31: [Video] Any Way You Want It

[dashboardlite]

Some of you may know Dean as "the obnoxious guy who plays loud music in the library."

Some of you may know him as "the obnoxious monster hunter with bad fashion sense."

Some of you may even know him as "jerk."

To you, he says "bitch" in return.

Fondly.

Dean is currently living up to everyone's expectations in the kitchen, being obnoxious and playing loud music* as he cooks the greatest creation known to mankind: The Turducken.

But one man cannot devour such a majestic beast all on his own. This is where you come in.






* - In case you were wondering, it's Journey.

Comments

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

[Dean rolls his eyes.]

Laugh it up, Gordon Ramsey.

[Reaching for a can of pumpkin filling, Dean scoops the whole mess into a massive bowl and starts mixing other things in with it.]

I didn't have Thanksgiving turkeys growin' up. I'm making up for the holiday dinners I didn't get.

[There's no hint of sadness there, just fact. Preparing a big meal isn't feasible on a motel stove and Chef Boyardee was the only gourmet cook in Dean's childhood.]

But if I go into a food coma it's up to you to wake me up.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Oh fine. That is a fair point. If this abomination dinner is the way for Dean to take back something important he was deprived of then Philip really shouldn't be one to tear it apart.

...For much longer. ]

I didn't have Thanksgiving, but you don't see me trying to eat every single species at once.

[ You know what? Let's get another cup of coffee. ]

...And if you end up in a coma I might need to leave your body out on display as a warning sign for future generations.

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

You didn't have Thanksgiving 'cause you're a limey fruitcake.

[GRIN GRIN GRIN GRIIIIII- Okay, that's enough.]

But that's touching, I feel the love.

[With that, the second pie is poured and set aside to make one for the one involving an obscene amount of cherries.]

Speakin' of holidays, whaddaya got planned?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

You're asking me?

[ Fffyeahright. ]

I'm not the one pulling the magical switches, so I didn't think it was a good idea to make any plans.

[ He takes his second cup and sits down, staring into it as he thinks back to last year. ]

For all I know Wonderland could turn everyone into reindeer this year. Or trees.

[ A sip. ]

But, erm... if we get a day off from whatever insanity's coming for us, maybe-- Maybe we can get together in one of the tea rooms sometime? You know, you, me, Dan, Evie, um... whoever you want to bring.

[ Alex. Maybe Alex. Philip texted him just today, but he's still waiting for a reply. Might be nice to include him, forget about the awkward. ]

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

[Well, that's effectively what Dean meant. If the holidays don't screw them over, now that he knows more people and his way around this place to boot, he might as well try and get some kind of family get-together thing happening. And there will be cherpumple cake.]

...Yeah.

[Dean grins again, but this time it isn't sarcastic or teasing. It's more along the lines of stupid, boyish happiness.]

That'd be kinda nice, y'know? Put some Crosby on and break out some eggnog. Throw wrapping paper everywhere.

[At heart, he's a traditionalist.]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

...It would be.

[ He smiles lopsidedly. ]

Any idea who you'll bring along?

[ Say you'll bring someone along, Dean. Please say it. ]

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

Good question.

[Dean rubs his chin speculatively. To be completely honest, he doesn't have that many friends.]

Kurt, prob'ly. If that Meltzer guy in the library doesn't have anything better to do, might ask him to come. Maybe that kid named Alex who needs to get out more. Uhhh...

[Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.]

...the Medicine Man could stand a little social interaction. That's about it.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ After Dean's earlier mention Philip is looking forward to a proper introduction to Kurt. He's glad that Alex is on Dean's list too. And Meltzer. He might... have to mention that one in a moment, but first- ]

And just who or what is "the medicine man"?

[ That's right up there with "Egypt lady", isn't it? ]

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

He's like a-

[That is a really good question that deserves some thought. The first time Dean met the Medicine Seller, it was waaaaay back when he got to Wonderland and he thought he had Hellhounds scrabbling at his door to drag him away.

Dean had given him an anti-possession charm from Bobby, the Medicine Seller had given him some little cloth packet with a slip of paper with writing all over it. Before Dean knew anyone else seriously - before he met Philip - one of his closest friends was a guy who looked like a chick, dressed like a kaleidoscope exploded all over his clothes, and hardly talked.

But Dean tended to talk enough for the both of them.]

...some kind of Japanese demon-hunter. He wears weird old traditional clothes, sorta like feudal Japan when there were samurai? You probably don't see 'im around that much 'cause he doesn't actually have a room.

[Trufax. Dean tried to find it once. It doesn't exist. The Medicine Seller is an elusive ninja of the Wonderland grounds.]

He calls himself a "simple Medicine Seller"- [Dean snorts.] -but he ain't anything close. I've seen him work, it's crazy. He's good.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Recognition dawns on Philip's face. ]

I know him!

[ Insane asylum. Christmas cookies. It's been a while. ]

It's been ages though, I didn't even think he was still here and--

[ Whoa. Whoa there. ]

I didn't... realise he was a demon hunter.

[ Surprise, sprinkled with just a little bit of worry. ]

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's still kickin'.

[Not literally, though, because the Medicine Seller doesn't do much action outside of walking slowly and talking slowly and occasionally throwing little paper things around when he's on a mission to take down some demons.

Dean rubs the back of his neck. It'd be better to change the subject from discussing the guy who Dean killed Daniel with during The Shining event, but it's unavoidable now.]

He hunts, uh...crap, I think they're called...mononoke? Japanese for evil demons. He's a cool guy - not so talkative, but.

[A shrug.]

