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Tweak says, "Yes, cover your teeth."

Dean Winchester (hellsboy) wrote in mirage_rpg,
@ 2009-03-03 17:16:00

Entry tags:

complete, day 34, dean winchester, shannon rutherford

Day 34: Having Fought Lizards...
Who: Dean Winchester & Shannon Rutherford
Where: Dean's Room
When: Day 34, early afternoon
What: Just saved the kitchen from lizards... for now
Status: Complete
Rating: R (language)

Dean led the way to his room, carefully peering around each corner of every building along the way before leading her around it. Last thing he wanted to do was walk her right into an ambush because he was busy grinning like an idiot at her. Which he was from time to time doing. Grinning like an idiot, that is.

"You know," he said now that it felt safe enough to be more of a smart ass without her misunderstanding his intentions. "You are actually very hot." He pursed his lips in a very amused expression and did not look at her.

Then as they walked up to his room door, he watched her profile from the corner of his eye. He pushed the door open to reveal his authentic motel-chic room complete with kitchenette of ugly green vinyl and chrome, two double beds (both of which were very obviously "Massage Hands" equipped with quarter tanks), a large flatscreen television attached to the wall and mood beads between the bed area and the bathroom beyond. He wasn't necessarily embarrassed to show her this; he figured if they were back on earth he'd probably want her on the road with him and she'd have to see this stuff anyway. But he was sort of unsure of what kind of idea she might get of who he was from it.

"Entrez-vous," he said with a chuckle. It was the only French he knew. "Make yourself at home."

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 04:46 pm UTC (link)

It seemed to be his lot in life here at Mirage to watch the women around him struggle. It made him uncomfortable but only because he couldn't just fix it. Women were such strange creatures. He hadn't spent time in the company of many of them, well at least not quality time where large chunks of conversation were traded. He wasn't familiar with how the everyday woman dealt with life or how she behaved really. But he recoginzed struggle when he saw it. Ever the observant watcher, ready for things to sneak up on him, he noticed everything.

This time, though, he tried to act as though he had missed the way she'd stumbled over her dislike of the blanket idea. He wasn't entirely sure she would have wanted him to wonder what that had been about and he wasn't sure he wanted to know either. So he turned his eyes quickly to the fridge again.

"You heard the lady," he said to the hulk of machinery. Then, reaching inside, he pulled out fresh greens and vegetables in a large crystalline bowl. He tucked the several flavors of salad dressing that also appeared under one arm and the fixing for a sandwich under the other. He knew he must look like the abominable grocery man so he dumped it all easily on the table and turned to Shannon.

"The table it is," he said with a smile and held out his hand to her so that he could seat her as gentlemanly as he could in spite of the bloody, dirty mess he was.

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ballerinadreams
2009-03-03 05:04 pm UTC (link)

For a split second, Shannon thought maybe she'd seen recognition - of what kind, she didn't know - in Dean's eyes, but she was more than happy when he turned back to the refrigerator and ignored it. She'd promised not to put up the walls, but she wasn't sure she really wanted to face the reality of what she was doing - whatever it was - with Dean and she was pretty sure he wouldn't like it, either. So, she appreciated his discretion.

She couldn't help the giggle, though, as he started toward the table with all the makings of a salad laden in his arms. Pursing her lips together against a full on laugh, she grinned.

He offered his hand to her and she took it, smiling. "Are you always such a gentleman? Or only when you think no one else is looking?" she asked playfully, taking a few steps toward him and then taking her seat.

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 05:22 pm UTC (link)

He scooted the seat in for her as she sat and grinned cheesily at her. "I'm never a gentleman. I'm a bad ass. You're the exception. It's only because you're so adorable when you giggle."

Which was just his brand of humor. He could be a gentleman if he wanted to be. Though it was true that her laughter transformed her to something more than merely a "hot" girl. He'd call her beautiful if he hadn't already been going so overboard doling out the compliments. It was hard not to though. He felt like he'd opened a vein and now there was no stopping whatever this ball was that was rolling. He was rather elated.

He wandered back to the fridge and grabbed a beer and a bottle of water from the door. Then a trip to the cupboards produced plates and silverware which were surprisingly not the same paper plates and plastic he'd expected to find. Instead they seemed to be some sort of china with gold filigree. He wondered if she could subconsciously control his room as much as he could. That would be something.

He set the table and sat down across from her. Slathering mustard on bread he asked, "Not the day you were expecting, was it?"

