#angelbros

[super-sootica]

On the subject of swearing I really like the idea of everyone thinking Gabriel and Castiel are having these important and serious exchanges but really they are just casually insulting each other constantly

[super-sootica]

Okay, McFricking Screw It

Gabriel and Castiel, versus the repeating themes of failing and trying

13x21 Beat the Devil was a reflection and reversal of Meta Fiction 9x18 in relation to Gabriel and Castiel’s roles while also cementing that they do in fact have an understanding. 

Now, let’s just skip the hell over the ‘was that Gabriel, or wasn’t it?  In the Meta Fiction.  The point is that ‘they’ behaved like Gabriel and Castiel responded as such.

Now in 9x18 Castiel is still depressed, with little confidence and feels like a massive screw up for his role in what happened to heaven.

In 13x21  Gabriel is as Castiel, he feels like heaven wouldn’t want him back because he is a screw up. 

They are both in each circumstance seriously depleted of grace thanks to an outside wannabe.

Wannabe God = Metatron

Wannabe Devil = Asmodeus

Of course in both Metatron and Asmodeus’ cases they are jealous and possessive of Castiel and Gabriel respectively.  Metatron claims to want to be a new god but prances around in Castiel’s trench coat because he wants to be Cas, because God saw Castiel as special, which is what Metatron wants to be.

Asmodeus is furious when a demon claims to know Lucifer, owing to his own personal relationship to Lucifer and how it is ‘stronger’.  But it is Gabriel who he keeps and refers to as brother, it is Gabriel’s power that Asmodeus covets.  He may well have eventually tried to drain Lucifer, but that does not occur.  He thinks of Gabriel as his own.

So, how do you repair a broken rebel angel?

You send in another rebel angel to rally them.  Which is what Metatron knew, Metatron was an expert in stories, he knew what tool to use.  So he sent ‘Gabriel’ to rally his little brother Castiel in Metafiction to give Castiel his fight back.

9x18

GABRIEL The angels need a leader, and it's got to be somebody like us... somebody different. CASTIEL No. GABRIEL I know you don't want this burden, Castiel. Neither do I. CASTIEL What if I fail again? GABRIEL You won't. You can't. CASTIEL [suddenly pulls GABRIEL into a hug] Thank you. GABRIEL [hugging him back] Shut up.

And it works, to a certain extent it works, because after ‘Gabriel’ leaves Castiel in Metafiction, Castiel goes to work to repair his torn trench coat. 

*Announcer voice*  If you’re just joining us in meta land, Castiel’s trench coat is a metaphor for his ‘angel-ness’, his wings if you will’.  But not literally his wings.

So when the coat is torn it’s a strong reminder that his angel side is feeling worn out and no longer fit for purpose.  Castiel mending it himself is a sign of self care and him deciding to fight the good fight, and tend to his angel needs/desires...the fight.

Gabriel reassures Castiel throughout the episode...while mocking him. He scoffs at Castiel stating he is just a soldier.  He is willing to sacrifice himself for Castiel.  Of course it’s all an elaborate ruse, but it works because Castiel finally has someone to relate to, someone to bounce off of, and it’s as close to Gabriel as he is going to get. 

CASTIEL  I'm just a soldier.

GABRIEL Bitch, please. You've been God more often than Dad has.

CASTIEL (Chuckling) Yeah. Look how that worked out.

GABRIEL Well, go ahead. Be a soldier all you want. I'm gonna need as many as I can find.

CASTIEL Why are you doing this, Gabriel?

GABRIEL I always run...From Dad, from the family. I don't want to run anymore. I want to do what I was meant to do... lead.

CASTIEL Well, we need a leader. And I'm happy it's gonna be you.

