2nd Choice: Angel TV [Audio/Text]

[freetobe]

[Someone thought it a bright idea to make the resident rebel angel a televangelist. This idea was a very poor one. 

One might stumble across this program by zapping lazily or specifically searching for it. Either way, what is seen on TV screens all over on the Christian Channel is what appears to be a constipated man fiddling with the little black microphone someone out of patience has lopsidedly pinned to his trench coat. His hair is an untamed mess and he clearly resisted going into make up a little too much.]

I don't understand why you want me to say my name and greet the camera. Or what you want me to say. [He seems to be very exasperated with whatever poor soul is hovering off camera, trying to get him to do his job.] God? God doesn't care about me, or you, or us. He left.

[Somewhere backstage, the producer thinks he might be very close to a nervous breakdown and gives Castiel instructions via his ear piece. The glare intensifies, but at least he somewhat listens to what he's been told, and wanders over to the speaker's desk. If at all possible, his frown deepens, and he flips a page or two in the book places there.] 

Talk about the Bible...? [he mutters, obviously to himself and blissfully unaware of the just what the microphone does. Finally, he squints at the camera.] Uhm. It... contains very many factual errors and mistranslations. Would you prefer I lie to spare human... sentimentality?

[It's at this point that the producer is convinced his soul just threw up a moderate amount. A message about 'technical difficulties' flashes across TVs all over, and a short while later some woman or another appears to announce a slight change in the program, clearly questioning her career choices.]

And now we've reached the Q&A part of our program. The lines are open, please dial the number displayed below to be put through to Castiel with your questions and concerns regarding your faith and your life. Also displayed below is our email address, so feel free to send in more questions and comments that way.

[The camera - reluctantly - cuts back to Castiel, who is currently busy not noticing the camera despite frantic off-camera hand waving, and instead toys reproachefully with an angel figurine. Someone put him in a chair next to a table holding several religious pamphlets, as if by sitting the angel down, this catastrophe can somehow be salvaged.

Here's a hint: It's almost completely impossible for this to improve in the way the show runners would like.]

[ooc: Feel free, if you don't want your character to contact Castiel on the TV show, to contact him later via the regular Network, just let me know in your header!]

Comments

[Video - Later]

[hadtoperishtwice]

[Sam had caught some of the earlier broadcast. He'd nearly choked on his drink when he'd heard it. Watching the rest of it was like watching a train wreak in action. It was painful, and yet he couldn't look away.]

[He's a religious studies research assistant, though. This was ENTIRELY for research purposes. Really.]

[It's not until later, after the show has finished for the day, that Sam sends a message to Castiel.]

So. That was probably the dumbest thing I've ever seen the government do. And I hear they made Balthazar a substitute elementary school teacher.

[Video]

[freetobe]

[ Castiel rubs his temple, not quite certain whether he has a headache or is just annoyed.

It was a nightmare of a day, and he misses when things were as simple as just stabbing the closest demon. ]

Balthazar is good with the children.

[ Balthazar, it seems, has remembered their original purpose - shepherds, not enemies. ]

[Video]

[hadtoperishtwice]

Well, that's good.

[Not that he came off as the kind that got on with children to Sam, but who knew?]

To be fair, that may not have been the best way to handle things. Though I can certainly understand the impulse.

[Video]

[freetobe]

I've been... made aware. They don't wish to continue my employment unless I perform in the "proper" fashion.

[ Castiel looks frustrated. ]

It's the truth. We know that.

[Video]

[hadtoperishtwice]

It's the truth back home. Here could be a different story. [Unlikely, maybe, but it could be.] And even if it is...some people need to believe.

I mean, I'm all for discrediting the Bible as much as you can. People take that way too seriously. But for some people, their belief is all they have keeping them going.

[Video]

[freetobe]

[ Castiel knows what that feels like. He faltered when his faith was ripped to shreds. ]

They should find something better to believe in, then.

[ Because God... It breaks Castiel, but God is not the source of comfort he believed Him to be, either. ]

[Video]

[hadtoperishtwice]

[Sam shakes his head.]

I know you don't get it, but...even after everything we learned, everything we went through, I'm not mad at your dad. I mean, the whole thing was pretty shit, honestly, but the only way things could have ended as well as they did was if your dad wasn't around.

[Yes. Sam's had to do a lot of thinking about this. A lot. Even before he said yes.]

[Video]

[freetobe]

[ Good for you, Sam. Castiel can't let go of that anger just yet, that bite of disappointment.

Sam might be used to an absent father, but Castiel has never had to deal with having his faith ripped away like that before. ]

He could have helped.

[Video]

[hadtoperishtwice]

How could he have helped, Cas?

