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#also since like season 1? 2? dean’s whole thing has been ‘it scares me what I’m willing to do for family’ well!
pregnancykink · 11 months
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I could fix s9 Dean
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angelsdean · 1 year
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home always feels like an episode they should have waited a season or two to do to me, when the mythology and characters were a little more lived it. I don't know if this makes sense, but i think in any other season, or even this season in the backhalf, this set up would have lent itself to a classic Dean Studies episode, and it feels weird that once we're actually in the house, we're actually seeing Mary, we totally pull back on Dean. Honestly, outside of the phone call to John, he's very sidelined despite this being an easy set up to explore backstory for him as the only character there who has a memory of the fire. And even Sam as the POV character falls flat not because there isn't interesting tension there, it could have worked! but because it's so heavy unfolding the psychic plot point and it's clear that that's more important to the episode than the family mythology. It just feels like you could take the bones of the episode, drop into season 3, and get something that looks completely different. (You said this much more eloquently re: the narrative, but I'm on s2 of my own rewatch and i keep thinking about this, haha).
hii sorry i didn't answer this sooner, but yea that's def how i felt rewatching it like, it just feels like it comes too soon for it to really *do* anything. we haven't yet really felt the haunting absence of mary. their main plot focuses rn are 1.) finding john (and in conjunction w/ that, finding and killing azazel) and 2.) literally just starting in this ep, sam's psychic visions. the whole concept of going back home and being confronted w/ their mother's literal ghost who recognizes and can talk to them is a HUGE thing that deserved to be the main focus, not a footnote in an ep trying to introduce a major plot element, sam's visions.
literally like you said, there's IS tension from sam's POV but they just don't go anywhere with it, since the focus is more on his psychic visions. like the scene w/ sam and mary could've been so much more. and if this came later in the season, or even a few seasons later, mary's "i'm sorry" to sam would've held more weight and packed a punch bc she feels responsible for what's happened to sam !!! for the deal w/ azazel and causing sam to be infected w/ demon blood. but sitting in the 9th episode of s1 where we still barely know anything it just falls flat and feels like she's just apologizing for what? dying? of course we have the gift of knowing everything to come later, but i'm trying to put myself in the shoes of the 2005 audience. what would they have thought she was apologizing for? like up until s4 that audience doesn't even know about mary being a hunter or her deal. so like, for those early years, it would just seem like she was apologizing for i guess not getting to sam fast enough to stop azazel and for dying ??
but yea anyways i feel like dean should've been the central character for an episode like this and we already know mary's death was traumatic for him. he tells lucas in 1x03 how he stopped talking after mary died. he tells lucas he's scared all the time but tries his best to be brave bc he thinks it's what his mom would've wanted. mary is such a central figure in dean's life and memories and is thee anchor to the myth of the "perfect family" that never was that dean is constantly yearning for and why family is so important to him. also comments like dean saying he always wanted to be a firefighter when he was a kid reveal a lot abt how much the fire affected him and fueled his desire to save people. and then in 1x09 Home itself, we see dean go in to save the blonde mom while he tells sam to save the kids which is interesting bc in 1x03 dean immediately goes for the kid and lets sam save the mom. so, it feels like subconsciously there's something there with dean and his desire to save mary. and this would've been a great episode to explore that trauma and guilt he has for not being able to save her (and god it's so irrational and he must know it, he was literally 4 yrs old what could he have done !!!) but still.
anyways this is getting long but yea i think at the very least, home should've come later in the season and not have to share the plot w/ introducing sam's psychic powers. there's just SO much they could've done with the whole concept of going back home and seeing mary's ghost. i wanted them to feel haunted !!!! haunted by home and the myth of mary !!!!!
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bi-bard · 3 years
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Chick Flick Moments - Sam Winchester Imagine (Supernatural)
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Title: Chick Flick Moments
Pairing: Sam Winchester X Reader
Requested: by an anonymous reader
Word Count: 2,363 words
Warning(s): violence, cussing, Sam embarrassing himself, spoilers for any movie/show listed in the author's note
Summary: (Season 11) Gabriel takes a break from hiding to teach (Y/n) and Sam to forgive each other.
Author's Note: I had so much fun putting this request together! Also, if I remember correctly, this reader wanted to remain anonymous.
Here are links to all the scenes that inspired parts of this imagine:
1 (Princess Bride), 2 (8x12 Criminal Minds; can't find just the scene to link), 3 (Moulin Rouge), 4 (The Notebook), 5 (The 10 Things I Hate About You), 6 (Gilmore Girls), 7 (La La Land)
Hey! I did a rewrite of the ending of Supernatural. It took a really long time to complete, so it would mean a lot to me if you check it out. Here’s a link! (it’s on my personal account)
-----------------------------------
I rolled my eyes as I walked through the bunker.
Sam was still ranting about the most recent hunt. I was just tired of listening to it. Dean had long since given up trying to control his brother, who had shown no sign of listening to anyone.
"You can't just throw yourself into every single enemy," Sam yelled. "Fun fact, you're not Superman!"
"Oh my god," I finally, turning around. I had been halfway through the library at this point. Dean continued through the bunker, ignoring us. "I ran up to one extra vamp because you were about to get your throat ripped out! Yes, I put myself in danger but it was to save you!"
"Why are you so desperate to be a hero," he asked.
"Why are you so pissy that I saved you," I shouted back.
I let out a yell before turning and leaving.
"Where are you going?"
"To bed," I shouted from down the hall. "Maybe you'll be nicer in the morning! You're welcome for saving your ass!"
I stormed into my room and slammed the door shut. I changed quickly, throwing my old clothes into the corner before curling up on my bed. My emotions got the better of me. I started crying into my pillow.
Imagine saving the man you secretly loved... and then he got mad at you about it.
I fell asleep crying that night.
--time skip--
I shot awake, cringing at how bright it was.
I looked around, letting my eyes adjust to the light.
I was on a hill. I was on a hill, lying in the grass with the sun shining on my face. This is not good.
I stood up and did a circle to look around the long stretches of grass. Nothing looked even slightly familiar.
"For fuck's sake," I muttered.
I decided that the best option would be to try to climb down and find a person... somewhere.
I was just about to start making my way down the hill when I felt a hand grab me.
Out of pure fear, I grabbed the person and pulled them from behind me. The person went flying down the hill.
"(Y/n)," I heard Sam's voice yell as he rolled down the hill.
I put my hand over my mouth. He soon stopped rolling and then he stood up, scrambling to pull the black mask off of his face. I sighed, dropping my hand when I saw he was alright.
"Sam," I called.
"Your instinct is to throw some down a hill," Sam asked.
"When a masked man tries to grab me, definitely," I replied. "Fun fact, Sam, I can actually defend myself."
He gave me a sarcastic smile. I shot it right back to him.
Sam looked down at his outfit before sighing and shrugging at me. He had just started to move back up the hill when my visions went dark.
I opened my eyes a few moments later.
What had been an open field was now a dark warehouse or factory. I saw Sam across from me, but also a group of people behind him. I recognized them. They were characters from Criminal Minds, a guilty pleasure I watched when we weren't hunting.
I tried to figure out what was happening.
Then, I became all too aware of the barrel of a gun pressing into my neck.
"No," Sam yelled.
It clicked.
Sam was supposed to be Spencer. I was Maeve. This was Zugzwang.
My heart dropped.
"Wait, please, don't," Sam yelled as the gun pressed harder on my neck.
"Sam, shut up," I snapped.
"Me for (Y/n)," he shouted.
"You would do that," Diane- the unsub of that episode- asked.
"Yes," Sam replied.
"No," I yelled. "Sam, shut up."
"You shut up," Diane growled at me.
"One difference between me and her...," I growled back.
I grabbed the gun, pushing it forward, away from my neck. The bullet she tried to fire hit the brick wall. I turned, bringing an elbow down on her arm. Her hand dropped the gun into my grasp. I pointed it toward her.
"...I'm not scared of a simple gun."
The others walked over and arrested her. I looked at Sam.
"If you continued, she would've killed herself, which would've killed me," I explained. He furrowed his eyebrows. "I watch this show when we aren't hunting."
He walks over, going to hug me before the scene changes again.
"Holy...," I trailed off as I looked around.
Around us, we could see the tops of roofs and a beautiful night sky. It was almost a dreamy setting.
"Where are we now," Sam asked.
"Only the great Moulin Rouge," Sam and I both twirled around to face... Gabriel. "I know, I know... I'm not dead, anyway!"
I rolled my eyes.
"You two need to learn a lesson," he pointed at us.
"It's like back in 2010," I mumbled. "Play our roles to get out. Probably why we were pulled out of the last two."
"You'll fall into them naturally, I promise," Gabriel smirked. "And yes. Stop ignoring the plotline."
"Alright... sure, I was gonna get shot for your crappy game," I snapped sarcastically.
Then, he was gone. I rolled my eyes.
"So, what are the roles," Sam asked as I walked around the top of the elephant.
"Well, Christian and Satine," I pointed between us. "Maeve and Spencer. The Princess Bride and Westley. It's all romance."
"Why," Sam scrunched his face up.
"Because Gabe wants to get his rocks off," I said sarcastically, "I don't know, Sam!"
I walked down the stairs of the elephant. It was gorgeous here. It was just as vibrant as the movie made it look.
"Wow," I look back at Sam. "This is awesome."
I chuckled and nodded.
"What seen is it?"
"The Elephant Love Medley," I said. "Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman sing this mash-up of famous love songs as his character tries to convince her that there is nothing more important than love."
"I'm not gonna sing," Sam shook his head.
"I was not gonna ask you too," I chuckled. "I've heard you sing."
"Rude."
I just shrugged.
I looked around at the room, trying to figure out how to play these roles without the singing.
"Wait," I said. "Come on."
I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to the stairs.
"What is it," Sam asked as we made it to the top.
"At the end of the medley, Christian and Satine are dancing and they walk out onto this field of clouds and are held up in the sky."
"What-"
"This whole movie feels like a fever dream the first time you watch it."
"Come on," Sam held a hand out to me.
"Can you dance?"
"Not well," he chuckled. "The role didn't say I needed to be good."
He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him.
I tried to lead his steps and laughed as he stumbled into a pattern.
"Come on," I moved back so I could grab only one hand.
I led him a few steps forward and onto- what seemed to be- steps in the clouds. I let out an excited laugh when it worked. Sam looked at me and grinned at my excitement.
As soon as got to the top of the steps... it was gone.
We were in the middle of the street now.
"Aw, that was just mean," I mumbled. I glared at Sam when I heard him laughed.
He held his hands up jokingly before extending one toward me. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"I know what movie this is," he shrugged. I motioned for him to continue explaining. He walked over, hand still held out to me, "The Notebook. Noah and Allie dance in the street. So... will you dance with me? Even without the sequence where we dance in the clouds."
I bit my lip as I smiled.
I took his hand and let him pull me into the street. I laughed as I stumbled into his chest.
We fell into the scene naturally.
Sam held one of my hands in his and held my waist with the other. I placed my free hand on his shoulder. I looked up at him. It felt strange that we so casually fell into the scene but I was happy.
Sam jokingly twirled me around before pulling me back to his chest. I closed my eyes and chuckled.
"What," he asked.
"Nothing," I shook my head. "I just never saw you as such a romantic."
"Well, don't tell anyone, you'll ruin my reputation," he said sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes.
Sam spun the two of us in a circle before going to dip me. I didn't think I'd ever get to experience something like this. It always just felt like something I should forget about as a hunter. I was starting to forget why I was so angry with Sam in the first place.
I barely noticed that Sam was leaning in before the scene around me changed.
I was on a football field.
I looked around.
There was no sign of Sam.
"Crap," I mumbled, trying to figure out where to look first.
Then, there was a voice going over the field's speakers.
"You're just too good to be true... can't take my eyes off of you..."
I looked around toward the stands to see Sam walking with a mic. Can't sing, my ass.
"You'd be like heaven to touch... I wanna hold you so much"
"Oh my god," I muttered.
"At long last love has arrived... And I thank God I'm alive... You're just too good to be true... Can't take my eyes off of you."
I tried to bite back my laugh. He shrugged at me with an embarrassed smile and stepped into the actual stands.
We both jumped when the marching band started playing. I looked to see Gabriel smirking and leading their march.
Sam and I shrugged at each other. He continued on with the act.
Now, Sam Winchester pretending to be Patrick in "10 Things I Hate About You" was a treat... and was exactly what you imagined it would be.
He was almost stumbling down the steps as he continued on with the act. I was laughing hysterically by the time I saw the security guards starting to run in.
"Sam," I yelled, pointing behind him.
"Crap," I heard through the mic (which made me almost double-over in laughter) as he tried to take off running.
As soon as he was grabbed, the scene changed.
We both took a deep breath when we realized we were sitting together in a car.
"Thank god," Sam mumbled.
"That was a great performance, by the way," I said, still chuckling.
"Shut up," he muttered, laughing along with me. We fell silent after a minute. "So... what scene is this?"
"I have no idea," I replied.
"It's Gilmore Girls, dumbasses," we heard Gabriel's voice but saw no sign of him. "Season 1, Episode 16... absolute idiots."
"Didn't peg him for a Gilmore Girls fan," I said. Sam laughed.
"Me neither."
We fell silent again.
"I'm sorry," Sam said, looking over at me. "You were right. You can defend yourself and you were just trying to help me. I'm sorry for being such a dick about it."
I grinned, "Thanks... I forgive you. I know you were just worried about me."
Sam smiled back.
"I... umm...," Sam looked down for a moment, clearing his throat and collecting his thoughts. "I just... I love you."
My heart leaped up into my throat. I blinked at him a few times and forced a chuckle out. Which was the wrong response but I panicked. Hunters... we could face the devil but emotions were a no-no.
"(Y/n)," Sam's smile dropped slowly when he realized I wasn't responding.
I was just about to respond when the scene changed again.
Sam was gone again and I was on a city street.
"Dammit," I muttered.
I ran down the street, turning the corner. I looked at the wall of the building I was by. Was this a jazz club?
I walked through the door and was guided to a table so I could sit down and watch the performance.
"La La Land," I said.
Sam and I watched this together. Dean had gone to bed. We weren't tired and just turned this movie on because it looked like it was mostly happy.
Big dance numbers, beautiful effects... and the epilogue that made me hide tears from Sam.
I looked at the stage. Sam was sitting there, wearing a suit, looking at the audience nervously. He hesitantly reached toward the piano. It was like it was a prerecorded track. It sounded just like the movie.
I smiled.
I just wanted to talk to him.
Soon the performance ended.
I stood up and started walking over, seeing Sam starting to walk out.
I grinned at him, "Sam-"
He cut me off by cupping the sides of my face and kissing me softly. I touched his sides lightly, smiling against his lips. It was... magic. Absolute magic.
Then, I shot awake, back in my bed in the bunker.
The game was over. Thank God.
"(Y/n)," I heard yell through the bunker hall.
I ran into the hall and ran toward his room.
We stopped as soon as we saw each other.
"Please tell me that wasn't a dream," I said. He shook his head, smiling widely at me.
I ran over, pulling him down to kiss him again. It was softer than our last kiss and I loved it. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me closer. I buried my hands through his hair.
"Woah, what did I miss," we pulled away when we heard Dean.
I could basically feel Sam chuckle against my lips before he moved to look at his brother. I turned around in Sam's arm.
"A chick flick moment," Sam answered.
"Alright," Dean gave us a weird look before leaving without another word.
I looked back at Sam with a smile, "I love you."
"I love you too," he grinned and leaned in to kiss me softly again.
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cooloddball · 3 years
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JIB9 (JIBCON 2018) ANALYSIS PART 2
Go read part 1 of jib9 analysis if you haven’t read it already.
Continuing from where we left off...
Misha says no, he doesn’t think that Cas feels like part of the family and Jensen smirks and looks down while Jared smiles
Jensen helps Misha along with his answer 
Jensen defends Sam and Dean after Misha says they don’t show emotion saying things like “I love you so much”
Jens: “There are a few scenes where you know,”
Jared: “Didn’t you see the one with the whole if we die we will do that together too?”
Jens: “Yeah that was emotional”
This is getting serious people. Remember this is season 13 they are talking about.
Jens keeps going on “you know there was embracing, and then there was a lot-I mean…” This whole time Jensen is looking at Misha
Misha is like “All I’m saying…”
And Jensen cuts Misha  off and says, “Did you miss that?”
Look at Jared’s face here though. He’s like are you guys having a lovers’ quarrel? Am I missing something?
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Misha tries to talk again but Jensen is adamant, unrelenting to give up on that there was an emotional scene between Dean and Cas. 13x05???  “Were you not there?”
Misha being who he is and not backing down either he says, “NO” rather defiantly. 
Jared’s face here though. He stopped talking and is watching these two lovers go at it. (No, not the sexy kind)
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Jensen doesn’t look too thrilled about what Misha said. Jared laughs Jensen is basically done at this point. Look at his face.
Misha continues “That was Castiel”
And Jensen just looks appalled, he raises his eyebrows looks down at his hands [0.43 insert Jensen’s face atm] and since Misha is looking at him and he sees that Jensen is unhappy he adds “I’m very method.”
Jensen goes to say something but stops himself, Jared senses the tension, Misha is still looking at Jensen and Jensen hasn’t looked at Misha since he asked him “were you not there?”
IDK what is going on here but it fees like more than just about Dean and Cas and more like it’s about Jensen and Misha. I mean Jared and Misha are having fun with it and Jensen just seems adamant to prove they care A LOT about Cas which is weird considering the fact that the moment Misha was asked that question Jensen agreed with Jared that they are not as pleased that Cas was back (this was a joke) . So what has changed since then? Only a few seconds have passed.
Jensen presses on, “I mean was Cas there? I know he was there physically but was he there emotionally? Because it doesn’t sound like it.”
The way Misha is holding his microphone he looks scared. Jensen can’t take his eyes off Misha.
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Misha says, “see this is what I’m talking about” I think he realizes Jensen is getting too emotional and personal on stage and he decides to guide the conversation to the funny side.
Jensen laughs .
Misha says “ I don’t think he [Cas] lets himself feel worthy or wanted” and Jensen keeps looking at a fixed spot on the floor and I don’t know what’s so interesting there. Jared says “smart” in reference to Misha’s statement and Jensen nods.
Jared tries to make fun but Misha is not having it, he [Misha]  looks at an imaginary watch and says  “That said-uh…that said I think this season he’s felt more part of the team and the family…probably *looks at Jensen* more than ever before” Now I talked about that moment here but I have to reiterate, something is off here tbh. I don’t know what was going on with Jensen but something was definitely off.
I have been thinking about what the causation of Jensen’ s behaviour could be and I have come to a very weird and maybe kind of controversial conclusion, IDK. But  here’s what I think. Maybe Misha finally told Jensen that he didn’t feel like he was part of the family because of the way they treated him and talked shit about him at J2 panels? Like how he pretended to gag when he saw Misha on screen during the jib9 j2 panel the previous day. Or the extreme pranks Jared played on him and Jensen just stood aside? The way some  j2 fans send hate to him and that it gets to him. Maybe he finally opened up. Because if that is the case then,  Jensen blamed himself for making Misha feel like that when he didn’t have any intention to? I hope I’m making sense. Or maybe it could be something else entirely but I feel like since 2017 Jensen had stopped going along with Jared’s attempts to make fun of Misha at their panes. So maybe this was him feeling bad that he ever played a part in that??? Okay my head hurts I have to move on. 
Since that moment Jensen doesn’t look okay, even when Mishalecki are bantering with the next fan, Jensen just seems sad? Sad is not the right word but he seems kind of upset 
So the fan makes a small mistake in what she’s asking and Misha laughs  then Jensen turns to look at him for a brief second, it’s literally for a second and Misha looks at him with his big blue eyes but Jensen looks away rather quickly. I think they can both feel the weight of the previous answer Misha gave simmering beneath the surface but they can’t talk about it atm. 
Now Jared says something rather weird to me, “A man who goes to sleep with an itchy butt wakes up with a smelly hand.”   (I know it’s a saying or whatever but it’s just a strange thing to say or maybe it’s just me) Jensen is nodding along to that but Misha doesn’t look amused. I think it’s an interesting thing to say when two of your best friends who play with each other’s butts are seated on stage with you. I’m not sorry I said that because it had to be said.
For a literal microsecond, Misha looks at Jensen but Jensen is looking at a fixed spot on the floor as has become norm in the last 2 minutes. Mish suppresses a smile because he knows Jensen still feels bad about earlier.
Jared says that’s why he thinks the brother’s and Cas have to die in order for the show to end and Jensen’s face is just stoic. Dude wtf?? 
Jensen joins in the banter and makes a joke about a man who stands on a toilet while high on pot he’s not crazy he’s just high? J2 make another joke about a man going backwards to Bangkok or something. Misha manages to laugh at those jokes.
Jared asks Misha  if he has anything to add and Jensen looks at Misha smiling look at the way he’s looking at Misha. It’s like he wants to stuff him in his pocket and take him home with him.
Jensen is laughing so hard now because Misha says that the only sayings that come to mind are the only ones he doesn’t want to say.
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They try to pronounce the German word and it’s hilarious AF.
So Jared makes a joke of a sound that the fan is helping them pronounce and Jensen is just done. Completely done because he looks away and scratches his beard like he wants to be anywhere but there. JFC What is going on? He was happy again.
OMG husbands whispering at each other while Jared is engaged with a fan. Gossipy Jensen. Also I’m glad whatever tension was there after the Cas question is finally gone and they are back on track again.
They are in there own little world because IDK what Misha whispered to Jensen but Jensen is unicorn laughing. Aww J
 “We just said some really bad shit” I like it when Jensen curses. Now I want to know what they said because when Misha whispers it to Jared, he laughs really hard as well. Oh to be a tiny ant crawling around, listening to their whispered secrets. A girl can dream am I right?
7.33 Jared asks the fan what her “that German/Austrian word” was that morning and I am inclined to think whatever the husbands were whispering to each other had something to do with a sex-related orifice because of the way Jensen reacts.
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The fan puts Jared in his place. Look at Jensen’s reaction.
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He’s like you go girl.
Jensen wants to whisper something to Misha so bad but he stops himself.
Okay so Jensen says he did bicycle touring and he did take part in some of the quests. Is he talking about GISHWES because he never can pronounce that word. LOL.
So Jared interrupts Jensen starts telling his story and Jensen just shuts down just look at his face the entire time Jared is telling it.
Misha and Jared are talking about how it’s so hot on stage and Jensen is just miming to the fans how it’s not hot. I love when he does that. Naughty boy.
Misha moans and he and Jared just rush off to point the fan in their direction while Jensen just stands over the fan on his side of the stage and cools his balls off.
OMG!!!! Misha is doing the mating dance while making fiery eye contact with Jensen and sips from the bottle. Jensen heeds his husband’s call to mate and walks briskly in long manly steps to wards him and he takes the drink off his hand while looking at him like he wants to eat him [it’s called a mating dance for a reason] and inhales the drink whatever it is and it must be really strong because he looks away and says something to Jared. Misha walks away says something to Jared and goes to sit down.  Jensen starts twerking his booty. Misha your man wants to mate on stage do something. Anyway Jensen pours the drink that Misha had sipped directly from the bottle in a shot glass  and does the rck on sign and sips it. The entire time Mishalecki are just looking at Nesnej and laughing not understanding what is going on.
Jared sniffs the drink and says “poker face” and Jensen says “thanks Lady Gaga” IDK if this was a snide comment or just banter but now we know Jensen listens to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry (re: jib8).
This part is really funny when the fan thanks Misha for sending a recovery message to her friend but Misha says that  he had no choice but to do it because the fan just held out the phone to Misha and Misha was like “oooh, heeey”
I think Jared asks Misha what happened and Misha explains because Jared folds over laughing.
Jared starts talking before Jensen can answer the question and again Jensen doesn’t look too amused. This guy keeps stealing his thunder.
Jensen manages a smile when he hears that Misha did a German accent 
Misha asks Jensen if he wants some tips on accents and Jensen smiles and says no. Ouch. Sorry Mish, your man doesn’t want your help. He’d rather wing it.
Misha is not backing down and compliments Jensen by listing all the accents that Jensen can do. We love a supportive husband. Hype your man Mish.
Jensen says that he speaks French and he has a little have a  tête-à-tête in français. I find it funny how Misha pretends not to know Jensen speaks French yet he just listed all the accents Jensen can do. Sure Jan.  And after the French interaction which Misha adds a flair of a French accent when he talk as and , Jensen tries really hard  not to smile. Someone’s excited. #accent kink ;)
Jensen says he doesn’t think Michael is going to need an accent and Misha says yes he will in French accent and Jensen is just trying really really hard not to smile.
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Look at Jared’s face though he’s like dude are you seriously turned on by Misha’s weird accent right now? It’s not even funny and Jensen can’t stop smiling.
Jensen is done with Misha’s shenanigans so he just cuts him off and Misha is exasperated and Jensen proceeds to ask his question.
Fan says she would improve on Misha’s German accent and Misha gasps scandalized and  even Jensen is not happy about that but he takes this moment to make fun of Misha so the comment doesn’t seem as harsh 
Look at Misha’s face
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and here is Jensen’s face  he can’t believe someone was mean to his baby.
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Anyway, in an attempt to make it less painful for his man he tries to make and joke and says, “I didn’t send that out with the insult in mind but I’m really glad that happened.” 
The joke makes it worse and Misha  doesn’t seem to feel better. Poor Misha.
It’s over.
Time for the closing ceremony
Jensen and Briana singing.
 Misha and Adam
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I love their friendship, makes me think of the possibilities that could’ve been between Cas and Mick on the show.
OMG Jensen you naught boy, yeah I see you have experience humping and spanking. Go on Rockstar we love to see it.
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Even Jason Mann’s sees Jensen humping the air and Misha and Jensen turn to look at Jason. Jensen is  smirking at him after what he just did. OMG.
The way Jensen is looking at Rob when Rob tries to sing the remaining verses of carry on my wayward son. Jensen you need apple juice. Jensen is me. He is insane and he is me and I love him. JENSENKIN!!!!
Why are Jensen and Misha gravitating towards each other unconsciously? Do their hearts have magnets that pull towards each other?
Speaking of them why does Jensen seem extremely tall here and Misha looks so tiny.
Am I the only one who doesn’t like the guy who played Ketch? OMG he just rubs me off the wrong way.
 OMG is Jared trying to touch Jensen’s hand? Eww He touched Jensen’s arm and Jensen didn’t even look at him. This is embarrassing. Jensen hasn’t looked at him once/ HELP.
Misha and Jensen are standing the same way at the exact same time and they aren’t even looking at each other. OMG!! This is insanity.
Jensen turns to smile at Misha. Aww J
Jensen looks at Misha with a smile on his face when Daniela says they’ll be back the next year the year that gave us straddle gate and boners.
It’s over guys. 
So I have come to the conclusion that something was going on between Jensen and Jared at jib 9.
See you on the next one.
Part 1
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verobatto · 4 years
Text
Unrequited Destiel...
The Legend of The Sun and The Moon
I just wanted to explain in a few words to those that are asking why Dean didn't reply to Cas or why is Jensen talking about angelical way to feel things.
I know they're a lot of post saying WE TOLD YOU THIS AND THAT, and is true. Because if you read my Destiel Chronicles from the beginning, you will see I ALWAYS CALLED THE UNREQUITED LOVE FROM CAS AND DEAN'S POV.
Some of you disbelieves this idea, but is the only way to intepretate why Destiel is the slowest slow burn ever.
No more intro, let's suffer together...
Season 4 and 5 JUST A FLIRTING GAME
Once Dean was pulled out from Hell, Castiel wanted to talk with him. He didn't wait a second. Things blew and it was messy, and even Bobby was scared that that thing would hurt his idjit. But it was just Cas, trying to speak with Dean, desperately trying to reach him in his true form. Why? Because he wanted to talk with him. He had to explain Dean's mission but also, he felt fascinated. And even more after their first meeting face to face when he was finally able to find a vessel.
And Dean just it took him just a little of his time to feel the same fascination. The almighty angel, that could see right through his soul.
But also the angel that said things like...
And we have the handprint too, such an intimate sign between these two.
Castiel showing him, honestly showing him with words and actions, his special interest on him:
"My superiors begun to question my sympathies. I was getting too close to the humans in my charge. You."
How would Dean take this here? The poor guy just decided to check out the angel, and speechless as he was at that moment, couldn't reply to it. "Is he flirting with me? Does he know how gay this sounds?"
Then Cas rebel against Heaven for Dean. Dean pushed him, the whole he pushed Cas to help him. If you rewatch season 4 Dean is constantly asking Cas to help him. Because he already know Cas was different. Because he felt Cas was his friend, his ally, and something else it was growing up in his chest.
While Cas pushed him against the wall, cut his forearm and drew the sigil, Dean's face is full of awe. He can't believe this soldier powerful angel is doing this for him.
And then... "We're making it up as we go."
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Gif credit @cyxnrose
The beginning of season 5 is a very busy Cas searching for God, but also, the flirtation begins. Dean is like a cute boy flirting with his crush. The second meaning jokes, trying to figure out if Cas catch it is hilarious. But he will understand 'Cas doesn't understand that reference.'
From Dean's POV in these two season, we coul under he thinks angels are junk less.
Season 6: The profound Bond and the Longing
The romantic feeling from both sides began to flow even more when Castiel goes into the black side, and the first Destiel break up appears infron of our eyes in the middle of a very romantic scenes.
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Gif credit @starlightcastiel
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Gif credit @inacatastrophicmind
The last gif is out of discussion, bot men looking at each other with sad eyes, longing and as if their conversation isn't over. Dean being disappointed at Cas and Cas trying to make him see his point. Everything he does, he does it for Dean.
And now we know why it is.
Season 7: Mourning Dean and the Jealousy
Even with Showrunner Sera Gamble trying to focus Dean's morning into a Wincest subtext, we had put king Ben Edlund came to the rescue in episode 7x09.
Putting things in order, we were faced with Dean's source of depression: Castiel's death.
So, after that, when Cas really comes back, the reunion is another romantic movie. The MEMORY LOST trope.
And then... Castiel's pseudo wife...
The trope is getting better with the spicy Jealousy in Dean's eyes.
Gif credit @impalaofgrace
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So he can't completely enjoy Cas is back because:
1) He doesn't remember him: so, how can be mad or anything else if Cas doesn't remember any details of their break up?
2)The guy has a wife! Okay, so, he has a wife, he easily got a wife from... Nowhere?
And then Meg comes and he is Jealous all over again!
Dean is a really mess of feelings, but in the end, when Cas recalls everything, and when I say everything, i mean Dean, because the majority of his memories was him, Dean just pulls out from his car Castiel's bloody trenchcoat and gives it him back!
So, if there was any doubts about why was Dean mourning and depressed for, we have the confirmation!
Then, let's turn the page, because now is Cas the mess... Depressed and suffering, because he almost destroy heaven, but, do you know what cares the most to Cas and when he cheers up? Yes...
When Dean says... "I RATHER JAVE YOU, CURSED OR NOT" Castiel immediately changed his face, he smiles, and kept staring at Dean with heart eyes. He was happy because Dean was forgiving him. Because since he recovered his memories, the biggest cause of it was Dean's rejection. Dean not being able to forgive him. That was the main cause of his sadness. That's why he avoided reality, he didn't have a cause, because his cause was Dean and Dean was mad at him. But now? Cas is happy again. That's why he decides to come back to battle. "I'll go with you."
Season 8 Purgatory of love and Pining!Dean
Okay, is in this season, Carver era, when Dean's POV has a turning point about Castiel and his true feelings for him and is in this season, when Dean starts pining strongly for the angel, and feeling his love is unrequited.
The cause of it, is Purgatory. The Purity about Purgatory resided in the capacity of that place to resides in abolish every human necessity to let the mind to focused in what really matters. In this case for Dean was SURVIVE AND CAS.
So we can say that what remained pure in Dean's heart was TO FIND CASTIEL.
That's why he prayed to him every night, and that's why in the moment Cas CONFESS he ran away to protect him, something in Dean changes forever.
Gif credit @agusvedder
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If you pay attention to Dean's face reaction here, is the expression of the man that realizes in that precisely moment his feelings for Castiel. Even Cas stares to a side, because there was Benny watching them, and the thing he was about to say it was too intimate. I did it to protect you.
Dean, the Big Protector, is being protected by Castiel. So, in Purgatory, Dean Winchester find out his not platonic love for his best friend.
Then we had the entire season with pining!Dean and deception.
Dean's mind invented one excuse for Castiel running away from him because thinking his best friend abbandoned him, was just too painful. He does this again when Cas pushed him inside the gate and he stays in Purgatory. Dean just rewrote in his mind the whole sequence. Imagining that Cas was defeated. But the reality was, Castiel wanted to stay. And when Cas reveals this truth to the hunter, Dean's face is a mix of deep sadness and deception. He felt really rejected by his friend. He felt his unrequited romantic love for him. But he will feel it more stronger in the crypt scene, with the brainwashing and how Castiel's love for Dean broke th connection. But he left. That was a real rejection the hunter barely could handled.
Season 9: Pinning!Castiel and Human!Cas
When Cas became Human, he has to face all the intensity of human's feelings. In this season, is time for our angel to realize his romantic love for the hunter.
Castiel will mirroring Dean's pining in season 8, and he will also feel rejected by him.
Just like Dean in season 8, Castiel will feel his romantic love is unrequited, after Dean kicked him out from the bunker, being this the parallel to the crypt scene.
But then Cain's mark comes, and everything gets worst.
Season 10: Castiel is Dean's Colette
The whole Cain's mark was the visual sign of the Destiel handprint (profound bond) attempt of break.
With Cain and Dean going through a perfect parallelism in which Crowley was placed in the friend's spot, Sam in the brother's spot and Castiel in Colette's spot. Blatant and canon exposure of what Cas means for Dean.
But now, is time for Dean, after came back for being a demon, to feel unrequited again. And this is a detail that could be not seen, but it caught my attention.
CASTIEL: At least temporarily. It’s a long story. Crowley, stolen grace. There’s a female outside in the car.
This is what Castiel says when he goes into Dean's room and after Dean praises him...
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Gif credit @inacatastrophicmind
Dean had been with Crowley when he was a demon this whole time, so Cas was heartbroken. Even this season opens with a very depressed Castiel in the bed just let himself die because Dean was gone. So, that's why Cas says this.
So you went with Crowley, i have a female in my car. See? I don't need you.
He was Jealous, and now Dean gets Jealous, but he also gets the sensation again of his love for Castiel is unrequited.
The episode that followed this one, Dean goes into a blind date with random chick he took from a date app (very ooc, but he did it because he had his heart broken and because he thought CAS had cheated on him while he was gone as a demon.)
Season 11: Dean resist a forced bond with Amara because he's bonded with Castiel
Season 11 is a blatant exposure of Dean's feelings for Castiel. There a lot of hints throughout the season telling us Dean is in love, just like in season 9 there was hints of this with Castiel. (Again, mirroring each other).
Dean resisted Amara because of his love for Castiel. But Cas is oblivious about this.
When Castiel is possesed by Lucifer, Dean switch's into desperate mode. If he was worried about his attraction for Amara, now the only thing he cares was Castiel, exposing again WHO DEAN IS IN LOVE WITH.
But when Dean wanted to rescue Castiel, and Cas didn't want to come back to him, it hurt him worst. Again, just like in season 8, Dean can't handle Cas doesn't want to come back with him (first from Purgatory and now from being possesed). Again Dean feels rejected and unrequited. That's why when Cas is back and the end of the world is close... Dean says these words...
"You're our brother, Cas. I want you to know that."
And Cas' face...
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Gif credit @mad-as-a-box-of-frogs
That's a man with the heart broken, mostly because we know now he was in love with Dean CANON FACT! (sobbing louder).
Season 12 and the confusing I LOVE YOU
This season was full of married couple situations, but mostly, we had Castiel's I Love You in the barn, before "dying".
At first Dean thinks the angel was saying this as goodbye, expressing into words his feelings for the Winchesters. Because as and angel, maybe Cas was feeling he has to protect them all. But then he says this singular I Love You to Dean, and the guy doesn't know how to take it. It was a platonic ILY? A non platonic ILY? Does angels feel the same like us? Does he sees me as a brother? Dean was truly a mess, so he decides to respond to that with a Mixtape.
But, when Castiel disappears for days, he sinks again into that sensation of unrequited romantic love.
Then Cas comes back, and then he goes away again, and then he dies.
Season 13: The reunion and the meaning of Castiel coming back
Dean's mourning for Cas can't be interpreted otherwise than LOSING THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.
And the longing for his angel plus some Nougat powers, brought him back.
The thing is, Dean didn't expr as his feeling for Castiel and when the angel asked him that he needed to believed that he came back for a reason, Dean goes...
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Gif credit @inacatastrophicmind
This sound like if he was recruiting Cas for war. And Cas' took it as that. So he came back to soldier angel mode. Because, okay, if Dean and Sam needed him to fight, he will fight.
Unrequited Love again.
Season 14 Healing Dean and the prelude of the break up
Post-possesed Dean is a follow up of self knowledge and self growing. He was healing the whole season.
But in episode 14x04 we heard Dean being Jealous or hurt because Castiel didn't go to rescue him and then because he goes into hunts with Jack. Unrequited love again.
Did Cas miss me as I missed him?
Is the first time Dean will actually name the word LOVE talking with the kid.
And then Mary dies and everything is a mess.
Dean yells YOU ARE DEAD TO ME, and how sad that sounds now that the angel had died again. Saving his life.
Dark clouda over our ship...
Season 15: And Maybe is not too late...
In season 15 we lived the angst of the Destiel break up, but then their reunion in Purgatory was beautiful.
Again, facing the fact that he could lost Cas one more time, Dean went down on his knees and prayed to him, and because he was in Purgatory, his heart and mind were released from any distraction, and he was plenty focused in the love he feels for his angel.
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He cried, and begged for him to come back.
And he found him, following his heart, the profound bond he has with Castiel.
But, when he was about to say something that he hadn't said in the prayer, Castiel cut him off. So... Again the hunter had to swallow his words and the unrequited love punch him again.
Then... Castiel's romantic love confession took Dean by surprise, because, now that you read all the clues i gave you and i convinced you that Dean and Cas thought their love were unrequited, you will understand Dean's reaction.
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Gif credit @spnsmile
Dean didn't can't believe Cas had loved him the way he does this whole time and now, he will lose him again. Is too much pain he can't handle.
For a lot of reasons we had analyzed so many times (Dean's arc has to have a closure expressing his ILY to the angel, the Empty plot is not ended, Etc) Is logical to think Cas will come back in the last episode, and this slow burn story will end with them being together, finally.
To Conclude:
The legend of the Sun and the Moon talks about two lovers that can't be reunited but they love each other deeply.
Is accurate with Destiel, because these two men had always being pining for each other but never be able to be together as they wish.
Castiel always thinking Dean doesn't reciprocate his romantic feeling for him and Dean thinking because Cas is an angel, he doesn't love him back romantically.
The Sacred Oath always playing in Castiel's POV as an impediment too and Dean's love clocked in shame too.
The deal with the Empty had been settled as we suspected in season 14, as a romantic plot. So, it has to have a closure.
These thoughts are based on the volumes from my assay "The Destiel Chronicles", currently in it's 87th volume.
See you soon! Have faith!
Destiel Is Forever!
Tagging @gneisscastiel @emblue-sparks @magnificent-winged-beast @weird-dorky-little-d @michyribeiro @maleansu @legendary-destiel @a-bit-of-influence @thatwitchydestielfan @misha-moose-dean-burger-lover @lykanyouko @evvvissticante @savannadarkbaby @dea-stiel @mybonsai1976 @anarchiana @angelwithashotgunandtrenchcoat @trashblackrainbow @mishtho @dancingtuesdaymorning @feathered-cas @bre95611 @zoerayne2426 @justmeand-myinsight @that-one-fandom-chick @proccastinate @studio-hatter @pepevons @poorreputation @mrsaquaman187 @dizzypinwheel @jawnlockwinchester @dwstiel @ladygon @shippsblog @la-random-fangirl @lets-try-this-again-please @mychemicalobsession514 @destiel-shipper-11
@asphodelesauvage @2musiclover2
Buenos Aires November 17th 2020 8:33 PM
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teamfreewill2pointo · 4 years
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Sam’s Emotional Arc 1/3
I hated the finale immediately, but I’ve spent some time with it and talked to friends who loved it. I can see now what it was about, and I’ve come to appreciate the story they were trying to tell, even if I think it didn’t land right.
I’ve been told that my meta on this has helped other people come to terms with the finale, so I thought I’d compile it in one place from across various discord channels and twitter posts. If you are struggling with the finale, I hope it helps you.
Part of this actually started with a shit post. I was making a joke about Sam being psychic since he was scared of clowns when Dean died by one. I realized that may have been deliberate. I dug into the story more and now I’m convinced it was. Then I came across some excellent meta that fit with the themes I was finding and opened up the series even more for me.
Happiness isn’t in the having, it’s in just being. It’s in just saying it.
Cas said it. Dean accepted it. Sam lived it. First, Sam’s journey. 
Clowns pop up in s15 before the barn scene. In 15.01, which was written by Dabb, Sam is injured by a clown. Castiel is able to save Sam and heal his injury. The clown keeps coming after Sam, with Sam having fight scenes with the clown, while others attack the other ghosts. The clown is kicking the shit out of Sam again, and Castiel saves him once more. Sam is unable to fight off the clown on his own both times.
They run until they are able to escape outside a magical barrier. Sam turns to the clown and says, “shut up”. 
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This is literally Sam running from his fears. On top of that, this isn’t just any clown, but the ghost of John Wayne Gacy, from an episode also written by Dabb.
Dean: A serial killer clown. I mean, this is, like, the best/worst thing that’s ever happened to you, you know, ‘cause you love serial killers, but – but you hate clowns.
Sam gets nervous and struggles with the lighter before he’s able to get rid of the clown, for now.
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I believe this is a metaphor for hunting in general: it’s both the best of Sam’s life and also the worst. The clowns symbolize his relationship with Dean.
Plucky Pennywhistle's Magical Menagerie was co-written by Dabb (see the pattern?). Sam’s fear of clowns was known since season 2. In season 7, Dabb explored where this fear came from.
On the surface, Sam’s fear is just because he found them creepy, but the episode explains that they actually come from Sam’s fear of being left behind by Dean.
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This episode comes directly after an episode where Sam worried that Dean would get himself killed
Sam: Look... Dean, the thing is, tonight... It almost got you killed. Now, I don't care how you deal. I really, really don't. But just don't – don't get killed. Dean: I'll do what I can. Sam: Well, what's that supposed to mean? Dean: It means I'll do what I can. All right? You can shut up about it.
Sam is dealing with Hallucifer at this moment, but Hallucifer doesn’t really scare him. Losing Dean does.
Sam has a conversation with an employee about greatest fears.
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Recognize the actress? She came back for s15 in 15.06. I don’t believe this was a coincidence. 15.06 featured Castiel helping a parent find their lost child in a season that features Castiel worried about losing Jack. Through his experience with her, Castiel confronts his fears and doubts and then returns to join in the fight against God. [I’ll touch on Castiel’s journey more in his chapter]
Sam’s greatest fear is losing Dean. There’s a lot in the series about how Sam felt lonely and abandoned for much of his childhood. A whole episode, Just My Imagination, centers around this. Sam hated when Dean went off on hunts without him.
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source In The Chitters, Sam tells Dean how his fear of losing his family paralyzed him as child. It’s a story where an older brother dies and the younger brother never recovers from it until he’s able to lay him to rest (sound familiar???)
Sam: You know, whenever you and Dad used to leave me to go hunting, and I-and I wouldn’t hear from y’all for a while, I, um, I was always sure that some vamp or rugaru, or take your pick, I always figured one of them finally got ya. I tried to think what to do, you know, the next step to take. I was just lost. Dean: We came back, though, every time.
You might naturally think, “Wait a minute! Sam left Dean multiple times!” Honestly, this was something I had a huge issue with when watching through the show the first time. I didn’t understand Sam and hated him leaving Dean in s8. I was completely on Dean’s side at first. But, on multiple rewatches and talking to others, I’ve realized that when Sam left Dean, he was running from his fear. In this TV Guide interview, Jared perfectly sums up why Sam left in season 1; he couldn’t stand to see his family die. Dabb wrote Dark Side of the Moon along with a comic that explains why Sam left in detail. While the comic isn’t official canon, it shows Dabb’s thought process. In it, Sam sees his family as running towards a horrible end and can’t handle dealing with that.
Dean: So what are you gonna do? You're just gonna live some normal, apple pie life? Is that it? Sam: No. Not normal. Safe.
There are many more points in the series where we learn about Sam’s fear of Dean dying. This would be 3948573945 pages long if I wrote them all out, so I’m going to focus on the key moments that loop back to this ending, but there’s so much more there.
If you are struggling with this and need more, please let me know and I can do a deeper dive into that subject. We first see Sam’s inability to let Dean go in season 1 when Sam refuses to let Dean die in Faith.
Dean: You're not gonna let me die in peace, are you? Sam: I'm not gonna let you die, period. We're going.
Sam’s whole arc in s3 is him being unable to handle Dean dying. He wants to save Dean, but Dean won’t let himself be saved. This was what Gabriel was trying to teach him in Mystery Spot.
Trickster: This obsession to save Dean? The way you two keep sacrificing yourselves for each other? Nothing good comes out of it. Just blood and pain. Dean's your weakness. And the bad guys know it, too. It's gonna be the death of you, Sam. Sometimes you just gotta let people go.
This is how Ruby gets under Sam’s skin and what gets him to start working with her. Everything Sam did was to save Dean. In s4, Sam’s arc is about him sacrificing himself in order to save Dean. He’s gutted from being unable to save Dean. In 4.12, Sam decides to drink demon blood in order to save Dean
Dean: [says that they will die early] Sam: Maybe we'll be different, Dean. Dean: What kind of Kool-Aid you drinking, man? Sammy, it ends bloody or sad. That's just the life. Sam: What if we could win?Dean: "Win"?Sam: If there was a way we could just...put an end to all of it.
When Sam breaks out of the panic room, he’s suicidal. He’s determined to save Dean with his life as the cost he’s willing to pay. He didn’t think he would survive killing Lilith. He was committing suicide in that moment. The reason why Sam is so willing to sacrifice himself in s5 is because he has low self esteem. He blames himself for everything that goes wrong. In Sam, Interrupted 5.11, also by Dabb, Sam has a breakdown under the weight of his guilt. He hates himself and he feels his rage is out of control. In season 6, we see soulless Sam and, unlike souled Sam, he has no rage. Yes, he’ll kill when necessary, but he’s not angry. It was Sam’s fear driving his rage. He felt out of control of his life and let it lead him down a dark path. In season 7, he sees Dean heading down a dark path and he feels helpless to stop it. He worries about dragging Dean down and tells Dean to let him go. But, at the same time, he’s developing coping techniques. He’s starting to face his fears. 
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And then Dean disappears and Sam completely falls apart. Sam didn’t have a healthy relationship with Amelia. They were two broken people clinging to each other. Sam and Dean struggle to reconnect after their time apart. There’s a lot of text addressing the horror of a partner dying and people trying to escape from it.
Mrs Holmes: He could see the end of my days were at hand, and... He had lived centuries all alone, but I don't think he could bear the thought of life without me. That's why he drove off that bridge. You must think I'm a monster.
In Hunteri Heroica written by GUESS WHO!?!? Sam finally acknowledges that he was living in a dream world with Amelia. He was running from his past. We see a flash back with Sam pressing on his scar, which he did to help himself distinguish fantasy from reality.
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The episode is about a man refusing to engage in reality and harming those around him. Sam has a big confrontation with him
Sam: Look, it can be nice living in a dream world. It can be great. I know that. And you can hide, and you can pretend... all the crap out there doesn't exist, but you can't do it forever because... eventually, whatever it is you're running from – it'll find you. [CASTIEL appears to be taking Sam’s words to heart.] It'll come along, and it'll punch you in the gut. And then... then you got to wake up, because if you don't, then trying to keep that dream alive will destroy you! It'll destroy everything!
Likewise, when Sam was with Jessica, he wasn’t honest about himself. He was hiding from his family and his past. Running to avoid pain. Sam is avoidant in general. Not just in his relationship with Dean. When he talks with Rowena in 13.12 Various & Sundry Villains about his fears of Lucifer, he admits that he could talk about it with Dean, but he can’t bring himself to.
Sam: I’ve seen it too. What he really looks like behind – behind whatever vessel. It… Yeah, still keeps me up at night. Rowena: How do you deal with it? Sam: I guess I don’t deal with it. Not really. I mean, I pushed it down and, um, the world kept almost ending, so I keep pushing it down, and I don’t know. [stammering] I really don’t talk about it, not even with Dean. I mean, I could. You know, he’d listen, but… That’s not something I really know how to share.
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In 15.20, Sam’s past is front and center. Literally. I know a lot of people found the Winchester family portrait odd and upsetting, but it symbolizes something I’ll get to in a bit. Instead of trying to avoid his grief, Sam has moments where he lets it wash over him. He goes and sits in the car. He’s no longer avoidant. He’s no longer running away. He’s letting his grief move through him. He’s literally sitting with it.
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Soulless Puppy pointed out that the characters emotional arcs is similar to DBT. Please look through their awesome meta here.
Personally, I see them as similar to the therapy I do called ACT. Both are forms of therapy where instead of fighting against them, you accept painful emotions and allow yourself to feel them. If you don’t do that work, then you can’t stop feeling them and your fears/ghosts will always haunt you.  In Swan Song, Chuck tells us that “Dean didn't want Cas to save him. Every part of him, every fiber he's got, wants to die, or find a way to bring Sam back. But he isn't gonna do either. Because he made a promise.”  In 15.20, Sam initially didn’t want to let Dean go. He’s been refusing to do this since season 1. When he’s separated from Dean he lives a fake life or destroys himself/the world trying to get Dean back. There’s a moment in 15.20 where Sam looks at Dean’s guns. He wants to commit suicide, but he makes the choice to live. For the time in Sam’s life, he let Dean go and lived with his pain. He no longer ran from it. After Swan Song, Dean was unable to let Sam go. He wanted him back. After Carry On, Sam is able to do what Dean couldn’t do. He lives a life outside of Dean. What’s more, Sam has reconciled himself with his past and his family. It’s clumsy and I wish it were better shown, but having the family portrait and their parents in heaven isn’t meant to excuse the way Sam and Dean were raised. In order to move past the trauma of his relationship with his parents, Sam fully integrates them into his life. In Lebanon, Sam was able to confront and forgive his father. In doing so, he can also forgive himself. Mary asks for forgiveness too, and he grants it to her. He doesn’t forget what happened, but he’s able to move forward and leave the intergenerational cycle of violence. He’s able to raise his son, Dean, the way his brother should have been raised.
Happiness isn’t in the having, it’s in just being. It’s in just saying it.
Cas said it. Dean accepted it. Sam lived it.
I can see why people see Sam’s life after Dean as unhappy. I hated it so much because I saw it as horrible and sad the first time through. I had to sit with myself and my emotions first. I think it’s because we’ve been told by society that we have to get rid of our grief in order to be happy. The finale was showing us that it’s possible to do the opposite. [Personally I think it would’ve been better had they showed more overtly happy memories, but many of my friends saw this straight away] When I began therapy, one of the first things I learned was that there aren’t “negative” emotions. When working with our kids, we call them Big emotions. In DBT/ACT, all emotions are treated as normal and natural. Grief, anger, sadness, etc, these are all normal parts of the human existence. We don’t need to run from them in order to have happiness. We can live with them. As interstitial said in our chats, “you can't change the past, you can only change your relationship to it. To accept that your past contained both love and heartache, to miss it, but also know you can do better; that's actual recovery, as good as it gets.” As Soulless-Puppy explained to me, Sam lived in duality. Dean was dead, but Sam lived. Sam was happy, but he grieved. Dean was with him in the watch and the car and his son, but Dean also waited for him in heaven. I hated the finale the first time I saw it, then next watched it with my boyfriend who loved it. As we were watching together and discussing it, I realized that Dean’s death scene wasn’t just about him, but about the show itself. 
Dean promising Sam that he will be with Sam in Sam’s heart is also the show promising us that they will never leave it. That’s why Alex kept posting “The end has no end.” Just as Sam carried Dean with him in his heart, we will carry the show with us. I hope this helps. It’s a terrible thing to feel upset about an ending and thinking of the show this way, recognizing these patterns, is bringing me peace. I still have issues with how it was written, but now that I see what they were doing, I wish all the more that they had the chance to do it right. Please share your thoughts and experiences. I love hearing different opinions. Next up, Dean. Then Castiel.
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My feelings on a common misconception interpretation of Sam in “Slice Girls”: 
TL;DR Sam did not kill Emma as “revenge” and Dean was not ethically inconsistent in his actions with Emma versus Amy.
I have seen many times people claim that Sam killed Emma as “revenge” for Amy. I have seen both his antis and his hardcore stans say this (the latter as a means of “justifying” a decision Sam made that they traditionally wouldn’t stand behind… regardless of the fact that killing a kid to get revenge on his brother would paint him in a far worse light than taking the situation at face-value). 
In the same way that Dean killed Amy because he legitimately thought it was the right call, Sam killed Emma because he legitimately thought it was the right call. That’s it. Hate both of their decisions, agree with one but not the other, agree with neither… no matter what, I don’t think wanting “revenge” and taking that out on a child had anything to do with Sam’s actions. There are a few reasons why.
First, looking at the context of the season as a whole, Sam has been worried about Dean’s mental state for most of the season in much the same way that Dean has been worried about his, and accordingly, they didn't trust each other’s judgment fully. 
Dean killing Amy was to some extent, about not trusting Sam’s judgement due to his attachment to Amy and the metal state Sam had been in that season. Sam had been hallucinating and had also lied about it. So on top of not being sure if Sam could accurately grasp reality at any given time, him hiding it also made it very difficult for Dean to trust Sam to be honest if he was hallucinating, needed help, or needed to take a step back.
Sam’s decision to kill Emma was, likewise, to some extent, about not trusting Dean’s judgement due to his natural attachment to Emma as a father and Dean’s mental state that season. We see, on several occasions in season 7, Sam noting that Dean is drinking more alcohol than usual (which is saying something). Several times in the season, Sam expresses concern over this, to Bobby as well as to Dean directly. Sam’s lack of confidence in Dean is actually enough that, when Dean begins to notice things moving from where he left them and starts to suspect that Bobby is haunting them, Sam repeatedly and flippantly dismisses his observations and chalks all of it up to Dean drinking too much and grieving too hard and being an unreliable witness. 
Second, Sam and Dean came to an understanding about Amy in “The Mentalist”, and Sam ended up saying at the end of the episode that Dean’s actions made sense, and that he was right that Sam’s judgement couldn’t be trusted because he was too close to the situation emotionally. 
Season 7’s “The Mentalist” covers the confrontation between Sam and Dean over Amy, and Sam’s decision to work side by side with Dean again. There are two scenes—the initial blow up from Sam and Dean’s rebuttal, and then the resolution at the end of the episode. 
First the initial blow up and Dean’s rebuttal: 
Dean: We agreed to work the case. We didn’t agree for you to be a dick the whole time. 
Sam: What?
Dean: You’re pissed. Okay? And you’ve got a right. 
Sam: Yeah, damn straight. 
Dean: But enough’s enough. 
Sam: Says who? Look, I’ll work this damn case, but you lied to me, and you killed my friend. 
Dean:  No, I put down a monster who killed four people, and if you didn’t know her, you’d have done the same thing. 
Sam: I did know her, Dean.
Dean: Yeah, which is why you couldn’t do it. Look, I get it. There are certain people in this world, no matter how dangerous they are, you just can’t. 
Sam: Don’t pull that card! That’s bull! Look, if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that if something feels wrong, it probably is!
Dean: Usually, yeah. But killing Amy was not wrong. You couldn’t do it, so I did. That’s what family does—the dirty work. And I would have told you eventually, once I knew that this whole “waving a gun at Satan” thing was a one-time show. I think it’s reasonable to want to know that you’re off the friggin’ high dive, Sam. You almost got us both killed. So you can be pissed all you want, but quite being a bitch. 
Then there was the resolution at the end of the episode: 
Sam: Look, you know what... you were right—about Amy. If she was just any monster, I’m not sure I could have let her walk away. I dunno. I mean, I’ll never know. 
Dean: What are you saying?
Sam: What I’m saying is… I get why you did it. You were just trying to make sure no one else got hurt. But here’s the thing: you can’t just look me in the face and tell me you’re fine. I mean, you’re not sleeping, you drink for the record-
Dean: Oh here we go…
Sam: Look, whatever. Last one to preach. I know. But… just be honest with me. How are those the actions of someone who knows they did the right thing?
Dean: You want me to be honest?
Sam: Yeah.
Dean: I went with my gut. And that felt right. I didn’t trust her, Sam. Of course, ever since Cas, I’m having trouble trusting anybody. And as far as how I’ve been acting… I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I don’t like lying to you. You know, it doesn’t feel right. So yeah, you got me there. I’ve been climbing the walls. 
Third, in context, when Sam brings up Amy in the car, it is to say Dean choked with Emma in the same way that Sam choked with Amy and it could have gotten him killed—not that killing Emma was somehow vengeance for Amy. See the conversation at the end of “Slice Girls”:
Sam: What did you say to me... when I was the one who choked? What did you say about Amy? “You said you kill the monster”!
Dean: I was going to!
Sam: Oh, like hell you were! You think I’m an idiot? 
Dean: What you think I am?!
Sam: Dean, you were gonna let her walk! 
Dean: No I wasn’t. That’s ridiculous! 
Sam: Look, man, she was not yours. Not really. 
Dean: Actually, she, uh, she was, really. She just also happened to be a crazy man-killing monster. But uh, hey-
Sam: You know what? Bobby was right. Your head’s not in it, man. When Cas died, you were wobbly, but now... 
Dean: Now what? Oh what, you’re dealing with it so perfect? Yeah, news flash, pal. You’re just as screwed up as I am! You’re just... bigger. 
Sam: What?!
Dean: I don't know!
Sam: Look... Dean, the thing is, tonight... it almost got you killed. Now, I don’t care how you deal. I really, really don’t. But just don’t...  don’t get killed. 
In no way does Sam suggest here that Dean “deserved” to have his kid shot in front of him as some kind of “payback”. In fact, that doesn't really make sense 
In the context of the conversation in “The Mentalist, where Sam said he understood why Dean felt the way he did about Amy. 
It also doesn’t make sense in the context fo Sam’s comment that Emma “wasn’t really yours”. If he did it to hurt Dean, he would have pressed into that relationship, not dismissed it. 
He lectured Dean because he was scared Dean wouldn't have been able to pull the trigger and would have gotten himself killed. It’s the same “are you off the high-dive?” lecture Dean gave him, it’s the same “I did the dirty work for you because you couldn’t”. The shot Sam took wasn’t hesitant, but it also wasn’t emotional. It was calculated and ruthless. It was a choice Sam made, that Emma could not be trusted. He made that call. And maybe he was right—maybe the brainwashing went too deep, and Emma would have come after Dean again if they let her go (which is probably what Sam was really worried about—that she would have gone after Dean again and gotten the drop on him or he wouldn’t have shot her), or maybe she would have come after someone else. Maybe Sam was wrong, and Emma could have been persuaded away from life in a cult. We can say the same about Dean killing Amy. All they had was her word that she wouldn't kill again. And yet, if her son got sick again, it seems reasonable to assume she’d go on another killing spree. Maybe Dean was right to kill her, maybe he was wrong.
Other notes: 
[1] Sam misses a certain detail when he compares Dean’s actions with Emma to his own situation with Amy. Sam only compares the two situation by virtue of him or Dean choking due to an attachment to the “monster” in question. However, there’s a distinction between the two kills that is important within Dean’s personal ethical framework, while it’s not necessarily important within Sam’s... to the point that Sam doesn't really see this distinction at all (in fact, he may not know about it). Namely, Emma had never killed anyone before while Amy had killed four people. Dean’s actions in both situations are actually ethically consistent—which is another misconception in fandom. From Dean’s framework, Emma and Amy are not the same. Emma and Amy’s son are the same. We see the distinction Dean draws between Amy and her son in “The Girl Next Door”: Dean kills Amy but lets her son go because he’s never killed anyone. He doesn’t rescind that even after Amy’s son tells Dean he’s going to come after him eventually and kill him. Dean treats Emma in the exact same way. He tells her he would let her walk away because she’s never killed anyone, and he doesn’t rescind the offer even if it seems like she still might try to come after him again. This is also consistent with how Dean treated Bobby John in Season 6 “Two and a Half Men”, Jack in Season 4 “Metamorphosis”, and Madison in Season 2 “Heart”. 
[2] When he kills Amy, Dean is notedly dealing with trust issues that he himself acknowledges, after what happened with Cas. He trusted Cas implicitly even when Bobby and Sam doubted him, and he got burned, and it shook his ability to trust in anyone (see Sam’s “wobbly” talk above”). Killing Amy is a part of that, according to Dean’s own perceptions. 
[3] To a certain extent, it might even be said that Sam and Dean aren't just wary of trusting each other’s judgement, but also wary of trusting themselves. For example, “You kill the monster” is a hardline stance that’s unusual for Sam and that is rejected by both brothers as early as Season 2 “Bloodlust”. But because Sam doesn’t trust himself at that point in time, and also does not trust Dean’s judgement either, he does what he thinks is “safe” when his own mind is half shredded and he has a depressed and alcoholic brother who he’s afraid is going to let a monster kid murder him one day (be it Emma or Amy’s son). If he were to let Emma go and worse came to worse, Sam doesn’t feel he can rely on Dean to defend himself from her, and he doesn’t know what his own mind state is going to be like in the future. So he does what’s “safe” for them both. In the same way, Dean’s actions with Amy could be viewed as him choosing what’s “safe”.
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deantransgressions2 · 3 years
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13x02 the rising son
21 transgressions. enjoy.
#1: dean criticized sam for wanting to protect jack, and then devalued jack’s entire existence to an “it”.
sam: “look… losing mom and cas, that’s a lot to process, dean, especially on no sleep. and the kid...”
dean: “the “kid”? come on, man, you know how this plays out. kook, when we try to bend the rules, pretend that the bad guys aren’t so bad or that things will get fixed, that’s when people that we care about get hurt. and then we end up doing what we should’ve done in the first place, which is end the problem. so this time, let’s start with the obvious. soon as i find a way to take care of… it.”
time tag: 3:17
#2: after sam failed again to make dean see jack as a child, he tried to make dean see jack as an asset. dean refused to listen or consider any of sam’s insights, and admitted that he is giving up on family, which is something he claims he would never ever ever ever ever do. 
sam: “dean, “the problem” might be our only shot at saving mom.”
dean: “mom’s gone. there’s no fixing that.”
time tag: 3:44
#3: jack was happily watching scooby doo and bothering nobody, so of course dean walked over and scolded him, then turned the tv off. apparently watching tv is illegal now yall!! 
time tag: 9:03
#4: told jack to take the couch and threw a bible at him. luckily, sam isn’t a child murderer and made sure jack felt welcome. sam = good dad. but, dean winchester is already worse of a father than john was. you hate to see it. 
time tag: 9:11
#5: dean criticized jack for eating the exact same way he does. mocking a 3 day old child just for the sake of it, just to make himself feel better. he is pathetic. idk why jack and sam put up with him these next 3 seasons. 
dean: “you can slow down, you know. that’s stuff’s not gonna disappear.”
sam: “ever seen you eat, dean?”
time tag: 10:02
#6: yells at jack for copying his movements. he’s 3 days old...3 days old. 3. 
time tag: 11:35
#7: sam has been rooting for jack to not be evil. he is focusing on WHO jack is not what he is. dean, however, is counting on jack being evil so he can murder him. the confirmation bias is real here. any instance of jack showing humanity dean just tunes it out. this conversation should remind you of dean’s view of sam in s4/5
donatello: “yes, well, not so much anymore. but, uh…look at you. the waves of power… so intense.”
dean: “maybe less human than we thought.”
donatello: “fascinating. you know, i’ve met your father. your power’s nothing like his. not dark, not toxic.”
sam: “that so?”
dean: “not yet.”
time tag: whole time but 15:58
#8: he was a dick to the tattoo artist for no reason expect that he loves to take his anger out on others. 
time tag: 16:44
#9: when in doubt blame sam! when in doubt accuse sam! when in doubt manipulate sam! wooohooo!!!
sam: “so you heard donatello. no evil vibes from jack.”
dean: “proves nothing, except that you’re way too attached to this kid. you need to see this for what it is, okay?”
time tag: 16:54
#10: lessons from our sexist macho man icon:
jack: “it hurt.”
dean: “okay, see, sometimes, things hurt, so you just man up and deal with it.”
time tag: 17:21
#11: some more of dean refusing to listen to other’s correct observations of jack, because there is no changing his mind that jack is evil. he doesn’t need proof that jack is evil, because he doesn’t want it. he wants to murder jack regardless of who he is. dean only cares about WHAT jack is. sigh. 2x03 i miss you. 
time tag: 18:43
#12: dean claimed that since cas loved jack, jack is therefore responsible for his murder. even though it was literally lucifer that murdered cas, not jack. so, using dean’s logic: sam and john killed mary, sam killed jess, dean killed john, sam killed dean, sam and dean and bobby killed jo and ellen, dean killed sam, dean and sam killed cas multiple times, sam and dean killed kevin....etc etc. do you see how fucking stupid dean is being rn?
sam: “okay, look, yeah, jack is on lucifer’s family tree. but we don’t know if that dna is stronger than Kelly’s, or his connection with cas.”
dean: “oh, you mean the connection that got cas killed?”
sam: “i’m just saying, jack doesn’t have to be evil. we can teach him not to be.”
time tag: 18:53
#13: dean called jack ‘the devil’ which made jack so upset he ran away. this is a transgression obviously towards jack, but also towards sam. dean said that a 3 day old child (who literally hasn’t done anything wrong) is the devil. he said it in front of his brother who was tortured by the ACTUAL devil (and michael) for centuries. it’s insensitive and fucked up beyond belief for dean to use his brother’s abuser to try and manipulate him to conform to his beliefs on jack.
NOT TO MENTION that dean is the only member of team free will with absolutely no supernatural abilities at all. he does not understand jack. he does not understand lucifer. dean is the LAST person who should have a say in if jack is good or evil. 
time tag: 19:25
#14: this is a abuse apology. many victims of abuse are manipulated to apologize for them and sympathize with them. this is a prime example of that:
sam: “dean doesn’t hate you. it… look, sometimes the wires in dan’s head get crossed and...and he gets frustrated, and then he mixes frustration with anger, and...and fear.”
jack: “why would he be afraid?”
sam: “because dean feels like it’s his job to protect everyone.”
time tag: 20:45
#15: did the writers include this scene to emphasize that dean is john (but worse)....because that’s exactly what it did. 
bartender: “i hated my old man. I ran away myself. see, my mom would never stick up for me. but…you know kids. no matter what, they still want the old man’s approval. well, that’s how it was with me, just…”
dean: “you know, that’s, uh, that’s how it was with me, too.” 
i’m not sure what dean is referring to here because based on what the bartender is saying, sam would relate more to her story than dean but ok! sure! pity party time needs no logic
time tag: 22:17
#16: sam had to seperate jack and dean in order to protect jack. sam felt that jack was safer with a man that had no soul (donatello), over his own brother. and he was right!
time tag: 23:11
#17: dean made fun of sam and jack by calling jack sam’s “new pal” as a way to not only degrade jack, but also ridicule sam. 
time tag: 27:08
#18: dean is angry that sam isn’t blindly following along with his plans for jack’s death. and everything sam tried to say to get dean out of his child murdering mindset goes in one ear and out the other. 
sam: “point is…if you and i are gonna do this, keep jack on the right side of things, then...then we have to be on the same page.”
dean: “okay. well, that’s the problem, though, sam, ‘cause we’re not on the same page. like, at all.”
sam: “all right. you know what? i know what’s going on here.”
dean: “oh. okay. well, please, tell me, what’s going on here?”
sam: “you thinking mom is gone and cas is gone, and that jack can’t be saved. dean, after everything we’ve gone through… we just lost people we love, people who have been in our lives for a long time. everything’s upside-down. i get it. but we’ve been down before. i mean, rock bottom. and we find a way. We fix it because that’s what we do. and jack w-wants to do the right thing. jack’s scared to death of who he is, and he’s scared of you.” 
you know who else was scared of their father figure? dean. and sam. and now jack. dean stans can hate john all they want but the truth is dean is far worse. they both deserve a special place in hell together
time tag: 27:19
#19: the mental gymnastics it takes to come to this conclusion about jack. to ignore any and all proof that jack isn’t evil. it’s shocking how strongly dean holds onto hate and his need to kill. 
sam: “dean, wait a second. the kid came through for us today. jack saved us.” dean: “no. no, whatever that was, that was a reflex. it was a sneeze. maybe next time he sneezes, he kills us. goodnight.”
time tag: 39:32
#20: dean drove jack to self harm. dean then proceeded to angrily tell him off and call him names for doing so. 
dean: “okay. what the hell? give me that. you...don’t be an idiot. look, a, this is not gonna do anything to you, okay? and b, you… what the hell?”
time tag: 40:35
#21: this is psychological abuse. this is child abuse. this scene is as bad as the panic room of s4. disgusting. and some people actually ship this man with this child’s father (castiel). get help. 
dean: “you know, my brother thinks you can be saved.” jack: “you don’t believe that.” dean: “no, i don’t.”
jack: “so… if you’re right?”
dean: “if i’m right… and it comes to killing you… i’ll be the one to do it.”
time tag: 41:07
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astrea-lin · 4 years
Text
MLQC/ Love Producer chapter 25 translation
Spoilers ahead ><  Translated this from Chinese but some parts were really difficult too, I hope it helps nonetheless c:  
------chapter 25-1------- 
Under the inky blue night sky, the moon hung highly.I stood on a surface of water and reached out, raindrops falling onto my palm.There was no sound of rain. I could not feel the temperature of the water droplets, either. 
Surprisingly, the surroundings were quiet, and my hazy expression was reflected on the still water. I seemed to have passed through a long, dark tunnel and ended up in a peaceful lake. However, I almost couldn’t remember everything else that had happened. 
Someone seemed to be calling my name. I opened my mouth, but there was no sound.
There were layers of mist wrapped around me. My body seemed like it was being pushed around uncontrollably. As my world was spun around, I fell deeper into the water.
The sound of rain and shouting echoed in my ears; the shouts unwilling to cease.
I opened my eyes slowly, and subconsciously reached out my hand to block the ray of light from my sight. In the next second, a few familiar faces appeared in my sight. A pair of eyes gleamed, seemingly surprised.
Young boy: “You’re finally awake!” 
Young girl: “We’ve called for you so many times! Quick, call the dean!”
Upon hearing the girl, the young boy turned and left the classroom. I looked at the familiar faces of the noisy children around me, and I lost focus for a moment.  
MC: This is…
Young girl: “I knew it! You’ve forgotten about us! You clearly promised to come back and visit us…”
Young girl: “ Lucien even told us that you just didn’t have time…”
I hurriedly looked around me, like I was being struck. I looked at the organized tables and chairs, the snow-white ceiling, and the resentful girl in front of me. All of my memories were then put together. 
MC: “This place, could it be…”
MC: “Dean...”
Dean: “Are you alright?”
I turned to look at the dean who was rushing over to me, and I didn't dare to confirm my own assumptions. Looking at the dean and the children who were calling my name filled my heart a little.
Dean: “We haven’t met in a long time. What brings you here? Do you have new ideas for your show?”
The children gathered around me, calling my name. One of the children stood closely to the dean, seemingly full of expectations. 
Young girl: “Lucien’s girlfriend is here. Does this mean that Lucien will be here,too? He hasn’t visited to tell us stories in a long time…”
Young boy: “Didn’t you claim that you were Lucien’s girlfriend instead?”
The children started laughing, and the  girl blushed. She chased him around and tried to hit him. I felt a tingling feeling in my nose as I watched them. That’s right, this was the orphanage I remembered. They seemed to be a little older now, but it’s true; they were the children I visited because Lucien brought me to see them.
They remembered my name, and the things I did here. I remembered coming here with Lucien…
This was the world I experienced everything in;  my joy, doubts, and my countless emotions.
MC: “How have you been, recently?”
Even though I did my best to control myself, my voice was still shaking.
The dean was puzzled, but still nodded at me.
Dean: “What’s wrong? Why are you asking such a question so suddenly?”
I tried my best to take a deep breath.
MC: “Everything’s fine, I’m just… happy”
MC: “Happy that I returned.”
Even though the dean was confused, he looked at me, gave me a kind smile, and understood me in his own way.
Dean: “This place will always welcome you.”
Dean: “Come, let’s get up.”
I nodded, and the children rushed to reach out their hands, pulling me to a seat.
Dean: “When did you arrive at the orphanage? Why didn’t anyone tell us so? The children told me that you fell asleep here.” 
Dean: “Did anything happen?”
Looking at the dean’s kind expression, I tried my best to think of my last memory. A beam of light passed me by.
I stood still, and shook my head in the end. 
Young boy: “I know! You must have been too sleepy, that’s why you fell asleep.”
Young girl: “Even so, she wouldn’t have slept on the floor!”
Young boy: “Who says you can’t? You were even able to sleep on the grass while standing the other day, and  I saw that!”
Young boy: “Didn’t the dean always talk about how it’s so easy to fall asleep during this season?”
Young girl: “You! How could you say that out? It’s too embarrassing!”
Dean: “Alright, stop fighting.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at their bickering. I felt a long lost warmth in my heart.
The sun shined on the windows as I looked out, and all I saw was rich greens. The weather was amazing.
However, something didn’t feel right.
Too many things had happened in the past. Even though what I saw were familiar people, I’ve always felt that there were subtle changes.
Why was I at the orphanage? Has the incident that took place in the other world been resolved?
Is he… doing ok?
Then, I received a phone call from an unknown number.
MC: “Hello?”
??: “MC… Your company...”
MC: “Hello? I can’t hear you clearly. Can you speak louder?”
I heard static noises alongside a familiar female voice. I could only struggle to comprehend what she was saying. 
Before I could ask clearly, the call went into voicemail.
My company? Was the call from Anna?
ding--
At the same time, my phone started ringing continuously for a few minutes.
The children around me watched as my phone continued to ring.
Young boy: “Your phone is dancing…”
Text messages, e-mails, news, advertisements…  
Countless notifications flooded in, as though wanting to fill up my phone all at once.
MC: “What’s going on?”  
The flood of notifications stopped, and my screen went dark
I picked up my phone to check for any issues, when my screen lit up once again.
The sender’s name broke into my sight suddenly, and my breathing seemed to be out of pace in an instant.
It’s Kiro.
Kiro: “Welcome back ^^”
------chapter 25- 2------- 
My thoughts drifted to a distant past. Looking at my phone’s screen, I could picture his smiling face, grinning from ear to ear.  Kiro… How did he know of my return?
More importantly, the one who sent me thay text message-- was it really him?
An image of a silver-haired boy came into my mind and I thought of his cold gaze. I couldn’t help but hold on to my phone tightly.
Young boy: “Why didn’t you bring chips for us?”
I stopped for a moment, and thought about a decision I made, and my visit to the orphanage to  distribute the  chips to the children.
MC: “Dean, I’m sorry, things have been too busy these days. How long has it been since my last visit?.”
Dean: “About half a year.”
Dean: “When you last visited, this place was a temporary shelter. The flu affected the whole city, and it was disastrous.”
Hearing about the flu, it rang a bell. All of my memories came rushing back like a surge of waves.
The messy gray-white hall, the girl in a black dress who fell into a pool of blood, the man whom I cried and begged at, and his embrace. 
Victor… How is he? 
I subconsciously put my hand on my chest, trying to find an answer that did not exist.
Dean: “Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”
I shook my head quickly, let out a breath, and thought of something more important.
MC: “Has the flu incident been resolved?”
The dean let out a surprised expression, and nodded.
Dean: “Of course it had been resolved. Even if you were busy, you should know about things like this. Furthermore, didn’t Lucien--”
Suddenly, strong footsteps came from the outside, and interrupted his words.
--bang---, the door was forcefully knocked open.
The children screamed in fear, and I rushed to  protect them behind me.
Even though my heart was beating so quickly, my first reaction was to react immediately. Perhaps that was because I had experienced too many things recently.
A group of people in uniforms appeared in the classroom. They formed into a straight line quickly, their faces full of dignity.
There was a sudden conflict. In a few seconds, they blocked the path to the exit.
Upon looking at their uniforms, I reacted immediately. They were agents from the task force!
Dean: “Sirs, may I ask what’s the matter?”
I looked at the dean who was walking forward,  my heart full of surprise and suspicion. He’s an ordinary person, so how could he have known about the agents?
Not having time to think, the man who was standing in the middle walked towards us with utmost urgency.
He was holding a device that was slightly larger than his palm. His gaze scanned us, as though he was comparing us with one another.
After a while, he turned to whisper to his teammate next to him. They quickly walked toward us and grabbed the two children behind me. 
Officer: “Take them away.”
I looked at the scene before me in shock, unable to react to the situation.
Young girl: “Dean… MC… I’m scared...”
The crying and shouting in front of me amplified and I felt something tugging at my heart. I rushed forward and held  their hands.
MC: “Your tasks have always been to arrest criminals with Evol powers, so why are you capturing these children?”
The man frowned, seemingly intrigued by my question.
Officer: “You seem to have a good understanding about us?”
MC: “I know...one of your past colleagues.”
The man looked at me for a moment, and let out a cold laughter.
Officer: “You want to talk about favors?  Miss, you’re overthinking. We must take away these two underaged evolvers today. This is an order, please cooperate.”
I looked at the two crying children before me. All this while, I never knew they were evolvers.
However, that man’s tone infuriated me.
MC: “Why must they be taken, just because they are evolvers? Did they commit a crime?”
MC: “Also, how could you discuss the evolvers’ identities so openly?”
There was a dead silence, and then laughter from the agents. Even the dean furrowed his brows as he looked at me.
The officer who captured the children began to speak coldly.
Officer: “3 months ago, the list containing the names of all evolvers was released publicly. ”
MC: “What?!”
Officer: “This is to protect the safety of all citizens.”
Officer: “The massacre at the quarantine zone proved that the potential danger of evol criminals has far exceeded our expectations”. 
Officer: “If the force had not taken control of the scene on time and arrested the ones responsible, every single one of you would probably have been dead.”
Young boy: “Nonsense! The one who saved us was Lucien!”
Upon hearing Lucien’s name, the agent was surprised and showed a hint of anxiety on his face, but soon looked serious again.
Officer: “Anyway, we must monitor all underaged evolvers.”
Officer: “Even though they are still young, it would be too dangerous when they lose control of their powers.”
Looking at the two helpless figures before me, I gritted my teeth.
Be it the massacre, or evolvers losing control of their powers-- it is not fundamentally the evolvers’ fault. Even more so, these children were not to be blamed.
How could they publicly release the names of the evolvers? How are they going to live their lives then?
In a moment, countless ideas flashed in my mind.
The man passed down an order as they moved towards me. I could only hold the children tightly with my body to protect them.
MC: “Wait!”
I took a deep breath and paced myself.
MC: “I am an Evolver too.”
Everyone stopped on their tracks instantly as the man looked at me cautiously. Their reaction convinced me that my tactic was effective.
MC: “I am an evolver too, If you are going to take these children, take me along as well.”
The man ordered the dean to stand at the side, as he reached for his gun.
Officer: “Take the rest of the children and leave. Do not return to the classroom without our orders.”
Young girl: “She won’t hurt us!”
The dean suppressed his feelings of suspicion and we exchanged looks. He nodded and took the children away quickly.
The man waited for them to leave, and took a metal device from his teammate as he placed them on my temple.
I gulped nervously and was prepared to be captured, but I stared at him without showing any weakness.
The device beeped twice and showed: No Evol response.
MC: “?!”
The man shook his head and laughed coldly.
Officer: “Miss, do not interfere with official business.”
I stood in place, staring at the device and its response echoed in my ears: No Evol response.
The man turned to take the children away, but I couldn’t help but run forward. I snatched the device from his hands.
Officer: “What are you doing?”
Countless guns aimed at me, and I was running out of time. I placed the device over my temple like they did before. The device rang sharply, and the man looked at me in disgust.
Officer: “What a lunatic… actually hoping to be an Evolver...”
Officer: “Do what an ordinary person would do, or else I will take you away next time.”
I watched the children being taken with my own eyes.
However, the sharp ringing from the device still echoed in my ears.
No Evol response… How is that possible?
Wasn’t my Evol the reason why everything began in the first place?
Because I have the Queen’s Evol, and because I saw those premonitions-- That’s why the world before my eyes slowly unfolded just like what I saw.
The Queen’s abilities would be awakened once the dimensions are unified. I clearly did it in the Black Cabin! So, why…
Was there a problem with that device?!
I closed my eyes as I tried to focus. I tried to recall how I felt when I used my abilities in the past, but I only saw  darkness. 
No, the Queen’s abilities should be more than just being able to see the future. At that moment, I felt it too.
But then, it seemed I didn’t even have my pre-recognition abilities anymore!
Had I really…turned into an ordinary person?
Hypnos: “Can you feel the helplessness of an ordinary person now?”
A gentle yet distant voice rang in my ears. Its warmth felt like falling snowflakes in the cold winter.
I quickly opened my eyes, and in front of me stood an elegant, slender man. I felt a chill down my spine.
Hypnos: “We met again.”
------chapter 25-4------- 
He was still as lofty as ever.
Even though he emerged from the sunlight, his eyes still brought about an air of coldness. I felt a chill involuntarily.
His appearance gave me a terrible feeling, as if this person was concealing some sort of agenda. 
MC: “Why are you here?”
He smiled, but didn’t answer.
MC: “Is this another vision in my dreams?”
MC: “Was it you who allowed the disclosure of the evolvers’ identities?”
MC: “Were you the one who let the public treat evolvers like monsters? Like what you’ve done before?”
Hypnos smiled and walked to my side. His voice was warm and calm, like he was trying to appease me from being so agitated.
Hypnos: “I think you have misunderstood. This is indeed the world where you made all your decisions.”
Hypnos: “I think I have already reminded you a long time ago, that regardless of which world it is, they won’t have too much of a difference from one another.”
MC: “I don’t believe that this has nothing to do with you.”
His face seemed to show ruthlessness, or was it sympathy?
I was unable to read his emotions from his eyes.
Hypnos: “You’re overthinking it. In this world, I have become an ordinary person, just like you.”
Hypnos: “This is considered as... the price I‘ve paid.”
He let out a gentle smile, but I sensed a hint of danger. Something then flashed across my mind.
MC: “What do you mean by “Price”? Did you exchange your evol for something?”
He looked at me silently, reached out, and brushed my forehead.
I couldn’t help but to take a step back, and my forehead felt cold.
Hypnos: “You will slowly learn about it, eventually."
Hypnos: “My decision was made for you.”
I was lost in my thoughts for a moment, but I quickly realized something.
MC: “Why would I lose my evol?”
He looked at me like he was prompting me to keep talking.
MC: “Was this your plan? Did you make my evol disappear? Why did you do that?”
Hypnos: “Isn't it great to be an ordinary person?”
He interrupted me, his tone peaceful and gentle, like he was treating a child who had just lost her candy. 
Hypnos: “Regarding the Queen’s abilities, It was only a burden to you, right?”
I was stunned by his question. I felt like a rock was stuck between my throat, making me unable to react to what he said.
Hypnos: “Your growth was too slow.”
His cold words hit my heart, word by word. I almost wanted to lower my head to avoid his gaze.
Hypnos: “Or, that the dream world I have created is the place that suits you the most. It’s such a pity that you were not awake.” 
He sighed. My neck felt heavy, but I still held my head up firmly.
Hypnos: “This world might change very quickly, and this change will have nothing to do with you.”
His words concealed a hint of danger, making me too afraid to imagine too much. More and more emotions surged in me.
MC: “I will find my powers back.”
He simply acknowledged after a few moments of silence.
MC: “Even if the world is spiraling towards a worse direction, I am still capable of changing it."
Hypnos: “What can the present-you do?”
He looked at my gaze, now seemingly different. I didn’t want to interpret what his words meant.
MC: “Someone once told me that I am the only Queen in this world.”
MC: “No matter how much things change, I will always be able to alter the ending.”
My words made him stop in his tracks for a moment. He smiled lightly after a long while.
Hypnos: “Then, go and do whatever you want to do.”
Hypnos: “Now’s only the beginning.”
I sat on the floor and watched him leave as I gritted my teeth, refusing to show an ounce of weakness.
I only felt my shaking fingertips when I was the only one left in the classroom.
I looked at my palm, the crystal-clear sweat droplets exposing my fear from before.
However, my uneasiness slowly subsided as a voice entered my thoughts.
Lucien: “Only I can bring you to the Queen’s real abilities, and bring you to the real future.”
It doesn’t matter which world it is, nobody understood about Evol and the Queen as much as him.
MC: “Lucien…”
I couldn’t help but say his name. I felt the chilly spring air wheezing by the window.
The camphor tree in the yard just grew new green sprouts. They softly wavered in the wind, as though someone was gently speaking to them.
I looked at the familiar shade of green, and I felt moved by it somehow.
I was already back.
Will he still be there?
------chapter 25-5------- 
I was in a taxi as I passed by Lucien’s research center. I looked on with mixed feelings.
The scenery out of the windows got further and further away from me. As I thought of everything that had happened,  my mind was like an entangled ball of yarn, unable to get through the huge mess.
MC: “To be an ordinary person…”
I looked down at my hands, and closed my eyes. No matter how much I tried to focus, nothing happened. I could only hear the broadcast the driver turned on, and the reality around me which seemed both familiar and foreign at the same time. Yet, the word “Evolver” kept appearing in my mind.
 Looks like the city has completely accepted the existence of Evolvers during the last 6 months. In fact, many people already have their own opinions about it.
News: “The mastermind behind the massacre, nicknamed  “Hades”, is currently under investigation. We interviewed the highest ranked commander Mr. Leto…”
I heard two familiar names pass me by. Before I could react, the middle-aged man’s voice rang through the broadcast.
Leto: “What Hades did had brought us great harm, and the agency will not tolerate such a crime.”
Leto: “The current investigation proves that Hades’ organization did plan the virus.”
Leto: “The agency called them Organization B, and there was also evidence that their core members fled the scene collectively after the incident, including Hades himself.”
Hades? Didn’t he already…
I was taken aback. I thought of the gun in Victor’s hand, and the man who collapsed in front of me. Soon, I recalled what happened in the other world.
Looks like “organization B” refered to BLACK SWAN, I didn’t expect them to be revealed to the public so openly.
Perhaps the agenda behind this was the same when they revealed the names of the evolvers.
Leto: “We have already gotten a hold of their identities, and are currently trying to track where they are.” 
My heart raced again.
If their identities have been revealed, then Lucien…
I was worried. The taxi had already stopped. As I looked up to see the scenery before me, I froze.
The lone building in front of me was not unfamiliar at all, but this was definitely not the place I had wanted to go.
MC: “Excuse me, did you misunderstand what I’ve said? I said I wanted to get to Lucien’s research center.”
Driver: “Research center? It was long gone. This is Professor Lucien’s research institute.”
I was stunned, and I looked at the vast open space before I noticed the newly installed fences and signs. 
The highest life science research center. 
That place had given me many memories. At the beginning, it was Lucien who led me here. At the same time, he had also become someone I was unable to get close to...Ares.
MC: “What’s going on here?”
Driver: “What? Aren’t you a fan of Professor Lucien?”
MC: “You know Lucien?”
Driver: “He saved everyone in Loveland. Of course I know about him.”
Saved the whole of Loveland city?
I suddenly remembered the kid back in the orphanage, who mentioned Lucien saving them.
MC: “What… Did he do?”
Driver: “Are you not a local here? The whole world should have known about this news, though. If we didn’t have the vaccine Lucien had created, we would all be doomed 6 months ago.”
I was thrown off guard for a moment, but understood quickly.
It turned out that Lucien was the one who resolved the flu incident.
Upon understanding the situation, I wasn’t surprised. Perhaps all this while, I believed that he would be the one to develop the vaccine.
Driver: “Sigh. Fortunately for us, we have a genius around, like Professor Lucien. If not for this, all of us would have been killed by the volers--whatever they are called.”
As I heard his words, I felt a taste I could not quite explain.
If he knew that Lucien himself is also an Evolver, and if he heard the news broadcast regarding the organization previously…
I snapped out of my thoughts, and got out of the car.
