because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[acdc_rules]

[Ben pauses, then his head tips at the last bit of what he said.]

You're dating someone who has a vampire as an ex? And you left him alive?

[That doesn't seem like that jives with the hunter playbook as he remembers it.]

[cholesterol]

It's not as black and white. ( It never was, even though for him and Sam it's how they were raised. ) This vampire's not like the kind of vampire I taught you about. Comes from a different source of magic, not evolution.

( Everyone's capable of monstrous actions. Sometimes, it's the humans who are worse. )

Turns out, werewolves, vamps, even banshees. They're are types now. Different origins, different rules. One kind of vampire, you stake it, you dust it. Makes clean-up easy. That kind of vampire has no soul.

[acdc_rules]

[Ben already feels his head starting to hurt.]

And now angels too. Which, speaking of, where the fuck have they been? Like do they just hang out and watch people like creepers or do they actually do good like we're told they do?

[cholesterol]

( Well, there's no great way to put this. )

They're more like soldiers than fat babies with wings. Lot of them are just like people. Some are narrow-minded dicks. They're a billion years old and they know everything. But, also nothing. Like, they don't get basic stuff like tact or personal space. More time an angel spends on Earth, more human they become, more individual. Most angels stay up in heaven - yeah, there's a heaven, no there aren't harps - but some come down and they possess people - like demons - but the possessed are called vessels. And the host accepts the angel into them. Usually, they're religious.

[acdc_rules]

And you were one of the vessels?

[He remembers that somewhere in the rambling about Sam having been one. It would make sense if Dean was one too.]

How do they decide who's a vessel and who's not?

[cholesterol]

Bloodlines. Your grandmother, Mary's - and John's - your grandfather. Dad's bloodline was meant for Michael and Mom's -- ( He doesn't want to go into the Lucifer of it all. ) But, yeah. Heaven rode hard for Sam and me to say yes and go to war. But, a vessel can't be used without them saying yes, and we fought tooth and nail for the choice.

( he knocks a ball in (13). and then misses (2) )

[acdc_rules]

[Ben sits quietly, considering as he watches Dean make those moves, and he tips his head to the side curiously. Because if it's Dean's bloodline, that also means it's his bloodline and:]

And you're just finding out that I'm your kid now?

[cholesterol]

Your mom told me...

( This is not an excuse. He stops himself. )

Heaven found your uncle Adam. Resurrected him, used him to get to us. Michael ended up in him when all was said and done. He's still in him. ( It's a long story. ) Guess - they - ( But, now Ben brings up a good point and momentarily his blood boils. Heaven knew about Adam. Heaven knew about Adam. ) Sonnuvabitch.

[acdc_rules]

[Ben raises his eyebrow because yeah. Seems unlikely that Heaven at least didn't know. But it says at least one small thing in their favor that they didn't try to manipulate a kid into doing what they wanted.]

Guess you have to go have a conversation with your angel friend?

[cholesterol]

Later. I'm here with you.

( He's chewed Cas out before. Might even mean he ices him out for a while. Depends on what his response is when asked. )

And I get a question. You uh - you like Rudy?

[acdc_rules]

Yeah, I like Rudy.

[Ben takes a swig to finish his soda before shrugging.]

I thought he was a little corny at first, but I was like fifteen and all adults trying to be nice to me were corny. And don't get me wrong, he is, but ... it grows on you. And he's been really good for Mom.

[So yes, to answer the question Dean asked poorly, Rudy has been very good to Lisa.]

[cholesterol]

( Well, ain't that what he was asking. Glad he got around to what matters. )

Good, good he's good for her. Believes in her. He's a shrink.

( The way he spoke, how he put certain things, kept everything in perspective. Somehow, still rooted for Dean. But, gave him the stern warning he deserved. )

That ever get old?

[acdc_rules]

Technically he's not allowed to shrink us. Unethical.

[At the same time.]

But he's not afraid to call you on your shit, which honestly I needed as a teenager. And he's a really good listener. It's not all bad.

