but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[nextproject]

They've been best friends for a long time. He's practically part of the family.

[Cordy nod, good play Allison. "Those are good friends to have. The people that stick with you are the ones worth keeping."

Rudy nods in agreement, and then the inner shrink kicks in.]

I agree. I'm glad they've been able to stay close. With young men especially, it can be hard to find that level of emotional intimacy.

[matriarchate]

They are. Even if you find them later. They can still mean so much.

( She thinks of Allison and of Scott. )

Not in my experience, but two of my friends are a big exception, if you've seen Stiles around here somewhere. He and Scott are -- emotionally intimate. ( She fondly smiles, but, gossip. She course corrects. ) It's cool, though, that they're that close he would bring Dickerson here. Not just with your family but with all the supernatural everything.

( "He brought what he found to Dickerson first who then uncovered a timeline of Dean and Sam's... behavior." She says, implying that Dickerson would have to be involved. "And he was there the morning he, Elena, and Castiel paid us a visit."

So. Angel. )

[nextproject]

["I, for one, can't wait to meet him. And to talk more with Ben." Cordy smiles. "Especially considering I didn't know Ben existed until you guys arrived."

Rudy smirks.]

I take it the Winchesters aren't the type to send out a Christmas newsletter.

[Rudy is though. Rudy loves a Christmas newsletter.]

[matriarchate]

It comes with the hunter territory. Keeping things quiet are ingrained in them. But, they're getting better at remembering it still takes a village.

( Outside of their hunter contacts. )

But, maybe, Cordy and I can - find Ben. I want to talk to him more, too. Make him feel welcome.

[nextproject]

Oh, of course. I think ...

[He looks up and over, trying to scan the room for his stepson, before pointing to where he's chatting with Dawn.]

There he is. Talking to Elena's brother's girlfriend.

[matriarchate]

Dawn. Yeah. Thank you. And please, have a wonderful time.

( She gives Cordy a look, at least they can come at it from this angle and hear from Ben. More gossip to go around.

Allison and Cordelia sidestep Laura and Derek to join Dawn and Ben in conversation.

On the couch, Lisa turns to her husband.

"Were they just grilling us information to find out if Ben and Dickerson weren't just friends?" )

[acdc_rules]

[Ben is meeting a lot of people.

It's hard to keep track of all the names, but he's learned to figure out the name priorities. If they're friends of Elena or Allison, he's trying less hard, not to be a dick but more because the odds of him seeing them again are probably low. But Allison is coming back again with Cordy on her arm, and Dawn turns to see Cordy and sighs.

"If you need to escape, the code word is 'banana.'"]

Banana? Really?

["You'd be surprised how hard it is to use it in a non-ridiculous way in a sentence. Unless, of course, you're talking about the fruit." Dawn flashes a grin at Cordy once she slides into ear shot. "Plus it'll confuse her long enough for us to slip away."

Cordy grins. "I'll have you know I'm considered a very comfortable presence, Dawn."

"Sure you are." Dawn then addresses the other person with her. "Hi, Allison."]

[matriarchate]

Hey Dawn. I would vouch for Cordelia's comfortability, but this is our first extended period of time together. I'm liking it so far, though. No notes. Hey, Ben.

( A nice wave and then a very subtle, simple, easy lean. She's in the conversation now. )

[letsbe_clear]

Unfortunately, Dawn has known me too long.

["I have. She went to high school with Buffy." That's maybe more for Ben's benefit than it is Allison's, depending on the conversations they've had at the bunker, but now everyone is on the same page.]

There are many things about that time in our lives that we would all like to forget.

[Ben smirks. "Isn't that true of everyone's high school experience?"]

[matriarchate]

What was she like in high school?

( That sounds like a mini story, and one Dawn might animatedly explain. She'll circle back to all things Ben. Maybe Ben cares! )

[letsbe_clear]

["Not all that different, honestly," Dawn smirks. "Maybe a little less empathy and a little more self-centeredness but still the same level of tact."

Cordy shrugs.]

I'm not gonna sugar coat someone's feelings just to make them feel better. In my experience, it doesn't do anyone any favors. You also left out my terrible romantic choices.

[Dawn makes a face. "But that would mean acknowledging my own."

Ben takes a sip of his beer. "Does anyone make good romantic choices in high school?"]

[matriarchate]

Some of us.

( Allison says, laughing to herself. )

Actually, my two big decisions, I stand by. One is more questionable than the other, but we're still all friends. ( She smiles, remember her and Scott's beginnings and her and Isaac's connection. Natural gossip turn. ) What were yours like in high school, Ben?

[acdc_rules]

[Ben picks at the label on the beer he's been nursing with one finger before shrugging.]

Fleeting? It was never really anything serious.

["That's probably for the best," Dawn replies. "Serious is where I always ran into trouble."]

[matriarchate]

In high school or beyond?

( Because it seems like her and Jeremy are on solid ground. )

I find that when I've taken the time, connections are definitely deeper.

[ooglyboogleys]

Mostly high school. Maybe a little into college. Thing have really turned around though.

["I did run across Jeremy earlier. He seems like a great guy."]

He is, Cordy. Thank you for noticing.

[matriarchate]

He is. He helped in Baltimore. Really held his own.

( She doesn't quite understand his lore, but now's not the time. )

Angel's - interesting, Cordy.

( She'll work up to the Dickerson-Ben angle. )

[nextproject]

I think they were just fishing for information in general.

[Harmlessly, if Rudy's radar is anything to go by. Not all gossip is bad gossip, and they are new arrivals to this group.]

They may just want to properly categorize how everyone is connected. A very human process when new members are added to a community.

[enate]

A human process among all the - more non-human. I don't know, I might use the motherly instinct card. ( She smirks though, cuddling close with her glass of wine to her chest. ) I feel like he's enjoying himself, though. Ben? Like it's not too much?

[nextproject]

Yeah, I think he's doing okay.

[He tucks his arm around her and pulls her closer.]

For a crazy day, he's handled all of it pretty well.

[enate]

At least Dean warned us it would be crazier than he had anticipated. Forty instead of twenty.

( And extended people extended from them. )

Thank you. For coming with us. And for being there for him. And his friends. How did I get so lucky?

[nextproject]

Right place, right time. I like to think I'm the lucky one.

[Because Lisa is great and Ben is also great.]

And I'm just glad that Dean is making the effort. It does seem like he wants to do better this time.

[enate]

Let's go with, equally.

( All around. )

Were you worried he was all talk?

[nextproject]

I was worried he would get too into his own head.

[Intentions are all well and good but when someone thinks they do more harm than good, it can do actual harm.]

He seems like the type.

[enate]

Elena also seems like the type not to let him. Also, I feel like too much has happened to keep him there, if he was.

( One thing after another, definitely. )

He loved Ben. He always has. I know he only let us go because he believed he had no other choice. That doesn't make it okay, but, that... is what it is.

[nextproject]

It definitely sounds like things were complicated.

[He glances over to where Ben is chatting.]

And I do think Ben is warming up, which is a good sign.