Title: Spawn

Prompt: Written for wandersfound on livejournal: Castiel makes it his mission to understand Dean's pop culture references next time he returns to earth. He works on this by playing Trivial Pursuit with with various minor characters in heaven.

"Good evening, Jo."

Jo whimpered, but didn't turn around. That would be a sign of weakness. Stronger animals pounced at signs of weakness. "We're kinda busy here, Cas. Do you need something?"

Note to self: "Do you need something?" needs to go the same way as "Can I do something for you?" when faced with literal (and deviously manipulative) angels.

"Yes, please. I have discovered a new subspecies and require the assistance of you and your mother to master it."

Not another one, Jo sobbed inside. Please, not another one. Do they spawn or something? What have I done to deserve this?

Outside, she turned and gave the slightly incredulous glance upwards that could shame a Winchester at 20 paces. Sadly, it didn't work on their guardian angel, but Jo gave it her all.

"And it can't wait until closing?" she pulled her best Mom-voice.

"I find it better to deal with these things while the lore is still fresh in my mind," Castiel returned with falsified obliviousness.

Jo would not look. She refused. She kept her eyes trained on the angel's pretty face and big blue eyes. She . . . couldn't resist sating her dang curiosity.

And tucked innocuously under the angel's arm, half-obscured by a fold of trench coat was the helpless cardboard box bearing the words Star Wars Trivial Pursuit.

Now that Jo thought about it, there was a hole the shape of the Millennium Falcon in the angel's grasp of pop culture. It didn't mean she wouldn't be sending a message to earth asking Bobby to look into the den of evil that produced the board game in all of its annoying variations. Obviously, there was demonic influence at work here.

Why else would the new Sheriff of Heaven was wasting his time with a board game? Jo knew what Crowley was up to when the slippery snake suggested Trivial Pursuit to the angel at the last debriefing. The demon was undermining Heaven from within for his eventual take-over.

And no one had noticed except for Jo . . . who was promptly discounted as a bad loser after 6 rounds of the original Trivial Pursuit. It had taken the unholy alliance of Victor Hendrikson and Ash in order to topple Castiel from his winning streak.

Then they had moved on to Harry Potter Trivial Pursuit, and then Disney (Gabriel had sulked for weeks after losing that one, and Castiel breaking out in song stopped being funny after the second round of "Whistle While You Work").

John showed up from time to time, shame-faced and quiet until drunk enough to debate the finer points of 1980s television with both Dad and Mom.

This wasn't even taking into consideration the upheaval that came with the Gallagher Factor, when Andy smoked them all at Genius Editions 1 & 2, plus Book Lovers. Or the Cupids being driven to tears over the Country Music expansion pack.

Castiel began to cheat.

All signs of demonic take-over plans at work. The host should be thanking Jo for her efforts to cut their leader off now.

She was strong. She could do this. Really.

"I don't think we have the ti-"

"Castiel! Where have you been, boy? Is that the new game ya told me about?"

And Jo's night hit a new low. Her mother was conspiring with the enemy behind her back. "Mom, the bar . . ." she tried.

"Ain't no one in here who hasn't got the time for a round of Trivial Pursuit . . . or two," Ellen announced, that suspiciously evil gleam in her eye. Big bad hunters subtly inched towards the door. "Ash, get on out here. We got company!"

"I shall set it up," Castiel offered virtuously.

Ellen patted his cheek. "I'll just get us some beers and those brownies that Mary sent over. C'mon, Jo, and help me."

Jo could do nothing, but trail behind her mother. "Why?" she hissed as soon as they were out of view. Not earshot, but with angels, you had to take what you could get. "Why do you encourage him?"

"'Cause it's so dang adorable, I could just spit," Ellen grimaced as she worked. "And besides, if it'll make Dean Winchester look like a fool, I've just got to be part of it."

Jo peered outside. They'd already accumulated Ash, both senior Winchesters, an archangel, and Jimmy Novak. Also Pam was taking an unhealthy interest in the proceedings.

"Break out the wings, Joanna Beth. Looks to be a real party."