Fifteenth Truth [Accidental Video/Action]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[There might be something familiar about the young child wandering around outside, near the front door. Perhaps it's the patterns on his bitty little kimono, the distinctive red marks on his face, his pale skin, the odd shape of the toy sword he has tucked into his belt

Comments

[dashboardlite]

[Ever since the clinginess fiasco that happened between him and Castiel - admittedly, the angel hadn't noticed anything off, but Dean could sense a certain weirdness - Dean's been meandering around the halls, looking for something to do and hoping to locate a hot chick and some mistletoe. He steps into the foyer and is most assuredly surprised to see someone...really familiar.]

...Medicine Man?

[Dean raises an eyebrow, moving closer to the kid with weird markings on his face. He looks to be around seven or eight. It's hard to tell. A lotta kids look the same to him. He's seen a few other little kids running around the house, so it must be a fucked up Christmas thing.]

Hey there. [He offers a harmless smile, slowing his pace and stopping several feet away from the little booger.] How ya doin' there, buddy?

[This place isn't safe for kids at all.]

[dashboardlite]

Um.

[Damn, he's inquisitive.]

I'm a hunter. I hunt monsters and demons. I could help you, if you needed it. We could, ah- [He struggles for the words for a moment.] ...team up.

[tadanokusuriuri]

That's dangerous.

[A lot of humans who think of themselves that way get out of their depth.]

[dashboardlite]

Aha...kid, believe me, I've seen my fair share.

[Hell, the Medicine Seller is the only one here Dean's considered an equal thus far. He doesn't count Castiel because Cas is a goddamn angel, and that's playing with an Ace up your sleeve.]

[tadanokusuriuri]

Have you?

[The Medicine Seller isn't too human, either. In face, he doesn't identify very much with humans at all. A lot of the time, he seems to have more in common with the mononoke than with anything else... Which isn't too say that he's completely without empathy, especially when an innocent has been wronged.]

[But he doesn't trust in humans, much. He sees a lot of their ugly side, after all... So he's not quite sure what to make of Dean.]

[dashboardlite]

[Dean can see exactly how wary the kid is about sharing things...or trusting anyone. That much is obvious. He's keeping his distance.]

Smart kid.

Yeah. [He replies simply, nodding. And he has, as far as things in his own world go. It's up to the tiny Medicine Man to be the real judge.]

I've seen a lot. Demons, blood-sucking creeps, the walking dead, ghosts. You name it, I hunt it. See this-? [Dean pulls the collar of his t-shirt down to reveal an intricate pentagram tattoo on his upper pectoral.] This keeps demons from taking my body. You know what I'm talking about, right?

[tadanokusuriuri]

I do know.

[The child leans up to inspect the mark, analyzing its magical significance. Finally, satisfied, he gives Dean a little nod.]

...You can't fight all of them, you know. There are too many.

[It would be like trying to fight every human, in his universe. There's no sense in it--you have to focus on the real troublemakers, or nothing will get done.]

[dashboardlite]

Don't I know it. [He grimaces. There are always going to be too many. There will always be more. There will always be a job to do, and he's one of the few who can do it - and do it well.]

S'why I get the big bad guys first. Cut the head off the snake. Don't bother with small-fry until they get really dangerous.

[He and his brother are responsible for the majority of the demons in their world now, though. Opening the Gates of Hell was a really bad move on Sam's part.]

[tadanokusuriuri]

[That's basically the Medicine Seller's approach--few people, if anyone, can do what he does, and Japan is absolutely lousy with spirits. Most aren't worthy of concern, until they they get attached to and corrupted by human emotions, which can cause them to change, go berserk, and generally make nuisances of themselves. Those are the ones he goes after--the real dangers.]

[Again, he nods, very slightly.]

...Sensible.

I suppose... it won't hurt.

[dashboardlite]

I'd hate for you to get in trouble and not be able to get yourself out, kiddo. [Dean states honestly; and he means it. Miniature Medicine Seller or not, he doesn't like to see kids in danger. It makes him nervous just thinking about it.]

So whaddayou wanna do? You're in charge, dude.

[tadanokusuriuri]

[He blinks up at Dean.]

...Do you know what there is in this mansion?

[As far as supernatural things, he means; he's fairly unconcerned with humans, unless they've gotten into a situation where their secrets and negative emotions are feeding a spirit gone rogue.]

[dashboardlite]

[He wonders if the guy ever had an actual childhood, or if he was raised into this life like some sort of- ...like Dean was. There really is someone else out there who is practically like him. A loner with a thankless job, whose life is his work.]

I heard about some ghost of a lady...but there isn't much to go on, there. The woods are dangerous outside the mansion, though. To be honest, kid, [Dean gives him an apologetic face, shrugging.] This place is pretty boring right now.

[Wait. A thought.]

...don't you do anything for fun?

[tadanokusuriuri]

[The Medicine Seller gives him a blank, mildly confused look, like he's not actually sure what that is.]

[dashboardlite]

Oh, you've got to be kidding me.

[Dean raises an eyebrow. He doesn't know what fun is. Now that's pretty sad.]

...you...haven't ever had fun before? You know, like...something you do to relax, that you enjoy. Something that makes you laugh?

[tadanokusuriuri]

[He considers this, very, very carefully, then shakes his head.]

I... don't know of any such thing.

[dashboardlite]

[This is worse than sad. This is awful. At least when Dean was eight, he knew how to have fun. He just didn't have it very often since he was always taking care of his little brother.]

...okay, buddy, let's be realistic. If you have a break...if there's nothing to fight...what do you do?

[If he says 'sit quietly' Dean's gonna fix this problem.]