Well, that's what I mean, though. He would have been having them in purgatory, if that was the case, since I assume there was no alcohol there.

But it also wouldn't have been real appealing to show, and it would probably have landed in Very Special Episode territory. So I mostly assume we're going to see Dean drinking pretty habitually as long as the show goes on, just more or less depending on his state of mind.

Like, right now I don't see him taking swigs from the flask on the sly, you know?

He was also being a bit of a smartass here though. So I don't k ow that the math adds up to more than "a lot. No, really, a lot." Which I don't find surprising, or especially concerning, all things considered.

He was being smartassed, but I didn't get the impression he told "her" anything that wasn't true. Since they've been really clear about him entering the motel rooms with a six pack, and sipping on a tumblr while researching, I don't see any narrative reason to think his drinking is more that Sam's, for instance--Sam doesn't not drink, Sam probably drinks more than anyone here, and not just because he's the size of a door, but because hunters do, but Sam think Dean is drinking like vitamins.

It's one of the things I like about the show that they didn't draw a flashing arrow to it for years, and then there was no moral learning moment, and he's still knocking them back.

I don't know if those fans who thought he'd been cured by finding a home because he drank coffee twice in an episode think that he's totally stopped drinking or that he's just tapering off, but since he was drinking while researching in that ep (Remember The Titans), I'm not seeing a message there.

right now I don't see him taking swigs from the flask on the sly, you know?

Was he sly before, though? He seemed to be fairly up front about it.

In terms of things they didn't bother think through in Purgatory--Dean kept his tidily short hair and mostly smooth face (I can wank the shaving, not the haircut), but Cas grew hair. When drawing him the other day I tried to think of what that sensation is for an angel--is he so divorced from his vessel and has bigger fish to fry so this is nothing, or is he grossed out by the shole process and maybe sees it as more penance for his sins.

There were times in S4 when I had the impression he was trying not to broadcast it, if not actively hide it. But I could be wrong.

I'm sure my sister (who just met Cas (and Ruby, although she doesn't know...)) will give me the drinking breakdown. Oh, she's in for some badassery and crying now....I'm trying to balance my excitement with S4 with my guttedness at Sam and Ruby and not spoil her in any way.

In terms of things they didn't bother think through in Purgatory--Dean kept his tidily short hair and mostly smooth face (I can wank the shaving, not the haircut), but Cas grew hair.

Am I imagining that ... someone had a scene sitting at the water's edge and knife shaving? Because, I'll admit, I think it's really hot and I could have just imagined it as a happy place. But it feels like it might have happened somewhere in Purgatory. Though since I can't remember if it was Dean or Cas, I should maybe accept I might have just imagined it.

There were times in S4 when I had the impression he was trying not to broadcast it, if not actively hide it.

Not actively hide, but certainly drawing no obvious attention to it.

But ita !'s sister will be watching more scientifically and now.

One of the things that attracts me to his drinking so much is that he doesn't make noise about it, Sam doesn't try and get him to dry out--I'd imagine the worst issue would be if he were stealing Rufus' good stuff, you know? They don't have hunter therapists (that was one of the dumbest arguments I ever got into--JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON THE SHOW DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T EXIST!!!! Go on, little buddy, sure they do). They might wish he drank less, but it's not like they can hand him either better luck or better coping mechanisms, so until it jeopardises someone's life, it's probably on a par with "lettuce on your burger doesn't count towards your RDA, Dean." And if there's a god, a Stargate or MacGyver joke follows.

The script is just willing to show, for a long time, that he's stressed, he's drinking to cope, and FUCK--wasn't that a lot more stress?

But if you told me that major biological functions were suspended in Purgatory (I imagine people aren't eating for sustenance in Heaven or Hell) then the weirdest thing does become Cas' beird, and since he's the only angel hanging out down there, wanking that as extra life force through grace or something...well, it's dicey, but in the court of fandom, I'll allow it.

So maybe that why no DTs, but he's shown drinking in about 3/4 of the eps so far. And if you're not a Ewing, that's a lot.

But if you told me that major biological functions were suspended in Purgatory

Did any of them shave though? I was counting on you to know. Or I wanted links to pictures of scruffy men competently shaving by rivers or streams. One of those.

If I had to handwave, I'd say that barbers weren't a priority in Purgatory but your personal demons might be relevant and thus drinking matters more scruff. So DTs before a handsome rugged look? But that's complete guessing.

One of the things that attracts me to his drinking so much is that he doesn't make noise about it, Sam doesn't try and get him to dry out

I do like that it's quietly addressed. It's usually not a thing. It's just a part of Dean.

We didn't see them take care of anything physical, but I am more surprised by hair growth than clean shavenness. It's an afterworld, and it's one of those scenarios where they were transported bodily instead of their souls travelling, but still. It appeals to my sense of balance that they'd experience jeopardy, since that's been shown to happen in Heaven and Hell, but we'd be surprised (well, I would) at other biological processes.

We're still not 100% clear whether Cas' body is a living human vessel resurrected along with him, or just a convenient physical manifestation he's been granted by special dispensation in lieu of a host body. I can easily see the latter resulting in haggard scruffiness due to his mental state even in a dimension where normal physical processes are suspended.