#i'm not saying that thinking that he's great with a gun is blasphemy but the way it's often used as a rebuttal is. weird

[novankenn]

"Jaune Gets A Gun AU - Day 2" Another Rival - Tiny Tina

Inspired by @howlingday's weapon posts.

Jaune: It looks like they have a pretty good selection over there. Maybe we can...

????: J-Baby?

Pyrrha/Ruby: J-Baby?

Jaune: (Turning slowly) I KNOW that voice.

Jaune: TINA?!? Is that really you?

Tiny Tina: In the flesh, babe. Who are these... ladies?

Jaune: They're friends of mine from Beacon.

Tiny Tina: They look a little more than friends, and I don't think I like it. Nope, nope, nope, don't like it one bit.

Jaune: Stop kidding around, Tina. What brings you to the gun show? Last I heard, you were going after another vault.

Pyrrha: Jaune, who is this?

Jaune: (Rubs the back of his neck) Sorry, introductions. Pyrrha, Ruby this is Tiny Tina. She's a...

Tiny Tina: The most energetic, kick ass, explosive woman in his life!

Nora: (From out of thin air) Blasphemy! I'm Queen of that Castle, Girl!

The quartet looked about themselves in confusion. Jaune, Ruby and Pyrrha actually expecting Nora to appear from nowhere...

Tiny Tina: (Cackling in a slightly unhinged way) Oh, bring it, sister!

Nora: (Again from thin air) Oh, it's been brought, and then some!

Ruby: (Moving to stand slightly behind Jaune)Jaune she scares me.

Pyrrha: (Watching Tina argue with empty air) How do you know her?

Jaune: Well, we were best friends since kindergarten, and then she kind of just left when she was thirteen.

Ruby: Why did she leave?

Jaune: Something about locating a great treasure that would prove her worth to me and my mom?

Ruby/Pyrrha : *Thinking* Another Rival!

Tiny Tina: So J-Baby, what are you doing here? Aside from looking for my badass booty?

Jaune: Take off the mask. It's creepy and cute... but more creepy.

Tiny Tina: Fine.

Tiny Tina: Better?

Jaune: Better, and to answer your question, I'm here to find a gun.

Pyrrha and Ruby take a step back as Tina just starts laughing maniacally. In fact, she's laughing so hard that tears start rolling down her cheeks. Jaune just shakes his head and then gives her a light, almost gentle karate chop to the top of her head...

Tiny Tina: (Rubbing her head and pouting) Hey, what was that for?

Jaune: You were doing it again.

Tiny Tina: Oh, sorry about that.

Jaune: No worries.

Tiny Tina: So what is this about you wanting a gun? Cause, I distinctly remember when I WAS trying to teach you to shoot, you were saying, and I quote... Knightly Heroes Don't use guns...end quote.

Ruby: That was a pretty good impression of his voice.

Pyrrha: And it is totally something he would say.

Jaune: (Rubbing the back of his neck) Well, I've been shown the error of my ways. So why are you here?

Tiny Tina: Just wasting time waiting for my flight back to Ansel... which I don't have to take now.

Jaune: How come?

Tiny Tina: (Leering Grin) Because you're here, J-Baby... and you are even more fine than I thought you'd be. So what do you think?

Jaune: About?

Tiny Tina: Getting groovy and giving this Queen some sugar baby.

Ruby/Pyrrha: *GASP* No... No... NO...

Jaune: (Laughing) Stop kidding around, Tina.

Tiny Tina: (Moves dangerously close to Jaune) Whose kidding... Hail to the Queen, Baby.

Jaune: (Swallowing) Hey, um, getting a little close...

Tiny Tina: I have to if I want to... umph!

Jaune watches confused as Pyrrha and Ruby grab Tina from each side and physically drag her away from him.

Ruby/Pyrrha: Enough of that bitc...

Jaune: Swear Jar! Both of you!

Tiny Tina: (Sputtering) What the f...

Jaune: Swear Jar for you too, Tina!

Tiny Tina: (Looks at Ruby and Pyrrha) Is he serious about that?

Pyrrha: Unfortunately yes... now IF you would be so kind as to take a long walk off a short...

Jaune: Hey, seeing as I'm looking for a gun, and you are like Ruby and really know your guns, want to help?

Ruby: But she was just...

