they show you how to swim

[headandhand]

WHO: All Dualizens, old and new
WHAT: Your regularly scheduled NAPs event for the month
WHERE: Dualis Oasis
WHEN: Nov. 7-10
WARNINGS: Please use these if applicable!


Look at all of these bright, shining new faces! There’s even a few less bright, less shining faces - maybe even a few folks without faces - but hey, this city welcomes all types. Chances are, if you’ve just arrived, you're seeing some pretty crazy things, unless you're used to an eye-blinding amount of neon, robots, weird-ass technology, magic, and an omnipresent police force...and hey, if you are, congrats, you're gonna settle in juuuuust fine. But for the rest of you, the Head knows this has gotta be pretty overwhelming, right?

Well, since your quaint individual processing units are probably having a hard time, why not link up with another one? By which the Head means...

Hello, new citizens of Dualis,
and welcome to your monthly Network Adjacency Protocol~!

NAPs are a monthly community networking event similar to the Earth concept of speed dating! Two citizens (new arrivals and old hands alike) are placed at a table together with a handy cue card of queries to help break the proverbial ice. Ask queries and receive results, or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship! But don't be too shy, you've only got ten minutes together, and if you just sit in silence for the whole ten, the Network Admins are likely to come supervise and try to repair the uplink through a mild shock to the ol' central nervous system. You might find yourself saying all sorts of unintended facts about yourself if that happens...probably better to just make friends, right? Who doesn’t like friends?!

The weather outside may be taking a turn toward chilly, but you can still get your swim on during this month’s NAPs, held at the Dualis Oasis, an indoor temperature-controlled aquatic amusement park with giant slides, swimming pools, and lazy winding float rivers. Appropriate swimming gear is required for entry to this part of the park, but there are a number of shops just outside that will gladly sell you swimwear and accessories.

For those of you who wish to avoid a humid environment or just hate fun, a dehumidified lounge and restaurant offer quieter, dryer spaces for chatting and snacking. The actual speed-friending itself is in progress here, but you’re welcome to stick around and continue conversations with your new friends.

So c’mon, what are you waiting for? Just dive right in for fun and friendship - the water’s fine, fine, fine, just like everything else in this fair city. But hey, remember to play safe. No running!

Comments

[notoftheblood]

The timber of Sam's voice calling his name was almost enough to stop Jack's feet. (Honestly the untied boots weren't the most stable footwear but he never did master tying his shoes so the laces were just tucked inside.) When Sam called out the second time. He finally stopped, turning to face Sam, except he didn't look up to make eye contact. The changes in him written over his face, looking more like Castiel each day, namely with that stubble.

Why he looks so much like Cas who knew, but here he was, finally slowly looking up, a bit of fear in those once all to trusting eyes of his. "...Sam." Was all he could say.

[crime_stopper]

Sam drinks him in deeply, grief and joy warring with each other as his memories try to process who is in front of him and how different he looks. He swallows hard and moves forward slowly as if not wanting to spook a wild animal. "Yeah it's me," he mutters quietly, "are you okay? You look so different...good but different."

[notoftheblood]

Jack watched Sam's face a moment before he moved forward, wrapping his arms around Sam, trying not to cry as he pressed his face into Sam's chest. "You know who I am..." he muttered low. Almost as if ignored what Sam said, but the fact that Sam knew he looked different floored him a bit. He was fighting not to cry. Sam was here, Sam knew who he was... it was going to be okay. He hadn't felt okay in months.

[crime_stopper]

Sam made quiet soothing noises. He had no idea what Jack meant about Sam knowing who he was. Sam would always know...always remember Jack. The young man had wormed his way into Sam's heart and refused to leave even after Chuck had cruelly torn him away like Jack was a toy instead of his own person. "I'm so glad to see you Jack," he whispers.

[notoftheblood]

The longer he lived the more Jack thought of himself as Jack instead of Lucifers son, Kellys son, or The boys child. He was trying to become his own person since Chuck killed him, and since having his soul repaired in the last city everything just felt more vivid and hurt. But he managed not to cry, lifting his head those blue eyes of his met with Sam's.

