but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[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?

[acdc_rules]

He knows enough.

[There's a lot, and a lot he doesn't know how to explain.]

There's a lot I'm still figuring out, so he can't know everything.

[matriarchate]

He doesn't need to. It's your choice what to tell him and where to go from there. Most of us are in the life at this point, so there's nothing to keep from them.

( Well, except things that don't involved them. Personal things. )

[acdc_rules]

Yeah.

[It's not that Ben doesn't want to tell him, it's just that trauma is hard for him to talk about and he doesn't know if Dickerson will be able to just sit and listen.]

I'll get there eventually. And I'm okay, really. Got an in the know therapist and everything.

[matriarchate]

I would say that's half the battle.

( But she's not in therapy. )

Also, there's no time table on anything. Yours or his.

[acdc_rules]

I know.

[Doesn't always feel that way, but he does know that. It's part of what he's going to be trying to convince Dean of later. Would be helpful if he remembered it too.]

I'll figure it out.

[matriarchate]

Sam's a little easier to talk to, but, if you ever need a Winchester break, I know Elena or me are available. Have you seen the bunker yet?

( That will be as step, too. )

[acdc_rules]

[He shakes his head.]

Dean's mostly been in Battlecreek, and then everything with Elena happened. I'll probably get out there eventually. I just have to make it work with my job.

[Downside of having a normal one.]

[matriarchate]

Where do you work?

( Now this feels less like gossip and more like getting to know Dean's son. )

[acdc_rules]

I'm a mechanic. I work at a garage in town.

[Yes, his is a much more comfortable area of conversation.]

I've worked there since I got out of trade school and will probably take it over after my boss retires.

[matriarchate]

He would probably give you some time off?

( She doesn't know the man, or that he's Dickerson's father, but who wouldn't give them time off. )

[acdc_rules]

Oh, yeah. But there has to be a certain amount of notice, and I only get so many days. I gotta wait for the year to roll over.

[Normal jobs have rules. They're boring that way.]

I'm also ... waiting for Dean to do the inviting? No offense.

[Part of their issues have always been Dean letting him be part of his world, so he needs Dean to keep making those offers.]