[ CLOSED ] here in this garden of bones

[gynvael]

Who: Geralt + Various
When: May
Where: Cadens; Horizon
What: Catch-all for May
Warnings: basic witcher canon stuff, adding as we go



(( starters below. discontinued or at Noa#1979 to plot. ))

Comments

[falcony]

[ sam's been...well, 'busy' would be the most accurate term for it, but that also wouldn't really be a change from the norm. he's always found things to occupy his time, because he knows what happens when he doesn't. it just so happens that after the return of the summoned after the kidnapping and subsequent execution of josselyn creed, there has been more than plenty to do.

which is why geralt's are you home? doesn't seem all that out of the blue. more hours of the day than not sam isn't actually at his flat, somewhere in the city running errands or meeting with other summoned or helping mag with the inn. it's actually a kind of stroke of fate that he is when geralt messages him, having just returned for a day of errands and had been planning on setting back out for something else. something that wasn't time sensitive, and therefore is easy to push off to do at another time.

yup; door's open is what geralt will get in return, and when sam hears the door open not all that much later, he comes stepping out from his room, expression at first quite happy, curious even, wondering if geralt had gone out hunting and brought back something else for him to cook with. ]

Hey man, long time no- [ which is exactly when he seems to see the expression on geralt's face, the general air about the man, and any upbeat demeanor sam had is immediately dropped into something much more serious, worried, his mouth a thin line. ] What's wrong?

[gynvael]

[ With Sam, he seldom needs to say much to be understood. Geralt steps into the kitchen, where he perches on one of the wooden stools. In the past, he'd have hesitated to seek help from others. Fear of putting them in harm's way. A habit of taking care of shit on his own. But as time passes, he's started to learn he has options.

And that, perhaps, he cannot always do things alone. Especially not if he wants to protect the people he loves. ]

A few weeks ago, Castiel told me a piece of Dean's domain hadn't faded. I thought little of it. [ It'd been a concern, but domains don't always disappear overnight. Like an abandoned shed, the environment grows over it. But after all this time, the forest remaining had been a sign of something wrong. ] Earlier, I made contact. Just to see. And he answered, but...something isn't right with him.

[ It's so much more than the mark. Dean had been aggressive, violently so, under its influence, but Geralt could look at the man and still say with certainty that that was Dean Winchester. Struggling, clearly, with a force he could not quite suppress, but not unrecognizably so. This, though...

He cannot say what or who he'd spoken to today. He only knows it resembled nothing of Dean. A facsimile of a personality. ]

[falcony]

[ it's not the first time either one of them have been in a similar situation - coming to each other with questions, asking for help. it's no question for sam if he is going to help; and while that would be the same for anyone he knows, it's different with geralt. he knows that it's something important if geralt is here, that he's wearing that expression, so sam is all business now.

which, considering what it is that geralt tells him, it's a good thing sam's already prepared. domains are hard to pin down most times, some disappearing overnight and others taking days, if not weeks to fade. if it'd been a few weeks ago that castiel had noticed the domain hadn't disappeared, that's one thing. but if it's still there...

sam's eyes widen when geralt mentions that he's reached out to dean. the dark weight of dean's death during the search and rescue still sits behind sam's ribs, now suddenly back to the forefront again with this news. ] You're telling me Dean's not dead? [ because that...is something sam has to come to terms with first. it should be something of a relief, that dean survived. that he can come back to his brother and jo and cas, but it doesn't feel like a relief. instead, sam feels a kind of curling in his gut. ]

Shit- not right how?

[ whether or not the two of them had discussed it, sam knows that geralt had been aware of the mark, so sam doesn't bother asking him if it has anything to do with that. this must be something else, and if it has geralt worried, then it's something bad. ]

[gynvael]

[ For Geralt, the possibility had lurked. Between the stories attached to the nature of the Mark itself, Lucifer had claimed the same—that death would not be the end for the bearer of it. Though Geralt had hoped for a different outcome, he's learned he cannot protect his family by sealing them behind thick walls. Dean—or what's become of him—has made his intentions clear.

So only one road lies ahead. ]

The Mark possessed some demonic influence. [ Hearing it from Lucifer had been one thing, but Nero had sensed it, too. Without having ever been told. ] It's taken him over.

