nightlogs | [Open] The only thing that you absolutely have to know...

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[Open] The only thing that you absolutely have to know...

Who: Sam Winchester and you!
What: Sam's found his home away from home
Where: The library at the North Pole
When: Relatively soon after arrival, probably post-Branch
Warnings/Notes: Winchester mouth. Updated as needed.

Once Dean was back on his feet, Sam started exploring the North Pole. And, honestly, nobody who knew him would be surprised to find that once he found the library, he kept drifting back there.

Not that it was that easy to find things there. That North has a filing system is undeniable. What's also undeniable, though, is that whatever filing system he has is archaic and likely all in his own head. Which doesn't mean that Sam doesn't enjoy the looking.

Which is why he can be found at one of the tables near the middle of the room, piles of books and scrolls around him and a leather-bound notebook open to his right, pen set in the crease between pages as he bends over another book, head bowed and hand on cheek as he reads.

He glances up as somebody approaches, then leans back with a stretch. "Hey. Any idea how long I've been here?"

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Crowley doesn't have much particular interest in the library; he's done some cursory research but he's mostly leaving it to Aziraphale. Which is the reason he's even in the library in the first place. Aziraphale had found a spot to read a novel while Crowley had messed about on his phone, but it's been several hours and the angel is thoroughly engrossed in the book, leaving Crowley to entertain himself.

Someone surrounded by scrolls and books might be fun to poke at, or they might actually have interesting information.

When he does approach and is immediately asked a question, Crowley grins, "S'been two weeks. Someone was about to send in a rescue."

Rex had heard that they were fictional here. He'd heard of books and movies that could be about them. He didn't know how to find them and he certainly wasn't going to ask. He himself had spent some time in the library tracking it down, getting utterly lost before finding some movies with titles that jumped out at him.

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Star Wars: Rise of the Sith. He didn't know what to choose, if any, until he saw Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

He grabbed that one and moved away from the shelf, distancing himself from any knowledge of the future or a past he didn't know. He stared at his selection for a time, turning it so that he saw the familiar faces on the front cover.

He glanced up just as Sam greeted him and tucked the DVD against his side.

"You were here when I walked in. At least an hour, but if you have to ask it's probably hours."

"Honestly, I'm not sure I'd be that surprised." Sam tilts his head back and forth, letting out a sigh of relief as his joints crack back into place. "The reason I doubt you is because Dean would have come and found me long before two weeks had passed."

And his brother would definitely know to look for him in the library.

He stands up, because he's been sitting far too long. "That's the problem with this whole 'myth' thing. Don't need to eat or drink, really, so nothing happens if you ignore the signals."

"Sounds about right."

Sam leans back with the stretch, letting his back realign after sitting bent over for too long. "Still getting used to this 'myth' thing, I guess. Body signals are all out of whack."

If he didn't already have an explanation, he might be more concerned.

While Sam relaxed, Rex remained as stiff as ever. He'd gotten better at blending in, but acting natural was something that took effort. Rex stood not quite at attention but with his spine straight and his body still.

"It is hard to get used to. Did it affect your... abilities?" Or perhaps lack thereof but with that height Rex knew Sam could prove a more than capable opponent if he had the training.

Not that he expected he'd need to fight him. Still, it was second nature to size someone up and Rex's appraisal was swift.

"Oh, we've been keeping him out, seems like you were having fun." He doesn't even know who Dean is, really, but he's committed to the bit now.

Was there a chair on the other side of the desk before? Doesn't matter if there was, because there's one now for Crowley to pull out and drop into, kicking his feet up onto the desk as if he's settling in.

"You're human, aren't you? You'd think force of habit would get you up and about." Considering they're in the North Pole and all myths now, apparently, he's stopped caring about playing at being human.

Sam's height is very noticeable.

So is the way that Rex holds himself. Sam eyes him for a moment before offering a half smile. "Military?" he asks before shaking his head. "My dad was a Marine before Dean and I came along. I recognize the way you're standing."

