Night 59: M-A Block Hallway

[stray_shinigami]

Renji walked with purpose down the hall, though he wasn't in enough of a hurry to flashstep yet. He had to have somewhere he wanted to go first. Of course the idea that sprang instantly to mind was easily summed up as an equation: INSTITUTE + HIHIOU ZABIMARU = BOOM = :-DHowever, that would need to wait until, for example, there weren't people he

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[thatdemonbitch]

"Only if you ask me nice," she shot back in an abrupt, snarky retort. This was better. Easier. Falling into step of wanting to throttle Dean was a whole lot simpler than having to pussyfoot around and play nice lest he wind up in the know. There was something nice and comforting about the familiar animosity, in its own way. But, she moved right on from it to business -- for the time being, their goals were the same, which meant she'd put up with him.

Code re -- Right. The intercom. It hadn't really managed to make it to the top of Ruby's priority list, but considering how spooked and tense it seemed to have Dean, maybe she should reconsider. Definitely explained the hustle and bustle in the halls.

"Not yet," she glanced around, eyes scanning the room, flashlight beam following. She shook her head and looked back at Dean. "Whatever it is, they're scared. My best bet is someone lost the leash for the big bads they have running around this place." When she caught glimpse of his face, she scoffed in annoyance.

"You don't really think they let me get away with that crap in here do you? If they did, I'd have blown this popsicle stand a long time ago. I'm about as useful as you these days." As insulting as the remark was, it also involved a little minor work at getting on his good side. She was working with him -- she still had a chance to sell that. He wasn't so far beyond biased against her that she had no way in. So, maybe if she gave up some of her own vulnerability, it's foster a little bit of trust.

"I'm land-locked. Have been since I got here, and let me tell you, it's not exactly a party. Think getting padlocked inside a jack-in-the-box."

Except that tension was gone. The feeling of confinement -- same as the previous night, it was just gone. Completely. She hadn't noticed because she'd allowed herself to get used to it the night before, but … there was definitely a lightness in her shoulders that she'd almost forgotten. It warranted a distracted look from Ruby and her eyes flickered up toward the ceiling, thoughtful, making it clear that her attention wasn't entirely in the present with Dean.

So i guess we hit up M2 really quick to see the note and then head out?

[theroadsofar]

Oh, so this was the part where Dean guessed he was supposed to feel sorry for her. The whole "dude, you're a demon" thing tended to get in the way there, Dean watching her and half relieved she couldn't go smoking out into anyone else no matter how useful it could be. God, he couldn't even believe he had that thought.

"I'm fresh out of violins," Dean snorted, refusing to admit that Ruby maybe a tiny point -- it wasn't like he'd been much good busting Sam out of here, for example, and it wasn't helping things that he was pretty sure Sam hadn't really adjusted to the fact the deal was over and done with.

Glancing at Ruby, Dean couldn't shake that urge to recoil from a demon. "Well, if that's the case and we're looking at that kind of shakedown, then I'm all for finding out if there's a way out of here." Couldn't believe he was going to say what he said next, "I'm checking on Sam. You coming?"

As much as he hated to admit it, a demon who wasn't gunning for their blood might be useful right about now and while he told himself it was 'cause she could rock as a meat shield, he knew that wasn't it. Whatever powers she had left, for starters. Whatever contact she had with that crossroads demon. Or maybe the fact was Dean had no idea what to do with Ruby that didn't involve an exorcism and/or shanking. Unfortunately he couldn’t really do the exorcism part on his own, seeing as he hadn’t bothered to nerd it up and commit the Latin to memory like Sam had, and Sam didn’t seem to be jumping to exorcise Ruby anytime soon. Dean had to admit he was wondering what the kid planned to do in the long run. Exorcise her later? Exorcise her at all?

Dean shifted the duffel bag’s weight, motioning for Ruby to get her shit together. Ladies first and all that. Being on a mission with her didn’t mean he felt comfortable walking ahead of her just yet.

can do!

[thatdemonbitch]

The begrudging acceptance of her presence for the night was promising. It meant that her attempt to foster at least some kind of cooperation had worked, no matter how unsympathetic he acted. She shook off the thought of her own abilities -- if she needed them, she'd start putting a little more thought into how they were holding up and whether or not that freed feeling was real. Until then, business as usual.

Honestly, she rarely needed them in the first place when she was around Sam. The witchcraft was handier, and that was something she was never gonna be able to pull off if she couldn't get the freaking supplies. She rolled her eyes at Dean's appearance of chivalry, knowing damn well what he was actually doing, and moved to walk past him, heading down the hallway where Sam's room lie.

"With or without your permission," she informed off-handedly as to her intentions on coming along.

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