o1. ☓ video;

[hollowly]

( it's been long enough since he'd come through the porter, since he'd been handed his file and dropped face-first into the city of heropa, left to both fend for himself and familiarize himself with his surroundings that he finally feels justified in addressing the network. in asking a series of seemingly inconsequential questions that add up the pieces to the whole, and even though it isn't certain that he'll find any answers, he isn't going to lose anything by asking.

he turns on the video function on his device, peering into the camera with the slightest bit of apprehension before he finally speaks up, clearing his throat and hesitating just long enough for it to almost be an awkward pause. ( he's determined, but just this side of nervous about the responses he might get, erring on the apprehension of getting nothing but the negative. ) )

I'm sure I'm not the first person to ask something like this, but – I'm looking for some people. My brother, first of all. ( there's another pause, and his gaze casts off to the side for a tiny moment, like he's thinking. ) You'd know if you'd seen him. Lightish hair, green eyes, kinda loud … attitude problem. ( he has no idea if that kind of bait would be enough to lure him out, given how long he's been looking for him and how elusive he's been, but he has to try. if he's here, if he can find him – ) His name's Dean. And with that in mind, if you have seen him, I'm sorry if he's done anything to offend you. He's not exactly himself right now. ( that's one way of putting it. mildly. and about as obscurely as possible.

good job, sam. ) The other guy, he's quiet. Dark hair, bright blue eyes, wears a trenchcoat. Kinda blunt – ( and he pauses there, something of a secretive little smile curving the edge of his mouth despite the worry that's been furrowing his brows since he'd first come through. ) If he's got that lost puppy look, you've probably found him. I would really appreciate any help I could get. ( there's another beat of a pause, and right before he turns the video off, he remembers something. )

My name is Sam, by the way. Sam Winchester.

Comments

Video;

[knifecollecting]

[She has the post open for a long while before she responds. The signs don't mismatch like they did with Lucifer-wearing-Sam. It is time for new arrivals, and while this Sam looks older...

She can test him later.]

There's a list of everyone here. If Dean or Cas are on it, they're here. [Jo doesn't check herself, not just yet.]

Hi, Sam.

perma-video;

[hollowly]

( well, this is going to be awkward. once he finds out about that whole end-verse-him thing.

it's weird enough to see jo looking back at him when she finally answers, and it takes him a second or two to start breathing again. )

I'll - I'll look. ( in a minute. )

Hi ... Jo. ( of course it isn't out of any lack of thrill to see her - he just. can't believe he's seeing her. )

perma-video; i'm so sorry Sam

[knifecollecting]

[He looks older, and he's acting surprised, so Jo takes a deep breath and jumps in.]

I bet it's a surprise to see me, but it's really me.

[ Video ]

[dualismum]

It's possible to look for imPorts names on the communicator, though some hide themselves. But it's worth a try.

video;

[hollowly]

( well, that's that. there's no way dean is going to want his name on some kind of manifest for easy pickings.

he sighs. )

I'll take a look, but I'm willing to bet one of them won't want their name anywhere that can be easily accessed. Thanks, though.

video;

[dualismum]

Not a problem. Maybe you can find someone else familiar, on the list - and you can ask them.

[morethan084]

Hey Sam. I haven't seen either of them, but I can help you look, if you want.

[She should probably introduce herself too. Considering he didn't know her either. Giving a limp wave of her hand:]

Daisy.

[hollowly]

( introductions are overrated. but he appreciates it all the same.

he gives a small smile in response to her wave, still looking disheartened. ( that isn't going to change for a while, he thinks. ) )

It's nice to meet you, Daisy. ( it is, really - and would be even better if the circumstances were different. ) But this might be a search that I need to do on my own.

( at least for dean. )

[morethan084]

When you say your brother isn't himself...?

[She's just trying to connect the dots here.]

video; wait for it 1/2

[angelfire]

[ The screen is black. Everything is black. But the video is definitely on and recording, and-- ]

video; karma 2/2

[angelfire]

[ --Suddenly everything is all light and color. There's a stage. The lights swing up into the camera, a couple of extras are jumping past on stage with multicolored rainbow pendants trailing behind them, and there's a band. There's Lucifer holding a mic in one hand, center stage, putting his whole effort into it.

And he's singing. ]

~Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon~ You come and goooo, you come and go-ooh-woah~
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams; red, gold and greens, red gold and gree-eens.
Every day is like survival
You're my lover, not my rival
Every day is like survival
You're my lover, not my rival
I'm a man without conviction
I'm a man who doesn't know
How to sell a contradiction?
You come and go, you come and go.