Tiny Tina: (Pulling herself free of Pyrrha and Ruby) Would love to J-Baby. So where to first?

Jaune: (Rubs the back of his neck) You have any suggestions, oh and Tina.

Tiny Tina: Yes?

Jaune: It's nice you kept the ears...

Tiny Tina: (Blushing) Why than...

Ruby: Alright, let's try out the booths over there! That group looks promising, right, Pyrrha?

Pyrrha: Yes, right. It looks... promising.

Jaune: Hey, I thought you guys said it looked unpro...

Tiny Tina: Shut-up, your face, and let's get shooting!

Jaune stumbles as Tina yanks him towards the booth in question, while Ruby and Pyrrha have a quick and silent conversation, with an instantly agreed upon outcome.

Ruby/Pyrrha: *Thinking* - Tina must go

Around a corner, barely suppressing her rage, Emerald watched it all, and came to a very similar conclusion...

Emerald: *Thinking* - He... SHE will be mine... after I remove you three.

(Will Jaune survive this twist of fate? Can the Ruby and Pyrrha handle even more competition for their Blond Knight? Is Tiny Tina the prophesized challenger to Queen Nora's reign? Will this author EVER get back to making gun jokes?)

[fuzzydreamin]

What The Companions Say About... The Children of Atom!

I'm posting these just because I find the companions in-game reactions to things rather interesting. You might be surprised by what some of them have to say about certain things.

These are just their dialogues for during combat and after combat or walking through areas inhabited by this enemy type. It does not include anything from specific areas, quests, or other dialogue.

⌨ Ada

⌨: I fail to see the logic in worshipping something that is clearly hazardous to your health. ⌨: These Children of Atom would certainly provide a fascinating subject for psychological research. ⌨: It's astonishing that the Children of Atom possess an uncanny immunity to radiation. ⌨: I wonder if these people are misunderstood or simply out of their minds? ⌨: Ma'am, we may want to see if these people possess any useful gamma-based technology.

☘ Cait

☘: These bastards are out of their mind. ☘: Worshippin' radiation. These nobs are a crazy lot. ☘: Don't even try and reason with these lunatics. Dyin' is all they need to understand. ☘: {Sarcastic} Whoever this Atom guy is, he sounds like a real piece of work. ☘: Better keep that Rad Away handy unless you wanna start coughin' up blood.

⚙ Codsworth

⚙: Nutjob sighted! ⚙: Watch out for their radiation guns!

⚙: {tsk, tsk - a sad fact} Children of Atom they call themselves. What terrible blasphemy. ⚙: These "Children of Atom" are terribly misguided. ⚙: {light hearted bravado} A right shame the looney bins have all closed down. ⚙: {jolly bravado/ Confident} My circuits are impervious to radiation. Feel free to stand behind me, mum. ⚙: {Concerned} Hope you have RadAway with you, mum.

⚕ Curie

⚕: These Children. They are very odd, yes? ⚕: So these Children of Atom worship radiation? Would not the sun be a more appropriate focus for their adorations? ⚕: I think these Children should seek psychiatric attention. ⚕: The Children's willing exposure to radiation makes them fascinating specimens. ⚕: Someone should tell the Children about the dangers of radiation, I think.

♞ Danse

♞: {This is an affront to you on multiple levels.} Humans that worship radiation? I don't even know where to begin… ♞: {Proud} Whoever this "Atom" is, I bet he's no match for the might of the Brotherhood. ♞: Keep that RadAway at the ready. You're going to need it. ♞: The Children of Atom are nothing but a cult filled with lowlife scum.

🕶 Deacon

🕶: All the comforts of a cult without leaving your irradiated crater. Join the Children of Atom. 🕶: Why would anyone ever join the Children? That's what I want to know. 🕶: Capital Wasteland. Exports: purified water, some decent tech, oh, and an insane suicidal cult that worships radiation. Thanks, guys. 🕶: I always feel unclean killing those Atom guys. That's probably just the radiation poisoning talking, though. 🕶: Great more Children of Atom.

☣ Hancock

☣: {Neutral} You know I like rads, too, but you don't see me killin' folks over 'em. ☣: {Amused} Never was one for cults myself. Too organised for my taste. ☣: {Neutral} The Children of Atom tried to recruit folks from Goodneighbor once. And only once. ☣: {Amused} Hmm. Nice area, plenty of rads. If it weren't for the nut jobs, this'd be my kinda place. ☣: {Concerned} I'd keep your RadAway handy round these folks.

