#I only got it cause ​I have a $50 gift card

[sorchathered]

All I want for Christmas is you🎄

A/N- Hey y’all! This is my submission for @bellaireland1981 Hallmark Holiday writing challenge! A little corny, perfectly christmassy, and just in time for the holidays! I hope you all love it!

Pairing- Jake Seresin x reader (callsign Fawn)

Warnings- Language, Angst, Jake Seresin in love

Summary- the squad gets roped into a holiday charity auction, where dates with single male aviators are the prize. Will you bite the bullet and tell Jake how you feel before Christmas break? Or will you have to watch him go on a date with someone else?

The air was filled with excitement this week. Christmas block leave started in a few days and Maverick could tell that everyone on his team was going to be completely useless. No one could blame them though; it had been a hell of a year and going home for a few days was a guaranteed way to boost their spirits and get them back in the game for the new year. The knock on his office door was unexpected though, and when Admiral Simpson marched into his office he knew the time for celebration was probably on hold. Matching orders in hand he groaned as he made his way down to the ready room; the guys were going to hate every minute of this. It would be hilarious.

"I guess Cyclone's wife is part of some fancy supper club and they decided to auction off dates with single aviators as a big prize. I mean it all goes to charity so l guess it's not all bad." Natasha says with a shrug as she digs into her lunch, Bradley looks less than enthused about the whole ordeal and Jake doesn't seem to have a care in the world. "It's more like we got volun-told to do it, the only consolation is a four day weekend, if you ask me we could have at least gotten a gift card or something." Bradley grumbles, and you can't help but agree it does seem pretty meager considering they are basically being sold to a bunch of middle aged women to ogle them. You can't help but be a little annoyed at how chill Jake seems about it though; it's not like the two of you were serious or anything, but the little green monster was clawing at you at the thought of someone else holding his attention. You'd unpack that later, now wasn't the time.

If Jake seems unphased to you then it must be a Christmas miracle, he can’t stop wondering what you’re thinking about this whole ordeal; would you bid on him? Would he have to go on some stupid date with a 50+ year old divorcee and make small talk? He didn’t mind being ogled for charity, it was for a good cause and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t know he looked as good as he does. He should tell you how he feels, just bite the bullet and ask you to be his girlfriend. The thought of you laughing over the ridiculousness of him settling down has kept him from making the declaration, he may seem cocky and cool headed but on the inside? Well he’s a big ball of nerves when it comes to you. You weren’t like anyone he’d ever been into before, and the thought of getting turned down was down right soul crushing. So he’d settled for casual hook ups, late night booty calls and shitty diner food late at night when you wanted company. He wanted more; real dates where he held your hand and got dressed up to eat fancy shit he couldn’t pronounce, waking up and eating breakfast together, goodnight kisses before you passed out in each other's arms. He was getting soft, or at least that’s what Javy said when he got that dopey look on his face when you entered the room. He’d tell you after Christmas block leave, surely by then he’d have his shit together enough to make his case.

You had to admit that while the San Diego women’s supper club was a stuffy bunch, they certainly knew how to throw a swanky affair. The ballroom of the Lafayette Hotel was decked to the brim with an old Hollywood Christmas vibe. Garlands covered in holly and poinsettias covered the doorways, Christmas lights and candles as far as the eye could see, as a jazz band played holiday classics while the crowd of upper class ladies mingled with their crystalline glasses of spirits. It very much felt like stepping back in time; almost as if Sinatra himself was preparing to take the stage. You were definitely glad Phoenix had the forethought to drag you and Halo out to dress shop earlier in the week, your cocktail dress you usually donned for weddings wouldn't have cut it for something like this. The event said black tie and they weren’t kidding, even the guys in the squad had shown up in tuxes, and you had to keep your composure because Jake Seresin in a suit was a feast for the eyes. He mingled a little with the group as he made his way over to you, beer in hand because you can dress him up but he’s still a good ol’ southern boy at heart. His gaze over your frame heated your skin, and he knew damn well he had you flustered, flicking his toothpick around in his mouth as he grinned at you.

“You look good Fawn, damn good.” You felt good too, it was a beautiful night and he was by your side, now if only you could get yourself together enough to tell him how you felt. “I have something I need to talk to you about Jake, before we all go on block leave and don’t see each other until the new year.” He cocks an eyebrow at you and leans in so he can give you his full attention, this is it, just jump off the edge headfirst and tell him you want a real relationship. “I want us-“ You hear someone clear their throat behind you, it’s Admiral Simpson and his wife- beckoning all the eligible bachelors to meet up on stage so the auction can begin. With a groan Jake drops his head to your ear, squeezing your hand as an apology as he asks you to hold that thought. Ugh! You should’ve just said something sooner, now you’ll be left with your anxiety to keep you company while you watch a bunch of women place their bids. The girls make their way back to their seats, Halo suggests that Phoenix should place her bets on Coyote; Lord knows neither of them have been subtle about their hookups these days.

“I doubt any of us has the money to throw around that these rich old bags do.” “Oh my God Phe!” You crack a smile at her crassness, she and Javy seem so solid; nothing like the uncertainty you feel in your gut right now.

“Oh shit, isn’t that Admiral Roger’s ex wife? The one Jake got trash duty for hooking up with?” Halo whispers as an elegant looking woman walks past them with a sneer. “Fuck. Yeah that’s her. She got reported by Mav for stalking Jake too, went completely bat shit after their hookup and wanted to be his sugar mama or some shit. She’s bad news. You don’t think she’ll bid on him do you?” Phoenix said, frown etching her pretty features as she looked at you for an answer. You didn’t have one, you hadn’t even thought about her in months. She’d really fucked with Jake mentally, it was part of the reason you’d kept relationship talk off the table because you were afraid you’d run him off after that train wreck. If she was here it was almost guaranteed that it was to stir the pot, you had to do something, anything to keep him out of her cross hairs. “Phe, I gotta go talk to Mav- but we have to protect Jake. See what everyone’s got in extra cash- we may need it.”

The auction was definitely a success, these ladies knew what they wanted and went for it. Harvard had gone for 5,000 and as the rest of the guys were filing out you imagined the prices would just keep rising. The feeling in your stomach felt more like a boulder as you watched the former Mrs. Rogers and her gaggle of snotty girlfriends ogle over each of your friends. This was supposed to be a fun joke for charity but the more you thought about this woman using it to manipulate the man you loved the more sick you felt. Mav had assured you that he’d handle it as best he could; Iceman seemed confident that combined everyone could place a bet to win Jake and that there was no need to worry but it did little to calm your nerves. Finally Jake takes his turn on the stage, flashing his trademark grin and playing it up for the crowd. He caught your eye and gave you a wink, and as much as you wanted to return it you couldn’t bring yourself to smile. What if someone else won him? What if she won him? I mean yeah it’s just a line dancing date for charity but still. This woman is a nightmare in heels and you’d rather not watch him suffer through an evening with her.

“I’ll start the bidding at 100 dollars!” Mrs. Simpson calls out over the microphone, and a chorus of bids ring out through the ballroom. A bidding war breaks out between Mrs. Rogers and an ancient looking woman seated in the front, bringing the price to nearly 10,000 dollars. Jake looks off kilter as he watches his stalker fight over the bid prices, and you realize that none of you have the cash to help keep him from getting away unscathed. “Oh god, he’s really gonna have to deal with her isn’t he?” You groan, Phoenix rubbing your arm absentmindedly as the price skyrockets to 30,000. It appears though that Mrs. Rogers has finally met her match, at 35,000 she gives up and relinquishes her place to the little old lady. Finally you can breathe a sigh of relief; cheers ring out among your table as the older woman stands up and takes a bow, digging in her purse for her black card. When her name is announced you can’t help but laugh; it turns out she’s Icceman’s beloved mother in law, she loves charity work and has a ridiculous amount of money and nowhere to spend it. She pinches Jake’s cheek as he makes his way over to her, with a robust laugh she shoos him off to the table your squad resides, and he is back to grinning like he won the lottery himself.

“What did she say to you? Ice’s mom?” You say later in the evening, Mrs. Rogers' husband apparently got a very interesting text from her someone about her whereabouts and left shortly after the auction ended with her tail between her legs. “She said I have a damn good squad looking out for me, but it’s more about what Mav said that I want to talk about. How about we take a walk, sugar?” He downs the rest of his whiskey and takes your hand in his, leading you out to the lobby where it’s quieter.

Before you can say a thing he’s got you all wrapped up in his strong arms, leaning in with a gleam in his eye as he kisses you by the obscenely large Christmas tree. You melt into it, the noise of the party drowned out by the rush of blood in your ears, your head going a little fuzzy as he deepens it to the point of indecency. When he finally pulls away you chase his lips and he chuckles, stroking your jaw and soaking up the moment. “Mav told me you saved me from an evening of hell with my stalker, that true pretty girl?” You’ve been caught and you know it. “I just didn’t think it was right; you deserve better than that. A-and if I’m being honest, I didn’t want anyone else to have your time…especially not her.” You frown in frustration and he can’t help but find that little crease between your eyebrows so damn endearing.

“What did you want to tell me earlier? I can take a guess and hope like hell I’m right but I need to hear you say it.” He looks at you with so much love, it’s overwhelming and heats you all the way to your toes.

“I want us. I know we’ve been keeping things casual, but I fell in love with you Jake, and I want more with you. If that’s what you want too.” You’ve got his heart in your hand and you don’t even know it, he leans in to kiss you again as he whispers against your lips. “All I want for Christmas is you darlin’, couldn’t ask for a better gift. I’m yours, loving you is the easiest thing I can do and I’ll do it forever if you let me.” It was the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received.

Tagging- @bellaireland1981 @roosterforme @attapullman @honeytwrites @heavenssins @djs8891 @kmc1989 @mynameismckenziemae @kissmecaitie @sunsetsimpsblog @sio-ina-bottle @pinguhub @lenafromthenordiccoven @shanimallina87 @trickphotography2 @teacupsandtopgun

[birdiescanfly]

Jake Deserves Nice Things

Okay, so this calls back to the backstory I was thinking for Jake in my last post, but I had some more thoughts and wanted to share.

Having grown up poor, Jake’s didn’t have a lot of time or money for luxuries so I’m thinking as an adult, he can’t get enough of nice things. Like, he’s a soft boy okay?  He loves big blankets (those really soft ones), he adores those fancy college sweatshirts that are so easy to swamp himself in, and anywhere there is like tiny stupid knickknacks to buy, he picks up and inspects every single one of them, because now he CAN, okay? So yeah, he wants those things, but he doesn’t NEED them.  Jake’s got big money issues.  He often sees something he wants or likes, and is soooo tempted to get it, but then puts down at the store and walks away. A little dejected and missing the spark of joy that he’d had while picking up everything he liked while in the store. It’s a painful cycle for Jake, but he can’t help it. It all derives from the fact that even though he has money now, he’s still living in the mindset of save and conserve because of the ‘just in case’ it doesn’t last. Like, “What if?” you know? Moreover, he just doesn’t think he deserves it.  Can’t imagine spending money on something he doesn’t NEED.  Like it’s a waste. He feels guilty for even wanting it in the first place. Why does he deserve such nice things?  Why is he so pathetic to even want it in the first place?

I think this even extends to buying a certain kind of granola bar he likes or taking long showers or even buying decorations for his house. It’s all unnecessary, and even if it would make him happy, he can’t bring himself to give that care to himself.  Even as he runs his hands over soft sheets and even softer throw blankets, even as he longingly studies café menus for fun drinks he’d like to try but can’t bring himself to buy over a 50 cent coffee, even as he freezes himself out of the shower in 45 seconds instead of savoring the experience, he just can’t bring himself to believe that he is worth the extra money it would all cost. Even if it’s only a little.   

I think it takes Bradley a little while to actually get it.  Jake, of course, doesn’t talk about it, probably doesn’t even acknowledge that he’s doing it to himself. And so at first, Bradley just thinks that Jake is really frugal and utilitarian. But there are signs that his boy is softer than he first expected. I’m thinking this is early in their first relationship (because we all know that they are exes in the present).  Bradley doesn’t quite figure it all out until when they get back together years later in their lives, but, Bradley does notice the harsh way Jake treats himself.  He doesn’t poke at it, he’s not opening about his own shit, why go poking around in Jake’s, but at one point during their stint together, (after they Uhaul lesbian it and move in together without talking about it), Bradley gets his first glimpse of how much Jake loves nice things.  So, Bradley originally did it as a joke, but maybe right before their first breakup (don’t know how it happens yet), Bradley gifts Jake with a stuffed Rooster plushie. Its one of the weighted ones that are super fluffy and soft, and he thinks its funny cause he happened to see it when shopping for a birthday card for Phoenix and couldn’t pass up the gag gift for his boyfriend.

jThe thing is, Jake loves it.  Like, he doesn’t show it at first, just rolls his eyes at Bradley’s smug smirk as he tells him “it’s so you don’t get too lonely when I’m deployed.” But in a turn of events that Bradley never expected, Jake’s eyes linger on the stuffed animal when he sits the object in front of the pillow on their bed. He catches the gentle way Jake sifts his fingers through the rooster’s soft fluff. And in the days that follow, its impossible to miss the way Jake’s hands linger when he carefully moves the Rooster from their bed in the evenings, or the way his eyes cut over to it longingly every so often. The real sticking point is when Bradley gets home late one night for some reason or another to find Jake curled up in their bed with the rooster plushie in his arms.  Jake is curled around the little stuffed animal, his cheek smooshed into the downy fluff, finger gripping tightly around its body as if it might disappear at any moment.  Even in his sleep, Jake cannot let rest his fear of loss. Bradley doesn’t say anything, doesn’t acknowledge his noticings to Jake in any way, but his hearts caves in on itself just a little at the tender way Jake handles such a simple thing as a stuffed toy. He has questions why an adult would cherish a little plushie so much despite acting the contrary, but the reason behind the act is a bit beyond Bradley’s current scope. Still, the knowledge that Jake likes soft and nice things despite his actions saying otherwise, is now cemented into Bradley’s mind.  Years later, this knowledge will come back to him, after time apart and bitterness and hurt the only thing keeping the other in his orbit, but still, the knowledge will come back. It will come back like a choking weight on his chest as he bunks with Jake for one reason or another, and sees a worn and torn stuffed rooster peeking out of Jake’s packing bag.

