As I write this down [OPEN]

[ofthursday]

Who: Castiel, OPEN
What: Arriving in Tokyodisa~
When: July 20th, around noon
Where: The hotel lobby
Rating: Probably PG at most


Once the sky had gone dark once again Castiel had picked a random direction and re-entered the forest, unsure of where he was and which way to go... And then suddenly he was somewhere completely different. He looked around rapidly, confused, turning in place a few times; the room was completely unfamiliar and his first thought was that Metatron had transported him somewhere, but he was alone.

The room was quiet, clean and inviting but at the same time cold and impartial, and oddly he could see daylight through the window; it had been the middle of the night last he was aware. He took a minute or two to explore the room, all nerves on edge and just waiting for someone or something to appear and break the supposed tranquility, but it never came.

Once he'd figured out that he was truly alone and there was nothing overtly dangerous in the room, his next concern was whether he could get out; when he tried the door and it opened without issue it was something of a surprise, as he'd expected to be locked in. It was, at least, a welcome surprise that he wasn't. Stepping out into the hallway, he glanced back at the door to take note of which one it was, and the sight of his name on the door was also unexpected and slightly disconcerting. He obviously hadn't ended up there on accident, and he needed to figure out how and why he had, and he set off cautiously down the hall.

It became apparent quickly enough that he was in a hotel, and that set him a little more at ease, because at least hotels were something familiar to him. Still, it was surreal in a way--the entire day had been--and he wasn't quite processing everything yet, moving on autopilot, nothing having quite sunk in just yet. As Castiel wandered into the lobby his steps slowed, cautious and on edge once again while he looked for someone who might be able to tell him something about where he was.

Figuring that out was the first step to getting somewhere else.

Comments

[heloise]

The hotel doesn't feel as foreign after a few days. One of those useful skills that living in the Castle allows you to learn after some time, never a dull moment, as they say. Of course it takes no genius to figure out that the hotel itself is the Castle, transplanting itself into this Tokyo, and the servants are the ghosts, but this man seems like neither a ghost nor a resident.

This is still early in the day by Lucrezia's standard, and she passes the lobby on her way out to the city, all dressed in the fashion of the time. Yes, with the antlers but no, without the grey hair. She slows her steps once she spots the man and his confused look, smiling sweetly in case he would like to ask for directions. Look, she can be most friendly.

[ofthursday]

Castiel watches her as she passes through the lobby, he arrival caching his attention immediately, as she's the first person he's seen here yet. The antlers are odd but he thinks little of them--humans are strange and have strange ideas of fashion--and he decides to approach. She doesn't seem particularly threatening, though he knows he could be very wrong.

Still, he won't learn anything if he avoids everyone, and if she means him harm it won't matter if he approaches her first or not; she clearly knows he's here. So he lifts his chin slightly and steps a little closer, opening his mouth to speak.

And there's silence.

He freezes, confused, his neutral mask dropping briefly before he manages to affect calm again, and he tries to ask her where they are. Silence once more.

This is a problem.

[heloise]

The man isn't the first mute she has met though he is certainly the first who seem to have only realized it. For a time, she thought the Castle terribly cruel for what it took from her, yet there are still others even less fortunate. The thought brings no comfort.

She chuckles and tries to play along, turn it into a game because then it wouldn't be so sad. "A game of charade? If I guess all the words correctly, I would have your name as reward."

[ofthursday]

It takes a moment for him to register her words because he's lost in thought, going over in his head everything that had happened, and he realized he hadn't tried to speak since before Metatron had cut his throat--but that still shouldn't have rendered him mute. The other angel had healed him, and that should've repaired everything, but he hadn't had reason to talk until just now. He has no idea when he had actually lost his voice. Maybe it's temporary; maybe it's shock or he's simply sick or something. Humans are incredibly delicate, after all.

But he pulls himself from his thoughts to actually focus on Lucrezia, head tilting to the side slightly at her comment. He's heard of charades but doesn't know the rules, and he's not particularly interested in playing a game at the moment. So instead he hesitates a moment before making a scribbling motion like he's writing in the air, obviously wanting something to actually do so with.

[heloise]

Her smile hardly falters even as he seems not to understand her words, but then she understands how shocking it felt to suddenly find oneself in an entirely alien place filled with strangers. She has felt that twice, and there were people holding her hand to bring her back to somewhere safe. She could give it forward, but not without a little mischief thrown in.

