[ Allison isn't really wrong, to doubt Ben. In a lot of ways, he'd been the most easily manipulated, of her siblings. He'd been sweet, growing up, but gullible, easy to twist around, easy to bend. He isn't nearly as much, now, but those tendencies are still in him.

Not that Ben is thinking about any of that. He is just blushing, so hot he wouldn't be surprised if Allison could feel it coming off him, and beaming. Very quietly, and with a great deal of joy, he admits: ]

I, um. He. We kissed.

[ It feels so silly to admit that to Allison like it is huge. Allison, his glamorous movie star sister. Allison, who is a freaking mother. And yet, for Ben... it is a milestone. A first. ]

You can ask around. And you can ask me about him, too. I know he's still a stranger to you. I'm not afraid of anything you'll find. And he would understand completely, why you felt the need to.

[ Then she's bringing up the creatures on the other side of the portal and Ben squirms uncomfortably, that bubbly grin dimming slightly as he looks down at that glossy magazine, sitting half-forgotten. ]

He can talk to freakin' trees. He's the spirit of Compassion he can do all kinds of shit.