[sukunastoy]

I got an interview with a place that’s right by my apartment 😭 I’m still trying to get a remote job, but at least this place will be much better than what I currently deal with. IF I get hired. I just need something that doesn’t blatantly treat all its employees like shit..

Like my current job doesn’t even try to hide it that they want us to suffer. They’re just straight up slave drivers at this point. And corporate comes in and tries to cut our hours even more while increasing our work load and they even took away the opportunity for two weeks worth of vacation from everyone. They said it was voted for. Voted for by who!? Corporate asshats that make 6 figures a year and never actually have to do any of the work? Fuck them.

My company used to do company cookouts, raffles for tickets to sports games, gift cards, take the company to an amusement park that they would rent out etc. then it became just holiday dinners provided by the company with high quality meals, and managers got bonuses. Then it became just store brand bought food that you heat up in microwave. Then it became the occasional pizza party. Then it’s stale/out of date donuts from our bakery and “damaged” sandwich platters. (Which these would normally be thrown away.) Then one time they tried to pay our paychecks in a gift card to our own company! That can’t pay our bills wtf?? Now it’s like…nothing. Even this past year, they took away all manager bonuses. All while they boast about making record profits. Last week we all had to do a company photo while holding two awards for “record week of sales” and I even asked “what do we get for this?”

“These awards.”

I said “yeah cause that helps pay our bills. 🙄”

Our sales have gone from $50-$60K each week in one department alone, to well over $100k a week in that department. Our store does over $1 Million PROFIT monthly. That’s after paying their bills and all payroll. Each month they make our sales goals slightly hire than the month prior and we still manage to beat the goal, and we are beyond short staffed. A couple months ago they told us that our store alone helped 7 other failing stores financially cause our store makes THAT much money.

Yet they said “we still need better/higher sales.”

“Can we get more help?!”

“No.”

“Can we then work overtime?”

“No. Get 16 hours of work done in only 8 hours. Just work harder.”

And good luck getting a raise if you become a manager. They offer pocket change with a fuck ton more work. Then they transfer you from location to location to location without asking or giving any notice. They’ll come in on a Friday afternoon, and tell someone “btw you’re going to this other location starting Monday.”

“That’s a much farther drive? Do I get a little raise to compensate for the additional drive time that I’m not asking for?”

“Nope.”

Fuck this place. I’m so over it..it’s just gotten worse and worse each passing year. 10 years down the fucking drain.

[shephar]

Cyno in Persona 5.

Because I did Yusuke in Genshin.

Persona 5/Royal spoilers below.

TW: Canonical staged suicide/attempted murder.

Cyno, the Justice (upright, as opposed to Akechi's flipped in my headcannon). An Elec, Phys, Ailment user.

Unusual awakening compared to modern Persona Users, more like Persona 1 and 2. He naturally has an overwhelming amount of Magnetite- the Demon Summoning energy used in early MegaTen Games- due to Hermanubis inhabiting his body.

His codename is The General, because Mahamatra doesn't make sense in Persona World.

His Persona manifests as Hermanubis, an Electric Wolf towering above him. His weapon of choice is the spear, and the long ranged gun-like weapon is him throwing his spear at opponents and ripping it back out. Double hit damage.

He joins before Shido's palace, having been searching for the Phantom Thieves to make sure their actions are righteous rather than selfish, and the arrest and subsequent death of their leader only emboldened him, his sixth sense for this type of stuff only helping him for once.

He's an Elec/Phys user like Ryuji, but he attacks 2-5 times with his regular attack and Hermanubis's special skill has a 50/50 chance for attacks to strike twice (GAMBLING GAMBLING).

His regular attacks have a 20% chance to be infused with Elec damage if he's attacked previously by phys or non-elec damage.

He has Ailment skills like Krishna's Venomous and Poisonous Raga, where he buffs allies or debuffs opponents and causes them ailments, called Bad Jokes and Piercing Glare.

Bad Jokes is his Buff skill, which raises Atk, def, spd, or crit for his team and Freezes enemies. Gained from 1st Awakening.

Piercing Glare is his Royal exclusive skill, which lowers Atk, def, spd, or crit and poisons foes.

"I'm Cyno, of Kosei Academies third year. I'm planning on going into law after graduation."

Rank 1: Glare, a 50% to make shadows more amenable to negotiations, and when Cyno joins the team allows him to do negotiations himself.

Rank 3: Blood Hound, doubles the drop rate of rare items when Cyno deals the finishing blow. (Only usable during and after Shido's palace. Absolutely bonkers in Mementos with the Item buffs)

Rank 5: Priesthood, Hermanubis, as an actual priest, can bless items so they either do more damage against chaotic/evil entities, do bonus bless damage, or just do bless damage with weapons.

Rank 8: Keen Eye, raises parties crit chance when Cyno is on the field.

Rank 10: Awakening. Nothing changes about Hermanubis, he just gets a new skill and is slightly taller.

Rank 11: second Awakening. New skill.

Going away gift: The first Genshin TCG card he got as a child.

"Maybe next time we meet, you won't be such a joke-ster. Get it? See, the joke is-"

[illogicalnordictales]

So I’m on the way to Arkansas with my family, and so, as usual, I’m gonna write the quotes that my sister says.

I’ve done this twice before, first with my dad, and then with my sister.

So we’re doing my sister again, and who knows? Maybe my dad will get an honorable mention.

✨Let’s begin✨

You look at a bag of popcorn and eat 3.

I wonder if you can get no pickles on the Chick-fil-A gift cards.

Nothing like a pre-warmed toilet seat.

Ok, the 10+ Apple Buff helped a little bit.

Nooo! Don’t touch the blanket! AHHHH.

Oh, they’re for McDelivery.

Blippi’s going wild.

Oough, this bed is firm. It’s gonna hurt when I flop on it. Good.

I don’t want the neighborhood Wal-Mart. I want the SUPERCENTER.

Did I ever turn off my Blueteeth?

Ha ha, got your eyebrow.

Don’t take this the wrong way. The woman shaped thing of syrup seems racially motivated.

Mhaha, you wanna be a furry? Heh, castration.

Sometimes I wish I was bald.

It’s like his bald spot glows.

You can have nasal stones, you don’t want a marshmallow to be one of them.

You don’t like chlorophyll in a cup?

Call me Beyblade. ‘Cause I just let it rip.

EDIT: We’re not home *yet*, but it’s currently nearly 12:50 AM, we’ve only got about an hour and a half left in the trip, so I can’t imagine there will be any more quotes. Hope y’all enjoyed.

[an-ecu-harrypotter-au]

TPS Part 12: Visions and Quidditch

Ah'm sittin in a chair by the fire an Ah feel off. Not meltin down bad but still off.

"Toby? What’s wrong?"

"Um, can Ah talk ta you, Jacklin?"

"Of course. I was just about to get the gift I bought in Germany for you."

"Ok."

Ah go up ta mah dorm room. Jacklin comes up wit a real thin box. Ah look at the box, feelin' excited an' scared 'cause Ah dunno what's inside.

"Thanks."

Ah open the box an’ reach in ta see if Ah can feel somethin inside.

"A board?"

"It's a hand carved wizard's chess set. There should be little wooden chess pieces as well.

"Wow."

Ah look at the hand carved chess set. They're all tiny an’ detailed an' Ah can see they took some time ta make.

"I remember you said you once had a vision about wizard's chess. Germany specializes in wooden gifts, so I just had to have my father buy this for you."

Ah start lookin' at all tha pieces an’ lookin' at 'em one at a time while Ah hold 'em in mah hands, turnin' 'em over an' lookin' at all tha details.

"The detailin' on these're amazing."

"I think this could be a great way to use your Seer abilities. Wizard's chess is all about trying to think multiple moves ahead and predict what the other player might do."

Ah hold a couple of tha pieces up an’ start settin' ‘em up on tha wooden board. Ah smile as Ah start settin' ‘em up an’ start feelin' more an' more comfortable with the idea. It's all comin’ together in mah head.

"Um. Jacklin Ah saw somethin on the train that Ah think ya oughta know."

"What is it, Toby?"

"Well Ah got another Dumbledore frog card an had a vision a ya. Ah saw ya standin in front a some kinda mirror holdin a ruby. Then Ah saw Quirrell flyin up in the air like he was tryna attack ya."

She rubs her chin which tells me she's thinkin bout it.

"Yes I did some research on Nicolas Flamel. Let me see your card."

"Ok."

Ah give 'er the card.

"Alright. Nicolas Flamel was the wizard who created the Philosopher's Stone. You can use that stone to make the Elixir of Life. It can also make metal become gold."

"So it's real valuable?"

"Yes."

Ah start ta have a moment where everythang comes tagether.

"Ah think Dumbledore's hidin the stone cause he knows somebody's gonna steal it."

"That would make sense."

"But why here? The stone's Flammel's so Ah'd thought he'd be the one ta say what should be done wit it."

"I think it's because everyone knows Nicolas Flamel would have the Philosopher's stone. Headmaster Dumbledore would likely want to protect the stone so no one could steal it. We only know that he's using Fluffy, the three headed dog, to guard a trapdoor. He could have multiple traps involved meant to slow down or attack the potential thief."

"Yeah. Yeah. Ah get it."

We start talkin bout random thangs till Ah start thinkin bout Quidditch.

"Did yer Seeker Sean Lee get better?"

"Yes he's fully healed. The problem's that he doesn't have enough money for a new broom. A mending spell can only be done if something was only broken for a few minutes. By the time all the pieces of his broom were retrieved the spell didn't work."

"Oh. So that means yer the new Seeker till he gets a broom?"

"Yes, our next game is in March. I have to spend a lot of my free time working on my flying skills."

Ah start imaginin Jacklin flyin through hoops an all tryna catch the gold ball.

"Tell me agin how this points thang works fer the Quidditch Cup?"

"The team with the most amount of points scored after every game wins. Gryffindor can lose to another team, but can still win if we score a lot of points in our other two games. Wins only matter for the House Cup because winning a Quidditch match only gives you 50 points."

"How's it look fer Gryffindor now?"

She pulls a quill outta nowhere an some paper. Ah see a buncha numbers that mean nothin ta me.

"Gryffindor is in first place with 170 points. Ravenclaw is in second place because they only only scored 160 points. Slytherin is in third place because they lost against us and only scored 60 points. Hufflepuff is last because it was a very short game and they only scored 50 points."

"When's the next game?"

"Ravenclaw/Slytherin should be played near the end of February. Whoever wins would take the lead because they would have played two games while we only played one so far."

Ah can't do all that math so Ah try ta get ta the point a thangs.

"Wha's the biggest match in the year ta worry bout?"

"The most important match would be our match against Ravenclaw in May. The final match is always important because it determines the final total of points for two teams. A team could be in last place but win the Quidditch Cup because they scored so many points in the final match in addition to catching the Golden Snitch."

"So it ain't ever over till the final ball's caught in the season."

"That's right, Toby. The last match is about more than just winning. It's about how many points you score before you win. It can also be a matter of knowing you can lose and still win the Quidditch Cup."

Mah head gets all fuzzy an Ah shake it.

"Good thang Ah don't play Quidditch. Ah dunno how ya keep track a that."

"Yes I'm sure figuring out how to make a banner for Gryffindor would be complicated enough as it is."

"Yeah."

Ah realize Ah gotta ferget bout the stone an focus on makin a banner. If Jacklin's game ain't until March Ah got bout 2 months ta make somethin that'll look good.

Time Skip

"Ok Jacklin, the game starts in 10 minutes. How's the points lookin fer Gryffindor?"

"We dropped all the way down to 3rd place. Since Slytherin won they jumped up to 1st place with 240 points. Ravenclaw only scored 60 points so they moved up to 2nd place with 220 points."

"So ya get 1st place agin if ya win right?"

"Yes of course, Toby."

"How're ya feelin bout that?"

"This is my first game starting so I do feel a little nervous. But enough about that. How did your Gryffindor banner turn out, Toby?"

Ah hold up the Gryffindor banner an' Ah point ta the lion.

"Ah did it all by mahself! Lion's got a scarf an a broom."

The picture is colored red an' yellow to look like Gryffindor colors. Jacklin looks at the banner like it's the most important thin' in the world.

"It looks lovely. You did a great job, Toby. I hope I can see it while I'm up in the air."

"We wanna cheer as loud as we can for ya."

Ah hear somebody blowin a whistle. Ah look up an see Snape yellin at some Hufflepuff kids.

"Snape's the ref?"

"Yes and the whole team's concerned that he's going to be nothing but biased against Gryffindor."

"Dang."

