#1 ♡ (audio|video|action)

[dontcrashnburn]

[For a moment, there is nothing but the sound of shaky breathing. And then the video clicks on to a tall blonde standing in front of the fountain.]

Okay. Pearly gates, I presume?

[Jessica’s voice, though weak and a little distressed, carries a note of dark humour. She twists her lips to the side curiously.]

I have to admit, I didn’t think it’d come

Comments

[video]

[iwatchtjhooker]

[At first, Sam thinks he's dreaming. Hallucinating. Nightmaring. It's happened often enough, dreams of Jess--even seeing her during his waking hours, unsure if it's a spirit or just his guilt manifest.

But this is different. This is Jess, not some vengeful apparition or figment of his imagination. He knows, because in his mind he can no longer envision her like this, alive and vibrant and matter-of-fact. Sam't just not that good at wishful thinking. Not anymore.

What it could be, though, is a trick of the city. The date is too coincidental for comfort, the anniversary making it fresh in his thoughts and there for suspicious.

So while he flips on the channel to answer, it's almost instinctive, and he doesn't manage to say anything for awhile. Just stares, haunted eyes and all, until he manages one broken little word.]

Jess?

[video]

[dontcrashnburn]

[She thinks she remembers seeing Sam moments (or maybe hours? Ages?) ago, but she supposes it could have been her life flashing before her eyes just before the flames engulfed her. But now here he is, and she doesn't seem to be in any immediate danger, coming down off the panic high. And there's something so simple and normal about it -- Sam's face on a video call. Somehow it's the utter lack of strangeness that throws her off.

Something cold hits the bottom of her stomach, though, and hard. If he's here, even as an image on a screen... then the fire must have caught him too. She gulps, tears springing to her eyes.]

Sam? Sam. It's... yeah, it's me.

[video]

[iwatchtjhooker]

Jesus, Jess, I'm so sorry.

[He doesn't know what else to say, doesn't know how to deal with the conflicting joy and guilt and oh shit what do I do now. Why had they brought her here? Is he allowed to be glad?]

It's good to see you. I don't... I should come find you. I should... we should talk.

[video]

[dontcrashnburn]

It's...

[She sighs, her breath coming out unsteady. She hardly knows what to say either. She fights between the regret of knowing her death may have caused his, and feeling grateful that at least they're still together.]

Y-yeah, you too. I'm... [She looks around fretfully.] Well, I don't know where I am. There's a fountain.

[Video]

[whackaspirit]

[Have a confused look staring.]

Unfortunately, there are no stores that sells wings here nor is it heaven for that matter. You've arrived in a place called the City, miss.

[Video]

[dontcrashnburn]

City? Yeah? [But she just... died. How can she be in...?] What city?

[Video]

[whackaspirit]

It's simply called the City. There's no known name to it besides that as far as I'm aware. This may be difficult to believe but you as well as others have been taken from your own worlds and brought here. The same with me as well.

[Video]

[dontcrashnburn]

Did you die, too?

[i_archmagus]

I do not believe that this is the afterlife. However, gods remain responsible for your abduction.

[dontcrashnburn]

[She presses her mouth into a tight line. She's half-way between freaked out and seriously annoyed.]

Well, you'd better start believing. I'm pretty sure I was dead just a second ago. And here I am -- [She spreads her arms wide in a 'see for yourself' gesture --] after.

Wait, gods? What gods?

[i_archmagus]

I'm not dead.

The gods of this place.

[dontcrashnburn]

Okay. [Not a satisfying answer, but she'll just try to roll with it. No sense in getting frutrated if it's not going to get her anywhere.] 'This place,' let's tackle that one next. Where am I, exactly? Is this on Earth, or... or somewhere else?

Also, intro date couldn't be more perfect

[dude_imbatman]

[There's going to be several beats of What the HELL?]

Jessica Moore... [And Dean is grinning like a dumbass.]

iuasfoidgh IKR. I WAS SO DETERMINED TO MEET MY WORD GOAL SO IT COULD DO THIS. =D

[dontcrashnburn]

[Okay, here is a slightly hysterical smile. Heaven is meeting none of her expectations as it is, but the boyfriend's cheeky, flirtatious brother is a whole new level of what-is-going-on-here.

She crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow.]

Dean Winchester.

YAY they are going to be awesome sibs in law

[dude_imbatman]

[Starting to make you think maybe you've gone to Hell instead, Jess?]

Imagine seeing you here. Place just got prettier.

\o/!

[dontcrashnburn]

Yeah, imagine that. [So much cautious irony.] Weird question, but... am I... imagining this? Some kind of vision or something?

action;

[rehymenator]

[ Whatever do you mean? There's no creepy man hiding way too conspicuously on the opposite side of the street, watching Jessica. Nope. Not the guy who is very obviously staring at her, no matter where she goes.

He doesn't follow her down the street, around the corner and never actually approach. Psh, she much be hallucinating, of course. ]

action;

[dontcrashnburn]

[Okay, guy, creepy much? She doubles back just to be sure, and -- yeah, definitely being followed.

She pivots on one foot and stares right back.]

If you're a serial killer, you're kind of late. I'm pretty sure I'm already dead.

action;

[rehymenator]

[ He stops abruptly with her heel-turn, but he doesn't look startled, necessarily. It's more expectant, and he even takes a step back. Look, he's totally learning! ]

I'm not a serial killer, Jessica. I wanted to make sure.

[ And he's totally scrutinizing the crap out of her, now. Is she actually her? Is this a City trick? If she's a demon, she needs to be taken care of. ]

action;

[dontcrashnburn]

Oooookay. [She draws the word out, eyebrows lifting.] You know my name.