His body, a few days, maybe?. His soul, around 18 months of earth time. I think most fanon makes the assumption that that translates to around 180 years of hell time, but that's assuming that Cage time = hell time and all hell time is alike, and that hell time is to be taken literally. The only indication we have apart from using Dean's scale of hell time (4 months = 40 years) is that when Sam had his seizure at the end of Unforgiven he said something about how long it had seemed to him:
SAM [ exhales sharply ] So, how long was I out, again? DEAN I'm telling you, like two or three minutes. Why, what'd it feel like to you? SAM About a week, give or take.
Personally, I tend to assume that hell time stretches a bit like dream time, that without a body one doesn't have the same kind of relationship to time.
I got confused between the time Sam's body was out and about and the time his soul was in the Cage. I always assumed, with no real basis for it, that the Cage was very different from hell, and time in the Cage was probably different as well. That exchange between Sam and Dean gives a little footing for that idea, thanks!
I've always assumed it was 180 years, but there could have been another time zone in the Cage. I always thought that Sam's time in the Cage felt eternal to him. Dare i ask why you ponder on this age old (well 2 year old at least) question? xxx
I felt that Cage time was different to hell time as well.
I had a little nibble this morning, thinking of Sam and it led to wondering just how long he was in the Cage and how that compared time-wise to Dean. Ah, every time I want to write something, I'm always led backward in canon. :)
If you can create a world where Sam spent 5 minutes or 500 years in the Cage, you only have to convince your readers (that's me) of it. You know Fanfiction is where an author can make anything happen. I'd love to see what you'd come up with :) xxx
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(no subject)
8/1/13 06:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
8/1/13 08:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
8/1/13 06:57 pm (UTC)SAM [ exhales sharply ] So, how long was I out, again?
DEAN I'm telling you, like two or three minutes. Why, what'd it feel like to you?
SAM About a week, give or take.
Personally, I tend to assume that hell time stretches a bit like dream time, that without a body one doesn't have the same kind of relationship to time.
(no subject)
8/1/13 08:27 pm (UTC)I got confused between the time Sam's body was out and about and the time his soul was in the Cage. I always assumed, with no real basis for it, that the Cage was very different from hell, and time in the Cage was probably different as well. That exchange between Sam and Dean gives a little footing for that idea, thanks!
(no subject)
8/1/13 07:32 pm (UTC)I always thought that Sam's time in the Cage felt eternal to him.
Dare i ask why you ponder on this age old (well 2 year old at least) question?
xxx
(no subject)
8/1/13 08:31 pm (UTC)I had a little nibble this morning, thinking of Sam and it led to wondering just how long he was in the Cage and how that compared time-wise to Dean. Ah, every time I want to write something, I'm always led backward in canon. :)
(no subject)
8/1/13 08:45 pm (UTC)I'd love to see what you'd come up with :)
xxx