Ah see McGonagall come up ta the field wit Sprout. This' the first time Ah'm realizin Sprout's the teacher in charge a Hufflepuff. No wonder she likes Pacer helpin 'er so much.

"Oh I need to line up with my team. You should go up to the stands with Gryffindor, Toby."

"Ok."

Ah start makin' mah way up ta the stands. When Ah sit down, Ah see tha Captains get all ready in the middle a the field.

"Captains shake hands."

Snape watches 'em shake.

"I will not hesitate to penalize anyone for rule breaking."

Ah sit waitin' for the game ta begin. Ah can hear Professor Snape shoutin' out all the pre-game rules.

"Go!"

He blows his whistle an Ah hear the announcer start callin the game.

"And the Quaffle is off, Gryffindor takes possession with Chaser Katie Bell trying to score!"

Gryffindor cheers as Katie Bell flies out ta catch the basketball. Ah watch as she swoops an’ tries ta get inta the scorin ring. Ah think she's gonna make it, but Hufflepuff Seeker's right there in her way. Snape blows his whistle.

"Blocking on Gryffindor! Hufflepuff will receive a penalty shot."

The Gryffindor crowd groans an moans, upset over the ref's call. Ah think Ah get wha' Jacklin's said bout it but Ah’m happy ta see the Gryffindor players gettin' all fired up.

"After a questionable call by Professor Snape, Chaser Beatrice Haywood takes the shot! It goes right in and Hufflepuff leads 10 to 0!"

Ah see one a the Gryffindor players get all mad. They got one a the black balls an use their club ta hit it right at Snape. Ah jus know that ain't good as he dodges it an blows his whistle.

"Bumphing on Gryffindor! Hufflepuff will receive another penalty shot."

"Booooooo! Booooo!"

A lotta Gryffindors boo an Ah dunno why. Jacklin did tell me the black ball can really hurt somebody if ya get hit by it.

"After that act of aggression by Jimmy Peakes, Beatrice Haywood once again lines up for the penalty shot! She makes the throw and Hufflepuff extends their lead 20 to 0!"

More groans an’ sighs as Hufflepuff score. Ah watch as Jacklin flies round. Ah see a lil flash go by 'er an she chases after it.

"Jacklin Gryffindor's following the Snitch! She's diving at such a fast speed! But watch out, Professor Snape's right in her path and there could be a collision!"

She seems ta be movin' way too fast. Ah feel real nervous. Ah start sayin' stuff under mah breath an' Ah hope Ah don’t say it out loud.

"She's running out of room and Snape is almost right in front of her! She's reaching out for the Snitch! She caught it and stops just in time! Unbelievable! With not even a meter left to spare Jacklin Gryffindor catches the Snitch and stopped her broom on a dime!"

It’s like the whole stadium jus stopped breathein'. Ah almost can’t breathe right after tha shock of her stoppin’ 'er broom. Ah see Snape blow his whistle an looks so Ah dunno? Bored? Yeah tha's a good word. Like he ain't happy bout Jacklin almos crashin inta him but he ain't all that mad either.

"Gryffindor wins. 150 to 20."

They're all cheerin' an’ screamin' 'er name. Dumbledore stands up an’ claps real hard.

"Well done Miss Gryffindor! Well done!"

She glides back towards the Gryffindor stands an’ Ah start applaudin' just as loud as Ah possibly can. She comes closer an' her face starts turnin' tha reddest Ah ever saw it.

"That was so embarrassing. I don't know what I would have done if I did crash into Professor Snape. He could have gotten seriously hurt."

"Ah know! Jus bout everybody could barely breathe when it happened. Ah thought yer broom ain't that fast?"

"Even with it's lower speed, it's very difficult to stop that quickly. I have got to work on knowing when to stop. That was 3 times now that I almost had a terrible collision."

"Yeah. That was real close. Ah’m jus glad the crash didn't happen."

She gets exactly what Ah mean. She nods an’ she looks at me wit that smile a her's like she’s fallin' in love. Nah, she's jus bein' friendly.

"Players shake hands!"

They finish their shake. Jacklin turns ta walk back ta the Gryffindor team when Ah see tha Hufflepuff Seeker look at her an’ say somethin’ like, "Good game." Ah start lookin’ at Jacklin an’ Ah see her face turnin’ red. It's real cute.

Time Skip

"So now that we won, Gryffindor got an extra 50 points for the House Cup and a total of 320 points in the Quidditch Cup."

"So we're in 1st agin yeah?"

"Of course. We now have an 80 point lead over Slytherin. They can retake the lead though if they beat Hufflepuff."

Ah start ta feel real bad fer Hufflepuff. Seems like the House tha's always gettin beat up by the other Houses. Ah hope Pacer ain't gonna start hatin me cause we beat his team.

"Jacklin? We supposed ta like Hufflepuff?"

"Of course, Toby. I know we have a rivalry but it's not as if we're supposed to hate everyone in the other Houses. The only reason we're divided like this is because the founders of Hogwarts valued different traits and magical abilities."

"Like what? Ah know the hat was talkin all bout it at the beginnin a the year but was it always like that?"

Ah see 'er thinkin bout it. Ah'm almos expectin 'er ta start givin me a history lesson bout Godric an all. Ah ain't gonna mind it but Ah dunno how much Ah'll understand it.

"When Hogwarts was founded, wizards had to live amongst humans and try not to get exposed. Godric was well known as a duelist. He valued humans' resourcefulness when he saw that they used swords in place of wands."

"See! Ah've been tryna keep it ta mahself but magic's gotta be so complicated fer no reason. Y'all don't even got backpacks! No wonder Godric loved usin a sword. That's gotta be the most useful weapon ever! Ah dunno why they don't teach us how ta use a sword. Wha's stoppin a wizard from attackin ya if ya lose yer wand? Nothin! A sword's jus the coolest weapon ta use in a fight an y'all don't even wanna use it!"

"I do admit that's very much a point of view that has been lost over the centuries. Godric valued capable duelists as they could not only fight against other wizards but also humans."

"Well Godric's had good brains ta go wit his bravery. He reminds me a old stories bout knights who got this set a rules bout how ta fight good."

Ah see Jacklin takin a breath. Ah hope Ah didn't get outta hand wit mah ramblin.

"We did have a few wizards in Gryffindor who would go on to serve kings, so I think that is what Godric wanted. He wanted good duelists who were capable of fighting for what they thought was right. Even though the class didn't exist, he taught students how to duel and be able to defend themselves and their families against the Dark Arts."

Ah realize that makes sense cause even in his paintin in our dorms he's got a sword. A knight's cool. Ah dunno if Ah wanna fight people though. Ah think bein a Healer's the right path fer me but Ah still ain't sure.

"Do ya know much bout wha Hufflepuff's founder's like?"

"I admit that I'm not as aware of the history of the other founders. I believe that because a lot of children were orphaned either due to famine or war, Helga Hufflepuff was willing to take in any child with magic ability that wasn't accepted by the other three. She had an affinity towards Herbology, Potions, and identifying magical creatures."

That does kinda sound like me. Ah'm always outside when Ah can. Makes sense that the hat really thought Ah should be in that House.

"Yeah Ah can see now why Pacer's in that House. He's real good at Herbology. Wha bout the other Houses?"

"With Rowena Ravenclaw, she was the one who suggested Hogwarts should be built here. The school needed to be kept hidden from humans and according to legend, she had a dream about a warty hog showing her this land. It's entirely possible that because she seemed to know exactly where to build the school, she was a Seer. Divination, in fact was one of the classes she taught herself as it focuses a lot on creative interpretation of events."

Ah'm a Seer so maybe the hat was wrong bout me not bein in that House. Nah. Even though tha's what she liked don't mean the kids're like that. Ah see a buncha kids in that House runnin ta the library lookin fer the answer. They all turned it inta a competition bout who's the most clever or can finish their scrolls the fastest.

"So why's we usually mad at Slythrin?"

"Salazar Slytherin. That wizard is definitely well known in my family. Since wizards were in constant danger back then, he was less likely to accept children with human parents. He wanted students that were willing to step up and do what ever it takes to accomplish a goal. He really loved the Dark Arts and of course was a Parselmouth. Since you can't exactly teach that type of language, he specifically taught various dark spells and how to defend yourself against cursed beasts."

Ah think bout Slytherin. Somethin musta got lost over the centuries cause somebody wantin ta keep the school safe from scared humans don't mean they're evil.

"Ah dunno how everybody all got long when it was Quidditch time."

"Oh Quidditch, according to the book I was reading with you, wasn't invented until after the founders died."

"How'd it get ta other countries?"

"The United Kingdom was a powerful force so it had a lot of influence throughout Europe. The first official Quidditch Cup was in 1473 but didn't become a true Quidditch World Cup competition until the 1600s."

Ah honestly didn't know wha ta expect or how ta answer. Jus sayin ok seems like Ah'm jus ignorin 'er so Ah gotta think a somethin.

"How often's this game held? Ah know most sports're annual but then we got the Olympics which's every four years."

"Yes the Quidditch World Cup is typically held every four years. There have been some exceptions though but I won't go into all of that. The next one will be held here in the UK. I'll be sure to let you know more about it when it's closer to the tournament."

"Ok thanks."

Ah yawn an realize we were talkin a long time.

"Ah'm goin ta bed. Night Jacklin."

"Good night, Toby."

Ah start walkin on the stairs.

"Oh and by the way, my father sent me a letter that he wants you and your Pop's help on his trip to France. Do you think you can send him a letter in the morning?"

Ah stop.

"France?! Ya want me an Pop ta go ta France wit ya?"

"Of course I do. This is a very specific mission for his ambassadorship regarding human affairs. Every ally of the UK must go through a review process of carefully hidden magical locations. If a human can see it, then it can be a big problem."

"But Ah'm pureblooded. How's that gonna work?"

"If your Pop can't do magic, that makes him a squib. He would be allowed into places like the Leaky Cauldron and Platform 9 and Three Quarters because he would have to help you get your supplies and get on the train. Since these are highly confidential magical buildings, a squib by design wouldn't even be able to see it. Only those born with actual magical ability can see it."

".... So yer sayin if Pop can see somethin he shouldn't be able ta see in France that's bad?"

"Yes. In fact, this would be a lovely way to show me how to properly use the camera you gave me for Christmas. I'm afraid my pictures from our Germany trip didn't turn out so well. We can take pictures of anything that your Pop can see or anything in general that can be called unusual."

Ah yawn an the only thang Ah can do's jus say yes.

"Ok. Ah'll write Pop in the mornin."

"Excellent. This would be a great way to help my father. Thank you, Toby."

"No problem. Ah'm goin ta bed now."

"Yes, of course. Good night. For real this time."

Ah can't even say anythin. Ah stumble mah way ta mah room. It's all Ah can do ta feed Trevor before bed.

"Night Trevor."

Ah get under the covers an fall asleep fast.

Tagging: @arrolyn1114, @nemos-rapture, @xanatenshi, @briefpandatimemachine, @hooked-on-elvis,

@vintagepresley, @aliengoth3, @smokeymountainboy, @bigdaddyelvislover, @mercsandmonsters,

@pledgingmylovee, @presleysgirl6, @thetaoofzoe, and @elvispresley4life.

[naddpod-encounter-tourney]

Crown of Dreams:

The Duck Team races back to the Crick to track down the missing members of the Old Folks’ Circle!

Glen made his escape from the Time Out Tree with assistance from a grenade, which Callie assumed was the one she gifted to Cooter (Glen’s father).

After some investigating at Eloise’s (member of the OFC) stump, they see some suspicious tracks that lead them to Cooter’s stump at the edge of town.

In Cooter’s stump Frogson and Holmes find Glen’s old room, and his various journals. He had wanted to be a ranger captain by 50 and Peepaw of the crick by 100. [Fool.] He had books on Moonshine and Marabelle, and he idolized them. He had a note from Meemaw saying “we will not rain arrows down from our towers. we will always shine a light.” in response to him suggesting they go to war. They also discovered letters to Eloise and determined that she walked from her stump and was a co-conspirator.

The Duck Team was then met outside by Cooter, apologizing. He sent them into a trap, where Glen was waiting with the trapped Old Folks, the Evil Old Folks, and Meemaw (also trapped). After attempts that incapacitated most of the Duck Team, Glen attempted to wrench Ultrus from the helm while Calder was unconscious. Calder resisted.

Sol fell unconscious, and rolled a nat 1 on a death save (very on brand for caldwell). Callie got polymorphed into a nannerfly. Seeing this through a vision in his helm, Calder offered his body to Ultrus in exchange for the giant saving Callie and Sol. Calder never just wanted to be useful.

After slamming Glen against a wall, Ultrus caused the corrupt Old Folks to flee, and he, Callie, and Sol stood at an impasse. Calder apologized to his friends and Ultrus took him away, into the woods.

Glen then revealed that the only being that might be able to help with their problem of the trapped Old Folks was Mawmaw, but that was impossible, as he had sent his mind-controlled father to kill her.

But Cooter, ever the berry boy, used a goodberry to save Mawmaw, resisting the geas spell, causing him to go unconscious. Callie and Sol helped revive him, and both he and Mawmaw were safe.

[I do apologize for the excessive detail there, a lot happens and I have listened to that one very recently, so it’s on top of my mind.]

The Nannerfly Effect:

After being kidnapped by the Dragon Turtle, the Boobs arrive at the Magnificent Mansion of The Sea Crone Alanis.

