Fourth floor common room, Saturday afternoon

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the best way to spend a day was sacked out on a couch with all kinds of junk food watching really bad horror movies. Dean had decided that today was such a day. So here he was ensconced on the couch in the common room surrounded by lots of snacks that were really bad for him, watching a movie on Sci Fi that was so bad he was halfway certain that forcing someone to watch it would be labelled a crime against humanity.

Just what he'd wanted.

[ooc: open like an open CR]

Comments

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't hurt," Dean said. "But really junkfood is its own reward. Want some?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"And you are rewarding yourself because?" she asked, teasing. "I would love some chips, if you've any there."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean dug through the pile. "Plain or barbecue?" he asked holding out two bags. "And no real reason for rewarding myself. Beyond being awesome. Which means you totally should get to share. Because you're pretty awesome too."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Barbecue," she answered, then laughed lightly. "You are awesome. I'm just... Penelope."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but from where I'm sitting that's pretty awesome," Dean told her as he handed her the barbecue chips.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Dean," she said, feeling shy as she accepted the bag. "For the compliment and for sharing your chips."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Hey, anytime, cutie," Dean said, giving her a wink.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

Penelope blinked, blushing. "Are you... flirting with me?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Maybe just a little," Dean admitted. "Sorry, it's kinda a reflex with pretty girls."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"You're funny, Dean. I like you. You shouldn't feel like you have to say those things to me," she told him as she looked down at the bag of chips. "My own mother never tells me I'm pretty."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"No offense Penelope," Dean said, a bit more seriously, "but your Mom kinda sucks on this issue. Also, is kinda blind. Sure, you may look a little different than your typical girl next door, but that doesn't mean you're not pretty."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Well, I have lived with her my whole life. I'm not sure she's ever really gotten used to me. Physically speaking, of course. Faking my death when I was a baby never worked for her. She is my mother and at heart, she means well."

She paused, glanced down at her ring.

"But thank you, Dean. I'm sure everything will be alright soon enough. To repay you, I'd like to tell you I find you very handsome in a ruggedly casual manner. Very attractive."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Privately, Dean thought he'd like to have a word or ten with Penelope's mother, but he didn't let any of that show on his face.

"Thanks for the compliment," he said softly. He nodded toward the ring she was staring at. "That some kind of family heirloom?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"No," she said softly, curling her fingers into her palm. "I was engaged over Christmas."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah?" Dean cocked his head as he regarded her. "You don't look like someone who just got engaged," he observed.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"I don't particularly feel engaged," she commented in a small voice. "It's not exactly been left up to me." Penelope peeked over at him, seeing if she could judge what he was thinking by the expression on his face.

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"So this was a family obligation kinda thing?" Dean asked sympathetically.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Not... exactly. It's more a means to end the curse," she replied. "I will become a normal girl. If I can get Edward to love me... the curse will be broken and my nose, it won't be like this anymore. I can be myself." She paused, but explained further by adding, "I'm an heiress so the match is beneficial for him as well."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean absorbed that and then asked, "So is it Edward specifically that's needed to break the curse?"

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"No, not specifically. But the man in question does have to be a blue-blood," she replied.

Penelope looked mildly sheepish. "I'm taking too much of your time away from your really really bad movie, Dean. I'm sorry."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I can watch bad movies any time," Dean said, waving his hand at the tv. "Talking to friends is much higher on the list than bad movies."

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she said, ducking her head somewhat. For as much as she hated people staring at her, having friends and keeping them were more important.

"There is one good thing to say about my future, I suppose. It's already been written so I can look forward to no surprises." And she realized by saying that out loud, just how awful it might sound. She wouldn't complain and would rather talk about him, anyway.

"What will you do when you leave here?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"Going to meet up with my best friend and we're going to go hunting ghosts and demons and shit," Dean said.

[bad-nose-job.livejournal.com]

"Oh."

...

"Oh. That's, um, nice."

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean chuckled. "Yeah, I know it's not exactly a normal profession..."