realityshifted | ( ø3 )

Entry tags:

supernatural (d1) sam winchester

( ø3 )

[ funny, how he never would have thought to see this place again.

a year out of hell, still with no memory of how he'd ended up topside again – and, to be perfectly honest, not really caring much either way about figuring it out – and here he is again, stars beneath his feet and eyes taking in surroundings that are becoming increasingly more familiar.

he hadn't realized he'd forgotten.

faces, names, memories are all coming flooding back to him, and while there should be at least a flicker of emotion across his expression, his own face remains eerily calm. as a blank slate, very nearly, as he begins walking toward the one place that had always felt like a second home to him. ( the library, of course. what else in this place could connect with him so easily, so perfectly? )

anyone that happens across him might be able to notice that there's something different – something off about him – even though he smiles as he had before. it won't be immediate, but a gradual sort of thing, and while he might be aware of it somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind, he doesn't think about it.

even if it remains a small, niggling thing that occasionally brings about his notice, but it's only ever a flicker, and nothing more. ] What do you have for me this time? [ he asks no one in particular, merely the expanse of air in front of him as he approaches the library, remembering the ordeal with the withdrawal symptoms that had come out of thin air.

demon blood … still tricky stuff, no matter how you look at it, isn't it? ] Whatever it is … I'll be ready for it. [ or so he's convinced himself.

a year away from this place, and coming back around again, things already feel different.

will it be for better or worse? ]

( ooc; guess who's back, back again? have fun with the boy fresh from the beginning of season six~ )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[when Sam enters the library, Menzies is inside--sitting in a chair near the front, flipping through something called the I-spy Book of Alien Cultures. she's dressed neatly in a blouse and slacks, but for the sake of comfort is currently lacking her usual belt of police equipment. by now, there's no visible sign of injury on her, and she's finally gotten some rest as well]

[she glances up when Sam enters, and not recognising him, her expression is curious. she likes to help new arrivals, but she can't tell for certain whether or not he is. so for the moment, she gives him a nod in acknowledgement but leaves it up to him whether to address her]

[ it may be good that she's not wearing her equipment, because it might have had him raising a few questions about her having it in the first place. ( not that he would have assumed that it didn't belong with her, but more that it's rare enough that the plane offers threats enough to merit packing heat.

not that he can say anything. his beretta is tucked into the waistband of his jeans, comfortable and familiar as very little else is. )

he doesn't recognize her, either, though it doesn't surprise him. not even the slightest flicker in his expression as he enters the library and begins poring over the first nearest shelves, just to see if there's anything new that he hadn't seen the last time he was here.

she may not speak, but he won't outright, either. not for the next few moments, at least. he does not in return, though, out of simple courtesy.

you'll just have to wait a bit longer, menzies. sorry about that. ]

[despite the fact that Sam has not mentioned this out loud, Menzies would like to note that she is a police officer in the UK, and she is not part of a firearms unit. therefore, even if she had her equipment, a gun would not be part of it. in case he was wondering. not that she's disputing the dangers of the Plane, of course]

[when he starts to browse, she throws another curious look in his direction, debating whether she should say anything. after all, they are quite possibly the only two people in this library, so they'd hardly be interrupting anyone else if they spoke, and she does like to learn as much about the people on the Plane as she can. it doesn't take long for her curiosity to get the better of her, especially since she sees that he's just browsing rather than there for a specific purpose]

Looking for anything in particular? [her tone is casual, though her accent is clear even in a single sentence]

[ begging your pardon. carrying around guns is just a part of his lifestyle – he's only been doing it on a regular basis for the past few years. ( despite trying to get away from it entirely. you can't leave your family history behind for too long, can you? )

he continues browsing quietly until she speaks up, and with a leather-bound volume held in his hands, he finally looks up and in her direction, hazel eyes giving nothing away. ( a hard one to read, this one … )

but he does end up smiling lightly, courteously, as he briefly looks back down to thumb through a couple of pages. ] It's been a while since I was last here, I just wanted to see if there was anything new. [ a beat, and he takes a moment to place the book back where he'd found it, only to pick up another one in its stead. ]

[and carrying a gun isn't part of her lifestyle, so they'll just have to agree to disagree, won't they?]

