How we sing as we limp through the air

[magnetic_magpie]

Who: Magneto (magnetic_magpie) & Sam Winchester (upstairsbrain)
When: 7/9/2012, afternoon
Where: Used bookstore in Sector 4
Summary: Sam wants answers. Magneto has them.
Warnings: Talk of addiction, violence, and hunts.



[He's traded his trademark, and flashy, red for a more subdued blue which reflected the steel grey in his eyes more than the bright blue, and snagged a book on Port history, as he arrived several hours early. More pages than not had little post-it flags sticking out, red, blue, yellow, green, orange, pink flashes all over. AGI, SERO, SP Government, Core, Outsiders, Newcomers. He was nearly finished, the pack of flags nearly empty, and the master code sheet stuck to the inner cover. He'd paid for it already, and his coffee was cooling.

The table was beat up ash, the chairs were rich dark red leather, complete with brass nailheads, and he looked up, watching for Sam.]

Comments

[upstairsbrain]

His-- his? [ Sam repeats it, almost double-taking. Are they referring to him, Sam? Well, the previous Sam. Would that still be him? Ugh, all of this was... too much.

More than once, he's done as Magneto's described: run rampant without thought, trying to fix what he'd done. So, it's believable, though still disturbing. ]

So, the... blood. [ There's another terse pause. ] Did I hurt anyone?

[magnetic_magpie]

His-yours.

[He makes eye contact with Sam for a moment, holds it, and then glances away.]

Yes. Twice, that I know of. The injures where serious but the victim recovered.

[upstairsbrain]

[ Oh, no. The tightness clenches painfully in Sam's stomach, and the guilt swells, threatening to pour out of his mouth in endless apologies. And it probably will, sooner, rather than later. But he has to hold it together. At least, for now. ]

... Right. [ It's a little choked, when the word comes out, and he quickly clears his throat. ]

Could I-- who were they?

[magnetic_magpie]

Castiel.

[Gently.]

It's a long story Sam, you need to know more than just this. So take a breath. This isn't your fault. Possibly not at all, given timelines.

[There was a reason he didn't have this conversation in public, and this was the best he could do.]

[upstairsbrain]

Cas. [ He breathes the name inadvertantly, his shoulder seizing up. Whether he had known the victim or not, it still would've been terrible, but... Cas? One of their closest friends, who'd done so much for them? ] I--

[ He swallows again, nodding his head firmly, trying to believe what he was being told. ]

Okay. ... What happened? Why would I...

[ Sam trails off, shaking his head. ]

[magnetic_magpie]

I don't know what happened the first time. He wouldn't say. At the time, Chuck lived in the House with us. Castiel showed up with a cut on his neck, it was very serious. Chuck called me to patch him up, and I took care of him while he was healing. Apparently, you, the version of you which was here, had been trying to drink his blood. Trying to treat the withdrawal he was brought here in. 'Hopped up on demon blood' is what I was told. Castiel feared the withdrawal process would kill him, and was attempting to find a way to save him.

[That was a lot to take in, especially if the Core had brought Sam from a previous time point.]

[upstairsbrain]

[ A lot to take in is right. Sam pales at the news, eyes widening slightly in shock. Drinking demon blood was one thing-- one terrible, freakish thing. But, attacking Cas? Trying to drink his blood? An immense pressure presses against his throat, and Sam just stares for a few moments.

I'd never do something like that, even at my worst. I couldn't. So, why...?

What had made him so desperate? ]

I-- uh. I don't--

[ He struggles to find the words, and settles on a heavy exhale instead. ]

... I can't believe it. I mean, I believe you, but, this? It's just--

[ More fragments, more words lost. He runs a nervous hand through his hair. ]

I feel so BAD for Sam D:

[magnetic_magpie]

Lucifer is here, if you didn't know. Finish the fight, I suppose.

[His voice is gentle, quiet.]

jsjcp ME TOO but Mags is doing the right thing. /sob

[upstairsbrain]

I did know that. [ One consolation, if you could call it that. He wasn't completely out of the loop. No, he still had meetings with the devil to hope for.

An icy sadness had begun to cling at his head, so that it pounded irregularly, strangely. Everything just felt foreign, and wrong.

Very abruptly, Sam gets to his face, eyes averted, as if he's ashamed. ]

Thank you. You didn't have to tell me all this, but, if you hadn't, I probably would've found out. [ Now, he forces himself to make eye contact, if only to be polite for a minute. ] I... need some time to think about everything. I'm sorry to cut and run, but...

[ Again, there's the strained swallow, and a look of saddened desperation. ]

Sadly that's all he ever *tried* to do.

[magnetic_magpie]

If it helps, there seems to be a sort of truce drawn.

[He stands when Sam does, placing a hand on his shoulder.

There's more, so much more, to this. And he hurts to do this.]

You're welcome. And there is more, but it doesn't all need to be talked about now. My number is listed under 'M' in the directory - if you want or need to talk.

Just, take care of yourself, okay Sam?

wehhhh

[upstairsbrain]

[ There's more. He pauses a moment, hand slightly extended, as he meant to shake the other man's... but, he decides against asking. Not now. There's too much to mull over, and he already feels like he could snap in two.

So, mechanically, he sticks out the hand to shake. ]

I will. Thanks again.

[ And he moves for the door, sporting another firm, robotic nod.

You take care, too.

[magnetic_magpie]

[He takes Sam's hand, shaking it.]

You're welcome. I'll try.