They enter her chambers and learn that she’s been watching them and their adventures for a while. She reveals that she attempted to defeat Thiala many other times, and has traveled to the past will powerful wish stones when things went wrong. On her 3rd attempt, she found Hardwon, Moonshine, and Beverly and tried to help them save the Crick. She succeeded, but the Chosen attacked and they died.

On her next attempt she observed them, and they died in Smuggler’s Bounty. Without Balnor. She then waited and watched, hoping for the best. After Thiala and Akarot destroyed the world, she found a secret halfling village in the Feywild. There she met Balnor, but he liked his life and elected to stay where he was.

Then his village was attacked. He wasn’t home, everyone else was killed, and he started training. When Alanis returned, he accepted her offer, and she wiped his memory and put him in a card. He was the missing piece.

Balnor is sad upon learning his past. He goes for a walk, and the rest of the Boobs have a quiet evening with their new book, Ulfgar Goes Punch.

The next day, they head to Alanis’ lab and offload some of their cursed items and get some cool new items.

They then get a message from Bev’s dad, who says that the Chosen are attacking the Summer Court. Alanis teleports the Boobs there, and they arrive into a large-scale battle of Chosen knights. They make quick work of forty Chosen knights

Alanis then jumps into a portal to the material plane to distract Thiala while the Boobs head into the Summer Court to find Bev IV and save the queen.

[thekingofcrochet]

please pretty please share your thoughts on the label of gifted and how we burnout because we need more about this and how it places pressure on children when they’re just supposed to be kids instead of the expectation of being a baby scholar

So because there's no true national standard in the USA for K-12 education, there can't be a standard of what a "gifted child/student" looks like.

A high schooler studying astronomy on their own time is only "gifted" if that student doesn't have access to an astronomy class. If the same student is able to take an astronomy class and doesn't, that's called "wasted potential".

But if we step back any further and look at the cookie cutter yet unstandardized education system as a whole, we end up with real concerns.

In some school districts, an elementary school student testing well and above average for their grade group can skip a grade. In some other school districts, that elementary school student gets pulled out to a seperate advanced math or reading (cause it's only math or reading) class while still being with the same grade group for everything else. And in other school districts that elementary school student is getting extra math problems/reading/writing assignments given to them by the teacher as extra credit or for fun and to develop skills. And in some districts still that same student could be told to sit down, shut up, and stop being bored while the drone of material they already understand washes over them for 8 hours a day every day.

The main thing here is none of this means anything unless the kid tests well. You could have experienced all of Shakespeare by the time you were 15 but if you don't know how to differentiate between verbal and dramatic irony or how to find sinθ of a 30-60-90 triangle then you're stuck with the rest of the 9th graders in 11 out of 13 cases.

Teacher's may have called you gifted because you were the one child who understood complex sentences in 2nd grade before everyone else. But in that class of 25 were 3-5 students who couldn't tie their own shoes or button their coats, 1 student still in pull-ups, 2 students with parents' going through a messy separation and the rest are 50% just average kids who don't ask questions and 50% students who ask one question per unit. You have a few close friends but try not to be a bother to others when you're frustrated because speaking out didn't get you anywhere.

You may have been called gifted and then were sent to a different grade/school without any of your friends and so felt like an antisocial outsider thus hindering your social and emotional growth. You have anxiety but you're good at math and finding things to do on your own.

Maybe you're old enough to have been called a savant - spectacular in a few areas and dismal at everything else.

You learned how to take tests cause that's what all your grades were based on. You could make the most creative and thought out diorama showcasing the political assassination of Julius Caesar. But if you didn't do good at standardized tests (which were always math or reading) you could be repeating 6th grade. So you figure out what they test for and you get good at that and maybe you do okay at everything else.

At a point you burn out.

I was 1 point shy of testing out of 2nd grade in elementary school. It was probably because I'm bad at math. Or I was bad at math because I was good at reading and writing so I was always given books and notebooks and pens (the gel pen era has never died in my heart). No one cared to see how bad at math I was until it got to the point where I got a D on my 4th grade report card. I don't remember a call home saying I wasn't doing my best in math. I just remember the physical and mental punishment from achieving a D (something I thought only happened in fiction). It didn't matter that I was being bullied for being "good at art" either. The thing wrong with my bullies is that they were jealous of me. The thing wrong with me was that I couldn't remember the answer to 7x8.

In 5th grade I got to borrow my teacher's copy of Wicked (the novel) and devoured it over a long weekend. I read + finished the 6th hp book in a day and my mother got mad at me because I was "running out of books to read". We didn't go to the public library even though I had a library card (my father got me and my brother a library card but he worked 2nd or 3rd shift.) So I only read for fun when I could afford it.

I don't think I read a single book between 2015 and 2021. Not for fun anyway. I was too busy failing ever thing that I'd never done before. No one had ever asked me the month/date/year that Rodin's The Thinker was made. I never had to interpret music into visual art before college. It turns out that everyone hates when you read slam poetry at open mic night for the 6th night in a row. And one day you wake up and wonder why you've been pouring all of yourself into a job you hate while also pouring all of yourself into finding a job that isn't as bad as the one you have now.

If I was younger, this would have been cute. Most of child development is hands on. Tying shoes, telling time, learning to cook, learning to drive. What to do in case of an emergency and how to identify different types of emergencies.

I was getting CPR certified to become a licensed babysitter when I was in high schooler. My pre-calculus teacher thought that I was cheating by looking at answers in my lap, but I didn't want him to see me doing math on my fingers.

I had to learn how to drive but I don't know anything about car maintenance because I was supposed to become rich and successful because I was "special" and "gifted".

I'm not special or gifted - I'm a human adult that doesn't know how to check the oil in their vehicle or do math (like leaving a tip) without a calculator

But I'm also getting back into reading for fun and making dumb art since i realized that being a "gifted" child can't define me forever.

[rosemaries-shroom]

Rosemarie Rambles 🍄 (thrifting)

Okay with everything becoming fucking expensive, I wanna ramble about thrifting

Cause fuck the influencers and assholes going there just to resell after. Thrift stores are the places we go if we're looking for clothes to actually wear. Find a dress or vest in our aesthetic that's a bit too big, bring it home, fit it to us and *boom*

Now we have something we can wear and it didn't cost a paycheck. Plus, you have a good chance of finding good quality shit almost every time. Got a gorgeous winter coat that cost us $25, perfect insulation while being exactly our goto style. Lady who had it before never wore it so it's still in almost perfect condition! Even after this cold as fuck winter, it held up! The only other coat that worked this good was a $50 one we got on sale plus a gift card so like.. look for the sturdy coats

I will try to emphasize that if you don't think you're going to wear something you see and like, leave it be. It won't help anyone if it winds up just sitting in your closet never being worn. Take what you'll actively use, nothing more.

You're allowed to have clothes you enjoy, even as shit burns down. If I'm gonna die, it's gonna be looking like some dark academia forager as I fucking intend 😌

[twincessdiaries4you]

Tell me if I’m wrong:

A nigga birthday was on the 8th now for context we casually dated back in 2022 for a few months. He was very clingy and would go out his way to pick me up if I needed rides to work or needed a getaway for a few hours (my sister and I was sharing a car & would argue a lot over who gets to drive, she would even call the police on me.. whole diff story) when I graduated college he came to my dinner empty handed I received no gift, for my birthday my sister and I wanted to go to a club in Chicago he was the designated driver so we could get drunk but ultimately we weren’t allowed in the club because he was wearing a white t shirt. & what ended the relationship was the fact I came in close contact with a Rodent at his crib where he stayed with his parents ( although the apartment didn’t appear dirty) I was disgusted and couldn’t do it . Now I do blame myself because several months later I did miss the dependency so since 2022 I have been in on and off contact with him in 2023 I visited his new apartment (not living with parents) and found condom wrappers in his bedroom. I stopped fw him but several months later at the end 2024 I found out his mom was dying so I reached out being I lost my mom as well. I was trying to be a friend to him but he automatically assumed we were back “talking” I tried to shut it down many times but he wanted constant reassurance and at this point I was no longer romantically attracted to him. Now back to his birthday on the 8th of February he hit me up and we usually text here and there but he did take me to the no cap concert on the 6th or something and called it a date and got me a bouquet of roses although I only know 3-4 songs by no cap I didn’t mind attending with him to see his favorite artist. Now here it was the day of his bday and he lmk he didn’t have the funds to go out or do anything really so I sent him $60 due to him giving me $50 the week prior unprovoked. I didn’t need the money but my sister and I went to hang out with him for a few hours because he’s a “loner” and no one could hang out with him on his birthday when I suggested him doing a game night. He text me when I got home how he really appreciated it and implied some romantic energy towards it but again I wasn’t feeling it. So now it’s the week of Valentine’s Day and he texts me “I wanted to ask you in person but will you be my valentine “ and I snapped on dude because all I get is a text no call no card no candy but a text. What stopped you from asking in person but why do I get the bare minimum if you’re trying to pursue me. When I was all in he dropped the ball now I’m hesitant and it’s still not giving. I work at a high school and even the teens are getting better gestures than I got . I want the full romantic experience and not the bare minimum I refuse to settle for less so I told him in a whole bunch of words I would have to respectfully decline cause ain’t no way

[calamityandme]

I have been doing well, just have been not feeling like writing as often.

I don’t know if I have had a minor viral bug or my body was/is depressed, but writing and thinking about writing is a challenge. Doing some things have been hard. Like watching the entirety of a movie, playing a video game longer than an hour, masturbating, etc. those kinds of things have been kind of hard. What’s not hard is cleaning, planning, sometimes cooking. Writing just hasn’t been in the cards. I liked writing my daily life because it got me writing anything. Eventually it inspired me to write some fiction for fun. Lately it’s just been hard to think about writing projects. I have been busy.

The past few days I have been working a lot. Yesterday was especially long. I puppy sat for R (made $90! Not bad) and afterwards my mom picked me up and we watched the Barbie movie in their home. My childhood home I spent the most time in. Definitely was a good thing.

I enjoyed talking to my mom. I felt awkward at points because I just didn’t know what to say, but we’re family, and sometimes it’s just joyful to sit in silence with the ones you love. I am just trying to appreciate my time with my family as fully as I can. I could’ve been better about being on my phone during the movie but to be fair I had to purchase some family birthday gifts quickly in order to meet the delivery window lol. I tried to be present when I could. My mom was on her phone at points too so it’s not so bad.

The Barbie movie was so good. It really made me feel seen as a woman. I know not everyone could relate to that movie, but I really did. Even though I’m not a mother, I watched that movie and I saw my mom in America Ferrera’s role, making me feel a wave of emotions. I longed to hug my mom during my rough teen years. Especially the really rough times, where I was doing things that hurt me and equally hurt my parents to watch.

After the Barbie movie and some conversation with my mom and dad and occasionally my nana, my mom dropped me off at my place. It was a good day.

*************

Saturday I puppy sat again for R, I bathed one of their dogs. I’ve gotten into the routine of wrangling their kind of tubby, gray faced beagle by grabbing a designated dog towel from the garage, unfolding it and sneaking up on the older dog, then quickly drape the towel over the dogs body and hoist the 50+ lb dog up the stairs and into the bathroom tub as quickly as I could. Their dog did really great during the bath. She usually does. Her only downfall is her voracious appetite that causes her sensitive bowels to erupt violently. I feel for her. She can’t help the hunger she has lol. Or her terrible tummy.

My brothers picked me up from R’s. One of them sat in the back seat so I could be in the front. It was very sweet, I didn’t ask for it lol.

Then I hung out at home. I planned meals for the next couple weeks and organized a grocery list. Smoked and then just chilled the rest of the day pretty much. Took a lazy bath.

*************

Today I got the groceries. Then I spent most of the day cleaning. I mopped, vacuumed, changed all the litter boxes and cleaned them thoroughly, couple loads of laundry, sanitized the furniture, cleaned the bathroom, rounded all the trash by the front door so Danny can take it out.

Now I don’t know what to do. I wish I could spend time with Danny. He’s not feeling well and has slept most of the day. He just now woke up around 4:30 pm. It’s his day off so I’m not going to bother him about it, I just miss him. I want to watch a movie with him or just cuddle but I think he needs to rest.

I feel like I got done cleaning too early. That maybe there’s something I’m forgetting. I don’t feel like I can relax yet.

I’ll probably keep watching shameless. Maybe take a bath.

[xylomane]

Hi!! Quick little message, sorry for the long break! Update: I just really got busy and lost 50/50 to Qiqi on Nahida banner so I didn't get her but I got ayato but then instead of Haran I got Ei's purple spear. Have fun with my suffering as an F2P. Anyway for the long break, I decided to write a cyno x reader with a twinge of jealous, protective, and caring Cyno (no smut for now lmao). (This'll be part one, there's gonna be a part two so wait—) I just love him sm although he tortures criminals :3 I'll be making long charac x readers like this one but they are considered short fics since I've probably seen longer ones. I hope you like it!!! I might also start making ship fanfics! Btw bonus character involvement here: Alhaitham <3333 Enjoyyyyy <3333333 Always remember that you matter and you have so much more good things to experience in your life! This'll be my christmas gift to you! If you feel like reading it ofc (❁´◡`❁) Part 2 out now! Here

Daybreak, yolk of warmth rises, and the clock above Cyno's bedside table beeps on cue. The moon's counterpart had taken over the horizon and Cyno knew it the moment his eyelids fluttered to the stabbing ray of sunlight through the white blinds. The opening of another day has invited him to wake. With acceptance, he sat himself up, a sensation of burning excitement building up in his stomach. Whatever today holds set the young scholar eagerly looking forward.

The usually time-efficient scholar Cyno couldn't simply dilly dally in his day, in fact, it barely even exists in his routines and vocabulary. Perhaps to him the hands of clocks move faster that a simple five minutes of idling affects the time for his other activities like a trail of knocked-down dominoes. A short time spent for meaningless dawdle would only affect his time to finish his homeworks, pushing the weariness caused by day further through the night where silence sends him asleep. But just staring at the blazing morning sun from his opened bed window had him feeling the sudden urge to sit for a while, having time to notice this strange tranquility and wonderment he always felt every morning, as birds flew by the blue sky canvas and hearing their songs as the winds stroked his face.

Such a pleasant and delightful greeting of nature to him, birds chirping and one even landing by his window sill. Everything is as peaceful as it should be, like a golden Paris morning. Cyno couldn't believe that he never stopped himself every morning to admire such an experience. Why did he never stop to take a peaceful break? He sighed, leaving the thoughts behind. What was once adoring a peaceful moment became a time to think of somebody special.

Cyno couldn't help wondering, "How does his friend wake up with such a view? What must they be doing now? Are they still asleep?" Your existence in his life has affected him immensely. Now he just couldn't go about his day without thinking of you. Perhaps, you must be getting ready—preparing to wear that plain ol' hoodie of yours, ruffling your hair into a mess for supposed volumes, and picking that perfect scent that never fails to turn him on. An attracting aroma, indeed. Cyno inhaled the fresh morning air as if the scent was really there but then, he ends up shaking his head to full wake, deciding to finally wave the reverie away—he should be getting ready too. The idling scholar brings a hand to scratch his disarranged silver hair, closing the short break to an end, and making his way to the kitchen.

~~~◊▪◊▪◊~~~

Sunny side-up, golden rice, and a few cuts of fish meat on his plate. Cyno swallowed down a bite as he stared at his phone. Opposite of him is the always empty wooden chair, painted gold by the sunrays through the window. The sight of it empty had his mind desperately picturing you on it, the atmosphere of your smile, the spark of sheer joy in your loving gaze, and the lovely tune of your voice. He would play cards with you, wanting to watch you flip cards and shouting hoorays or grunting your disappontments in defeat as you play against him. He bet it'd be a fun challenge for him once you get used to his tricks. What if he wins over you and then suddenly you'd give it to him back—like a clever backfire?

Cyno shook his head. If that happens, his cheeks would burn red with embarassment the entire game... But it would also be very impressive of you, doing great with only a few matches. It seems you've got quite some talent with cards.

Looking down at his food, the remaining portion is still half many. Cyno's eyebrows furrowed at the new unlikely hobby as he stared confusedly at his unfinished meal. All those daydreaming as time ticked away... and he hasn't even finished his food yet, what a waste of time. What is he doing?! Daydreaming leisurely or without a care for time is such a seldom thing to happen to him but it's a rather strange day today... For some reason, he suddenly felt too lazy to have himself follow his usual proper routine. He even somewhat felt disappointed for himself, but he'll let himself slide for now since it rarely happens anyway. Cyno brings a hand down to his pocket, grabbing his phone, and opening social media to pass time for a bit.

Scrolling through his phone, Cyno skipped posts—fragments of captured moments, smiling strangers, random news... and then... he stumbles upon an image of you.

He took it all in. The strands of your hair, outlines of your face, that smile that makes him blush even more. Cyno cracked a smile at it before typing in a comment, showering as much subtle praises as he can. He didn't know how else he could express his love for you aside from a few hints but if it is to raise your confidence a little higher, he doesn't mind.

'You look great. <3 Please never let that smile fade, I love your smile.' He typed in.

Cyno sent the comment successfully. His phone made a cling and a checkmark on his screen informed that his comment has been posted, it made his heart skip a beat. Cyno couldn't help but chuckle slightly to himself at the silly reaction.

The little heart on his comment is something Cyno liked the look of so much, even though he felt shy to admit it to anyone and to himself. The idea of putting it there came from you. You always sent him that heart at almost every end of most of your messages. 'Hello Cyno! <3' 'Hey Cyno! How have you been doing lately? I'm doing great! Can you help me with my history notes if ur not busy? No pressure ofc <3' 'Don't forget to take care of yourself! <3333'

It makes him feel feelings he is very well scared and aware of.

Finally having the urge to look at the time, Cyno looked at it on his phone. 30 minutes before classes start. Hey... it's not that—No, he should be going to school now. What made him stall like this? You really made an impact to him, huh.

The woolgathering scholar, still sitting on his dining chair with a person in mind, just couldn't help replaying all your lovely phrases. But when time finally worried him enough, he reluctantly stands up, reminding himself that the faster he moves, the closer he is to seeing you. Cyno quickly headed to the bathroom for an ice-cold bath.

~~~◊▪◊▪◊~~~

Cyno closed the gates and headed out. Black hoodie and earphones on, Butterflies playing on loop as he stuffed his phone in his pockets.

I won't stop getting butterflies~ I get 'em every time, I look into your eyes~

Cyno hummed the tune, aware he's alone on the road, someone pictured before him as he reached the intersection. Their hair bounces as they take each step, and the winds tangle their fingers at a few strands. Their hand suddenly reaches to fill in the gaps of his own, like branches meant to be intertwined as they walked and the figure in his head smiles so brightly that nothing else mattered in his view except their face. Your touch traced his palms with warmth and he tried to feel it as soon as he clasped his hand into a fist. Just imagine how well your hand would fit in his... it would feel so good. The underlying question is...

...when?

You won't stop running through my mind For the rest of both our lives You give me butterflies And I keep on getting Butterflies~

Up on a bus and the light of day poured over his face as he sat beside a window with open curtains. 'What a day...' His mind grumbled. Almost half the time he spent thinking is only about you and the bugging existence of time. He stared out onto the blurring street as the bus zoomed ahead on the road, the longing for you to be by his side gnawing constantly at the back of his mind. You could put your head on his shoulder and sleep at the quietness of this bus, morning gold all over your face and he would stare at your pretty eyelashes. Your presence close to him is enough to make him feel at peace and contented... If only—Ugh. Cyno buried his face in his hands. He should stop feeling like this. It's only going to make him more disappointed that you're not even his yet. He just wants you to be his and this wish is slowly eating him whole.

Cyno opened his eyes as he put down his hands to his lap. At this point, you being in his life and living in his head rent free is both a blessing... and a curse. Being hoplessly inlove sure has its pain.

The music went on, but then Cyno finds himself not listening. He has been thinking, what if... what if you started having a crush on somebody else? Like... if it's not him but maybe one of his friends? Would he be able to survive knowing it? He looks up at the bus roof and imagines your bright smile being for someone else to own, his gut wrenches at the idea of it. What if that figure in his mind one day disappears? As if... he never loved them? What if after he admits to you that he loves you, you become disheartened and leave him? Then the buds of love wither away into oblivion... Cyno closed his eyes.

Dark. If one day he would no longer see that smile as something meant for him... His world would feel dark. Strange. Unusual. Lonely. Having not a place in his mind and his life for you at the future... it would feel so wrong. Like something's missing and the feeling is just so unfamiliar to him. He might be being overdramatic to himself but it's the most sincere he can get about his feelings. It's better to be honest than confuse oneself with one's own feelings when it comes to love. He wouldn't dare face the consequences.

Cyno felt himself torn into two sides, he could allow you to love somebody else for your better but. But... if he has a chance, he'll stay by you. He can't tell for now. But one thing's for sure, he won't stop loving you. And that's a problem if you reject him.

'12 minutes before classes start', Cyno mutters to himself the moment he opens his phone. Thank goodness there's no traffic. He'll reach you by anytime now and the strange excitement building up in his stomach is getting wilder than ever. Cyno tried to discipline his body not to do stupid things but just the sight of you sends him crazy, even if he was imagining it.

~~~◊▪◊▪◊~~~

It didn't take long for the bus to finally reach Cyno's school. The moment he saw the signature white and blue walls of it at a distance behind a cluster of trees, he has already began walking through the bus aisle, ready to go down. Cyno deeply regretted wasting his time at home and had he been here early, he would've had 30 minutes of chatting with you. Maybe not all of it was a waste of time though, especially when he commented on your photo. That's actually spending time wisely for him.

When you walk into the room I'm as nervous as the day I met you~

Cyno panted heavily up the school stairs as his feet quickly dragged him towards you with the second verse of the song playing on his red-tinted ears. He stopped himself before the gates and the pebble floor tiles to breathe—bending himself down, catching his breath and as Cyno straightened himself, he saw it there. The very person he feels so excited for, the smile he very much cherishes, and that presence... the way your gaze meets his... those sleepless nights.

The bright light of the morning sun blinded him for a few seconds so he squinted at your sweet infectious smile.

"Cyno!!!" You cried happily, going up to him to give him one tight bear hug. That smile, the feeling of stomach butterflies... Cyno went stiff.

~~~◊▪◊▪◊~~~

Cyno's stomach burst with funny feelings. The way you smiled at him—so cheery and when you put your arms around his waist— He felt bashful. He opened his arms for you and your body closed around his, his heart battling to come out of his chest. Cyno prayed you don't feel it while hugging him.

Cyno returned the warm welcome by hugging you back. The feeling of your body warmth against his own... Cyno blushed. This feeling is sending him nervous, almost close to an inner panic. He hesitated, is it really alright to hug you like this? Doubts suddenly formed in the corners of his mind, questions voicing out his inner anxiety. Cyno asked himself, is this hug really fine? Especially that it's clearly not just a hug for him. It's like feeling your body extremely close to his. What if you won't like him if this is how he reacts with your hugs? Does he really deserve to fall in love with his unaware best friend? Isn't that painful to the person he just shared an intimate friendship with? But now's not the time. Cyno thought the better of it and decided that better cherish the small moment before it fades. Relax now. R e l a x , he told himself.

Cyno burried himself into your shoulder, ready to smell your signature scent—Hm? What was that?— Cyno buried himself deeper onto your clavicle. 'It's... something new.' Cyno thought. He sniffed the scent, it smelled like a masculine perfume and a twinge of... lime fragrance? It smells so good but it's definitely not your signature scent. Has that cologne ran out? Cyno looked at the fabric of your hoodie only to realize that this is not even the color of the hoodie you always wear. It looked... oddly bigger than you before you hugged him but it probably wasn't that obvious earlier because the sunlight had been blinding him. Something feels off here... Cyno's senses suspected.

Just when he started feeling that he has had enough and the hug was beginning to become suspiciously longer than you had anticipated, he let loose from the hug but didn't let go, his eyes gazing overhead, only to see a shadow blocking the sunlight. And then he realized something.

There's... another something.... something serious... that even Cyno couldn't help feeling gut wrenched to besides a hard question in an exam. Jealousy. When he realized who was blocking the sunlight, further paces away from him, he felt the gut wrench.

It's not because the man before him that you must've been talking to before he arrived here is quite the rational and attractive man, or because he seemed to have more manly display. It's not any of that. It's because he's none other than the sly, untrustable, and mysterious Alhaitham. Why is he here? Did you two talk to each other? Why would you talk to somebody like him? Do you trust him? For what reason? What kind of mission has this man involved you in? Cyno couldn't help but keep his mind occupied by buzzing questions of confusion. And as it was happening, his gaze sharply meets the other scholar's. But of course, Alhaitham doesn't seem fazed.

Sharp stares are just another one of Cyno's old tricks and Alhaitham still vividly remembers that same day he met those eyes when Cyno and him went against each other during a supreme student government debate. Should he tell you the story? Alhaitham chuckles to himself. The glaring scholar before him hated every bit of that small smile. He really hated not arriving early now.

**To be continued**

[peachybun-bun]

Hewoo, Can i request a drabble with number 22 and 10 from the adventure list with NCT's Mark? please<3 and thank you!!

You got it! Gave me the perfect opener for Mark's little chance in the Roommate AU series "Mark's Perfect Timing"! Keep an eye out for more parts. I'll link things here in the future. Really hope you enjoy this. It ended up longer than I thought it would so more below the cut. :)

“Mark Lee?” You smirk, tilting your head as you spot a familiar face across the room at the party. “Long time, no fucking see.”

His face turns towards you, with a sudden realization and grin, when he sees you. “Holy shit! Y/N! No way.” The tall man, you’ve known for most of your life, moves to pull you into a somewhat smothering hug, but you find yourself not caring. He smelled so nice, and god, when had he gotten so fit?

Mark pulls back from the hug, to look you over, with a shake of his head. “It’s been months, a year? Jesus...you look fantastic.”

Your cheeks flush brightly, as you laugh, tugging at your dress and jacket to smooth yourself back out into something presentable, remembering where you were. “Yeah, more than a year actually...you look great too, more than great. Do you live in a gym now?”

You can’t help but to drink him in, as he rubs the back of his neck with a laugh at your compliment and question. “Nah...just go with my roommates. More motivation I guess.”

Motivation? That was a scary word in moments like this. Did he have a girlfriend? Was that his motivation? Maybe a job that required muscle? “Oh? Have to stay fit to keep your lady around?”

Laughing, Mark glances around, and shakes his head as he scrunches his face a bit. Taking your hand, he leads you away from the louder section of the house as someone cranks up the music even louder, blaring something from the early 2000s. “No. I don’t have one of those currently...just been focusing on other things for a while.”

You nod, noting a bit of regret in his tone as you move to sit on a loveseat. Mark rests on the arm, glancing down at you, letting go of your hand.

“What about you? Your boyfriend here? What was his name? Kevin?”

You laugh at his question, snorting slightly. Your hand shooting to cover your face, Mark laughs hitting his leg with the palm of his hand amused at your outburst. “Oh my god, as if having to say “no we broke up a while ago” isn’t embarrassing enough, I sound like Miss Piggy with allergies. Uh...no, we ended things a few months ago actually. He needs to quote “do some soul searching”.”

Mark wrinkles his nose at your answer, and shakes his head, “Right...this is the same dude who would only take you on a date if he had a coupon for 50% or a gift card for half the meal?”

You laugh, tilting your head as he remembers such a strange point of your past relationship. “Yup...same guy. How do you even remember that?”

Scoffing, Mark rubs his neck and shakes his head. “It was just a strange thing...kinda sticks with you, ya know?”

You nod, a brow raised, not really buying that, but sure. “Uh huh, I guess. So, where are you roomies? Aren’t you all usually running around like the 7 musketeers?”

“Well, Haechan has a girlfriend now, so they are probably having sex, that is literally all they do. The others...you know how it is. You get older. Less motivation to get up and go out.”

Nodding to his words, you glance him over crossing your legs, causing your dress to ride up your thigh a bit.

Mark glances down at the extra skin with a breath, before working his eyes back up to your face, but not without a detour at your cleavage. God had you always been this hot? That was a stupid quesiton, he thought to himself. You had always been smoking, but you had always been unavailable, or he had been. This was the first time ever you were both in the same room, and neither one was attached at the hip by someone else.

Clearing his throat, Mark glances around the room and gestures to the keg. “You want a drink?”

You had noticed his eyes. You could almost feel the trail they took from your legs, over your breasts, before making contact with your face again. You couldn’t keep your eyes off of him. He looked perfectly unkempt, just how you liked him. You have had a crush on him for as long as you had known him, but it had always been just out of reach. A flirt here or there, but never the right moment.

Glancing towards the keg, you laugh watching someone’s feet being held in the air. “Uh, you know...I might pass on that, but would you want to maybe get out of here? Get something better than stale beer?”

Mark raises a brow at your offer, his breath caught in his throat as he licks his lips. “Uh...you know what, yeah. Hell yeah. It’s too loud in here anyway.”

----------------------------

Unlocking the door to your apartment, you let Mark go in first, before following him in. Watching him look around, you smile a bit as you put down your stuff and clear your throat. “Alright, I have all the makings of margaritas, sound good?”

Mark grins, looking around your apartment. It was nice. You were doing well for yourself. You weren’t only beautiful, but also smart and successful. All the traits he looked for in a woman. Looking over his shoulder to you as you take off your jacket, leaving you in the low cut dress, Mark swallows hard as his voice cracks, “O-ohh yeah...sounds great.”

You raise a brow to the voice crack with a small laugh. You could tell he was a bit nervous, in truth you were too. You didn’t know what you were expecting to come from this. Honestly, if it ended up being just drinks between friends, you’d be disappointed, but it would still be worth it.

The sound of the blender rang out through the apartment as Mark looked over the bookshelves, reading the different titles and picking up various picture frames. Some of you and friends from college, others of you with your family, stopping at one of you and him. Furrowing his brows, a smile spreads over his lips as he starts to yell over the blender, only to have the sound die down less than three words into his sentence. “HEY YOU STILL...oh...shit.. Sorry, uh you still have this...”

You look up as Mark yells across the room, thinking he needed to yell over the blender. You can’t help but laugh, eyes wide, as he apologizes. Pouring the drinks into glasses, you move over to him to see what he was talking about, only to laugh when you see the picture of the two of you. “Well, yeah. Was I supposed to throw it away? I love that picture. I look really cute.”

Mark laughs, taking the glass you offer to him, before putting the picture back and looking at it one last time. “That’s true. You do.” He grins a bit shyly, taking a sip of his drink, before looking at you. “You always do.”

You can’t help but smile into your drink, as your cheeks flush lightly, before gesturing your head to the couch as you sit down. Pulling your legs up under you, careful of your dress and letting it rest just above your knees, you watch as Mark sits next to you. You were surprised at how close he decided to sit, his arm resting behind you on the couch. That was bold, but you didn’t mind. A smirk played on your lips as you glanced at his arm, only to meet his eyes a moment later.

“The drink is really good. Much better than stale beer...company is better too, if I’m honest.”

You laugh at his words and nod, taking another drink, before leaning to sit your drink on the coffee table. “I agree, though I’m surprised you came over.”

Mark looks at you, a bit stunned at your words. “Why?”

You smile and shrug, leaning back against his arm. His fingers play with the ends of your hair, absentmindedly over your shoulder, as he watches you. “Well, I don’t know. I didn’t think you’d be interested in it. I don’t know what you are looking for.”

You shiver slightly to his touch with a laugh, as Mark shakes his head and speaks. “You could ask.”

Your nose wrinkles. You think about what to say, before shrugging. “Alright, I’ll bite, what are you looking for, Mark Lee?”

He smiles and bites at his bottom lip, before leaning to put his drink with yours on the table. He surprises you again, sliding his hand along your jaw, raising his brows in question, as if asking for permission.

A breath escapes your lips slowly, as you glance at his lips and nod. This was really happening? You felt like pinching yourself, just to make sure you weren’t dreaming, but Mark’s fingers slid back into your hair to cup the back of your head, bringing your lips to his.

The kiss is an unsure one at first, but pulling back to look at each other once is enough. Years of pining over each other is coming to a head as you meet his eyes, feeling Mark’s hands slide to your hips, pulling you into his lap. You waste no time straddling his legs, your hands pressed to his chest.

Mark groans, feeling you in his lap. He was trying very hard to hold himself back, but having you sitting on him like this, kissing him like you were, touching his chest, was too much. Feeling himself getting hard, he leans his head back as your lips run over his jaw and down his neck, to meet your hand as it slides up into his hair.

You smirk on his skin, hearing his groans, feeling his hands groping at your body. “You’re so much fun to touch…”

He groans again, into a laugh, muttering, “I’m glad you are amused...fuck, right there.”

Your lips under his ear, you run your tongue up to his earlobe, biting lightly. Speaking softly into his ear, as you feel his hands push your hips down over his evident arousal, “Like that?”

Mark laughs, almost in pain, speechless as he nods. “Oh my god...I want you.”

You smile and pull back, raising a brow. “Then take me, Mark.”

His eyes meet yours at your command. His chest rises with a deep breath, before you are lifted, and he lays you down on the couch, sliding your dress up and over your body.

-----------------

You weren’t surprised when you woke up in your bed, alone. You and Mark had eventually found your way there, at some point in the removal of clothes, but nonetheless your hand searched the bed for him. A frown rested on your lips, not finding anything but your phone. “Well, at least it was good…”

Groaning, you sit up and look around the room, before sliding out of the bed. You find a pair of sweats, so that you could pick up the whirlwind from the previous night. Mark’s clothes were gone, but yours were still strewn about. Your shoes at the front door, your jacket on the counter, your bra at the door to your bedroom, your dress on the couch, your panties….nowhere to be seen?

Feeling your phone vibrate in your pants pocket, you fish it out, seeing one new message from Mark, a smile crossing your lips.

Mark: Morning Beautiful. Sorry I had to leave but I had an appointment. Dinner later? [8:45 am]

Y/N: No problem, I’d love to. Hey I seem to be missing some clothes...did you toss them everywhere? [8:46 am]

A moment passes as you wait, still looking around, not really wanting anyone to find a random pair of your underwear under a chair or on a door handle, when you feel the phone buzz again.

Mark: No panties baby girl? [8:47 am]

You stare at the phone for a moment, before another message comes through with a picture of your panties in Mark’s hand.

Mark: You can get them back when you come over tonight after dinner. [8:47 am]

Y/N: I don’t know if I’m offended or turned on Mark Lee....see you tonight. [8:48 am]

Shaking your head, you laugh and roll your eyes, before biting your lip excited about the future of what this could become, before getting back to your task of cleaning up.

[dailyfigures]

Hi! I collect Funko's! (This isn't a rant or rude bad thing, I'm peacefully defending them lol). I have 50+ and I've been collecting them since I was 6 and I'm now 21. The reason I like Funko's is partially because well... I think the design is cute. The big eyes, lacking mouths, they kinda have the same cute appeal to me similar to hello kitty or Pikachu. Small and cute and relatively minimalist. They are also small so they don't take up a ton of room. But my main support for Funko's is that, in general, they are incredibly affordable(most average $10-$15), super accessable (let's be real, if you were young and raised in the country like me, your local dieing Mall's hot topic's wall of Funko's is your only option for getting any sort of figurine of something you like. Ordering online isn't accessable to everyone.), they practically have something for everyone with the sheer amount of media they partner with and they auto-break any company trying to rake up prices on figures by getting an exclusive deal with a popular media.

I like them because they are relatively well made( some are notorious for poor paint jobs, looking at you bakugo and todoroki Funko's) and very accessible to collectors who aren't in a position to spend $50, $100, $800 bucks on a figurine. it's great that the option for a 2ft highly detailed emacculate paint job durable as hell $1,200 figurine exists but poor fans shouldn't be left out in the rain when it comes to collecting and having things in their space that remind and represent the things they love. Getting a trunks from Dragonball Funko for my 6th birthday was a highlight for me and getting to pick one out with the little fye gift card my grandma got me for Christmas made me happy.

You have every right to be like "not my style, I want something dynamic and detailed" but you have to admit they hold a side door open for more casual or poorer fans to get into collecting. The price doesn't garentee anything when it comes to figures. I'm not saying you can't have your gripes but everytime someone shits on them, it's either a valid concern for uniqueness or someone being a jerk to poor people cause they can't just drop rent on something... Let's be real here.... Often fairly overpriced and surprisingly often bought 50% cause they actually like the media but 50% to brag cause they got something expensive and coveted. That's all /nm/lh/gen

that's extremely understandable anon! genuinely my only "problem" with them is that i personally just don't like the look of them but they honestly are quite overhated.

there's other figure typed that get quite some hate (figmas, nendos, etc.) but i don't really feel like that affects people. i think the amount of hate towards cheaper and more accessible collectibles like funkos might actually be hurtful to people who can't afford more expensive figures. maybe i'm a little sensitive but i could imagine feeling hurt if i was in that situation, if i found joy in collecting things like funkos and i saw everyone hate them so much.

like i said, they aren't for me and it's always okay if people want to criticize design choices but i don't think it's necessary to absolutely trash them like many people do. all popular collectibles have an audience and a market that appreciates them and posting excessive hate about them is unnecessary.

thank you for sharing your perspective anon! i'm glad to hear funkos have brought you joy, the memories you mention are really sweet. you're just as much as a collector as any of us and i do really hope you feel included in this community!

[thewritetofreespeech]

hello!! i've made a request before but this idea came in my brain and i heard your requests were open. So ive seen a lot of fics of the brothers saving mc, but what about mc kinda of saving the brothers, i mean like badass sword fighting style. Just like a stereotypical disney prince saves a princess mc kinda saves the brothers from getting killed by a lesser demon with a sword and just being badass (and sword) and the bros find it hot (weak humans? never heard of them)

*spongebob narrator voice* 400 years lat’er..... So sorry this took so long! I genuinely don’t know why I couldn’t get it done. When I actually tried, I got it done in like 2 days. My only excuse is that I’m a horrible trash munny >.<

Obey me Boys + Power Princess MC

Lucifer

It offends him that this creature, this being not fit to lick the soles of his boots, would raise their hand to him. The attack was not even what upset him, but just the gall. The utter stupidity of this decision to throw one’s life away. The fact that they had attacked with you around only made him wish to end that pathetic life that much sooner.

“Step back [Y/N]. I’ll deal with this quic—” Lucifer cut himself off when you rushed forward. A bright shining sword in your hand as you lunged. Slashing through the demon, who wailed and instantly turned to dust & ash. “What on Earth was that?”

“Oh. It’s my sword.” You reply nonchalantly. Turning around to show it to him. “It’s a holy arc sword, or something. I can summon it from my bracelet whenever I need it. Cool to know it actually works in a pinch.”

“And where did you get such a magical artifact?” Lucifer asked. Perplexed beyond reason, but trying not to show it.

“Lord Diavolo gave it to me when I first got here.” The demon arched a brow. Lord Diavolo? “It would be really irresponsible of him to just let a human wander around hell without some kind of weapon.”

He paused for a moment. Trying to piece all of what you had just said together. Then he just chuckled. “Yes, I suppose it would be.” And here he thought that he had been the only one protecting you. When all along you could do it yourself.

His hand reached out to pat your head fondly. His breast swelling with pride. “I’ll have to thank him for giving you such a thoughtful, practical gift. We’ll also have to add sword play to your lesson plans. I’d be more than happy to be your tutor.

Mammon

‘Shit!’ Mammon mentally cursed as he was hit again.

This wasn’t the first time he’d been rough up outside a club. Given his lifestyle, and his gambling track record, he’d been pummeled by a few bouncers in his life. With his immense power, he could easily take them; if he tried. But then he would be banned from the club, and ever other, and that was something he couldn’t handle over the humiliation of being beat up by these clowns. He needed this. It was all he had.

So, he took his beatings from lesser demons when they came around. He’d only wished they’d picked a different night to get their ‘payment’ back since you were supposed to be here soon.

“Come on guys. Don’t ya think you’ve had enough?”

“We’ll tell you when we’ve had enough!” One demon sneered at him, before kicking a man while he was down. Classy. “You owe us. And we’re gonna get back every cent you owe out of your hide!”