Though he realizes that the guy looks familiar. It's just not coming to mind right now why.

"I mean...it kinda has? In that I have abilities, but what I've found isn't what I've had before?" He reaches up, brushing a hand through his hair. "But as far as the rest of it, I seem to be able to fight as well as I could before. A little stronger, able to take hits better, that sort of thing. Which may come in useful."

Sam looks Crowley over before raising an eyebrow. "Considering the lack of blood and the fact that you have all your parts still, I'm definitely calling bullshit on that." Because he knows his brother. This Dean might be very young, but he's certain that if somebody OTHER than Sam himself was trying to tell him to stay away, Sam would have heard the commotion.

He huffs a sigh. "You'd think so. But I had a few years growing up when money was too tight, then ran into a few other issues that mean I kinda got used to ignoring things."

There's a little laugh from Crowley, complete with nose wrinkle. "That's cute." Could he mean it's cute that Dean would apparently de-limb someone for keeping him from Sam? Maybe, but mostly it's cute that Sam thinks someone could fuck Crowley up.

That's slightly more interesting, but he's not about to pry into people's lives. Partially because he doesn't care enough. "Twitter always tells me that alarms are helpful for that sort of nonsense." Remember to eat and drink and things. Crowley's never needed it, even before becoming a myth, but he can see why it might be slightly unsettling to a human, who's less used to it.

"Mmm. Probably." Sam sits again, picking up his pen to write a couple things down before closing the notebook. "I'm sure I'll get back in the habit. But there's just so many books and so much to learn here. Makes it a lot easier to ignore signals if I'm not paying attention."

"Was it some sort of prerequisite for being dragged here that you had to be a bloody nerd?" Not that he's including himself in that number (despite the fact he's absolutely a nerd), but he's run into so many people who are interested in things like research. It's disgusting.

He kind of undermines himself by also asking, "Found anything interesting?"

That gets an eyebrow raise. "I mean, everybody has things that they like. For a couple of us, that's books. My brother tends to prefer working with his hands. I'm sure it's the same with others as well. But my guess is that...kids pull people who make them feel safe. And the kinds of kids with the strongest belief are their own style of nerd, too."

A small trace of awkwardness flashed across Rex's face. The change in expression was slight. There didn't seem to be any harm in being honest here. He doubted anyone was going to execute him.

"Yes," he said after a pause. "I served the Republic."

He cleared his throat. "I haven't noticed any changes to my strength but I do heal faster as well as other-- things." He couldn't say that he could use the force now because it was something he still couldn't reconcile.

"The Republic?" Even as he's saying it, it's poking at something at the back of Sam's mind. A certain movie series he'd watched way too many times. Though that couldn't be right.

"The place I was before this? I could use telekinesis. Nothing fine, but it was good for shielding and pushing people." Sam leans forward on the table. "But that's changed since I got here. What I have is still primarily protective, though, so that's good."

Given Sam's confusion, Rex knew now that revealing anything more wouldn't put himself in danger. While that was a relief, he found it more unsettling that there was someone who didn't know about the Republic or the war or, presumably, Jedi.

"It's--" Rex didn't even know how he was supposed to explain. "An interplanetary government. It's fallen now." Rex did not seem pleased with this development.

What interested him was Sam's description of telekinesis. "You said pushing people? Do you mean the force?"

As if a fallen Republic wasn't clue enough.

Yeah. No, those clues are enough that Sam's face lights with recognition. Though it dies again a moment later. "Yeah. I know a bit about it. I grew up in a world that story touched."

It's the best way he can think of to explain it. That some worlds just get touched by some stories while others don't. Rex's world is probably fairly isolated, honestly, given that it's set so far...either in the future or the past.

He frowns at the question. "Like a Force push? I guess it's similar. I know that the Jedi could do some similar things with the Force, like picking things up without actually touching them, but I think that ability was more limited in other ways. But. I've never had access to the Force, so I can't be certain of that."

