han_solo | (no subject)

Dean regards her thoughtfully (and for a little too long).

"You don't exactly look like the takin'-orders type," he observes innocently.

"Ha," Mel grins. "I'm not. S'why I give them."

But because he implied wanting to know, she adds, "the girls' father was kinda persuasive."

Dean snorts with amusement. "I bet he was."

IFYA KNOW WHAT HE MEANS AND HE THINKS YOU DO.

Caught off guard - though she really shouldn't have been, Mel snorts. And then she's surprised 'cause she hasn't laughed like that in a long way.

"Hey, it worked, don't knock it."

"I wouldn't dare." Dean's grinning broadly. "Didn't actually say a word. So ... he's not around?"

He smirks, and goes for the honesty option - he has a feeling it'll work better than deceit with this woman.

"I'm makin' sure the way's clear before I hit on you."

Mel shakes her head, all ready to explain the situation, before he manages to catch her off guard again.

What?

"Seriously?"

No really, scarred, bossy, arrogant single Mom with major issues. What kind of idiot finds her attractive?

Dean gives her his best innocent look. "You're hot," he points out, as if it's obvious. (It is!) "This isn't a problem, right?"

How could it be a problem with a grin this charming?

Mel gives him a look.

Honestly, the grin doesn't really work on her. The fact that it's been really long, and she's itching for some sort of relief from all the pent up frustration is more likely to work.

After a second of looking, she shakes her head.

"He's not around," she says. "Haven't seen him since we can here. That was about fifteen months ago."

"Oh, good," Dean says happily.

Beat.

"Uh, I mean, I'm really sorry about that. That's really sad. Switchin' worlds sucks, huh?"

A shrug.

"I'm over it."

Which is - well, it's been a year, she'd better get over it, so she's making it true.

"I've got the girls, they're what counts."

"Damn straight," Dean agrees, and grins at her - a little more honest, a little less contrived, this time. "They're good kids."

He really believes it; it isn't a line.

"Sticky. But good."

"Not always sticky."

Sometimes they're setting things on fire.

Mel's been thoughtful ever since he came clean with the hitting on her aspect of the conversation. Now she glances up.

"Not looking for anything that's gonna get messy. For them."

NO RELATIONSHIPS HERE, OK DEAN?

"Oh Christ no," Dean agrees instantly, glancing back towards the door. "Kids don't need me, Jesus."

NOT INTERESTED IN ANY RELATIONSHIP OH GOD NO.

"I promise, I ain't gonna jump in on that."

For one thing, kids need a dad who's not a complete abject failure, who didn't sell his soul, who didn't get his dad killed, etc etc etc Dean's wangst could fill a textbook. For another, he has Sam to look after!

Oh please, like it's any better having a Mom who's not entirely human, who got both her brother and her sister killed, who was ruining her relationship even before the Flash etc etc etc DON'T PLAY THIS GAME, DEAN.

In which case, Mel relaxes, as far as one might notice if paying attention, and smirks.

"Think there's beer around here somewhere."

In the SECRET STORE only a few people on the farm know about.

"You're kidding." Dean looks appropriately impressed! "I thought this place was all about the healthy livin'."

"What the rut made you think that?"

Mel is all about beer, when she can get her hands on it.

Edited 2009-01-30 11:00 (UTC)

"God knows," Dean admits, grinning slightly sheepishly. "We just got this picture of you lot as ... actually, Jo calls ya Hippie Hollow."

BUT DON'T LAUGH IT WOULD MAKE HIM FEEL BAD. ... actually not very bad at all.

"It's all the free food. This place is fuckin' awesome."

EVEN MORE AWESOME WITH BEER.

"Hippie Hollow?"

Oh please let Mel laugh at that. She's facepalming anyway, standing in the door to the hallway of the house, where she'll be after the booze.

"With all the skitzing fighters and the crazy tech geeks, you're callin' us that?"

She has got to work on their reputation.

Dean is laughing too so it's OK. "I think th'reputation for free food spread faster'n the rep for psycho fighters," he confesses, grinning up at her. "You should work on that, else all th'hunters in th'world'll be down here for th'fruit."

"'Long as they put in some effort, don't think we mind."

Mels's gone a few minutes and returns with old bottles of beer dating before the apocalypse.

"You find someone able to make a still and send them here, you get a finders fee."

"I can make a still." Dean holds out a hand for a beer, absurdly cheerful. "No big deal, long as y'can find yeast and enough glass bottles. Just make sure y'clean the bottles properly before puttin' the brew in."

>>

"Not that I've got experience or nothin'." He grins at her.

"For serious?"

Why didn't he tell her this instead of just asking about Zuko?

"Might make you the most popular guy on the farm."

Dean makes a face. "'Cause that's what I want outta life, and all."

"... I'll set up a still, teach someone how t'maintain it, before I go, how's that?"

He'd do a lot more to get into someone's pants!

"That,"

OK, right, Mel still has the beers. She offers him one. (No bottle opener)

"would be rocketship. Just a guideline. Bet the reason we don't have one already is someone hasn't thought of it yet."

Because she knows someone has to know how to maintain it. Thye have so many smart people around.

"No kiddin'." Dean believes it. The combined smarts of the people on the farm intimidates him sometimes - part of the reason for the demeaning nickname, if he'd admit it. "Yeah, that's easy t'do."

He cracks his beer open in a VERY MANLY FASHIO)N with his hands, and offers one large, calloused hand for hers too, eyebrow raised.