sadfreezingbrit_archive | One way of torture that doesn't involve blood [19/??? artefacts collected]

[ ...And sinks again when Philip in turn takes in the expression of his visitor. ]

Is, uh... is everything okay?

[Oh.

He stares at Philip quietly for a moment. He didn't know. No one knows, really, except for maybe Sam or Cas.]

...dude, were you...

[Now he looks a little smug, as though he's uncovered valuable blackmail material.]

...were you playing guitar?

[ At first Philip merely reciprocates the quiet staring, still a little taken aback by the earlier look on Dean's face. ]

[ But once he finds that more troubling expression gone his smile returns and he takes a look over his shoulder to see the guitar waiting for him inside. ]

Yes, I was just--

Edited 2011-05-17 18:52 (UTC)

[ Annnd there the smile falters once more and he shifts from one foot to another, eying just exactly what that troubling expression has turned into. ]

I was... trying anyway.

Edited 2011-05-17 18:54 (UTC)

[You will never know the reason behind the troubling expression, Philip. Never.

Dean happily lets a grin stretch across his face, laughing. It's not...mean-spirited, per say...just amused. Very, very amused.]

Dude, are you sure that thing is even in-tune?

[Watch him as he invites himself into your room! What a gentleman.]

[...Just as Philip will never dignify that question with an answer. ]

Please, come in. And how was your day?

[ He closes the door behind Dean and leans against it, arms crossed. ]

[Ohhh, Dr. Phil. Dean will never tire of your professorly antics. He accepts the patronizing, unamused stare as little more than a by-product of a personality with less humor than his own. I.e, being British.]

Eh. Coulda been more exciting, but beggars can't be choosers.

[He picks up the guitar, perching on the corner of Philip's bed and fiddling with the frets.]

You're startin' too complicated - dude, believe me, I know. I wanted to jump right into Freebird, but Lynyrd Skynyrd is still way above my paygrade.

[ These days Philip's indignation only last for so long and once his point has been made (and thoroughly ignored) he sits down on the other corner of his bed. ]

You play?

{ And here I was almost happy to see him, but if he's just gonna take over instead of stoppin' you then there's really not much of a point at all. }

Started back in November.

[Tweaking one of the tuning pegs and listening as he plinks a string, Dean seems satisfied with how the instrument sounds. He starts carefully, slowly working out the guitar intro to Black Water. He's been practicing on and off for about seven months, and the only drawback is having had to learn certain chords without his pinky finger.

Suffice to say, though, that with perseverance, he's actually gotten pretty decent.]

But if you're going to embrace this sacred instrument, you gotta respect her first.

[Dean grins cheekily at Philip, still playing out the riff.]

Edited 2011-05-17 20:08 (UTC)

[ At first Philip watches closely, but his attempt at picking up any impressive playing techniques is thwarted by the sight of Dean's missing finger.

It goes against every intention he had when he picked up the instrument a few days ago, needing something new to keep him occupied and distracted.

Looking away he focuses on sound instead. He doesn't recognise the song, but he doubts Dean's playing is at fault. Pretty decent for an almost-beginner, at least as far as Philip is able to judge.

...Dean's suggestion on the other hand is received with less enthusiasm. ]

...If I need to give her a name and spend an hour a day making conversation before I practice then I'm switching to piano.

[This is a comment that Dean simply will not stand for, and he stops playing to leans over and whack Philip on the back of the head. Affectionately.]

Dude.

[He stresses, expression that of mock indignation. He cradles the guitar theatrically.]

Not in front of the lady.

[ Affectionate whacks over the head are not a common greeting in an academic setting, so Dean will have to pardon Phil's flinching and wtf-ly uncomprehending first reaction before he settles down and mentally categorises the gesture as another Dean thing.

He raises his hands in mock apology. ]

I'll have to get her flowers and chocolates now, won't I?

[There are many "Dean things". Learning all of them might take some time, so...good luck with that.]

If you knew her well, you'd know she's allergic to flowers.

[Dean chastises him, looking over the instrument before setting it aside. The only woman he really cares about is his car.]

Why'd you wanna start playing, anyway? [He won't judge the song choice, but he will judge the sudden uncharacteristic desire to be artistic. The grin on his face gets wider.] Passing the time, or planning on wooing somebody?