☸ Longfellow

☸: {Disdain} Bunch of nut jobs, worshippin' radiation like that. ☸: {Disdain} I've seen some crazy folk in my years, but there ain't none crazier than the Children of Atom. ☸: {Disdain} There's no talkin' sense to this lot. They've gone off the deep end. ☸: {Disdain} Can't fathom it… why would someone pretend to believe in somethin' that ain't real?

⨁ MacCready

⨁: Why the hell would you worship radiation? Makes no sense. ⨁: I met plenty of weirdos in my day, but these bozos are off the scale. ⨁: If any of this makes sense to you, I don't even want to know about it. ⨁: Talk about delusional… these freaks think that the Great War was a holy event. ⨁: Don't even bother trying to talk to any of these psychopaths.

♥ Nick

♥: {Stern} Someone needs to put these children to bed. ♥: {Neutral} Hope you took your Rad-X. ♥: {Neutral} Never understood cults. I guess some folks just prefer being told what to do. ♥: {Neutral} Probably safe to assume these folks were looney before the rads.

✉ Piper

✉: {Pity / Neutral} If there were ever people more in need of the truth… ✉: {Neutral} Let's not linger, all right? I'm worried my teeth might start falling out. ✉: {Neutral} Worshipping the atom doesn't seem so crazy when you realise what it's capable of… wait, no, I hear it now. That did sound crazy. ✉: {Question} You got enough RadAway to share? ✉: {Neutral} Poor brainwashed dolts. Wish they'd listen to reason.

☀ Preston

☀: Those guys make raiders seem pleasant. ☀: They didn't seem to be in a talking mood. ☀: How do they get new members if they kill everyone they meet? ☀: Worshipping radiation… that's straight up crazy. ☀: I think those cultists are beyond reasoning with.

☢ Strong

☢: Some humans like glow. ☢: All humans sound same when they die. ☢: These humans not have milk of human kindness. ☢: Strong kill these humans.

☾ X6-88

☾: {Cocky} Nothing I love more than airing out these deranged lunatics. ☾: {Irritated} Hope you've got some meds for radiation poisoning. ☾: {Disdain} Why the hell anyone would worship radiation is beyond me. ☾: Spend too much time around these psychotics, and your skin will fall off. ☾: {Disdain} There's not a shred of humanity left in these fanatics.

-----

My Notes:

I do wonder how much of the Childrens' radiation resistance is simply down to those without it having already died or ghoulified. A bias result of sorts.

Cait confirms that coughing up blood is a symptom of radiation poisoning in the fallout world.

"My circuits are impervious to radiation." That's not how electronics and radiation works. How is this possible, Codsworth? I get you don't have skin to fall off or blood to spit, but that shit would still do some damage to the internals.

Danse. I don't think the Brotherhood can take on literal gods. Especially ones who may actually be real...

Also the "This is an affront to you on multiple levels." note, once again hinting at Danse's teeny little religious leanings.

"Too organised for my taste." makes me chuckle. The only cult Hancock needs is that of Dionysus.

"The Children of Atom tried to recruit folks from Goodneighbor once. And only once." Damn, you give em the Allan Lee treatment?

"I met plenty of weirdos in my day, but these bozos are off the scale." ... Some might say... the geiger scale? ... I'll see myself out.

"How do they get new members if they kill everyone they meet?" Great question! I have the same one for raiders though. And Gunners. And everything else in this game. I assume they're at least a little nicer in lore. They can't all be imports from the friendler southern cults.

Also, Preston, your list of things you dislike more than raiders grows quite a bit. For the anti-raider guy they sure aren't at the top of your list.

Strong thinks raiders and Gunners might have the milk, but not Children.

[mxldito]

Dinner Diary #6

CW: Religious imagery, potential blasphemy.

"Ever watch Dirty Harry, gramps?" The poor old fool couldn't believe his fucking luck. Too wounded to reach his rifle, he stared down the barrel of my gun instead. "Are you feeling lucky?" Are these guys allowed to watch R-rated movies? I haven't been to church in ages.

There goes it. Coming, coming, here. The Resignation of Lead. Luck and hope did not live here.