[Wait, you think it's over, but no, the chorus is going to come again. ]

~Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon~ You come and goooo, you come and go-ooh-woah~
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams; red, gold and greens, red gold and gree-eens.~

[ Only when the song is good and trailed off does the screen go blissfully black again, and then Lucifer actually picks up his comm device. He's in what looks like an office, with a huge stained glass window image of angel wings behind him, wearing completely different clothes and a keen, mean smile. ]

Hello, Sammy.

[video]

[wizzardly]

[hey there, Sam. Here's a redhead in a pointy hat with the word 'WIZZARD' stitched into it in sad sequins.

Amazingly, he looks more confused than you probably do.]

But - I know you. You've been here, haven't you? We've met.

video;

[hollowly]

( sequins should never be sad. there's nothing sad about them - all sparkles, and whatnot - but that hat is enough to catch his attention, even if he's confused by the words that come out of the guy's mouth. )

I don't think so. ( he shakes his head. ) Pretty sure I'd remember being in a place like this. ( an unspoken i'm sorry i don't remember you is implied, but stays as such. )

video

[rathercommon]

[ A bit uncertainly: ]

Erm - have you only just showed up, then?

video;

[hollowly]

( he nods. )

Pretty recently, yeah.

[cleptes]

Funny. I thought that Dean always had an attitude problem.

[ Hi, Sam. ]

[hollowly]

( ...

bela???

first jo, and now this.

he is going to have a hell of a headache by the end of the day. )

Well, call it a little more problematic than usual. ( a beat.

ciao, bela.

hold your applause. ) It's been a while.

( THAT'S PUTTING IT MILDLY ... )

[instars]

Hello, Sam Winchester.

[hollowly]

( blink. )

Hi?

video

[quaerit]

[ Ah. This is always the worst part about arriving here. You'll always feel the loss of the people who aren't.

His accent is both distinctly Virginian, and distinctly upper class. If old money had a sound, then that sound would be Gansey. ]

Hello, Sam. I'm Gansey.

I haven't seen your brother, or your friend. I'm sorry. It's possible they'll arrive of their own accord later, though. You can't always predict what the Porter will do.

In fact you hardly ever can. She has a mind of her own. Literally, it would seem.

video;

[hollowly]

( he knows that accent - if only by dint of finding himself surrounded by all manner of different people over the course of the passing years, for any sort of reason you could possibly come up with, even if most of them would have something to do with something else being hunted.

it's not unpleasant, and the one giving it does seem genuinely sorry that he can't immediately find his brother and castiel. that gives him hope, even if it's for the wrong reasons, and it's something that he'll hold on to until he finds some other niche to settle himself in. )

I thought that it might have been a long shot asking in the first place, but I couldn't ... not. ( he makes a face, the corner of his mouth pulling to the side in a small frown, and he continues. ) I hope they do, and I hope they don't, if that makes sense. There's kind of a lot going on where I'm from.

( there's another small pause, and his frown melts into a small but genuine smile. ) Thank you, though. I'm sure they'll turn up eventually.

video;

[flowerette]

Hi, Sam. I'm Raina. I suppose...you don't remember that, do you?

[ If he didn't remember being here during the weird timeline shift, then he certainly wouldn't remember being here prior to that when she knew him. ]

I haven't seen Dean, no. He was here for quite some time and then vanished. I assumed he had gone home. But it's possible that he returned with you.

video;

[hollowly]

( there is nothing, absolutely nothing that he remembers about this place, and it probably goes without saying that the blankness of his current expression explains all of that without him having to say a word.

though he does look disappointed in himself at having to admit that no, he doesn't remember you. ) I'm sorry, I don't, I - ( this is exhausting, but then again, there isn't much in his life that isn't these days. ) All of this is new to me.

( but - ) He was here? How long ago?

( video )

[hasitsthorns]

[ Lumberjackesque friend! ]

I've seen your brother. [ She saw him... seriously sucking face with some random chick on the street. Ah. Fun (read=awkward) times. ] He hasn't done anything to offend me though so no worries there though!

But the other guy... Sorry, dude, I haven't seen him. Wish I could help more.

video;

[hollowly]

( little thief friend!

he doesn't really need to know about dean sucking face with some random chick - so feel free to keep that for yourself - but the fact that she's seen him at all has his expression brightening just a little bit, and he leans forward, intent. )

Give it time. ( about the not having done anything to personally offend you thing. it's bound to happen. ) Where was he when you saw him?

( at least he's getting some leads on dean. cas ... well, maybe things are still okay for him. maybe -

he has to hope, anyway. )