The demon reared his foot back to kick him again, and Mammon mentally sighed. Preparing himself for the kick and really being over this since it began. But….no kick came.

The demon let out a loud grunt over the sound of a metal ‘wack’ before the two, even lesser goons beside him suffer the same fate and they all slump to the ground. “Mammon! Are you ok?!”

The silver haired demon looked up at you in shock. The light from the street lamp causing a halo to form around you, highlighting your worried face as you brandished a rusty pipe like some great sword. “Yeah…I’m fine….”

“You don’t look fine! You’re all beat up!” He just sat there as you dropped the pipe and dropped down to him. Fretting over him as you looked him over. He couldn’t hear what you were saying over the beating sound of his heart in his ears.

No one had ever tried to help him before.

Mammon lifted his arms and wrapped them around you. “Mammon? What—“Let’s get out of here.” He interrupted as he hugged you. Standing up, and helping you to your feet, after a moment to walk out of the alley. “I don’t want to be here anymore. I wanna go somewhere with you.”

“But….I thought you wanted to go out tonight. Play cards. You said you were feeling lucky?”

He couldn’t tell if that was a jab or not, but replied, “well clearly I was wrong.” Though despite his bumps and bruises, he did still feel pretty lucky right not. “I just want to get out of here. I don’t need this anymore.” You both decide to head home to help Mammon nurse his wounds. He never went back to that club, or really any club, after that night.

Levi

“Levi….I don’t think this is such a good idea.”

“Nonsense!” Levi quipped in response to your perfectly reasonable, concerned feelings. “It’s just a little further. Besides, I want to see Henry 1! I’ve missed him a ton recently, and want to make sure he remembers me.” It had broken his heart to discover his poor, lost serpent had been down here, all alone, this whole time. So he made an effort to see him every now and then.

“Yeah but…isn’t this still like super-secret for Lord Diavolo’s family and stuff? What if there’s like booby traps and stuff?”

“Come on! There weren’t any booby traps or anything before. Why would he when he has Henry to keep it…..” Levi trailed off as both of you were ingulfed by a long, dark shadow. A low hissing sound growing louder as a gold, stripped serpent towered over you with a menacing glare. “That’s not Henry.”

The snake hissed loudly with bared fangs and an open mouth, and you both scream and run to get away from it.

The serpent of course chased you. Easily able to keep up, and only loosing you when the two of you duck into a narrow corridor. Levi turned around to say something to you, but you were gone. His immediate thought was that the stranger snake had gotten you, and it was all his fault, and he would never see you again!

When he came to the end of the corridor, walking out like a man on death row instead of running, he looked up to see the snake in front of him. Clearly angered by having to chase him. Levi didn’t care. He wanted to die if anything happened to you. He’d rather die than live one moment without you.

Prepared to accept his fate, the demon didn’t move when the snake unhinged his jaw to eat him in one gulp. Only for a sharp spike to thrust out from his mouth a moment later. A strange, hissing gasp escaping it before it slumped down in a lifeless heap on the floor. “[Y/N]!”

“Jesus! Not to put too fine a pin on it, but this place is literally a maze. One minute I’m next to you, and the next I’m in some armory on the other side of the hall 50 feet away. Are you alright Levi?”

The demon scrambled up the snake corpse to stand next to you and wrapped his arms tight around your being. “[Y/N]! I was so scared! I thought this Henry imposter got you, and you were dead, and I couldn’t think of anything!”

“I’m really ok Levi.” You assure him, as he wept into your shoulder. “Do you still want to see the real Henry? I think I spotted where he actually is when I was running back with the spear?” Levi nodded into your shoulder. Still not prepared to let you go.

Satan

Satan always tried to be a reasonable man.

He hated being referred to as ‘The Demon of Wrath’. It wasn’t his wrath that had caused him to be born. And he wasn’t any angrier than his brothers, so why did he have to be labeled the ‘bad seed’? So he always tried to be level headed. Calm. Patient. But there were somethings he just could not abide. Like the boorish behavior of someone talking loudly in the library.

“Excuse me,” the blonde said, attempting to remain calm, as he came over to the rude demon two tables over, “could you please keep it down? This is a library.”

“Yeah. I know what it is.” He quipped back rather snippily. “What are you? The librarian?”

“No. Just a fellow book lover.” Satan replied. Grinding his teeth now. “And one who can follow the rules and basic social decorum of keeping my conversations to myself in a place like this.”

“Are you calling me stupid?!”

“No. I’m calling you uncouth. A word meaning undignified, and without manners.”

“Why you!”

The demon rose to his feet, towering over Satan now that he was standing. Not that it mattered. Height was not an immediate representation of strength. Look at Belphie. His younger, shorter brother could level a whole city with a flick of his wrist. Satan could easily dispatch of his imbecile without even breaking a sweat.

He never got the chance though, as just after he stood the demon let out a grunt and slumped to the floor; with you standing behind him on his depleted chair with a book in your hand like you had just pulled it from The Stone. “Bet you’re glad I think Kindles are dumb now.”

Satan had to right himself on what he was seeing, and then frowned at you. “I never said that, and get down.” He insisted. Offering you his hand to get down. You hop down with ease and set your weapon book on the table. “Honestly, I could have handled him without resorting to violence or cheap theatrics.”

“Cheap?? This book was very expensive.” You insist, and Satan had to scoff.

“Be that as it may, please do not use books for more than their intended purpose. I appreciate the assist, but I can’t have you hurting yourself or fine literature in the future.”

“You’re such a buzz kill sometimes Satan…..”

Asmo

Asmo always loved going to the club. The dancing. The energy. The pulsing music. The people.

Well…usually the people. Some people, usually bro-dude demons, just couldn’t take a hint that ‘no’ meant ‘no’.

“Come on Asmo! Why are you being so stingy?!”

“I’m not being ‘stingy’,” Asmo replied with a frown marring his beautiful face. “I’m just not interested.”

“You were interested last time.” His pursuer replied. Like that somehow gave automatic permission that things would happen again.

“That was a long time ago.” The dusk haired blonde replied. Sipping his cocktail and looking thoughtful across the spacious VIP lounge over to you.

Yes, things had certainly changed. Once where it would take a whole room of people and attention to make him content, these days all he wanted was you. Just you sparing a moment to look at him made his heart feel incredibly full. He had come here to have a fun night out with you, but it seemed no matter where he went his beauty was always causing problems.

The lesser demon frowned, then looked towards the direction Asmo was looking to land on you. “Shoot, just bring them along with us.”

“Excuse me?” Asmo asked. Beautiful expression turning Ignatius as he sat down his drink.

“Bring them along. I’ve never had sex with a human. But there must be something to it if you’re willing to do them. Not that I suppose that takes much….”

At that, Asmo leapt from his chair and grabbing the brute by the collar. He wasn’t normally one for violence. He wasn’t like his dull brothers. But he couldn’t let a slight like that against you slide. “Take it back!”

The two demon’s scuffle. Clearing out the VIP lounge as everyone ran. Scared that they might transform at any moment and literally tear each other apart. Asmo somehow ended up on his back, a position that usually didn’t bother him, as the other reared back to punch him in the face.

Or, at least he would have if he didn’t start convulsing and fall on the ground a moment later.

“Asmo! Are you ok?!”

The Lust Demon looked at you for a moment. Then delicately covered his mouth with both hands. Returning to normal. “[Y/N]! You saved me!!”

“Yeah. This little thing packs a punch.” You replied. Holding out your little pink taser from She-Sword from your clutch. “I couldn’t let this jerk hurt your beautiful face.”

“No one is more beautiful than you my fierce warrior queen!” He praised. Basking in the moment for only a second before you both scamper off before security came.

You both might be beautiful, but you didn’t want to end up on the evening news.

Beel

“I want to take up kendo.” Beel announced to you one day. Out of the blue. “I’ve been looking for ways to add variety to my workout. I came across this video on kendo and thought it would be fun.”

Of course, Beel knew you had practiced kendo in the past at school. So he might have also been looking for fitness activities for you to do together. In any case, he really liked seeing you in your little workout outfit. It was super cute.

He also liked you showing him the basics of kendo; stance, footing, basic strike movement. When he felt he had gotten the hang of it, Beel jovially asked for a sparring match with you.

“I don’t know….”

“Come on [Y/N], sparring with someone is the best way to learn fighting.” He reasoned. “Besides, I’m not gonna hurt you.”

“I’m not worried about that….” He heard you mutter under your breath, but thought that he must have imagined it as you squared off.

Standing across from you in the arena, something changed. The hair on the back of Beel’s neck stood up. Not in the excited way that it normally did when he saw you. But something more….primal. His grip tightened a little more as he realized he might have to get a little serious with you.

It was all for nothing though as the match was over just as soon as it started.

The shinai went flying out of his hands, landing across the room just as Beel landed on his butt. His backside throbbing as his bell was rung clear as day. He rubbed his head as he looked up at you. “I may have forgotten to mention that I was three-time national kendo champ all through school.”

The demon looked up at you with a shiny, sparkly gaze only until now reserved for delicious food. “Teach me sensei!”

Belphie

He hated being out. He wanted to go home.

Being outside in the sun, with all these…..people was hell to him. Belphie would rather be home, in actual hell, with his blanket and pillow and quiet, rather than ‘top side’ with you for the whole afternoon. Not that it was you or anything. You were the only bright star on this miserable day. He’d be damned if he’d let one of his brothers spend the day with you when he could.

“Belphie, do you want an ice cream? Maybe that will help with the heat?”

He wanted to say that the only thing that would help him was getting the hell out of here. But, he bit his tongue. The demon knew how important this was to you to come ‘home’ now & then and he didn’t want to ruin it for you. So he just nodded and asked, “strawberry please.”

He sat in the shade as he watched you go over to the ice cream truck alone. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe he was just a hopeless shut in. Like Levi, only worse. He just wanted humans so much that being around them was making him crankier than normal today.

“Geez, get a look at that side show over there.”

Belphie looked up from his daze at the human who was a few yards away from him. Snickering and staring with his friends in a voice that a regular human wouldn’t be able to hear. “If you have something to say, then say it, you chicken shit fuck.” Again, he was very cranky.

The human was obviously taken aback at being heard and then called out like that. “What did you say to me?!” He yelled, once he got his bearings on the situation, and took a ‘threatening’ step forward to see if he would repeat it.

“I said ‘If you have something to say, then say it, you chicken shit fuck’.” Of course he repeated it. “Don’t mutter something under your breath like a coward. Say it like a man, or keep your gross mouth shut.” This was why he hated humans. No spine.

Well, metaphorical spine. If he kept this up, Belphie was gonna prove that he had a spine when he ripped it out and made him wear it as a neck tie.

“You little fuck--!” Belphie, of course, didn’t move when he stomped closer. Not that he needed to, because he was stopped in his tracks rather abruptly when you stepped between then. Holding a knife from your pocket.

“I suggest you get out of here, before the only ‘side show’ around here is your knife swallowing act pal.” The man seemed to frozen for a moment as he tried to process if you were serious. Then his flight instincts kicked in and he took off running with his friends across the park. “Gosh, I think I’ve been spending to much time with you guys. I never would have done anything like this before.” You said after a sigh, then turned back to Belphie.

“My hero.” He cheered softly, in his typical tired voice but still with a soft smile. Seeming extremely proud of the bad influence he was on you.

[goldenraeofsun]

4:01 PM

Dean sips his whiskey and glowers across the bar at his own reflection. His wrist is burning like a brand, but it’s probably all in his head. The stupid timers don’t cause physical pain when they reach T-minus zero, Houston we have a problem. The numbers freeze, and that’s that.

Dean’s had counted down to nothing at exactly 4:01 PM, fifteen minutes ago. Fifteen minutes of running into his soulmate, getting his number, continuing on his way to this bar, and telling the bartender to keep ‘em coming.

He refuses to look at the far corner of the room, the booth he had reserved like an idiot. Four PM, party of two, under the name Winchester.

On the bar by his glass, his phone is still lit up with Cas’s texts from the past hour.

Cas 3:11 I’m so sorry I have to move our appointment. My client just unexpectedly switched our time to 4pm.

Cas 3:21 I think I’ll be able to escape by 4:30. Can I meet you then?

Dean had responded with a thumbs-up emoji. He didn’t have it in him to say any more.

Cas 3:50 This city is impossible to navigate. How does anyone live here?

Cas 3:58 You were right, I should have rented a car.

Three minutes after Cas’s last text, Dean ran into his soulmate. Right on schedule.

As far as first meetings go, it hadn’t been as much of a shitshow as Dean had expected.

The dude was attractive, at least, and the first thing he did after bumping into Dean was apologize. But he was wearing a tailored suit and glued to his phone, so it definitely could have been better.

His soulmate would’ve run off none the wiser, except Dean had to blurt, “Wait!” because, despite his disappointment, Dean couldn’t let his soulmate disappear into the throngs of Michigan Avenue. Dean wasn't about to fall to one knee, but he also couldn't let his best shot just go.

The man stopped, irritated. His gaze refused to linger on Dean, instead fixating on a building at the end of the block.

Head swimming with too many thoughts to name, Dean couldn’t get the right words out. He gestured mutely to his wrist, pulling up the flannel to show him.

Eyes widening with understanding, his soulmate quickly tugged up the cuff of his sleeve, only sparing a second to verify his own timer stopped. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even notice.” he said, distracted. “My name is James. Here,” he fished out a pen and something to write on from various pockets of his trench coat, “my number. We… should talk. Later.” He scowled, raising his other wrist to check at his watch. “I need to go.”

