1 [Video]

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

[Sam is sitting in a chair in the library, surrounded by all of the books, and he looks somewhat tired, but in good spirits. For the most part. Save for that whole 'he definitely hasn't slept' thing.]

Hey -- I think this thing's on... anyway, I'm Sam Winchester.

[Ordinarily he'd never give out his full name, seeing as they're on the run from the Leviathan and all that, but he's ascertained the big bads aren't around -- so a little honesty couldn't hurt, especially with what he's about to ask.]

Nice to meet everyone. I was wondering if anyone could give me a couple of answers to some questions -- you don't have to, and it's obviously not obligatory, but I'd appreciate it.

First, how many of you have any kind of supernatural ability that was taken away when you got here? It doesn't matter what it is -- telekinesis, the ability to fly -- if anything changed, I'd like to know. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but knowing what changed is important in knowing how we all got here in the first place.

[And, more importantly, how to get out.]

Second, I was wondering if anyone could tell me where to find some chalk and some spices. Specifically, rosemary, allspice, or nutmeg. Salt would be good, too. I know there's probably a grocery store or something like that around, but any pointers would be great. And, uh --

[Sam pauses before clearing his throat, thumping his pen against the table for a few seconds before continuing.]

Hypothetically speaking, if you had a coat with a lot of blood on it, what would you do to get it out? And I need to know where to find non-blood-stained clothes that'd fit a normal-sized human being. ... hypothetically.

Comments

[shigeharu]

[Oh, bloodstains? That's certainly nothing Hanbei has to deal with on a regular basis...]

Try soaking it in cold water. Hot will just set it in.

Hypothetically.

[spysincera.livejournal.com]

Cold water, and then a salt treatment. But if there's a lot of blood, you may just want to consider getting a new coat. Sentimental value?

[she's a little amused]

[democratize]

There's probably a laundress somewhere in the market.

But the people look kinda odd.

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

You have no idea what would happen if I tried to throw the thing out.

[Pause.]

-- what happens if you put it in hot water and then add salt?

[spysincera.livejournal.com]

Hot water will set the stain. After that, it's just luck of the draw if you can save it, even for a small stain.

You put it in hot water, huh?

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

[Guess who was the genius who put it in hot water.]

... shit.

[Pause.]

Hypothet -- nevermind. Is there a way to get it out if you put it in hot water first?

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

No one's been violent or aggressive or anything like that, right?

[shigeharu]

I don't think I've really tried! It might be possible, but at that point I just found it easier to have a new one made.

[democratize]

Nah, they're pretty friendly. They want us here, so they have to be nice.

But something's still weird about them.

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

[Oops.]

... maybe. -- I'll figure it out. It can't be that hard to salvage.

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

Have they told you anything besides the standard welcome speech?

[spysincera.livejournal.com]

How lucky are you?

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

Huh. I guess that could work.

[Ordering a trenchcoat that's twice the size it should be. Totally normal.]

[verifies]

[ supernatural abilities? ...hm. well he hasn't really tried to see if he could reach into any televisions, but he gets the feeling the answer would be no. regardless, he can't summon a persona outside of that world, so there's no way to tell if he still can or not. ]

Do you have some ability that you lost? I... might have. I'm not really sure.

[ though his last question is a bit more... attention catching. ]

...take it to the dry cleaners?

[democratize]

Not them, but I talked to that one guy--

Heimdall?

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

[That earns something of a sheepish expression.]

You want to know the truth or hear a really great lie?

[spysincera.livejournal.com]

You make the lie sound so appealing! Shoot.

[shigeharu]

Considering what they already seem to be able to do here, I can't imagine finding a tailor would be that hard!

[...he actually means the televisions as much as being kidnapped to another dimension. Amazing, man!]

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

[Sam offers a grin at the optimism. It's refreshing. There isn't a lot of that in his world anymore.]

What've you found since you got here? Anything good?

[shigeharu]

[Optimism is Hanbei's specialty! There are enough dour stick-in-the-butt samurai in his time already.]

Well, I'm still not sure what that big box with the wires in the sitting room is for...

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you'd call it lucky, but I managed to drive a half-destroyed 1967 Impala out of a ditch while demons were chasing me.

[It was said with a perfectly straight face, an even expression, and with every ounce of sincerity.

... it actually happened. But Sam definitely wasn't the one driving.]

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

Nah, but a friend of mine has, and I've heard stories of a couple of other people losing their magic or some other kind of supernatural ability. I was just curious to see if it was widespread or not.

[He pauses for a moment before looking at the image curiously.]

Where's the dry cleaner?

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

[That gets his attention immediately.]

Yeah? How was he?

[smartwinchester.livejournal.com]

[Big box in the sitting room...]

-- a television?

[verifies]

I'll try and see if I can figure it out... [ now he just needs to find a tv. ] If I learn anything, I'll get back to you.

[ a pause matching sam's own. ]

I'll look for one of those too while I'm at it...