No Event | BYOA

[iustiviri]

Being here long enough one learns the ins and outs of how this weird, fucked up place works. The people it brings in and the people it takes away just as keenly, as if they were never here in the first place. Just like hearing about Sam being in this place yet he'd never run into him. Ran into all sorts of people in a large place like this, and

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[iustiviri]

Dean was halfway through a bite of his energy bar when Ben told him. He paused, finished chewing and swallowed, then simply looked at the kid in surprise. A well of guilt rushed through him knowing this and he could tell just by looking at the kid that he wasn't lying about this and he knew exactly to which hunting Ben was referring to. Of course he would feel as if it were his fault, that he brought them into this gruesome world

[iustiviri]

"Pffft, you're never too old for hair ruffling." Dean said, then made a point to do it again, laughing as he did. It'd been awhile since he'd laughed like that. There wasn't much fun or funny about this place to incite any sort of laughter. But somehow or another the kid brought it out in him.

The kid's hair was softer than he thought it'd be and found himself running his fingers through it for a moment before snatching his hand back, staring at it like it'd somehow offended him. Dean then got up from the bed. "I'm gonna fix us some dinner. Burgers sound good to you?" The hunter asked as he headed into the little kitchenette to pull some ground beef from the fridge he'd set to thaw earlier in the day.

[noturvessel]

Ben laughed as Dean ignored his protests and did it again, the smile on his face defeating any attempts he might have had toward genuine objection. It was nice, almost, Dean's fingers in his hair and lightly mussing his brown strands. Ben hadn't laughed in a while either, between the zombie apocalypse world, he'd only really laughed like this when Cas got him high. Between the world and how it had felt, he rather understood the former-angel's desire to stay like that.

Then Dean was running fingers through his hair, and Ben tilted his head into it, a flutter of eyelashes over his green eyes. It was pleasant, quiet and warm, Dean's strong fingers carding through his short hair. He let out a slow breath he hadn't known he had been holding when those fingers pulled away, too soon. A faint hint of disappointment. At the mention of dinner and burgers he was all smiles.

"Burgers are always awesome, man."

[iustiviri]

He knew better than to get too close to people, especially in this place that takes people away just as swiftly as they'd brought them. And he didn't want to get attached to the kid only to have him disappear one day. Though he had a feeling that ship sailed years ago. Dean tried to put it to the back of his head for now and focus on the task at hand which was making dinner. "Damn right they are

[noturvessel]

Ben grinned broadly as Dean agree with his estimation of burgers. Really, he was already far too fond of Dean. It might not be the exact one that had lived with them after the Apocalypse, had been the father he'd never had, but it was so close. Familiar. He leaned back on the bed, a flutter of his eyelashes as breathed in the drifting smell of searing meat from th kitchen. It had been way too long since he'd had a hamburger and his stomach was already growling plaintively. Eager for the luscious combination of meat and cheese and condiments -- the perfect dinner. Hell, Ben could have lived off of the things... sometime he did

[iustiviri]

Dean chuckled a little at the kid's enthusiasm but was pleased none the less that he liked his cooking, which he didn't do a whole lot of. Usually by the time he was done scoping the floors out, he was beat when he got back and usually just warmed something up or made a sandwich and passed out. But this was nice. Really nice. He hadn't realized he missed actually talking to people until he ran into someone.

"You're welcome, now come over here and sit down before you choke or something." Dean said, patting the bed beside him as he then turned to his own burger and chowed down. Damn, it was pretty good, wasn't it? Everything came together to make a delicious burger. If he'd had bacon he would have fried that up too, but alas, he didn't.

"Until I can find another bed or a cot or something, you can sleep up here and I'll take the floor. I picked up enough blankets and pillows to make it comfortable."

[noturvessel]

Ben grinned a little sheepishly, but did as he was told, pausing in devouring the burger until he'd flopped down next to Dean. And if Dean had made bacon for the cheeseburgers, Ben would have been in Heaven. Because, seriously, bacon cheeseburgers. They were one of his weaknesses, one of the things that were a safe bet at almost any crappy diner, as long as they didn't overcook them.

He stopped devouring the burger however, at that declaration and gave Dean a look. He shook his head, licking the grease from his lips and frowned.

"Come on, after everything you're doing for me, I'm not gonna steal your bed too. 'Sides, kinda got used to the floor."

In the glorious establishment that was Camp Chitaqua, he'd ended up sleeping on the floor in Cas' cabin, on a throne of blankets.

[iustiviri]

"Dude, I'm not letting you sleep on the floor, okay? End of story." He said, pausing in eating to be able to speak. "We'll just... share. Until I can find another bed or something, the room is big enough for another one." Though it would be a tight fit, unless he could find two doubles and somehow drag them into the room or something. That might be a quest for tomorrow for them to do.

"How's the burgers taste? It's been awhile since I made them, I usually just microwave something for myself." It wasn't as if he entertained a lot or anything. There was no need to cook for other people if there weren't any.

"For tonight, I'll give you some clothes to sleep into and we'll get yours washed or something, then we'll go out tomorrow and fish around for more clothes for you."

[noturvessel]

"If you're sure. I really don't mind..."

