but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[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. )

[acdc_rules]

Yeah, we got time. Probably shouldn't show up early anyway.

[Better to mix in when most of the people have shown versus being the weirdos who show up early.]

[camber]

K, then. Move over, beanpole.

( He's got to get some temporary shut-eye. He's gotta look his best as his shoulder support. And maybe to Q & A properly. )

[acdc_rules]

[Ben snorts, but does as asked, shifting over so that Dickerson has space to fit next to him. Once the other man is settled, he drops down next to him and stares up at the ceiling.]

It seems like there's going to be a lot of fucking people.

[And part of him is a little nervous about that. About the connections to his father that he may not understand, like Cordelia.]

[camber]

( He covers his face with his arm, but listens to Ben's fretting. )

Big guest list. You can stay close so it's only half as awkward. Anybody you're worried about in particular? You already got grandma time in.

[acdc_rules]

[He considers, because it's not really Dean's people he's concerned with. He knows what to expect there. What does worry him though is:]

Elena's people seem a little ... upscale.