So in Meta Ficition we have  a Gabriel that is done pretending and running, and wants to lead heaven.  And Cas is all for it.   Cas relates to Gabriel, who understands free will, he understands choice

And what of the events in S13?  A Gabriel who is now more serious, Castiel is suggesting in 13x21 that Gabriel lead heaven.  And the same logic applies ‘I’m useless, I’m a screw up heaven doesn’t want me, I’ll fail’.  All the mindset of Castiel and Gabriel retrospectively in each episode.  But Cas?  Following his rebirth and affirmed purpose in early S13 is far more bold and confident, so the roles reverse.  This time with Castiel assuring Gabriel who is done with tricks...more serious.  And considering leading heaven, with his soldier brother walking beside him.

13X21

GABRIEL  I skipped out on Heaven, Castiel.  They wouldn’t want me back.  As far as they’re concerned, I’m a screw-up.  Hell, as far as I’m concerned, I’m a screw-up.

CASTIEL Well, Heaven’s been run into the ground by upstanding angels, perhaps a screw-up is just the change we need.

Gabriel’s lines here could have been uttered by Castiel himself, about Castiel pre-season 13.  He is past his depression, he is in a position to encourage Gabriel.  Return the favour.  And though Gabriel is still ‘too weak’ throughout the episode.  He is getting there.  He moves with Castiel.  As a team.  They make a very successful pair, the one calming in the other in each case.  They are both growing up into leaders.

TL:DR: The subject of Gabriel leading which was alluded to in 9x18 has returned in 13x21, the angel brothers journeys mirror one another as they also reassure one another

[super-sootica]

Does anyone else nearly tear up when they see unexpected Gabriel and Castiel content on their dash or is that just me?  

They

Understand

Each other

[super-sootica]

Castiel: *Laughing and giggling in his chair*

Gabriel: And so I said, it's not even the size of my vector that counts babe

Castiel: It's how you apply the mass times the acceleration!

Gabriel: *Laughing*

Jack: *Laughing*

Sam: Jack, you understood all that?

Jack: No! But the other angels seem to understand physics and pop culture, and I just wanted to be included

Gabriel: It's okay, it's a little complicated. Like your whole parentage. You know like how Lucifer like made you with Kelly, but your more like Cas. It can be explained

Jack: So is Cas my true father?! Can you explain it to me?

Gabriel: Rest I must

[super-sootica]

So apparently people think Gabriel’s death doesn’t count if he was faking it.  If it was a fake blade.  Not saying it was a fake blade.  What I am saying is the idea of ‘death’ being the be all and end all of sacrifice is soo....un-fucking-inspired

Take Sam and Dean.  What would be more painful to them?  What would be the bigger sacrifice?  Death?  Or the end of their relationship?

!Spoiler alert! 

The answer is the end of their relationship.   Dying is easy young writers, living without your loved ones is harder

Gabriel loved Lucifer.  For him to betray Lucifer and to be so betrayed is far more painful than death.  Dying is easy my friends, living is harder.  For Lucifer and Gabriel both, death is easy.  Living with such a split...it’s so much harder.  It’s harder to see a loved one chose a cause over you

This moment is a dagger through their relationship.   Life and death be damned.  What even is death to an immortal?  It’s the blade slicing through their relationship that counts.

If you don’t understand why the end (or seeming end) of such a relationship hurts worse than death?  I can only assume that you’ve never truly loved in your life.  Dying is easy.  Living without the ones you love is harder

[super-sootica]

So has anyone compared 13x21 with Metafiction on the Gabriel/Castiel Cas interaction (as brothers you perverts!) or?

[super-sootica]

It really was painful when Metatron used Gabriel/disguised himself as Gabriel to influence Castiel.  And it worked, because Castiel actually does listen to Gabriel and was so relieved to have an angel around who understood him. 

Then he had to lose Gabriel again

[super-sootica]

Castiel: I have to escape this cell and get back to the Winchesters and Jack

Gabriel: Hi!

Castiel: Gabriel! What are you...? You really are alive! Good. Help me out of here

Gabriel: No!

Castiel: What? Why?!

Gabriel: You have to go missing for like ten years. Like I did!

Castiel: Why on earth would I?

Gabriel: For the DRRAMA...duh

Lucifer: This is why I killed him

Gabriel: Didn't take did it Lucy Loser?!