Will Heaven come to him in the form of a semi-rimmed case with a diameter of .500 inches? Do you think they let killers into Heaven? Do they get to be saints? If I'm sorry enough, would I be spared the flames of Hell? Would he? "Any idea where you're going?"

Cold greys settled on the black hole before him with no interest in looking anywhere, so I lowered my toy. "Over here. To the eyes made in the image of God's Wrath." I crouched down to him. Blood, gun powder, and frankincense swimming in the air.

His tired, wrinkled body shifted under the black fog they call a cassock. "Eyes. . . The mark of Cain." Sputtering fine red, hitting my cheeks. I didn't mind.

"So the story goes. I can't say I don't believe it." Like a puppet, he falls into me as I pull him off the wall. I feel it. Heat being leeched away from the hole I put in his belly. "Stay with me. If only a little longer, Father. You seem in good health. Or rather seemed. If only you hadn't come alone. Maybe you'd have gotten to lead mass tomorrow morning. I have people to lead too. I'd hate to leave them waiting for me, only to never arrive. They'd never know what happened to me." Poor old fool, loose, disintegrating. God's special little grain of sand.

He lay across my lap, his head heavy in my arm while my hand dug around under my jacket. "Who put it into that foolish old head to come looking for me?" He was lucky it was me and not Morgan. I don't feel like scraping old man off the ceiling.*

Aimlessly, he looked into the Great Beyond, "Demon." He was hurting, confused.

"God, eh? Here to root out the Agents of Satan. Yeah, yeah." I found my rosary and slipped it off, lending him a grasp on it. "I entrust you to you creator, but if only you'd entrust me to mine."

The same one. "And yet. . .I can't bring myself to respect you lot."

His eyes found me once again. My teeth this time. The Resignation of Bone. "I grant you the mercy God never granted me. Feel lucky." A sad whimper, legs flexing, and with his last strength burned his nails into my skin. Ten little crescents. Ten months? I drank until he bled no more.

I hope Morgan helps me get rid of his body. . .

-Good morning.

*Priest paste. Lol.

[rei-ismyname]

My pleasure! Ask culture seems to be waning a bit the last few years, but I'm delighted to have any excuse to talk X-Men, so please ask em if you got em :). I'll answer.

Agreed! Marvel is not nearly as diverse as it pretends to be, either on page or the creators, so new black characters that feel like real people are great. I didn't know that about Eve, thanks, good to know they're in careful hands.

I hear you re: Bendis. I'm also not a fan, and he's done a lot of damage to characters in his time - usually women and minorities. Or both.

I hadn't picked up on that intersectionality aspect so thanks for laying it out. I really need to reread champions.

Good call on Calico. Looks like I missed a trick there too. That makes her much more interesting and I want to know more too. The goblin thing did take me out of it a bit but that makes so much sense.

There's been a few mutants with dead manipulation, though I'd have to hit the wiki to name any other than Threnody. I kinda liked the OTT-ness of their syntax and aesthetic, though YMMV of course on that and the name Deathdream. I think I benefited by seeing them on page before being exposed to solicits and other extramedia sources so I can take them a little more seriously. But yeah, writers can and will always find a way. I'll never not be pissed about Darwin.

Agreed with everything you said about Jitter. There's been quite a scattergun approach to these first two issues and From The Ashes in general, IMO. A lot of Chekhov's Guns and Gunmen being loaded, with my fondest wish being anything NEW.

Yeah, I think it's inherently harder to make us care about four characters than one. Hoping nobody gets fridged like Harvey X did. It might be blasphemy to say that about Gail Simone, I just have little faith in her boss tbh.

No comment on Wolverine's solo since you haven't read it, but I can't help but feel like his character is regressing a bit. Or maybe it's that he's being moved more in line with his movie and TV characterisation.

I really appreciate that you like my page. I do it because I enjoy it and the freedom of writing about what I want without money being a factor. Anyone willingly paying attention to it is wonderful.

Have a great day.

Do you have any thoughts about the new mutant kids from both exceptional and Uncanny?

Hey!

I loved Trista from Exceptional. They're likeable, vulnerable, really personable, kind but willing to push back against some pretty fucked up oppression. You only get one shot at a first impression and the moment a young mutant 'manifests' is a classic for a reason. It's tough to get all that across when a character is going through something terrifying and traumatic, but I think Ewing pulled it off well.

We get to meet their grandmother briefly who's super cool, and I found it endearing that they reached for friendship with Kitty. I'm not the right person to break down the race/mutant dichotomy there, but it shouldn't surprise that they look for allies and strengths in response to such an incident. I have a feeling we're going to see more of them and I'm eager. We've seen so many new mutants come and go without sticking around and it's one of the few sources of lasting change Marvel has.

Definitely a sweet and character establishing sequence.

As for the kids in Uncanny, we don't really get to know them very well. There's four of them (except one is not a mutant and says multiple racist/weird things) and the fight is super contrived IMO. It's like woo here's these kids, and we're fighting them for some reason, and they're winning for some reason, then they're not. It showed us they can throw hands which is cool, but I couldn't tell you their names or powers without looking them up and I've read that book double digit times to review it.

Dirty goblins, WTF? The goth kid is great though. I'm a sucker for weird goths that say odd shit and have gnarly powers. Not sure what those powers are, but the army of dead folks behind them are a hint as to what a 'Cyanide Dream' is. Could they be this Endling (last of their kind) people keep talking about? Maybe.

Super weird that two separate children have yelled that Rogue is hot in both issue 1 and 2 of Uncanny. I don't really get it tbh. For that matter, Rogue keeps talking about sex at odd moments.

Here's where we meet them properly. Deathdream sticks out again for me, simply because they're not talking like you'd expect them to. They could be just a goth kid who says fucked up stuff, or they could have wild death powers. Likely both. Them stinking of death is interesting, and I flipping the question back on 'Logan of the Trees' in Japanese (that they know he understands)was slick. Not sure I trust them but I want to know more.

Jitter didn't make much of an impression yet, and Ransom would be the same except for the 'Brotherhood' comment. (I swear that better not be about the Alaskan X-Men.) Calico... I'm not sure. I need to see more tbh. As a group I'm curious and see potential, and I'd like to see where this goes both narratively and characterisation-wise. 50/50 they're not what they seem, and I wonder what 'voice' directed them here. Xavier?

Thanks for the ask! What did you think of them?

[loveinterestcastiel]

sursum corda

Part one of a new canon divergent series, “A Sacrament to Be Taken Kneeling”

Summary: the opening dialogue to the eucharistic prayer, or anaphora, translated to english means “lift up your hearts”, and is the beginning of a devout worshipper’s holy communion with god

Canon divergent from 6x22, this one is rated M for religious blasphemy, power dynamics, and mature subject matter (later installments will be rated E for violence, sexual content, and graphic depictions of blood). Honestly this is just a fucked up exploration of the catholicnatural that could have been if the spn writers hadn’t been cowards and had instead really leaned into the whole Godstiel thing, and his dynamic with Dean. I’m going to hell for this and you know what? That’s just fine with me.

It can be read here or in AO3! Enjoy <3

Castiel was brighter than the sun, and he was beautiful. He was the most terrifying thing Dean had ever seen, because somewhere in there, he could still see Cas, the old Cas. He let Crowley go. Dean was going to kill that demon, but- later. Later, when they got out of here and got Sammy put back together.

Then Castiel blew Raphael up with nothing more than a snap of his fingers, and their most formidable adversary, after all these months, was suddenly just a bloody smear on the wall. The last Apocalyptic threat, gone, just like that, leaving Dean and Bobby alone with a Cas-gone-nuclear.

They were so, so fucked.

Cas looked over to Dean, his face softening incrementally but still distinctly smug.

"So you see," he said, turning away from Dean and moving as if to inspect his explosive handiwork, "I saved you."

Dean Winchester is saved.

“You sure did, Cas,” Dean said faintly, drifting further into Cas’s orbit as if somehow compelled. Castiel didn’t acknowledge him, keeping his back turned, his spine ramrod straight. Damage control. Holy fucking shit, damage control right now. “Thank you.”

“You doubted me. Fought against me.” He slowly turned to face Dean, a mockery of their first meeting in that rundown barn years ago, tilting his head the same way, his blue eyes the same limitless color and just as mesmerizing, but somehow about a million times more unsettling. “But I was right all along.”

Dean’s stomach swooped. “Okay, Cas, you were. We’re sorry,” he added quickly, his breath shallow and shaky. “Now let’s just defuse you, okay?” he suggested, the words cumbersome and heavy in his mouth.

