#i was not expecting it to be so good but it was!! delightful

[sturniolosblanket]

texts w/ brothers bsf!matt + drabble

pt. 6

your blood was boiling. your weren’t exactly expecting to be greeted with matt making out with someone else the moment you walk into the party. it was like something in you snapped. you felt used, betrayed, pissed. you knew you and matt could never become something, but your feelings for him were so strong that it swallowed the fact that he’s your brothers best friend. it took you a long time to realize your feelings for matt, but when you came to the realization that you might be in love with him. it scared you more than the man himself.

you searched for matt’s car and himself in the huge line of cars covering the sidewalk. you finally end up spotting matt leaning against the passenger side door looking directly at you.

“what do you want?” you ask rolling your eyes trying to avoid eye contact.

“please don’t give me attitude baby.” he said frowning and tilting his head

“are you gonna cry about it??” you take a step back from him

“no,” he paused “maybe.” he said smiling at you

“are you gonna keep joking around or talk?” you said crossing your arms

“y/n, im so sorry you had to see me with that girl, i promise i don’t want her, she threw herself at me and i stupidly didn’t stop her.” Matt said taking a step toward you.

“good for you?”

“y/n it feels so wrong touching other girls, your literally the only person i want to touch”

“okay.” you responded flatly shrugging

“your a pain in the ass you know that?” he said shaking his head

“your not exactly the delight either, matt.” the silence after you said that was thick. both of you clearly frustrated, but your mind goes back to your messages.

“how do you feel?” you asked straight up

“what?”

“you said i can’t see how you obviously feel. so, how do you feel?” you repeat your question

matt sighs shaking his head moving back to lean against his car. “your my best friends little sister.” he spoke

“so i noticed.”

“Nathan would kill me if he knew I was fucking you, and yet I don’t stop. Why?”

“because your a horny fuck?” you replied chuckling to yourself

“Everyday for the past 4 months I risk losing my best friend to see his little sister.”

“matt stop fucking narrating your daily actions just answer the fucking question god damn.”

“I am obviously in love with you, y/n” he said looking dead in your eyes.

your stomach completely flipped. shocked, happy, excited, nervous. various emotions flowing through your body, searching for a response, but when you couldn’t find words. you and matt stare at each other in silence both still soaking up the words and meaning of his confession. you feel so relieved, relieved he feels the same, relieved you don’t have to hide your feelings from him or yourself anymore.

when you don’t respond to him right away he goes into a state of panic, thinking he needed to explain himself further, and words just start spilling out.

“princess, when i slept with someone else, it was to try and stop my feelings for you because the truth is, i’ve never ever felt this way for anyone else before, ever, and it’s scary as fuck. your the only person i think about, look for, want to talk to, and im just so scared of getting hurt that i hurt you in the process, and im so sorry for that. ill literally do anything or block anyone to gain your trust back.”

your face turns red at his confessions, and you feel your cheeks turning a shade of pink. you feel a rush of happiness flow through you as you jump up into his arms, and all matt can do is sigh in relief and hug you back. you hug him as tightly as you can. you never knew a hug could be so emotion filled, but somehow, it confesses a lot more than your words could.

“i love you too, matt” you said into his chest. “but, nate..” you said looking up at him.

“i know, princess” he said looking down at you “we can always just be together, and just not tell him.” matt said smirking

“that feels so wrong” you said putting your forehead against his chest

“i know, but not being around you feels worse.” matt said, his fingers snaking up into your hair

“can’t we just keep sneaking around and having sex, but not put a label on it?”

“of course we can, but would we eventually end up being together?” he asked

“yes.” you said stepping onto your tippy toes to give him a quick peck, “ of course.” you smiled up at him, “once you prove yourself trustworthy again.”

“yes ma’am.” matt said, his other hand snaking around your waist to pulling you into another kiss.

“i know it’s going to take a lot for you to trust me again, but i promise i’ll make it up to you.” he said after pulling away, looking into your eyes. you can tell he’s being genuine, that he’s not lying. so all you can do is smile at him and pull him into another kiss.

“i told you.” you said pulling away and looking at him with a big smile on your face

“told me what?” he said furrowing his eyebrows

“you went soft on me.” you said grin widening. a smile slowly forms on his face, he shakes his head slightly in disbelief as he presses his lips to yours.

a/n: SURPRISE!! i finished my work and felt a little devious. also yall, this ain’t the end, i want them to get caught by nate at some point so stay tuned reinassss!! comment ‘❄️’ to be added to taglist!🩵

taglist: @matteatmeout @littlefreak-liz @mattsplaything @kayla-hearts4sturniolo @isasflorals @harls-sturn @h3arts4harry @rcklessheavn @chrissysturnzz @rafesapprentice @mattysketchup @imobsessedwithtaylorswift @emely9274 @trvqvoiisee @heartsforsturniolo567 @rafecameronsbitch @annsx03 @slutmattout @trevorsturniolo @h3arts4nat @beersangel @sturniolosluttt @sturnzpro @slutmattout @rainebow333 @bigcoke69420 @nmegamett20 @ivysturnss @quirklessliap @rain-likes-purple @shadowthesim @julisturn @chrissturniolossidebitch @slut4chris888 @edwardscoldhands @freshsturniolo346 @nervoussagittarius @sturniolosfr3shl0v3 @ilovechrissturniolooooo @starstrucktyrantinfluencer @secret-sturniolo @viktorssugardaddy @ikyoudreamofme @not-sinai @alyssa-sturn @ribread03 @bellassturniolo @bambisribbon @mrs-riddlexo

dividers by: @bernardsbendystraws

[kushinadragneel]

Sylus brainrot bcs I cannot stop it so

Dad! Sylus, dragon! Sylus (blame my friend and our rp, I adore them), king Sylus actually, twins (I love how the whole fandom seems to agree on that), headcanons, short

Genres: fluff, kind of hurt/comfort with a lil bit of angst/sad, very indulgent, might be a bit ooc, admittedly very influenced by my oc as the thoughts swirled with her in mind

Mentions: pregnancy, female anatomy, motherhood, post partum, insecurities, lactation (not the kinky kind)

Dragons were peculiar beings, you've found out as quite the only human in this weird, entirely draconic kingdom. Though, so to speak, you were the weird one here, lacking horns, scales, a tail…

To say you've had many to learn was an understatement. From heats to mating to their habits, everything had been new.

But there you were, mated to their very king and very much pregnant sooner than quite expected to Sylus's delight.

So here's how your pregnancy goes:

Sylus discovered you were pregnant before you even thought of it. He said your scent got sweeter

You were put on rest instantly. Wrapped in furs that deeply smelled of the both of you, with the finest of silk as clothes and constantly doted on

His habit of scenting you? Got even worse. He's constantly glued to your side. Claims he can't help it, it's in his very instinct to protect you.

He was constantly piling up food on your plate

One child was a blessing. Hearing two heartbeats? Unheard of. Unprecedented

He was glued constantly to your tummy so he heard them. He denies crying to this point, but his eyes had been watery

Carries you whenever for his own pleasure. Your feet have barely met the ground, even as you got fuller and heavier

Massages you when he feels you being restless or tired

Constantly caresses your tummy and talks to the babies

Guilty of taking naps with you, curled around you protectively

Also guilty about stirring the twins with his nips, licks and caresses (got decked one too many times by his babies)

You and him bickered on who the kids will resemble (they ended up mini carbon copies of him)

Dragons do start being more welcoming to you and you slowly start feeling included in the community you're very emotional about it

"One carries a child for 9 months and they end up looking like their father!" one of the dragons playfully complained, pretty much in a similar situation to you. "Doesn't it ever bother you?" she asked curiously

No, it doesn't. Sylus is the favorite parents and the twins have your temper. Bless his patience

Talking of patience, he's had plenty of it with you. Especially as you were pretty much glued to his side and snappy to everyone else your instincts craved your mate pretty heavily during the pregnancy. And after

Talking of after

The first two weeks had been so hectic you were more in and out of sleep, barely remembering anything

Sylus is the light sleeper between the two of you. Surprisingly attuned to the kids, considering they barely start squirming and he's already picking them up

He's constantly scenting them. Playing with them. Is a natural at holding them in the weirdest positions while they babble and laugh

Very protective and possessive of them. Nobody but you and the doctors are allowed to touch his precious treasures (even the doctors are constantly under his scrutinizing gaze)

He does so much it's quite making you feel bad. Especially as the twins seem to favor him right out the womb and seem to need you just for feeding

It's been two weeks and you barely even remember anything. It crushes your soul, especially as one of the babies starts getting fuzzy and he is again the one reaching out for them, soothing the precious chubby cub between his arms.

It makes you sniffle and you have quite the breakdown about not being a good enough mom, crying about how he's doing everything and you barely feel like you've done anything.

He soothes you by holding you closely and nuzzling your hair. "You deserve to rest. You're doing more than enough. Let yourself heal"

You get worried about how much time he actually spends glued to your side, simply because it feels like he's ignoring his duties as a king because of you

He does explain to you that dragons do understand and nobody would be insane enough to expect him to not be by your side constantly at first

Tender moments

He always makes sure to have a regular bath prepared for you and is keen on washing your hair

He truly is a fiend. A kiss stealing fiend

His hands are so gentle over your body, massaging oils and kissing every inch of you. God forbid you ever feel less than wanted, he would snap someone's neck

He's still a flirt with you, just softer

He's actually more worried than you, he just doesn't let it on

He has to stop himself from growling whenever his kids stumble or cry at anything they find scary

The twins are menaces. He spoils them too much

He plays fight with them in the way wolves and lions do. He fakes being tackled to the ground and everything. Barely has the heart to scold them when they nip a bit too seriously at his skin

Though, he does have the heart to scold them when they try the same with you. He's very stern about your safety

[moonchildcovenxx]

Making Sevika Beg

a/n: this was so fun to write guys. Sub/switch! Sevika finally begging bc hell yeah

told @justhereforsubsevika that I was maybe probably definitely gonna write this… look at me holding myself accountable

Sevika was stubborn. As her girlfriend, you probably knew this best. Whether it be something trivial or a moment like this: A vibrator pressed to her clit, no relent in sight. Despite her previous three denied orgasms, your girl was just too headstrong to beg for anything.

“‘m not gonna—fuck—I’m not gonna beg for shit.” Sevika punctuates gritty. You delight in the drunken slur that dampens the harshness in her bitten out sentence. You’re not surprised that she’d held out so long, but you enjoy how the cracks in her demeanor deepen with each passing second. “Think of how many times I could’ve fucked you already baby.” You purr watching as Sevika shudders at your words, biting down on the inside of her cheek to stop the whines from leaving her. All muscle and sharp tongue, a puddle beneath your touch.

Sevika’s arm flies up to cover her face as you turn the toy up a setting. This had to be the highest level, right?  She’s embarrassed of the mewls that are leaving her—devastated, desperate, and filthy. “Oh Vika.” You coo, feeling the pit in your stomach flip at her noises.

You’re moving the vibrator in cruel, teasing circles, and as Sevika’s abs tense, she realizes with sickening resolve that she is close again. Sevika swears loudly as you pull it away again.  “It’s not that hard honey.” Your saccharine lilt makes Sevika groan—in annoyance or pleasure she was yet to decide. “Just let me fucking cum.” She grunts, attempting to move your hand back to wear she wants it. Her arm that outstretches usually with confidence is shaky, and you marvel at the effect that you have on her. You wriggle out of her grasp quickly, and Sevika’s gaze turns lethal, leaning back on her elbows to eye you with a look that would scare anyone—unfortunately for her, it wouldn’t work on you. 

You giggle merely, shrugging. “Like I said, you don’t have to beg. But I’m not helping you cum.” Sevika grits her teeth, still glaring at you.  Her eyebrows furrow however, when you press the vibrator back to her clit, you smirk as her whole body jumps. Sevika whimpers, hips bucking up, the stimulation all too much and all too little. 

You hum as Sevika’s hands fist into the sheets, eyes rolling back. “You close Vika?” You murmur smoothly. She nods slow and wordless, afraid of what sounds might come out if she opens her mouth.

You tut carefully, hand caressing her boobs as you begin to pull the vibrator away again.

Sevika finally snaps letting out a guttural sob. “Fine! Fine— please I need it— I need you to—”

She goes dead silent. You’ve turned the vibrations up even higher and Sevika lets out an unrestrained keen as she grabs at your arm shakily trying to keep it there.

“I’m gonna let you cum now honey.” You drawl satisfied. Sevika intakes a swift breath as you press the toy harder down into her. 

“Fuck—oh my Fuck—“ Sevika lets out a strangled surprised moan.

Her whole body continues to shudder as she rides out her orgasm. It feels all too good as she pants out your name in insistent, quiet, gasps. 

You’re not turning it off. She realizes a beat later when the sensitivity sets in, a nearly unbearable buzz in the back of her mind.

“What are you doing—I just—ah!” Sevika bites her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. “I just came.” She finally gets out, looking at you for pity. “I’m not done.” You say simply, making her roll her eyes. It amuses you to see her attitude still shining through. Her attempted glare quickly falls as you run the vibrator slowly up her soaked heat.

“Please don’t— I’m close— please.” Sevika groans out hoarse. You’re sure there is a damp spot in your panties from this. Seeing Sevika this flustered was a rarity. She trembles as you move the toy back to where her clit is pulsing with need. Neither of you expect the wail that leaves her lips as Sevika squirts, eyes rolled so far back you can only see the whites. 

“There we go honeyyy.” You smirk down at Sevika when her cheeks flush, legs canting closed. Small hiccuped whimpers fall past her lips no matter how hard she tries to suppress them.

“Oh fuck—no more.” Sevika rasps urgent after a second. You finally nod listening, turning the vibrator off with a click. 

Sevika’s lying there, hands pressed to her forehead as her muscles jump every so often. “I can’t believe I let you fucking do that.” She huffs. You chuckle crawling up near her. “Not so fun when you’re on the receiving end, huh?” you quip, shrieking as her arms circle you manhandling you to her chest. “I almost feel bad for you.” She tsks, placing a kiss to your jaw. “What for?” You bait knowingly, smiling triumphant, until she flips the two of you, arms on the either side of your head. You gasp. “Well I just know after this you’re gonna wish you were a bit nicer to me.” 

You swear harshly as her calloused hands begin to trace down your figure.

[watermelongirl01]

Sweet Rescue - 03

Firefighter!Dean Winchester x Fem!Reader

Content warning: SMUT, a little angst if you squint, fluff.

A/N: This is my first smut writing, I know it is not full thing yet, but it's going to happen soon, trust me. So let me knoe if you like it.

Also, the Holidays were really exhausting, I got really sick and my asthma came back, but we are sooooo back, so expect more stuff soon.

Chapter Three 

“So, you haven’t got any?” You rolled your eyes.

“No, Charlie, we haven’t got there yet.”

“I can see that, you have increased the number of times you rolled your eyes at me by about four more times.

“No, that’s because you keep asking inappropriate questions.”

“You're my best friend, and you’re dating a hot firefighter, I think it is inappropriate if I don’t ask those kinds of questions.” 

“It's not, I promise.” You said as you kept working on decorating your cupcakes. 

A short silence invaded the kitchen, and for a few minutes, nobody said anything, not even Donna washing the dishes behind you.

You bit your bottom lip and let go of your piping bag, dropping it on the table with frustration. Both women look up at you with a knowing look.

“I don’t know, but every time we are close to doing it, something comes up, his work, my work, something ruins it and we pull apart.”

“Oh, Darling, I'm so sorry.” Donna said.

“Maybe you need to give the first step.” Charlie said while sneakily grabbing one of the cupcakes on the table.

“Oh, and say what? Want to come over to have some pizza and fuck me?” 

Both women shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

“No!” You covered your face with your hands. “What if he says no?”

“What? He doesn´t like pizza?” Donna's question made you chuckle a little.

“I'm serious guys.”

“So are we.” Charlie said while eating the frosting of the cupcake she stole. “How about you just say: I don’t even know what’s gotten into me lately, but I wish it was you.” She said wiggling her eyebrows.

“Yeah, no, pass.” You shook your head.

“Just jump him already.” Donna said

“What if he doesn’t want me to jump him.”

“Are you kidding? Have you seen yourself?” Donna gasped.

“Hell, I want you to jump me.” Charlie added.

“Fine, fine. I’ll try.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hey, sweetheart, what are you baking?” A low, raspy voice rumbled from behind you.

You startled slightly. “De! What are you doing back here?”

Before you could turn around, he stepped closer, his presence warm and solid. His arms came up on each side of you, caging you gently against the table. The faint scent of his cologne made your head spin.

“I’m dating the owner,” he murmured, leaning in so his chest brushed against your back. “Turns out, her employees let me sneak into the kitchen every now and then.”

His hands found your waist, his touch warm and familiar, while his lips grazed the side of your neck.

You stifled a laugh, trying to keep your focus on the dough in front of you. “Ha! She should fire those employees.”

Dean chuckled against your skin, his breath sending a shiver down your spine. “Good luck with that,” he teased.

He didn’t let go, his hands staying firm on your waist as if he had no intention of letting you finish your work anytime soon.

“They just left, by the way.” He said as he placed a kiss on your neck, the spot of your skin just touched by his lips felt like tingling. You can’t believe he found your sensitive spot while you were covered in flour and icing of every damn color.

He immediately recognized the sound that your mouth let slip out, an involuntary reaction, a gentle pleasure gasp. So he placed another kiss on your neck, and another and another, he loved the way your body responded to his actions.

He began to explore your sensitive skin by tracing his lips all over the line of your jaw and the curve of your neck, Dean feeling delighted in the subtle shivers rippling through you. 

The slight arch of your back makes you press your ass against his boner.

“Sweetheart.” He breathed out as a warning

Your hips started to move, grinding over his clothed boner as he used his grip on you to draw you closer.

His lips started to suck on your skin and leave marks on it, and just as you felt his hands begin to wander all over, exploring the curves of your body, the ring of the oven timer reaching his time cut through the escalating heat. Snapping back to reality, Dean pulled apart.

“Got a little carried away, didn’t we?” He chuckled a hint of breathlessness still present in his voice.

“Yeah.” You turned around looking at his beautiful green eyes that held a hint of desire, mirroring your own. “It’s okay, we don’t need to stop.”

Without hesitation, my hand found the back of his head, pulling him into a kiss. The taste of his lips was exquisite, as always.

Dean reluctantly pulled apart once again. “Maybe we should have dinner first.” He smiled and placed a chest kiss on your lips. “Come on, you spend a lot of effort doing this dinner, let’s go upstairs.”

“Sure.” You gave him a sincere smile.

————————————————————————

Dinner had gone pretty well. The conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter, shared stories, wholesome moments, and longing glances. Dean’s easy humor and the way his eyes lingered on you between jokes made your heart flutter more than once.

The evening ended with Dean’s favorite pie and the smile on his face when he took the first bite was worth every second you’d spent perfecting it.

Now, the two of you had migrated to the couch in your living room, the atmosphere warm and comfortable.

You weren’t entirely sure how it happened, maybe it was the way Dean’s hand brushed against yours or the way his eyes darkened when he leaned a little closer, but one moment you were sitting side by side, and the next, you were straddling him.

His hands gripped your hips firmly as you kissed him, his thumbs brushed against your sides. you could feel the warmth of his palms through the fabric of your dress, leaving a trail of heat.

His fingers, warm and knowing, found the curve of your left breast, and the absence of your bra there sent a shiver down his spine, and yours.

 He followed with kisses along your neck before he slipped the thin straps of your dress from your shoulders.

 The material pooled around your waist, revealing your bare chest and the way he looked at you with adoration let your mouth gasp with pleasure once again.

He looked at you with his green pleading eyes, you didn’t exactly know what he was asking for, but you nodded, it was barely a movement, but that was all the permission he needed.

A filthy noise came out of your mouth, as you felt how his lips captured your nipple, alternating between a teasing swirl of his tongue and the deep suction of his lips while his other hand massaged your neglected boob. Your body arched against him.

“So good, Sweetheart ” His whisper was warm over your naked skin.

You couldn’t help but place your hand on his shoulders and grind against his hard length through his jeans, your dress slipping upwards to expose your bottom as you began riding him desperate for some friction. This granted him total access to your cheeks which he didn’t hesitate to use in his favor to cup them as he held you closer.

“Fuck, baby.” He let out with a low grunt.

Your fingers tangled in Dean’s hair, pulling him closer as your lips crashed together in a kiss filled with passion and raw desire. He matched your intensity effortlessly, his hands gripping your ass like he couldn’t bear to let go. His tongue teased and tangled with yours, sending sparks through your body, drawing a breathless gasp from you. 

While your hips keep quickly moving in search of some release, his hands on your ass helped to draw you as close as he wanted, making your panties soak.

But just as you were undoing the buttons of his lumberjack shirt, the room was filled with an annoying ringing sound. His phone.

His eyes didn’t lose that darkness melted with a spark of lust, but he still reached for his phone.

“Sorry, baby, I need to take this.” Dean’s voice was low as he carefully straightened up, gently moving you aside before standing. His touch lingered for a moment, but then he was gone, phone in hand, disappearing into another room for privacy.

You sat there, momentarily stunned by the abrupt interruption. Your heart still raced from moments ago, but now a faint sense of awkwardness crept in. Clearing your throat, you adjusted your dress and smoothed it out, your cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and disappointment.

When Dean finally returned, his expression was apologetic, his eyes soft with regret.

“Everything okay?” you asked gently, searching his face.

“Uh, work emergency,” he said with a sigh. “I need to go.”

“Oh.” The word came out quieter than you intended.

“Sorry, baby.” His voice was filled with genuine remorse.

You mustered a small smile, even though your chest ached just a little. “It’s okay, De”

He leaned in, brushing a kiss against your forehead, his touch warm despite the moment’s interruption. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

You nodded, watching him leave, the sound of the door clicking shut.

————————————————————————

“So… How’s it going?” Sam asked, his voice casual but laced with curiosity.  

Both brothers were enjoying breakfast together, a rare quiet morning where they didn’t have to worry about any work shifts. This morning Dean had taken it upon himself to make pancakes for breakfast.

Dean didn’t look up as he flipped the pancakes. “Fine.”  

Sam arched an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “Uh, Fine. That’s it?”  

Dean shot him a side-eye but didn’t elaborate. He focused on keeping the pancakes from burning. 

“Are you still dating the baker?” Sam asked, genuinely curious.

Dean’s lips quirked into a smile at the mention of you, and for the briefest moment, his usual tough-guy exterior softened. He didn’t respond right away, instead making sure the pancakes were just the right shade of golden brown.  

“Yeah,” he finally said.  

“And…?” Sam insisted, setting his coffee down and watching his brother closely. This was the first time in ages that he’d seen Dean genuinely smitten.

“Sam, if you want to know something, just ask.” Dean’s voice was light, but there was a hint of reluctance behind it.  

Sam grinned, leaning forward. “Well, I was wondering why you haven’t brought her up here yet. I mean, You used to have a new girl here every other week when we were off shift, and now there’s not a single soul in sight.”  

Dean’s movements stilled for a second, but he quickly masked it with a shrug. “She has her own place,” he said nonchalantly as if that were the end of it.  

Sam blinked, looking at his brother incredulously. “Is that it? 

Dean continued to pile pancakes onto Sam’s plate, avoiding Sam’s gaze. “And there’s always pie at her place.”  

Sam raised an eyebrow, amusement creeping into his voice. “It’s all about pie with you, huh?”  

“Sometimes.” Dean replied, still focused on what he was doing.

Sam put his coffee cup down and crossed his arms. “Wait a minute. Every time we talk about this, you get all specific with the details I never asked for. And half the time, I don’t ask anything and you still dump on me information I don’t want to know.”  

Dean bit the inside of his cheek, avoiding his brother’s gaze as he dumped the pan into the kitchen sink. He knew Sam had figured him out. This needed to stop.  

Sam raised an eyebrow, realizing something. “Wait… you haven’t had any sex yet.”  

Dean’s eyes shifted, and he forced an awkward half-laugh. “That’s not true. I’m having plenty.”  

Sam tilted his head, his suspicion growing. “Uh-huh.”

“Plus, Sex isn’t important to me.”

 He narrowed his eyes. “Since when?”  

Dean sighed, wiping his hands on a towel and looking at his brother. “Since now.”  

Sam’s eyes widened slightly, a huge grin spreading across his face. “You’re waiting.”  

Dean groaned, rolling his eyes. “I hate when you do this. I just don’t want her to think I’m just messing around, So I’ve been cock blocking myself until I feel like it’s the right and perfect time.”

He shook his head, amused. “Wow.”  

“Yeah, whatever,” Dean muttered, clearly uncomfortable.  

“No, no. It’s cute,” Sam said, still grinning. “I didn’t think you were the type to take things slow. I’m proud of you.”  

Dean’s face flushed slightly, though he tried to play it off. “Are you gonna keep slut-shaming me?”

“No, no,” Sam laughed. “Actually, I’m impressed. You’re growing up.”  

Dean groaned, shaking his head as he put the plate of pancakes in front of Sam. “Shut it, Sammy.”  

————————————————————————

“Who the hell ate my last piece of pie?” Dean grumbled, his voice rough as he glared around the firehouse common room, where a few firefighters were casually eating breakfast.

“Wow, someone’s cranky this morning,” Sam teased as he walked in, arms loaded with pastry boxes from your bakery.

Dean’s eyes lit up at the sight of his brother and the familiar boxes. “How’d it go?” he asked, tone shifting instantly to curiosity.

“Good.” Sam replied, though his brow furrowed slightly.

“Did she ask about me?” Dean leaned in, his face betraying a mix of hope and nervousness.

Sam tilted his head, giving his brother a weird look. “No.”

“No?” Dean groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Fuck”

“She was busy doing a delivery for an event.” Sam clarified, shrugging.

“Oh.” Dean’s smile disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared. “You think she went to that delivery because she thought I was coming to pick up the desserts like every morning and didn’t want to see me?”

Sam raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Why would she avoid you?”

Dean hesitated, then sighed, muttering as he headed toward the locker room, “Because I think I screwed it up.”

Sam, sensing there was more to the story, followed him. “Come on, spit it out.”

Dean hesitated again, then finally admitted, “I think the whole cock blocking thing it’s making everything worse.”

Sam’s eyes widened. “You still haven’t had sex with her?” His voice was loud enough to make Dean glare at him.

“Jesus, Sam, why don’t you yell it louder? I don’t think the entire firehouse heard you,” Dean snapped.

“Sorry, sorry,” Sam said, lowering his voice. “What happened?”

“We, uh... we got carried away,” Dean started, shifting uncomfortably. “But then I got this stupid call, probably a wrong number but I made up a fake work emergency, so I left her house with a boner.”

Sam’s jaw dropped. “God, this is even worse than I thought.”

“I know,” Dean groaned. “I think I hurt her feelings by leaving like that.”

“You think?” Sam shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“Okay, fine, I did hurt her feelings,” Dean admitted, pacing back and forth. “Now I’m worried she thinks I don’t want her like that, and it’s killing me because I do. Believe me, she’s got the most beautiful boobs, and those noises of hers almost made me lose my mind.“

“Stop. Sam interrupted, holding up a hand. “I don’t need all the details, save it.”

Dean smirked, but it faded quickly. “It’s just... it’s hard, I’m trying to remind myself why I’m waiting, but every second I’m with her, it gets harder.”

Sam considered his brother for a moment before an idea struck him. “Why don’t you take her to the roadhouse tonight? Introduce her to us, you know, make it official. That’ll show her you’re serious about her.”

Dean paused, then a slow smile spread across his face. “Sammy, that’s probably the best idea you’ve ever had. Ever.”

Sam rolled his eyes as Dean fished his phone out of his pocket and hurried out of the locker room, grinning like a teenager.

“I will call her, right now.”

Leaning back against the wall, Sam shook his head with a smirk. Yeah, it was official, his brother was head over heels.

Tag List: @aylacavebear @deans-baby-momma @ladysparkles78 @spxideyver @lunaleah @muhahaha303 @charismatic-writer @deansimpalababy @spnaquakindgdom @globetrotter28 @vsplanet @narcissustulip @formulas-bitch

[rwrbficrecs]

the mountchristen pharma job by @coffeecatsme (book-verse)

@suseagull5914: Another unique, fun fic! Heist AU meets just a hint of Christmas feels, and combined with the fact that it jumps around in time, this author constantly keeps you on your toes, wondering what will happen next. A must read!

The Flight Before Christmas by @indomitable-love (book-verse)

@dot524: Alex is a flight attendant, and he’s good at what he does. But for some reason, this tall blond guy annoys the heck out of him. What will happen when they are both stranded in a snowstorm over the holiday and stuck sharing a hotel room? I’ll give you three guesses. This one had great banter and a dab of angst, and it was such a fun read!

If You're Not Made For Me (Why Did We Fall in Love?) by @captainjunglegym (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Not going to lie, this was a challenging read, which lingers long after! Henry and Alex are in an established relationship, so certain of their future together. Then they stumble over the question of having kids... What follows is messy and ugly, touching and relatable, almost destructive, but resovled in a very sensitive way. This hurt phenomenally good!

london's so nice, back in your seamless rhymes by @firenati0n (book-verse)

@na-dineee: Alex, newly moved to London, meets Henry on his first day of work while riding the bus into the city. From that day on, they commute together every morning and evening, and with each passing day, their feelings for each other grow. What can I say: it was soft, it was fluffy, it was so sweet. It was everything I needed to feel all warm and happy.

I'm a risk (please take it) by dazedandconfused (book-verse)

@na-dineee: A rom-com.' Yeah—my ass. But, Wikipedia says rom-coms focus on romantic relationships and the associated dramatic twists and obstacles. Fair enough, that fits. 3.5 years of pining, angst, hurt—but a happy ending. This fic was incredible !! I can’t stop thinking about it, weeks later I’m still imagining how Alex & Henry might be doing now. Absolutely brilliant!

kiss me on this cold December night by strwbrryfox (book/movie-verse)

@suseagull5914: If you like holiday fics and coffee shop AUs, this is the fic for you! This fic is oblivious Alex, pining firstprince, and the ins and outs of being part of a workplace environment during the holidays all wrapped up in a pretty bow that will leave you swooning.

Tell Me All Your Secrets by @everwitch-magiks (book-verse)

@dot524: Every time Alex visits his sister in NYC, he ends up hanging out with her best friend, Henry. Henry’s been gone on Alex from Day 1, but he assumed Alex was painfully straight. When a short-term relationship with Liam helps Henry realize that’s not the case, things start to change. The story culminates with Alex experiencing Pride in NYC for the first time. A delightful slow-burn with lots of yearning and realizations - such a satisfying and fun read.

I Will Follow You Into The Dark by @here-queer-jointpain-severe (book-verse)

@suseagull5914: This fic, the author's fic for the A Royal Big Bang event, has everything: introspection, fantasy, Alex going above and beyond for his love for Henry (as he should!), and the complex plot and suspense that will have you clicking the next chapter button until you reach the end. This fic is such a good glimpse into so many of the relationships in the book from such a unique angle!

Like Flowers In The Springtime, Every Day Is Valentine’s (That’s What Your Love’s Like) by @rockyroadkylers (book-verse)

@na-dineee: This has to be some of the fluffiest post-canon fluff ever written, I’m sure of it! After two years together, Henry is more than ready to sweep Alex off his feet in the most extravagant way possible. Of course he is over-the-top—what did you expect? And Alex, bless him, is completely here for it—he loves it and loves Henry, and I couldn’t help but melt into a puddle. An absolutely wonderful comfort read!

check out our past Monthly Faves here ❤️

[bumblesimagines]

Imagine:

Seeing Serena again

Request: Yes or No

Pronouns: He/Him/His, M!Reader

CW/TW: Typical Gossip Girl spoilers, mentions of cheating and betrayal, Serena get a damn grip

~~~

"Is breakfast almost ready, Patty?"

"Almost, Mr. (L/N). We'll have everything set and ready in a few minutes."

The smell of freshly cooked pancakes wafted through the air, merging with the vanilla-scented candles the maids always lit around the penthouse to appease his mother. He raised his cup of coffee to his lips and carefully drank the hot liquid, the tip of his tongue still tingling from drinking it too quickly. His eyes roamed over the view as he watched the city come to life with the rising sun. 

The elevator dinging echoed into the room and his brows furrowed at the sound, his head craning over his shoulder to look at the equally confused maid. "Is my mother expecting guests?" He asked and set his coffee at the table, but Patty shook her head firmly.

"No, sir, I don't believe so. Her meetings start at 1:30."

Humming softly, (Y/N) slipped his hands into the soft pockets of his pajama pants and strode out of the dining room, his ears faintly picking up murmuring from one of the servants greeting their guest.

He failed to think of anyone who'd be visiting them at such an early hour unless it was a work emergency and his mother hadn't been picking up her phone. Besides, he'd long ditched the one person he often drove to school with. 

He rounded the corner and halted, instinctively shaking in a sharp inhale at the sight of the tall blonde standing in front of the shiny elevator doors. She smiled at one of the maids and dismissed her offer of taking her coat or providing her with a drink with a small shake of her head, the smile remaining on her face until she noticed his frozen figure. Her lips parted with surprise before spreading into a sheepish line. She always looked so damn sheepish.

"Hey, (Y/N)." Serena greeted softly, the heels of her boots clicking against the tile as she crossed the room toward him. His eyes flickered toward the grand stairs behind her leading up to the bedrooms and his chest constricted. This wasn't good. Not in the slightest. "It's... it's good to see you." She said and lifted her arms for a hug.

"Don't."

Had it been any time in the past couple of years, he would've happily sank into her embrace and lifted her into his arms for a kiss, savoring her gleeful laughter while she swung her legs around him. The hurt that flashed over her features would've made his chest heavy with guilt and an eagerness to remedy it through any means, but instead of the warmth and love he once felt spread through his body like a forest fire at the sight of her.. he felt nothing but bitter resentment.

He couldn't even bear to look at her, to gaze into the striking blue eyes that he had so often complimented or her golden hair that always seemed to effortlessly fall over her shoulders no matter what she did. 

"I.." Serena's arms fell to her sides and she frowned, her eyes lowering to stare at the floor like a scolded child. "I know I messed up. I shouldn't have left without telling you where I was going-"

"No, no," (Y/N) scoffed and took a step back from the blonde, the smell of her perfume alone making him sick to his stomach. Warm and sweet with notes of cinnamon and orange blossom, everything he once associated with her. He recognized it immediately; how could he not when it was the same one he gifted her for their anniversary? The delighted gasp she'd released when she smelled it for the first time rang in his ears. "I don't care that you went to boarding school, Serena, or that you needed to get away from life here."

Serena's brows twitched and began to slowly crease, her blatant confusion only adding to the nausea forming in the pit of his stomach. Irritation struck him like a lightning bolt, sudden and consuming. How could she possibly look so lost? So innocent? As if she were being accused of a crime she hadn't committed. "I thought you were mad because.. because I left without saying anything. I mean, it's been a year and-"

"I don't give a shit about that, Serena." She blinked, still confused. He wanted to strangle her. "Nate Archibald, Serena. You fucked Nate Archibald, my best friend, behind my back and then ran away like a coward because you love running away from your problems."

Serena flinched and staggered backward as if she'd been struck, her eyes widening into near saucers and breath rapidly escaping her lungs. Betrayal flashed in her eyes. "He- He told you?" Disbelief caked her shaky words.

He gave a bitter, short laugh despite the emotions welling up in his chest. "No, he didn't. I had to learn what the two of you did through Chuck Bass. Do you know what it's like having to look that sleazebag in the eye while he tells you your girlfriend of three years fucked the guy you've known since diapers because he loves making people miserable? It was humiliating."

"I'm so sorry." She exhaled, her voice barely above a whisper. Her fingertips flew to her mouth which soon began to quiver while her eyes glistened with incoming tears that almost made his eyes roll. He didn't have time for her pity party, didn't have space for it in his life anymore. He didn't have space for her. Her voice cracked when she spoke, "I- We- I was drunk and we didn't know what we were doing. I swear it meant nothing. I would never hurt you-"

"But you did, Serena. Don't pretend you're innocent or that you made a mistake-"

"It was a mistake!"

"Oh, right, his dick just happened to slip inside you, right?"

Serena gaped at him. "(Y/N)!"

Her high-pitched voice bounced off the walls, drenched in pure shock. Her mouth moved with silent words, leaving her looking like a fish out of water gasping for air. It wasn't often Serena was left speechless, that was something he attributed to her mother more than anything. Serena had a real talent for rendering her mother silent with a few accusatory sneers. The hint of exhaustion on Lily's face whenever she gazed at her daughter finally made sense to (Y/N). 

"I'm sorry, okay? I-.. I really, really, am." Her shoulders drooped with a sigh and she took three steps toward him, her tote bag swinging and lightly hitting her thigh with each movement. She reached out and gently placed her hand over his arm, her eyes watching him pleadingly. "I was going to tell you, I promise, I... I just needed time to get myself together. I know I messed up. I should've never drunk as much as I did and I definitely shouldn't have slept with Nate. Please... forgive me." 

Serena always had a magnetic air about her, something wild and untameable and enigmatic that drew everyone to her the moment she stepped into a room. The way she unapologetically carried herself, acted like herself, and not like the other girls at school who plastered on fake smiles for everyone, was the reason he'd asked her out to begin with. And yet, listening to her now, he kicked himself for believing she was any different, that she was just as loyal as Blair Waldorf was. 

"I missed you," Serena added, trailing her hand up his arm and shoulder to cup the side of his neck. "I just want things to go back to how they were between us." 

He frowned and moved away from her, out of reach from her coaxing touch. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to walk in here after what you did and try to pretend like it wasn't a big deal. You didn't accidentally spill something on my favorite sweater or break an expensive vase, Serena. You cheated on me with my best friend... after everything I've done for you." 

"(Y/N)-"

"Serena?" 

His eyes shot up toward the staircase and locked on the figure slowly descending it, her footsteps quiet and barely audible. Serena's head whirled around toward the familiar voice and her mouth opened, whatever words she wanted to say jumbling in her throat as Blair continued to cautiously approach them.

She sported his button-up, the one he'd worn to dinner the previous day and the very one she'd nearly torn off his body in her hungry neediness. The implications dawned on Serena and she snapped her head back toward him with bulging eyes.

"I thought I heard a familiar voice." Blair smiled, not a particularly nice one, and she stepped off the staircase to stride across the room.

She passed by Serena with the hint of a scowl, her eyes narrowing and raking over Serena's figure in discontentment. Her lip curled with disgust at the sight of her worn tote bag and her head shook disapprovingly, her messy brown waves shaking and bouncing off her round cheeks. His arm instinctively extended toward Blair and she settled into his side like a piece slotting into a puzzle. He met Serena's gaze as he kissed the top of her head, feeling her nuzzle into him further. 

"Blair, I-... does- does Nate know you're here?" Serena swallowed.

Blair scowled, offended. "What I do is none of Nate's business anymore. Didn't you hear? Nate and I broke up after (Y/N) told me what you did. I always knew you were a whore, I just didn't think you'd do that to (Y/N) or me. It doesn't matter anymore, anyway. I'm better off without him, and you for that matter."

Blair's words were biting, filled with venom and heat, but (Y/N) couldn't find it within himself to be upset. Nobody else had seen the way her unbothered façade shattered at the news, the way she stuttered through tears as she tried to find any excuse to justify Nate's actions until all she could do was curl up in his arms and sob over the boy she'd poured her heart into.

He'd felt guilty then, for breaking a girl he once believed was a stone wall, a girl he once judged for her cruelty. It wasn't until he helped her pick up the pieces Nate left behind that he caught sight of the girl underneath the ruthless ice queen everyone knew her as. Blair was sensitive, sweet, easily humored, and held a strong urge to please and protect those she cared about. The more time he spent with her, the more his heart began to flutter with a familiar emotion. 

It wasn't until a rainy night when she'd stopped by unprompted to gift him a designer jacket she'd seen while window-shopping that he fully realized the extent of his feelings and, after a kiss by the fireplace and whispered confessions, she agreed to be his girlfriend. The look on Nate's face, and the satisfaction on Blair's, when he saw them at school made the heartache and sleepless nights worth it.

"Guys-"

Blair raised her hand to stop the blonde. "I think it's time for you to go, Serena. We don't want you here."

[nadiadahar]

Nadia may very well tip over, for as close as she is leaning towards Joaquin. Bated breath. Expectant eyes. Heart all fluttery in anticipation. And then—

"You stole a fucking car!" Nadia crows, delighted.

"God. Jailbird Joaquin. Did they give you prison clothes? I bet you looked handsome."

This was just— too good! So there was no exaggeration, when Joaquin said he used to be wild. He'd apparently settled down since then. But Nadia bet she could fix that.

"You and I absolutely have to go to the club together now."

"I am sure you are."

Joaquin felt like he could absolutely see through her, but it wasn't any of his business, was it?

"The wildest thing?" Joaquin pondered that. There were a variety of different stories. But the craziest thing?

"I... borrowed a car once. With your cousins."

'Borrowed,' shit face drunk.

"Drove it into a stop sign. Spent the night in the drunk tank."

Was that too much to reveal?

"...don't tell your cousins I told you that."

[bitkahuna]

“Ponce.”

“That’s me.” Harry sighed, tying his bandana. He was far too tired for anything clever.

“Care so much for your pretty hair?”

“You think it’s pretty?” He grinned. “Rich coming from the boy with manicured hands and perfume.”

“It’s called being civilized, Potter. Not that you’d know anything about that.”

Harry let out a lazy chuckle. Their back and forth was becoming more and more familiar in a way he never expected. It was fun. Mean, sure. They bullied each other. But something about it was also sort of familiar. It was comfortable.

But it took a turn when Draco finally looked over at him and saw his low eyelids and the dark bags under his eyes. The flickering light from the dungeon classroom’s torches cast eerie shadows on Harry's face, giving him an almost spectral appearance. “You look ghastly.” He frowned. “Not too much different from usual, but dreadful nonetheless.” His voice was an odd mix of concern and his usual snide.

Harry was slumped on the table, resting on his elbows. "Just waiting." He muttered, rubbing his eyes and letting out a yawn.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Waiting?" The word picked at him more than it should. But he wasn’t an idiot and he knew Harry wasn’t either. Right now, despite any budding attraction between them, he had the Boy Who Lived, sworn enemy of Voldemort, sleep-deprived and talking. "And that merits ruining your already questionable appearance?"

"Just needs not to be screwed up.”

Harry's response was vague and tired. Draco, just like his father would, sensed an opportunity. But unlike his father, he had neither the subtly nor grace to pull off a manipulation like that against someone who spent half his summer learning from Knockturn Alley. Still, seizing the opportunity to dig deeper, Draco leaned closer, his icy greyish-blue eyes narrowing under the flicker of torchlight.

"Come now, Potter." Draco murmured, his voice dropping an octave. "What are you waiting for?"

Harry, even in his exhausted state, could almost laugh at Draco’s clumsy attempt at manipulation. The Slytherin’s tactics were transparent, more desperation than any real cunning. Though, he sort of liked hearing Draco lower his voice like that. That didn’t stop him from palming the jasper necklace under his shirt, just in case he was accidentally causing it. He wasn’t. But he still half-smiled, eyes hooded with fatigue as he responded, "Lots of things, Malfoy. I’ve seen you practicing on the Quidditch pitch. Merlin knows I’m worried you might actually start getting good.” He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he relaxed, pausing to make it seem as though his next reply was a decidedly revealed truth. “It’s the Triwizard Tournament. Can’t figure out what the third task is … I don’t think any of us are getting close.”

Draco narrowed his eyes slightly, a flicker of doubt flashing across his face. He leaned back and crossed his arms as well, trying to mask his own eagerness with disinterest. "Oh, the Tournament." He drawled lazily, twirling his wand between his fingers. "How dreadfully boring that has become. Watching you lot scramble around like headless chickens."

“I don’t know, you seemed pretty obsessed with Diggory for a while there, following him around like a lost puppy, going doe-eyed whenever you talked about him.” While Harry wasn’t saying anything incorrect, he couldn’t help the twinge of jealousy in his voice. Of course, he was fucking jealous.

Draco let out a laugh. “Diggory?” He asked with a wide grin. The main reason he was so delighted was because his plan the entire time had been to make Harry jealous by supporting Diggory. But he never thought it worked, so he stopped. Now, here he was, seeing the fruits of his labor. “He’s charming, but be realistic! He’s lowborn at best. I could never be with someone like him.”

Harry blinked, feeling more awake now than he had in days. He could take the obvious route of going against blood supremacy. But Harry found a much more interesting angle when he thought about it.

-----

[queenjunothegreat]

Did someone ask for their January Sunday to include some silly fluffy Christmas fic? No? That's fine, I brought it anyway. You're welcome. <3 We're actually getting to the Christmas events this chapter, so get excited about that! ヽ(*⌒▽⌒*)ﾉ 

Anywho, I am happy to finally have for you chapter two of Where the Love Light Gleams: The Prettiest Sight to See

“Just in time!” Piper called from the stove, flipping her last pancake onto the big serving plate she had in the other hand. She turned to Jason and gestured at the table where Reyna was already waiting. “Go on and take a seat.” “Before I do, there was something I wanted to ask you guys,” Jason said. “There was a surprise change of plans, and I won’t be going to California. I know we only talked about me staying for a few days last night, but I have the whole month off from work, and I was wondering if you would be open to me extending my stay for that length of time.” There was a beat of silence before a loud CRASH filled the room, Piper having dropped her plate of pancakes to clap her hands to her cheeks, looking beyond delighted. “Really?”

First

 When Jason woke up, he had about two seconds to breathe before a wave of bone-deep panic washed over him because he didn't know where he was. He certainly wasn’t at home. The bedroom he knew was gunmetal gray with floor to ceiling blackout curtains over the one measly window, and there were two pillows and a plain black comforter from IKEA on the bed. It certainly didn’t have hand-made quilts with kitschy patterns or stuffed rabbits with wobbly crochet stitches or enough throw pillows that he was almost surprised he hadn’t suffocated. He didn’t know where he was, which meant he’d fallen asleep in a stranger’s home, and if there was one thing Jason Grace didn’t do, it was fall asleep in stranger’s homes. 

Only, that’s exactly what he’d done, wasn’t it? Well, not quite, but still.

He groaned as he sat up, the night before washing over him, one awful memory at a time. Driving for twenty hours, losing control of his car when the transmission suddenly gave out, standing there helplessly while a couple of strangers towed him out of the snowbank, then snapping at the poor mechanic who’d done nothing but offer him some undeserved sympathy. Leo. That was his name. He’d driven Jason across town to his sister’s bed and breakfast. She’d met them at the door in her pajamas and a Hello Kitty robe. Her eyes shone with concern, but she’d just given him a wide, eager smile like he was an expected guest instead of someone who’d woken her up and invaded her home in the middle of the night. He was pretty sure she’d given him her name at some point during her midnight tour, but with everything else that had happened, it had slipped his mind, which he felt more than a little guilty about. 

Jason got to his feet and pulled on the thick house robe that hung next to his bed. His host had warned him that it could get very cold, so he was better off being prepared with layers and a good pair of slippers. The slippers he had, but when he’d pulled a thin cotton bathrobe out of his suitcase for inspection, she’d wrinkled her nose and shoved an armful of plush fleece at him, insisting he’d thank her before too long. He stretched, then made his way out into the hall, trying his best to remember the path to the kitchen he’d been shown the night before. 

After more than a few wrong turns, he found his host, stirring a pot on the stove while batter sizzled in the skillet next to her. Just like she had the night before, she was in her flannel pajama pants and her luridly pink robe, and when she heard Jason approach, she grinned at him over her shoulder. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

Jason chuckled awkwardly. “Uh, yeah. Good morning. What time is it?”

“Almost ten.” 

Jason choked on air. “Ten?” he spluttered. “Like, the hour that comes after nine? I slept in that late?”

His host laughed casually and shrugged. “That’s how all the clocks I’ve ever used worked. And don’t stress about oversleeping; I totally get it. Leo said you were more than a little sleep deprived last night. I probably would have stayed in bed til dinner if I was in your shoes.”

Jason just hummed and nodded. He figured there was no need to be weighing down a stranger’s morning by telling her about how he’d been physically unable to sleep past 7:30 since he was in high school, especially after she’d already shown him such kindness. Speaking of. “I’m sorry, I think you told me your name last night, but I didn’t catch it.”

Fortunately, she didn’t seem offended in the slightest, and just turned around to properly face Jason, her smile still solidly in place as she offered him a handshake. “My name’s Piper. Piper McLean. Welcome to Cabin Ten.”

“So, that’s the name of this place?” Jason asked, shaking her hand. “Any reason why?”

“It’s kinda silly, actually,” Piper admitted. “When we were designing this place, I came up with probably fifty different plans. This was idea number ten, so my wife suggested we just call it Cabin Ten and the name stuck. I don’t think she was serious, though. I’m pretty sure she was just trying to make sure I didn’t get caught up in my own head again.”

Jason huffed out a little laugh and smiled at her. “Will I get a chance to meet your wife?”

Piper nodded, her smile turning soft at the mere thought of this mystery woman. “Yeah, she should be in soon. She runs the local animal shelter, so she goes in to check on things every morning, but she should be home soon.” As if on cue, Jason heard the front door open and click shut, and Piper’s whole face lit up. “In fact, here she is now! Rey–”

“Jason Grace? Is it really you?”

Jason stiffened, then whirled around on his heel, and he felt the air get knocked right out of his lungs. He hadn’t seen that face in years. Had assumed he never would again. “Reyna?”

Reyna tossed her head back in a loud, very undignified laugh before she stepped forward and wrapped Jason up in a hug. Jason didn’t hug her back. Even if he wanted to, she’d pinned his arms to his sides, and even if she hadn’t he was frozen completely still. “Jason! It’s good to see you.”

“Reyna? What’s going on?”

Jason and Reyna both turned to see Piper watching them with obvious interest. Reyna smiled at her and held out her hand, which Piper immediately filled with her own so Reyna could press a kiss to her knuckles in a practiced motion before she explained. “This is Jason Grace.”

“I’m aware,” Piper teased, amusement clear in her tone. “I still haven’t figured out why you know that, though.”

“We, uh, knew each other in high school,” Jason stammered, still trying to reboot his brain.

“We were best friends, in fact,” Reyna corrected. “When Hylla and I left California, I assumed I would never get to see him again. I’m glad to be wrong.”

Piper’s eyes got bright and eager and she turned on Jason. “So, you knew Reyna back in high school? What was she like? She refuses to tell me any of the stuff she got up to back then.”

That’s because she didn’t do anything, Jason thought to himself. Back then, Reyna went to school, attended the extracurriculars her father signed her up for, then went home, same as Jason. The only reason they were friends at all was because nobody else was willing to talk to the weirdly quiet kids who took everything too seriously. “She was…” Jason trailed off and looked Reyna over, starting from her messy braid and the smile lines already starting to crease around her eyes down to her worn thin t-shirt and finally to the mismatched socks sticking out of the muddy work boots she was wearing inside. “She was definitely different.”

“I am that,” Reyna confirmed easily. Her eyes flicked over Jason’s face, and her smile tilted ever so slightly downwards into a frown. “And what about you? How have you changed?”

Jason suddenly wanted to throw up, though he couldn’t truly say why. He swallowed the bile burning at the back of his throat and forced a smile. “Me? Change? Of course not. I’m still the same old Jason Grace I’ve always been.”

The concerned tilt to Reyna’s lips deepened. She opened her mouth to say something, but her nose twitched like a rabbit’s, and her brow furrowed. “Is something burning?”

Piper’s eyes went wide and her face paled. “My pancakes!” she squealed, whirling around on her heel to desperately try and save the breakfast she’d made. When failure was more than obvious, she puffed out her cheeks at Reyna. “You distracted me!”

 Reyna stepped up to her side and grimaced down at what was probably closer to charcoal than breakfast at this point. She gave Piper a somewhat sheepish smile. “My apologies.”

Piper very dramatically huffed and rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Go put on non-dog-clothes. You shouldn’t smell bad in front of guests.”

“Yes, dear,” Reyna hummed, pressing a kiss to Piper’s temple. On her way out of the kitchen, she stopped and gave Jason an incredibly warm smile. “It’s good to see you again, Jason.”

“You, too,” Jason said automatically, unsure if he meant it. Reyna seemed to pick up on that because her smile turned a little sad, but she simply left the room instead of saying anything. 

“Oh, before I forget! Leo came by this morning, while you were still asleep. He couldn’t stay long, but he wanted me to tell you something,” Piper said suddenly, playing a very dangerous game by leaving her pan unattended for the second time. “He said that it would take about a week to get your car fixed.”

Jason winced and rubbed a hand over his face. “A week? Really? There’s no way he can get it done any sooner than that?”

Piper shook her head sympathetically. “Afraid not. I asked that, too. Apparently, he’s already calling in a couple favors, but it’s still gonna take at least four days to get the part in. He’s hoping to get the actual work done in just a day or two, but apparently Audis are really tricky to work on.”

Jason sighed heavily. That wasn’t the first time he’d heard that claim, and he knew how hard it was to get the parts, unless you were a licensed dealer, which Jason highly doubted Leo was. “Okay. Well, I’ve got a phone call to make, in that case.” He cut a glance down at the pancakes, then back up at Piper’s face. “Should I make an effort to come back down for breakfast or…?”

Piper’s cheeks went pink, and she blew a raspberry at him. “My pancakes are very good, and you should count yourself lucky to have them, Jason Grace. Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes.” She glanced down at the charcoal hockey pucks she’d made, and grimaced. “Okay, make that fifteen.”

Jason huffed out a quiet laugh. “Okay, okay. I’ll be back for your pancakes; which will be wonderful, I’m sure.” 

Before Piper could protest the injury to her breakfast-making pride, Jason ducked out of the kitchen and into the hall. He got turned around a few times, but soon he was back in his assigned room, and he took a seat at the big, solid oak desk tucked away into a little alcove in the room. There was a window right above it, and Jason could see softly-falling snowflakes drifting through the air outside. He could also see the rest of town properly, now that he wasn’t driving through it after all the lights had been turned out. It looked like a Christmas card, or a set prop from a Hallmark movie. Christmas lights were strung up between all of the lamps, and there wasn’t a flat surface that didn’t bear a wreath or an obnoxiously large bow. Jason couldn’t help but curl his lip slightly at the sight.

Instead of dwelling, he took out his phone and called Thalia, who picked up on the third ring. “Jason? What’s going on?”

“Hey, Thalia. It’s about the trip,” Jason started, heaving a heavy sigh.

Surprisingly, Thalia sighed as well, though she sounded almost relieved. “Funny, I was actually about to call you about that, too.”

“Oh. Go ahead then.”

“No, you.”

“Okay.” Jason cleared his throat. “So, I’m gonna be late getting there. Like, a week late. I managed to mess up my car just outside of this little town in Oklahoma, and it won’t be fixed for at least five days. I could just rent a car or something, but I’d really rather avoid that, if I can. Outside of that, though, I’m stuck here. I did already call the cleaners, and the house should be ready for you whenever you get there. I did also set up a meeting with Dakota and Gwen on the eighth, but I can reschedule, if you’d rather wait until I’m there as well. I know you said you don’t want lawyers, and they’re not lawyers. They actually run a funeral home, but they have some experience with stuff like this, and they agreed to give us an overview of what to expect. That sound good?”

Thalia didn’t say anything. In fact, she was so silent, that Jason thought that maybe his call had dropped. He pulled the phone away from his ear, but saw that it was still live, so he pressed it back to his face with a frown. “Lia? You there?”

Thalia swallowed so heavily Jason could hear it from across the two states that separated them. “You drove?”

Jason frowned, brow furrowed. “Yeah, why?”

“I– I had just assumed you’d fly is all.”

“Okay. But I didn’t. Why does that matter?”

Thalia went silent for a moment before she let out a quiet, wounded sound. “Jason, I’m so sorry.”

Jason immediately felt his heart plummet past his feet and even down past Piper cooking away in the kitchen. “You’re not coming. At all.” It wasn’t a question, it didn’t need to be.

“I’m sorry,” Thalia repeated. “But– But last night, Zoë was approached by Lady Artemis. She’s on tour this month, and she said she needed an opener because her other act fell through. I– We couldn’t just say no, Jason.”

“I get it,” Jason said, tone flat. 

“Jason–”

“No, I really get it, Thalia. It’s fine,” Jason insisted. “You– You and the rest of the band have fun, okay? I’ll take care of the estate, and keep you updated on any significant progress.”

“Jason, I–”

“Sorry, Thalia, but I’ve got to go,” Jason lied. “I wound up at this bed and breakfast and the host is really pushy. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

Before Thalia could offer another protest, he hung up on her. He tossed his phone on his desk and buried his face in his hands. Great. He was going to have to deal with all this himself. 

No, you don’t! a little voice in his head reminded him. Thalia was the one who didn’t want lawyers involved, and she’s not here. You can make this someone else’s problem.

Well, that was a relief, at least. With one phone call, he could just let Octavian deal with this, like he’d wanted to from the start. Octavian could be a rat bastard when he wanted to be, and he’d probably cheat them out of one thing or another, but Jason didn’t care. Octavian could take the lot, if he wanted it, and Jason would still pay him to handle it. So, that just left him with a month of vacation and nothing to do with it. The smart thing to do would be to go back to New York City, inform his department head about the change in plans, and go back to work like nothing had ever happened. For some reason, though, the thought made his skin crawl. He glanced around the cluttered, brightly colored room, then thought back to his sad, monochrome apartment, and his throat tightened in something close to panic, which he forcibly swallowed down.

You could just stay here, that same little voice from before suggested. You’re already going to be here for a week, might as well make the most of your time off. Who knows when you’ll actually do it again.

Jason looked up out the window again and bit his lip. Outside, a group of children were having a snowball fight while honest to god carolers sang on the street corner behind them. It was certainly a far cry from home, which seemed to be the only thing his brain was interested in at the moment. Besides, if he hated it, he could just leave as soon as his car was fixed. It wasn’t like he was exactly wanted or needed here. For once, he was free to come and go as he wished. Mind made up, he got back to his feet and went down to the kitchen, and he didn’t even get lost. 

“Just in time!” Piper called from the stove, flipping her last pancake onto the big serving plate she had in the other hand. She turned to Jason and gestured at the table where Reyna was already waiting. “Go on and take a seat.”

“Before I do, there was something I wanted to ask you guys,” Jason said. “There was a surprise change of plans, and I won’t be going to California. I know we only talked about me staying for a few days last night, but I have the whole month off from work, and I was wondering if you would be open to me extending my stay for that length of time.”

There was a beat of silence before a loud CRASH filled the room, Piper having dropped her plate of pancakes to clap her hands to her cheeks, looking beyond delighted. “Really?”

Jason took a half step back, startled at the outburst. “Um, yes. If that’s alright.”

“It’s more than alright!” Piper squealed. “It’s a Christmas miracle! Ohmigosh, I have got to go get the stuff ready! You two wait here!”

With that, she practically vanished, leaving nothing but a pile of ceramic and pancakes in her place. 

Reyna heaved a sigh and got to her feet, though she made no effort to mask the incredibly fond smile curling over her mouth. “I suppose I should order breakfast, then.”

“Um, what just happened?” Jason asked as Reyna started picking up the mess Piper had left.

“My wife cares very deeply about the Christmas season,” Reyna said seriously. “Every year since we’ve opened, we’ve had at least one guest during December, and Piper takes great pride and pleasure in showing them everything the town has to offer for the holidays. She was very disappointed when there weren’t any scheduled guests this year.”

Jason’s face paled. “Oh. I, um, I don’t really do Christmas,” he stammered. “I mean, I’m fine with other people doing it, but it’s not really for me, you know?”

Reyna considered that for a moment before she rested her hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. For one moment, she looked exactly like the stern, severe girl he’d known in high school. “You have never met anyone quite like Piper McLean, have you?”

“Um, no.”

“In that case, I’d like to offer you some advice.” She looked somehow more serious than before. “I suggest that you surrender now, in order to maintain your dignity.”

Jason sighed and he mentally glowered at the little voice in his head, suddenly absent from the conversation. This is all your fault.

*-*-*

Leo stuffed his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth from his heels to his toes, watching the way his breath puffed up in steamy little clouds in the air before him. He loved and respected Piper, and was perfectly willing to indulge her in things that made her happy, but did she really have to decide to be obsessed with the cold-time holiday? Why couldn’t she have been obsessed with Halloween or something? Leo liked Halloween. It was fun and he got candy and it wasn’t so damn cold. But no. Piper liked Christmas, which meant that Leo spent more than his fair share of time outside in the cold during December because he loved his sister or whatever.

The tree-lighting ceremony was probably Leo’s least-favorite Christmas activity, because it was boring on top of being cold. The whole event was just a bunch of people milling around and waiting for the mayor to give her little Christmas speech about how much she loved the people of this town before she flipped a switch and all the lights on the tree and the street lamps turned on in sequence. It was pretty, sure, but it wasn’t exactly any prettier than it was literally any other night of December, so Leo didn’t really see the point. Unfortunately, Piper didn’t feel that way. In fact, she felt the opposite. She saw the lighting ceremony as the official start of the Christmas Season (and yes, both words were capitalized), which made it one of her favorite events. For that reason, and that reason alone, Leo went to the tree-lighting ceremony every year, and he only ever complained about it a little bit.

“Leo! There he is! I see him! Leo!”

Leo turned around just in time to see Piper before she all but tackled him in a hug. He laughed brightly, but hugged her back. “Geeze, Pipes, you act like you haven’t seen me in years. I was literally at your house this morning.”

“It’s a bit of a shame you didn’t stay longer,” Reyna commented, materializing at Piper’s side like she always did. “We could have used some good breakfast.”

“I made a great breakfast!”

“And then proceeded to drop it on the floor.”

Leo arched an eyebrow at Piper. “Why the hell did you drop breakfast on the floor?”

“I was distracted.”

“What were you–” Jason walked up then, and Leo cut himself off from how hard he was biting the inside of his lips to keep from doubling over in wheezing hysterics. “Ah. Nevermind.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jason huffed. “Laugh it up.”

“No, no! It looks, um.” Leo looked Jason up and down and bit his tongue to keep from laughing again. “It, uh, suits you.”

Jason scowled at him, very easily picking up on Leo’s very obvious lie. Jason was still wearing his charcoal peacoat from the night before, as well as the thin gold wire glasses, but he was more than a little disheveled. His thick blond hair was all fluffed up and scruffy on one side, his glasses sat slightly crooked on his face, and there was a red mark high on his cheekbone that Leo got the feeling was going to bruise. But more importantly than that, he was wearing a sweater, over his coat, that was bright red with silver tinsel striped sleeves and a pair of ice skating reindeer, complete with pom-pom noses, splashed front and center across his chest. 

Jason looked him up and down and furrowed his brow. “Where’s your sweater? Piper was very insistent that they were not optional.”

Leo hiked up a brow and pulled the front of his coat open just enough to show off the sparkly dark green sweater he was wearing, even if all of the tree decoration detailing stayed hidden. “I am wearing one. But I was smart enough to put mine on before Piper had to wrestle it on me.”

“She’s only, like, five five. I figured I would win that fight,” Jason admitted. “I wasn’t expecting her to call in Reyna as reinforcements. I certainly wasn’t expecting Reyna to actually do it.”

Leo nodded sagely. “You gotta remember that Reyna’s favorite side hustle is playing wife knight.”

“I have no clue what you’re saying to me.”

Leo laughed brightly and squeezed Jason’s bicep. “Just know that it’s always in your best interest to let Piper do what she wants in December.”

“That’s what Reyna said, too,” Jason sighed.

“Well, Reyna is the only person on the planet who might know Pipes even better than me, so you should probably listen to her.”

Suddenly, Piper whirled around on them, eyes narrowed. “Would you two be quiet?” she hissed. “Annabeth is about to speak.”

“We literally weren’t even bothering you,” Leo hissed back. “Mind your business.”

“Well, you’re bothering me now, so hush.”

Leo blew a raspberry at her, but she just rolled her eyes and faced the front again, so Leo let the subject drop. Then, he felt Jason come up right behind him and lean in so that his low, quiet voice was very close to Leo’s face. “What, exactly, is going on here? Piper was going to tell me, but she kept getting distracted.”

Leo fought back the urge to shiver, and gestured up at the stage with his mittened hand, where Annabeth was speaking into the microphone. “It’s the tree-lighting ceremony. Up there is Annabeth Chase. She’s mayor, and has been for almost a decade. Every year she makes this big speech about how glad she is that she gets to be mayor and how much she appreciates everyone and that she hopes to be able to continue to serve the community in any way we’ll have her, then she turns on the Christmas lights.”

Jason wrinkled his nose in distaste. “So, what? Is it some kind of campaign thing then? I’m a little surprised Piper’s interested in that.”

Leo shrugged, doing his best to not bump the bottom of Jason’s chin with his shoulder, seeing as the other man was still hovering right next to his cheek. “Eh, that’s not really what it is, though. Annabeth is just, like, really passionate about local government. She actually dropped out of college to run for mayor, she cares so much. I don’t think anyone even ran against her last time. Everyone just likes her and she does a good job. She’s really just doing this to welcome in the Christmas season, or whatever.”

“Huh. I wouldn’t have figured that.” Jason stood up straight, finally returning Leo’s personal space, which he definitely wasn’t even a little disappointed in. 

“And with that,” Annabeth announced, her magnified voice carrying over the small crowd that had gathered around the big central Christmas tree, “I would like to wish everyone in town a very merry Christmas!”

She flipped the cartoonishly large switch in her hand, and the tree lit up, one section at a time, starting from the bottom and ending with a glowing star at the top. When that finished, the lights seemed to grow out from the tree, following the path out like an electric snowflake, the twinkling lights chasing one another off down the little side streets attached to the central plaza. Everyone in the crowd cheered, and Piper grabbed the front of Reyna’s jacket to pull her down into a kiss, cliché foot pop and everything included.

Leo turned to maybe make a joke about the whole thing to Jason, only to see that the other man was staring up at the tree in something akin to wonder. He blinked slowly, his eyes wide and so very blue behind his glasses, and the bright lights and flashing colors made their home dancing across his cheeks instead of on the tree and Leo had to take a moment to catch his breath. He suddenly caught himself thinking that maybe Piper was right. Maybe the lights were prettier tonight than they were any other night. 

[quibbs]

just had SO much fun with the fallout tv show... i love you missus okey dokey

[knifearo]

everybody! quick! tell me what aro joy means to you <2

[shikisei]

met some new guys today

[thefeastandthefast]

I'm OBSESSED with the terrifying Princess Wanning and want ALL the backstory about her time as a hostage and everything she did to survive (and possibly even thrive?) in such a situation. Please, drama, give it to me! (Do I feel fic urges coming on?)

She's over-the-top and openly, gleefully cruel and sadistic in a way that female villains don't often get to be, but the actress makes her chillingly believable. The actress Li Meng oscillates so naturally between all the minute shades of her many malevolent moods and is clearly having a ball playing her. Li Meng was great in The Bad Kids and now I know I will definitely be seeking out more of her work. Suggesting two men murder each other in front of her as a job interview is exactly the kind of unhinged psychotic creativity that I appreciate about Wanning.

[genericpuff]

people kicking and screaming about the cultural worldbuilding in Dawntrail:

people who aren't white redditors:

[howtodisappearcompletelyand]

20/10 stars little guy

[liliavellana]

Just finished Tevinter Nights and this might be old news, but I've read it in polish and, thanks to it being such a gendered language, the inquisitor is refereed to as she. Now why is that worth mentioning?

The notable times when the Inquisitor is mentioned is in the "Callback" chapter, when Sutherland recalls why they were with the Inquisition what bought him there and what made him stay, while they are fighting "the regret of a god" (and winning btw) and in "Dread Wolf Take You" when Solas ask Chatter include in the raport for the Inquisitor to tell her that he's once again sorry.

So I will hold on that the stories take place in a solavellan worldstate and I take no criticism on that