chicago ♔ subscribe me not to darkness

[principal]

♬ To Darkness - Mumford and Sons

WHO || Buffy Summers, Sam Winchester, Robin Wood [closed]
WHAT || Buffy accompanies Sam to Chicago, seeking answers about Dean's past... and the fate of the version of Sam from this world
WHERE || Chicago, USA
WHEN || Late-October [back-dated]
HOW || Actionspam

Sam Winchester has not a very easy time of this world.  

Most of the reasons for which, it seems, can be traced back to the fact that there was another Sam Winchester native to this dimension.  One who somehow managed to alienate his brother Dean to the point where he almost murdered Sam on sight, and it's been a very slow, uphill battle ever since to get Dean to say more than two non-hostile words in a row to him.

An uphill battle that's going too slowly for Sam's taste.  

Upon googling his own name and doing some research in hunter circles, he learned more and more disturbing facts - including the fact that he and Dean from this world were held responsible for the deaths of Jo & Ellen Harvelle, and Bobby Singer.  Distraught by what he'd learned, he shared the facts with his new friend, Buffy, who agreed to travel with him to Chicago tracing down one of the only leads they have on finding out more about what happened, since Dean doesn't seem inclined to share.

And so off they go to Chicago - home to some of Buffy's own demons - to check out the Hunter's bar run by Robin Wood.

Comments

[familybusiness]

I'm not going to hide, Buffy. Not from other hunters.

[He looks pretty resolute in that.]

Whatever I did? I have to own that if I'm going to make up for it, or keep it from happening again. If they find out I'm lying, then they'll definitely never talk to me.

[slay]

But if they don't find out you're lying …

[ Just saying. Her head starts to tilt like haaaayyyyy but then she sighs and lets it go. ]

I see your point. [ They'll find out. It's a matter of when. So she resolves to accept it. ] Sam Winchester it is. But if this ends in a brawl, I'm calling dibs on the pool cue.

[familybusiness]

[His eyebrows just raise. They always find out. They're on the same wavelength there.]

Deal.

[He looks briefly through the door she's holding open (who's the man here?) before he exhales a breath and finally steps through into the bar, trying to shake off his nerves.

As his eyes adjust to the different light, he takes a look around, taking stock of the people inside (spot...6 lol HE'S PREOCCUPIED)]

[slay]

[ Buffy follows just behind his shoulder, hot on his heels, looking a great deal more hawklike as she scans the bar (spot 33). Picks up all Sam's slack. Opening doors, scoping out bars. Lucky he has a big strong man around for him to investigate his feelings. ]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ sam's eyes need a moment to adjust to the dim light. seriously, does this place have any windows??? probably not.

the place has an old feel to it, the building a little worn down, and someone's best efforts to keep it spruced up are obviously a losing battle. there's maybe about twelve patrons in here, in various stages of drinking at the bar, hanging out in dark booths having hushed conversations, or playing pool. at the moment, no one's tending bar, but the door behind it looks ajar, so they might just be getting something.

no one looks up when they enter. ]

[familybusiness]

[Once Sam's dealt with the fact that it's fucking dark in here, he manages a glance around before he looks back at Buffy, gesturing with his head toward the bar before heading toward it and having a seat at one of the stools.

Just act casual, right? Like they belong here.]

[slay]

[ Luckily, Buffy is a CREATURE OF THE NIGHT who automatically adjusts. She spots the open door, scans some of the disinterested patrons, then seats herself beside Sam. She looks like a toddler at the bar because of her relative size to 90% of hunters, but here she is. Arms folded on the bar top.

She turns her head towards the door, trying to listen in on the conversations of the scattered patrons, catch even the slightest hint. ]

I count twelve. [ Said in the voice of "I could take them if I had to." ] What do you think: divide and conquer?

[familybusiness]

Sounds good to me. You take the right side of the room, I'll take the left?

[As glad as he is for her confidence, he's still not looking for anything even kind of resembling a fight.]

[slay]

[ She raises one hand to her forehead in a mock salute, cutting through the air with the flat edge of her fingertips before she drops it and turns away from the bar.

To the right side of the room! Towards the dark booths. Which is good because Sam must be better at playing pool, right? She smiles vapidly. ]

Anyone know where to find a bartender around here?