"Ah-- oh," was all Rex managed at finding out Sam had already heard about his universe. He recalled the cover of the item he held in his hand, the stylized faces, and suddenly reconsidered whether or not he should come up with a fake name. This time it would be to preserve his own dignity instead of his life.

And what did you say to someone who quite possibly knew what lay ahead of you?

So he moved on.

"Since I came here I found I can-- move things. I thought it was the Force but I've never been able to before. This telekinesis is different?" Rex spoke in a matter of fact tone when in reality the prospect was a huge relief.

That... is actually a very good deduction; it gives Crowley a second of pause as he considers it. "I suppose that makes sense. The kids running about in the woods playing their own made up games, or spending all their time playing sports aren't about to be watching TV or reading a bunch of books."

Whether or not this is a useful insight, Crowley isn't sure, but it is interesting.

And kind of annoying. "Can't believe I'm stuck in this place 'cause of some nerdy kids."

Which is fine. Sam's watched some of the newer stuff from Star Wars, but not enough to be able to tell Rex much. Though he might recognize the name, but it's rare that Sam has time to watch TV these days.

"Having the Force might be more fitting for the kids to believe you have." Though Sam totally understands not wanting something you have absolutely no basis in. "It can be. I don't currently have it, but in a lot of ways, it acts similarly. For me, it was primarily able to push people away or keep them away from me and anybody I was protecting. It also kept people from being able to hit me or anybody behind me with bullets or other weapons. Or throwing things. I could pick up a desk and throw it at somebody, but smaller items or having to be more careful could be difficult."

He hums slightly. "That said, people have different ways that they express powers. Yours might be better with closer manipulation, things like being able to unlock a door by jimmying the lock rather than blowing it off the hinges."

Sam grins. "Even worse. You're stuck here because you make them feel safe. Or, at least, are somebody they feel can protect them from the things that go bump in the night."

It may not be a useful insight. But it might be.

He offers his hand. "Sorry. Sam Winchester." Who HAD commented on Crowley's post, but got distracted by books immediately afterward and hadn't replied.

There are so many things he could say to that, but while he's not hiding that he isn't human, it would be stupid to be too open about being a demon, when that comes with a significant amount of baggage. "I used to be a nanny."

That's a slightly safer answer, and he gives Sam a look as if he's daring him to say something disparaging about it.

But he does lean forward to shake the offered hand. "Anthony Crowley, hi."

Sam's handshake is strong, but not the kind where he's trying to crush somebody else's hand. Just like somebody who is a little stronger than he always realizes. With calluses from various kinds of weapons. And pens.

"Any relation to Aleister?" He couldn't remember off the top of his head if the man had ever had kids, though he'd slept around enough that he might not have known. And he didn't think he'd been an only child. "That's a weird coincidence, though. I know a guy back home named Crowley, too."

Crowley has had a million handshakes in his existence, and it's always a relief when men don't feel the need for stupid posturing about it. His own handshake is just like, normal. Normal amount of strength, nothing weird about it.

"Aleister was a piece of shit charlatan." There's enough annoyance in his voice that it seems personal, not just someone cranky about being stuck with the same name as a slightly famous asshole. "Plenty of Crowley's in the world, I've probably had my name longer than most of them, though."

Rex shook his head at the idea he might have lucked out and got stuck with the Force anyway. "I'm too old to have the Force. I never thought I'd need to ask General Skywalker how to meditate.

"Even if it's telekinesis I'm not very good at it yet." And there were few things related to combat that he wasn't good at. It was an adjustment. "All I've done is grab a blaster."

But if he had the potential to do any of that... Rex didn't care for the force but he had seen what telekinesis could do in a fight.

"Have you ever tried moving yourself?"

Sam's would have been more normal if he hadn't received myth-based strength as well. Still learning how to deal with that.

Sam's laugh is true as he draws his hand back. "That's why Yeats kicked him down a staircase," he agrees. "Well, the piece of shit part. The charlatan was just icing on the cake." He shakes his head and leans back. "Yeah, there probably are. Though I'm pretty sure the one I know took the name just to prove he could wear it better."

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