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ballerinadreams
2009-03-03 05:34 pm UTC (link)

Dean seemed to be going out of his way to make her blush, now. Somehow, she didn't think that was entirely fair, but she didn't mind too much, in any case. "Ooohhh," she crooned. "Well, lucky me." She gave him a genuine smile and then looked down as he headed back toward the fridge.

Something about being with Dean made this stupid Planet feel a little like home for the first time, really, since she'd gotten there. It was...nice. Again, it wreaked of Sayid making Craphole Island a better place, but she couldn't and wouldn't think about that right now.

When Dean returned and she heard him setting up the table, she looked up again and arched an eyebrow, impressed by the fact that, for whatever reason, Dean had fine china. "That...doesn't really look like your style," she said with a smirk. "You don't have to impress me, Dean." Maybe he'd just asked the Planet for something he thought she'd like. He'd have been right, but that was beside the point.

"Oh, no, are you kidding?" she asked. "Man-sized lizards ruining my lunch date and trying to kidnap me? I totally expected that for today," she added with playful sarcasm as she started to make herself a salad with the fixings Dean had put on the table before. "Thanks, by the way," she added, gesturing toward the bottle of water as well as the vegetables and salad dressing.

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 05:47 pm UTC (link)

"This?" he asked, pointing at the china, upon which he had made a mess of lettuce and condiments and slices of balogna. "No, I thought maybe you did this. I typically paper and plastic. Guess the planet wanted us to have a fine dining experience after all the shit it just put us through."

"Oh you mean you don't fight evil alien creatures all day long normally? I could've sworn you were as trained as I am back there." He was teasing her but he was also having a hard time not thinking of her as fragile even after she'd been bad ass herself.

He'd just sort of assumed she'd want water and he was glad to know his instinct on that had been correct. "You're welcome. If there's something missing there that you wanted I won't be offended if you ask for it. I don't usually eat salad so..."

What was with the idle banter they'd fallen into. Could that be what this was now? He hoped it was just that they were both hungry and exhausted from the ordeal of lizardmania earlier. Though he was beginning to feel the need for more adrenaline now. He knew he had to get back there and take care of business in the kitchen. But he wasn't going to leave her here. Not just yet.

He finished his first sandwich and started on the second, drinking his beer between bites and watching her.

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ballerinadreams
2009-03-03 06:05 pm UTC (link)

"Me?" Shannon asked, confused. "It's your room...how would that work?" she wondered aloud. But he'd suggested the possibility that the china was Mirage's own sort of apology. "Maybe..." Although she thought that would be a little unlikely, she didn't say as much.

She finished making the salad and smirked at Dean's next remark. "I'm secretly also a monster hunter, yes," she joked back with a wink. "You know, I did do all right in there, didn't I? God, I just got so mad, you know?" she asked. She'd been angry, yeah; the lizards had ruined her lunch, tried to kidnap her and had taken a pretty decent chunk of hair out of her head, if she wasn't mistaken, in the process, and then when she and Dean had been ready to leave, they'd made a grab for him and pulled him back into the fray. Of course she'd been pissed off. "I guess I kind of snapped."

After having said that, Shannon had to wonder if maybe it hadn't even been the lizards that had pissed her off, but rather maybe they'd just been the straw that had broken the camel's back. In the past two months of her life, there'd been a lot of things that had made her angry, upset, or afraid. Maybe the lizards had just finally been the last straw for her.

If that was the case...she thought it was probably only a matter of time before she was finally able to fully mourn Boone and broke down doing it. Part of her hoped Dean had meant it when he'd said he'd be there to help her through it, but the other part hoped he hadn't been, because his offer hadn't been to console her. He'd offered to be a punching bag of sorts.

"No, no, it's fine," she insisted as she added dressing and tucked into the salad. "I'm not a big salad fan myself, I'm just sick of throwing up all the time and I figure this is a safe bet." She gave him an impish grin and rolled her eyes at herself. After a few bites, she pushed the salad aside, though, because already she could tell it wasn't going to sit well. Without so much as a word of request from her, a passion fruit appeared on the table and she picked it up, taking a bite out of that instead. Swallowing, she looked back at Dean sheepishly. "I think this is gonna take me a while to adjust to. Don't take it personally," she added, hoping that he wouldn't be offended that she'd rejected the salad, even if she'd really been the one to make it.

Stifling a yawn with the back of her hand, Shannon's eyes meandered over to one of Dean's beds. She wondered if, just maybe because they were hotel beds, they might be hard enough for Shannon to sleep on them instead of looking like an idiot laying on the floor to pass out. She'd missed Dean watching her as she mulled it over.

"I don't want you to go," she thought aloud as her eyes moved back to Dean. She gave him a sad smile. "I'm not gonna stop you...but I wish you could stay."

