58th page

[ladybirdshit]

The night is drawing in and you still haven't met up with the whole group! You're scattered around the town and that's not good. Watch out, you might be robbed! The dubious folk is slowly crawling out of the hideouts where they rested for the day. Oh, and did you notice... not everyone is here?

The remaining people... gather together and get acquainted with the port because you'll be needing a ship. Soon.

[ mission: gather & look for a ship. ]

Comments

[inenochian]

[ static ]

[ but you are so. short. ]

Then...I owe you. I owe you a great debt.

[pareidoll]

[excuse u. tallness does not equate capability]

You owe me nothing. Just remember I may not always be the one in need of saving. And I may be no...unicorn, but damn it all I don't try as hard as they do to keep all of us in one piece by the next checkpoint.

[inenochian]

[ has the grace to look sheepish. ]

[ i'm sorry dean's sexism rubbed off of me. ]

I should not doubt your ability, nor your tenacity. You humble me.

[ is about to open his mouth and say something that might wind up being profound but-

stomach gurgles. ]

[pareidoll]

[of course]

[looks down between them and pats him along the arm before letting go]

Neglecting ourselves, have we?

[inenochian]

...I don't typically experience hunger.

[ shifts from foot to foot and looks uncomfortable about the whole ordeal. ]

[ doesn't understand that when hugs are over you're supposed to leave the 3-foot intimate space of a person so he doesn't. ]

I find I'm craving red meat. [ oh. and another thing. ] And something sweet.

[pareidoll]

[doesn't mind the angel space]

[thinks this is too cute though, and steps away to his side to take his arm]

Hard luck in a fishing town, but I think I saw something that might fit the bill.

[lets go get you a kebab]

[inenochian]

[ adjusts to the arm-holding pretty quickly. hands and arms/shoulders, this he has experience with.
sets hand over hers. ]

You have a natural quality of leadership. [ and i don't. where we headed. ]

[pareidoll]

[not far, it's just around the corner hidden away in a dinky little cart ]

[sideeyes him as they walk.]

Does that surprise you?

[inenochian]

No...but perhaps I'm envious.

[ admitting to sinful thoughts IT STILL KIND OF PINCHES. ]

I once tried to lead, but I failed. Spectacularly. What you have, what Dean has, I can recognize it, but not replicate it.

[pareidoll]

[doesn't quite know what to say to that, but gives his arm a little squeeze again as a projection of understanding]

Having it is one thing, but knowing how to use it is another. It's definitely a tricky power to try to wield. Just because we try, doesn't make us much better at it.

[inenochian]

[ looks down at her squeezy hand and almost, but not quite, makes his face smile. ]

[ is this soothing behavior typical of women. why couldn't dean be a woman. ]

But you do try. Don't you think that's inspiring?

[pareidoll]

[its common in women but i think even a female dean would]

[watches him have his little moment not too subtly]

I think it's absolutely brilliant.

[inenochian]

[ it is. it is brilliant. ]

[ and not total rubbish failure like everything i do. ]

Then can I say, I now feel I don't need to worry about Dean or Sam so long as you're around.

[pareidoll]

It's cute how you worry about them. I can see why.

[they're fuckups. lovable fuckups. mostly dean, she hasn't seen sam fuck up as much but clearly]

How you want to protect them as much as they have fought to protect you. Seeing that fire in itself is....inspiring.

[again, it's mostly dean. moose has his way, but dean is like a burning train]

[inenochian]

[ god these two are such dean girls.
next thing you know they'll get led zeppelin tattoos and practice their winks in a mirror. ]

Cute?

[pareidoll]

[LMAO DEAN FANGIRLS]

Yes, cute. Admirable. You struggle, I see but that you're there, trying to break through that barrier of yours. Absorbing our humanness slowly. Instead of trying to hide it away like we do, it's as if its bursting through your seams.

[tilts head]

And to see your loyalty to him, to both of them, and theirs to you. It's not something you see often, but it's something I think many of us want.

[inenochian]

[ family. ]

I was a soldier, once, a long time ago.

[ squints a little and stops walking. ]

No, that's not accurate. [ fiddles with one of his gloves. ] I was a weapon. I wasn't truly loyal to the others I fought beside, I only really knew how to follow my orders. With Dean and Sam, I learned the difference between allegiance and obedience.

Whatever there is to admire about me is because of them.

[pareidoll]

[lots of war with you guys]

[watches him fiddle and thinks on it for a moment]

Then I'm glad for that.

[inenochian]

[ fuck it, she's too kind and she's integrated herself into their lives too well. there has to be some catch. is she evil? is she a spy? ]

[inenochian]

It's unnerving how positive you are.

[pareidoll]

[you'll learn why once you dreamwalk with her]

[gives him a confused look before a sorry one]

Compared to you lot, maybe.

[never met a group of people so paranoid]

Or maybe it's just all I've got left, either way. It's not really a bad thing, is it?

[inenochian]

[ doesn't want it to be a bad thing. ]

[ headshake. ]

[pareidoll]

Always look on the bright side, they say.

[withdraws from him finally, but not without giving his hand a squeeze]

And I've got a treat for you. Wait here.

[deflections! slides off to flag down the meat guy. ]

[inenochian]

[ flexes the hand that she squeezed before tucking it away into his pocket like he might be able to keep the sensation. ]