( that's... an offer damon doesn't really know what to do with. he draws back from sam mentally, closing off his thoughts just a tiny bit — they share most things but he doesn't know how to share this, this obligation and this hatred and this love he has for stefan. it's his, his and stefan's, and no matter how close he is to sam, it's not for outsiders.
but he knows what sam thinks of stefan, how his own words have twisted his friend against him before they've even properly gotten to know each other, and yet... sam still wants to help. he'd still leave his own home behind and come to mystic falls, because... why? damon's certainly not worth enduring everything he just described.
except apparently, to sam... he is. )
Thank you. ( it's not often that he says that — sam knows, sam's been inside his head when he was trying to wrestle with his own gratitude — but when it's important, when he means it... yeah. )
[ Sam doesn't pursue him when he closes off. It's between Damon and Stefan, and Sam's not looking to interfere with that.
He's trying to remain neutral on Stefan, really. He knows Damon loves him, complicated relationship aside, and he knows that anything he gets from Damon is likely to be a little skewed - but hell, Sam's human. He's gonna have a bias sometimes.
So no, it's not for Stefan, not in any more of a way than Sam would generally help someone in a shitty situation if he could. Just like packing up his life to help Steve search for Bucky hadn't necessarily been about Bucky.
Damon's worth it. And, selfishly, the few people that Sam has to say goodbye to when they figure a way out, the better. Home's never been a place for him, it's always been the people. ]
You're welcome. [ He knows exactly what it means that Damon's saying that, and his own words are soft. Genuine. The moment sits, just for a bit, then Sam smirks. Before it can get to be too much. ] You think you and your drinking buddy'll have room for one or two more?
(damon's worth it. not a sentiment he's used to hearing, or wven hivemind feeling. more than ever, damon's sure he doesn't deserve sam's friendship, but he's equally sure he will never give it up. sam is his, now, the same way elena and stefan and ric are, and he'd let any of them go if they wanted to leave, but no one will take them from him. he won't give up on them. not ever.
there's no way to say that or even mentally convey it in a chill, laidback way, so damon doesn't, instead going back to staring at the bottle in his hands. sam's next comment catches him a little off guard, and it makes him chuckle, nodding. )
Ric would probably love more drinking buddies, yeah. Especially ones he can poke fun at me with.
( a look of mock dawning horror passes over damon's face, and he shakes his head. )
Nope, nevermind, I rescind the invitation. My ego would never survive you and Ric in the same room.
[ If Sam has his way, it's one he'll get used to hearing. Or feeling. That last part is something they've got in common - Sam doesn't give up on his friends, either. His loyalty's gotten him into trouble, sure, but it's always been worth it. That's not gonna change now.
There's pretty much no way to convey this thing between them in a way that doesn't involve getting a little too emotional, though, so when Sam catches Damon staring at his bottle - saying something to lighten things up a little seems like a decent idea. It makes Damon chuckle, anyway, and Sam grins at that look of horror. ]
You sure? I'm pretty sure it can take a few heavy punches and come rearing back up, your ego's almost as strong as mine.
( damon can make a million jokes about sam's boytoys, but really, he knows he's probably one of them, now. it's hard not to love sam, for all the same reasons it was hard not to love elena, and that part of damon's heart is irrevocably spoken for, but there's a growing part that's just for sam, too. he's what elena could be, if she grew up and shed all the things that make her afraid to be herself, and maybe it's unfair for damon to latch onto sam for that reason, but... well, it is what it is. sam is his own person, and damon likes him for him just as much. )
no subject
but he knows what sam thinks of stefan, how his own words have twisted his friend against him before they've even properly gotten to know each other, and yet... sam still wants to help. he'd still leave his own home behind and come to mystic falls, because... why? damon's certainly not worth enduring everything he just described.
except apparently, to sam... he is. )
Thank you. ( it's not often that he says that — sam knows, sam's been inside his head when he was trying to wrestle with his own gratitude — but when it's important, when he means it... yeah. )
no subject
He's trying to remain neutral on Stefan, really. He knows Damon loves him, complicated relationship aside, and he knows that anything he gets from Damon is likely to be a little skewed - but hell, Sam's human. He's gonna have a bias sometimes.
So no, it's not for Stefan, not in any more of a way than Sam would generally help someone in a shitty situation if he could. Just like packing up his life to help Steve search for Bucky hadn't necessarily been about Bucky.
Damon's worth it. And, selfishly, the few people that Sam has to say goodbye to when they figure a way out, the better. Home's never been a place for him, it's always been the people. ]
You're welcome. [ He knows exactly what it means that Damon's saying that, and his own words are soft. Genuine. The moment sits, just for a bit, then Sam smirks. Before it can get to be too much. ] You think you and your drinking buddy'll have room for one or two more?
no subject
there's no way to say that or even mentally convey it in a chill, laidback way, so damon doesn't, instead going back to staring at the bottle in his hands. sam's next comment catches him a little off guard, and it makes him chuckle, nodding. )
Ric would probably love more drinking buddies, yeah. Especially ones he can poke fun at me with.
( a look of mock dawning horror passes over damon's face, and he shakes his head. )
Nope, nevermind, I rescind the invitation. My ego would never survive you and Ric in the same room.
no subject
There's pretty much no way to convey this thing between them in a way that doesn't involve getting a little too emotional, though, so when Sam catches Damon staring at his bottle - saying something to lighten things up a little seems like a decent idea. It makes Damon chuckle, anyway, and Sam grins at that look of horror. ]
You sure? I'm pretty sure it can take a few heavy punches and come rearing back up, your ego's almost as strong as mine.
no subject
Your ego? You sure you even have one, brother?