— duplicity inbox ↻ un:dipshit

[messenger]

this is castiel. leave your message here.

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[bakudan_bambino]

is what what I do?

[messenger]

when you want to be close to someone? is that the strategy you use?
you seem friendly with a lot of people so maybe you don't have to?

[bakudan_bambino]

No

I don’t feel the need to look at people up close.

It’s different for each person. Typically it’s on the network first, rather than being in person.

Sometimes I will buy them a drink and ask how they are, learn more about them.

I feel like everyone here has a different story to tell, and I like learning about things. I like to get genuinely interested y’know…

Never gonna know how long they’ll be around for.

So I’m taking a lot of time just being grateful.

[messenger]

i see

[ 💬💬💬 ]

i think i can understand, at least a little
i've been around for so long
and i'll outlive everyone i know
most of the time, i don't feel it's fair to get involved, particularly with my duties to consider
it makes me a poor friend because i can't really be around
things are different here, but i'm not sure how different

[bakudan_bambino]

Maybe because there are many other non humans and there’s no way of knowing if it will be you or them that leaves first among the humans. It puts us all on equal footing in Duplicity in a way.

I would rather love and lose someone than never get to meet them and enjoy being close to them.

[messenger]

yes. it changes things. although, i'll still outlive everyone, presumably. and i'm still an angel.

have you loved a lot of people romantically? or are you speaking of platonic love?

[ or both? ]

it's something i've always found remarkable
the human capacity for love

[bakudan_bambino]

There's no outliving anyone in Duplicity, but you're right. I know you're still an angel.

Both.

Are angels incapable of it?

[messenger]

we aren't meant to feel at all
i do, after spending time on earth in a vessel, but human emotion is different
it's more powerful and immediate
and overwhelming

[bakudan_bambino]

So you have intense human emotions now and aren't sure how to handle or even identify them?

[messenger]

i don't know how to handle and identify them as they are
but like i said, i'm still an angel
as long as i have my grace (my power) they remain somewhat... muted compared to the alternative
but i lost my grace once, and was briefly mortal
in that time, i felt their full intensity
i didn't enjoy it

[bakudan_bambino]

Oh, well then it's good you have your power?

[messenger]

yes
i can't do much without it
i could barely survive and i was too afraid to fight

[bakudan_bambino]

Does it do anythng else?

[messenger]

well, it makes me what i am, essentially
of course, i'll never stop being an angel, even without my grace
but it connects me to my true form, and in some sense is my true form— or at least a part of it
it's what makes me immortal and impervious to mundane damage
it's the reason i don't have to eat or sleep
and gives me access to all of my powers
it's the closest thing i have to a soul

[bakudan_bambino]

Interesting

[messenger]

unfiltered grace is also deadly
and my true form is, too
though i don't have any reason to shed my vessel at the moment

[bakudan_bambino]

How do you filter it?

[messenger]

as long as it's contained with in my vessel, it's filtered
or... maybe that's not the right word
um. blocked? occluded?
witnessing an angel's pure grace shining out from its true body can cause serious injury
and even death

[bakudan_bambino]

so if the body you’re in were to perish then it would not contain you properly and that could kill people?

[messenger]

technically speaking this body is already dead
but if someone could find a way to force me to vacate it, then yes
it's possible the moment of my flight could cause harm to others accidentally
though looking away and/or closing your eyes is generally enough to protect from the danger it poses

[bakudan_bambino]

I hope no one ever does.

Sunglasses wouldn't work? They don't obscure enough, right?

[messenger]

no, they don't
the light has to be completely blocked
and an angel who is trying to do you harm intentionally can't be warded off just by shutting your eyes
it's only a defense against accidental discharge

[bakudan_bambino]

Why would an angel intentionally try to do harm to a human?

[messenger]

[ ah. that's interesting. the other castiels must not have spoke of this. ]

im actually a... bit of an outcast because of my interest in humans
well, there are a handful of angels who want to do their duty to protect humanity
but most of them resent you, im sorry to say

and my... romantic interest in a human man is considered inappropriate at best

[bakudan_bambino]

[Most conversations he’s had with Castiel don’t seem to make it to this point.]

why do they resent us?