Cas narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly before relaxing again. “What do you mean?” he asked icily.

Dean forged on desperately. “You’re full of nuke. It’s not safe, so before the eclipse ends, let’s get them souls back to where they belong.” Oh, he felt like he was going to be sick. Please, Cas, please just listen to me…

“Oh, no, they belong with me,” Cas countered, his tone almost patronizing, like he was speaking to a child.

“No, Cas,” Dean interrupted before his brain or his fear could catch up to him. “It’s- it’s scrambling your brain.”

“No, I’m not finished yet,” he said firmly, with the ghost of a cold smile tugging on his features. “Raphael had many followers, and I must-” Cas paused, choosing his words, “punish them all severely,” he finished deliberately.

Bobby’s eyes darted over to Dean. He was visibly horrified.

Okay. One last effort. Okay.

Dean shoved down his fear and tried again. “Listen to me.” He stepped closer to Cas, swallowing hard as his voice fought to stick in his throat and looking steadily into his eyes. “Listen- I know there’s a lot of bad water under the bridge. But we were family, once,” he pleaded. “I’d have died for you. I almost did a few times.” Castiel’s face remained impassive but Dean continued. “So if that means anything to you- please,” he begged, abandoning his pride. “I’ve lost Lisa, I’ve lost Ben, and now I’ve lost Sam. Don’t make me lose you too.”

Castiel wrenched his eyes away from Dean’s and cast his gaze down to the floor between them. Was he considering it?

“You don’t need this kind of juice anymore, Cas,” he tried to reason. “Get rid of it before it kills us all.”

A beat.

“You’re just saying that because I won,” Cas mused, raising his gaze back up to look at Dean again, pinning him there like a specimen under a microscope. “Because you’re afraid . You’re not my family, Dean,” he said, closing the remaining distance between them until he stood less than an arm’s reach away, positively radiating power, the air vibrating with it. “You’re just… human.”

His eyes lingered on Dean’s face, tracing his freckles, his eyelashes. Whatever he was looking for, he didn’t seem to find it. Castiel’s face hardened into stone, his next words iron. “I have no family.”

The words rang in Dean’s ears, banging about his brain and battering it into despair. It felt like a small death, his heart pulling on his ribs as he floundered for a new angle to pursue.

And then Sam was there, behind Castiel, and he just stabbed him with an angel blade, and Cas was swaying just a bit with the blade still stuck in his back as Sam gasped for air behind him, clearly distressed and stumbling backwards.

Dean froze, horrified.

What the FUCK were you thinking, Sam?

But- oh. Oh god.

Cas wasn’t dead. It didn’t work. His brain buzzed blankly with a static-y sensation of bewilderment as Cas reached around himself and pulled out the blade- shiny, clean, utterly free of blood- with an alarming squelching noise.

"I'm glad you made it, Sam," Cas said in a distressingly level voice, placing the newly-extricated angel blade on the table in front of him before turning to glance at Sam. “But the angel blade won’t work, because I’m not an angel anymore,” he said, matter-of-fact as could be, as if he hadn’t just dropped yet another massive bomb on their lives. Sam looked to Bobby, his eyes wide, and Bobby shrugged back minutely, similarly floored.

Look at me, Cas, leave Sammy alone, you’ve done enough-

As if he heard Dean’s thoughts- fuck, was he praying?- Castiel turned back to Dean and met his eyes. “I’m your new God,” he said, with an air of authority and immense self-satisfaction permeating his words. “A better one. So you will bow down and profess your love unto me, your Lord. Or I shall destroy you.”

Bobby’s eyes widened in the periphery of Dean’s vision as time seemed to swirl and slow down to a crawl- clearly, he hadn’t expected this either.

Sammy was strung out and swaying on his feet behind Cas, his eyes darting and rolling over the room as he rode out the hellish things that tormented him in his head, seemingly incapable of reacting to the gravity of the situation as what Cas had done put him out of his mind with fear.

In the span of a heartbeat, Dean made his choice. He had no choice.

He fell to his knees.

The crack of bone on hard tile was near agony. His gun clattered uselessly to the ground beside him as he shifted his gaze to land somewhere around the hem of Castiel’s coat. He couldn’t look at his face. Couldn’t meet his eyes. It was almost impossible to believe the terrifying figure before him was once his closest friend, and had saved him from Heaven and Hell alike before he had turned into whatever this was.

