Video;

[shifting]

[the Sam Merlotte addressing the camera from his desk is worn thin, circles under his eyes and stress at the tight line of his mouth. Not the best face for a video, but unfortunately necessary.

In his defense, he spent the better part of this weekend in jail.]

I don't know what happened. That's the first thing I'd like an answer on, if someone's got one. Magic bullshit is the best answer I've heard, and that's not enough. I also know someone wearin' my face and name went and dragged my reputation through the mud and worse, since he was kind enough to leave me a week's worth of fucked up memories and his goddamn mess to clean.

[Sam takes in a long breath through his nose and lets it out again - trying to keep calm. The whiskey glass he's holding out of sight has been helping.]

I almost lost my job 'cause of this. A lot worse did happen. And I was left holdin' the bag for that. I'd like to know why.

...But I also need to apologize to people who had to deal with it. Me. ...Him. However the fuck I should be talkin' 'bout this. So, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to a lot of people, some I never even met before. None of y'all should've had to put up with that. And if anyone needs me to keep away from 'em from now on I understand. Just -

[Sam licks his lips, then shakes his head]

- I'm sorry. That wasn't me. But I'm sorry.

Comments

[morethan084]

[Daisy didn't have any idea what happened to him, but she had changed too. For the better, really. Now she's back to this.]

You weren't yourself. A lot of us weren't.

[shifting]

Doesn't mean I get to brush off what happened.

[morethan084]

[Daisy was so tempted to ask him what the hell happened.]

No, but, it wasn't you. Not really.

[instars]

Well.

Yes.

video | id reads "power girl"

[boobwindow]

You look rough.

[shifting]

I know that. But I've got that fucker's memories in my head all the same.

[and they'd be so much easier to deal with if that person felt further away from him, if that didn't seem like a parallel life running too close for comfort.]

You get hit too?

[shifting]

..."Yes" what?

[shifting]

It was a rough weekend. Week.

I'd say I could've used a hero, but if you'd met me when this shit was happenin' you'd've beat my ass and had reason to.

[kickingand]

Don't gotta apologize for everything.

[ Because c'mon, we both know who reaaallly started that fight. ]

[shifting]

[oh, Christ.

Sam remembers this one. He remembers them all of course, but - this one stands out.]

...You know, I didn't even know your name 'til I just read it on here. Should apologize for that at least.

[boobwindow]

Jeez, what did you do?

[shifting]

[burglary, bar fights, beat the shit out of that guy you're supposed to protect - ]

Enough.

I'd rather not go into it. Just let's say I was an asshole.

[kickingand]

What, should we've shaken hands first y'think?

[ Really, Dean just sort of looks somewhere between amused and pleased - can't go wrong with a damn good nonsensical fight, even if some crap gets broken along the way. ]

[boobwindow]

A lot of people were. Don't beat yourself up that bad over it.

[shifting]

Could've been a start. I'm not actually much for beatin' the shit out of strangers. Sorry if I led you on there.

[shifting]

Oh I'm afraid I've got about two months more of that at least.

Anyone ever figure out what happened?

[kickingand]

And that's where the magic comes in, huh.

[shifting]

Yeah. Best I've been able to figure, the asshole you met is me, but a me who had somethin' go different for him. Lived a different life, and it made him a different person.

So I'm a different asshole.

voice

[viced]

This kind of shit happens a lot around here. You... ah, you okay, Sam?

[kickingand]

Like a choose your own adventure, 'cept you got stuck with the shitty ending for a week.

voice

[shifting]

Well do me a favor when you become Senator and make an opt-out for that, will ya?

But I'm all right. Could be better, could be worse. Mostly pissed.

[shifting]

[he snorts. All right, that was funny.]

Good an explanation as any.

[not that many endings in Sam's life aren't shitty endings. But hey, at least now he knows it could've been even worse.

...Sort of. That Sam knew himself better.]

You weren't affected by the same shit?

[kickingand]

[ He just offers up his own minute little headshake, entirely unbothered. ]

Not in the slightest. Guess I just got lucky.

Video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[The guy in the video doesn't have whiskey, but he looks like he could sure as hell use some.]

For what it's worth- you're not alone. I don't know all the details, but I do know some of what you're feeling right now.

Putting the pieces back together after this is going to be hell, isn't it?

[shifting]

Well shit. I just catch you on a bad night then, or you always like that?

[words that could be taken as insulting, but Sam sounds more bewildered than anything else.]