but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[camber]

( A little too obvious Dickerson wants to, so he definitely gives Sam a head nod before following Rudy.

Lisa turns back to Sam, not moving from behind her son.

"Dean... told us a lot of what was happening back when -" when he came back. Why things were the way they were. Everything Castiel-related. She doesn't know what to say past that, yet, but she wants it clear that everything's pretty much out of the open. Behind them, Dickerson drops two hands on Rudy's shoulders, one of his rucksack's over his shoulder and Rudy shouldering the other load. )

Wait up old man.

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam lets everyone move past them into the hotel and slides his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, an attempt to make himself smaller, less threatening. A habit he's had since he shot up to his full 6'4" height because the last thing that Sam usually wants is for anyone to be scared of him.

Excluding demons and monsters of course.

He nods, when Lisa speaks though.]

I really am sorry about my part in it. I know I didn't make things easier. It was a rough year.

[enate]

I know. And Dean had a lot of hard choices in front of him. And as much as we don't agree with them, he's trying. The first step was honesty. And we expect that from you, too, Sam. This has to go both ways if this is going to work.

( She doesn't Mama Bear often now that her son is his age (damn it, math) but it still flares up when it needs to. )

[imnot_likeyou]

Of course. And I'm not looking to get in the way, of any of it.

[He wants his brother to be happy, to have what he wants, and he knows how much Dean wanted kids of his own, even if Dean never really admitted it to his face.]

And our lives are really not as crazy as they used to be ... Elena's recent kidnapping not withstanding.

[enate]

Right, besides that. ( But, she manages a laugh, pulling her son close by his side. ) If you want, I can give you two some time while we get settled, or we'll see you at the party?

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam looks to Ben, and gives a small shrug.]

I've got time, if you want to - we can get a cup of coffee or something?

[Ben considers for a moment, before nodding. "Yeah, sure." He glances to his mom. "I'll be back in a bit."

And they will quietly disappear off screen since that's just me, and Lisa can go talk to her husband if she wants.]

[enate]

( Yep, while Dickerson heads up to unpack in their room, she meets Rudy in the lobby area. )

Everything sorted?

[nextproject]

Yep. We are all set.

[He holds up the key to their room and holds out his arm for her to take.]

How'd things go with Sam?

[enate]

( She takes his arm and arm-in-arm, they head up the stairs. )

I think okay. He definitely holds want happened against himself, I think, partially, outside of everything Dean did. But, he wants us in Dean's life. Ben. Who is now at coffee with Sam.

( And she hopes that goes well.

Inside his room, Dickerson sends Ben their room number so he knows when he gets back from whatever he's doing. Probably uncle time. )

[acdc_rules]

["Like brother like brother," Rudy nods, because he has a feeling that guilt is a Winchester family trait, but he gives her shoulders a squeeze as they head to their room. "They'll figure it out."

Ben thumbs-ups the text, but doesn't return until about an hour later, having navigated through that first initial conversation with Sam. And in some ways, he's able to test the waters with some of the things he wants to talk to Dean about later.

No one knows Dean better than Sam. So he carefully considers the advice he gets as he makes his way back to the room and then slips inside.]

Hey. How's the room?

[Are the beds comfortable? Are there any quirks they need to know about?]

[camber]

You mean besides the one bed?

( Is that a problem? But, he asked if they could split it. 'Hon, this is a B and B.' )

Damn comfortable, though. Nice-sized shower. View of the main square, There's also this hint of peppermint, like, everywhere.

[acdc_rules]

We'll manage.

[They're grown adults. Worst comes to worst, one of them sleeps on the floor.]

I think that's a B&B thing. They have to separate themselves from the sterile feel of hotels.

[camber]

You've always been a cover hog.

( Break his heart why don't you.

But, they've fallen asleep plenty of times in each other's beds. )

It's wintery. I like it. Makes me feel festive. How'd it go with uncle felon?

[acdc_rules]

Fine. Helpful, I think.

[He goes to sit on the edge of the bed with a bit of a shrug.]

No one knows Dean better than Sam so it was good to have a bit of a sounding board for some of it.

[camber]

( Dickerson leans against the open wardrobe front. )

Gave you some advice with the - uh, Christmas follow up?

[acdc_rules]

Yeah. And how to try to broach it in a way that like ... won't get him on the defensive like he did something wrong.

[He shrugs.]

I mean, I'm probably still going to fuck it up, but I want to try.

[camber]

You're not going to fuck it up. You're both in this. You come in with the approach. He'll bob, weave, or take it on the chin.

( And Ben can't... anticipate. Only come in as himself. )

And, hey, I'll be here after. However it goes. But, I want it to go well. For you.

[acdc_rules]

[The problem is, Ben doesn't want Dean to do any of those things. Because for once this isn't about criticism or telling him what he's done wrong. He just wants Dean to listen and not brush it off.

He wants him to talk to him. And he knows for Dean that's hard.]

Me too.

[And because he knows his friend.]

I don't care if you pick Sam's brain. Or if you talk to him, or whatever. We're going to be at a party. You're allowed to talk to people.

[camber]

Uh... ( He's caught off guard with how well Ben knows him, sometimes. ) I won't make it weird? He's your uncle, not mine.

[acdc_rules]

Yeah, but if he's going to be around and you're going to be around, it would be weird if you just avoided him for the rest of our lives.

[And he knows you're curious about hunting. He's not stupid. Ben may not want to do it - Ben never wants to know the feel of a shotgun in his hands again. But he can't stop Dickerson from doing what he does best and trying to investigate this new factor of their lives.]

[camber]

I wasn't going to - avoid the guy. But, it's your family, not mine. I'm here for you.

( Now he's just bullshitting them both, considering his immediate family is Dickerson's. And that he has the ulterior motive they both see. )

[acdc_rules]

Dude.

[Yeah, he's going to call him on that. Not harshly, but just the kind of gentle reproach with someone who knows he's being lied to.]

I don't know who's feelings you're trying to spare here, but it's not working.

[camber]

I'm not just here for you. Or, Sam Winchester or what your uncle and your dad do, but yeah, I have questions.

( A ton of damn questions. )

My own questions, not. I'm not playing the protective best friend here. Just - being the best friend. If that's still cool.

[acdc_rules]

It's fine. And Sam's a good person to ask.

[He knows a lot and he also trusts Sam not to let Dickerson get in over his head and get himself killed. Granted, this all hinges on Dickerson actually talking to Sam when the time for actual danger comes, but for now, in the beginning, it'll work out.]

He knows a lot.

[camber]

Yeah, okay. I'll chew the fat with him at the party. If I get the chance. We got time beforehand, though, right?

( He needs to get some solid nap time in. )