One-a my first friends here for a while before I irritated the shit outta you.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Not talkative. Philip remembers that much, at least.

And the way Dean talks about him sounds comforting enough. ]

Then he'd better bring gifts to thank me for taking you off his hands.

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

You're hilarious.

[Dean finishes fixing up his third pie, smoothing down the pastry on top because he is seriously getting awesome at this baking thing.]

Just think've how boring your life would be without me raggin' on you about your accent or your lack of getting laid.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Damn it, that actually does smell good. Then again, not much of a surprise, obviously if you throw everything in there then something is bound to smell good and getting laid wait what?!

Philip chokes a little on his coffee. He didn't expect Dean to bring up that particular subject which he's been thinking about quite a bit more than usual these days.

...In retrospect he really shouldn't be surprised. ]

I honestly can't even remember how I survived thirty years without it.

[ There is a golden grain of truth in that mockery, but Philip trusts Dean to be in no need of having it elaborated for him at this particular moment.

He peers at Dean's culinary experiment. ]

...Did it sport eyes yet?

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

The turducken is a gentle creature with no genetic mutations,

[Dean chimes cheerfully, taking the comment in stride (and Philip's coffee-choking with a heavy dose of Schadenfreude).

He peers into the oven.]

...but she is gonna taste damn delicious. Now I just gotta...

[Dean regards his pies skeptically.]

...do I bake them first and then bake cake batter around them, or bake them in cake batter?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Granted, Dean seems to be consulting himself rather than outside help, but... ]

For that much pie? You'd have to do it separately, unless the outside of your masterpiece supposed to be charred.

[ Yet another drink of coffee as Philip wonders whether he should regret his attempted contribution to the project.

He thinks back to Dean's guest list. ]

...I didn't know you knew Meltzer.

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

...hm.

[Dean settles for baking them individually and delivers the pies to the oven for their first round of cooking. Dusting his hands off as he sets a timer, he leans back on the counter and takes a sip of his coffee.]

Yeah, Mark Meltzer. I don't know the guy well, but he did give me some advice about the Tall-and-Slender guy back when he used to live in the woods.

[Not that Dean took the advice, but...well.

That's Dean.]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

Another demon hunter?

[ Philip is only half joking.

Now there's a nice mental image. Conspiracy nut and demon hunter. Hey. Why not. ]

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

Regular Joe.

[Dean shrugs.]

But he's a "the truth is out there" kinda guy, I think. He probably lives in the library. You know 'im?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

Actually--

[ Hours spent thinking about the man. His looks. His voice. His past, present, future. Where did he come from? How much does he know? Hours and hours again, imagining what he must have achieved in his life before Wonderland. Admiration. Envy. Admiration.

Walking around corners, desperate to catch sight of him. Peering through half-closed doors to hope for pure chance guiding Philip to his room. Looking at people. Staring. Judging, trying to figure out of he could possibly be one of them, but no... no, none of them match. None of them could possibly match the greatness Mark Meltzer must project at a single glance.

...In retrospect Philip is bloody relieved he never did run into the guy during that event. ]

Actually I don't, just that everyone else I know seems to, but apparently I keep missing him.

[ Philip shrugs. An observation, little more. ]

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

[Now that the narration has ceased laughing about the greatness Mark Meltzer must project at a single glance, they can sit down and write an incredibly serious, sincere, and straight-faced reply.]

If it makes you feel any better, he called me out for playing music, too.

[See? And people say that choice tunes don't bring individuals of differing natures together!]

I'm sure you'll see 'im around. Like I said, Professor X, [Another teasing grin. Have you gotten tired of them yet?] He works in the library.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

Any sane person would,

[ Philip retorts, not paying attention to Dean's other quip. ]

I guess I'll run into him soon enough then. [ So far he didn't, but hey. ] Christmas at the latest.

[ A beat.

Another one.

...

And another. ]

...What about Castiel? [ He hastily adds: ] Just because- because when you talked to Clarence you said he was back, so I thought maybe...

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

Cas?

[Oh, right, Cas. You mean the angel Dean stepped way out of his comfort zone for? The angel from his future? The angel who disappeared the exact day Dean threatened Clarence with total wrath-of-God annihilation? The angel who isn't in Wonderland anymore?

That angel?]

Yeah, he might mojo his way to a Christmas party. I dunno how angelic beings feel about Christmas bein' all commercial, but he'll probably come.

[Dean tries not to commit, but he does sport a particularly convincing and self-assured smile. Letting Clarence have the upper hand by knowing that they're helpless - that nothing they do can stop him - isn't on Dean's to-do list, though. Better to bluff for the time being.]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Fooling Philip is easy. Even if Dean had stuttered his way through the answer Philip oh so would have wanted to believe him, because the truth is about as unpleasant as it gets.

But fooling Clarence? Fooling the ever-observant virus who not only wants the truth but looks for it too, in every gesture, every facial twitch and every ever so slight change in somebody's tone of voice?

...It's still working so far, so props for that. Philip smiles. ]

That's great! I haven't seen him in ages, you know I actually never--

[ But wait. Wait. ]

So wait, does that mean you two...?

[ Made up, not out, is what Philip is getting at. ]

[dashboardlite.livejournal.com]

[Dean almost holds his breath while he waits for a reply. Fortunately, he doesn't have to wait long.]

Yeah! Yeah, we, uh...we patched things up. Made good, whatever. Everything's fine now.

[Totally fine. Sleeping alone is fine. Having no one else from his universe is fine, fine, fine. Dean is fine. Fine. Can you tell?]

I'll spare you the details, but it ended up okay. He wa- [Is.] -is from later in time than before, though.