December Chronicle [ closed ]

[outwear]

Who: Sam Winchester
What: Catch-all for getting settled, meeting those of acclaim, and preparing to get more involved.
Where: Cadens, Nocwich, Horizon
When: December
Notes: PM for starters; will match style.
Warnings: See headers in individual threads. Please mark appropriately.





So now that you've arrived, well, you wonder,
What is it that you've done to make the grade?

Comments

[wiedzminka]

"A what?" Ciri blurts, with clear surprise. The question comes completely out of nowhere for her, and she gives Sam an askance look, confused by the assumption.

"No. What kind of student did you think I was?"

A glance at Dean.

"...his?"

[righteously]

Sam asks are you a student, and Dean's gentle snort is maybe slightly audible. Laughing at the prospect, at the concept — her, Ciri, doing the whole Stanford thing, settling in with flash cards studying her ass off about magical algebra or whatever. It's probably a rude thing to laugh about, and karma comes for him swiftly. She says his so skeptically, his head whips up and he shoots her an affronted look.

"I could be a teacher," defensively; how dare you scoff. "I'm a great teacher."

[outwear]

Left looking between the two, Sam sits on his uncertainty while their scene plays out. He lifts both hands when a moment allows him and he offers what can only be an earnest smile.

"I don't see why you couldn't be a student of whatever," he says, noting Ciri, "Or why you couldn't be a teacher," Sam adds, gesturing to his brother. Granted, classes for all involved would vary greatly — of that he's certain — and Sam probably wouldn't be taking Dean's class (for crossover reasons, he tells himself) but it doesn't seem out of the ordinary.

"Isn't the university a pretty large draw? I assumed people would be taking advantage of that," Sam explains, hoping his reasoning isn't too elementary for Ciri's liking. "I know I'm planning to see what they have to offer." He doesn't say as much, but there's no family business here to maintain, although there's no chance Sam won't be involved in whatever the others embroil themselves. Still, his curiosity won't be sated until he gives it proper consideration.

[wiedzminka]

"Hm." She looks mildly surprised by this, like she hadn't thought of it before. "I suppose it would be. Most of my interaction with the university are to bring them specimens, though."

Her head tips curiously.

"What kind of classes are you looking to take?"

[outwear]

Specimens in its use strikes Sam's interest and he notes for himself to look into that later, perhaps specifically to see a little more of what that might entail. What sort of specimen are being collected and for what use? He could ask Ciri, he figures — have the answer immediately — but opts instead to take on her question.

"I'm not sure," he admits. "It's more for the sake of my curiosity, but I wouldn't say no to the education track if it falls into my lap."

Shifting, Sam's attention wanes and he glances around them before adding, "Of course, that's all secondary to helping out. If there's time." He couldn't abandon Dean, couldn't make that decision again even if urged to do so. (That's the feeling this week, at least.) And so he shrugs. It's nice to feel the guise of options for once, even if he's not saying as much.

[righteously]

It's more for the sake of my curiosity.

Dean's trying to give them a little space to chat among themselves, let them get to know each other, get off on the right foot — which means stepping out of the conversational spotlight for the most part.

Despite that, he can't quite muffle his quiet scoff of, "Pff, nerd."

Quietly, under his breath, and followed quickly by a drink. Don't mind him.

[wiedzminka]

"...right."

Ciri glances over at Dean's noise, then looks back up at Sam, considering him for a long moment before taking an equally long drink. She lets the silence linger for a few seconds, then finally announces, with her cup thudding back onto the tabletop, "You're nothing like what I imagined Dean's brother might be."

[righteously]

Don't mind him just lowering his drink a little to squint at her, like what's that supposed to mean?

(There isn't much heat behind it. He knows him and his brother are night and day in a lot of ways. It's mostly for The Dramatique.)

[outwear]

Amusement plays on Sam's lips and he tips a shoulder upward in a shrug. "It's the height, isn't it? And the hair. And school thing," he points out, unceasingly merciless at times when it comes to this sort of rhetoric.

For Sam, who was essentially raised by Dean, there isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't feel the lessons of a lifetime together coming through him in recognizable patterns of actions and thoughts (even if he doesn't act on them). At the heart of him is the heart of Dean. He was built that way, side-by-side with a true catalyst of good, the driving force, the magnetic pull that keeps them together. Even at his worst, Dean always fights. Sam should be so lucky.

"We've actually got a lot in common," he finally says, as if snapped out of a dream, perhaps even a hair over-obvious in saying as much. Although he doesn't explain further, there's no doubt (today) in Sam's mind about the marks they share.

Gesturing openly, he notes Ciri while sitting up some in his seat. Signaling his interest, he says, "Why don't you tell me a little bit about you. Dean mentioned you're not alone here?" The lilt of his question is less because Dean directly said as much and more because it's something that's been gleaned or otherwise overheard and it hasn't particularly felt like a secret.

[wiedzminka]

Ciri isn't particularly used to this sort of interview-style formal introduction. She bears with it because Dean is a friend -- an ally, and Geralt's friend as well, and someone important to Jo. But she feels markedly awkward, and a little annoyed, and it may show slightly in the tight pull of her lips and the set of her shoulders. She leans back in her chair, tossing back the rest of her drink with formidable speed and surety. Then waves at a passing serving boy for another.

"Been here about a year and a half now. I hunt monsters, take the occasional job as a guard and monster deterrent. Dean mentioned you know a bit about that too."

Despite the leading question, she doesn't really elaborate on what Dean might've meant by her not being alone here. What is she supposed to say? Start elaborating on who is from her world, who she lives with, who her friends are? It seems rather ridiculous.

Ciri shoots Dean a look.

What the hell are we doing here?