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

[astrayed]

Understanding the whole picture doesn't come easily for anybody. You're not going to hear a simple explanation that clears it all up, but bit by bit, you might be ready for more. [ when he doesn't pull away, her hand wanders back into his hair, fingers twining through his hair with less force this time, although she does seem to know how touch him in all the right ways effortlessly. her gaze wanders down to his mouth, red lips twitching up. ] Is that what you want, Sam?

More?

[familybusiness]

[If anything, he's only more set on this course than he was moments ago. He's going to do it on his terms, though, because he'd be an idiot to just blindly trust anyone who gave him a few bits of info (will save 22).

That doesn't mean he's not fucking tempted, though.

At least he seems to be done...drooling, his gaze firmer.]

If you know me that well, then you already know the answer to that.

[Yes. It's going to eat at him until he knows as much as Dean does, until he knows enough to fix it.]

[astrayed]

I thought so. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here. [ she doesn't look disappointed at all, just grinning and drawing her hand back to pat him on the cheek fondly. ] I know you're chomping at the bit to try to rewind things, but there's some things that can't be undone. But maybe that's why you're here.

A second chance for Sam Winchester to live a human life, to repair the damage done between the two of you. Not saying that's ever gonna be easy, but...

Dean's quest is over. The situation's not the same now. If you can win his trust back, nothing's going to look to pull you apart the way it did before.

[familybusiness]

Now you're starting to sound like Dean.

[Things that can't be undone. Nothing being easy. He's got a little deja vu going on here.

But they're both right. Fixing things doesn't mean undoing them. The past is the past. It can't be changed.]

You're sure about that?

[astrayed]

[ ♬ welcome to my world - depeche mode

she laughs again, rolling her eyes ] Well, you are Winchesters. I guess no promises on that front. But not Heaven and Hell, at least. That battle's already played out. Dean's just... stuck in the aftermath, trying to pick up the pieces.

He's the worst kind of veteran. From his perspective, he risked everything, and lost everything, and has nobody to blame but himself for agreeing to it all in the first place.

He's carrying the choice you made on himself, wondering what he could have done to prevent it. Carrying the deaths of your friends and family. And feeling like he failed every one of them.

He needs you. Or in the end, maybe he's still been left a shell.

[familybusiness]

[His eyebrows lift as he watches her reaction, corner of his mouth lifting ever so slightly.

As much as everything he was told was terrible, there's some...hope left in it's wake? It's small, but it's there. If all of this horrible is really behind them for good, then there's really nowhere to go but up.

And maybe it's already starting. He got Dean to stick around and even listen to him, after all.

Even if Rose was a part of all that too, shush he knows.]

Well, I'm not going anywhere. And I'll do whatever it takes.

[That won't ever change.]

But no, he's still in there. I can already tell that much.

[astrayed]

I know you will. Do whatever it takes. That's what makes you a hero, Sam. What's always made you a hero.

But you shouldn't have to sacrifice yourself again. The last time you did, you were fighting against that kind of world. Don't let that be in vain.

Enjoy what you do have, and fight to keep it. Let the other you take the darker losses on himself. He asked for them.

[familybusiness]

[If there was one thing in the entire world to say to Sam Winchester to make him feel better?

It was that.

It's like she's re-energized everything about him, given him things to look forward to, made all the horrible doubts that's plagued him pretty much his entire life fade away for the moment.

It has him making a split second decision (will save 9).]

Come home with me. [He realizes belatedly how that sounds, shaking his head.] Back to London, I mean.

[Yep, that just happened.]

[astrayed]

[ one eyebrow skates up at the first part, but then she hears the rest and her smile turns sly, a pleased light dancing in her eyes. ] It's nice to see that word on you. Home. [ she looks thoughtful, folding her arms a bit as she studies him. ] You probably get that I'm being a little selfish here. I like seeing a version of you with a chance at ... uncomplicated happiness.

[ her teeth pull at her bottom lip and she gives him a once-over, considering. ] I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be some little part of it.

[familybusiness]

Yeah, I kind of like it.

