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

[outwear]

Plenty of times Sam's felt shame for his part in the chaos and discontentment experienced by his brother, and having struggled so thoroughly in his own right, he makes no excuses for himself anymore (even if Dean makes excuses for him). Undoubtedly, there's a side of Dean, and consequently (as well as in addition to) Sam, that stops short of the appropriate due diligence when involving matters of the heart. Perhaps it's fortunate Geralt doesn't struggle in the same way — impressive, if nothing else.

"Dean handles himself," he explains, "and I've learned to respect that." In part. "But none of us are without influence. Or being influenced. 'A body at rest remains at rest unless an outside force acts upon it,'" Sam quotes, although he's fallen very far from the tree where Newton postulated such things (and never mind that Geralt doesn't know Newton from Adam [another "common knowledge" item which also presents as an Earthly thing perhaps entirely lacking in context]).

"I wouldn't be much of a brother if I hadn't considered it." It's almost presented unabashedly, although Sam has the good sense to lower his gaze in time with reaching out to twist one of the books around on the table so he can investigate the cover. The fact that he feels shy of what he says doesn't make it true, and despite his efforts otherwise, Sam expects to always struggle with the thought, at least in some manner. Dean will always be the better brother, but that doesn't mean Sam stops trying.

[gynvael]

Influenced by what? What, exactly, does Sam believe he will influence a fully grown man to do? Does he exude a corrupting aura?

An impatience is creeping up on Geralt, the kind where he does not seek to clarify someone's meaning because he's pretty fucking sure the answer isn't favourable either way. Even so, he's allowed a certain leeway. He's aware Sam is Dean's brother; he knows how people are about the ones they love. Not always the most reasonable. Besides, he isn't here to interfere with Dean's relationships nor make them more difficult. Fuck knows he can't explain the precise role Yennefer plays in his life, even after everything, nor does he ever care to.

Some things simply are.

For the first time, Geralt leans forward. If his tone was candid before, it's especially so now.

"You're concerned. I understand." He doubts this is a conversation Sam holds with Dean's human friends, though he doesn't care to raise that point. He is not interested in debating the nature of his existence in Sam's eyes. "Let me be clear: I've spent the better part of a century alone. That is the path my kind walks. I am not here because I want or need anything from your brother. I am here because he asked me to be, and he's earned my trust. That is all."

If Sam cannot accept this, then the person to take it up with is Dean. Not him.

<3333

[outwear]

There's no reason for Sam to doubt this — it fits the tone Dean had provided — but he struggles with allowing himself the relief of it. The part of him that feels responsible for the dearth of support in his absence, the part that believe no one can know Dean as well as his brother, doesn't allow for it. He shouldn't be threatened and doesn't have any right to be defensive, and yet he feels very much that way, particularly in the face of Geralt's nonchalance.

"Good." If he's relenting, there isn't a lot of heart in it, but some. He nods to himself. "That's what I wanted to hear," he tells Geralt, mostly with his eyebrows.

A moment later, he's back on his feet and carefully pushing in his chair. Fingers tapping against back, he seems to consider saying something else but eventually nods a second time and then dismisses himself without another word. He doubts Geralt will complain.