His throat was dry. He forced himself to swallow, drawing his tongue over his bottom lip as he tried to find the right words.

Bobby started to kneel, too. Survival instincts, probably. He’d have never gotten this old without them, anyway.

“My lord,” he began hesitantly.

The new God waved his hand dismissively at the title. “Castiel.”

“Castiel,” Dean corrected himself. Great start, you fuck up. “Cas, I swore my obedience to Heaven, once. To God, and his angels. To you,” his voice cracked as he risked a glance at the former angel. His eyes were like fire. Glowing. Unreal.

Bobby interrupted: “Dean, no-”

But Castiel snapped up a hand, palm out, and Bobby’s mouth moved, but no sound came out. “You will be silent,” Castiel ordered, his eyes never leaving Dean. He looked intrigued by Dean’s sudden compliance and admission. “I’d like to hear what you have to say, Dean. What can you possibly say to justify your lack of faith in me up until now? I could have cast you back into the pit, and Sam, too, had I not done this, all of it, for you.”

“I know you did, Cas,” Dean said. “Thank you. I- thank you. You were right, about everything, and I should have listened to you. I was wrong. I should have trusted you.” The words tasted like poison in his mouth. A part of him meant it. A part of him was just desperate enough to say anything. The rest of him wanted to see the cold monster in front of him dead. But how could he turn back now, without sentencing them all to death? If he played his cards right, he might even be able to save Castiel. Surely if he could get him to let go of those souls, he’d start to see reason, would be Cas again. But he was getting ahead of himself. Gotta think a little more short-term, right now. Band-aids and duct tape, not trauma surgery.

“I was blind,” Dean said, “and proud. I took you for granted, and I can do better. Be better. For- for you.”

He had never felt so weak. Groveling to his dad was different. He was his dad’s son, sure, but there was no love there. It was all survival, clinical, even his rage and his fists when Dean didn’t do enough to earn his mercy were detached. Duty and discipline and disappointment. This was different. It was hot with near-tears, messy and filled with grief for a man who wasn’t even dead. He wasn’t lying earlier when he told Cas he was like a brother to him. It was the closest comparison he had for what the angel was to his heart. He had never needed anyone like he needed Castiel- because he wasn’t Sammy, or Bobby, or Lisa, or Ben, or Cassie, or any other category of need. He was just Cas. And Dean wanted him in his life. Or he used to, anyway.

“I don’t know what I can do to make it right between us, Cas,” he said, his throat tightening slightly. “But I want to,” Dean offered, looking down in shame. “I want to be-” he choked out.

“What do you want, Dean?” Castiel asked, taking another step forward, the very picture of authority and control. One more step and Dean could reach out and touch him. The air was electric, heady with power as it positively radiated from his body.

He lifted his head to meet Castiel’s eyes in a pose of supplication, his knees aching, his eyes burning with tears as the situation started to overwhelm him. “I want to be forgiven,” he gasped out. “Cas, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please forgive us.”

“And Sam’s betrayal?” Castiel inquired, casting new fear into Dean’s heart. “He stabbed me in the back. And he has not knelt as you have. Why should I offer him mercy?” he mused.

“Look at him, Cas,” Dean said quietly. Sam was hunched over on the floor in the corner, holding his head in his hands, rocking slightly into the wall and pushing off of it again in a strange repetitive motion. “He can’t follow any of this. I don’t think he even knows where we are. It’s been getting worse as time passes. He was slightly more coherent an hour ago, but-” Dean shook his head. “I think he was just trying to protect me. I don’t think he even knew who you were, just- saw a threat and tried to take it out.”

Cas made a noncommittal little noise, glancing over to where Sam had retreated.

“Cas,” Dean said, drawing his attention back to himself. “He didn’t know what he was doing. Can you try to forgive him that?” he pleaded as the first tear escaped and ran down his cheek.

“And in return?”

“Anything,” Dean swore. “Just- Cas, please. I’ll do anything. I will, I swear it. Just please help Sammy.”

“It won’t be as easy as you think,” Castiel warned. “I want your trust, Dean. I want the bond we once had, and your submission to my better judgement, untainted by your... fear.” His voice turned hungry, reminiscent of when they worked that killer Cupid case last year and it turned out to be Famine. To be on the receiving end of desire of that magnitude was by turns exhilarating and horrifying. “I want your love.”

