He had to keep fighting; without his sword and without his status, Cas really might as well be the scum his father was. To put it simply, he had a drinking problem he couldn't come to terms with. This drinking messes with his mind and body. With a body that wasn't up to his necessary standards, Cas could lose his job. If he lost his job, he would lose his sword. If he lost his sword, he would lose his honor and the list carried on... he needed to stop.
Castiel returned Rhynn's gaze, a tiny spark of determination present in his eyes that hadn't been for a long time. He wasn't an addict, not yet, but he was strong enough to pull out and stop his ways. Castiel chuckled, his deep voice reverbrating deep in his throat as the female warrior's fist came into contact with his shoulder. She was strong - then again, if she wasn't, they probably wouldn't be friends. Their compatibility when it came to fighting was the core of their friendship, and Cas wouldn't have it any other way.
"What I would do to see you in a dress!" Castiel's subdued chuckling escalated into full-blown laughter. He was left happy, much happier than the beer made him. With a toothy grin tugging on his lips, Castiel rose to his feet; with a purpose this time. "Come on, let's get out of here. I think I've had enough for the night." He wasn't better, but he would be -- eventually.
((Question first sorry: Would he have told Rhynn previously about his father and everything?))
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She studied him, quiet for a moment. She knew him well enough to know he was thinking things over, and there was no reason to interrupt. Cas and Cas alone could make the decisions about what he was to do. She smiled in relief when decided to go, chuckling at the stubbornness she saw. It was good though, and she knew it. "Alright then. Lead the way." She allowed, getting to her feet as well.
"Me? In a dress? You'll have to do far more than just die for that to happen." Rhynn assured him. "Even if it was your dying wish to see me in a dress, well, you would die dissatisfied. Which is why you shouldn't die at all." She announced, nodding firmly.
She didn't know all the details of what his father had been like. But she did know that he was a drunk and Cas hadn't been able to stand him. And since she was smart, and she knew him and had seen how much he hated his own habit... She'd figured out pretty quickly he was scared of ending up like his father. Which didn't give her any positive thoughts on what his childhood had been like. "Don't worry." She said simply. "You're not a bad person, and you never will be."