[There's a lot of verbal affirmations and giving him space to feel his feelings without judgement, but he's not going to get into that. He remembers, vaguely, how Dean felt about chick flick moments way back when.]

[cholesterol]

( He never said it was.

Someone from in the kitchen brings Damon his burger and fries as he finishes his beer. He lifts it up for Ben's little friend to see he needs another, if she can, he's not sweating it if she misses him or not. )

You uh - yeah, you were Lisa's kid. I can imagine. ( He also remembers him as a smaller kid, the first time, before he practically raised him for a year. ) You still like ACDC? Extra question - so - feel free.

[acdc_rules]

I liked ACDC before you. I'll keep liking them long after you're gone.

[That's a stupid question. ACDC rules.

Also Helene is great at her job, so she'll swing around after things cool down to drop off another beer and take the empty glasses.

But it's Ben's turn, so he'll get up and sink one more (16), and he asks the first genuinely curious question he has that isn't just finding where the guard rails are.]

The first time I called, a woman answered the phone. It wasn't Elena. You guys have a whole crew at the bunker?

[That's not the actual question. The woman knew who Lisa and Ben were. He figures he doesn't talk about them to just anyone. But he doesn't know how to ask who she is or if he'll actually answer.]

[cholesterol]

Ouch.

( He deserves that? And, he knows when his time is up, it's up. Except for every time it wasn't.

Dean can also feel the bumpers go free as Ben attempts a real shot at a strike so-to-speak, without the worry of a gutter ball. A real question, and one with a lot of answers. )

More like a network. We have hunters that come in and out, that were uh - rescued from somewhere else. And, lately, Elena and some of her friends, her family, have also been staying with us when they needed us. ( As for ) The woman who answered the phone - is Mary. She's - a long story. She's - ( A beat. ) Your grandmother.

[acdc_rules]

[His eyebrows go up at that, turning to study his face for a moment.]

I thought she was dead. I mean, I know that can get a bit ... flexible with you, but I thought she was dead dead.

[cholesterol]

( He may not have shared everything with Ben, had scolded him when he even breathed a word of being a hunter, but he was open about Sam. About their parents. About what they lost. )

Long story short, a powerful - entity ( God's sister. ) looked inside my mind once and deduced my ultimate wish. She brought her back. Hell of an adjustment period, but, we're all copacetic now.

[acdc_rules]

Huh.

[That "huh" sounds a little more curious than he'd care to admit. He doesn't have a strong connection with Lisa's parents and Rudy's parents are nice, but they aren't his.]

Must have been nice. To have her back, I mean.

[cholesterol]

Like I said, there was an adjustment period. She'd been dead for years. Didn't get technology. Didn't know how to relate to her adult sons. She did a few stints away. Fell in with the wrong crowd. Grew as a person. She still likes having her own life, but she's around a lot more and actually hangs her hat when she can.

( She's flawed, but good.

And he knows Bobby's as placeholder as he gets, but he treats her well. )

[acdc_rules]

[Mary would object to the word placeholder. Just because she has healthier relationships post the death of the love of her life than her husband did doesn't make him a placeholder.

But whatever makes Dean feel better.

Ben nods, before stepping back from the table and going back to his soda.]

Still sounds nice.

[But since he screwed up his last shot, and he doesn't know where to go from there he deflects back to the game.]

Your turn.

[cholesterol]

( He wants his mom happy and he has his own issues with his dad. But he also remember what the pearl gave them back.

Another ball drops. And he misses the next. )

Did you go to school?

[acdc_rules]

Trade school.

[He debates expanding on that, but eventually he manages to wrestle out the rest of the conversation.]

I thought about going to college for engineering, but it was too much money.

[cholesterol]

Engineering. Takes brains.

( He knows Ben had it in him. )

How'd trade school treat you?

[acdc_rules]

It was fine.

[It was a tool to get him where he needed to go. It wasn't really an experience the way college would have been.]

Got me an apprenticeship in a good garage, and if things keep going well, I'll probably take over when my boss retires.