Ben offered, although Dean sounded like his mind was made up on the subject, and so he let the subject drop at that. He took another bite of the burger, a flutter of his eyelashes because damn it tasted good. Of course, he hadn't had one in a few weeks, so he might be just a tiny bit biased. He swallowed before answering with a grin.

"Awesome. They're seriously great." He'd always liked Dean's cooking, far as he remembered, even when he'd first started and had been a bit out of practice.

"Sounds like a plan And, uh, thanks again, Dean. For helping me out and stuff."

[iustiviri]

"I'm sure," he said from around a mouthful of burger, swallowing and taking a drink from the last of the soda in his can. He set his plate down so he could grab two more from the fridge, handing one over to Ben when he sat down. "Good, glad I'm not a complete failure at things then." It was a tease of course, not that he thought he was one -- not more than normal anyway. Cracking the can he took a few drinks before setting it down to finish up his burger and chips, setting the plate aside when he was done.

"Hey, don't worry about. Besides, us hunters have to stick together in a place like this. You never know what kind of crap will pop out at you. It's good to have someone there to watch your back."

[noturvessel]

Ben took the soda, popping it open and taking a sip as he finished his burger. He looked at Dean at the playfully self-depricating comment, and while he knew it was joking, that didn't stop him from leaping to Dean's defense. "Don't be silly. You're amazing." He looked away then, because he could feel his cheeks heating. He all but idolized the man, and it had been so long since he'd seen him, not to mention that the man was being so helpful. Ben wasn't exactly sure how well he'd have done if he'd been all on his own.

He had yet to encounter any of the hotel's odd effects, aside from the way that getting around had seemed awkward and confusing, not that Ben had really known where he was going. Still, he trusted Dean about these things, and was grateful to have the older hunter to watch his back. His burger gone, he took another sip of his coke and snacked on the chips.

[iustiviri]

It had surprised him, how quickly Ben had replied and it made his chest constrict pleasantly and he couldn't stop the small smile that crossed his lips, a fond little look crossing his face as he caught sight of the light flush to the teen's cheeks. "I'll take your word for it," he replied, getting up to take his plate into the small kitchen to drop it off into the sink and then put the pan from the burgers in there as well now that it was cooled.

Moving back over to the bed he sat down and faced Ben this time. "Look, there's something you should know. The food we had was just fine, but sometimes -- some of the food here is drugged, and you can't always tell what it might be in or how it might taste. But I assure you the food we had was just fine," he paused for a moment before continuing. "But if you happen to eat anything and it makes you feel funny, you tell me, okay? You don't need to be embarrassed about it, but if it happens come to me and we'll figure something out, alright?"

[noturvessel]

Ben was just finishing off the last of his chips and sipping at his soda when Dean returned from the kitchen. He looked serious, and so Ben focused, slight way his eyebrows drew in together. He listened, processing that thought for a moment. His lips curved into a frown, and there was a slight tilt of his head as he looked up at Dean. They were in a Love Hotel, and there were drugs in the food. Drugs with effects that Dean was telling him not to be embarrassed about.

"...Sex drugs?"

He hazarded a quiet guess, looking up at the hunter. He was hoping he was wrong here, but all signs were pointing in that direction. He trusted that the food now was fine, not just because he trusted Dean, but also because he didn't feel weird. And Ben had learned pretty fast that as a hunter, being aware of weird feelings was usually a good thing.

[iustiviri]

Dean grimaced just a bit as the kid was putting it all together and after a moment he nodded. "Yeah, that's what I mean. It's mostly tasteless and... it's not always in the food." He knew he had to warn Ben even if it wasn't something he wanted to talk about. "Sometimes the hotel pushes the drug in the air, it comes in through the vents or the air shafts along with the air conditioning. As far as I know, there's nothing you can do about it if that happens. It smells sweet, like flowers, at least it does for me."

He really hoped that Ben never had to experience the drug like that, because then you couldn't help yourself. At least with the food it wasn't that difficult.

[noturvessel]

He swallowed a little uncomfortably at not just the conformation that yes, it was sex drugs that were in the food, but that it wasn't just the food. Sometimes it was the air, and not even Dean had a solution for that. Hold your breath and try to get away was the only idea that Ben had, and somehow, he didn't think that it was as simplistic, or as easy as all that.

"Alright. If I feel weird I'll tell you."

Well, he'd try, anyway. Dean was right about it being embarrassing, and while Ben liked to think that he was above being squeamish in a situation like that, he wasn't one hundred percent. But, he'd try, at least. Unfortunately, it sounded like it was only a matter of time until he got to experience it first hand.

[iustiviri]

Dean sighed and ran his hands over his face as he sat there, elbows on his thighs as he once again cursed the hotel for bringing innocent people to this fucked up place. Ben didn't belong here, there was no reason for the hotel to bring a kid like him to a place like this. It was fucked up and wrong and he'd do his damnedest to protect the kid from it if he could.

"Okay," he muttered, then got up from the bed, too uncomfortable from 'the talk' basically to sit still. He picked up Ben's plate and took it into the kitchen and while there he pulled a bottle from the cabinate and took a large gulp from it, then put it back. Moving back into the main room he rummaged through the dresser of extra clothes he'd picked up and pulled out a t-shirt and pair of boxers, then moved back over to the bed. "Here, you can borrow these till we can find you more."