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 06:22 pm UTC (link)

He chuckled as she conjured a passion fruit from the planet's seemingly unending supply of everything. He wasn't offended at all. He was just glad she was willing to eat in front of him. Most girls wouldn't. But then she really wasn't most girls. "Oh I don't take it personally at all. Just be careful, ok?" he said with a slight smile. "What am I talking about? You can handle yourself. I've seen the proof!"

Dean watched her hold back a yawn with her hand and he followed her glance to the beds on the opposite side of the room. "You should rest a little, don't you think?" he said quietly. He didn't want to sound suggestive but she did look as tired and she wasn't nearly as used to all of that fighting and action like he was. "You had a very busy morning."

He glanced back to her as she said she didn't want him to go. Again he was struck with how she was letting him see this part of her. He wouldn't call it needy. Not by a long shot. It was a concern and a care that was so genuine that he turned his eyes down to his sandwich unsure of how to respond for a beat. "I know. I promise I'll be back though. And if you want to rest, I promise I won't leave until you're asleep."

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ballerinadreams
2009-03-03 06:36 pm UTC (link)

Shannon smirked as she chewed another bite of the fruit. After swallowing, she winked. "I lived on these for two months straight," she said, holding up the fruit a little for emphasis. "It's one of the few things I know my stomach can take," she added. Unscrewing the top of the water bottle, Shannon took a sip and without really realizing it, she let out a soft moan of appreciation. Since getting here, she'd really only been drinking alcohol and tap water from her bathroom. It hadn't ever really occurred to her to ask for a bottle of water. On the Island, all they'd had was warm bottled water from the plane and after that, mainly rain water caught with a tarp. This water tasted so much cleaner and more crisp. Most importantly, it was cold.

"Yeah, probably," she agreed with him, setting the bottle back down on the table. He promised he'd come back and offered to wait until she was asleep to leave. Half of her wanted to shoot that idea down immediately, because it'd be even more disorienting and disappointing to wake up with him not there if he had been when she'd fallen asleep. The other half of her, though, was kind of comforted by the idea of him being around to keep an eye out for her until she was asleep. He'd said that no one could force their way into the rooms, but there was still a heavy sense of discomfort in her in reference to the lizards. The latter half was winning the battle.

"Are you sure you wouldn't mind? I can see you off and then go back to my room, it's no big deal." She wanted to offer him options because maybe he was really only offering that because he somehow knew it was what she wanted.

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 07:36 pm UTC (link)

Dean's brows lifted as he listened to her enjoy her water. It was amusing and endearing at the same time that the water was such a refresher for her.

"I don't mind at all. I want to do it. Besides, if the lizards come back, there's always Lola in the closet. She'll protect you better than any water gun." He leaned back in his chair, threading his fingers together behind his head and eyeing her to see what she thought of that suggestion.

"But you might want to take a shower first? You might feel more relaxed? I don't know. Girls do things different. If you want to go to your room and shower and come back or you can shower here and I can give you something of mine to sleep in. Gee, I sound like your boyfriend on your first sleepover at my apartment or something. Should I clear you a drawer and get an extra toothbrush?" He laughed at himself in a sort of self-conscious way and sat forward again.

"In all seriousness, Shannon. I want you to feel safe. I'm used to all of that nonsense with monsters but I don't expect you to be ok with it. Whatever you need, just tell me, ok? And space is fine, I won't be offended."

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ballerinadreams
2009-03-03 08:07 pm UTC (link)

At the reassurance, Shannon gave Dean a small, grateful smile. She found herself even more endeared to him when he said he not only didn't mind, but wanted to stick around until she fell asleep. She'd never used a shotgun and figured that she might actually end up being better off with a water gun, but she didn't say anything. "Thanks," she said softly.

She tried hard not to bristle at the suggestion of a shower, because she knew he meant well and she knew she could probably use one, but it reminded her of when she'd first arrived and the Doctor had suggested she take one as well. Only, then, he'd been more than justified. She'd probably been pretty ripe after two months of bathing in salt water with no soap or shampoo. Plus, it was infinitely adorable that he was offering to give her something to sleep in if she wanted to shower at his room rather than cross the hall to shower in her own bathroom.

Laughing, Shannon shook her head. "A drawer? Psh, you better clear out a few closets," she joked. She thought about going back to her own room to shower, but had to admit that him giving her clothes was an idea she actually really liked. It did feel a little the same as he'd put it. Like he was her boyfriend and it was her first overnight. "I think we can hold off on the extra toothbrush and clearing out space for my shit for now, Dean, but...in all honesty, just because the individual rooms are safe doesn't necessarily mean that the halls are, so maybe it'd be a better idea if I do just take a shower here...just in case. As long as you really don't mind and you're not just offering for the sake of offering," she replied.

