Meet the players of Grace’s Last Reward (AO3) ↳ Day 6 ✩ Castiel // June
“Oh dear…” Balthazar cooed at the look of faraway thought. “What is it?”
“Do you think…” Cass started, slowly looking up, “this could be the real thing?”
“In a The Ship That Never Sank sort of way, you mean?”
Castiel smiled brightly. “You’ve heard of it!”
“Mmm, yes, heard of it,” Balthazar waved his hand airily, “Something something insurance scam, no?”
“The Titanic had a sister ship called the Olympic,” Cass began to explain. “But it was damaged at sea and the owners wanted to dispose of it, so they disguised Olympic as Titanic and sunk it deliberately intending to collect the insurance. …or they would have, if it hadn’t hit the iceberg. That wasn’t intended.”
“And Titanic?”
“Became Olympic and served as a passenger liner for over 20 years, until dismantled in 1935.”
A somber expression filled Castiel’s face as he finished the tale.
“So I suppose it doesn’t really matter which ship was the real Titanic,” he added quietly. “Whether she sank or was retired, she no longer exists.”
Balthazar blinked uneasily at the sudden change of mood.
“Which do you think it was?” He managed a curious smile. “You are the expert.”
Cass smiled back, then shook his head. “I’m sure it was the real Titanic that was sunk.”
“Of course,” Balthazar nodded.
“…by the mummy’s curse.”
Halfway to the bedroom door, Balthazar turned back.
“Hang on, I know that one,” he said, waving a finger. Cass smiled, cocking his head inquisitively.
“Do you believe it?” he asked.
“I’d say you’d know better than me if it sank the Titanic,“ Balthazar returned the playful look.
“Well, there really was a mummy on board,” Castiel squared his shoulders intently, “and she was much more interesting than any curse.”
“Oh?”
“They called her a mummy, but her body was completely unembalmed,” Cass’ eyes brightened as he spoke. “She was perfectly preserved, like she was just sleeping.”
“How is that possible?” Balthazar shifted his weight, staring.
“You know how water makes up half or more of the human body?” Cass began to explain. “Apparently, all of the water in her body was frozen solid.”
“Then her tomb must have been like a freezer,” Balthazar offered. He was surprised when Castiel shook his head.
“I mean, maybe,” he said, “but the most incredible part is that she never melted. Not when they took her across the desert, not on the ship… Even after they recovered her from the wreckage and brought her ashore, she stayed froz–”
Cass’ eyes went wide, looking over Balthazar’s shoulder. Balthazar swung around, his blood cold.
Santa half-shrugged apologetically, her hand raised to knock at the door. Balthazar groaned faintly, rubbing his face.
“…sorry?”
Balthazar shook his head, motioning for her to continue. Santa straightened up and spoke.
“You didn’t find any matches, did you?”