This building brought me many bad memories, and I didn’t want to get close to it. There were many girls around me who were taking videos, and nobody seemed to mind the strange barrenness here. 
A few of the girls gathered to watch a video on their phones. From their phones, I heard Lucien’s voice. My heart raced, and I took out my phone as well. I searched for his name on my screen.
News reports and photos of him quickly showed up, all of them related to him saving everyone from the crisis.  
I clicked on one of the articles: .
The man in the video had a content smile on his face. It brought me back to the scene where I met him for the first time.
I know that was the Lucien who had nothing to do with BLACK SWAN.
Lucien: “It is a pleasure to accept this commission from the World Gene Organization.”
Lucien: “I chose to rebuild the building out of respect for its predecessors. It also serves as a wake up call for the future generations to come.” 
I looked at the calm, harmless man on the screen. At that moment, I felt that it was a lie.
I couldn’t bring myself to remember that this man had said many dangerous things to me with that same voice.
However, before I left this world, he clearly already…
Lucien: “The world’s savior?  I’m sorry, but I’m not. I also hope that everyone would not use this term to define me.”
Lucien: “I’m just a sacrifice used in the process of humanity’s evolution.”  
The video paused. The word “Sacrifice” coming from him reminded me of something. I thought of another side to him. 
I quickly thought of how the existence of BLACK SWAN was known to the public. Will the fact that Lucien is Ares be announced too?
Countless questions and worries took over me. 
As I was lost in those thoughts, I arrived at the exit unknowingly.
I put my phone away. As I contemplated on how I should enter the building to approach Lucien, the large electronic gates before me opened suddenly.
A young man in a white uniform rushed out of the doors, and quickly began to speak to me warmly.
Young man: “Are you MC? I’m Amin. Quick, come in!  Lucien’s public presentation had already begun.”
I felt so awkward that I didn’t know what to say. As he gestured for me to enter, I had no choice but to follow him.
He took me through a white hallway, and we entered a lab.
MC: “Actually, I…” 
The young man reached to a closet, took out a white uniform similar to the one he was wearing, and threw it towards me.”
Young man: “Put this on. By the way, since you arrived late, the experiment was over. But professor Lucien still has a lecture going on--”
MC: “I’m actually just here to look for Lucien.”
Young man: “Yes,yes,yes, I know, but we are already late. When we enter, please do not make any noise that would interrupt Professor Lucien. My credits would be affected.”
The young man gave me no opportunities to interrupt him, so I just nodded obediently in response.
Perhaps it was my subconscious desire to see him that made me unable to refuse him.
He took me up the stairs, and a tall laboratory appeared before my eyes.
A group of researchers in white uniforms gathered around, and occasionally took down notes.
The ring shaped screen atop displayed all sorts of formulas and numbers which I did not understand.
I walked closer to the group of people, and heard a familiar voice.
Lucien: “On the road to humanity’s evolution, we will encounter many challenges. However, it is simply a process we have to go through.”
Hearing that voice, I hardly dared to step forward any closer. I knew that I was no longer looking at a screen, but Lucien himself.  
Lucien: “Maybe some people would like to return to simpler experiences, or perhaps… some people would like to look for a shortcut.” 
I kept my gaze down, but I couldn’t help but keep walking toward where he stood.
 Lucien: “...But to find such a shortcut is not easy.”
As I heard the familiar words, I looked up, and my heart raced.
Lucien stood there, wearing his glasses, and was still wearing the same white coat and dark  dress shirt.
Just like that, he came into my sight.
Lucien: “I’m sorry, I’ve been doing the talking all this while. In regards to this experiment, would any students like to express their views? ”
He turned around as he spoke. There was a hint of softness in his eyes.
My heart skipped a beat at that instant as our eyes met. I looked back at him nonetheless, and never tried to avoid him.
It felt like at that moment, there were only the two of us there.
Lucien showed no sign of surprise. Perhaps there wasn't  a thing in this world that he doesn't know of.
My disappearance, as well as my presence, didn’t seem significant enough to surprise him. 
He was calm and composed when he looked at me, as though I had been around all the time, looking out for him, and as if I was going to respond to him.
My heart was full of emotions I couldn’t quite describe. I wanted to say something, but it was impossible to call out to him in his lecture.
He smiled and began to speak.
Lucien: “Could I trouble that student over there to complete the following part with me?”
His words stopped me on my tracks.
------chapter 25-7-------
 Lucien: “Could you assist me?”
Lucien smiled and called the name of the student seated next to me. 
I took a deep breath before bringing myself to look up.
He watched patiently at the student, and occasionally gave him pointers. His smile was distant, as though our encounter was just an illusion.
MC: “He...didn’t see me?”
I've imagined various scenes of our reunion, but certainly not this one. 
At that moment, my expectations felt so pathetic.
I looked down at my feet. I could only let out a helpless smile.
Perhaps most of the people present were not professional researchers. The lecture seemed more like a public discussion.
The dull topics were made interesting by Lucien.
The atmosphere was intense and feedback was being exchanged around the room.
Lucien would occasionally turn towards me, but would not look at me for long.
I was certain that he did, for sure, notice me.
He always kept a smile on his face, as he confidently answered the questions the students had.
Looking at him, I felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
He couldn’t have forgotten me in this world as well, right?
I felt a surge of incomprehensible emotions tugging at me.
Lucien’s gaze fell on me once again, as if I was a plant he adored.
I was a little disturbed, and decided to retreat to the crowd and look at my phone instead.
MC: “When will this lecture end?”
Alongside many advertisements, my phone was full of messages and calls from different people from the last 6 months.  
As I searched through my messages and missed calls, I did not see his name at all.
There was nothing from Lucien.
During the last 6 months, he had never attempted to contact me.
I felt my emotions grow stronger and stronger. I wanted to turn and leave, but I was unable to move.
However, at that time, I didn’t realize that my actions were being noticed by him.
 Lucien: “Thank you for giving me your precious time. I hope that this has not been a boring afternoon for everyone here.”
I finally heard him wrap things up. As I looked up, our eyes met again.
MC: “What is he looking at, exactly?!”
Lucien: “And…”
He paused, and smiled, seemingly deep in thoughts.
Lucien: “Our society is currently changing. Even though it is difficult to notice the approaching new era, we cannot ignore any small changes.”
Lucien: “I need everyone to know that this research center has a purpose different from other organizations or institutions.” 
Student A: “What do you mean by "other organizations"? Are you referring to the special task force?”
The question seemed to cause a commotion, and the crowd began to whisper to one another.
Student A: “Is this because the names of the Evolvers were revealed?”
Student A: “From your standpoint and in the stance of scientific research, you disagree with their actions, right?”
The commotion escalated, and more discussions were brought up.
 I heard someone guess that the student who raised the question previously, was an Evolver.
Student B: “I think I’ve heard rumors about Professor Lucien conducting research on Evolvers. He probably is siding with the Evolvers.”
Student C: “Huh? That can’t be!”
Student B: “Also, according to information provided by insiders, the commander of the task force came and requested for our research materials and data. Professor Lucien did not let them in.”
Student C: “There are indeed many people on the list who are professors themselves. I guess it’s to protect the researchers in their respective institutes ?” 
Student B: “I think that in this situation, the only institute in Loveland city that can maintain a neutral point of view is HuaRui Institute.”
 As a thought flashed by my mind, someone wearing a white coat and a badge entered.
Student D: “Professor Lucien, can you express your opinion in regards to what you’ve said previously?”
I looked at the student beside me, who looked a little mature. He seemed a little familiar to me.
An assistant stepped out in an attempt to dismiss the commotion, but Lucien waved at him to stop. He was still smiling like before, unwavered by what was going on. 
Lucien: “May I ask if you have scheduled an interview with me officially ? Mr reporter?” 
The student beside me shook a little. He appeared to be panicking about his identity being revealed. I just remembered that I’ve seen this person at several press conferences before.
Lucien: “I’ve emphasized it many times. My colleagues and I do not accept interviews unless officially scheduled. We have more important things to do.”
Lucien: “ I hope that the media can do their job well, and clearly think of the content they want to report.”
 Lucien: “Or...think about the values you want to uphold.”
His stable voice put everyone to silence. 
I suddenly realized that what he said were the exact words I’ve told him before.
I couldn’t help but glance at him once more, and sure enough,  his gaze fell on me.
My heart skipped another beat.
When I said those words to him before, his expression back then was the same one he wore when he spoke to the student beside me-- there was no trace of warmth in it.
When he was done talking, Lucien walked down the podium, switched off the projector, and took off his glasses.
 Lucien: “Life is more interesting with small incidents like this, it seems.”
Lucien: “What I’ve said just now can serve as an assignment to everyone.”
Lucien: “I believe that all of you will soon understand the meaning behind this.”
He seemed to be concealing something I didn’t understand, and I am no stranger to that expression.
Lucien… What are you planning?
All I felt was needless worry.
The staff guided Lucien as he left from the other side. I was pushed along by the crowd as they went outside the room.
While nobody was paying attention, I retreated to a corner and waited for everyone else to leave, before sneaking back to the lab.
The lab was cold. The scene I’ve witnessed felt like an illusion to me.
I took a deep breath, and walked towards the direction Lucien took. I soon found an office with a familiar name on the door.
I never saw any other rooms around, and it seemed that there was only his office on that level.
I wanted to knock on the door, but I didn’t have the courage to do so.
Even though I had  gathered enough information, I still couldn’t think of what to say to him when we met.
Should I call him Lucien, or Ares?
At that moment, the elevator doors opened.
I subconsciously hid at the corner as I listened. I heard the sound of footsteps approaching closer and closer.
It was… a woman?
I couldn’t help but peek, and realized that she had already knocked on his door.
It was that girl in a black silk dress from my memories, whose face  was exactly the same as mine. She smiled sincerely.
My heart was pounding rapidly, as I witnessed the office door being opened. 
MC’s other self :  “We finally met again, professor Lucien.”
  ------chapter 25-8------- 
Her voice echoed in my ears. I could not see the expression Lucien had behind the door. I could only see the hemline of her dress as she entered his office.
I could almost hear my own heartbeat. I had so many questions and assumptions. I found myself walking towards the door eventually.
Why would she appear in this world again? Did she have anything to do with the Evol powers I had lost?
Why did she look for Lucien?
What is Lucien doing, exactly?
I felt like a mess. Then, I heard an abrupt, loud noise.
Shocked, I took a few steps back before noticing that the doors were not completely closed. I could hear Lucien’s voice through the gaps. He had a cold disposition, like an invisible blade.
Lucien: “You shouldn’t appear in front of me.”
MC’s other self:  “Oh? I thought you were hoping you could see this face.”
I looked through the gaps, and took a deep breath.
The lights were not on, and Lucien stood in the shadows. The light seeping through the closed blinds was cast on his face.
Reflected on his eyes was… a murderous intent.
It was something I have never seen before in him.
It was an expression I’ve never witnessed.
According to my impression of him, he would never show his emotions so openly like this. Even as Ares, they were always carefully concealed. 
He was holding a scalper, his icy stance revealed under the light.
MC’s other self:  “Looks like Professor Lucien doesn’t welcome me here.”
MC’s other self:  “But to kill me with your own hands… Can you really do it?”
Perhaps it was the cloud passing by outside, covering the sunlight that was present before, as a shadow was cast on Lucien’s face. I saw him tighten his grip on the blade he was holding.
Lucien: “You’re not her.”
His voice was deeper than usual, and I sensed danger.
I was unsure if I should enter and intervene what was about to unfold.
At that moment, the phone on Lucien’s desk rang.
MC’s other self:  “I think… you should reconsider it again.”
MC’s other self:  “I will visit you again next time.”
As I heard her voice, I retreated immediately and waited for her footsteps to disappear.
I paced my breathing for a long time before I was calm again, and I walked back towards the office.
The door was not fully closed, and I even forgot to knock. As I gently pushed the door open, I saw the state of him, and the state of his office.
The small office had a range of lab equipment, all kinds of books, and rich green plants lining the windows. 
It was his usual habit. 
Lucien sat by the window, with his back leaning against the cabinet.
I was unsure about the conflict that happened before I entered. I saw papers, pens, and pills scattered all over the floor.
His clothes were a little wrinkled, and his tie was loose. He looked so different compared to his disposition back at the lecture hall.
I didn’t know why, but I felt sadness. 
There were emotions on his face that I couldn’t get close to. I felt that my heart would get tighter the more I looked.
Perhaps it was because I entered without a word, as he looked at me.
MC: “Lucien...”
He looked at me in a nostalgic way, but looked away the next moment.
He didn’t seem surprised by my presence, just like how he reacted when he saw me at the lecture before. I almost felt like I didn’t exist.
My visit to his research institute and his office were things he should not have expected.  
Even if he expected so, he shouldn’t have acted like that.
I raised my voice, feeling a little infuriated.
MC: “Lucien!”
Lucien still didn’t respond.
I watched as he got up, picked up the things on the floor naturally,  and completely treated me like air.  The emotions I felt got more intense.
MC: “I’m calling out to you…”
Lucien: “Yes. I’ve heard you.” 
Lucien: “I just wanted to… hear it a few more times.”
Lucien: “I didn’t think that you’d be angry… Right, you’ve always been like this all along.”
I saw him smile a little through the corners of his mouth. Apart from the little comfort I felt from his smile, I sensed a hint of… 
Self depreciation?
Why would I feel this way?
His words felt a little strange to me, too.
However, his reaction comforted me. I composed myself and decided to ask him about the scene I saw before I entered.
His response threw me off guard.
Lucien: “Can we drop by the restaurant we went to yesterday?”
 MC: “Huh?”
Lucien: “You don’t like that place?”
He looked up. He seemed to be completely calm, and had a gentle demeanor I never saw in a long time.
Lucien: “Visiting a different restaurant is fine too. After all, if we visit the same one everyday…”
He seemed to be talking to himself, and I quickly realized that something was off.
Yesterday? Going out everyday? Has he… met me during the time I was away?
Or, when I was away, in this world-- there was another me?!
  ------chapter 25-9-------
The sunlight through the blinds carried with it a light warmth, surrounding the small office.
I had too many things to ask him, but didn’t know where to begin.
If there was really another me in this world, then, my current self…
I suddenly felt that the distance between Lucien and me had been a century, despite us being a few steps apart physically.
MC: “Lucien, all this while... have you met me?”
He paused for a moment, and let out a smile.
 Lucien: “Haven’t I always been able to see you?”
His response was still so strange, and I didn’t know how to react to that. I could only deal with my complex thoughts while being stopped in my tracks.
 Lucien: “Was the lecture boring?”
MC: “What?”
 Lucien: “I saw you daydreaming.”
MC: “No, I just haven't gotten used to it.”
After all, the information presented was too complex for me to understand.
 If there was another me in this world with Lucien--
Lucien: “Actually, I felt bored too.”
Lucien: “But we still need to fill ourselves with the boring information, as though they can reduce the fear of what’s unknown.”
Lucien: “To be frank, it is merely ignorance.”
He pulled a chair as he spoke. He closed his eyes, leaned back, and raised his hand to pinch his nose bridge.
I felt his exhaustion, and I thought about the incident that took place during his lecture. 
It’s fine if he saw me as someone else…
But in regards to the questions I have, I still want to talk it out clearly.
MC: “Did something happen involving the special task force?  I heard that they revealed the incident about BLACK SWAN…”
 I thought I saw a gleam in his eyes, like he wasn't expecting me to say that.
Lucien: “Should I be worried about insignificant things like that?”
MC: “What do you mean by insignificant? Isn’t this an important issue?”
MC: “BLACK SWAN had already been exposed, if your identity as Ares gets revealed--”
Lucien: “Such a thing will never happen.”
He looked into my eyes and patiently continued to explain. 
 Lucien: “Everything that they’ve done was all part of my plan.”
Lucien: “Except for that incident...the incident about you.”
As he said those words, his eyes seemed to darken, and I could sense the murderous intent in him that was present before.
Lucien: “I will stop this from happening.”
His voice was terrifying, and anxiety welled up in me as he spoke. I couldn’t help but reach out my hand towards him.
He was surprised by my action and dodged.
When he looked at me again, his gaze was a little frightening.
Lucien: “Has it… gotten this bad?”
I followed his gaze to the table top, and upon seeing pills on the table and the ones scattered on the floor, I realized something.
MC: “Lucien...are you unwell?”
He picked up a brown bottle of pills and looked at it before putting it back on the cabinet.
Lucien: “No, it was just an accident.”
Lucien: “What, are you worrying about me?”
MC: “Yes.”
I nodded to him as I spoke. I didn’t know why, but since I saw Lucien, I kept feeling strangely worried, and I finally let it out.
MC: “What’s going on with you, exactly?”
Lucien hesitated before turning around. His face was covered by the shadows, and his eyes seemed dull.
Lucien: “Why are you asking such a question?”
MC: “Because I think you’re acting very strangely.”
Lucien: “hm?’
MC: “First of all, I want you to take a look clearly, I am MC.”
He was silent for a long while, and spoke again with a hoarse voice.
Lucien: “Yes, I know.”
MC: “ I don’t know what exactly happened all this while.”
MC: “ Even if there is another MC around, she shouldn’t have let you be in this state.”
MC: “Now, I’m already back…”
Lucien laughed lightly.
I stopped, as my words were stuck in my throat. He was closely in front of me, and yet I felt so far away from him.
Lucien: “You seem different today.”
Lucien: “But you are similar to  how you were in the beginning.”
MC: “In the beginning?”
Lucien: “Only that silly girl would ask such questions. It’s just that I haven’t heard it in a long time.”
Lucien: “And I will never hear it again.”
His voice was soft, yet it hit me.  I suddenly realized something, but dared not continue to think about it.
He looked at me when he said those words, but it also felt like he wasn’t looking at me.
He seemed to be overwhelmed with emotions and I couldn’t distinguish them for a while.
I have never seen this side of him before.
It was unfamiliar, but it made my heart ache.
He sighed, and turned to look at the calendar on the desk behind.
Lucien: “So it has been such a long time.”
I’ve noticed that since two months ago on a Saturday, every day after that was marked.
Some of the days were marked with tiny dots, whereas some were messy circles that were scribbled over and over.
He took out a pen and scribbled on it a few times on today’s date.
 Lucien: “I shouldn’t see you.”
I heard his voice getting weaker, and my rapid heartbeat seemed to hurt the back of my head.
Lucien: “But i was unable to control my desire to see you. As long as I think about you, you would appear.”
Lucien: “This is probably humanity’s biggest flaw. If we can really fully evolve, emotions should be eliminated first. ”
Lucien: “Yet, each time you appeared,  you reminded me of my incapability.”
At a loss, I walked towards him.
Perhaps it was because I have never heard Lucien’s voice like this. Or maybe because I saw through his wounds.
There had never been another me.
To Lucien, there was only one MC in this world.
He looked at me bitterly.
Lucien: “So you’ve started looking at me like this too?”
Lucien: “Perhaps in my heart, these were my real thoughts.”
He paused, and his previously soft voice slowly turned into resolve.
Lucien: “So, these hallucinations are fine with me,”
Lucien: “MC,”
Lucien: “No matter what form you take, please continue to stay by my side.”
I understood everything completely. I understood why he was talking to himself,  why he was so devastated, how much he missed me, and why he was acting abnormally.
I was also taken aback by my bold assumption.
I forced myself to suppress the tears that were going to overflow, and I smiled at him gently.
MC: “Okay.”
I leaned forward, and hugged Lucien tightly.
His broad shoulders were shaking visibly.
MC: “Lucien, it’s me.”
MC: “I am not your hallucination.”
MC: “I am back.”
 ------chapter 25- 10----
He was trembling in my arms, and we stayed in silence for a long while.
As the silence was going on for too long, I waited for him to speak.
He took a deep breath, and I felt an air of calmness from him.
I was a little worried, and was about to withdraw my hand from him, but he suddenly pulled me to his side.
His hands wandered around my skin delicately, like he was trying to confirm something. He squeezed my wrist so tightly, and I subconsciously stepped back.
Lucien: “Did I hurt you?”
MC: “No.”
He turned around to look at me, his eyes overwhelmed with too many complicated emotions, and eventually felt like a faint, gentle light.
Lucien: “When did you…”
MC: “When I woke up today, I found myself in the orphanage.”
I knew what he wanted to ask, and I tried my best to explain what happened to him as cheerily and energetically as I can. I felt like all the pain I went through were not important anymore.
MC: “I was looking to seek your help initially.”
Before I could finish talking, he held me tightly.
His embrace made me breathless.
I thought of the Lucien who was at that TV tower, the Lucien who got into a confrontation with me at the press conference, and the Lucien who had forgotten about me in the other world.
All this while, I thought that to him, I was merely a pawn named “Queen”.
I never thought that,,,
MC: “Lucien, thank you.”
His arms around me relaxed after the silence.
Lucien: “What are you thanking me for?”
MC: “Thank you...for wanting me to return.”
MC: “Also, you have told me the same words in the other places, and I guess now’s my turn.”
Lucien: “Other places? Do you mean the other worlds?”
Lucien: “I feel like I remember.”
I thought about what he said to be at Black Cabin, and thought that he might have memories from the other worlds.
MC: “What do you remember?”
Lucien: “Just a few scenes.”
MC: “When you were using your abilities,  I was able to see what I’ve done in the other worlds,”
The word “Abilities” caught my attention, I looked at him solemnly as I pulled away from his embrace.
MC: “Lucien, there’s something I need your help with.”
Lucien: “About how you lost your Evol?”
His reply caught me off guard, and I could only nod.
MC: “You...how did you know?”
I looked at his darkened eyes, and recalled seeing this look in his eyes before.
Lucien: “I know all about it. You don’t have to worry.”
Lucien: “This has to be resolved slowly. You don’t have to think too much about it right now.”
He reached out and rubbed my hair,  stood up to open the blinds by the window, and
sunlight filled the room in an instant.
I couldn’t help but reach out to cover my eyes from the sunlight. As I looked at Lucien, there was already a gentle smile on his face.
Lucien: “Let’s go.”
MC: “To where?”
Lucien: “Since you just returned, don’t you want to go home and take a look?”
I thought of the other world where I could not return to my house. The Lucien in front of me was familiar. He reminded me of the time when he first moved next to my house, and all the silly things I did.
Returning to my home sounded amazing.
Suppressing the warm feelings in my heart, I nodded to him.
Lucien held my hand as we walked out, greeting every researcher who passed us by.
Everyone’s expressions were full of surprise and curiosity. I tried to let go of his band in embarrassment, but he only held it tighter. 
Lucien: “Do the opinions of others matter to you?”
MC: “Not really.”
He never let go of my hand on the way home.
When I saw the area I was so familiar with. I couldn’t help but yell in surprise.
Lucien just looked at me and followed on silently as he watched me run to the gate.
As the elevator continued to rise endlessly,  I took out my key in excitement.
Suddenly, the elevator shook and I lost my balance. I fell into the warm embrace that smelled of flowers and plants.
Lucien: “Slow down.”
As the doors opened, I rushed out. 
However, I realized that the key in my hands a while ago was gone.
MC: “Where did it go… it was clearly in my hands just now.”
I saw Lucien wave the key at me.
MC: “Why is it with you! Oh, just now, at the elevator…”
I reached out for my key, but he raised his hand, refusing to return it to me.
As I looked at him suspiciously, he gave me a helpless look.
Lucien: “Have you been gone for too long, and hence forgetting where your house is?”
MC: “huh?”
I looked at the door in front of me, and looked at it again and  hesitated.
MC: “This should be right.”
Lucien: “So, are you coming to my house?”
Lucien: “if you have doubts, of course I’d welcome you.”
He spoke as he took out his key, reaching for the keyhole in front of me.
MC: “W-wait!”
MC: “I think I got it wrong! My house should be over here!”
MC: “Give me the key!”
I took him to the house next door and pulled my hand away.
At that time, I didn’t know what it meant as the door opened. 
Lucien opened his hands, revealing a silver key. I could feel a subtle change in his eyes.
He looked at the excited girl, with a faint smile on his face.
Lucien: “Then, as your neighbor, can I come in and take a look?”
------chapter 25-13------- 
MC: “It feels so great to be home!”
MC: “but when did you move back here again?”
Not bothering about changing into my slippers, I jumped into my soft couch and shoved my favorite pillow into my arms, feeling extremely satisfied.
Lucien: “After you left.”
Lucien sat beside me, and put on my slippers for me.
MC: “I’ll do it myself.”
I blushed and sat up straight as I looked about subconsciously.
My house was well maintained, just like how it looked like before I left. This feeling gave me the illusion that I haven’t left at all.
My room was still filled with fragrance.
Lucien: “What are you thinking about?”
  Lucien handed me a glass of water.
MC: “Thinking about how I actually came back for real.”
MC: “Until now, I still can’t believe it.”
Lucien: “Yes, it’s a miracle.”
MC: “Did you think that I would never return?”
I deliberately asked him in an angry voice,  but did not expect Lucien’s voice to turn heavy as his hands shook while holding on to the glass of water.
Lucien: “What matters is that you’ve returned, right?”
Lucien: “You won’t leave me again, right?”
I felt that something was wrong when I heard his words, and I straightened up.
MC: “I was only joking just now…”
He tensed up, like a bowstring fully stretched. As I felt that something was off, I felt worried.
I looked around the house, and searched for a topic I can talk about happily.
MC: “Oh,right! The plants along the windows..”
Upon seeing a row of healthy plants, I jumped in surprise, and I widened my eyes..
MC: “Even when I’ve neglected these plants for 6 months, they still grew up well and healthy…”
A black umbrella that was placed against the wall suddenly came into my sight.
I could even smell the fresh rain droplets on the folds of the umbrella.
MC: “Where did this umbrella come from?”
I shook my head, not noticing Lucien appearing behind me.
Lucien: “Come in.”
He pulled up the balcony doors.
I thought I was overthinking it, but I eventually realized that someone lived in this house.
To put it accurately, Lucien had lived here.
I closed the closer doors, and forced myself to calm down.
I then quietly left the bedroom and walked to the living room. I pretended nothing was wrong.
Even though the layout and the furniture were exactly like mine, I already felt suspicious at first glance.
But every corner of the house was full of his traces.
At that moment, he was sitting on the couch, reading a book. The warm yellow sunlight outside glowed around him, setting a peaceful atmosphere.
My chest felt tight, and my heart ached a little.
Perhaps...this was the only way for him to relax after all he had been through.
I sat on the couch while eating fruits, occasionally glancing at Lucien, who was reading,
Should I ask him about it? Or should I wait for him to tell me?
I contemplated, and couldn’t come up with a decision.
My glances towards him which I thought were well concealed, were noticed by Lucien. He walked towards me, and sat beside me on the floor.
Lucien: “Did you want me to sit here so you can stop peeking at me?”
I looked down, too afraid to look him in the eyes.
Lucien: “If you’re tired, do you want to sleep for a while?”
MC: “now? It’s still daytime.”
Lucien: “You should sleep.”
I looked at him, concerned, and nodded.
  MC: “Then I’ll sleep here, okay?”
I patted the small sofa, good enough for a nap.
MC: “I want to sleep at a place where I can see you at the moment I open my eyes.”
His expression changed a little, but agreed nonetheless.
He took a blanket and attentively put it on me. 
MC: “Remember to wake me up later.”
Lucien: “Okay.”
The room got dimmer and cooler as Lucien pulled down the curtains. 
I turned to look at the tips of his hair, and noticed the familiar scent that was comforting as ever.
The tension in me eased. I slowly let my guard down, and closed my eyes.
After a long while, Lucien gently caressed the girl’s hair and her trembling eyelashes as she went through a nightmare.
Lucien: “Are you still able to see them?”   
He gently smiled.
Lucien: “Just sleep soundly.”
Lucien: “As long as you want.”
------chapter 25- 15----
I opened my eyes peacefully,  and could only see a weak, glowing light in the dim room.
It had been a long time since I slept so soundly. I stretched, and took a deep breath.
MC: “Lucien…”
My voice echoed in the room, and it was the only sound I heard. There was no response.
I got up anxiously, and realized that the sky had gotten dark. The time on my phone read 22:15.
MC: “I can’t believe I’ve slept for so long…”
I put my hand on my growling stomach, and went to the kitchen for food as I called out to Lucien.
Even though it was clear that Lucien lived here, I didn’t expect to see only drinks in the fridge. It was cleaner than how a home should be like after being vacant for 6 months.
Lucien: “He… Doesn’t he eat at all?”
I looked around the house once again, and sure enough, Lucien was not around.
Where did he go when it’s this late at night?
I thought I  might as well go outside to look for him, and get some food on my way back.
I walked to the door and as I tried to open it, it was locked tightly.
I was shocked at that moment, but persistently tried to unlock it a few more times. The door  wouldn't budge.
The door was locked from the outside.
My heart was beating rapidly, and my bare feet felt cold. I quickly took out my phone and tried to call Lucien.
Just then, the door opened.
Lucien was wearing his usual outerwear, and froze when he saw me.
Lucien: “Where are you going?”
MC: “I was going to look for you...Where did you go?”
Lucien: “To buy dinner.”
I watched as he put down the bags. There was no other expression on his face, and I felt a little troubled.
MC: “Even so, you didn’t have to lock the door…”
I complained softly, and Lucien didn’t respond. He didn’t explain much, either, as he simply took the food to the kitchen.
As I looked at him from behind, I felt strange.
A voice in my head urged me to ask him, yet another voice was convincing me to give him a little more time, as he had gone through a lot of pain and hardship. 
But I couldn’t let us continue on like this.
I dismissed my thoughts, and called out to him.
MC: “Lucien…”
Lucien stopped and gently looked back. His jawline was clearer under the moonlight, and I realized that he had lost a lot of weight.
MC: “This is… your house, right?”