“Cas,” Dean said faintly, unable to tear his eyes away from his friend’s face even as Bobby attempted to fight his holy gag order from his place next to him. “I… I’ll try. For you,” he added, trying to add a note or resolve to his voice as his thoughts roared in fear and grappled with the idea, stuck on the precipice of this terrible new unknown he had run up against. But he truly had no choice. Sink or swim.

“I swear, Cas,” he said, raising his hand to his heart, “I’ll try.”

Castiel’s eyes softened. They stopped glowing.

Suddenly, for a moment, he looked just like himself. More than that, he looked heartbreakingly human.

He moved suddenly, sending Dean’s heart sprinting again for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

But he didn’t hurt him. He didn’t hurt Sam, or smite Bobby, or engage in any sort of holy wrath. He just kneeled, in front of Dean, and clasped his clammy hands briefly in his own warm, dry ones before shifting them both to his right hand and raising his right palm to Dean’s cheek, his eyes darting over his features with an air of disbelieving gratitude. It was so...

Castiel had lovely hands, Dean noticed. Strong, soft, and broad, with a gentle grip and long, agile fingers. So different from Dean’s own hands, already scarred from the last few years of wear and tear since his resurrection. Of course, he’d noticed before. Noticed that sort of thing about Castiel, how he used his hands to fight, to pray, to eat and to comfort, how they looked drenched in blood and how they looked at rest. How they looked striking a blow to his own face, and how they looked when he healed him. They were one of a million things Dean knew about him better than he knew himself.

“Oh, Dean,” he said softly, “That’s all I ask of you. Just try. Lift up your heart to me, and I will give you everything.”

Dean inhaled sharply, his chest tight as he leaned into the touch. "It's yours," he breathed out, "It's all yours, Cas."

Castiel smiled, and the world fell away.

Tagging in some people who I think might be interested, just dm me to be added or removed: @castieljew @dependsupon @autisticandroids @sunforgrace @heller-jensen @lateral-org @cactuscas @adhdeancas @icaruscastiel @holmesemrys @evermorecastiel @yana125 @faithcastiel @good-things-do-happen-dean @i-sing-for-me @whatevr-4evr @sonder-stars @jeanne-de-valois

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 (Disc 2)

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 (Disc 2)

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.

[dylanradio]

Now Playing on DylanRadio.com: Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan from Gods and Generals soundtrack

I cross the green mountain, i slept by the stream Heaven blazin' in my head, i dreamt a monstrous dream. Somethin' came up out of the sea Swept through the land of the rich and the free. I look into the eyes of my merciful friend And then i ask myself, is this the end? Memories linger, sad yet sweet And i think of the souls in heaven who will meet. Altars are burnin' with flames far and wide The foe has crossed over from the other side They tip their caps from the top of the hill You can feel them come, more brave blood to spill. Along the dim Atlantic line The ravaged land lies for miles behind The light's comin' forward and the streets are broad All must yield to the avengin' God. The world is old, the world is gray Lessons of life can't be learned in a day. I watch and i wait an' i listen while i stand To the music that comes from a far better land. Close the eyes of our captain, peace may he know His long night is done, the great leader is laid low. He was ready to fall, he was quick to defend Killed outright he was, by his own men. It's the last day's last hour of the last happy year I feel that the unknown world is so near. Pride will vanish and glory will rot But virtue lives and cannot be forgot. The bells of the evening have rung There's blasphemy on every tongue. Let 'em say that i walked in fair nature's light And that i was loyal to truth and to right. Serve god and be cheerful, look upward, beyond Beyond the darkness of masks, the surprises of dawn. In the deep green grasses of the blood stained wood They never dreamed of surrenderin', they fell where they stood. Stars fell over Alabama, i saw each star You're walkin' in dreams, whoever you are. Chilled are the skies, keen is the frost The grounds froze hard and the morning is lost. A letter to mother came today Gun shot wound to the breast is what it did say. But he'll be better soon, he's on a hospital bed But he'll never be better, he's already dead. I'm ten miles outside the city an' i'm lifted away In an ancient light that is not of day They were calm, they were blunt, we knew 'em all too well We loved each other more than we ever dared to tell.