[she notes the fact that he's not new to the Plane after all. tilting her head thoughtfully at his answer, she gestures toward a section behind her and to the left] That area's shifted around quite a bit, far as I can tell. I think some new world must 'ave dumped some books on it.

[ that seems to be the case as far as most things go when it's what the winchesters think about things as opposed to general consensus.

he reads a few lines of text in the second book he's picked up, frowns, puts it back. he remembers picking this exact one up before, which is disappointing, but at the mention of new ones being dumped in from another world, he can't help but to show a faint bit of interest. ] So, I guess that means that things are pretty much business as usual around here, huh?

What, did you think they'd change? [she smirks back at him] Nah, last thing that 'appened 'ere was that hide-and-seek business with the monsters, if you were 'ere for that.

Change is inevitable. [ or at least, he thinks it is. ] Hide and seek with monsters? I think I missed that.

[ probably for the best. there's no telling what would have happened with that. ]

[she snorts] Isn't that just it, though? Always something happening round 'ere. It'd be a change if it stayed the same.

Ah. You didn't miss much. [her expression is dark as she says the words, but then she straightens, giving him a nod because they're too far apart for a handshake] DI Menzies. You?

… Point.

[ he's never really hoped to hold out for something being consistent here. it would be too much of a surprise if it ever actually happened.

but he nods back, barely more than a slight incline of his head in her direction. ( even if he would have shaken her hand had it been offered, because it's the polite thing to do. ) ] Sam Winchester.

Nice to meet you. [she frowns a little at his name, though, thoughtful. she's sure she doesn't recognise his face, but the name is definitely familiar] I...think somebody here's mentioned you before. [there's nothing like suspicion in her tone; just curiosity. because she can't quite place where she's heard the name--not immediately, at least] Been coming 'ere long?

[ he quirks a brow when she mentions that, and he very briefly remembers coming in contact with gabriel some time back – that has to be it, and he sighs inwardly, because of course gabriel would have mentioned the winchesters. ] Let me guess – his name was Gabriel. Or … he might have made a new alias for himself here. That wouldn't surprise me.

[ damn angels. ] Not for very long. [ because during his last venture here, things had been a bit stifling back in his own reality, and he tended to stay on the plane for long stretches instead of dealing with it. ] But I wasn't able to come here for roughly a year until now.

[her eyes widen at that, both because it jogs her memory about where she heard Sam mentioned before and because she never expected to hear that name spoken aloud] Yeah, now you mention it, it was. But I didn't think he ever gave out that name.

[from her confused tone, it's both clear that she knew him as Gabriel and that she didn't expect anyone else to. after all, it's a name she never told anyone; it wasn't a risk she was willing to take after the mental torture he inflicted on her just for learning he was an angel. she was afraid anyone she told might suffer similarly. and even now, when he's been gone for so long, it's still something she's never brought up. if she's honest, talking about him at all is strange]

Ahh, you're one of those. [she nods, understanding now why he's looking for changes on the Plane] I tried to find you once. 'ad a merger with--Gabriel. [she can't help but hesitate before she says the name; it's odd to actually use it] Ended up with some, ah, vengeful spirits where I'm from. He said you were a...hunter. And might be able to do something about that. But I never ran into you, and...well, they disappeared after Gabriel did.

[there might be a very slight hint of regret in her tone when she says that. she still doesn't understand why she would possibly miss Gabriel, but it doesn't make it any less true that she does. they had that merger for a reason, after all]

If it makes you feel better, my brother and I didn't know his name – his real one – until we heard it from someone else. [ because having every single one of the old-world gods in one room all at once can only mean good things, right?

yeah, that had ended well. ] We knew him as Loki before that. [ and he isn't going to go out of his way to explain that, either. because he's convinced everyone should know who loki is.

he gives a bit of a pause when she says she went looking for him – because even though this must have been before he started coming to the plane at all, he wouldn't have expected anyone here to have actually known him before he showed up. ( again, angels, and he tells himself he shouldn't be surprised that gabriel tried to point her in his direction.

gaze downcast, he briefly abandons his perusal of the books in front of him. ] I'm sorry. We could have done something about it, probably, but it must have been before I started coming here. [ by 'we', of course he means himself and dean, and he also figures that if gabriel told her about him, she knows about the both of them. ] I only talked to Gabriel once, when I first got here. Not once since. I was wondering where he'd gone …

[she snorts] It's not bothering me, don't worry. I just...'aven't ever given out that name. [considering how to describe what she means, she adds:] He made it clear that he'd hurt you for less. [and she wasn't going to set anyone else up to be hurt like he'd hurt her. she wonders what makes Sam feel so calm about using it, though] But yeah, he used Loki 'round 'ere, too, although there's another Loki now.

