(no subject)

[benji_mckenna]

Benji's been looking forward to this for a while, anticipating the chance to let off some steam in his strange-but-enjoyable new life at the Sanctuary. It'll be good to see Jim and Will again, and some advice from their more experienced points of view on whether to volunteer for the Atlantic caves mission would be appreciated, too. He doesn't plan to get falling-down sloppy drunk. It's enough to just enjoy some Christmas cheer with the boys, armed with plenty of tall tales and ghost stories about the pubs they'll be going to.

He wonders if he should place a bet on how many times they'll get carded. At least he can point and giggle at Will if and when it happens to the pair of them. (He'll be hugely amused if somebody cards Watson.)

Comments

[dr_jd_watson]

James would laugh in delight if anyone had the audacity to try to card him. It's happened before, but generally only when a store clerk or waiter is trying to flirt with him. Which he doesn't anticipate happening during a pub crawl with the boys. In fact, the idea doesn't even occur to him, although he wouldn't be surprised if Benji got carded a few times over the course of the evening. Chuckling to himself in amusement, he goes to collect Will and head to the surface.

[w_zimmerman]

Will had a hard time getting the night off to do this with Benji and Watson. Magnus is, of course, pleased that they've made a new friend, but the work of the Sanctuary is important and he's been almost perpetually on-call for months now. So he plans to enjoy every second of tonight's rare downtime.

He grins when Watson picks him up, and follows him up to the surface with a spring in his step.

[benji_mckenna]

Likewise, it's been a busy season at the London Sanctuary and Benji often finds himself on-call as general handyman, fixing bulbs in chandeliers, getting things down from high shelves and opening the occasional locked door when a newly arrived abnormal with a magpie nature goes through a phase of stealing keys and hiding them. It's all basic stuff he learned to do as a kid, but he's just happy to use his powers to help.

He greets Will and Watson effusively with hugs and a kiss on the cheek for Watson as his dog sniffs at them to remember who they are. Dog-friendly pubs are a wonderful thing.

[dr_jd_watson]

James greets Benji with a friendly kiss on the cheek, and bends to give the dog a good scratch, murmuring, "Excellent to see you again, too, good fellow." Straightening, he asks Benji, "So, what precisely do you have planned for us tonight?"

[w_zimmerman]

Will shakes hands with Benji and gives him a pat on the shoulder, then kneels to give the dog the attention it's so clearly craving. "He's always so needy. Clearly you neglect him," he mock-chides, grinning up at Benji as he waits for an answer to Watson's query.

[benji_mckenna]

"I don't think I could possibly give him more attention," he laughs. "Although he's not used to having to share me with the fire salamanders and the wild water horsies, and did I tell you we found another pterodactyl? Well, Declan did."

When he's not helping to dust high corners, the bulk of each day is spent tending the wilder abnormals and repairing their habitats. He's clearly getting comfortable with the beasties and making good progress in studying them. He hopes Declan's been keeping James updated. It's daft, but a little bit of praise from Jim still makes his day.

"I thought we'd start off in the Playhouse. There's often live music, and it's warm and cosy - and their hot cider and sausage rolls are so wonderful."

[dr_jd_watson]

"Another pteradon? Excellent news, Benji! Excellent!" James exclaims happily, rubbing his hands together. "I don't suppose this one's a male? Not that we're in much of a position just at present to breed them, but it would still be lovely..."

[w_zimmerman]

"Can't go wrong with hot cider this time of year," Will notes, giving the dog scritches. "And live music is great as well. But what are we going to do with this guy?"

[benji_mckenna]

"House-trained beasts are allowed," he answers, smiling down at the dog rubbing its head against their knees, tail thumping away happily.

"So I won't have to stay out in the cold with this one. I presume that one's house-trained," he says to Watson, indicating Will. "Although one shouldn't assume. Also, yes, the dino's male, so far as we can tell. It's very exciting."

[dr_jd_watson]

"House-trained, but Helen tells me he'll just ruin the house if you leave him unattended..."

[w_zimmerman]

"Hey!" Will protests, mock-glaring. "God, you leave holes in one wall..."

[benji_mckenna]

"God, William, can't take you anywhere," he say, nudging him playfully. "What did the poor wall ever do to you?"

[dr_jd_watson]

"Got between him and wherever he was aiming his baseballs, I daresay. How many holes was it again, William?" James teases.

[w_zimmerman]

"It was only half a dozen, or so. And it's not like I did it on purpose, exactly. I just... had a lot on my mind."

[benji_mckenna]

The half-dozen obligatory jokes about playing with one's balls at work go through his head, but he's not drunk enough to let them out.

"I'll be sure to knock before barging in on the good doctor when he's got a lot on his mind, then," he tells Watson. "Maybe open the door from down the hall and give it thirty seconds, you know, and then if his balls don't make a sudden appearance, then I'll go in."

Well, except for maybe one or two jokes, little ones.

[dr_jd_watson]

Oh, the jokes James might make about the impressive heft of young William's balls, or about how well he uses them, if only he weren't the mature one in their little cadre. As it is, he shoots Benji a stern Look and refrains from comment.

[w_zimmerman]

"Really, Benji?" Will asks, rolling his eyes. "Really?"

[benji_mckenna]

It is rather a shame Watson's the mature one tonight when it's so much fun to tag-team tease Will. He puts on his best innocent face.

"What? You're the one who did it. I'm just taking precautions, here."

[dr_jd_watson]

Teasing anyone is something that has a time and a place. Given what James knows of the occasion on which William destroyed Helen's wall, James has a rather limited will to push any teasing on the matter beyond a certain point. He'll let it go on, as long as Will doesn't seem uncomfortable with the reminder, but he's already pushed his own part in the teasing far enough.

[w_zimmerman]

"Look, I promise never to aim a fastball at your head, okay. Just drop the subject," Will advises, not really uncomfortable, but not sure Benji could handle the details of what had him so destructively upset on that particular occasion, either. Really, Benji is new enough to life with the Sanctuary that a real understanding of everything Will's been through in his years here might just be too much to expect him to take in all at once. "Let's get those drinks?"

[benji_mckenna]

"Excellent suggestion," he says, watching the dog give Will's hand a friendly lick. "First round's on me, lads. Tell me what-all you've been doing, apart from breaking up the house, William."

[dr_jd_watson]

"Me? I've been trying to bring down a cadre of corrupt politicians and thereby destabilize SCIU. It's been rather unpleasant, I must say. One gets so grimy, laying down with dogs."

[w_zimmerman]

"It's been years since I caused any kind of property damage to the Sanctuary. God, what does it take for people around here to forget things?"

[benji_mckenna]

"Very large amounts of alcohol?" he suggests, leading them into the bar. "C'mon, man, we're just messing with you. You need any help with those dirty devil politicians, Jim?"

[dr_jd_watson]

"Not by any means. I wouldn't dream of exposing you to the sorts of men it's my business to bring down. I'd rather protect you from their pernicious influences."