[It's not the easiest thing in the world, but Sam leans forward.]

This whole thing...we were fighting for free will, right? The chance to make our own choices and make them count. If your dad steps in and does everything, then nothing changes, really. For better or worse, this was something that had to fall on humans to handle.

video - later

[larker]

[Gabriel had caught it, he knows how to check tv listings and expects it to be horrifying and hilarious. Which it was, right up until the mention about God leaving, at which point Gabriel chokes on his coffee.

You can't say that!

The rest gets a few chuckles here, but the whole thing still sits uneasy with Gabriel.]

It's not about lying to preserve sentimentality, Castiel. It's about bringing hope to people at the expense of your own. Even I know that much.

video

[freetobe]

Why let them keep hoping? If there's anything I've learned this past year, it's that we are well and truly on our own.

[ He left. He doesn't want to help. He chooses not to.

Castiel spent months searching the world for Him, dying for His favored children, and in the end He didn't care one way or another. Why pretend otherwise? ]

video

[larker]

[As one of the few beings that has actually stood in God's presence, Gabriel can understand where Castiel is coming from. But this is heavenly politics, not something humans need to know about.]

Maybe. But that's not your place to tell them, or to make the choice to take that hope away.

video

[freetobe]

They asked me to speak about God. I see no point in obscuring the truth from them.

[ Or maybe it's bitterness. Maybe despite his years and despite the battles he's fought, Castiel has just always been a child looking for his father, and never found out how to deal with the wound left behind by the realization that his father doesn't care. That his hope was futile and foolish.

He once told Dean he believed God was out there, and that God was their only hope to save mankind. He feels betrayed for ever having put his faith and trust and blind servitude in this entity that created him. ]

video

[larker]

[Just rubs his forehead. Augh, why does he have to be the adult here? This? This was why Gabriel never returned to Heaven, because it would involve responsibility. And now in Heropa, he just can't avoid it. Well, he can, but that's not the point. Last thing anyone needs is Castiel's bluntness. Television stations would melt.]

Castiel, I keep forgetting you're still young. It is not your right to tell people that. I think you forget that they're not all Hunters that can fend for themselves.

video

[freetobe]

All the more important that they don't think someone will save them who stopped caring about any of us long ago.

[ He crosses his arms. Yeah, way to look like a petulant child. But really, Castiel is just all kinds of unhappy with the topic, with the job he's been given. ]

I can't tell them He cares and watches over them, when I know different, Gabriel. I know humans lie to get what they want, but I don't see the point in securing my living that way.

video

[larker]

Yeah, cause what you're doing is saying "hey, that thing that helps you strive to be better every day? Isn't there, too bad!" and leaving them alone with nothing. Not the nicest thing to do, Castiel.

Look, I get it. Just find another job or something if you can't tell a white lie to help people along the way. No big deal.

video

[freetobe]

How does that help them, Gabriel?

[ It didn't help him. He wishes, in retrospect, that he had just believed Raphael in that at least. It might have allowed him to put the energy and belief of knowing into finding other ways to help.

Or he'd have given up right away.

Castiel averts his eyes, not wanting to admit that Gabriel has a point, but not feeling comfortable with the lie that's hurt him so badly, too. ]

[Video - Later]

[celestialpervert]

[He's still laughing, face in his hands.]

You know in all honesty, Cassie, i don't think that could've gone any worse for them.

[Video - Later]

[freetobe]

I was going to talk about the Apocalypse.

[ Meaning.... oh, it could have gone a little worse at least. Castiel doesn't look amused, though there's something soft about his eyes. It tends to happen at his expense, but he does take some satisfaction in seeing those close to him laugh.]

Perma vid

[celestialpervert]

[There's silence before Balthazar bursts out laughing again, hard enough to fall off his chair.]

Oh fantastic! Just thing the people need to hear. The end is nigh! No wait it's already happened just somewhere else.

[freetobe]

It didn't happen, though.

[ Castiel looks perplexed, mainly because once again, he fails to understand just what Balthazar is laughing about exactly. There's a slight quirk to his lips, though, as if seeing Balthazar happy amuses him, too. ]

[celestialpervert]

Cassie, darling, not the point.

[He grins, looking at the other fondly.]

So, a tv Evangelist? And you actually showed up to work?

[freetobe]

[ Castiel shrugs slightly at this - the gesture is a little stiff, clearly copied, not learned naturally. ]

It seemed to be expected... and I believe I misunderstood the purpose of this occupation.

[celestialpervert]

Clearly. It's meant to sell religion, not truth.

Still, I got a laugh out of it.

[freetobe]

I'm glad you find it amusing. I'm simply baffled.

[ And mildly offended. ]

They expect me to describe our own kind as... loving and caring.