but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[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. )

[letsbe_clear]

["Angel is the tall guy talking to Sam, right? With the hair?" Ben's still trying to remember everyone's name, and Cordy nods.

"He's a cranky old man in young guy body," Dawn replies, and Cordy laughs.]

That is accurate. He is a champion for the forces of good, but he's also obsessed with Barry Manilow and can barely figure out a smartphone and for some reason my heart went yep, that's the one.

[matriarchate]

I hope there's a longer story there.

( She assumes there is, but it's a cute story, nonetheless. )

Also, there's a rumor going around that he and Buffy had this star-crossed thing, but being star-crossed once myself, it is not all it's cracked up to be. You really lean on friendships when people are against you being together.

[letsbe_clear]

He and Buffy were definitely star-crossed and doomed and we were also doomed for a little while. We were dead for a bit, until the Powers that Be brought us back to help the Winchesters.

[Which is starting at the end of the story rather than the beginning, but their beginning is a little boring, a bunch of missed chances and complications.]

But we decided that we were going to make the most of our second chance.

[matriarchate]

I would, too. ( A beat. ) Not with Scott. But, if I could have one or needed one.

( Back to Ben. )

Is there anyone you'd want a second chance with, or even a first?

( light peripheral check, good question, right cordy? )

[acdc_rules]

Second chance? No.

[His love life is a whole mess of never agains. Also he doesn't really know any of you all that well, so he's keeping some things to himself. At least for now.]

I don't know, I'm still trying to wrap my head around a lot right now. I'm not really looking for anything.

[matriarchate]

( Cordelia, you could be more helpful, she doesn't blame Ben for not opening up. This gives them no more information than they had before. )

How has it been? I've known Sam for a few years, now, but, I've been hunting since I was in high school.

( And they didn't really call it hunting. )

[acdc_rules]

[Ben shrugs.]

It's more ... trying to reorient myself with all the things I forgot. Make sure that I'm not processing them in a way that makes me an asshole.

[Even if he can still be an asshole sometimes.]

But it's been part of my life on and off since I was a kid, I just didn't remember it for a while.

[matriarchate]

Well, for the record, there's nothing wrong with being the asshole every now and then.

( Some people deserve it, even. )

[acdc_rules]

[He smirks.]

So I've heard. But I tend to lash out at whoever's available not who actually makes a good target.

[But enough about him.]

So are you and Sam back in Kansas too?

[matriarchate]

I think that's the plan, though, we haven't completely talked about it? A lot of things happened suddenly, with Elena, but, I want to.

( Wherever he is. )

[acdc_rules]

[Ben nods, because yes, he's aware of that.]

According to some of the other people I've talked to that happens, with Elena.

[Things happening suddenly, troops needing to be rallied on her behalf.]

I'm glad she's okay.

[matriarchate]

That happens, with any of us. With what we do and where we come from. ( It's not for her to say why it happens with Elena and what she is. ) The trick is to focus on the good and the real life you make in between things happening.

[acdc_rules]

[Ben nods, because that makes sense. Ben isn't really sure he feels the same, probably because he doesn't understand it as much as he should. But he's glad that they're all happy.]

Sometimes that's all you can do, right? Try to keep yourself going?

[matriarchate]

Yeah. Sometimes, that's all you can do. Or, hold your friends up. Your family.

( It's people that keep you going. )

It took Dean a lot longer to learn that, but once it kicked in...

[acdc_rules]

["Some would argue he's still learning," Cordy teases, and Ben snorts.]

Yeah, I'm getting that. We're still figuring a lot of stuff out but ... I think it's been good so far.

[Rough and definitely a roller coaster but ... not bad.]

[matriarchate]

Good enough to come to Christmas. With your mom. And we met Rudy. But, not your plus one. Dickerson.

( Haven't met him yet. She is not a stealthy person when it comes to gossip. )

[acdc_rules]

[Ben's guessing that. But still, it would be rude and it's not like he isn't going to be around so he should probably know Sam's girlfriend.]

He's over there, talking to your boyfriend.

[He points in the direction accordingly, before clarifying, for the gossipy ladies around him what they're not asking.]

He's my best friend. It's not ... we've been friends since we were kids.

[matriarchate]

( Allison looks over and - oh, he is. How funny. Or, something. )

Those friendships are the important ones.

( Looks a little awkward but nice all around. Not going to comment on that with Ben there, but she will have Cordy commentary. )

So, he knows about everything?