It was really sweet of him, she thought, to be willing to do or get whatever she needed to feel safe. Just being inside made her feel safe, if she was honest, but she didn't say so. She kind of liked that he cared. It reminded her of Boone when they'd first crashed, only far less pushy and annoying.

"Mainly? I need a nap," she said with an airy huff of laughter. As another yawn took her over, she stretched her arms over her head and then dropped them back down at her sides.

She stood and looked around the room a little more before resting her eyes back on Dean. She could relax around him and just be Shannon. She didn't have to be Shannon-the-bitch or Shannon-the-whore; she didn't have to be Shannon-the-damsel-in-distress or Shannon-the-manipulative-rich-girl. She'd been filling those pairs of shoes for so long that she hardly knew it was even still possible to just be herself. But, Dean didn't expect anything out of her; he didn't judge her. It was a really good feeling to be able to take off the mask again, finally.

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 08:21 pm UTC (link)

"I don't offer just to offer anything. I don't normally enjoy sharing my space with anyone. So if I'm saying I want you to be safe and offering you my place to crash you can believe I mean it," he said gently. Which was very true. He'd always either had to share his space with a little brother or his father and he'd gotten very used to having his own space after he started hunting by himself. Only when he'd been with Cassie had he shared it willingly. And even then she'd never stayed over night often.

He didn't want to think about Cassie right now though. That would just lead to him looking too much into what he was doing here with Shannon right now. He didn't want to think that perhaps she was a rebound girl. She deserved better than that. Agitated then, he stood up from the table and glanced toward the mood bead divider between the bathroom and the bedroom area.

"If you're worried that the bathroom might be more of the same motel-chic as the room, don't be. The one room in this place that has any extravagances is the bathroom. It's probably bigger than the bedroom." He laughed and stretched again, puffing out his chest before relaxing with a yawn. "Maybe I'll take a nap myself."

Then he opened a drawer and pulled out a soft pair of flannel pants and his favorite Van Halen sweatshirt and piled them on the edge of the bed he usually did not sleep in. "All yours if you want it."

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ballerinadreams
2009-03-03 08:38 pm UTC (link)

Nodding, Shannon looked back at him. She didn't know the feeling, but she believed him. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Her eyes followed his toward the mood bead divider and she couldn't help the smirk that crossed her lips. It was just too adorably cheesy. She looked back at him when he spoke again and laughed a little. "Well, in that case, I can't wait," she teased. For a fleeting moment, she considered asking him to join her, but thought better of it. Too much, too soon.

Raising her eyebrows as she picked up the clothes, she looked over at Dean. "Van Halen?" she asked, amused. It wasn't really her style, but she supposed it definitely could've been worse. He could've given her, like, a Lynyrd Skynyrd or Led Zepplin shirt, she supposed. That stuff reminded her of her dad. He'd stopped listening to it in favor of soft rock when he'd started seeing Sabrina, but Shannon had grown up having to listen to classic rock and hating every minute of it. Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin...that was music. She wouldn't hold it against Dean so long as he didn't make her listen to it, but she still couldn't help being amused by it. She had to admit, at least, that she thought that style of music sort of suited his personality and not in a bad way.

She winked at him to let him know she meant no harm and held up the clothes. "Thanks. I'll try and be quick."

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 09:13 pm UTC (link)

"Hey now, don't insult the band. There's nothing like a good Van Halen guitar riff." And he demonstrated, curling his lip and playing an air guitar, bopping his head to an imagined song in his own mind. If she was going to be in his space she might as well see how much of a nut he was while she was at it. But he didn't carry on long. He stopped and laughed. "Have fun," he said and winked at her.

He turned then toward a cupboard by the fridge. He opened it and took out a first aid kit. Wincing, he pulled his shirt over his head and took a look at the gash across his ribs. It had bled quite a bit but the bleeding was stopped now. He was glad she hadn't noticed it. He made fast work, bandaging his ribs and securing them with tape. Then he set to work on his forearms. After he'd finished he looked partially like a mummy and the image reminded him of an old stupid film he'd watched the other night here by himself. He shook his head and tried to think of something else.

Cassie's face came to mind as he was rummaging through his drawer for a clean shirt. He hung his head and sighed then yanked a dark blue shirt from the pile. Careful not to disturb his bandages, he pulled the new shirt over his head and went to flop on his bed to wait for Shannon.