[ Philip could reply that he's only met her a few days ago, but it's probably a good time to change the subject.

To why he wanted to start playing, for instance. A distraction. ]

Pretty much. I-- [ Wait. ] wooing somebody?

[ He laughs. That would be an... interesting thought in a normal world, but in Wonderland? Oh those crazy, crazy Dean things... ]

...No, definitely just passing the time.

[Dean things aren't all that crazy. He was actually sort-of perhaps maybe not joking about that bit. Although he does understand that the headvoice is something of a hindrance.]

You oughta keep it up, Phil.

[And he's serious. For the first time in this conversation.]

Just don't play Bad Moon Rising until you get the basics down.

[Dean smiles again, but it's much less convincing this time.]

[ Silly Dean. Of course he was joking. Whoever would Philip want to be wooing here? Honestly now... ]

Right, I'll...

[ But he trails off, smile all but gone. There's a reminder of that expression again and something is off, but he wouldn't know how to ask about it, even if he wasn't such an avid believer of blatantly ignoring all the bad things ever. ]

{ Awww, Dean. Did that song touch you in a bad place? }

...I won't. Hey, uh...

[ Changing the subject quickly is easier when you have another subject ready at hand. Philip bites his lip. ]

Why did you come by anyway?

[ Whew. B+ for effort? Picking up that expression is one thing, but realising that there was no other cause for Dean's visit is a little above Philip's paygrade. ]

[Nice save, Philip. You're lucky Dean didn't notice you hesitating too much right there. Maybe you guys can chat over beer and pie later.]

Just been kinda...wandering around, actually. Clear my head.

[Good thing for that, too. He'd felt himself growing close to snapping at Cas, of all people, and didn't want to fuck anything up when it's his own fault he's been so grumpy lately. Dean knows it's a mixture of things: homesickness (or carsickness, rather), irritation over his lack of certain body parts, and the general unsettling idea that something bad is going to happen, and he won't be able to stop it.

You know. The usual.

He smiles the unconvincing smile again. Lying is harder when you wear your heart on your sleeve.]

Post-event blues, y'know?

[ Guess what, Dean! An unconvincing smile doesn't get more convincing the longer you use it, not even in Philip's eyes.

But (curious as he may be about the things capable of genuinely upsetting Dean Winchester) if Dean won't tell then Philip certainly won't be the one to ask.

Especially not when Dean has given him a better, for the lack of a more appropriate word, topic to move on to: ]

...I know.

{ Really now? I knew those gym shorts were bad, but I didn't think they were that traumatising... not for him anyway. }

Speaking of which, I... [ Sigh. ]

I'm sorry if I was... a little abrasive in the teacher's lounge.

[What on earth are you talking about? The unconvincing smile works every time! It works on Dean's brother, and it sure as Hell will work on Philip. Nothing upsets Dean Winchester. NOTHING.

All that aside, levity (and Dean's amusement) returns to poke fun at his friend's apology.]

Dude, you were almost bitchier than you were the first time I met you. In retrospect, it was kinda impressive. I wouldn't've wanted to take your class.

[...in reality, he probably would have skipped.]

Can't you ever just take an apology and leave it at that?

[ ...Jerk. ]

Nope.

[Bitch. ♥]

'Sides, it was funny. I was a freaking basketball coach, man. I'm gonna have nightmares about those shorts for years.

{ You and me both. }

[ Philip shakes his head. ]

I didn't use to be like that when I was teaching, but I guess now at least I know what my students can expect if I ever get back to London.

[ Allow Philip to contribute to unconvincing smile day here, because that scenario? Not very likely. ]

3/3

1/?

2/3

3/3

1/3 forever

2/3

3/3

I'M BREAKING THE CHAIN.

DAMN YOOOUUUUU! *SHAKES FIST*

You love me. *eyebrow waggle*

*crosses arms* *glares*

Don't make me serenade you. 'Cause I will.

All the eyebrow. All of it.

The eyebrow is simply a mask to cover up your violent affections.

Don't make me bite you again.

You make me all tingly when you talk like that.

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DAMN YOOOUUUUU! SHAKES FIST

You love me. eyebrow waggle

crosses arms glares