ataraxion | ( TWO : VIDEO )

[ hello, tranquility. you remember dean, right? yes? no? either way, today finds him planning something stupid. at least act surprised. ]

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'm not looking forward to climbing back into that pod-thing for another jump. [ nope, not one bit. not if it means there's a chance he won't wake up for another month again. ]

Does anyone know what would happen if I skipped out on that? I mean, I guess turnin' into space dust's worse than pullin' another act of Sleeping Beauty, but if there's any way 'round that… Or if you have some gruesome tale 'bout how your buddy Joe tried it and got eaten by a space dinosaur, let's hear 'bout it.

[ let him know. or something.

a beat later, and on an entirely different subject; ] Also. Who the hell does a guy have to get cozy with 'round here to get somethin' more... fun in his locker? [ do yourself a solid and don't ask what's fun is. the smirk on his face should speak for him. it's gone with the next bit though; ] ...'cause not for nothing, but aside from people dyin' and monsters lurking in the dark, not a lot seems to happen 'round here. Almost like home, y'know, except for this bein' some sci-fi nerd's wet dream.

[ okay, maybe that's a little unfair considering he has to physically stop himself from losing his shit every time some iconic pop culture character decides to show up. ]

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You choke on space salad or something, man? [ AS IN HEY BRO HOW'S IT GOING DEAN'S BORED so let's go do something reckless. ]

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[ she has a point and he kinda hates that since it only further proves she really does know him despite how much he likes to think she really doesn't, even if he's been here before. ]

Maybe not, but - [ he doesn't even have an argument to go with here anymore. ] - I don't hear you comin' up with anything better.

[ and cue a pause, one that doesn't last long before he's scoffing. ]

You freakin' kidding me? [ because why. ] You're not serious.

[And all of a sudden she remembers exactly how much Dean used to aggravate her - one of the ways, anyway, considering he had a variety and seemed to actively enjoy intentionally doing it, sometimes.]

Yeah? Cause I figured just getting in the couch and staying alive so you can do better sounded a hell of a lot less stupid.

[The driest look she's capable of.]

And I'm serious.

[ charming qualities ala winchester. ]

There're others to do better, but somebody has to try this and it might as well be me.

[ the way he sees it he doesn't have much to lose anyway. ]

Yeah? Why? You know I'm not the same person you remember. Maybe I'm not a good fit anymore. [ really not a good fit at all. ]

No one has to try it. You want me to show you those videos again? We know what happens. The jump kills you and all anyone finds later is a fucking puddle.

[And she just plain doesn't want him to die, but she doesn't think that's gonna mean much to him. Which really just ties in with the rest, and she takes a breath. This would've been so much easier by text.]

I know you're not him. And I know you don't trust me. But I trust you and I know what you're capable of. I want you on my team and I want you at my back. You still... push at me. [Like maybe they were getting too comfortable, like maybe he just made her better.] And maybe you weren't a good fit the first time, and that's why-- [it had been breaking him down, but she cuts herself off, looking away again.

A moment, and then she shrugs.]

You won't be head this time. Already thinking you operate different without that on you.

[ dean still can't believe he had been head of anything, if he's honest. but damn right, he'd operate differently. ]

Yeah, you know what else helps me operate differently? Not havin' anythin' to do with SEC. [ and yet he'd be lying if he says he hadn't thought about joining. but that's been only thanks to cas since he'd promised the angel he'd think about it.

never mind that it would give him something useful to do, too. but he won't admit that. not when his mood is all sorts of shitty. ]

So thanks, but no thanks, Tyke. Never was much of a team player, anyway.

[Honestly, she'd known the likelihood of him saying no was high, but getting it thrown at her like that still stings. More than she'd like to admit, but the initial reaction's too quick for her to hide; like a wince, tension in her shoulders and jaw, eyes shut for a split-second. But whatever's fuelling that gets covered over a moment later, anger always easier to express (why Dean had been easier for her to deal with than anyone else in the first place).]

You wanna pretend you're different, cause you can't remember what you did and the decisions you made to get there. But you know what? I'm not gonna lie for you. You're the same man. The exact same thick-skulled first class dickhead.

[Every other time she'd talked to him had been like trying to find the ways they'd fallen into, but maybe she should have taken it back to square one from the start: defiance.]

Offer stays open. And you really wanna try sitting the jump out, my team will use force to ensure your safety. [A twitch of a very dry smile.] Call it suicide watch.

[She reaches over to cut the feed before he can argue about it.]

( TWO : VIDEO )

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video; encryption 95%

video; encryption 95%

video; encryption 95%

video; encryption 95%

video; encryption 95%