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ballerinadreams
2009-03-03 09:50 pm UTC (link)

Shannon couldn't hold back her giggles. "You are such a nerd," she teased, taking a few steps toward him and kissing his cheek before heading into the bathroom, shaking her head and grinning in amusement.

He hadn't been wrong about the bathroom being huge. In all honesty, Shannon was surprised. It was even bigger than hers and more surprising, still, nicer. Hers was simple, because it looked just like the one in the apartment she'd shared with Nora, minus, of course, the litter of Nora's numerous skin and hair care products and appliances.

Looking over her shoulder reflexively to make sure he wasn't peeking, Shannon stepped further into the bathroom and, with a small smile and a roll of her eyes, put down the toilet's lid so she could leave the clothes there. Before turning on the water, she looked at herself in the mirror. "Ugh...I wouldn't kiss me looking like this," she whispered to herself, wrinkling her nose. Her face was dirty and her hair was a mess, matted in the spot where the lizard had held her.

After getting herself a towel, Shannon turned on the shower, disrobed, and got in, sitting down on the floor of the shower and letting the water pelt down on her. She was truthfully too damn tired to be taking a shower, but it felt good, in any case. Squinting against the water, she looked around the shower for shampoo, conditioner, and soap. She was disappointed, but not surprised, only to find a bar of Zest and a bottle of cheap shampoo. No conditioner at all. With a sigh, she pulled herself to her feet again. "I can't use that," she said softly, not wanting Dean to hear her complaint but unwilling to use what he had in his shower on herself. "I need Aveda shampoo and conditioner, Pangea shower gel - lavendar - some facial cleanser - and not the cheap shit, either - and a loofah," she went on, addressing the Planet. When all of it appeared, she gave herself a triumphant, self-satisfied smirk, and proceeded with her shower.

Once she felt sufficiently clean, she got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around herself, letting out a soft sigh of appreciation. Stepping back so that she was hidden by a bit of wall rather than just the mood beads, Shannon moved the towel to wrap it around her hair until she had dressed again. She lifted the collar of the sweatshirt to her nose reflexively and could smell something very distinctly Dean on it. She closed her eyes as a wave of guilt washed over her. She hadn't felt badly about flirting with Sam or taunting Greg...but wearing Dean's clothes, staying in his room; kissing him? It wasn't really cheating on Sayid if they hadn't made themselves an official couple, but she still felt badly. Maybe because she already felt so attached to Dean when maybe she shouldn't.

Shannon dropped heavily down onto the still-closed toilet and took her head in her hands, heaving a sigh. Was she a bad person? She'd never see Sayid again if the Plaque was to be trusted, but she'd heard of people being sent back and if that happened how could she look Sayid in the eye again after Dean? She didn't want to think about it.

Taking a deep breath, Shannon sat up straight again, discarding the towel to the floor and asked the Planet for a brush, dragging it through her hair until all the tangles were out. She reached down, grabbed the towel, and stood, hanging it on a hook on the wall before heading back out of the bathroom.

Dean was already on his bed. She gave him a weak smile. "Much better," she announced. Her hair was still wet, her makeup had been mostly lost in the shower, save her waterproof mascara and eyeliner which she'd purposefully avoided with the facial cleanser, but other than that, she felt and looked much better, in her own opinion. Crossing the room, she sat down on the edge of the other bed and drew her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "Thanks again for letting me stay," she added, giving him another grateful smile before unfolding herself and laying down on her back, staring up at the ceiling. How she was going to sleep with her mind turning over so many things, she had no idea.

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hellsboy
2009-03-03 10:25 pm UTC (link)

He opened his eyes as she entered the room again. He hadn't realized he'd closed them but somewhere along the way he must have. He smiled over at her and sat up as she sat down. He couldn't help but notice how small she looked in his over-sized clothes. There was something so nice about seeing her that way that he forgot the thoughts that had been running through his mind since before he had dropped onto the bed.

"You're welcome, Shannon," he said, pronouncing her name thoughtfully as if suddenly understanding it for the first time. It was not Cassie. She was not Cassie and he knew right then that he didn't feel guilty for liking Shannon as much as he did. And he liked her a lot more than he had thought was possible to like someone he'd only known through journals and one intense lizard fight. Yet there she was. Still largely an enigma. But he did understand some things about her. The things that were a lot like him. And the things that were very Shannon but that she'd chosen to explain whether in words or in expressions. This was not a rebound but a new beginning for him.

His expression faltered as he wondered if she felt it was a new beginning for her. He slid from the bed and knelt beside hers to talk quietly. "I'm glad you decided to stay. I didn't want you to go."

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