He paused, and turned to look at me.
Lucien: “Did you realize this from the start?”
Lucien: “Looks like using this method to bring you home was too abrupt, indeed.”
Lucien: “Can you forgive me?”
His unexpected honestly made me hesitate.
 MC: “I...It’s not that I’m angry.”
MC: “You could have just told me.”
MC: “If you say it to me directly, I wouldn’t reject it.”
Both light and shadow were cast on his eyes, as he looked at me quietly.
Lucien: “Okay, I got it.”
MC: “Huh?”
Lucien:Just now you’ve said that you won't reject me.”
Lucien: “So, can we have dinner now?”
...This person is too shameless!
The clock’s hand fell on “12”.
Hearing the sound of water coming from the bathroom, I anxiously rested on the sofa.
Losing my Evol, the released list of evolvers, the odd things Hypnos said, and Lucien acting strangely... 
 I found myself unable to focus on finding back my Evol, and all I could think of was this person.
I had so many mixed thoughts. I walked to the desk, and wanted to write my feelings in my journal, like how I had always done before. However, the cabinet was empty.
Oh, right… that was Lucien’s house.
I still should go back to my own house. At least, I should retrieve what was important to me.
I went to the closet and saw Lucien’s coat. 
In the pockets of his coat, there was a silver key gleaming under the lamp.
I thought I should just go home for a little while… It should be fine, right?
As I reached out to grab the key, I heard the door open softly.
My heart skipped a beat as I turned about. I couldn't breathe at that moment.
There were still droplets on his face, and I didn’t dare to look at his cold, narrow eyes.
MC: “Lucien? I…”
Before I could finish, I felt a pain in my wrist. He grabbed my wrists tightly before I could scream.
Unable to resist his strength, I fell towards him, and I felt the world spin around me. My back hurt a little due to the impact, but what hurt me more was the expression the man in front of me had.
One of his hands was on the door as he shoved me against the wall. I could almost see the panic in his eyes.
I was dumbfounded and my body felt cold. I accidentally bumped into the light switch behind me, and the room went dark. 
Lucien: “Didn’t you say that you won't leave me?”
His cold tone reminded me of the vision I saw in my dream.
My vision felt hazy, and even though I managed to escape countless times in my mind, I still couldn't avoid it then.
I was tensed, like I was being suffocated.
It felt like I was being overwhelmed by an immense shadow. My body trembled as I tried to break free, but I couldn’t move my hands.
Lucien’s eyes gleamed as he seemed to have thought of something. He looked down and leaned on my shoulder gently.
His soft hair brushed against my cheeks, and the pressure on my wrists were loosened gradually. At that moment, I swiftly pulled away subconsciously.
Lucien: “I’m sorry.”
Lucien: “It seems that I’ve hurt you time and time again.”
His hand gently touched my neck, as his fingertips slightly trembled.
I felt bitter. I bit my lip and turned away firmly.
Lucien: “I’m sorry.”
Lucien: “These words... are for you back then.”
Lucien: “Mc… can you still forgive me?”
The haze in front of me subsided gradually, as I heard his breathing on my ears, close and warm. I calmed down a little.
I looked at Lucien, and lowered my eyes after a long while.
MC: “ I can’t.” 
*glass shattering sound* Something seemed to be shattered in the soundless room.
------------------------------
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goblinconceivable · 4 years
Text
All The Feels
Random bulletpoints of Annie/Jeff analysis because I am overcome with shippiness.  :D  Also more like bullet-lengthy-paragraphs.  You tried, self, you tried.
Pascal’s Triangle (PT) is not a love triangle.  
Sure, look at the top two rows and you’ve got a binary split, ie, choice between two women.  But PT is row based, your current row based on the one above.  It’s complex.  Look below the binary surface of choice to row 3, where it actually becomes PT, where the complexity begins (and Community is about complexity.)  1, 2, 1, a total of 4. The 2 is the merging of the two 1s from row two - Ie, two women who get lumped together.  And beyond them is a 1 that springs out of nowhere - Annie.  Surprise!
Kiss at the end of S1
Jeff’s major deal is being afraid of expressing caring/vulnerability, while desperately craving/needing it.  Britta and Slater were both saying they loved him, and he does want to take that, but runs scared because they are  challenging him to admit his feelings in public, which no one who really knows and cares about him would do.  His scene with Annie is private. And she isn’t asking him FOR anything, she’s just asking what’s up, because she cares about the answer.  He feels safe, he opens up, it’s intimacy, which is both giving and taking.  Notably he admits he’s glad she’s staying after his share, this is him saying he cares about her too.
His explanation of the situation is a perceived choice between being the New Year’s guy (who he wants to be) and the Three Weeks Later guy (who he is.)  But the thing about New Year’s is the initial momentum always fades, and you have to put in the work, which Slater doesn’t help him with.  And he WON’T be able to sustain it on is own.  The guy he IS isn’t who he wants to be, it’s just giving up, rather than striving, even if imperfectly, to reach those goals.  Annie falls into the sweet spot: she understands what his default is, but shows him that he CAN be the man he wants to be, shows him what those steps ARE, encourages him to take the steps to be that person, and rewards him when he succeeds.  Which he does, with her behind him.  
And she kisses him first.  Which is an offering similar to Britta and Slater’s public announcements, but through action, not words.  Jeff uses words as shield and weapon, as did the other two.  Bypassing this essentially shortcircuits his brain.  His brain will warp and analyze and question, but she kisses him gently, an invitation not a demand.  He’s already put aside his sword and shield during their talk, and doesn’t feel the need to pick them up because he feels safe and cared for and is okay accepting and reciprocating that.
Play
Jeff is all adult and aloof and beyond such petty childish pursuits such as play, which is the scoffed at domain of Annie/Troy/Abed.  But he actually really wants it.  It likely stems in part from his loss of a proper childhood, but it’s also just who he is.  Imagination isn’t just for the young, the loss of the ability to play is an oft-bemoaned feature of adulthood, one the learned remind us we ought recapture.  (And a joy of parenthood is getting to do that through your children.)  But look, he literally was playacting being a lawyer.  It’s how he engages with the world.  He just justified that as a means to an end and did it for power and profit, rather than for enjoyment.
We see this, I argue, when responding to Annie’s playacting they were married. Annie anticipates a bad reaction, but he doesn’t give one.  No judgment.  He then establishes it’s not a deeper issue (”do I have to worry about this” ie, is this real/insanity).  When he says “I can tell you one thing your fantasy got wrong...” he’s not challenging her, or even taking offense, and while he’s not entering into her fantasy world (which is over anyway), he’s offering fodder.  He’s involving himself in the narrative process for her benefit.  And in the couched language of daydream he’s reassuring her -if- it was true, he would be devoted.  IF is a super important word in play, because you don’t have to believe, for example, you ARE a pirate.  You just need to act as IF you were a pirate.
Also cute, I take as justified fanon the deleted scene where he orders her appletini.  He was whining to her about it but it was relaxed because they both know he’d do it anyway.  And when the bartender turns out to be a believer in Annie’s created fantasy world, Jeff stops himself from correcting him and destroying the world.  Instead, he lets it persist just far enough to let himself glance at Annie as if it was true, and in that moment he sees her through the eyes of fantasy, and sees a beautiful woman, rather than all the complexity of their relationship.
Then there’s basically all the giant Greendale instances of play.  Which one way or the other, he gets roped into and ends up jumping into with abandon.  (Paintball, lava etc.)  And they’re often paired, because he enjoys playing with her, and the “if this” acts as license for them to explore their compatibility.  And their capers, when they pair up in the “real world”, is really just a sophisticated form of play.  As brought up pointedly when they were searching for the ASB, there’s a dual nature here.  They aren’t just buddies, like Troy and Abed, who are also very fantasy oriented (cardboard submarine!).  There’s a level of daydream beneath the fantasy world where they can set aside the complexities of their relationship, and say “if we’re solving this crime, then we can live in this bubble and just be together.”
I also really love the whole Professor Professorson episode because of course the layers are just so intricate and delightful when they unfold.  He tackles her which was total overreaction, he’s in a heightened world and committed to it.  They plot out this crazy intricate play to teach the Dean a lesson together, where they involve real emotions.  Many of which are Annie’s, but that means they’re creating a world in which it is safe to amplify her feelings which they are both aware of but are usually repressed, especially by Jeff.  And he praises her for that later (she went off book and deceived like a master) rather than being uncomfortable.  They exit play safely because they trust each other while playing and can leave that permissive world as an if.  And it ends with the blanket fort collapsing and cocooning them.  It is a play space literally being broken, begging the question of how much impact our play can have on our real selves.
Season 6
So basically I think I missed fandom the first time around and just binged on meta and there’s (fanon?) that Jeff spent the season looking for her attention, but Annie had pulled back?  I zipped through a bunch of scenes they were in together, and heartily agree.  Also I think I went a little nutty but What I see:
Annie doesn’t ignore him or anything, but where she might have previously inserted herself in his life, she starts to let him fend for himself while she diverts her attention to other relationships, and treats him more like she does the others.  I don’t think she really does anything like taking his class so she can evaluate his teaching and bludgeon him into being better?  But when they’re in a situation, like City College’s ad, she stands up to him as normal, challenging him to be better and do the right thing, as she always has.  Rewards him with approval when he does, and his whispered “thank you” is the cutest thing ever because it’s an intimate choice in a rather boisterous exchange.
Meanwhile Jeff does seem to spend a lot of time and energy trying to get back to a place where he’s first in her eyes.  There are a lot of shots in S6 a the Table and group scenes that involve him looking at her disproportionately, first, last, or only when speaking, esp when they’re all at the table.  When I went back and tried to do the same to S5 those scenes are set up a bit differently and I saw less of it but I think there’s just fewer group scenes in general though?.  In S6, he often ends a comment directed at the group (non table) by looking at Annie, indicating he wants her response, and thus her attention and engagement.  And often, she is the next person to speak.  Which is her personality as a leader, which supports the idea that while he’s seeking her out, she isn’t necessarily responding to that but just being her. 
Finale
I’ve sort of run myself dry thinking through other things.  And great analysis is plentiful and most recent.  So not even bullet points just ramble But:
Oh3, so when Garrett proposed and Abed noted Jeff had a funny look, he’s been daydreaming marrying Annie for that lone plus longer?  That took me a long time to put together as an actual literal thing.
Oh2, it’s all canon that he has issues with prolonged eye contact because he doesn’t want people to see him broken and he doesn’t break eye contact through any of this.  He knows she knows he’s broken already and is quietly fine with her seeing everything and this is a moment for *sobs*
Oh wait hey, so callback to that bit where she’s like “your words don’t mean anything” and he’s like “That’s what conversation is, people saying things to get stuff.”  Because he’s 100% not trying to get anything by telling her he’s let her go.  And he means a lot by saying it.  And if he said “I love you” there’s an implied sense of obligation to say it back and since he means romantically he can’t do that.  So this is just him letting her know, no pressure, no expectation, that he loves her and has loved her but it’s okay because she’s free and he wants her to be free because he loves her.  And he means it so hard when she says “kiss me goodbye” he’s all “you don’t owe me anything.”
But she does love him too, except she knows she’s in a different place emotionally and professionally.  And it’s sweet and a gift because she doesn’t make this about her but about him and his feelings.  So she preempts his regrets because she knows he WON’T kiss her goodbye unless she invites him to.  There’s something I’m reaching for and can’t find here.  She doesn’t admit to anything because there’s no point?  It would just hurt him either way?  Sharing her feelings through action rather than words?
And so much squee thinking how far everyone’s come for this scene to be a thing which could happen.
Callback to Annie’s marriage fantasy when Jeff has his own.  Hers was external, by her personality (esp at the time of her maturation) and thus public and psychologically working out a reasonable feeling of abandonment as she gave their fictional selves marital difficulties.  His is very internal, and occurs after Abed, always so reliable as a gateway to fantasy, turns the tables on him.  He’s experiencing reasonable feelings of abandonment, and while he runs, it’s to a safe space of “what if,” a coping mechanism he has learned, and which allows for working out of psychological issues.  
It’s dual: in that the larger issue is his need for a sense of stability.  Though he’s staring at the table the scene doesn’t involve Greendale at all, he already had that fantasy.  This is about wanting a life outside of the safe zone of the college.  And while he suggests a dog as an option he imagined a kid because having one represents stability for him - it was his father who left, and he won’t leave.  If there’s a kid, this is a life, Annie can’t leave.  But he offers her imaginary self complete editing powers, because all he really wants is to be able to love and be loved.  It’s indulgence, a desperate grasp at balm because while he let her go, he can’t let her -go.-  He was okay with being close friends, they do love each other as friends.  See his pitch.  But faced with losing that, he’s stripped bare.  He indulges in his supressed hearts desire and is faced with the reality of what he already knows: it’s not in the cards.
And he’s stripped down to insecurities that aren’t limited to Annie.  It’s cute how they jive over Marvel, though it’s weird to me and takes up more time and weird dramatic looking around that doesn’t feel playful enough to be justified.  The tone of their voices is too serious, it’s a mismatch.  I like how he admits the huge thing that he let her go as far as he has control, and suddenly a time pressure is on their alone time.  Everything is immediate right now, everything happening fast.  I wonder what Annie would have said if not for the text.  But that’s the thing, it’s the wrong time for them and this is a goodbye.  It’s too late but just under the wire all at once.
In this chapter at least.  In the safety of the group Annie brings up a season 7, which we all know could happen years down the line.  Would have been more fitting if she said movie though.  Still, he takes that as the comfort in which it was intended.
WTF with his all coed season 7?  Yes, we cut to it so it totally isn’t happening, but has he put his issues to rest and is just fantasizing crap or what?  It makes no sense to me.
I love that he not only puts her first after she invites him to kiss her goodbye by asking “what about you,” but is -asking for consent.-  He doesn’t even move towards her until he gets it, he’s literally just standing back.  What’s up with the penis thing?  Meta reference to shortcut arguments that it’s not true love but lust?  Is it Jeff acknowledging his own cynicism and how he’s dropped it?  Since he’s so clearly not in a lust mode here.  Is he adding a tiny bit of his usual pointed add ins to his speeches?
I guess it’s like...  this is one of his speeches, but it feels out of place because of his delivery?  Which is beautifully subdued and resigned and honest and just defeated, but defeated in the sense that he defeated all the barriers he still keeps around himself.  
and goodbye hug and kiss at the airport.
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Note
e f j
Oh my gosh! Thanks so much! I totally wasn’t expecting anyone to actually ask me anything. Lets dig into these, shall we? 
E -- Top 5 Episodes
Oh my gosh, you started off with such a hard one! I am so guilty and such a terrible SPN fan! I haven’t done a proper re-watch in like 2 years! So while I can’t say that these episodes are necessarily my top episodes, they are episodes I remember and reflect fondly of. So with that said, let’s begin the countdown of my “top 5″ episodes of SPN. 
#5 5x08, Changing Channels -- It’s a fun episode and an episode I never mind re-visiting
#4 7x16, Out With The Old -- It’s a quirky episode and I like it. I like how we kind of got a different dynamic towards Leviathans with George The Leviathan. I wonder what ever happened to him? Did he get sucked into Purgatory with Dick Roman? It would’ve been nice if we could’ve revisited George in season 15. 
#3 7x20, The Girl With The Dungeons & Dragons Tattoos -- Uh hello, Charlie, duh! Such a good introduction to her. But unfortunately, the writers did not do her justice after she went to Oz and since then, I never really felt like the Charlie in this episode was ever really present again. 
#2 7x21, Reading is Fundamental -- Uh, Megstiel feels! Introduction to Kevin! And I LOVE Kevin. He is so adorable and he deserved so much better than to be Metatron’s collateral damage, he deserved so much better than to be a wandering ghost, then get sent to hell after he Chuck told him he was going to heaven and then escaped from hell and become a wandering ghost AGAIN!!! This boy is only like 17-18 years old canonically. Seriously, what is up with these writers? How dare they do my boy Kevin like that! I only hope when Jack became God, he actually sent Kevin to heaven, poor boy deserves it. 
Wow, so a lot of season 7 episodes made it onto this list. I guess I should come out of the closet as it were. I’m one of the few who doesn’t hate season 7. i actually quite enjoy it. Even if I am salty about the whole thing with Cas and Sera killing him off, the season just has a different, unique feel to it that’s different from all of the other seasons. And I like it. Plus, it introduced a lot of cool new characters. 
So before I give you my number 1, all time top favorite episode of SPN, I’m going to cheat and name off some honorable mentions. 
8x08 -- Hunter Heroici, 9x06 -- Heaven Can’t Wait, 10x05 -- Fan Fiction, 10x07 -- Girls, Girls, Girls (hanstiel is so cute in this episode), 10x20 -- Angel Heart, 6x15 -- The French Mistake, 15x08 -- Our Father Who Aren’t In Heaven (because Midam!), 1x06 -- Bloody Mary. And I’ll end it here otherwise this could go on for a really long time as I peruse the SPN episode list and am reminded of all the episodes I like. 
Here is my top #1 episode!
#1 4x20, The Rapture -- Oh my gosh! I love this episode so much! To this day, Jimmy Novak’s speech to Cas ranting at him for breaking his promise gives me chills! I love Jimmy Novak and this was the episode in which I really was very interested in the dynamics between angels and their vessels and I so desperately wanted to see more of that with Cas and Jimmy. But since we didn’t get it, I’m happy that we at least got Michael and Adam.The Destihellers like to talk about how Dean is what made Cas fall in love with humanity. I disagree on that, first of all,, it’s always been portrayed that Cas has a soft spot for humanity but even if we were to ignore that, I’m personally of the belief that Jimmy played a huge part in endearing humanity to Cas. And obviously, when Cas came back from Bible School in this episode, he had lost all of that through all of heaven’s brainwashing but I also like to think that Jimmy’s sacrifice to Claire started replanting the seeds in Cas about how endearing he finds humanity. So yeah, we can argue all we want about which Winchester was responsible for making Cas fall in love with humanity, but to me, it started first with Jimmy Novak and he was able to break through the brainwashing because of Jimmy Novak and that’s how I choose to see it. 
F -- One Thing You’d Make Canon If You Could
Uh, too easy, Cas confessing to Sam and not Dean. And we get a canonical Sastiel happily ever after! We all know I’m basically Sastiel trash right now!
Or if not Sastiel as an endgame for Sam, SamxJess. I always liked Jess with as little as we got to see with her. 
But also to think outside of the box here, in the essence of making head canons come true, I heard this head canon once that Meg actually used to be Megara from the tale of Hercules. And she made a deal with a crossroads demon to save Hercules and honestly this head canon is kind of dope and I would have loved to have seen it go canon. Meg is already a pretty interesting character but a having a back story like that, uh, it would’ve been awesome. 
J -- Favorite Monster of the Week
I think I’m going to go with Bloody Mary on this. I don’t know, I’ve always liked the ghosts and the Bloody Mary episode has always just kind of stuck with me. It It honestly is a really kind of terrifying episode. And whenever I watch it, like I have to go to bed directly afterwards, no going to the bathroom, no fixing dinner, nothing like that because I’m too scared of accidentally seeing my reflection. So good on my girl Mary for being super terrifying!
Well, I hope you enjoyed these! I certainly enjoyed answering them! And hopefully, my answers were to your liking!
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alwaysonthemend · 4 years
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Destiel Fic Recs (An extensive rec list of almost every single Destiel fic I‘ve ever read.)
NOTE
- This is a masterlist of all of my fic recs. They include AUs, SPN universe, codas, ficlets, schoolfics, and more!
- Works marked with (*) denote my absolute favorites.  
-This rec list is all Destiel (I'm a clown 🤡, sue me.) If you don’t like it, don’t read it. 
-Yes, many of these works are NSFW, but usually said scenes can be skipped without losing important plot info.
-This list will be updated whenever I find a good fic, though probably not regularly if I'm honest. (Life happens...)
-I DO NOT own any of the work found on this list, nor do I claim it to be my own; I am simply making this so that others can enjoy these fics as well.
-Please do not hate on anyone or anything. If you don't like Destiel, then don't read the fics. If you hate the author, don't tell me because I don't care about that drama. (Walk AwaaAYyaYAaa)
1. Twist and Shout****** by @gabriel and @standbyme Archive Of Our Own.
Thoughts- I'm sure that there is nothing I can say that you haven't already heard. Just read it. Suffer along with the rest of us. There's fluff, smut, angst (the holy trinity.) This is truly the best fan fic ever written. Period. 20/10.
2. 300 Things by @cautionzombies. (I can't find the original source so you'll have to try and find it on your own...)  
Thoughts- What's a Supernatural rec list without 300 Things? This really is an amazing fic and it is written so well!  
3. How A Righteous Man Raises A Rose by @swordofmymouth- Live Journal.  
Thoughts- This fic really took me by surprise. It's tagged as an AU, but I think you'll find that it's not at all what you think. The author effortlessly sets a mood of loss and regret, yet still gives the light a chance to shine through. I went into this fic thinking it to be an AU, and it was at first. But I soon realized that there was much more to this fic than what at first meets the eye. I shed a few tears over this one.
4. Cleanse the Mirror* by @takadainmate -Live Journal.  
Thoughts- Man, this one hurts, but in the best way. I read this fic a long time ago but lost it and couldn't find it for a long time. I am so glad that I found it and was able to re read. Just as enjoyable (if not more so) the second time. Dean gets a better understanding of what it's like being an angel. (And Cas is written so well in this fic! He's just like he is in the show. It's incredible!)  
5. A Hole in the World by @bauble - Live Journal.
Thoughts- This one just hurts and hurts and hurts. This is one that you'll just have to read and see for yourself. No happy ending. (You've been warned.)  
6. In the Shadow of Your Wings by @EnochianThings - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This is a really well written fic. There were several times that I almost forgot that I was reading a fan fic because the characters and story are just so well though out. It's a bit of a long one and is set in a (sort of) canon!verse.
7. My Throat is An Open Grave* by @inkandpaperqwerty - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This was one of the first fan fics that I ever read for Supernatural. This one is just so heartwarming, but not before plenty of angst and hurt/comfort. The author seamlessly puts Sam and Dean into a heartbreaking AU and it's all about the love that Sam and Dean have for each other. (NOT Wincest.)  
8. Thursday's Child* by @strangeandcharm - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- All I can say is... Ow. Slow burn to end all slow burns, but so worth it in the end. This one is set in the End!verse (which I'm a total sucker for.) Dean and Cas are just so sad and I just want to hug them and make it all better. Imagine, Future!Dean's plan to kill Lucifer!Sam works and now he has to live with the fact that he killed his own brother, devil or not. And Cas has to come to terms with the fact that he survived the epic showdown, despite his belief that he wouldn't, and now has an addiction that he has to get under control. I love this fic and it really is a painfully slow read, but more than worth it in the end.  
9. Après by @imogenbynight - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- Dean and Cas go to Paris... Need I say more? I love this fic because it addresses the crappy way that Dean always has Cas coming to him and how Dean needs to step up and realize the sacrifices Cas has made for him (shameless bias opinion... Sorry) All us Cas stans will really appreciate this one. Written well, characterization flawless... What else can you ask for?
10. Dean's Days Off* by @MittenWraith - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This is just the sweetest, fluffiest fic you could ever ask for. Reading it made me want to fall in love so badly it hurt. Cas and Dean just get some well deserved rest and quiet. I am absolutely in love with this fic and I'll read it over and over again. (Especially if I've had a bad day and need some happiness)
11. Unlit, Unmarked, and Forgotten by @awed_frog -
Archive Of Our Own.
Thoughts- This is a beautiful coda for 11x17. There's some Destiel if you squint. It's very sad but somehow manages a happy ending that renews your hope and brings a soft smile to your face.
12. Down Like Water by @museaway - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- I really like this fic a lot. It is very sad with a lot of Hurt!Castiel but it does actually have a happy ending. Just grit your teeth and bare through the angst and sadness to make it to the beautifully sappy ending.
13. Till Kingdom Come* by @freckles_n_feathers - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - This is a season 11 AU that was written before season 11 aired (the author actually somehow predicted things that were going to happen before they aired!!) This fic gave me really high hopes for season 11 that weren't quite fulfilled. I loved season 11, don't get me wrong (it's actually one of my favorite seasons) this fic was just so perfect and I wanted it to be canon so badly. (I re wrote this review like four times because I kept saying "actually" lol)  
14. 12x19 Destiel Ficlet by @Samanstiel - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - This was written before 12x19 aired, and if you were upset with how things went down then this is the fic for you. The characters are written so well and it really feels like an actual episode.
15. Contrapasso*** by @takadainmate - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This might be the best fic ever (trumped only by Twist and Shout...) Inspired by Dantes Inferno and so beautifully written! I just... There aren't words. It's very dark, and the ending was not at all what I wanted (but after much thought, I realized that there couldn't have been a better ending.) I really got lost in this fic. I could see exactly what the author described, I could feel what the characters felt. This is true art... This is the fic we've all been looking for.
16. Put Up Your Dukes by @takadainmate - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This fic is by one of my favorite authors (who has featured on this rec list before...) Hilariously dirty. Dean and Cas are bone heads who can't make up there minds. Human!Cas is also a little sh*t and I'm living for it. There's some smutty times in this one... (which can easily be skipped if you're not comfortable without losing any important points of the story. {at least I didn't feel like I missed anything})
17. Then I Defy You Stars* by @speary - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - So many tears were shed while I read this. The plot is just so amazing and a plot twist to end all plot twists at the end. It's full of sacrifice and love and angst and bittersweet moments. I love this fic (and I promise you will too.)
18. All the Nights by @NorthernSparrow - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This takes place after 15x03 episode "Golden Time". A bit of a fix it fic, but canon compliant to a point. I really love this fic (I love anything written by NorthernSparrow). Also a case!fic, which I'm always a softie for. Some big questions that I have since season 15 are addressed in this fic, and I absolutely love the way they are answered.
19. A Winter's Tale* by @NorthernSparrow - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- Oh my gosh. So much Hurt!Castiel. There isn't outright Destiel but there is heavy DeanCas relations. This is a season 9 re write and it just hurts so much. If you can make it through all the pain, the happy ending makes it all worth it. Human!Cas just deserves so much better... Ahh! It's just so sad and perfect and awesome.
20. Give All My Secrets Away by @morganoconner - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - This is a sweet little fic. Not particularly long, but oh so meaningful. Dean gets cursed and his soul is pushed from his body, leaving him vulnerable and scared (the author portrays the human soul in a very interesting way). Cas looks after him and it's just so fluffy.
21. Plot Holes* by @saltyfeathers - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - Holy crap! This fic took me a whole week to finish and I enjoyed every minute of it! Every chance I got I would pull my phone out and read. I was rudely interrupted many many times so I just decided to finish it at night and stayed up until 2AM on a school night. (oops?) It's soooo well written and feels like an actual season of Supernatural. 12/10 all the way.
22. Someone Who's Feeling For Me by @ellispark - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts: Here's a fic to kick you right in the feels. I actually really genuinely enjoyed reading this fic because of how well the characters are written! Dean, Sam, and Cas run into Lisa Braeden post her mind wipe in season 6 and it brings up a whole bunch of drama for our boys. (While also helping Dean realize that she was never really the person he wanted to be with 😉) A bit of light smut and a bit of angst but definitely worth a read.  
23. Chalk and Chainmail by @angelwingsandthings - Wattpad.
Thoughts : Oh this one is so good... It's very angsty at times and Dean is a lovable dork who can't win no matter what he does and Cas is just a confused little assbutt who doesn't know what to do with himself. (So he's himself if we're being perfectly honest here 😂) There's some light smut but nothing too graphic. This one is a Highschool!AU, so prepare yourself for the delightful drama that comes along with teenage hormones. (And Charlie is a total QUEEN and I'm living for it. I love her so much.)
24. Remember When * by @VioletHaze - Archive of Our Own
Thoughts: Sooo... I've been on a bit of a School!fic kick recently. (Not a little bit. Like a lot a bit thb) This one is just so god da*n perfect (scuse my French) Dean and Cas have been best friends since fifth grade; they do everything together. Then some crap happens and they get in a huge fight junior year. Years later, they finally make it back to each other. (*Cries in fangirl*) Warning, it's sad, it hurts like heck. But there's also so many perfect moments. I promise you won't regret reading it. (And once again Charlie is a total queen and I would give my life for her. She deserves so much better... {SPN writers I'm looking at you.})
25. Everytown, USA by @aileenrose - Archive Of Our Own.
Thoughts : I've seen this fic on tons of recs but never really thought much of it. But I kept seeing it so I decided to give it a read and boy was it worth it! This is just a great fic that has plenty of fluff (And angst... Because what's a Destiel fic without sadness and pain?) Cas is a lot different from his character in the show but somehow the exact same? He's Cas, but it's like he's what Cas would have been like if he had grown up human. I just love him so much in this fic (and I want to give him a hug too... 😢)
26. I Through My Window by @dehavilland - Live Journal.
Thoughts: I've seen this fic on several recs and I finally got around to reading it myself. Some ample Destiel angst to hit you right in the feels. But I love this fic because it is incredibly motivating! Post season 5 canon-divergent and Castiel is permanently rendered human. Dean is a ginormous penis head and leaves Cas to fend for himself. Cas pines after him for a while before realizing that he doesn't need Dean to live his life. Cas stans will love this one. I just gotta include a quote because it's just beautiful. "No, I don't need you. But I want you."  
27. A Light for My Path* by @domesticadventures - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts : Oh my goodness. This fic is just... *chefs kiss* Told from the perspective of Cas' Continental. (A.K.A "Connie") Dean and Cas are having a difficult time figuring out who they want to be after the end of the last The-End-Of-Times-We're-All-Gonna-Die, but they figure it out together. There are plenty of Impala!pov fics (and even an actual episode), but I don't think I've ever come across one from Connie's perspective. Definitely worth a read.