“Sure, man,” Dean said, mostly grateful he didn’t have to stick around and have some heart-to-heart with a stranger that was apparently meant for him. Whatever the fuck that actually meant.

“Thank you,” James said swiftly. Without another word, he took off back down the street.

Dean didn’t bother to watch him go. He had a barstool waiting with his name on it.

Sam will laugh himself silly once Dean tells him his perfect match wound up being some corporate suit. Dean once told him he’d rather microwave his own head than set foot in an office cubicle.

Sammy was the big soulmate skeptic in the family. He found his non-timer approved other half while he was protesting an illegal dismissal of a disabled employee. Three years later, when Sam bumped into Gabriel Crawford in a strip club at midnight on Dean’s birthday, he discovered Gabe was perfectly happy to let Sam live his apple pie life while Gabe continued to party like it was 1999.

Gabe made Sam promise to look him up if Eileen was ever down for a threesome.

Turned out, Eileen was.

Sam most certainly was not.

He still sends Gabe a card for the holidays, and usually Gabe sends him back candy samples from wherever he’s vacationing for the winter.

But everyone else Dean knew bought into the soulmates game, hook, line, and sinker. His parents were soulmates. Benny and Garth both settled down with theirs. Charlie and Aaron were holding out for theirs. Hell, even Jo had her weird thing with Bela Talbot.

Dean would’ve counted himself among their number - until he met Cas.

Well, until Cas messaged him on Bobby’s new ask-a-mechanic feature on the garage’s website. Cas had inherited a banged up 1967 Mustang and had no idea where to start with restoration. Apparently Gabe of all people was staying with Cas at his place in southern California, and he recommended Dean.

Why Cas couldn’t just look up a local place still baffles Dean to this day, but he has never been more grateful for Cas’s weird-ass logic.

Their relationship had stayed strictly professional until Cas’s actual car broke down on some random highway in California. Dean had tried to talk Cas through the repair himself, but it was no use. Cas either didn’t have the equipment for the fix, or Dean didn’t diagnose the right problem. Dean was about to hang up, when Cas had asked, clearly embarrassed, “Would you please stay on the line? I have this irrational fear of being murdered in the middle of nowhere where nobody can find my body for proper rites.”

Dean, almost surprising himself, didn’t laugh. Instead, he said, “Sure thing. Wanna put me on hold while you get in touch with Triple A?”

He spent an hour and a half on the phone with Cas, telling him stupid stories about the worst things people have done with their cars.

In return, Cas told him all about the stars that were just coming out in the darkening desert sky.

The week after, Bobby’s garage received a gift certificate in the mail. It was for a weeklong stay at the Chicago location of the five-star hotel chain Cas works for, in Dean’s name.

Those little chocolates on the pillows ruined Dean for motels everywhere.

At the bar, Dean signals the bartender for a refill. He glares down at his phone. The little rectangle contains his entire history with Cas, call logs, text receipts, everything.

He can’t look at it any longer. He shoves it in his pocket, and the receipt with his soulmate’s phone number crinkles in protest. With a sigh, Dean takes out the flimsy piece of paper.

James’s handwriting is neat, so Dean doesn’t even have the excuse of not being able to read a digit or two.

Maybe Dean will give him a call after his drink with Cas. Hopefully, once James finds out that Dean’s just a mechanic, lives in a shoebox apartment in Bucktown, and has never been to Aspen or the Alps, he’ll tell Dean to take a hike.

Dean flips the receipt over, and his stomach gives a sickening lurch. In pretentious curlicue lettering, the first words Dean reads are, The Nine Spheres.

James is staying at Cas’s hotel.

Fucking great. Dean crumples the receipt and shoves it back in his pocket. With his luck, James will probably want to meet in the restaurant on the first floor, the fancy-ass place with the steakhouse burger and truffle fries Dean would actually sell his soul for.

Dean actually dreamed about that burger, a few months after his Cas-sponsored stay. When he told Cas about it, Cas let out a bark of laughter.

In the next breath, though, he told Dean he does the same when he’s scoping out a new location and can’t stay at a nearby Nine Spheres.

Dean tips back his glass of whiskey. It’s stopped burning on the way down his throat, a good sign.

He was so stupid, thinking he could fuck with destiny, fate, or whatever shitty power up there decides soulmates.

Once Cas told him about his business trip to his neck of the woods, Dean had taken one look at the numbers on his arm counting down and did the math. He would meet his soulmate smack dab in the middle of Cas’s window in Chicago.

He could make Cas be his soulmate. Cas never brought up his timer, if it was still ticking, if he’d already met his other half. And Dean, coward that he was, never asked. If he didn’t know for sure, then there was that slim, slim chance that theirs matched up after all.

But no, Cas had to go and switch up their meeting time at the last second, and Dean had run into James instead.

His pocket buzzes with a new text. Mood lower than Cas’s voice register, Dean slides his phone out.

Cas 4:38 My meeting is over. Should I still meet you at the same place?

Dean 4:39 Yeah Hope its okay I got started without you

Cas 4:40 More than okay, considering my scheduling difficulties.

Dean 4:40 See you soon

Dean sighs and drains his glass.

Foot jiggling on the barstool and eyes trained on his hands clasped in front of him, Dean deliberately does not look around as the door opens.

And opens again.

And again.

Confused and irritated, Dean takes another look around. Above the bar, a chalkboard clearly proclaims Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30 PM. Dean ducks his head, scowling into the remains of his drink. He probably overlooked the sign before because of his single-minded quest to get shitfaced like a freshly-dumped senior at prom stuck next to the spiked punch bowl.

His phone obnoxiously tells him it’s 4:43.

That’s just great. Dean hops off the stool, meaning to ask the hostess if anyone’s asked for Winchester, when James pushes open the door.

Dean stops dead in his tracks.

James freezes, his eyes going wide. His trench coat swishes ominously to a stop.

Should Dean turn around? Pretend he didn’t see? Cas is going to be here any second.

Before he can make up his mind, James is walking towards him. “Hello,” he says. “I wasn’t expecting to run into you here.”

Dean swallows. “Me neither,” he says honestly.

James scans the small crowd now gathered around the bar, brow furrowing in concentration. “I’m supposed to be meeting someone.”

Dean lets out a silent exhale of relief. He musters up a weak smile. “No problem, man. I’ll leave you to it.” As he turns back around, James steps up to the hostess stand.

James says, his voice slightly raised to be heard over the din, “I’m a bit late, but is there a reservation for Winchester? For 4:30?”

Dean could not possibly have heard what he thinks he did. But the timing is right - for once. He spins around, practically losing his balance thanks to the booze he already drank.

The hostess scans her sheet of names, shaking her head. “There was a reservation for Winchester at four PM, but that’s it.”

James’s face falls. Shoulders slumping, he pulls out his phone, squinting as the screen lights up. “He said he was here,” he mutters.

He can’t be Cas. That would be crazy - like, dingo ate my baby, crazy.

“Could be at the bar,” the hostess says flippantly, tilting her head to the crowded area. “Most of ‘em don’t check in.”

James’s lips press together. “Thank you,” he says to the hostess, his tone clipped. “I’ll wait there.”

Dean steps in front of him before James can get lost in the throng of people. “I heard you’re lookin’ for me,” he says with a confidence that’s only 99% bullshit.

James blinks. “You?”

“Dean Winchester, at your service,” he says, spreading his arms wide.

“Dean,” he echoes, his gaze raking up and down Dean’s body, drinking him in with his new eyes.

“Gotta say,” Dean drawls as his heart pounds with nerves. Doubt niggles at the back of his mind like an itch he can’t scratch, but he’s already made his memory foam bed. Might as well lie in it. “Cas is the weirdest nickname for James that I’ve ever heard.”

“My full name is James Castiel Novak,” Cas says, flushing. “James - that’s what I go by professionally. My family calls me Castiel.”

Dean can’t hold back his broad grin. “Family, eh?”

Cas’s expression takes a swift dive from embarrassed to mortified. “And friends,” he tacks on. He takes a step closer, staring at Dean’s face in wonder. “But you’re also my soulmate.”

Dean laughs giddily. “Should’ve known you wouldn’t beat around the bush. Not your style.” He jerks his head towards the bar. “I think I see an open seat. You wanna have that talk now?”

Cas hesitates. “Would you like to go to Nine Spheres instead? I’ve had business dinners every evening I’ve been in Chicago so far, and, while the food has been good-”

“It’s not the steakhouse burger?” Dean finishes for him.

The corners of Cas’s mouth turn down into a slight grimace. “Last night, a client treated us to tapas. I woke up starving.”

Dean smiles. “You know I’m always down for that burger.”

“Excellent,” Cas says with relish as he pushes open the door.

They walk onto the street, and it’s almost offensively quiet after the noise of the bar. It’s a balmy Spring evening, the sun still relatively high in the sky.

“You don’t seem disappointed anymore,” Cas says out of nowhere as they reach the end of the block.

So Cas caught on to that, back when they first ran into each other. Dean shrugs. “I just got stood up by the guy I’d specially set up to meet me at 4:01. Wouldn’t you be?”

Cas clears his throat, asking hoarsely, “You wanted it to be me?”

Dean throws him a look. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Cas just shrugs. The light changes, and they step off the curb.

“Were you… disappointed?” Dean asks hesitantly.

Cas lets out a surprised laugh. “Of course not. I didn’t even think - well,” he falters, casting a sidelong look at Dean, “I’m not disappointed. Believe me.”

The automatic doors to Nine Spheres open, hitting them with a burst of perfectly conditioned air. Dean hasn’t stepped foot in the hotel since Cas paid for his stay, but it hasn’t changed one bit. The same tiered giant chandelier glitters overhead. Giant pillars bracket the concierge desk to the left and the enormous staircase to the right that leads up to the second floor rooms. The tiled floor, so polished Dean can practically see his reflection, stretches the length of the lobby.

Dean sticks out like a flannel-wearing sore thumb. “Cas,” he hisses, “hold on. I don’t think I’m dressed right for this place.”

Cas sucks in a breath. “No,” he says as Dean’s heart sinks, “I suppose not.” He jerks his head towards the elevator bay. “Room service?”

Dean blinks.

“I’ve called for the burgers on several occasions at other locations,” Cas assures him. “It tastes as good.”

Was Cas actually trying to convince him to go up to his room? What a dumbass. Dean laughs.

Cas colors, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Forget it,” he mutters. “We don’t-”

“You know, if you invite me up to your room,” Dean cuts him off, “you’re going to have a bitch of a time getting me to leave, right?”

Cas stares at him.

“Dude,” Dean says, “I’ve never stayed anywhere this nice in my life. Between the food, the water pressure, and the robe that felt like I was fucking a cloud, I had enough of a hard time leaving last time.”

“I’m glad,” Cas says stiltedly. “We strive to provide the optimal experience to all our guests.”

Dean rolls his eyes. “’M saying, add you to the mix, and they’re gonna have to drag me out of here, kicking and screaming.”

“And if I don’t want you to leave?” Cas asks in an undertone as he pushes the up button for the elevator.

“Then I guess we don’t have a problem,” Dean says, winking.

Cas’s responding grin falls as the doors close behind them and the elevator starts moving. He shakes his head. “It’s a shame there are cameras in here.”

Dean leans in closer, whispering in his ear, “Doesn’t bother me much. Whaddya say to giving the peeping toms a show, then?”

Cas bites his lip, and this close, Dean can see how his eyes have blown black with want. “I - I can’t.”

It’s like he’s been doused with a bucket of ice water. Dean steps back, shame filling him. That’s fine. He can regroup. Hopefully Cas will be more receptive behind closed doors. It’s not the first time this has happened, anyway.

“Dean, I have to work with these people every day,” Cas hisses, wringing his hands. “The last time an executive got… busy with a coworker in the pool, the mocking didn’t end for weeks. Not to mention her rebuke from upper management.” He throws Dean a desperate look. “I would like for you to be fully clothed by the time you meet my coworkers for the first time.”

Cas is already planning for Dean to meet his people?

The elevator dings, and Cas steps out. “Are you coming?” he asks hesitantly.

“Oh, yeah,” Dean says quickly. As he follows Cas down the maze of rooms, he has to ask, “You were planning on introducing me to your coworkers?”

Cas’s cheeks pink. “Unless you were opposed to it,” he mutters as he stops in front of Room 1518. He sighs, making no move to insert his keycard. Instead, he lifts his head to meet Dean’s gaze squarely. “I’ve put in a transfer request to Chicago.”

“What?”

“It was before I knew you were my soulmate,” Cas says quickly. “I’ve never felt like I fit in in California, and my parents live in Pontiac. The Chicago office is decently large, and, well, I knew you were here,” he says, his voice going quiet near the end. He straightens. “So there were many reasons.”

“You’re staying?” Dean says, his mouth dry.

Cas bobs a nervous nod. “I hope that’s okay.”

Dean grins. “Sure is.”

Cas touches the inside of his wrist, his expression turning almost shy. “Of course, when I first pictured introductions, it was strictly as a friend. I don’t really know anyone else in this city well, and I’ve told you about my difficulty in social situations, so it would’ve been more for moral support than anything else. But after this evening -”

Dean interrupts his rambling. “Are there cameras in the hallway?”

“What- oh,” Cas says, his eyes flicking down to Dean’s lips before back up again. “Yes?” He points. “They’re all the way down there, though, so they can’t -”

Dean cuts him off with a heated kiss.