First Seal [Video]

[hadtoperishtwice]

[The video turns on, showing Sam Winchester. Hair a bit shorter than the previous one, looking a few years younger, wearing a green, light jacket and a blue and white check shirt.]

[He looks surprised. And a little lost.]

I've got to say. I expected Hell to look a lot less metropolitan. [He holds up a hand.] I know, I know. I read the packet. Not Hell, just Florida. Though I'm pretty sure more than a few people back home would have said that there wasn't much of a difference.

[The smile he gives his own joke is wan. Yeah, he knows it's a bad one. It's what he's got for the moment.] I didn't see it in the file, but are you here, too, Dean? Not sure if I should hope for that or not, actually. But if I'm hallucinating, I'm pretty sure I'd drag him in, too.

[He pauses a moment, considering, before adding--] If this ISN'T a hallucination, I suppose I should introduce myself. Sam Winchester. Uh...pleasure to be here, I suppose.

Comments

Don't care how late it is - video

[hadtoperishtwice]

[There's a moment where Sam freezes. Because, yes, he's heard that Castiel is here, but there's a difference between hearing that and seeing it for yourself.]

[It only takes a moment, but Sam finally nods.]

Ah. Yeah, yeah. Dean's contacted me. He's on his way over. I've also already heard from Gabriel. And Balthazar? Apparently a friend of yours.

[freetobe]

[ It might be said that Castiel looks at Sam a bit oddly. Yeah, it's still strange, even after two months here. Strange, and a great relief, to see him like this - not shackled by Lucifer. ]

Balthazar can be trusted. We were close. We are close.

[ And after a moment of contemplation, Castiel tilts his head a little, frowns. ]

The last time I saw you, Lucifer possessed you.

[hadtoperishtwice]

Good. I'm glad to hear it.

[Okay, Sam's not exactly the type to go trusting most angels, but Castiel's word is a good one to him.]

[He takes a breath at the next pronouncement, then lets it out slowly and nods.]

Last I saw you, Lucifer had killed you. So I guess we're kinda even on not liking the last memory we have of each other.

[freetobe]

[ Castiel's lips thin at this. The words affect him, even if he wishes it wasn't so. He loathes that. ]

Yes. That's the last thing I remember from home as well.

[ Not a good one. But at least he knows it was worth it, in the end. ]

[hadtoperishtwice]

[Sam grimaces, looking pained as he glances away.]

It's not worth a lot, I know, but I'm sorry.

[freetobe]

[ Castiel keeps staring, doesn't see a need to avert his eyes. ]

Don't be. I'm told your plan was a success. You saved the world.

[hadtoperishtwice]

I wasn't strong enough to stop him before he killed you and Bobby. I should have been able to stop him before he got that far.

[Before he'd had to take Adam with him into the Cage.]

[freetobe]

You were strong enough to end it, Sam. That's the only thing that matters.

[ Castiel isn't good with comfort. But sometimes... Sometimes he's able to say something that's so honest, it's not even all that harsh. ]

[hadtoperishtwice]

Sorry, Cas. It wasn't good enough.

[Sacrifice may be something that they all went in understanding, but Sam wasn't ready to sacrifice more than himself. That it did happen bothers him more than he wants to say.]

I know, I know. At least it's over. I just...

[freetobe]

[ Castiel can't empathize with Sam's pain - not yet. To him, the only thing that matters is what they accomplished. What they lost along the way is irrelevant in the face of fulfilling their goal. ]

There's nothing to regret, Sam. You didn't hurt anyone, and your plan succeeded.

[hadtoperishtwice]

[They could easily go around and around about this for ages, but Sam just nods and decides to let it go for the moment.]

I'm glad you're here. Well, I can't complain about being here myself, honestly.

[freetobe]

[ Florida has to be more pleasant than Hell, even with the dangers and general strangeness added to it.

Though Castiel could do without the heat.

Nevermind the fact that he's still not willing to take off the trench coat. ]

Your employment likely offers fewer risks and better rewards than what you and your brother did, if less of an idealistic higher purpose.