[ But the details of how or why is not the reason he's come to Sam. Geralt carries on, hands planted on the table. ]

He's set his sights on my people. I need you to stay with Julie and Nadine. I've asked Ciri to go to their home.

[ The question, he imagines, must be on Sam's mind: What will you do? And perhaps Sam knows the answer already, deep down. It is not an answer Sam will like, but Geralt has no desire to hide his intentions. Not from his friends, not from Dean's. They can stop him if they wish; he'll do what has to be done. He'd spent long enough biding his time, searching for a solution this world could not offer in the end. It's too late for that now, and he won't risk anyone further for the memory of a man who is no longer walking. ]

[falcony]

[ it feels...a little too familiar, though also not directly. sam remembers hearing the stories about bucky, about what steve went through back in the forties when he thought he lost him. when he died. and sam was there when he found out about the after, about what hydra had done and the winter soldier, and now hearing it from geralt too...

sam just sort of listens, still and focused. he nods at the mention of the mark because yeah, he remembers what dean had said about it when they talked, about how scared he was about what was going to happen and what he would do. the connection between it all has sam's stomach curling, dread and worry and concern all balling into one, singular knot. ]

Completely? Or...? [ or is dean still in there? that's a question he doesn't have to voice, because geralt would have thought it too. he knows that above anything else, and he knows that for things to get to this point, that it's not a matter of snapping fingers or calling out dean's name. it's not going to be easy.

he set his sights on my people geralt says, and sam can't help the quiet- ] Shit. [ that escapes him. but there isn't any hesitation, just a quick nod. ] Yes, of course. I'll head over there after this. But Geralt.

[ the pause that follows is weighted, where sam holds geralt's attention for a moment and then a moment more. he's trying to decide if he wants to ask when he is pretty sure he already knows the answer. when he's pretty certain he knows the answer, and no, he doesn't like it. but if ciri is in the crosshairs, if julie and nadine and jaskier are too- sam knows where geralt's decisions will have gone.

but, but, he can't escape the thought. the worry. he can hear steve's voice in the back of his head, in answer to his own. he isn't the kind you save, he's the kind you stop and i don't know if i can do that. and in the end, steve had been right, bucky had been in there, and now...

sam swallows, arms crossed over his chest. geralt knows the question is coming, so it shouldn't come as a surprise. ]

What will you do?

[gynvael]

[ Or. Geralt can't say for certain. Eskel had not been thoroughly consumed, but so much of him was swallowed whole that it'd left them with only one choice to make. Where the safety of the others is concerned, Geralt doesn't know if the distinction here will make a difference. Not when it comes to what needs to be done.

Dean didn't merely vanish. Jo was awash in his blood. The body carried out to sea. What could be left? Does it matter when Dean has made his threats all the same, when he has shown no sign of his former self? Perhaps if it'd not been weeks, Geralt may have been more inclined, more determined, to search for the remnants of his friend. But he's mourned Dean. For all intents and purposes, Dean was dead, is laid to rest. He'd begun to move on.

It does not feel as though Dean has returned in any way. It feels as though a monster has taken the face of his friend and worn it to fuck with him.

The look he gives Sam says they both know what he'll say. The only thing he can say. He is not apologetic, but underneath his steely determination, he can't help wishing for another solution. It isn't how he wanted things to go. ] I'm going to make sure he can't hurt anyone.

[ He's lost enough. The more he's found to protect, the more willing he is to do anything to keep what he has safe.

And in truth, Sam is included in that category. A part of him worries about asking Sam for this favour, about putting him in Dean's sights. Sam is only human. He hasn't a single fucking idea what Dean is capable of as some sort of demonic entity come back to life. But he understands Sam would feel worse about being kept in the dark. Jaskier had made him promise not to do this alone, if he needn't. Geralt wants to keep that promise. ]

[falcony]

[ it's not that geralt hesitates at the question, but there is a passing moment of tension. a breath of weight to it, as geralt doesn't answer the question, but does consider it. if dean has been taken over completely, if there is a part of him still there. what sam sees there, though, has him clenching his teeth in response - geralt doesn't say it, perhaps, but something in sam's gut sees it all the same. it doesn't matter.

and that's the foundation of all of this, isn't it? that sam trusts geralt's instincts. he might not agree with him, and more often than not he usually doesn't; their experiences, their lives, their ways of looking at a situation, they're different and have always been different. and sam doesn't like this whole idea, especially not if there's anything of dean still in there, but if he's going after geralt's people...