28. Named* by @RC_McLachlan - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts : Hooo boy. This fic.... This is a complete season five re write and I LOVE IT. It's pretty angsty, but it also has some funny times thrown in. Dean is a sassy girl the whole time and I love him so much. And the plot twist at the end literally blew my mind. (brains splattered on the ceiling and everything.) 12/10.
29. And Even In The Quiet Night by @KelpietheThundergod - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts: Okay, this one is pretty sad. Not full on angst, but more fluffy sad. (If that makes sense...) Dean wants to celebrate Christmas but no one else seems interested. I just want to wrap Dean in a blanket and sing Hey Jude until he feels better! But don't worry, an absolute beautifully written cliche and sappy ending will make up for it.
30. Just More of the Same (*??) by @outpastthemoat - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts : There really aren't words to describe this series. It's just so fricken bleak but beautiful at the same time. I really don't know how to describe it. Read it, the only regret is that it ends. I honestly hated how it ended, so unfullfilling. But, that's life sometimes, and I think that's the whole point of the series. I don't know if I love it or hate it but there's no denying that it is absolutely beautifully written. 12/10
31. the cost of a thing**by @quiettewandering - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts: Hooo boy! This is a great fic! Fake marriage? Check. Slow burn? Check. Case!fic? Check. Fluff and angst? Check. This fic has it all. This fic kicked me right in the feels. My gosh, beautifully written and the characterization is FLAWLESS. But trust me, bring tissues as you watch Dean and Cas, slowly, painfully, but surely heal the trust that was shattered between them. This is an AU for season 8 in which Dean was the one who undertook the trials, not Sam. Dean is dying and there's nothing Sam and Cas can do to stop him, especially since Dean is insistent on just giving up and accepting his fate. Cas can save Dean's life, but at what cost? Surely a terrible one... Angst insues. 10/10.  
32. I'll Dig a Hole and Pull You Through by @JoCarthage - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts: If yall hated the DeanCas interaction in season six (didn't we all...?) then this is the fixit!fic for you. In this fic, Dean helps Cas defeat Raphael. And boy, there's some flangst. (Also Dom!Cas is a thing 😏)
33. Stitches by @Askance - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts: I wouldn't exactly call this a fixit!fic, buuut it is a sort of fixit for season 7. (Except Cas gets hurt, which I hate. {So does Dean...}) Cas survives the Laviathan taking over his vessal but is rendered blind. Sam and Dean have to take care of him. Loads of whump and hurt/comfort. Definitely shed a tear or two (or twenty.)
34. The Way Out* by @awed_frog - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts: *fangirl noises*. I hate to say this, but OMG! This fic blew my frickin mind! The time line is very confusing and the author gives you a way to read it in chronological order, but it's worth it to read the way it was published. Everything starts making sense around the third to last chapter and it is glorious (-ly sad and angsty.) But there is a happy ending and it's soooo worth it. First timetravel!fic I've ever read and it did not disappoint.
35. What is Hidden, What is Seen* by @ExpatGirl.
Thoughts : Wow! This is a pretty long fic but so worth it. The author joked several times about the fact that the fic is longer than her Masters thesis. This is a complete season 11 re write and I LOVE it. It's got some beautifully written OCs, Crowley, Rowena, and a certain someone who needs to come back canonically. (Again, looking at you Spn writers...) This is just written so well and the author was able to put in small Easter eggs the whole way through just like any real season would. Some light smut but nothing too graphic, angst (Hello, my name is angst but you can call me Destiel.) There's even some humour in here too! All in all, an absolutely beautifully written fic.
36. And This, Your Living Kiss*** by @opal_bullets - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts: Okay, first off, insert fangirl screams here! I LOVED this fic. (And not just because I'm a clown {which I totally am} but for some personal reasons I'll elaborate on in a sec...) This is an amazingly written, thought-provoking, and heartwarming fic to read. I loved it especially as it featured poet!Dean which I don't find a lot of. Now, I particularly liked this fic because it really hit home for me. The author described exactly how I feel when it comes to poetry. They described how poets often write best in times of sadness and misery and how we often stop writing because we are destroying ourselves in our own heads and can find nothing to write about when we finally allow ourselves to be happy. The author puts it perfectly in this fic. Not only did the fic make me rethink some of the opinions that I've had on poetry writing for years, but it also inspired me to pick up my pen again after not writing for almost a year and a half. So, thank you to the author for getting me back into writing poetry. (I can't thank you enough! ❤️) Please read this fic yall!  
37. What We Remember by @Tiro - Fanfic.net
Thoughts : (Not Destiel btw) Oh my Chuck. This is soooo sad. Some nice emotionallyscarred!Dean for ya. It starts out so unassuming too! Totally blindsided me with the angst. But also some brotherly love between Sam and Dean. Definitely worth a read. (P. S, I'm writing this from the floor of my room while I sob in fangirl.)
38. More or Less by @schmerzerling - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - Oh my goodness this is such a great fic. Lots of emotional angst and trauma (Just the way I like it.) This fic is so amazing and I loved every minute of it. There are so few stutter!Dean fics out there. This fic is unfinished and hasn't been updated since 2016 but I think it is still worth a read. The point at which the fic is left off has no immediate cliff hangers so I think that the fic can still be appreciated as is. Definitely worth a read.
39. Every Part of the Animal (*?) by @Askance and @Komodobits - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - I hate this fic. I hate how dam* near perfectly written it is. I hate it for the hours I spent crying. I hate it for the hope it gave me before ripping it away like it was a game. This fic was recommended to me on a group chat. I was warned. I was warned that it was a terrifying, horrific, and heartbreaking fic. What did I do?? I read it anyway. (Shocker, I know...) This fic is genuinely terrifying. It's horrific and I have to say, READ THE THE TAGS. Beautifully written, as to be expected by the authors. (Both of whom have featured on this list before.) This is a case fic gone horribly, horrifically, disgustingly wrong. 10/10 would recommend, but be warned: there is NOT a happy ending.
40. Hautley's Bend **** by @ColdInTheStudio - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - Okay! So, first of, if you aren't into long fics this is absolutely NOT the fic for you. A whopping 42 chapters, all masterfully written without a flaw or typo in sight. I LOVE this fic with all my heart. I mean, I'm an absolute clown when it comes to Highschool!AUs, but this fic is just... *chef's kiss. * This is the Highschool!fic you have all been wanting. It's got angst, it's got fluff, emotional trauma, not to mention some fan favourite characters. (Gabriel, Charlie, and Kevin to name just a few.) But you should check out the tags before reading as there's some heavy stuff dealt with in this fic: Dean is not a very nice person at the beginning of this fic. There's also underage drinking and detailed substance abuse. Self harm is also pretty prominent in this fic as well as some A+ John Winchester parenting. But the pain is so, so worth it. Bring tissues!
41. Stay With Me, Sweetheart by @MandalaRose - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - The fluff is too much! I mean, we got firefighter!Dean saving Cas' life! (For Chuck's sake...What more could you ask for?) Also some single father Cas caring for a baby Clair, so some cute daddy!Cas for your troubles. So sweet and heartwarming and a very happy ending. 10/10.
42. Season Z*** by @Castielslostwings, @CR Noble, @cutelittlekitty, @EllenOfOz, @fangirlingtodeath513, @heylittleangel, @jscribbles, @MalMuses, and @son_of_a_bitch_spn_family - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts - So you might notice that there are LOTS of authors listed above and they all came together to create something beautiful. They started publishing chapters right after the season 14 finale and published a chapter every week until the season 15 premier. This is, essentially, a complete season 15 re write. It is masterfully done! Team Free Will vs. a zombie apocalypse. Also, lots and lots of old faces all brought together to save the world one last time. There's some heartbreak, some love, some smut, some fluff. (Also some Samwena to make everything even better.) 22 long chapters, each feeling like an actual episode, made this fic seem like an actual season. (And I wish the writers would steal from this fic's finale and make some... stuff... finally canon.) Truly a timeless Destiel masterpiece.
43. Something about Pinneaples by @lizleenimbus - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - This is an EXTREMELY adorable little DeanCas ficlet. No angst, no Big Sad ™, just sweet sweet, tooth rotting Destiel fluff.
44. Last Night on Earth by @the_communist_unicorn - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- Sooo, I'm sure we all remember that disastrous night out, when the first big ol Apocalypse was gearing up, and Dean found out that Cas was an eons-old virgin... And I'm sure we all remember the disaster that was Cas and a prostitute. Anyways, here's what might have happened if Dean had taken a bit more of a... hands on approach. 😏 The chapters are all episodes that took place after the season five episode "Free To Be You And Me" and how they would have unfolded had Destiel become canon. I will warn you, their is smut (easily skippable) and there is DEFINITELY some angst. The whole thing is capped off with a bittersweet alternate ending to season five finale "Swan Song." I can't say much else without spoiling the ending, but all in all it is a very good fic to read.
45. Painted Angels *** by @WinJennster - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- HOLY FRAHOLY. I love this fic. A beautiful take on the classic trope of "We Had Something Good But I Ruined It, Now I'm Gonna Show Up Twelve Years Later And Try To Fix It... Also You're Engaged To Someone Else. Oops?" But seriously, all joking aside, this is an awesome fic. Painter!Dean x Writer!Cas, a match made in Heaven. (Hehe, get it? Heaven? Sorry I'll leave.) HOWEVER, do please be mindful of the tags. There is mentions of suicide and a couple paragraphs describing a rather grizzly accident to one of the main characters. Also, some lovely A+ John Winchester Parenting ™ and several instances of homophobic language. Still, this is an amazingly written fic and I can't stress how much I enjoyed it.  
46. Forgotten *** by @NorthernSparrow - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- So, first off, I have to talk about the author for a little bit. I have read every single fic by Northern Sparrow and EVERY SINGLE ONE is a friggin masterpiece. The amount of research and backstory that goes into these fics is truly awe-inspiring. Northern Sparrow leaves no plot holes, no mistakes, no typos, nada. Now, the actual fic in question is no exception. While not particularly a Destiel fic, it can be taken as pre slash. There is a sequel, a Destiel version and a non Destiel version, called Flight that I am currently reading as well. (The Destiel version of course 🤡) There is some serious whump and angst here, both physical and emotional. This fic is a canon divergent from around mid season 9, in which there is no Mark of Cain and is a continual re write of the season. Cas goes through a lot in this fic (my poor baby) and Dean and Sam go through some gnarly stuff as well. This is such a good fic, I really can't stress enough. I wish I was half as talented as Northern Sparrow is when it comes to writing stories. I promise, you will NOT be disappointed. 12/10
47. All is safely gathered in by @randomdestielfangirl - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Here is a cute little coda for season 12 episode 6, “Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox.” It’s mostly Mary-centric and her understanding of the Dean/Cas relationship. I’ve always had a soft spot for season 12 codas where Mary sees that Dean and Sam have grown up. (Especially those that have DeanCas in them.)
48. Bring Up the Deep by @deathbanjo - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Here is a pretty cool case!fic with eventual Destiel fluff at the end. The story line is a little heavy and dark, but nothing more than canon-typical violence. This involves Sam, Dean, and a human Cas traveling to the beach to investigate a “sea monster.” Fair warning, there are moments describing Cas’ depression and struggle with figuring out who he is and who he wants to be, but again, not as bad as season 9... (STILL not forgiving the writers for that fiasco.)
49. Hazy Shade of Winter by @GeekPrincess - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Here is yet another case!fic. This one has Team Free Will and Mary teaming up to solve a case in rural Wyoming in the middle of winter. It takes place not too long after Mary’s resurrection and Sam being freed from the British Men of Letters. At first it seems to be just a normal case, but per Winchester fashion, someone ends up getting attacked. Definitely worth a read.  
50. A Little Old Fashioned by @theheartchoice - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Another coda, sorry... (I’ve been going through a faze) This one takes place in the aftermath of 14x13 episode “Lebanon.” I was disappointed that Cas didn’t play that big of a role in the 300th episode. I thought for sure he would considering he WASN’T EVEN IN THE 200TH EPISODE. *Clears throat* Umm, ya. Just some Destiel fluff of Cas taking care of Dean’s wounds the old fashioned way after John’s departure.  
51. Same Deep Water by @braezenkitty - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Team Free Will heads to California to investigate a string of mysterious deaths in a supposedly haunted hotel called the Brookdale Lodge, nestled in the redwoods of Santa Cruz. I particularly enjoyed this fic because it has a definite early SPN vibe. Very creepy and eerie and reminded me a lot of No Exit (2x06) and Playthings (2x11). Also a bit of flirty!Cas and jealous!Dean.  
52. Looking for a Sign* by @emwebb17 - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- THIS FIC... is sooo adorable. Holy Chuck. Dean meets Cas on his bus ride to work and tries to talk with him. Not realizing that Cas is deaf, Dean just assumes he’s being ignored and goes out of his way to get Cas to interact with him. After weeks of no response he finally realizes that Cas can’t hear him and so Dean offers that they start over with their acquaintanceship. Dean meets all of Cas’ friends and they quickly grow closer and closer. They would be perfect for each other except Cas refuses to date hearing people. (Also, bonus points for the pun in the title.)
53. Peanut Butter-Pumpkin Wedding Cake by @Sparseparsley - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- I’ve seen this fic on so many rec lists and I’m so mad that it took me this long to finally read it. Bartender!Dean meets Cas at a bachelor party and they hit it off right away. Then, when Cas’ car breaks down, Dean offers to drive him around to make preparations for the upcoming wedding. Dean has a massive crush, but thanks to Dean’s remarkable ability to jump to conclusions, he thinks that Cas is the one getting married in 2 weeks. Read it just for the sake of watching two idiots dance around each other for weeks on end. They aren’t fooling anyone but themselves.  
54. My Marble Guardian by @LadyDrace - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Bring tissues cuz this one hurts like a season 12 finale. (Heh. I’m hilarious.) Dean is killing himself trying to support little Sam after their parents die. Dean is close to ending it all and takes to talking to the marble angel statue that sits by his mother’s grave. I can’t say much else without spoiling the ending so you’ll have to read it yourself to find out how it ends.  
55. The Law of Equivalent Exchange** by @awed_frog - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Holy crap! This fic is truly amazing. @awed-frog is one of my favourite authors of all time. (And has featured on this rec list before.) This fic follows Castiel caring for his ward, a man who will one day be called Dean Winchester. Follow Cas through Rome, Greece, Paris, Russia, Germany, and more as he guides the impossibly bright soul that Heaven claims will one day save them all. In other words, Cas is sent to earth to watch over Dan, son of Enoch and continues to do so until January 24th, 1979, the day Dean Winchester is finally born. The fic then becomes canon-compliant all the way until season 11, then stems into a canon-divergent for defeating Amara. All from Cas’ POV, we see how he went from being Castiel, Angel of Tears and Thursdays to Cas, Angel of Dean Winchester. 12/10.  
56. A Way Back Home* by @thatpeculiarone - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Another AU with deaf!Cas. Dean is a lonely bakery owner whose past is full of heartbreak and loss. He meets Clair Novak, a mute girl who has no one to talk to, after Jody suggests that they meet. Neither are too keen on the idea at first, but they soon discover a perfect remedy for their predicament. Dean loves to tell stories and Clair loves to hear them. Dean has a story for every pastry in his bakery, and Clair soon realizes that all of Dean’s stories seem to revolve around one person. After finally discovering why Dean always looks sad when no one is looking, hates Valentines Day with a passion, and only ever talks about his best friend in the past tense, Clair is determined to help Dean get the happily-ever-after that he never got to have.  
57. Such Familiar Magic by @saltnhalo - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This fic was inspired by the artwork of very talented @lizleeships here on Tumblr. This is the first witch AU I’ve ever read and it did not disappoint. Cas is a reclusive witch with unimaginable power and Dean is one of the most powerful familiars in North America. Both of our boys have some dark secrets and ghosts from their pasts threaten to separate the two for good.
58. I'm fine by @lizleenimbus - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - Can I just say, WOW. This one is yet another small ficlet to go along with @lizleeships artwork. This fic, despite its short length, is so potent and amazing! The writer effortlessly blends the canon SPN with the world of Destiel and I am LIVING for it. The somber and quiet nature of this fic makes it an excellent read for a late at night fanfic session.
59. The Shadows on his Shoulders by @lizleenimbus (Yes, I know. Two in a row... I don't care.)- Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - Okay, first off, @lizleenimbus has become one of my favourite fic writers EVER. This fic is canon compliant (sort of) for season 6, just when Dean is beginning to figure out that something is wrong with Sam. (In the soul department, that is.. .) This here is a wingfic to end all wingfics. I love the writing, the characterization, the plot, everything, just... *chefs kiss.*
60. The Care and Feeding of Castiel by @MalMuses - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - Soooo, another wingfic!! (No, I don't have a problem. YOU have a problem...) I am a total sucker for wing!grooming DeanCas fics. I just, gosh! I love them so much! I love this fic more every time, no matter how many times I've read it before.  
61. Asunder by @rageprufrock - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- Now, listen here lil clowns. Everyone loves a good "I need a plus one for my brother's wedding" trope and this here fic is the perfect one. And if you don't love it, this is absolutely NOT the fic for you. Sam is getting married and Dean doesn't want to go to it alone, so he enlists the company of his best friend Cas to go with him. Shenanigans and misunderstandings ensue, topped off with a healthy serving of meddling family members. A great rainy afternoon read.
62. Good Call by @sysrae - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - First, please be mindful of the tags as Dean meets Cas by talking him off of a ledge. However, despite the horrible start, this series is still incredibly fluffy and sappy. It also has Therapist!Benny being exasperated by Dean and Cas' utter stupidity around each other. This is a very heartwarming fic that balances the angst with fluff perfectly.
63. 'Tis but a Crush by @Annie D - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - Here is an awesome little meet cute modern AU fic! Cas notices that a man with startling green eyes stares at him whenever they are together. Cas is interested immediately but the green eyed man seems too shy to approach Cas. Fluff and awkward moments soon follow.
64. Where There's Smoke, Theres Fire** by @OsirisApollo - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - So, first of, I am absolutely in LOVE with Firefighter!Dean. Cas is an ER doctor who meets Dean after the fire alarm in his apartment building goes off. Cas manages to make a fool of himself but is comforted by the fact that he'll never see the attractive firefighter again. Boy, was Cas wrong. The two men seem to run into each other practically everywhere, and no matter how hard Cas tries, he always seems to embarrass himself with every meeting. This fic was responsible for making me squeal aggressively at 2 AM. 10/10 Destiel fluff.
65. Forget - Me - Not -Blues*** by @noangelsinthegarrison - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This is a fic that I go back and read over and over again. It’s got a perfect balance of fluff and angst, misunderstandings, and a healthy dose of clueless, meddling family and friends. Bottom line is, Sam is getting married and Dean is going to be the best man. He’s thrilled, until he finds out that Castiel Novak is Jess’ honorary Maid of Honour. Dean and Cas had a... something or other back in high school. Dean would ask to be friends again but Cas is intent on pretending that they never knew each other in the first place. Misunderstandings, awkward moments, and an obscene amount of embarrassment ensues, no thanks at all to the “tradition” surrounding the Maid of Honour and the Best Man. 10/10.  
66. Ignore the Butterflies: Best Friend Advice from Dean Winchester by @impatient14 - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Okay, this one has practically every romcom trope out there... AND I AM LIVING FOR IT. (*Clears throat) Ya, soooo. Doctor Cas and Firefighter Dean are friends. Best friends actually. Totally platonic bros. A bromance for the ages. The broist bros to ever bro. That’s it. No homosexual feelings to be found here. None at all... Or so Dean tries to convince himself.  
67. Prosopagnosia by @misseditallagain - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Man, this fic is really adorable and quite heartbreaking at times. Cas has a cognitive disorder that means he can’t ever remember faces. He’s given up on finding love until he meets one Dean Winchester, but he’s afraid to tell his hot date the truth about his condition. Assumptions are made and misunderstandings threaten to tear the two apart for good, but maybe there’s a chance for these two after all.  
68. Midnight Blues AKA To Hell and Back (Courtesy of Sig Sauer) by @outofminutes - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- As we all know, I am a glutton for damaged!Dean being cared for by Cas. Dean is a war veteran. He’s been discharged for five years but he hasn’t dared to go back home until now. He’s not the same person he was all those years ago and the constant haunting of horrors past threaten to tear him apart. Thankfully, he’s got a loving family and a new friend (Hehe. Guess who. Sorry, I’ll leave) to help him pick up the pieces.  
69. Scars by @lemonsorbae - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Okay, first off: WOOOO 69! NOICE! OKay, I’m done... So, this fic stands out to me for the writers unique take on some popular tropes. Dean is a tattoo artist with green hair (Insert Priestly from Ten Inch Hero here.) and Cas is the stereotypical hipster. They don’t get along very well at the beginning of this fic. (Which is a HUGE understatement btw). Then, a drunken party leads to certain... unsavory actions, and both swear that it will never happen again. And that’s a total lie. Lots of smutty times in this one so be warned, also references to past trauma for both of our favourite boys so please mind the tags before reading.  
70. The One Thing You Can’t Lose by @MajorEnglishEsquire - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This is just a cuddly, tooth-rottingly fluffy little ficlet for some happy DeanCas feels. Warning: Do not read in public place for there WILL be squeals.  
71. The Ugly Sweater Verse by @nerdylittledude - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- I know, I know. Everyone who’s ever read Destiel fanfiction has heard of the Ugly Sweater Verse. I don’t care! I’m reccing it anyway. A newly human Castiel wants to experience every holiday to its fullest, dragging Dean and Sam (But mostly Dean) along with him. This is an AU for after season 5 in which Sam is alive, Cas is human, and Dean finally gets his head out of his ass. (With a little... okay a lot of help from the rest of Team Free Will.) This is an awesome feel-good Verse that is always nice to read after a bad day. There is a prequel to this Verse that is stand-alone, but you don’t have to read it to get the rest of the Verse. (Also, if you’re only looking for fluffy times then I wouldn’t recommend reading the prequel. You have been warned.)
72. Cats and Tats by @Jemariel - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This here is the quintessential Coffee Shop AU that no one asked for (Well.. I asked for it. I’m lonely dammit)  Cas owns a coffee shop that is right next door to a tattoo shop owned by our own Dean Winchester. Dean doesn’t like the pastel coffee shop because it totally ruins his badassery vibe, and Cas doesn’t need another distraction like Dean, and poor Sam never gets a moments peace.  
73. Moving On by @BruisedCastiel - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Castiel is a witch who reads fortunes for a living. One day he gets a customer named Dean whose reading has a shocking outcome. Not too much later, Dean’s ghost comes looking for Castiel seeking answers. This fic starts out pretty sad and things look hopeless for Dean and Cas but don’t worry! There’s a happy ending.  
74. Into the Fire** by @NorthernSparrow- Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- I’ve mentioned on this list before that NorthernSparrow is my favourite fic writer of all time. And their work has been featured several times on this list before. Now, be warned. This fic gets VERY dark VERY quickly. Dean, shortly after the Mark of Cain is removed, is cursed and he kills Cas. The trauma of the Mark, the guilt he feels for killing Cas, and the looming threat of the Darkness sends Dean into a mental breakdown. Sam, mourning the loss of Cas himself, is left to try and put together what is left of Dean’s sanity AND to come up with a plan to defeat the Darkness. Sam and Dean, with the help of several allies, come together to save the universe once and for all. This is a full AU starting sometime in early season 11 and finishes all the way through the end of the season. There is a lot of sadness and guilt in this fic, so please be careful going into it. Bring tissues. I cried gratuitously throughout this fic. But don’t worry because THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING. Bonus points for TrueForm!Cas. 15/10.  
75. There’d Be No Distance by @imogenbynight - Archive Of  Our Own.  
Thoughts- Just a short, feel-good, fluffy Christmas fic for ya. Cas is lonely on New Years because he assumes that he won’t be welcome to the family get-together. But don’t worry! Dean sets the record straight with his angel. (Well...Not straight but... you know what I mean.)  
76. Imperfect Proposals by @Fallen_Angel_Meg - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Okay, so, Cas is a total jerk at the beginning of this fic. He’s demanding, arrogant, cruel, and just rude to practically everyone who works at his firm. Dean is his new assistant and needs this job if he’s ever going to make it as an architect, but Castiel isn’t making it easy for him. Things get more complicated when Cas is threatened with being deported so he says that Dean is his fiance. Dean isn’t on board until Cas threatens to fire him if he doesn’t play along. Now they just  have to make it through Sam and Jess’ wedding. Easy... Right?  (There IS a happy ending it just takes these two idiots a while to get there.)
77. The Novak Hickey Mystery by @FagurFiskur - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This is just a short ficlet involving Professor Novak’s mysterious relationship and some VERY nosy students. Nice and quick happy-go-lucky fic with no angst and plenty of tooth rotting fluff.  
78. Come Back* by @lizleenimbus - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This is yet another short, canon-verse ficlet for you guys. (I know these last couple fics have been pretty short but I have been reading so many long fics recently that I’ve needed a bit of a mental break from the stress of a slow burn lol) Anyways, this is one of my favourite authors. Literally, every single thing by this author is a freaking gold mine of Destiel goodness. This particular ficlet chronicles Dean and Cas sharing an intimate conversation after a particularly nasty hunt. I love these types of fics in which Dean and Cas actually Use There Words™ and talk like Grown Ups™. (Never happens canonically so I’ll take what I can get. Looking at you SPN writers.) ALSO, this has artwork also by  @lizleeships! I swear, this individual is too frickin talented. 10/10!
79. And then there were Six* by @lizleenimbus - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- I know, I know. Two in a row by the same author... This author rocks okay! (Seriously, go check them out) This right here is a wing fic my friends. But not the type we are used to. It involves a bashful Cas, flustered Dean (And I know we ALL love a flustered Dean), and a very amused little brother. I love this ficlet especially as it is a beautiful take on the fact that Seraphim are supposed to have six wings.  
80. Autrement, Danger - or, The Account of an Exceedingly Long Day by @awed_frog - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Here’s another fic from a “rec list favourite” author of mine. This is a pretty cool case fic with an awesome monster of the week. (Japanese folklore at its finest.) A creature manifests itself as a person’s true love. Sam sees Jess, Cas sees Dean, Dean sees Cas (And has a freakout along the way.)  
81. Memories Bring Back Memories (Bring Back You) by @sobsicles - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Hoooo Boy! Talk about an angst fest. Set sometime in early season 15, Dean and Cas get their memories wiped and Dean is convinced that they are serial killers on the run from some tall guy named Sam. Things get awkward when they get their memories back, as they also remember what the two of them did when they were on the run together. Dean talks out of his ass, Cas gets angry (rightfully so), Sam and Eileen just want a moments peace, and LOTS of bad blood gets let out out into the open for the first time in years. This fic was hard to read because, true to Winchester fashion, Dean and Cas’ communication during this fic is TERRIBLE. Just when you think the two of them are about to hash things out, one of them goes and says something stupid and they have to start all over again. I definitely recommend this fic, but be prepared to brave some hardcore angst before Dean and Cas get their happy ending.  
82. Lost in Words, Hand in Hand* by @hallowgirl - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This is the fluffiest fluffy fic to ever fluff! (Try saying that 10 times fast.) Dean tells Cas that he never got read to as a child, so Cas takes it upon himself to read to Dean. It was supposed to be a one time thing, but the two enjoy the time together more than they thought they would. Plus, there’s so many books to read, and laying in the same bed is just practical. That’s it. Just guys being dudes. And if Dean happens to fall asleep on Cas’ shoulder? Well, that’s not his fault at all. (Also, bonus points for Sam being the typical smug little bro who lets Dean know that he and Cas aren’t as subtle as they think they are.) 
83. La Hantise** by @quiettewandering - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Okay so, I have been waiting to read this fic for FOREVER. I read the first couple chapters a long time ago (back when it was still a WIP) and I immediately fell in love. I decided, rather painfully, to stop reading and save it to my Marked For Later until it was finished. I have a hard time when it comes to WIPs because I forget what I read during the previous update and I often times lose interest until I can read it all in one go. I couldn’t wait to read it and I was not disappointed! This fic is BEAUTIFULLY written and the story seems to come to life before your eyes. This is the Destiel we all fell in love with; Two damaged and broken beings finding peace within each other. Warning: these two are complete idiots and there’s a lot of pining and some pretty hefty angst. Castiel’s backstory is truly, completely and utterly, tragic. Dean’s isn’t a picnic either I suppose, but it’s Cas past that comes back to haunt Dean and Cas in this fic. The author seamlessly interweaves the reality with the make believe and it sucks the reader into the story effortlessly. 14/10. A Destiel classic.  
84. Cheers, Angel Eyes by @wannaliveindeansdimples - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- As I’m sure you all know by now, I am in love with bartender! and barista!Dean. This fic has a healthy dose of bartender!Dean for you. In this fic, Castiel, known to Dean only as Angel Eyes, is a regular at the bar that Dean owns. The two hit it off during the few conversations that they have and decide to give themselves a chance. Very minimal angst and only just a small bit of pining from Dean’s POV. A very good, quick, none painful read.  
85. best friends without benefits by @lizbobjones - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This fic is set between the end of season 11 and the beginning of season 12 and is canon divergent for the most part. This one is pretty funny and enjoyable to read, if only for the sake of poor Sam and Mary dealing with two complete idiots. Dean lets slip to Cas that he finds Cas driving Baby “hot” and Cas admits that he has known of Dean’s attraction for years. Cas proposes he and Dean enter a Friends With Benefits relationship and Dean just can’t say no. But Dean just digs himself deeper and deeper into trouble after he mistakes Cas’ preposition as a rejection of deeper feelings. Misunderstandings happen, Dean is a big baby, Cas is clueless, and Sam is stuck in the middle.  
87. Shifter by @@LadyLini - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- There are tons and tons of fics out there where Dean and Cas are the bumbling idiots of the story (Yes, just like in the show) and Sam is the one who has everything figured out. But this fic looks at the idea of Sam being the one out of the loop and Dean and Cas being the ones who actually know what the heck is going on. This is a cool AU in which Sam went to Stanford, John Winchester is still an ass hole, and Destiel is canon. This was a cool take on how the events of the show would have taken place if Sam wasn’t there and Cas had been the one to save Dean from Azazel.  
89. diamond star halo by @jad - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This is a wonderfully light-hearted little fic in which Cas possesses Dean while his vessel recovers from the attack dog spell. We also get some great brotherly banter, Cas and Dean bickering like an old married couple, and other Team Free Will shenanigans. Also, poor Sam.  
90. like moses and batman and james dean by @saltyfeathers - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Oooohh boy. This fic is quite the can of worms for me. Here, the author gives us a more detailed account of Dean’s past of turning tricks in order to raise little Sammy, and how this past is affecting his current relationship with our Wayward Angel. This is a heavier fic and please be mindful of the tags (Yes, John Winchester’s A+ parenting is one of them...) But it DOES have a happy ending.  
91. any port in the storm by @mishcollin - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- If you are looking for a case!fic with Dean and Cas pretending to be dating on a couple’s cruise then you have come to the right place. I love this fic specifically for the care and detail of the case. Even more, there are lots and lots of OCs in this fic and every single one of them has their own personality and backstory. Be warned: there are lots of arguments between the elder Winchester and newly human Castiel. (Most of them because Dean is a big ol idiot in this fic and keeps the possible location of Cas’ fallen grace from him because of his Winchester Fear Of Abandonment ™)
92. Sunset Plaza by @LoveIsNotAVictoryMarch - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Dang! This is a great fic. Cas is practically married to his work and never goes on vacations, so his loving brother Gabriel decides to book him a weekend at a resort. Cas ends up having to share his room with one Dean Winchester the first night due to a problem with the server at the hotel. But they manage to make the best of it (if ya know what I mean...) Everything is great until its time to go home. They could make it work, but our lovable idiots can’t let anything be that easy. (Extra points for a little dash of Sabriel and meddling Gabriel.)
93. Longing by @whelvenwings - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This is a really fluffy fic set in canonverse. Dean and Cas finally have a discussion that has been long in the making, ending years of mutual pining. The tone of this fic is very sweet and is a great, feel-good, nighttime read. Give me Destiel and Impala confessions and I’m one happy clown.  
94. Hallelujah! Noel! Be it Heaven or Hell by @EnochianThings - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- EnochianThings is one of my favourite fic writers of all time! I can’t believe its taken me this long to rec this fic. This is an angsty holiday fic in which Cas confesses his feelings first and Dean is a total assbutt about it. Dean is at a loss after he realizes that he might of just driven away the one thing that could have made him the happiest: Cas. (Oh, don’t get me started on a rejected Cas... My heart can’t bear his sultry seraphim sadness.)
95. I’ll Cross the Sky for You by @superhoney - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- I am going to start this off by saying that I wasn’t really into this fic at first. I had found it through tags alone and it sat in my Marked for Later for months. I liked the tags, but I wasn’t sure about the premise of the fic. I could NOT have been more wrong. This fic was absolutely adorable. Barista!Dean meets Captain!Castiel... but in space! (With space ships and everything!) Anyways, very adorable, very cute. Definitely worth checking out.  
96. Nepeta Cataria* by @thepopeisdope - Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- I would literally give anything for there to be more Witch!Cas x Familiar!Dean fics out there. This is one of my favourite AUs and I feel like it is so lacking compared to many of the others. In this fic, Cas is a lonesome witch who plants catnip to prevent mosquitoes from being in his garden. Little did he know that it would also attract Dean, a powerful familiar, who just so happens to be the love of Cas’ life. (Familiar!Dean is almost always a dog in the fics I find so it was great to get to see him as a cat. Honestly, Cat Familar!Dean might be my favourite.)
97.Texas State of Mind** by @palominopup – Archive of Our Own. 
Thoughts- This is an awesome fic with country singer Castiel Novak meeting Dean Winchester, a man who was once an award-winning country music star. Dean has a complicated past, as he didn’t leave the industry on a good note (Compliments of John Winchester’s A+ Parenting™) He’s sworn off ever singing again and is content to look after his horses for the rest of his life... That is, until Cas Novak wants to sing a duet. This is an awesome fic with lots of familiar SPN faces. It takes Dean and Cas a little while to come around for each other, but once they do, they’re a fluffy force to be reckoned with.
98. In Real Life by @cloudyjenn – Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This is a hilarious little meetcute in which Dean has been communicating with this guy online... They’ve never done anything but exchange messages and texts, never even seen each other’s faces, but Dean is pretty sure he’s in love with him. Sam decides that such a relationship is completely pointless if the two will never meet so he introduces his brother to Castiel. Dean thinks he’s hot and would totally go out with him, but he just can’t bring himself to like someone other than his online mystery man. But Cas is fine with Dean not being interested, mostly because there’s this guy he met online who, even though they’ve never met... Aaaand ya. You all can guess where this is going hahaha. But it gets even better when Sam realizes that Dean and Cas are each other’s mystery online crushes and decides to have a little fun with it. 
99. Rentboy by @Naoe – Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Dean Winchester’s life hasn’t been pretty, but he’s happy with it because at least he got Sammy the life and opportunities he wanted. Dean’s life takes an interesting turn when he meets Castiel at a benefit. Dean, ashamed of his job, comes up with a new name and a new life story for this strange man. Somehow, the two form an unlikely bond, Dean supporting Castiel as his wife is dying. But the lie Dean told is still there and he has no idea how to fix it. And once Castiel’s wife is gone, the lie is the only thing keeping them from truly being together. Castiel isn’t in love with Dean Winchester... at least, not the real one. Needless to say, life isn’t easy for a Rent boy in the 80s. 
100. Silver and Cold by @superhoney – Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- Silver and Cold is an amazing AU in which Castiel is a wayward hunter afraid of settling down and a dark past that haunts him everywhere he goes. While on a case investigating a possible werewolf attack, Cas runs into Dean Winchester, a recluse who lives up in the woods of Sydnam, Maine. He’s got a bad temper and a past to rival Cas’. If it weren't for the alarming amount of evidence pointing towards Dean being the werewolf, Cas thinks Dean might just be more kind than he lets people believe. 
101. Any Little Heartbreak* by @followthattardis – Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This was a fic that I started reading a long time ago, but somehow lost and couldn’t find it again. But I finally found it and the joy I felt was unparalleled. (My little clown heart could barely take it) Dean is a heart surgeon. He’s frickin good at it to... Maybe even one of the best in the US. He knows everything there is to know about the human heart. (“Anatomically speaking”) He’s just transferred to a new hospital and the head nurse is totally hot. And Dean also happens to make a fool of himself in front of said nurse on his very first day at the hospital. From there, it seems that despite his best efforts, Cas doesn’t like Dean at all. (And EVERYONE likes Dean so, what the hell?) Dean thinks his crush will go away if he can just get all that tension out of his system... Boy was he wrong. I LOVE this fic and I am so glad I was able to find it again. I especially liked how all the hospital staff were all familiar faces. 😊 
102. What happened between me and Cas* by @AthenaErrata – Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- This right here?? Broke me. BROKE ME I TELL YOU. (*Clears throat) This is a coda set just after 11x19 episode The Chitters, in which Dean finally tells Sam everything. The secret kisses, stolen touches. The betrayals, the lies, the guilt. Everything. All the things involving Cas that Dean promised himself he would never tell another soul. Dean retells events from seasons 4 to 11 and gives a bit more info into just why he and Cas can never truly be happy together. The fic continues into a canon-compliant tale all the way until a beautiful happy reunion set in 13x06 episode Tombstone. 
103. True Faces* by @Tibbins – Archive of Our Own.  
Thoughts- I'm pretty sure that this author has featured on this rec list a couple times before. Tibbins is one of my favourite SPN writers of all time. This is a trilogy verse in which Dean, Sam, and Cas tell some truths that should have been shared a LONG time ago. In the first one, titled “Behind the Mask”, Dean convinces Sam to open up about some things that has been bothering him and Sam finally sheds some light on what it was like being tortured by Lucifer. The second, titled “In the Mind”, follows Dean as he opens up to Sam following the conversation from the first fic. He tells Sam more of what happened in Hell and why he will never really be able to wipe the blood off his hands. The last fic (Which is pre slash Destiel) titled “Under the Skin”, Cas gets to discuss with Dean the things that haunt the angel’s mind. The last one is especially painful... Though the two finally admit their feelings for one another, Dean explains to Cas why he just isn’t ready yet. It’s sad, but it has a hopeful ending.
104. In My Time of Vinyl by @freclesarechocolate - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- First off, damn! This fic is one to pull at your heartstrings. I am a a shameless lover of hurt!Dean and this fic delivers beautifully. Cas, driven to seek shelter from the rain, enters the record shop owned by Dean. Dean is sweet and offers shelter for the night and Cas ends up promising to come back to buy some records. The two create a fast friendship but Cas ends up noticing some things that are a little off with Dean. He’s always smiling, but sometimes the smiles can’t cover up the sadness in his eyes. He doesn’t talk about his family or his past, and he never seems to have a lot of food in his fridge. This is a story of coming to terms with mental health, friendship, love, trust, and letting others help you. I absolutely recommend this fic! Quick warning, however, Dean has a very troubled life and his story is no picnic ride. Be sure to check out the tags before reading.
105. Hunter’s Caress*** by @Ltleflrt - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This is probably in my top five most favourite Destiel fics of all time. I have read this fic all the way through at least twice now. The story follows Castiel Jameson, a Pinkerton Detective, who is on a quest to revenge his murdered brother. He seeks the help of the outlaw Dean Winchester, a dangerous man who supposedly has enough blood on his hands to fill an ocean. Cas saves Dean and his brother Sam from being hung in exchange for their assistance in tracking the rat bastard who killed his brother. The two start out as enemies, then to begrudging allies, friend, and maybe even something more. Cas tries to keep his mind on business, but he aches to learn the feeling of a Hunter’s Caress. 20/10. Be warned though, this fic gets pretty gritty. The world of hunters and outlaws is messy and dangerous. This fic deals with death, injury, rape, and worse. Be careful before heading in but I assure you, this fic will not disappoint.
106. Love Bites* by @malmuses - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- MalMuses is one of the best fic writers out there. A true legend in the SPN fandom! This fic is one of my favourite as it features Creature!Dean x Human!Castiel. In this fic, Cas takes in a bat that his cat got a hold of. Cas knows that there’s something special about this bat. He seems to understand human speech and loves hamburgers. But even stranger, his eyes are the exact same green as the cute mechanic who comes into the coffee shop sometimes.
!107-117. All of these are just codas set for post 15x18 and for post finale/finale rewrites. They are pretty much very similar. Dean breaks down and Sam is left to pick up the pieces. Most, if not all, have happy/hopeful endings.
107. Everything is Blue  by @malmuses - AO3
108. Tag to “Despair” by @Alvinola- AO3
109. Time by @Chipper99- AO3
110. When It All Crashes Down by @spacegirlstuff - AO3
111. Through the clouds by @judithhandronicus - AO3
112. Because it is by @60r3d0m - AO3
113. the burden of belonging by @Newtondale - AO3
114. Counting the days by @WanderUntilLost - AO3
115. The Weight of Silence by @jscribbles - AO3
116. As It Should Be by @Loser_Angel_666 - AO3
117. When you have a home by @Firebog - Archive of Our Own.
118. What’s Left Unsaid (Is Finally Said) by @A_Place_To_Roam - Archive of Our Own. 
119. When you have a future by @Firebog - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- This is a lovely fic in which Sam succeeds in closing Hell and Castiel is able to board up Heaven. Everyone lives happily-ever-after. No looming Apocalypse, no higher power, no fate. Found family is the only thing that remains. But Dean is left with this strange feeling rolling around in his gut. Like he’s waiting for the next disaster to happen. Meanwhile Sam learns about dog poetry from Castiel, Team Free Will gets pet rabbits (named after porn stars), Dean finally gets his head out of his ass, and Sam learns something shocking about his older brother.
120. Remarkable by @shiphitsthefan - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- Castiel’s the new elementary school teacher in town. One of his classmates, one Ben Braeden, has a father who is just as annoying as was promised. Dean’s “helpful” books and readings he brings Castiel about being more socially aware get easily dismissed as overly-involved-parent-crap. But that all changes after Castiel reads Ben Braeden’s essay assignment.
121. (Dis) Affection by @justkeeponwriting - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts - This fic!!!!! This fic is soo frickin adorable. Dean and Cas’ nosy friends set them up on a blind date. Neither of them is very happy so they devise an epic plan of revenge. Act like the most disgustingly in love couple ever and then have a terrible public breakup. Hopefully their friends will feel so guilty that they never try to set the two up again. The plan goes amazingly. Dean and Cas find it easy to fake being a newly in love couple... Almost too easily.
122. Uniform of a Winchester******** by @monsterfuckerdean - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- Its fics like these that I think set the SPN fandom apart from others. The thought put into these works makes them so real, so painstakingly relatable, make the characters come to life both on screen and in words. This is a heartbreaking character study of Dean Winchester. The author gives the reader a glimpse into the backstory behind Dean’s jewelry. The skull bracelet given to him by Missouri, the ring given to him by a childhood friend named Lee Webb, and more. This fic will break your heart. And if you’re like me, you won’t be able to find another fic that comes anywhere close to it. (If you do, please give it to me.) I’ve read this fic many times over. I take this fic as canon, completely and utterly. Dean Winchester is written so perfectly that the writers of the show are frickin jealous.
123. In Someone Else’s Life by @blue_morning - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- A classic Destiel wedding trope! Cas, along with his obnoxious-but-lovable brother Gabriel, accidentally crash a stranger’s wedding. Cas meets Jessica, the lucky bride, along with Sam, the best man. But its the groom with beautiful green eyes that Castiel can’t take his eyes off of. Assumptions are made, embarrassment ensues, and maybe... just maybe, happily ever afters do really happen.
124. Nobody’s Fault But Mine by @peanutbutterjelly-pie - Archive of Our Own.
Thoughts- Oh! the fluff! Its killing me. Cas meets Dean and Sam Winchester. Both ridiculously attractive and both total sweethearts. But Castiel finds himself falling for Sam, the older brother with the beautiful green eyes. Too bad he’s getting married to Jessica in a few weeks... Tee hee hee. It’s glorious.
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laora-inn · 4 years
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Supernatural - Destiel in 11x13, or Why this episode shouldn’t be “fixed”
Looks like Billie in the last trailer is a villain, ha? ;) Remember that in 11x02 she said Sam that she will toss any Winchester who’ll die into the Empty? Wonder if she already had a deal with the Empty that time. 
Back to Destiel moments in the show which, in my point of view, are underrated by fans. Let’s talk about some episodes in 11th season, shouldn’t we? 
I’ve noticed that Destiel-shippers mostly don’t like the episode 11x13, you know, the one with Quareen, who looks like Amara to Dean. Though there are some explanations of this situation from Destiel shippers’ point of view. For example, @charlie-minion​, a great meta-writer, whose works I’m absolutely fond of, wrote here:  
In case there were still people thinking that Dean and Amara were a good thing, real love, the show gave us an episode about “darkest desires”. The spell that Melissa was given was never about LOVE; it was about something perceived as lustful, codependent, obsessive and selfish (as we learned from Staci, Dan, and Melissa). People expecting the Qareen to take Cas’ form when facing Dean missed the whole point.
I am mostly agree with that, but this episode seems much more complex to me. 
Because, you know, Dan, Stacy and Melissa look kinda familiar. 
Two of them (Dan and Melissa) are in an established relationship. They even have a baby. Then the third one comes, a strong and possessive one (Stacy). She kissed Dan right after Melissa, in front of the nan cam, just to prove her right on him. 
Melissa knows about danger which Stacy represents. Melissa truly loves Dan and wants him back, but chooses the wrong way to return his love. This is how we meet the witch of the week, Sonja, whose plan is not to help Melissa, but to kill ALL OF THEM - Dan, Melissa, Stacy. Looks like this witch just hates the whole world, especially people who love each other. She tries to twist their good feelings and for that uses Quareen, a creature, who takes form of their beloved ones.
I’m not saying that the parallel is absolute, but just think of it: Dean and Cas relationship, both of them EQUALS and caring for Sam, whom Dean is like a parent to. Then Amara comes. She kisses Dean to prove her right on him in 11x09 - after he saved Cas from Rowena’s curse in 11x03 and told about “not marriage, but something” with Sam in 11x04. Cas knows Amara is dangerous, he’s faced her. He also feels unloved and expendable - this message he’s got not only from Amara, but from her also. So, for the sake of being useful, especially for Dean, Cas says “yes” to Lucifer in 11x10. Lucifer, of course, promises to defeat Amara, to save the world (and Dean), although his plan is obviously not to help Cas and Dean with Amara, but to kill all of them. He just hates the whole world, especially people who love each other. Dean and Cas, for instance. He tries to twist their good feelings and for that - oh, guess what? - possesses one of them and looks exactly like him! 
So, this episode is not only about Quareen Amara, but also about Lucifer and Destiel situation in the whole 11th season. 
Note, that Lucifer in 11x11 doesn’t avoid Dean or reveals himself. He acts like Cas, talks to Dean, listens to him, follows him, even touches him! But he does it in a such way, that makes Dean vulnerable and almost gets him dead. Right after their meeting banshee sees Dean as her victim. And she only hunts for the vulnerable ones. 
Quareen kills the victims by seducing them and ripping their hearts out. Lucifer in Cas’s vessel is obviously trying to seduce Dean, though really doesn’t care about Dean or his unwanted attraction to Amara, is going to use him as a bait, and all this crap seems to metaphorically rip the heart out of Dean. So banshee decides: oh, someone is vulnerable here. Just the way the man, who had a quarrel with his beloved wife - he was killed by banshee before.
I think 11x11 was the turning point for Dean. Not only because of confession to Casifer about Amara and his not-caring response, which made Dean vulnerable, but also because of Mildred’s words. She said that Dean is pining for someone and advised him to follow his heart. And after that he had a sleepless night. He is stuck between Amara, who scares him and basically wants him dead as a personality (she wants to devour him, but also doesn’t want it to be a non-consensual act - he is an exception for her), and Cas, whom Dean truly loves, by whom he isn’t loved back. As far as he knows. 
Relationship with Cas was always painful and complex - like the life itself. Amara’s wish is to give Dean peace, to free him from all the pain, to give him “sheer bliss” - in death. She is like Cas in 4x22, who also wanted peace for Dean and saw that peace in Apocalypse. 
Dean didn’t want to die back then, and his point made Cas fall. Dean doesn’t want to die now. He confessed that in 10x16, where also said, that he wanted to experience certain feelings in a different way. He was pining for someone since then - and even earlier. Of course, Dean isn’t pining for Amara. 
He is pining for Cas. And it matters a lot now, when Amara is here. It’s no coincidence that Dean told about his feeling towards Amara to Cas first. Dean wanted help from the person he truly loves. Because true love can beat any evil - we know that from fairy-tales. And in case we forgot, the show Stacy was watching before her heart was ripped out reminded us (quoted from the @charlie-minion​ post mentioned above):
Devil: True love, all right?
Man #1: Is he gone? Like, gone, gone?
Man #2: True love can get us out of here?
Devil: Yeah.
Man #3: Yeah, I’ve been in love a million times.
My point is these lines refer to Dean and his feeling to Amara. He can be saved from this unhealthy and unwanted dependence only by true love, not by some hook-ups with strangers. He literally had dozens of them by that time, gosh, he had one right before 11x13, and that obviously couldn’t help him. 
But Cas is gone, played by the Devil himself. So Dean’s confession about Amara to Casifer didn’t work, and Dean ended up with a heartbreak.
That was result of Cas’s wrong choice.
The same as Melissa from 11x13 (who is called just “Mel” by Dan, Dean’s obvious parallel, by the way), Cas trusted the wrong person. 
I totally agree that relationships between Melissa, Dan and Stacy are unhealthy. They are WORSE than the relationships between Cas, Dean and Amara. At least, Dean didn’t lie to Cas, he told about Amara. And not for the single moment he wants to “break up” with Cas. 
We also have a bunch of “supernatural” and metaphorical excuses for each of Dean, Cas and even Amara. ‘Cause, you know, Amara isn’t evil - just like Stacy. The real evil is Lucifer - the wicked witch of 11th season. That’s why in 11x23, after the moment Amara kicked Lucifer out of Cas and Dean had him back, he succeed to save the world, to survive and finally met his mother, the person who taught him love. When Lucifer is out, there is no problem for Dean to follow his heart :)
Still, the parallel between Melissa-Dan-Stacy and Cas-Dean-Amara remains. And it’s very clear imao. In the end, I doubt that Dan could leave Melissa either. 
This episode also has parallel with Cas and Lucifer interaction. Melissa understood her mistake about dealing with the witch and tries to fix it. In some way she succeeded - she helped Sam. 
Cas will show up and try to fix his Lucifer mistake in the next episode, 11x14. He will also help Sam to get out from the situation, created by Lucifer. 
If it’s not a parallel to the plot of the WHOLE SEASON, I don’t know, what is it.
And this parallel makes absolutely no sense without unplatonic Destiel perception. 
So, 11x13 is an important episode - from Destiel-oriented point of view.
And now let’s talk about two moments in the episode, which, I’m sure, are the main reasons DeanCas shippers don’t like it and don’t analyze it much (maybe I just couldn’t find all the meta, but still). 
1) Episode 11x13 starts with Dean, who can hardly walk and has a hickey on his neck. It’s the day after Valentine’s Day, and Dean hooked up with some single lady again. And he is planning to go on.
Well, here we see that Dean isn’t so happy about his “romantic” adventures. He doesn’t feel good, spits the fast-food taken from the fridge (maybe it’s not fresh, like his appearance at all), needs a shower and isn’t interested in a case. He says that on Valentine’s Day you don’t have “to be Mr. Right, just be Mr. Right Now” - and that’s the point. He isn’t Mr. Right himself, he doesn’t have his Mr. Right (true love) with him and probably will not ever have. The truth is he is no different than all the single ladies (and gentlemen) and isn’t happy about it. 
We see, that Dean is tired of senseless hook-ups. After them he isn’t fond of himself and stinking. 
Later he says he’d go on, and that sounds like thing he has to do, but really doesn’t want. That’s why when he isn’t “lucky”, he also isn’t upset.
For me this scene is rather approving Destiel than vice versa.
2) Quareen looks like Amara to Dean. 
Here is the point where I want to comment the statement “People expecting the Qareen to take Cas’ form when facing Dean missed the whole point”. 
Sure, Quareen is a dark creature who kills people by ripping their hearts out, and for show it was safer to compare Quareen with Amara. Actually both of them mean death to Dean. Besides, we had two Destiel fights, in 10x22 and 11x03. Cas even had a PTSD after. If Quareen was in Cas’s form, we’d have one more Destiel fight in 11x13, and that’d be catastrophic. They just didn’t want to make Destiel look more unhealthy than it already was. 
But the statement “Quareen takes the form of the victim’s deepest darkest desire“ doesn’t necessary mean that it should be someone whom the victim was obsessed with (in the worst sense of this word). Sam said Melissa truly loved Dan, and I believe that. Dan and Stacy could be obsessed by each other, but Melissa? I doubt. She is portrayed as basically innocent person who just made a huge mistake. 
More important, Quareen said to Dean:
Amara: I understand, Dean.
Dean: Is that right?
Amara: The longing in your heart, I feel it too.
Dean: (inching towards the knife) Well that’s touching. Consider that you don’t have a heart. Qareen.
Amara: Who I am doesn’t matter. The real question is who are you?
Dean: What do you mean who am I?
Amara: You’re a mystery. I can see inside your heart. Feel the love you feel. Except it’s cloaked in shame. When it comes to this (touches her body), you can’t help yourself, so why fight it? Just give in.
Quareen told about LOVE. About longing, which is a synonym to “pining” and was used in 10th season to describe a state when somebody is praying to Cas. Cas told to Claire he can feel longing of another person. 
So, Quareen feels longing too. And love. That means this creature can take form of a person, who victim truly loves. But, I think, in Dean’s case it’s not obvious, that’s why Quareen talks about mystery and shame, and doesn’t say that Amara is true love here (just someone Dean can’t help himself with). It’s not strange: Dean certainly knows towards whom he feels love, but doesn’t want someone else knows. In fact he tries to forget himself, because is sure that his feelings aren’t mutual.  
I think that’s why Dean told to Sam:
Dean: You know the silver lining about being cursed? I’ll finally get some face time with Daisy Duke. My deepest darkest desire.
Sam: Seriously?
Dean: Ever since I was seven.
Sam: So Bach, not Simpson.
Dean: Eh. Guess I wouldn’t say no to either.
From the start Dean didn’t know what this curse was about. Now he is aware and LYING. Daisy Duke isn’t his deepest darkest desire, he doesn’t care for her more than for any other option Sam can offer. He says it himself. Why is he lying? 
I’m sure Dean here thought about Cas and didn’t expect to see Amara AT ALL. 
Quareen’s point wasn’t to go deep, to understand complex love, cloaked with shame. To Quareen a victim, who can’t help themselves, would be enough. So in Dean’s case Quareen‘s form is far aside from love. It’s the first obvious form, which has a strong influence, and that influence is really bad. Far from love. 
So yes, people expecting the Qareen to take Cas’ form IN THIS SITUATION missed the whole point. But simultaneously Dean was such a person HIMSELF, and it could actually work.
I think Dean was expecting to see Cas also because of this conversation: 
Dean: Honestly? You seriously think the sister of God is my deepest darkest desire?
Sam: She isn’t?
Dean: No! She can’t be!
Sam: Why not?
Dean: Why? Because if she is that means that I’m…
Sam: Means you’re what? Complicit? Weak? Evil?
Dean: For starters, yeah.
Dean is already confessed to Casifer he and Amara has some kind of connection. Gosh, he even confessed that to Sam - it wasn’t easy, because Dean IS AFRAID of Amara. He isn’t in denial of the fact of their connection. He just doesn’t like its definition, and I am totally agree with his further line: “Something happens and I can’t explain it, but to call it desire or love…it’s not that”. 
Within this conversation Dean hasn’t finished the line: “Because if she is that means that I’m...” Sam interrupted him with “Means you’re what? Complicit? Weak? Evil?“, Dean said “For starters, yeah”. I think, he wanted to say something else. For example, “that means that I’m not in love with Cas. And I love him”. Whatever it would be, I consider Cas would be involved, in Dean’s mind for sure - ‘cause Dean probably couldn’t say something about his Cas-related feelings to Sam.
Anyway, I think there was a reason for Dean to be so sure that “No! She can’t be!”. It’s not fear or denial. He adjusts that something is happening, and I think he understands what love and desire are. This “something” isn’t them.
The chain of events with Quareen is the next: Dean is uncomfortable with his true “darkest desire”, he talks to Sam about the first girl he can remember, a fictional character, by the way, then sees fake Amara, who hasn’t expected to see, she talks to him about his mysterious love, covered in shame and definitely more complex than his feeling for real Amara is, then Sam stabs Quareen’s heart and Dean is like “it couldn’t be Amara, very strange, I love someone else”. 
So, if it’s not Amara (accurate) and not random girls to talk with Sam about (accurate), then who the hell it is?!
I think we all know the answer.
From the point of story, to Destiel shippers Quareen looking like Amara is not bad at all. I think this episode is supposed to be a gift for us shippers, but then our own heteronormativity stood on the way and made it hard to see the whole picture. 
From the very beginning this episode was full of Destiel: numerous text and plot parallels, which make ABSOLUTELY no sense without implying DeanCas as one of the main points of season 11; Dean tired of senseless hook-ups and unhappy about Valentine’s Day, ‘cause his heart is broken; Dean who wants to hide his true darkest desire from Sam by saying some crap about fictional girls; Quareen‘s words about Dean’s mysterious love, longing, and shame; Dean’s own disagreement with his “love” or “desire” to Amara whom he didn’t suppose to see; his unfinished phrase to Sam.    
So no way 11x13 should be “fixed” with adding more Destiel of changing Amara to Cas. It makes no sense. 
I wonder how this heavy Destiel content ended up with “Dean loves Amara” perception. The content wasn’t so subtle, you know. 
Just how strong our heteronormativity could be? 
And how the hell despite of that we manage to get almost canon Destiel relationship? In fact, they are more canon, then any other romance in this story. 
______________________ To conclude, I have some difficulties with the tumblr usage for now, but I'd like to communicate with the co-shippers. 
So, if you want to hear my opinion about or to point out any Destiel moment in the show, feel free to write to my ask. I’ll try to answer ASAP - we all are in the same boat now, so it’s important to support each other and to share our thoughts. Some kind of therapy, I’d say :)
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bi-bard · 3 years
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Please Say That You're Joking (Pt.1) - Chuck Shurley Imagine (Supernatural)
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Title: Please Say You're Joking (Pt. 1) [You can read part 2 by clicking here!]
Pairing: Chuck Shurley X Winchester!Reader
Requested: Nope
Word Count: 2,930 words
Warning(s): mentions of sex, threats of violence
Summary: (Season 4; Season 11) (Y/n) had a single one-night stand while coping with loss in a not healthy way... if only they had a clue about the weight of their actions.
Author's Note: I was recently going back through some of the "lighter" episodes of Supernatural because I wanted to watch something I could chuckle at. That's where this came from.
This might be the most crackheaded thing I've written in a while.
Also, the amount of things I had to bullshit my way through this is actually ridiculous.
Hey! I did a rewrite of the ending of Supernatural. It took a really long time to complete, so it would mean a lot to me if you check it out. Here’s a link! (it’s on my personal account)
-------------------------------------
Sam, Dean, and I walked into the motel room. We were all confused and slightly scared.
We had gone to a comic book shop to do some work on a case. However, we were then called fans.
Fans of what?
Well, fans of a series of books about our lives.
I was the middle Winchester child. Two years younger than Dean, two years older than Sam. I was beyond confused when I saw some weird, romanticized version of me on the cover of a book.
"This is so weird," I mumbled, plopping onto one of the beds in the room.
Sam jumped onto his laptop and started researching. Dean was holding one of the books, reading through it. I didn't even want to touch it.
"I don't like how he describes (Y/n)," Dean commented. "It's weird. It's like he's in love. Listen to this..."
Dean dramatically clears his throat and starts to read in an even more dramatic voice, "'Even after a hard hunt, (Y/n) could easily be seen as the most beautiful of the siblings. They mimicked the beauty of their mother more than their brothers. There's no bruise or cut that could take the loveliness away from the natural curves of (Y/n)'s face. If only they could see how everyone else would stare-"
"Okay, ew," I muttered, walking to the table. "What'd you find?"
"Well, it seems like Carver Edlund is a pen name," Sam shrugged. "And the fans are intense."
"As in," Dean asked, closing the book and joining the two of us at the table.
"Well," Sam handed me the laptop so Dean and I could look at it, "there's fanfiction. About all of us."
"What's this, 'Sam/Dean'," I asked.
"It's... me and Dean... together."
"They just don't care that we're related," Dean asked. Sam nodded.
"God, this is so weird."
"So, how do we find this guy," I asked.
--time skip--
We managed to find the publisher of the novels and found her house.
"So, you published the 'Supernatural' books," I asked as we walked in.
"Yep," she nodded. "Yeah, gosh. These books... they never really got the attention that they deserved. All anybody wants to read anymore is that romance crap."
"Could not agree with you more," I said. "We're hoping that our article can shine a light on an underappreciated series."
"Yeah, because, you know, if we got a little bit of good press, then maybe we can start publishing again," she replied excitedly.
"No, no, no," Dean immediately shut her down. "I mean, why... why would you want to do that? It's such a complete series with Dean going to hell and all."
"Oh my god, that was one of my favorite ones," she rambled. "Dean was so strong and sad and brave. And Sam... I mean... the best ones are when they cry... like in 'Heart' when Sam had to kill Madison; the first woman since Jessica he'd really loved. When Dean had to call John in 'Home' and ask him for help. Or when (Y/n) went back to the motel room after getting kidnapped and just had to sit in their own head and had to truly process not only the death of their mother but now their father. The mixed feelings were amazing."
"You're a really big fan," I noted. She nodded.
"Gosh, if only real men were that open about their emotions."
"Real men," Dean asked.
"I mean, no offense," she replied. "How often do you cry like that?"
"Well, right now I'm crying on the inside," he muttered.
"Is that supposed to be funny?"
"Lady, this whole thing is funny."
"How am I supposed to know this is legit?"
"Oh, trust me," Dean mumbled. "We're legit."
"Well, I don't want some smart-ass article making fun of my boys," she snapped as she sat in her chair.
"Oh, never," I replied quickly. "We actually are big fans."
"You read the books?"
"Cover to cover," I promised.
"What's the year and model of the car?"
"1967 Chevy Impala," Dean smiled proudly.
"What's May 2nd?"
"That's my- uh... Sam's birthday," Sam replied.
"Sam's score on the LSAT?"
"Umm... 174," Sam said nervously.
"(Y/n)'s first hunt?"
"Vampire in Washington," I answered. "Dean was at the motel sick and (Y/n) almost chopped John's head off when he scared them."
"(Y/n)'s favorite memory that's not related to hunting?"
I smiled, "Helping Sam get ready for a date when he was a teenager because Sam didn't trust what Dean had told him."
"Dean's favorite song?"
"It's a tie," Dean replied. "Between Zep's 'Ramble On' and 'Traveling Riverside Blues.'"
She finally laughed and smiled again, "Okay, okay. What do you wanna know?"
"What's Carver Edlund's real name," Sam asked.
"Oh, no. I can't," she shook her head.
"We just wanna talk to him," Sam continued. "You know, get the 'Supernatural' story in his own words."
"He's very private," she shrugged. "Like Salinger."
"Please," Sam tried again. "Like I said, we're um... big fans."
Sam unbuttoned his shirt enough to show his anti-possession tattoo. Dean pulled his shirt to the side to do the same. I rolled my eyes and yanked the arm of my jacket down and pulled up the sleeve of my t-shirt. I don't wear as many layers as them and I had opted to put the tattoo on my upper arm because I thought it looked nicer.
"Awesome," the lady mumbled before standing up. "Y'know what?"
I looked away as she pulled her pants down.
"I got one too."
"Wow, you are a fan," I slapped Dean's arm. The lady fixed her clothing before grabbing a pen and paper.
"Okay," she said. "His name's Chuck Shurley-"
And I stopped listening after that. I knew that name... why did I know that name... oh... oh no. I'm gonna kill him. We're going to meet this man and I am going to end up killing him.
I followed Sam and Dean as they started walking out of the woman's house.
"Excuse me," she called as we reached the door. We looked back at her. "I'm sorry, but you look exactly like how I picture (Y/n) when I read the books."
I chuckled, "Thanks."
"He describes (Y/n) with so much detail," she smiled. "You could play them in a movie."
"Thank you," I waved as we walked out.
"'You could play them in a movie,'" Dean teased.
"I know who Chuck is," I said, ignoring him.
"What," he asked. I nodded. "How?"
I pointed to get into the car. I got in the back seat and Sam and Dean sat upfront. Dean started driving to the address the lady gave us before I started speaking.
"Okay, when you went to hell, Sam's not the only one who ran off," I explained. "I wasn't gone for four months... just two weeks. In those two weeks, I got involved in a single one-night stand. The name he gave me was Chuck Shurley."
"You screwed the man who wrote books about us," Dean asked, sounding angry.
"Do you think I knew he was writing books based on our lives?"
"He had to have known who you are," Sam added. "This isn't an accident. He has to get visions or something."
"Yeah, I know," I nodded. "He made money off of my name and then screwed me."
"Damn," Dean mumbled. "I missed a hell of a lot."
I rolled my eyes.
--time skip--
I knocked on the door loudly. Sam grabbed my arm, shaking his head at me. The door was opened and I smiled obnoxiously as Chuck. He was in a robe, his boxers, and an old white shirt. He looked tired and like he hadn't had a goodnight's sleep in days.
"Chuck Shurley," Dean asked.
"Chuck Shurley that wrote the Supernatural books," Sam added.
"Nice to meet you," I said. "This is Sam... Dean... and I'm (Y/n)... the ones you've written books about."
Chuck sighed and went to shut the door. I stepped in, stopping it with my foot.
"Listen, I appreciate the enthusiasm, I really do and I remember you," he motioned at me, awkwardly grinning before seeming to shake the memories out of his head. I almost slapped him right then. "But please... go get a life."
"You see," Dean followed me, helping to force our way inside. Sam made sure the door shut behind us. "We have a life... and you're selling books about it."
"Okay, this isn't funny," Chuck mumbled.
"You're right," I said. "We just wanna know how you're doing it?"
"I'm just a writer, I'm not doing anything."
"Then why do you know so much about demons and tulpas and changelings?"
"Is this some kind of 'Misery' thing? Ah, it is, isn't it? It's a 'Misery' thing!"
"No, it's not," I shook my head. "Believe me, we're not fans."
"What do you want then," he asked.
"I'm Sam... and that's Dean and (Y/n)," Sam tried again.
"Those are fictional characters," Chuck yelled. "They aren't real!"
Dean grabbed him and pulled him outside.
"Wait, wait-"
"We aren't kidnapping you, calm down," I rolled my eyes. Dean opened the hidden compartment in the impala's trunk.
"Are those real guns?"
"Yes," I nodded. "And real rock salt, real fake IDs."
Chuck let out a laugh at it, "Well, I gotta hand it to you guys. You really are my number-one fans. That... That's awesome. So, I-I think I've got some poster in the house."
"Chuck, stop," I rolled my eyes, grabbing his arm as he went to walk away.
"Please don't hurt me," he begged.
"How much do you know," Sam asked. "Do you know about the angels? Or Lilith breaking the seals?"
"How do you know about that?"
"Have you not been listening," I asked. "The real question is how do you?"
"Because I wrote it," he explained.
"You kept writing?"
"The books never came out because the publisher went bankrupt," he furrowed his eyebrows.
I stepped back, letting go of his arms.
"Okay, wait a minute," Chuck crossed his arms. "This is some kind of joke, right? Did Phil put you up to this?"
"Oh my god," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. I grabbed his robe. "I'm sorry but I'm really tired. Nice to meet you. I'm (Y/n) Winchester, these are my brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester. You wrote and published books about us, probably knew who I was, and then you still slept with me."
He stared at me in shock.
"What," I asked.
"The last names were never in the books," he mumbled. "I never told anyone about that. I never even wrote that down."
"Then I guess we have a lot to talk about," I let go of his robe.
The three of us followed him inside.
--time skip--
"I got a visit from Cas," Dean explained as he walked in. "I've some important information."
After talking to Chuck and getting a draft of what was supposed to happen, we were all panicking. Dean told us to wait here. Lilith was going to come for Sam and we both thought it'd be harder if there was more than one of us here at all times.
Now, Dean was coming back from seeing Chuck.
"And that important information is...," Sam trailed off.
"He's a prophet of the lord," Dean said, smirking at me.
I shut my eyes, letting my head fall forward.
"Please say you're joking," I mumbled.
"Nope," Dean replied.
Sam looked over at me. He only started chuckling after his brother broke.
Dean was laughing his head off within seconds, "You screwed a prophet!"
"Shut up," I groaned. "I'm gonna kill him!"
"Archangel will kill you."
"I'll happily pay that price," I muttered. "I slept with a prophet."
"At least that means he didn't write himself to sleep with you," Sam tried to comfort me.
"Yeah, God just decided I was supposed to sleep with the guy publishing books about my life," I replied sarcastically. "That makes me feel so much better."
"Come on, it could be worst-"
"Sam, love you, but don't finish that sentence if you even kind of value your life," I muttered.
I was desperate for this conversation to just end.
--time skip--
After all was said and done, and Chuck accidentally helped us chase Lilith away for a while, we gave Chuck a lift back to his place.
I followed him up to his door, offering to look around and make sure that he's safe. He shook his head.
"I have an archangel protecting me," he reminded me. "Can't get any safer than that."
I nodded.
"I'm sorry, by the way," he said. "About us. I didn't recognize you until after... it all... and I didn't say anything because I didn't really know how to explain it. The whole event makes me feel all scummy."
"It's alright," I replied with a chuckle. "It's fine, I promise."
He offered me a nervous smile, "Y'know, in all of my visions, you're the most vivid thing."
With a grin, I leaned over and kissed his cheek gently. I stepped back and headed back toward the impala. I made sure to take note of his nervous and flustered face.
"See you around, Chuck!"
"You... You too," he called after me. I got in the backseat and got comfortable.
"So... screwing the prophet wasn't that bad," Dean asked.
I just rolled my eyes, waving through the window at Chuck as Dean pulled away from the curb. Leave it to a Winchester to end up in a situation like that.
--time skip (season 11)--
Sam and I followed Dean with our guns ready. Dean was following the amulet that he had owned for a long time without even knowing it could show us where God was.
Everyone had been infected by Amara only minutes ago but now it was okay and Dean's amulet was glowing.
"Holy shit," I mumbled, seeing who was walking over to us.
Chuck.
He was supposed to be dead. That's why Kevin's prophet powers had been activated.
"No way," Dean said.
"Hey," Chuck... or God said. "We need to talk."
Despite our understandable hesitation, Chuck reached forward, teleporting all of us back to the bunker. I stepped away from him, slightly overwhelmed.
"(Y/n)," Chuck walked over and tried to grab my arm. I instinctually slapped him. I was nothing but confusion and anger. "I deserved that. Just, please?"
I stepped away again.
From behind Chuck stepped Kevin's ghost. My breath caught in my throat. The poor boy had been through so much shit because of us.
Kevin told us about how we looked stressed and that we should listen to Chuck.
Then, Chuck waved his hand. Kevin turned into a ball of white and blue light before ascending beyond the bunker.
"Where'd he go," I asked.
"Heaven, where he deserves," Chuck promised. I nodded.
I listened to the rant about how Chuck had abandoned us all and how awful things were. Then, the conversation turned to the plan to stop Amara. The boys talked about needing Lucifer and Chuck got incredibly upset. In a fit, he went to leave. I stepped in front of him.
"No," I said bluntly. "Even if you want to avoid the subject of your estranged son, you can't just leave."
"(Y/n)-"
"Sam, Dean," I looked at them. "Give us a minute?"
They both nodded, glaring at Chuck on their way out. I tried to ignore the instincts that were telling me that Chuck was just selfish.
"(Y/n)," Chuck mumbled.
"Just answer my questions," I said. "Then we can discuss what to do with Amara without you storming away recklessly. Okay?"
He nodded.
"Have you been God the whole time," I asked.
He nodded.
"You wrote all of our stories?"
Another nod.
"Did you write that I was going to sleep with you?"
I felt manipulated and angry. I was desperate for an answer. I knew that this could've made me feel like dirt, but I needed to know.
"No," Chuck said. I clenched my jaw, ready to call him a liar. "I told you. I had been pretty much hands-off for a long time. Did I know who were? Absolutely. I'm sorry I lied to you about that. But I didn't plan anything between us. We weren't some divine plan."
I nodded, looking down.
"You know how Dean and Amara are connected," he asked. I nodded, looking back at him. "We're like them."
"And that's not a divine plan-"
"I'm not doing a good job explaining this," Chuck shook his head. "It feels like we're like them. Like there's this bond that just happened as soon as we met."
"You lied to me, for years," I said. "Saying we have some bond isn't gonna fix that."
"I know."
We both fell silent. Slowly, I started laughing. Chuck furrowed his eyebrows, "My only one-night stand... and it was God."
Chuck started laughing with me while I really processed what I had done.
I slowly stopped laughing.
I didn't notice until it was too late that Chuck had slowly gotten closer to me. As soon as his lips brushed mine, I pushed him back. Not hard, but enough to get him to step away.
"No," I mumbled. "Not that, no."
Chuck nodded, "Got it."
"Now," I sighed, "we need to actually plan to stop Amara, and if we need Luci-"
"We don't," he said bluntly. "We can do something else. We don't need him. Okay?"
I nodded. In my gut, I trusted him. Maybe that was me being an idiot but I did trust him. For now at least.
-------------------------------------
Masterlist
What I Write For
Request Guidelines
Musical Prompts
Small Moments With…
When Worlds Collide (Doctor Who Crossover Series) Masterlist
Some Original Characters
folklore/evermore Writing Challenge (and Masterlist)
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samsoleil · 3 years
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9 and 10?
ask game
V I am sending the most fond vibes in your direction I hope they make it there okay!!
10. Your favourite season and why.
Honestly? Either S2 or S11.
Season 2: Sam has psychic powers and Dean is terrified that his brother might actually be bad, but is still ride or die for him. This is where we can see their relationship flourish without the search for John hanging over their heads. But y'know what does hang over their heads? John telling Dean he'll either have to save Sam or kill him, and Sam who is desperate to be saved and willing to be killed. And then!! when Sam dies!!! Dean saves him in the worst possible way!!!! Also, it's visually gorgeous. You've got the high contrast vibes from S1 but slightly less desaturated and you've still got the grainy film texture. An excellent time.
Season 11: Listen. I still think it should have been Chuck sending Sam visions. And I don't particularly care for the B plot. But Sam and Dean peak in this season for the first time since pre-s4 and it was amazing. It's the immediate aftermath of Sam literally unleashing  "a force on the world that could destroy it" to save Dean. Codependency at its peak. And in two mid-season episodes they absolutely nail the S2 energy. I mean, establishing beyond any doubt that Dean loves Sam? And then making him think Sam is dead in the very next episode? Where Sam is also the dictionary definition of BAMF? Not to mention, Sam is just. so understanding of Dean and his messy feelings about Amara. Love that for them.
9. What episodes best encapsulates the brother’s relationship? Does this change throughout the series? Doesn’t have to be the best episode btw.
To answer the second question, the brother’s relationship very obviously changes throughout the show. It’s obviously very codependent from the get go (especially from Sam’s perspective! Literally unendurable), and it varies in toxicity. Some seasons they are very soft! Some seasons I want to shout at Sam to run for the hills and never return. And then there are some episodes in seasons where their relationship is literally awful that are wonderfully tender (like 08x21 when Dean says “You gotta let me take care of you, man”). 
Imo, S1-3 are peak brothers. S4/5 are excellent to watch but not the most tender. S6 is on thin fucking ice. S7-10 are, generally speaking, when I would absolutely be willing to kill a man (Dean), but are still SO compelling because these crazy kids are devoted and have no moral boundaries when it comes to the other. S11 is a return to the good stuff! I haven’t seen the seasons after that but from what I have seen, Sam becomes a Dean apologist and Dean just gets worse. But they’re still codependent, so that’s fine. “You were gonna leave and you weren’t even going to tell me?” and “What about me? Would you trade me?” are baller lines. Sam is a grown man but he’s out here saving the world by being Dean’s baby brother. Iconic of them.
OKAY so. First question. I originally had several episodes per season but I have to limit it to 2, this is going to be too long otherwise. Also, as you well know, I've only watched up to 12x06, so I won't include S12 here. 
Episodes (and explanations) under the cut!
Obviously, both 01x01 Pilot and 15x20 Carry On. Literally the perfect bookends for this show. I don’t need to elaborate.
01x05 Bloody Mary - Has the moment where Dean actually has an emotional conversation with his brother, because he’s switched on to Sam’s emotional needs. He was willing to let Sam blame him for Jess’ death so that Sam didn’t blame himself! And near the end it has the iconic line "You're my brother and I'd die for you." Dean, right? No! It was Sam!! Anyone with any sort of reservations about whether Sam cared about Dean in early S1 can refer to this episode. It’s episode 5!! of the whole show!! and it has that line!!
01x11 Faith - Sam has absolutely no regrets about someone dying to save Dean's life. In retrospect, this episode says a lot about how much Sam loves Dean.
02x01 In My Time of Dying - Sam can sense that Dean is there, either through psychic powers or because they are soulmates. Both are good. Also, Dean is told that he may have to kill Sam, which influences their dynamic for the rest of the show <33
02x21 All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1 - Dean, on his knees in the mud, telling Sam's corpse that it'll be okay and screaming his name. That is all. Also, after thoroughly chewing out a victim earlier in the season for selling his soul to save a loved one, Dean sells his soul to save a loved one. 
03x08 A Very Supernatural Christmas - Sam decorated a Christmas tree with pine air fresheners to give Dean a Christmas. Obsessed.
03x11 Mystery Spot - Dean dies repeatedly, then dies for good for about 6 months, and Sam becomes a ruthless hunter in order to bring him back. Dean spends longer dead in this episode than he actually does at the end of S4.
04x14 Sex and Violence - Dean's siren is literally just a version of Sam that is devoted to Dean and would do anything he says. 
04x22 Lucifer Rising - Bobby coming for Dean's life. The VOICEMAIL!! Dean acting as though them being family is a cure-all and saying he'll beat Sam up, but also apologising. I'll take it. And then, of course, the voicemail Sam hears, which is more or less what Dean said in 04x04, and that being what tips him over the edge. The edge, of course, being killing Lilith to avenge Dean’s death, which has been his quest since the end of S3. Excellent.
05x16 Dark Side of the Moon - Ohoho. This episode. You know why this episode is here.
05x22 Swan Song - Same as the above! Dean who doesn't have a plan, just doesn't want his little brother to die alone. Sam, who fights off the devil himself and (essentially) kills himself to save his brother and the car they call their home. That memory sequence, for me, gave Sam the power not to save the world, but to save his brother. The world was just a bonus.
06x11 Appointment in Samara - "Dean doesn't care about me, he just cares about his little brother, Sammy, burning in hell. He'll kill me to get that other guy back." Dean's anger at himself for screwing up and forfeiting Sam's soul was. a lot. Also, Sam begging for his life and Dean just continuing anyway? Horrific. But very testament to their relationship at this point. Dean wants Sammy back and he WILL kill this other guy to do it.
06x22 The Man Who Knew Too Much - Sam being right about the consequences of having his soul put back in. And "You know me. You know why. I'm not leaving my brother alone out there."
07x03 The Girl Next Door - I was tossing up between this and 07x02 but. this has some flashbacks to past Sam!! Unfortunately, it also has Dean punching Sam for using the Impala, the car they both rely on to get around. And Dean murdering Sam's childhood friend for killing rapists. This isn’t an episode that makes you think “Awh, they’re codependent!”, it’s an episode that makes you send Sam vibes screaming at him to get out.
07x14 Plucky Pennywhistle's Magical Menagerie - Ever think that maybe Sam fears clowns because he associates them with being abandoned? Also, nostalgia vs reality.
08x09 Citizen Fang - The voicemail from S4 is still hanging over our heads. Dean asking “Does that sound like the Benny we know?” and Sam replying “I don’t know Benny.” Dean keeping Benny away from Sam because Sam is apparently the one who will kill monsters with no nuance or remorse. But this episode is on the list specifically because of how pivotal the line "Yes, I do – too well. In fact, every relationship I have ever had has gone to crap at some point. But the one thing I can say about Benny – he has never let me down." is in absolutely wrecking Sam's mental health down the road!
08x23 Sacrifice - For obvious reasons! “You know what I confessed in there? What my greatest sin was? It was how many times I let you down!” and then Dean’s speech of blatant lies. It sounded good, though. Dean really is that devoted, but unfortunately he has amnesia.
09x01 I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here - Autonomy violation. This is what advanced care directives are for. Dean being so dependent on Sam that he would violate his autonomy and trick him into consenting to possession. Dean will do anything to keep Sam alive, including destroy Sam.
09x16 Blade Runners - The parallels between Colette and Sam are unbearable. “Drop the blade.” Also, Dean becomes SO feral when Sam’s cheek gets cut.
10x19 Book of the Damned - Sam’s speech! “But I can’t do it without my brother. I don’t want to do it without my brother. And if he’s gone, then I don’t….”
10x24 Brother's Keeper - Ahahahahaaa. Sam kneeling down in front of Dean and letting him kill him, if he wants. Dean not doing so. Please do not emulate this relationship in your real human lives.
11x04 Baby - Obvious reasons. Also, the perfect example of how these two communicate. Dean clearly states his opinion so that Sam has something to base his arguments around, and then Sam provides his perspective. That meta about how Dean and Sam communicate and how Sam is the major decision maker opened my eyes. Impeccable takes.
11x16 Safe House - The thing Dean loves being Sam (and Sam being genuinely relieved that it was!!). Sam propping Dean’s sleeping body against the fridge while saying “I got you! Stay with me.” Him cradling Dean in his arms and patting his head and Dean being SO confused but not fighting it.
11x17 Red Meat - Okay, I lied about the 2 per season thing, I just needed all three of these episodes. They are too good to not include. Dean joking to hide how scared he is for Sam? Being willing to let all three of them die just because he thinks Sam is dead? Attempting/committing suicide to try to bring him back? Sam fighting through immense pain to get back to his brother? This episode is so good. They are absolute lunatics (affectionate).
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captain-sodapop · 3 years
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so here’s a list of music moments I would have liked to have seen in supernatural:
Elmer Bernstein’s theme to The Hallelujah Trail should have been played during Dean’s just...absolute finest moment, whatever that may have been.  Maybe it was something we never saw, but it definitely would have happened close to the end of the show’s run.  Not only is it the theme to an old cowboy movie (and we all know Dean loves cowboys and westerns) scored by one of Hollywood’s best composers, it’s got such a fun grandeur to it that I think Dean embodies in his best moments.  Just imagine him contemplating whatever impulsive, batshit thing he’s about to do for all of half a second, he stands, puts on his cowboy hat, gets in his trusty steed, and goes off to kill the bad guys like the Last Great American Cowboy he is.
“Milky White Way” is a song off of one of Elvis’s gospel albums, and it’s just so Sam.  It is simple, clean, beautiful faith that dreams of one day going back to Heaven, back to you maker, back to your mother.  Imagine Sam sneaking out on a Sunday morning and walking into a church service while this plays and he seeks out comfort in his faith, in prayer, in such a rockabilly, Nashville way.  (Alternate take would have worked beautifully, as well.)
Mary should have killed some monsters and been seen driving cross-country to The Lemonheads’ cover of “Mrs. Robinson.”  That would have been so badass.  Here’s to you, Mrs. Winchester.
“Tomorrow” from Annie is a Jack song.  It might seem like a weird choice, especially since I’m not a huge fan of the play in general, but hear me out: Jack, awake in the middle of the night, scared of what’s to come, unsure of what’s next, a mess after another nightmare, and he bumps into Cas as he takes his nightly walkabout around the bunker.  Cas does what he can to assure him even though he himself is scared, and they go outside to watch the sunrise, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder.  They’re both uncertain, but they have each other, and as the sun rises and the darkness of the screen silhouettes as if they have a bright spotlight on them, the song reaches its swelling climax before the spotlight goes out and they cut to the credits.
Rowena’s theme song is Bowie’s “Queen Bitch.”  Period, full stop.
Every snippet we get of Cas driving around, there’s something different playing on the radio, not just sermons.  He listens to a lot of hymns and pop music.
In an early seasons episode, season 1 or 2, Sam and Dean are undercover at a college toga party (complete with togas and olive wreaths) and get roped into “Shout” a la Animal House.  One of them is dancing, the other one is getting the kill during the song sequence. 
Macca’s “Dear Boy” plays the first time Sam loses Eileen.  But in a version of the ending where we get to see the two of them reunite after Dean’s death and they decide they want to spend the rest of their lives together, it’s George Harrison’s “What is Life” that plays in a montage of them coming together.  It’s funny, because Sam doesn’t know now what his life would be life without Eileen, just like he never used to know what it would be like without Dean and Cas and Jack.
“Everybody’s Gotta Live” is a very first apocalypse-era song.  Just the two of them, Sam and Dean, absolutely miserable after another thwarted attempt to stop fate in its tracks intercut with Castiel’s search for God.  All of it fruitless.
Why do I want to see Cas and Meg searching for each other in a busy club while “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” plays?  I just do.  Who even knows why they’re there, but they are.  Quick cuts between the two of them, a confident Meg and slightly nervous Cas, surrounded by smoke and bathed in dark, colorful light until they bump into each other and wordlessly, breathlessly kiss, Meg tearing off his trench coat and suit jacket just to get that much closer to him.
When Cas gets swallowed by the Empty, “Video Killed the Radio Star” plays.  (Video = the Empty, Cas = the Radio Star.  Get it?)  But like, the part starting at about the 2-minute mark where the guitars are just...woah.
Sam and Dean are riding along in Garth’s car on a hunt, late season 7 or sometime in season 8, and Dean reaches for the radio.  Garth, though, smiles and holds up a hand.  “Allow me,” he says, and MF Doom’s “Vinca Rosea” begins to play.  They emerge from the car in slow motion under a bright moon, and the footage speeds up as they hunt down the baddie.  It is the most badass Garth has ever looked and will ever look.
Montage of Standford!Sam set to “Campus” because DUH.
John is flashing back to his Vietnam days in, well, a flashback.  He’s completely sober as he tells Sam and Dean about ‘Nam, about the horrors inflicted by humans and ends the story by telling them “And that’s why I know how to make a bed with sheets so tight I can bounce a quarter off it.”   “Fortunate Son”, of course, plays.  Young Sam and Dean just kinda shrug at each other and say “got it, Dad.  Jungle scary.”  John rolls his eyes.
“Heaven On Their Minds” and season 6 Cas.  Tell me it doesn’t work.
They want Jensen to sing so much?  Dean apparently likes Fiddler On the Roof?  Alright, then he can sing “If I Were A Rich Man” in a weird, daydream-esque sequence in an episode where the case is one that forces a serious exploration of class and the brothers’ status on the fringes of society.  A window into Dean’s own desire to be secure.
Jack finally gets to pick the music on the drive home, and guess what?  He’s picked “The Rainbow Connection.”  It just makes him so happy, and he smiles the whole time.  Four bloodied and beaten men driving along in the Impala, and Cas watches on with fond bewilderment as the other three sing along.  (Sam and Dean really resist at first, but when Sam cracks, Dean is quick to follow.)
Sam and Dean do something spectacularly stupid (think Malcolm in the Middle levels of stupid) to “I Should Be Allowed to Think” because the brilliantly stupid idea is Sam’s, and he likes TMBG.  But also, he’s thinking about the life he gave up - all that potential, wasted.  The worst hope of his generation for sure.  But Dean looks like he’s having a good time and it miraculously all works out, so it’s okay for now.
“Things Have Changed” needs to be in there somewhere, definitely in the later seasons, but I’m not quite sure where.  It just needs to be there.  And “Duquesne Whistle” in some little diner and “Like a Rolling Stone” (like, that whole ALBUM) and UGH DYLAN IS PERFECT FOR THIS SHOW.  All the Bob Dylan!
Come to think of it, all of All Things Must Pass, too.  Just scattered throughout the show.  So much about love and faith and even brotherhood in there.
Two brothers, driving home to Kansas, standing amongst the summer crop after the rain as the sun slowly sets with a couple of beers and “Over the Rainbow.”  Just glad to be home.
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