"Me to... I thought everyone forgot me. Dean didn't know who I was in the last city..." He explained softly as he took a step back and took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves so he didn't cry.

[crime_stopper]

Sam sighs softly. He understood. Back on the islands, Dean hadn't known how much Sam had suffered in Hell and Sam had fought the urge to lie and pretend everything was fine. But he hadn't be able to and he'd felt like that had sent Dean home. Sam would never forgive himself for that just like he never forgave himself for any of his mistakes. "I would never forget you Jack, you're family. I don't forget family. My heart won't let me."

[notoftheblood]

Something in his heart swelled at Sam reafirming they were still family. The smile that crossed his face couldn't be faked when he had lacked his soul. Looking up at Sam like a child meeting their hero. Which, was never far from the truth.

All thought of crying gone with just a few words, as he pulled back and rubbed at his eyes to get the near tears away and trying to stop grinning. "I could never forget you either Sam, your always so good to me. It's horrible to say but I'm so glad your with me. How long have you been here? Have you been taken anywhere else to? "

[crime_stopper]

"I just got here," Sam admitted, "my head is spinning actually. I was in one place, then I went home and then I came here. Only the fact that I was used to this kind of thing kept me from freaking out on the robots." He chuckles and shakes his head. "I doubt they knew what they were getting into when they pulled me away from home."

Sam looks over Jack again drinking him in. "What about you Jack," he asked quietly, "when did you get here?"

[notoftheblood]

"I was in another city before this one... Dean didn't know me, and looked younger. I'm sure you can imagine how that went." He explained with that 'Other Dad wanted me dead' tone again. He remembers the box, he remembers the gun, and he remembers Dean saying no. Dean is always Dean to him, even when it hurts. "I doubt they knew either, but maybe we can be some good here!" He spoke with a hopeful tone, secretly hoping Dean and Castiel may show up one day, or even Rowena and Mary... mostly so he could apologize to Mary.

"I came today to, just a few hours ago. Im roomed with a friend from the old city. She's nice."

[crime_stopper]

"I'm glad you have more people you know here," Sam said, "you deserve all the best Jack, you really do." He leans in and hugs the young man again. "I'd like to meet your friend and thank her for helping you."

[notoftheblood]

The hug is happily returned before Jack nodded quickly, looking up at his tall moose like father figure. "Of course! We are on the first floor, if your in the dorm house I can introduce you." He replied with a happier tone.

[crime_stopper]

Sam nodded. "I am and I'd be happy to be introduced," he says, "I'm feeling a bit at loose ends since I haven't started my job yet and there aren't any cases here."

[notoftheblood]

"Its strange right? But, Im sure something will come up. I'll introduce you to her soon though!"

[crime_stopper]

"Good...and Jack it's good to see you happy," Sam admitted. "you deserve a better life."

[notoftheblood]

"I can't let what happened bring me down, Cass and mom would want better. Though, that doesn't mean I don't remember what I did. I'll never be able to fix that, but I want to try and make things better." He spoke looking up at one of his fathers.

[crime_stopper]

"I never have," Sam says, "giving up hope means letting the darker aspects of what we do get to me and once you go down that path you never come back." He smiles. "and we can never completely fix some of the things that we do....but we can learn from them."

[notoftheblood]

He smiled sadly but nodded. "I promise I have learned from it, and if I ever find a way to right it, please know I will." He missed Mary something bad.

[crime_stopper]

Sam moved into Jack's space and wrapped him in his arms again tight and warm. "I know you will Jack.....I know you will because it's what Winchesters do."

[notoftheblood]

He hugs close to Sam when he is wrapped in his arms, he manages not to cry, but to just hug him.

"Thank you Sam. Thank you."

[crime_stopper]

"You're welcome Jack...I'm just...so happy you're here...I missed you so much."

[notoftheblood]

"I missed you to, it feels like its been so long since I saw you." He replied trying to not cry.

[crime_stopper]

Sam manages a nod. "I know what you mean....I....it's been so hard trying to keep going after God....."

[notoftheblood]

"Is... is that wise?" He asked concerned but still holding it together.