[behindcloseddoors]

[ one of the hunters in the booth looks up at her with a near predatory smile. they're young, but very tall and athletic, with incredibly pale skin, and blonde hair worked up into intimidating spikes. it's difficult to say whether they're male or female, actually, and the leather and chains composing their outfit doesn't really give many hints one way or another. ] At the bar, missy. [ a chuckle escapes their lips at how completely out of the element she looks here in her california-girl style. ] This your first time in one?

[slay]

Don't be ridiculous. I used to go to bars all the time with my sorority.

[ An amicable smile joins the deference. The kindness in it is honest enough—she's seen weirder at Nightscape—even if it's slightly hollow for other reasons. She's never liked this brainless blonde thing, but NOVA gave her a fair amount of practice—and a good idea of what people expect from her. ]

But there's no one there. How am I supposed to be make any friends here if I can't buy them shots because the bartender's being all King of Nowheresville?

[behindcloseddoors]

[ that earns an eyeroll, and the hunter gestures blandly towards the door behind the counter. ] I think he took the trash out.

[slay]

[ Wow. Control the distaste, homie. She looks put-off for a moment, straightening. The bubbly attitude tempers out, and she glances towards the door. ]

Well … I'm sure he won't mind if I go out there to check and make sure nothing nasty got to him.

[ In a hunter bar, it's probably obvious what she means. But she turns to start behind the bar towards the open door all the same. She doesn't hesitate, because any look in Sam's direction just SEEMS LIKE TALKING HE'S FINE. ]

[principal]

[ buffy makes her way through the door without anyone stopping her, and finds that it leads to a small backroom, the door on the opposite side wide open into the alley. there's a figure out there slinging a trash bag into a dumpster, with his back to her, and when he hears footsteps he tenses and shakes his head saying: ] Fred, so help me, how many times have I told you: the back stores aren't self serve.

[slay]

Not Fred, actually. But don't feel bad: I get that all the time.

[ Buffy shrugs her shoulders, gesturing out at her sides a little with her hands. She sucks at undercover. Act dropped with the appearance of a nice, private back room. ]

I just need a minute alone with somebody who frequents this place—see, I didn't want my friend out there overhearing, and you seemed like the obvious choice.

[principal]

[ at the sound of her voice, he turns around so abruptly that half the garbage winds up on the ground and the bag goes slack in his hand, but he doesn't seem to give a fuck. he's just too busy staring like he's seen a ghost. ]


... Buffy?

[slay]

[ On the list of things that Buffy came into this expecting, this ranks … nowhere. At all.

Two quick blinks are followed by arching eyebrows and a slackening jaw. The dumbfounded look is joined by an equally articulate expression, ] … Bzuh?








[ commercial break ]

[principal]

[ give him a second of staring. ] What are you-- [ doing here dies on his lips, replaced by a sort of warm, amazed recognition as he shakes his head ] The Veil. You came through the Veil?

[ he considers for a second, then adds: ] Though if any world could use a Slayer...

[slay]

[ Immediately, as he grows more comfortable with her appearance, she grows—well, less. Buffy raises a hand between them, putting this whole damn train on pause for a moment. It takes her a beat longer to find the words she wants to ask, breathy and hesitant. ]

You … You know me?

[ And then straight onto the offensive. ]

How do you know about Slayers? How do you know about me?

[principal]

Ohh boy. [ his expression falters a bit, some of the enthusiasm draining out. ] You... probably don't remember me, huh? [ the way he words it makes it seem like he's not entirely surprised, like he wasn't her number one best friend / vampire lover in their world ] Well, let's start small then. [ he holds out a hand, a peace offering. ] Robin Wood.

[slay]

[ Her gaze drops warily to the hand. For all her measured caution, though, she steps forward and opts to shake it after a moment. ]

I guess I don't need to return the introduction.

[ Beat. ]

Which, for the record? Is still weird. And creepy. And ... I don't like it.

[principal]

I was going for polite, but if it makes you feel better, you can say it anyway.

[slay]

I have a long, bad track record with people who come through the Veil knowing who I am.

[ Let's get that out right away, and maybe he'll understand the reaction. ]

They don't tend to bring good news.

[principal]

I feel like I should maybe get some points for not jumping to the obvious question of who you've run into. Believe me, the curiosity is killing me, but... you're the one who's probably got more questions first.

[slay]

[ A relenting nod. He's being pretty cool about this, so she's sort of becoming un-prickly and calming down. ]

That's one way of putting it. I'm sorry, I just … Obviously we knew each other, but how? How do you know about the, [ She looks around, flustered briefly. Her cheeks puff out with air. ] —Slayer thing? It seems like everyone I meet knows more about me than I do.