i'm going to make sure he can't hurt anyone.

sam holds the eye contact, his expression still tense, his jaw still a tight clench. he waits like there might be something else that geralt would want to say, even when sam knows he won't. even when he knows that answer is all the answer he really needs. he is still for another couple of moments, and then another more. ]

Okay. [ he doesn't like the sound of it, doesn't like the way there is still some sort of tightness in his chest at it. he doesn't...he doesn't like it, he doesn't agree with it, and geralt can probably tell in sam's expression. accepting. accepting. sam's arms over his chest tighten.

he considers leaving it there, but the words come out before he can really think about it. ] I know if there's another way, you'll find it, but okay. [ a beat, and then sam nods, lets out a long exhale - slow, heavy, but accepting. ]

Do you think he's in the city?

[gynvael]

[ Geralt is quiet, patient. They've been friends long enough that Geralt is aware of Sam's thoughts. He never needed Sam to spare him them, and he never spared Sam his in return. But it says something, too, that he knows Sam will not turn him away on the basis of conflicting principles alone. Because this is not about Sam or what Sam wants. It is about Geralt, about his family.

Perhaps that's where the foundation of their trust lies.

He's not yet faced Dean. If the demon were to exhibit some remnant of his friend...he isn't certain. The thought weighs heavy. Eskel had not been completely consumed, either. He wishes more than anything he could have saved him. But he couldn't, didn't, and he's prepared for the same outcome with Dean. ]

Not a fucking clue. [ The demon may not even be on this side of the continent. The shoreline between that island and the landmass runs miles. ] But leave that to me. I'm told he should succumb to safeguards for demons on their sphere. Holy water and—

[ Geralt grabs a parchment and a pen, sketching the sigil that Dean once showed him. He never bought it as protection against all demons—that term varies wildly from sphere to sphere—but for something born directly of Dean's realm? It may work. ]

I don't know what abilities he holds in this form. So be careful.

[falcony]

[ perhaps that is exactly where their trust lies. there's still something unsettled in sam's chest at all of this, but it isn't about him. it isn't about what he wants. he knows, more than anything, that if dean - or whatever is left of him - makes any sort of move on ciri, that will be it. for now, all he can do is hope it doesn't come to that.

not a fucking clue and sam shakes his head, every idea coming to mind something that he could have accomplished back home, not here. dean could be anywhere at this point, could be in thorne or at the singularity itself. he could also be waiting outside of mag's, waiting for them.

but geralt says leave that to him, and that's something sam can do without worry. and when he shows the sigil, sam nods, one of his hands moving to his shoulder. where the tattoo dean gave him still is. ] I've seen it before, I can work on setting those up around their place. [ he'll take the parchment even so, if only as an easy reference. ]

You too. [ sam pauses, presses his lips into a thin line, thinking about dean's worry over this exact thing. thinking about how much the very possibility had torn away at him. ] You know where to find me if you need backup with anything else.

[gynvael]

[ Dean's elusive nature is a problem, but not one Geralt is especially concerned by. He can find him. He can track nearly anything, anyone, with enough persistence. Only so many places one can hide on this continent.

He nods in return. Good. All right. ]

I will. [ He can rely on Sam. He knows that. He just—thinks this should be on him. It's his people, his daughter, in danger. And Dean asked him to take care of it should it come to that. Geralt never gave his word, precisely. But he did assure Dean that he would not place Dean's well-being over that of his family. That is not in question.

He straightens up, already moving towards the door. They haven't much time to spare. ] Thank you.

and wrapped. c:

[falcony]

[ sam might not think that way exactly - geralt is his people, and geralt's people are his too. but he also knows geralt, and knows he's going to want to handle this in his way. sam can respect that, sam does respect that, so for now what he can do is what geralt asks of him. he can watch nadine, and julie, and ciri. and that's what he'll do.

geralt straightens, heads for the door, and sam considers the conversation over. he needs to pack up some stuff, but will be heading off to nadine and julie's soon after, and sam turns to get ready on that when geralt thanks him.

sam stills. ] Of course. Always. [ he gives a small smile at that, a reassuring nod. because he means it - always - whenever or if ever. if geralt asks sam for anything, his answer would always be the same. ]

Good luck out there.