The scribbling gesture is met with a disapproving pout, but perhaps better not to push it too far when he seems so frazzled. She goes to walk toward the receptionist, making similar gestures for a notepad and a pen.

"Here, if you would rather cheat."

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce had been keeping a low profile in Tokyo. He could still feel the Other Guy in the back of his mind, so he knew it was important to maintain his control. Fortunately, he had a lot of experience at blending into crowds in a city. Coming back to his hotel room relatively early in the evening was one way he kept control. Night was more dangerous than day for wandering around.

At sunset, Bruce usually came back to his room with a newspaper or book. As long as he was here, he might as well practice his Japanese. He was on his way to his room, when he saw the other man, someone he hadn't met before. He gave a small smile, though. If the man wasn't a native, well, Bruce was making it a point to be on good terms with the other residents of Paradisa.

"Hello."

[ofthursday]

Castiel had fortunately met with Lucrezia by this point, and discovered his inability to speak, so he had a notepad and was able to do more than just awkwardly nod in greeting. Which he still did, watching the other a little warily, even if he didn't seem to be making himself particularly threatening.

Hello. What is your name?

[beastisbeauty]

Bruce took the pad, smiling a bit bashfully.

I'm Bruce Banner. It's good to meet you. Are you new here?

[ofthursday]

Castiel paused a moment, a little surprised by him writing back, but he didn't mind it. It made the conversation less awkward, in a way, for them both to be writing rather than one doing so and one speaking.

Yes. I have been here less than an hour.

[onlyanapple]

Crowley's been enjoying the little trip so far. Certainly, the humanity dumped on him was annoying, but there was sake here and more sushi than he could wave a chopstick at. He'd been heading through the lobby to find another bar when he notices that all too familiar figure. Bollocks, when did he get back here?

He looks confused, maybe it's only recently, he notes. And as much as he'd rather hide away, distance himself again, he can't bring himself to abandon the guy in the middle of this mess. Perhaps, too, there was the smallest of hopes that this time, this time Castiel would remember.

So, hands in pockets, looking far calmer than he's actually feeling, he saunters over.

"Cas."

[ofthursday]

Castiel has gotten the very basics by this point and has something to write with, so he's feeling just slightly more confident, at least until he hears his name from someone he doesn't recognize. It doesn't help that Crowley looks passingly like an angel, and being mortal Castiel can't tell immediately if he is or isn't. Most of his siblings don't call him 'Cas', but it's happened, and he's immediately on guard and wishes he had something to defend himself with.

He watches Crowley approach carefully, eyes narrowed a little, not willing to take the risk of writing a note to ask any questions just yet. He does, however, tilt his head slightly to the side, an indicator that he doesn't understand who this person is or why he's talking to him.

[onlyanapple]

Crowley's heart sinks a little at the action. Of course he doesn't remember, he never remembers. The demon lets out a sigh, raising his hands carefully.

"Not going to hurt you. I'm a neutral party."

He wracks his brain, trying to remember what's happened to Cas recently. He'd done his best to keep up with the Winchesters until they, too, left the castle. There was the war, that sure happened, and after that, well, things had got decidedly worse. Oh well, no good now, he'll need to at least explain a few things.

"You don't know me. But I knew you from another time you were here. It takes away those memories, most of the time, right bastard this castle is sometimes."

[ofthursday]

Castiel listens carefully, still not all that convinced to relax, but not quite as alarmed as he was as Crowley explains. He was here before? He doesn't remember anything of the sort, but even without Crowley's mention of memories disappearing here he knows that doesn't mean anything; it was only a few days ago he found out that his memories had been modified off and on constantly for thousands of years at home. It's not a particularly large stretch to take the explanation at face value.

He watches Crowley for a few more moments, apparently considering his words and his intent, before deciding it's safe to scribble out a note.

I was here before?

[courageous_wit]

Hermione was taking a break from sight-seeing when she noticed the new face in the lobby. Clearly not a native, which led her to conclude that he was a resident of the castle. It was always the strangest for new residents to arrive during a world change. Especially if they were from the world the castle was imitating.

"Hello," she greeted the man gently. "Are you all right?"

[ofthursday]

Castiel hadn't ventured out of the lobby yet, despite having met a few people so far; he was still in a bit of a shock from everything that had happened at home and ending up in another world. However, he was a bit more at ease by the time Hermione approached, and her gentle manner was a little reassuring as well.