[and she shakes her head at his apology. to be honest, he's not really coming across as the dangerous hunter that Gabriel portrayed] Look, I'm not looking for an apology. Thankfully, they were in a building that has...other properties...anyway. [she'd say more, but she doesn't feel that she knows him well enough to anticipate how he'd react to the idea of the building being possessed by a human that got radiated into its structure] He actually mentioned you because he'd seen you 'ere, but I'm guessing were you already gone by then. [meaning she doesn't actually know Dean's name--only that Sam has a brother. oh, and that they started the Apocalypse together] And like I said, the situation's over anyway.

Ah. [she frowns but tries to keep her tone as neutral as she can] Not here--not anymore. The merger's long gone, and...well, far as I know, that's the best sign we've got of when people 'ave left for good.

Doesn't surprise me. [ he's always been that kind of guy. but he supposes that if he'd ever gone to that much trouble to hide the true nature of his being, he'd be pretty pissed off if it was unfolded as easily as it could have been with just a name.

he perks up a bit at that. ] He had something to do with some snow and ice a while back, didn't he? [ because yes, he'd seen him lurking about in the background, ~~creep-creep-creeping ~~observing from the outside.~~~~ ] I remember that. I haven't spoken to him, personally, but … I get the feeling he's got his hands in just about everything around here. [ as a being calling himself 'loki' is wont to do. of course.

it doesn't matter that she hadn't been looking for an apology – truth be told, there was little weight behind the words, anyway – so he just shrugs it off in turn, rolling along with the thread of the conversation in whichever direction it chooses to unravel. ] Then I guess there's nothing to be done about it. [ astute observation, there, smarter winchester. ] Maybe wherever he is now, he's raising nine kinds of hell. Enjoying himself.

[ or. you know. he could be dead. ]

[she frowns at Sam's question, shaking her head] Think I must 'ave missed that one, so I'm not sure. Still, sounds like the sort of thing Loki would do.

[but his last comment catches her by surprise] You don't know where he is? [she frowns] He didn't flee Earth after all, did he?

[really, she wants to ask him about the Apocalypse that Gabriel told her was drawing so near, but she's not sure how you bring that up with someone you've only just met--especially since Gabriel said the Winchesters were the cause of it in the first place]

[ that thread never went anywhere, anyway. doot doot.

it's his turn to frown when she asks him that – and he wonders if he should tell her. because he does know, of course he does, but he at least has some decency left in him to think that it wouldn't be the best sort of thing to just sort of come out with the fact that someone isn't alive anymore.

there's a small pause, and he finally decides. ] He's … dead. [ w e l p. why don't you go ahead and ask about that apocalypse now? ] Lucifer killed him.

[her eyes widen at that, her expression absolutely and utterly shocked. in fact, if she hadn't already abandoned the book in her lap, she probably would have dropped it] He's...dead!?

[that was quite possibly the last thing she thought she would hear, and it shows. but after that first moment of shock and horror, her expression tightens--closes up. but even as she tries to rein in her feelings, bitterness is still clear in her tone]

So he chose a side after all. Left this place, just in time to actually get killed. [she pauses for a beat] Damnit.

