but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[mayoralty]

Oh, I've been managing just fine. It helps that all my friends came back with me.

[She smirks as she takes another sip of her drink.]

I'm just glad to see that Tyler is doing well. That he's found a place in the world and that he's happy.

[redeems]

( He can relate. Not that - sure, Spike's kind of a friend. And Fred now! )

It sounds like you have everything you'll need.

[mayoralty]

We hope so. Though I'll have to find something else to do with my life at some point and not just keep hovering over his shoulder.

[He deserves to live his own adult life, like he was before she got back.]

[redeems]

I could be of help if you need it. I work for an organization that specializes in giving people a new purpose - and the direction they need. You could be outfit.

( If it's something she's interested in. )

[mayoralty]

Maybe.

[She does like to be useful, but she also wants to stay close to home.]

We'll get through the holidays first, and then we'll see what happens. And I don't want to run off into something where Tyler would worry.

[She's certainly not looking to fight God.]

[redeems]

( Angel produces a real business card for her. )

There are people who are displaced or in danger and we relocate them. We would do the same for you, to give you something you want to do - it could be right here because you're not in any danger.

( That they know of! )

[mayoralty]

Oh. So like ... witness protection?

[Kind of? But supernaturally speaking. That is interesting, but she doesn't know if that's in her wheelhouse. Maybe she should see what Liz has planned to do.]

[redeems]

Supernaturally speaking. But, we wouldn't... treat it the same. We would just get you up on your feet. Provide credentials. Get you working.

( He's not explaining this right. )

[mayoralty]

Ah. Well, we'll see. Tyler did say something about someone getting me a license again at least.

[Is that what Angel is referring to?]

[redeems]

And social security card. Usually, Cordelia handles these pitches.

( Or, Alexander. )

[mayoralty]

[Carol nods, understanding, with a small smile.]

For what it's worth, I think you're doing very well.

[redeems]

You're being kind.

( Even if she isn't, Angel doesn't take compliments. Or fashion advice.

Though Cordelia did introduce him to a nice oversized chunky sweater for relaxing. And house shoes. )

[mayoralty]

[Look, he's doing his best. It's fine.]

Anyway. I should go check on the food. Please feel free to help yourselves, but I'll leave you two to it.

["Thanks, Carol," Sam nods. As the other woman peels off to maintain her job as hostess, Sam glances to Angel. "Do you think Cordy's found - " His voice trails off as he catches sight of Dickerson wandering their way. "Never mind."]

[redeems]

Never mind?

( Dickerson has been mingling and biding his time, but he's also kept one eye on Sam most of the night. He has questions, questions Dean would probably bring back to Ben. And since his BFF faux pas, he now has other things on his mind. Though, he really should fix that.

"Hi," Dickerson says to Angel, who nods to him. "Dickerson. Ben's friend. Dean's son," he explains. )

Angel.

( "And you're Sam," he says, looking at Dean's brother, who looks just like his picture. Maybe more of a receding hairline. He doesn't say that. )

[imnot_likeyou]

That's me.

[Sam shifts, taking a sip of his beer before raising an eyebrow. He can tell that there's something Dickerson wants, but he's not quite sure what it is yet.]

Enjoying the party?

[camber]

Yeah, it's clutch. Lot of people. Not usually Ben's scene. ( And not why he's here. Angel also gets the hint, moving from one foot to the other.

"I should find Cordelia. Let her know I gave my business card out," he says, the lame excuse settling before he leaves them together. ) Does he have a business card minder?

[imnot_likeyou]

He has a partner who believes he's terrible at being social. You met her earlier, at the B&B?

[Sam shifts back and turns to face Dickerson more as Angel goes.]

This isn't usually our scene either, but Elena's friends were nice enough to host.

[camber]

Cordelia. Chase. Pretty.

( Also, feels like she doesn't take shit. )

Plus all the crazy. Speaking of, um, I was there, when Dean sort of crashlanded back in Ben's life. Saw the angel. Did some extra research beforehand because everything had been full-on erased. Just. You guys were hunters that entire time?

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam nods.]

Yeah. We've been doing it our whole lives, pretty much. How much on us did you actually find?

[camber]

More than you'd probably like out there, but I covered my tracks. One redacted report from homeland security. A rap sheet that reads like a travel itinerary. Thing is, after Ben got pulled back into all this, Elena and I got to talking. And then I did some of my own research. Alright, a lot. What's it take to get into hunting, anyway? For people not raised off it.

( He feels like he's coming off strong, but, how else can he broach the subject. He gives a quick glance behind Sam. No sign of Ben. OK. )

[imnot_likeyou]

[Well, that sure is a question. And Sam isn't sure how to answer it.]

Why do you want to be?

[It doesn't say it with judgement. But how he answers is definitely going to influence how Sam responds.]

[camber]

I'm a detective. Worked my way up the food chain, but it's never... done it for me. I help, but inside the lines of broken jurisdiction. Hunters help people. For real. From things that shouldn't be real.

( And yeah, maybe there are some missing pieces to him. )

[imnot_likeyou]

So what, you think hunting will be better?

[Again, he's not saying it to be mean. But hunting is loaded and complicated.]

It's not all that different from police work. You're building a case, solving the puzzle, you're just looking for different things. Clues that tell you what kind of creature you might be dealing with. But just like actual police work it's not as simple as find the monster and kill it. And if you actually get good, that could open you up to being dragged into way more complicated things. It's not just a job. It can turn into your life.

[camber]

You're talking to me like I have one to lose. Outside of Ben and my dad, and Ben's family, I have a paycheck. Also, my buddy's like a foot away from being dragged into way more complicated. I'm not asking you to give me a crash course, just -- where would I start - if I wanted to.

( He reads the warning loud and clear. )

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam would love to say that Ben isn't going to get dragged into things if he doesn't want to, but he's a Winchester now. That's no longer a non-zero possibility. So he sighs.]

So seventy five percent of the time, you're going to be dealing with a restless spirit of some kind. You'll want to start with the body. A pattern of bodies, all killed in the same strange way - and the type of strange is going to link out to the type of spirit you're dealing with. For example, women in white act like hitchhikers, getting someone to give her a ride home. Downside is she's dead. She can't actually go home. And once she sees that the house is different or abandoned, or not as she expected it to be, she'll lash out and kill the victim. Once you figure out the pattern, you can use that to go back through violent deaths in the area and see if there's someone that fits the profile, either in the way they died or based on the people being targeted.

[He pauses as he lets that sink in.]

So with our woman in white example, women in white are usually women who were betrayed by their spouses, snap and kill their children before killing themselves. Once you have a name, you can find where they're buried and then you have to salt and burn the corpse.