He watched her for just a moment before deciding it was safe to write an answer on the little notepad he was carrying, scribbling a quick response.

Yes.

Not really, but his problems weren't anything complaining could fix, and he was more focused on the big issue at hand.

I need to know more about this place.

[courageous_wit]

She watched him write with patience. So his loss was his voice? That seemed the logical conclusion since he didn't speak.

"It's Tokyo," Hermione responded promptly, "the capital of Japan. Judging from the apparel, we've somehow gone back to the late 1980s."

[ofthursday]

That was... Odd, but odder things had happened, and Castiel was no stranger to time travel. He was suspicious once more that this was the doing of Metatron, but he decided to ask a more open ended question.

How?

[rightjollyoldelf]

[North had been thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to be fully visible. True, the current normalcy forced him to feel every single one of his many years. His shoulders were stooped with age, and he leaned heavily on an improvised walking stick.

But he wasn't allowing that to stop him from playing the enthusiastic tourist. Very different from the North Pole, this place was.

And so of course when he sees a confused face in the lobby that he didn't recognize, he lets loose a deep laugh as he waves his walking stick around and begins to speak in a thick Russian accent.]

Welcome! Welcome! You are new arrival, yes? You can see me, yes?

[ofthursday]

[Everyone Castiel has met so far has been quieter so North's entrance is a bit more noticeable, though he seems friendly enough at least even while Castiel watches him wave the cane a little bit warily.

He nods once for all the questions, hesitating a moment before deciding to go ahead and shift his attention to writing. No one here has been threatening so far, so he's letting his guard down just a little.]

Are you normally not visible?

[rightjollyoldelf]

Only to children who believe! Is best way!

[As always, North filled the room with his presence. Loud and bright and larger than life.]

[ofthursday]

[Castiel is no less confused than before, though he is a little more at ease from the jolly attitude.]

Why?

[putuporshutup]

Meg wandered the halls of the hotel leisurely, half looking for an exit and half just exploring. She followed a hallway down towards what looked to be a lobby. Wherever she had just arrived, it was a vast improvement over being the king of hell's favorite chew toy for the past year.

She ran her hand absentmindedly over the fine silk upholstery of a side chair and tried to get a feel for the energy of the place. It felt like it was supposed to be Earth, but something was just... off. Weird, but whatever. She shrugged, and strode into the bright, airy lobby. It was bustling with people, but she immediately stopped in her tracks and zeroed in on a familiar presence - could it be?

There, milling around, looking even more adorably confused than ever, was her favorite fallen angel. An involuntary smile twitched at the corners of her mouth. "Clarence? That you?"

[ofthursday]

Finally, finally, he heard a voice that was familiar, but it was one completely unexpected. Castiel's attention shifted immediately, focusing on Meg, and he just stared at her for several seconds in surprise.

He knew she had died--not for a little while after it had happened, and he hadn't really had time to think much about it, but he knew--so seeing her once again was unexpected. It was entirely welcome, but still unexpected, and she looked different than when he had seen her.

What was going on?

He nodded though, at her question, immediately moving closer toward her and tilting his head to the side in complete confusion. Still, his expression was just a fraction lighter than it had been before.

He'd missed her.

[putuporshutup]

Meg was glad to see a familiar face - especially this one. She'd been at the mercy of the king for the past year, and even by her standards it had been particularly terrible. Her only escape had been a sliver of hope that her angel in shining armor might come rescue her, but she had heard whispers that he was stuck in purgatory, and she had feared the worst.

Then she found herself in this odd, inexplicable little world. A welcome escape, but one that she had taken with a grain of salt.

Until now.

All the curiosities and questions that had been churning in her mind since appearing in this odd place seemed to fade away - she honestly didn't really care where she was or why if he was here as well.

She walked over to Castiel and tilted her head to match the angle his was on, and just smiled.

[ofthursday]

It seemed completely impossible that, after everything that had happened, he could manage anything approaching a smile... But at hers the faintest hint of one tugs at the corner of his mouth. He's lost and mortal and his world had literally fallen down around him, but somehow Meg was here, which was a blessing he never would've thought to even ask for but was so incredibly welcome.

It took a moment before he broke eye contact to look down at his little notepad, writing out a quick and simple message.

Hello, Meg.