[inwardly, she's telling herself that she shouldn't be upset--that Gabriel was never a friend. but that doesn't stop the emotions that she's trying so hard to lock up tight]

[ well, sam. look what you've done. do you feel even remotely sorry about just. dropping the ball like that?

no?

well all right then.

he at least lets a bit of softness creep into his expression when he sees how shocked she is, and he stops in his perusal of the books to turn to face her directly. ] … Chose a side? [ he's perplexed, mostly because he'd never thought of gabriel to be the type to choose any side other than one that would benefit him the most, but if it has anything to do with the war in heaven and the chaos it brought for everyone involved, well …

he had let him and his brother in on the secret of how to get lucifer back in his cage. but who wouldn't have benefited from that? ]

[that confused response brings back all her shock and frustration full force. and in that state, her tone is more snappish than it probably should be--and her words less guarded. she bursts out:] With all that--Apocalypse stuff. Let the world burn or fight against it. You should know! Weren't you one of the people pushing 'im to get involved in the first place? If Lucifer killed 'im, it had to be over that. Wasn't it!?

Edited 2014-09-15 01:23 (UTC)

[ oh. that. well … ] He just wanted to stop the fighting. Wanted Lucifer back in the cage where he belonged. [ it's odd, thinking back on all of this, since it had taken place such a long time ago. ( over a year is long enough to consider it that, isn't it? sure it is. )

and even though he's thinking about that night in the hotel, recalling everything as though it had happened the day before, he remains as aloof as anything with what comes out of his mouth next. ]

We didn't push. Nobody could ever push him to do anything unless he wanted to do it. [ a beat. ] He tried to pull something, and got himself killed.

[in her anger, she's beyond caring what he thinks of her words now. she bursts out:] Oh, and I suppose 'im getting trapped in that ring of fire wasn't you! Or wasn't a strong-arm tactic.

[admittedly, at least half of the anger that she's putting on Sam now is really anger toward herself. she pushed Gabriel, and then he went out and died. and she knows it's probably ridiculous to blame herself, but she still feels like she had a part in it. but so did Sam, and she doesn't appreciate this reaction from him at all. scowling, her voice is quieter as she continues, but it carries the same force of bitterness] Great to know when he took a stand it didn't mean a thing to the people he was taking the stand for.

We needed him to be honest with us about who he was. He wasn't going to do that on his own. [ which meant they had had to beat him at his own game – and ultimately, they had. but now, he looks at her again, hazel eyes darkened around the the outer reach of the iris, expression deadpan. ] And that was before the whole Apocalypse thing started.

[ so it doesn't count. or hadn't he explained that to you?

right now, in this very moment, he doesn't feel any blame for the death of an angel. the death of a friend. the strain of logic working its way through his mind is going somewhere along the lines of this: they had needed his help, sure. that part he will never deny. he'd taken a stand for himself and for himself alone – both he and dean have come to grips with that fact, even so long after it had happened. gabriel had tried to convince his little brother to stand down, and he hadn't.

it's no one's fault that he'd paid the price for standing up to the morning star with his own life. ]

Look. He wanted us to play our parts, and ultimately, we did. Just not the way he wanted, and when he realized that we weren't going to bend to his suggestions, he stood up for himself. Himself. [ and now he's going back to perusing the shelf before him. ] You can't talk back to the devil without there being some sort of consequences.

[she has to admit that Gabriel not being honest about who he is sounds familiar--but she's in no mood to say so to Sam, not as angry and guilty and frustrated as he has her feeling. so she lets the topic drop and focuses on the bigger question]

[and his continued explanation about that isn't doing a thing to cool her temper] Right. Well, that's not 'ow I heard it. [her tone is sharp. because although arguably someone who was there should know better than she would, she can't let go of the fact that Gabriel knew he could just walk away. he wanted to walk away, and the man that she last saw was definitely one who was tormented by the fact that whatever conscience he did have was stopping him from doing so. staying and facing Lucifer himself couldn't have been entirely selfish--leaving would have been]

[and she decides to say as much] You know Gabriel could 'ave left--avoided the whole Apocalypse. And he didn't. [she eyes Sam] So maybe he had 'imself in mind, but getting yourself killed to save the Earth? Doesn't sound that selfish to me. [her tone is dark] I could be wrong.

[that said, she grabs her book and stands. because even though she's still curious about how things turned out, she knows that she's had as much of Sam's version of events as she can take for now. and as she doesn't much care what he thinks of her, she acts without hesitation] Good luck finding whatever you're looking for. [the words are cold, insincere. and without saying any more, she turns and walks briskly away, disappearing into the stacks]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( ø3 )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject