That's... fair, unfortunately. But he's still not going to spill Manny's secret without talking to him first. He he sorta owes the feathery bastard at least that little smidge of courtesy.

But the worst part is, Castiel is more right than even John knows, for all of his cynicism. He thinks he understands the ways in which Manny is using him - thinks he's using Manny right back - but the glimmer of hope that he might be able to save his own soul from damnation has managed to blind even him. He wants it so bad that he drags himself out of bed in the morning, something he's almost sure he'd have given up on by now, if Manny had never appeared and dangled the impossible in front of him like a carrot on a stick.

But John's too arrogant to see that he's being used for far beyond the things that he thinks, and Manny is wilier than he'd like to admit. So, it turns out, is Castiel.

He sighs as well, a huff of breath between his teeth, and gestures up towards the car's ceiling with one hand, conceding as much as he's ever able. "Alright, then ask me about anything else." No more dodging answers just for the sake of it. Probably. Loyalty to an ally is one thing, but he has been a right arse all night, he can admit to that.