[Home has kind of been a foreign concept for Sam. For Dean, too, though at least he remembered having one at all. The closest thing before the knights that Sam had had was college, and it was one of the few places where his memory was fuzzy.]

Consider it a trial run. If it's not for you, nothing's going to make you stay.

[astrayed]

That sounds like you're talking about a little more than moving in together.

[familybusiness]

It doesn't have to be. I...live there either way. It's just a matter of how close you'll be.

[She already knows about demons galore, okay. What are the chances she already knows about this?]

Have you ever heard of an organization called the Knights of the Silver Dragon?

[He's totally allowed to talk about this if he's potentially recruiting, right?]

[astrayed]

The name's gotten on my radar before. [ her smile turns a bit wistfully apologetic. ] I'm not sure it's exactly my cup of tea, though. I mean, great slogan. [ she unfurls her arms so that she can lightly tug at his jacket with both hands. ] A good place for you to be.

But not my deal. I'm not big on orders.

[familybusiness]

Dean's there, too.

[Just saying.]

They need all kinds of people. Since when have I been really big on orders?

[/stares into the past at his Dad okay]

They're more like...guidelines.

[Hahaha Diplomacy 26.]

[astrayed]

Maybe. But I'm kind of used to not answering to anybody. And I like it that way. [ she looks up at him again, trying to soften the blow ] But London sounds nice. I can do London.

[familybusiness]

[He smiles quietly, satisfied. He'll take it.]

Deal.

[He glances briefly toward the fire escape, giving her an apologetic look.]

I should probably go make sure Buffy didn't tear up the bar while I was gone.

[The 'will you come with me' remains unsaid but it's...there.]

[astrayed]

If I'm taking a flight to London soon, I think I've got a few loose ends on this side of the pond to start tying up. Plus, you... might wanna find a way to break it to your friend that's not going to freak her out too much. [ she lays one hand on his chest. ] I trust you.

[familybusiness]

[GOOD POINT.]

Alright, that's fair.

[Also...probably a good idea.

He pulls his wallet out of his pocket, fishing out Karther Institute business card with his name and number on it. Feels like canon only more legit since he's not pretending to be FBI.]

So that I don't have to walk headfirst into a revenge-thirsty hunter bar to run into you this time.

[astrayed]

[ ♬ stormwinds - fairuza balk

she laughs at that, taking the card and tucking it in her pocket. ] I dunno. I kinda like the thrill of it all. [ she starts to move past him towards the ladder, but stops halfway as a sudden fancy seizes her. she turns to face him again, and grabs a fistful of shirt collar to yank him in, pressing her lips to his in a dizzying, heated kiss that she doesn't seem in a real hurry to end. and she's surprisingly strong so hopefully sam isn't too pressed about it because he might not get a lot of choice in the matter. it's a pretty damn electric kiss, either way. this girl has clearly got game to spare. ]

[familybusiness]

[His eyes widen briefly because damn girl. He can't say that he didn't think about it, though he was probably going to go more for the cheek than a full on lip lock because he's a gentlemen and that's his way.

But this is fine, too.

And damn if it isn't a good one.

He's also...not pulling away even kind of (will save 7), which is evident by the way his fingers entangle in her hair, pulling her closer to him, whoops.]

[astrayed]

[ she lets out a hum of satisfaction at his response, and her body twists further so that her hips can slam up against him, arms moving to twine around his neck until she finally lets him come up for air.

her voice takes on an appealing, husky timbre, fixing him with a scandalous hooded gaze as she purrs: ] Couldn't help myself.

[ her arms slide free as she moves past him for real this time, smirking to herself the whole while. ] I'll see you around, Sam.

[familybusiness]

[He looks a little dazed when she pulls away.]

I'm...not complaining.

[WHO WOULD, OKAY?]

See ya.

[And he'll...watch her leave, yep. Totally checking out her butt shamelessly. That's what happens when you give a guy ideas.

...Once she's out of sight, he'll follow suit, climbing down the fire escape and heading back towards the bar.

This outta be good.]