driftfleet | Video.

Who: Sam and you!
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Bloodsport or Iskaulit Bar if you find a way to squeeze in an action thread!
When: Today or whatevs, but backdated stuff is cool too.

[The last week has been really, really rough. Most people probably know.

He's been all but nonexistent for that entire week, and a few days after, too. Buried in hell memories and glitched to the point of barely functioning, he had stayed aboard the Bloodsport mostly with Nami. For the better, he knows later on; Nami understood him best, when it came to that side of him. It doesn't make him anymore ashamed and embarrassed that people had to see that. It makes him a bit depressed in the short time that follows. He wakes up on the third as himself — himself now, anyway. But he decided to just sleep for a day or two and try not to think about all the baggage.

But — he'll get pushed to move eventually, and the bar does need bartenders.

He will be out at the bar as he had been before the glitch.

It was what it was, he reminds himself. It was a part of him, and it's... well, it's not over, it'll never be over, but he's come a long way. He's better than that husk he'd been in the garden. He adapted and he survived. That has to count for something.

Still, there's some things to address.]

[Video.]

Hey, guys, I'm alive. Sorry for being so MIA at the bar, but I'm back now... Let me know if I missed anything.

[He's much better. See?? No burns or scars, and he's got his hair brushed, and everything is A-OK.]

I wanted to... apologize to everyone who ran into me, last week. I, uh, I said some pretty miserable crap and I know I sounded like a crazy person. And I just wanted to thank you guys for putting up with, um... that part of me. It's been years, and I'm much better now, and I don't... want anyone to - [He pauses, wringing a rag from the bar in his hands.] - to worry or anything like that.

I'm okay now.

So If you need a drink, I'll be here.

[A deep breath.]

Well... I don't want to just leave it on that note, so.

... Aaaah, let me think.

...

What's something you've accomplished that you're really proud of?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He feels like he does, though.]

... I'm not gonna lie to them if they ask, is all. Some of them really helped me a ton, and I said some pretty crazy shit. I don't know. [He taps his finger, a nervous tic.] ... I can do it. I feel like I need to.

Hell, maybe it's good for me, to explain for once.

... It's always been something I've ran from. Or — pretended it's not there, I guess.

If that's your reasoning, then... just as long as you're not doing it because you feel you have to. [Because you don't.] You're entitled to your privacy, no matter how much these stupid glitches try stripping that away.

By that token-- [She stabs the last piece of pancake on her plate, keeping her eyes down, voice casual.] --you shouldn't feel guilty that this happened, either.

...horrified, maybe. You shouldn't have had to go through that the first time, let alone revisit it. But it's also not your fault.

[As always, Nami, these are nice common sense words that rarely reach the Winchester household.]

I guess it's a little... horrifying. Um.

I don't like to think of that guy. But I guess he's also... me. I know logically that I couldn't have turned out any other way down there that was good, but...

[Some day she's gonna show up to the Winchester household with a cheerful grin and a sledgehammer. Just sayin'.]

Not immediately, no. But you remember all that, right? It's all... still up here. [She reaches a cautious finger up to tap at the side of her forehead. Like maybe doing that is bad luck.]

Sam, you've got your issues. But to come as far as you have since then-- most people just couldn't. They couldn't. I couldn't last through a month, let alone two centuries.

...

You should be proud of how strong you are.

[Aww, Nami. He appreciates it, and really... he's made efforts. Still is.

He's gotten better, he thinks, too. Or he hopes he has.

Sam leans on his hands, against the bar — oh, Nami, you try, he thinks. He smiles a little, fond, perhaps a little adoring. You're one of the most important and best friends he's got, you know.]

I think the two centuries is why I'm not.

... But I'll keep working on it if you don't mind being patient with me a little longer.

[She gives a small huff of amusement, reaching out to take his empty plate away and stacking it on her own.]

Always. I still reserve the right to smack you across the back of the head if I think you're being an idiot, though.

That's not the first time that's happened to you, though.

[Second time she's seen it. Though the first time was more literally Sam giving up, which she will forever be sore about, jsyk.] They could do this to you again.

[He nods, and seems pretty damn accepting of the fact. Does he like it? No. It hates it. But... he'd be lying to himself if he said this would be the end of the bullshit places like these cause. Hell, home is bad, too. Worse. He's given himself to the concept that he will be tormented by something or another.

He's a Winchester.]

Hope it doesn't, but if it does... I'll cope.

I've done pretty okay so far, right?

[....]

So far. [But it shouldn't happen in the first place. She's quiet for a moment, running the dishes under water, and so her back is turned when she asks.]

Is there anything I can do... better?

[He looks genuinely confused and surprised by the question, turning to look at her.]

Huh? What do you mean?

If this happens again. [She doesn't want to go through this shit again. He shouldn't have to.] Is there anything I can do that will help?

... Nami, you did everything just fine.

[He frowns, though really, he's just worried for her now.

It must've really been rough on her.]

You shouldn't have had to do what you did. But what you did, it was all anyone could hope for, if they were in my shoes.

Nothing nobody can tell you to make it easier on you, huh?

[It's naive, probably, to think that there's anything that might get through and reassure someone that traumatised and that convinced it's all a hallucination. But she had to ask.]

[He smiles sympathetically.]

Spoken like a Strawhat.

Sometimes, things just are what they are, and they don't get... easier.

What's important is that I've got people like you to back me up when the bad takes over.

[She turns back at that to smile at him, leaning against the sink.]

Always.

...you remember everything that happened, right? Do I-- need to fill anything in for you?

I don't think so.

[He rubs a hand over his face.]

I mean, I guess... uh. The bar hasn't caught fire or anything, right? Nothing new happened?

I've been kind of a... shut-in.

[

UNDERSTATEMENT

]

You think? [Dryly. Watching him for a long moment.

And then she deliberately changes tack, waving a hand airily.]

No, same old stuff, really. About the only thing I can think of is I had to change rooms for a week. Man, I don't envy you those thin beds.

Oh, that must've just been the worst. How'd you ever make it?

[He grins.]

Slept in the jacuzzi instead. [Straight-faced.] Nearly drowned once or twice.

[She lies. The bunks are more comfy than most ship beds, she dun care.]

I'm glad you didn't. Because otherwise I wouldn't have gotten these pancakes.

[;)]

Oh, I see. I drown, and it's my cooking you miss.

[Yeah, you can see just how upset she is by that face.]

Video.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject