#it’s not actually that bad it’s kinda good. i just was not expecting it

[musclesandhammering]

(sorry, I had to respond in a reblog because I ran out of characters in my reply)

I’m sorry if I had an attitude with my reply!! I feel bad about commenting now cause I usually make a point not to bring my anti attitude onto pro posts & vice versa. I really did get a laugh out of it just because of my *insert shocked Mr krabs meme* when I realised we were on different pages lol- not because I thought your tags were wrong, just because I expected it to go in a different direction.

I probably did let some passive aggression slip in there, though, just because I always feel like Dean is largely a fandom sweetheart (especially among shippers) and usually when he’s criticised, it’s met with outrage and accusations. I should’ve been more careful not to project that onto your post, though, because i don’t even disagree with anything you mentioned.

Like… people trying to make Sam into the one who always pushed back against John and stood up for the “good” monsters and tried to protect Jack and didn’t want to kill demon vessels, while Dean did all the opposite? Yeah, definitely not. Part of the complexity of their dynamic is that they were both problematic in different ways and a lot of their issues overlap. I SO agree with you on that.

That being said, I will mention that a large part of my issue with both the character and the fans (not you in specific, I’m just speaking generally) is the exact thing you made the post about- just in the opposite direction. People insisting certain things about him are hard canon when they’re either strongly up to interpretation or just flat out fanon. I see the things I mentioned as examples of this.

And I really think like 80% of it (particularly the early seasons stuff- the porn thing and the slut shaming and jailbait comments etc etc) is that, at the time, the writers just genuinely didn’t see anything wrong with any of that stuff, so they didn’t intend those things to be negative traits on Dean’s part. They just wanted to give him some edginess and some funny one liners. Which is annoying but understandable. But now we can look back at it and say “yea so that was.. iffy” and it results in some Dean fans either calling it ooc (which.. unfortunately, it’s not) or twisting themselves into knots to explain why those things weren’t actually that bad or he only said them because of internalised whatever whatever etc… that’s a bit irritating.

The only other issues I have are how some deangirls have a slight disconnect when it comes to his actual personality (ie emphasising his protectiveness/brotherly love and brushing over his domineering behaviour and anger issues). But I mean samgirls and casgirls do that too- it’s just kinda natural to focus on your fav’s best traits and ignore their worst ones.

The other thing is his sexuality. …Listen. I’m queer myself so I know how frustrating it is to see such a perfect opportunity to make a character bi/gay- to see so many little hints and offhand comments that could have been developed into something if the writers weren’t cowards- and have to admit that all those bits of “evidence” never got solidified into anything… but they just didn’t. I’m being completely genuine. It’s so so easy to read Dean as bi via interpretational subtext, and I don’t disagree with anyone doing that… but canonically? He’s not. It’s a missed opportunity and it’s unfair as hell but he’s just not. Jensen has said he’s straight, the writers have, Dean himself has. Every bit of bi evidence can be explained away as a joke or coincidence.

And it really pains me to say that, because I get why people are so ready to die on the “Dean was intentionally queer coded” hill. But stating it as a fact, calling anyone who disagrees homophobic, letting the writers off the hook for chickening out by deluding themselves into believing bi!Dean is as good as canon when it likely never will be?? It’s so annoying. Especially when there’s other characters who (imo) were a bit more intentionally queer coded (like sam) or were outright confirmed to be lgbtq (like cas).

Again, I’m not shading you with any of this, cause I have no idea if you’ve said any of those things before. I’m just ranting out my opinions. I’d love to see your take on it, though! Seriously, I think it’s really cool that you were so nice about it and I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!!

(Reading back over this, I feel like my tone here sounds a little standoffish too, but I swear it’s not! I just don’t know how to convey emotions on the internet!! 😂😭)

so much supernatural discourse boils down to claiming a thing we actually see dean do on the show is something he would not do, claiming a thing we see dean specifically not do on the show is something he would do, claiming something all the main characters do is something dean alone is doing, or claiming something sam does on the show is something dean did.

and im so confused. because the answer is comically simple and it's a thing we all allegedly love doing and that is... watching supernatural?

[sulumuns-dootah]

If you don’t mind will you do with WHB kings with Mc who could sing not inappropriately but talented one (idk what its called and sorry if i’m bad at this) that could sing really good

WHB kings w/ MC who is a good singer

⟡ Masterlist ⟡

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

I can imagine Satan just sitting cross-legged on the ground with his chin resting on his palms, looking up at you with eager eyes while you sing

He's like a little kid ^^

Despite preferring rock and metal, doesn't care about the genre when it comes to your singing

On the days he's not doing well, he'll ask you to sing him something so he can feel something (in a good way)

       ༺☆༻

Mammon loves your singing

And if you ever want to start making money, just let him know!

He'll have the Tartaros record label on the phone in seconds

Also the echo in all those large and near-empty rooms of his palace make your voice sound so much more etheral

Like that one woman who was making videos of herself singing in stairwells and empty parking lots

       ༺☆༻

At first, Levi is jealous af of your voice and talent

Then, once he overcomes that, you're not allowed to sing for anyone else than him

And preferable in some space where nobody else can hear you

Actually, the only time you can sing for someone else is if Leviathan feels like showing you off

       ༺☆༻

Most voices are kinda all the same to Beel, but not yours

Yours, he would recognise within a split second

Constantly asks you out for dates at a karaoke bar and makes you sing for the most part, while he's stuffing himself with the open bar that comes with the room

Sometimes, when you're singing to yourself in your room, your voice manages to lure him in like a spell

(Better make sure Bael doesn't find out or he'll have you singing in his office every day)

       ༺☆༻

You didn't really mention your singing skills to Belphie, but then one day you're talking to him and:

"Ya've got some nice voice there. Should try singin'."

So you tell him that you already do that

Asks you to sing him something

And you do, but ofc he's conked out 0.4632 seconds later

Still, you don't stop and just pretend to not notice

After he wakes up, will tell you how you should sing to him more

His favorites are lullabies and anime openings

       ༺☆༻

Singing huh?

Do you sound just as good while moaning?

Well there's only one way to find out, no?

After once seeing you hit some high notes, he's been wondering how would it feel if his dick was in your throat during it

Also how high can your moans get

Essentially: Expect to have your vocal cords tested to the max with this king

       ༺☆༻

Lucifer loves seeing anyone take pride in what they can do

And when he sees/hears you sing your heart out, he can't help but smile

Your singing somewhat reminds him of the choir of angels he would often hear while in heaven

Would even ask you if you wanted to sing for the patients to help their recovery

[genderqueerdykes]

I'm transfemme now, but back when I thought I was a guy or demi guy, I left tumblr years ago because of all the posts I saw that amounted to "men bad even if not cis", so... I kinda relate to what you and your followers feel, in my own way I guess.

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry this is still happening, and I'm so so glad you're calling it for what it is. Is there a way to support you?

Or more generally for transfemmes to fight transandrophobia as a whole? We have enough hate from the outside without it coming from within!

thank you so much for taking the time to send this ask i really appreciate it! i've actually had other transfemmes point this out, so thank you for giving me another chance to talk about it!

i'm sorry this happened to you. i would've left too, in your shoes. people don't understand that demiguys aren't just trans men or afab people. that still made you queer, but it didn't matter because you thought you were a guy. that's just so cruel. i can't think of any reason why that would be good or productive in any way. you should've been given time and a space to question. you should've been able to talk to ther people who understood you. you should've been able to take the time to figure yourself out

i've tried to point this out: man hating hurts transfemmes. a lot of transfemmes used to be cis men or another type of man. you need to give them time to question. we're forcing transfems to hurt up and transition right now or else they're not welcome. it's viewed as okay to be rude as hell to transfemmes who haven't fully pieced it together yet, never transition transfemmes, butch transfemmes, transfemmes who cant transition for safety reasons and so on. i don't get it

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry this is still happening, and I'm so so glad you're calling it for what it is. Is there a way to support you? Or more generally for transfemmes to fight transandrophobia as a whole? We have enough hate from the outside without it coming from within!

thank you so much for asking this! this is so kind i really appreciate it, it means a lot! i get a lot of important questions but i really like this one!

honestly most importantly is telling other transfemmes to unlearn their toxic masculinity & internalized misogyny. these two traits are rampant in certain transfemme spaces and it's really devastating. it's why this is happening to begin with. very specific transfemmes still have a lot of internalized toxic masculinity and hold trans men up to that standards. if they're not manly enough they get misgendered. a lot of transfemmes have internalized misogyny and instantly think that AFAB people and people perceived to be AFAB are dumb as bricks and it really shows. the more people who say hey this is misogyny and transandrophobia an it's really not making you look cool.

in general i'd say try to tell anyone who is man hating or going on about how easy it is for trans men, if it's not too painful, i would straight up tell people about how alienated you felt as a questioning guy. your experience matters and i'm sorry it was like that, but it has the power to make an impact on others. if it's too painful i understand, but helping people understand that it impacts so many people can help

i would point out that transfems rightfully so do not want transmascs speaking for them, and if that's expected of transmascs, then we gotta do the same and let them speak for themselves instead of talking for and over them. gently urge people to stop talking like they know what it's like to be a trans man just because they were raised and socialized as a cis man. its not the same as being socialized as a cis girl and living as a trans man

remind people that creating a term for transmasculine oppression helps the conversation become more visible, and that's a good thing. right now transmasculine erasure is at its peak and we need to stop saying that transandrophobia is simply just "transphobia," because then it gets lost in transmission and once again, we cannot refer to any kind of statistics to figure out just how many people transandrophobia affects. having a cat hiss reaction to trans men creating terms for their own oppression is genuinely hurting people

remind people that obsessing over who they hate is keeping them rooted in the past. they are not focusing on themselves. when someone is man hating they're focused on everyone but themselves. they can't get over the fact that some men have hurt them. the entirety of manhood is not what hurt them. it's never right to blame people who have not harmed you

i would tell people the existence of transmasculinity & trans manhood doesn't exist to mock transfemininity and trans womanhood. they are real experiences, and no they are not born from spite. there really are trans people out there who want to be men and mascs. try to discourage people from saying that transmascs and trans men are "cis girls looking for attention" at all costs.

anyways thank you so much for this ask i really appreciate it! i'm glad to know there are a lot of transfemmes out there who want to help and recognize this isn't helping. take care of yourself! please feel free to come back any time, i'd love to hear from you again

[putschki1969]

Hi Puts! YK just announced that Keiko will be not participated in YK Live #21 this year 😢 I'm kinda sad about this.

Okay, I didn't expect to have to use this gif so soon...

All jokes aside, this announcement is indeed very saddening and disappointing but I would be lying if I said I was super surprised.

Just a few days ago I addressed some possibilities for the future in THIS POST here and I was trying my best to remain optimistic despite knowing very well that Yuki had pretty much cemented her stance on the whole thing by releasing that initial statement. The way she positioned herself as the victim and everyone else as perpetrator was a clear message. By explicitly name-calling the members, it was made to look like Hikaru and Keiko were “aligning themselves with the enemy”. The Asia Tour probably couldn't be cancelled or re-arranged due to existing agreements/contracts but we didn't know how the Kalafina debacle would affect anything after that. Seems like we have our answer now. The girls have all officially fallen out of favour and are being considered as “Space Craft adjacent”. They are now in the same position as Wakana, nothing more than pariahs. Which means of course that everyone is now following the usual M.O. of ignoring each other’s presence. I'm not saying this is all coming from Yuki's side, there's a very high chance of the girls themselves being restricted in their activities due to contractual obligations (Space Craft most definitely made them sign something to make that Kalafina Live possible).

As discussed previously, we got our first glimpses of the shunning process when Yuki decided to distance herself on social media by unfollowing Hikaru and Keiko.

Then just a few days ago, a photo was posted from the recording studio and a certain someone was notably absent.

I guess Keiko's exclusion from the YKL is just a natural progression although I will honestly say that I didn't think Yuki would go that far, jeopardising the quality of her performances like that. Considering that her craft has always been her main priority, letting go of the literal backbone of 90% of her live music seems like a very stupid decision but I guess pettiness knows no boundaries in this ever-lasting feud between Team Yuki and Team Space Craft.

Oh well, needless to say, I won't be attending YK events any time soon. I don't hate her and I still appreciate her work but there's no longer any incentive for me personally. The girls have always come first and nothing will ever change about that. I am not Team YK or Team Space Craft, I am Team Kalafina and always will be! This just means I will have to support their solo activities even more and hopefully they will all increase their activities to give me lots of opportunities to show my appreciation.

As I mentioned in my post from a few days ago, nothing in life happens without a price having to be paid. Sacrifices need to be made, time has to pass. I am sure the girls were aware of most of these consequences when they decided to commit themselves to the Kalafina Anniversary Live project. Just like all these years ago, Wakana was aware what would happen if she stayed with Space Craft. The Japanese entertainment industry is not for the weak, shitty things happen all the time, you win some, you lose some. Hikaru actually shared some very good advice during her live broadcast from the other day. Life has a way of balancing itself out, for every bad thing that happens, a good thing will follow. And every rough experience might one day turn into an opportunity so I guess we can try to look at the whole thing with a more positive mindset. We don't know if this is permanent or not and we also have no idea what's in store for Kalafina so I refuse to despair because of it.

Speaking of Hikaru, she also mentioned that throughout her career, the main priority have always been the fans. I think this sentiment is shared by Keiko and Wakana which is why they ultimately decided to hold the Kalafina live, knowing very well that they'd have to pay dearly for their decision.

Of course they didn't think there would be such a harsh backlash in the initial phase but that was mostly fueled by Yuk's unfortunate phrasing in the statement. If she had refrained from mentioning the members, I don't think that there would have been such an outrage and immediate condemnation of the girls. Fans would have been upset but most of them would have simply blamed Space Craft and not the girls themselves.

Nonetheless, all that bitching and moaning from "some" fans didn't stop thousands of people from getting their ticket and showing up for the live. As far as I am concerned, the concert was a huge success and everyone there was filled with happiness. The girls must have surely interpreted it like this as well so hopefully, they felt like it was worth their sacrifice.

[consouling]

I am here to lay the ground works of any potential continuations of this fic in the future, ignore any minor details at your leisure and convenience.

First, the rumours

The original rumour was that if you went into the graveyard late at night, you'd die. But that obviously didn't happen to our POV character.

Therefore, stating the obvious, someone purposefully spread false rumours about the graveyard to keep everyone away. (Probably Lady Gotham)

Alas, it did not work for our POV civilian character, who shall henceforth be known as Morgan, has infiltrated and successfully evaded the threat of death.

Of which there was no threat of in the first place.

Beause let's be real, without Vlad's soul being intertwined with Danny's, and without knowing all his friends, family, and home are dead, gone, and/or destroyed, Danny would never knowingly kill someone.

So, with Morgan 'surviving', the spreading of the new, more interesting rumour about the pretty boy turning into a monster begging to be let free is created.

For consistency, efficiency, and realism's sake, let's say Morgan is an semi-famous influencer known to be reliable with a main focus of content on debunking Gotham's many urban myths, legends, and superstitions and such.

The reason to be in the graveyard is to stake out the area for filming the next night.

Why check the site out only at night? Being an influencer is busy work, okay? Shush.

With Morgan being shaken up by The Encounter, the account stays unactive for a couple of days. Fans get worried until one notification. One post that goes *viral* titled;

'I Didn't Die in Gotham's Oldest Cemetery, But I Kinda Wish I Did'

(Valantines Day special gone horribly wrong! I kissed a ghost!!!???)

There are a couple of things the rumour could be called, but I think it's wise to best utilise the comedic potential of making fun of Danny's curious tendency to kiss everyone who comes into his graveyard unwarranted.

AKA Danny now becomes know as...

'The Harrlot'

Nicknamed simply just 'Harlot', which would be hilarious.

Second, The Batfam

They, too, like Morgan, thought the rumour of the graveyard being deadly at night was a farce as it has only been a recent rumour with unknown origins.

And they were right.

Partly

The death rumour was fake, obviously, but there was always something wrong with that graveyard.

Too quiet, too dark, too nothing.

You'd imagine that this is what outerspace would be like if you strip away all the wonder. Every star burnt out, leaving the void and you. The only comfort being the sight of the earth below you.

But now this new rumour has attracted more people, more daredevils, curious ghost hunters, and pressured teenagers. Though there are few people like this in a place like Gotham, there is enough to say the rumour is real.

The Batfam don't know if 'The Harlot' is a normal person, a meta, or an actual ghost, but they know he is real.

And therefore start to investigate the one traumatising all these people.

If we don't want Batfam, we can disregard this section entirely.

Thirdly, Danny's Origin

My personal favourite angst is a character yearning for a home that no longer exists and doesn't know their family is dead until they get their hopes too high.

So, to get this to make sense, it should neither be Good Reveal nor Bad Reveal.

Introducing, No Reveal!

After a particularly rough fight, Danny is down for the count

Jazz carries him up to his room to rest the injuries off, but the next day the Fenton parent are the ones to find him.

Not breathing

Without a heartbeat.

By then, the injuries from the last fight have fully healed, and so with no clue of how Danny got here they assume that, well,

Danny died in his sleep.

While the funeral preparations are under way, Jazz, Tucker, and Sam are trying to retrieve his body and wait for him to wake up.

They succeed. Expect he doesn't wake up.

The three of them are labelled as grieving and are put under watch to prevent them from stealing Danny's body again.

The moritcian embalmes Danny's body, and he's put into the casket where he lays to rest for an undetermined amount of time.

How his grave and/or the entirety of Amity Park's grave site ended up in Gotham? I have one single idea.

In order to make every statement in the fic/s above true, Gotham would have to be built on top of Amity Park.

What happened to Amity? Writers choice.

Why is Amity in New Jersey? Amity's placement in America has never been confirmed, so we could just *say* it was in New Jersey.

Anyway, Danny is in Gotham, entirely alone, trapped in a grave yard with no knowledge of why, where, or when he is.

He is truly

Utterly

Caged.

Kiss of Death- DCxDP prompt

A valentine horror.

Didn't matter why you were there or why you didn't run.

There was a graveyard older than Gotham itself. The names on the grave are weathered and unreadable from hundreds of years of exposure. The only reason one should come here was if you had managed to track your heritage to this gravesight after searching museum archives for burial records since the city wouldn't keep ones so old in the government building.

Unless...

You came because of the legend.

It's a new one. So it's more of an urban legend.

The story goes that the graveyard is haunted and a that anyone who comes here late at night will die. It's a simple legend, a very cliche and uncreative one at that.

But here you are. What was your goal? Ghost hunting? Graverobbing? Or perhaps your curiosity had consumed you and you had to know.

The air was thick. Like you are slowly choking on the darkness around you. Have you ever been in a room so quiet it was deafening? Like you are sure you must have lost your hearing because not even the wind would greet your ears. It was just empty space that wordlessly told you that you are alone. But that was just a room. A room that you leave and find solace in a trip of a light switch. This however was no room. It was the wide expanse of the outside world. In a place where streetlamps were not even a flicker in the minds of the residents that rest deep below your feet.

You chose a bad time to come. Perhaps you would be spared the wondering in the dark if you had the forgiving light of the moon on you. But such things were an afterthought, wasn't it? No tonight the moon was shadowed and the light of the stars would be your only salvation...but this was still Gotham. Could their light even reach you with the distant city lights over the horizon? Could the clouds mercifully move out of the way to give you some hope that you were not abandoned?

Now you were ill-prepared but you must have had some sense to at least charge your phone before you came. It's flashlight might be enough to get you back. But you're come this far. Brave or foolish you continue forward.

Until someone approached. You couldn't see them, only hear the muted footfalls of something coming near. Your ears so starved for sensation drank it like water in a dessert.

And in the light of your torch, a face appeared. A pair of baby blue eyes simmered in the light. A relieved smile on a pair of soft pale pink lips. A young man with tousled black locks appearing holding a small arm full of lilies and tulips.

"Finally, someone else. I thought I'd be here till morning." He said in relief as he came closer.

"What are you doing here?" You ask surprised that you weren't the only person here.

"I was cleaning the graves here and I must have lost track of time. Can you lead me out of here?" He asked softly and you'd hit yourself if you said no.

He clung to your arm as you walked him down the path.

The air began to get colder.

Where there was once silence you hearabout d the sound of crows beating their wings and making their wretched calls.

He clung harder to you.

That horrible curiosity got the better of you and so you began to speak.

"Why were you out here cleaning graves anyways." You asked.

"I was...helping. I come here alot." He said simply.

Nevermind the fact he was not dressed in clothes fit for cleaning. His white button-up shirt and dress pants were not something you get dirty. In fact, he didn't have a fleck of dirt on him.

"Where are your supplies?" You ask.

"I left them behind. I'll come back for them." He said curtly.

His grip on your arm tightened and it got colder.

"Just stay close please. I don't want to lose you in this darkness." He cooed.

You begin to feel lightheaded. The cold damp air made it hard to breathe.

You hear the crows...no ravens call out again.

"Never leave!" They repeated

"Trapped!" They called.

You hear a growl come from those pink lips, only they weren't pink anymore.

You look down at your companion and see a pair of bloody lips and a smile curled into a cruel but somehow sweet smile. A pair of glowing acidic green eyes that narrowed into pinpricks like a bird locking onto its prey. His once soft ebony lock now as stark white as snow caps.

You try to pull away but their grasp crushed your arm, hands like icy claws dug in.

" Where are you going?" He asked calm his eyes baring into yours.

Suddenly he did look very scary. No, he looked...so sad...so helpless and lost. His eyes where so warm and inviting.

"Don't leave me here. Help me. I promise I'll make it worth your while." His smile was so warm and inviting.

"Leave!" The ravens screeched.

"Run!" They called.

Even the screaming of the birds where drowned out as he pressed his lips to yours. It was too late. The sickly sweet scent of death and flowers filled your senses.

Why though, was his lips so cold? Why did they fill his mouth with the coppery taste of blood? Why did you feel so empty in the space you had hoped he'd fill in your heart?

But then a sharp pain struck your head and the warm trickle of blood flowed from your wound as a bird flew over your head.

You pulled away from the cloying embraces you perked in pain. And then you saw it. His face half half-rotted and skeletal. The once handsome man was a monster.

You sprinted away from him trying to frantically call someone for help on your phone. But foolish one had you forgotten. Your phone is also your flashlight and as you tried to use it you could only run blindly in the dark hoping you were still on the path. The sound of wind slicked the air behind you as you felt his icy breath on the back of your neck. You could only guess what was behind you as you heard no footsteps behind you only the feeling of being chased.

You dared not stop not even a moment and prayed that you didn't stumble. But mercy had found you as you saw the gate come into view and the solitary streetlight just beyond the boarder.

"You said you'd get me out! You can't leave me here!" A bloodcurdling screech rang out.

But you had already won as you made it out just barely with the graze of clawed fingertips at the back of your neck.

You closed the gate behind you and as you gazed into the dark abyss beyond the metal barrier you half expected it to be there. For it to snarl at you in anger watching you leave or slamming itself at the gate. But there was nothing. Not even the wind.

[mildy-vibing]

@calamaroo I know you know who this is, our favorite baby boy

NEW/OLD OCTO-OC, ARTHUR GRIZZLY

I've introduced him a long time ago but now he has official art and refs! Though he originally started out being modeled off numerous characters, he's grown beyond that into his own thing. Calamaroo certainly knows as they're my co-creator for him (60/40 custody).

So, who is he?

Early Life

Arthur's early life mainly follows that of all grizzlies. Staying with your mother and following her every move so that one day you may survive on your own. Nothing truly great or memorable came from this time, say for Arthur meeting a certain polar bear cub.

Early on in his cub years, Arthur was constantly traveling up and down the Alaskan wilderness with his mother, sometimes going too far south and sometimes too far north. On one occasion, where they went too far north, Arthur encountered a polar scout. Though it wasn't common for both solitary species to be friends, cubs do as cubs do and became best friends over the course of Arthur's stay.

Arthur was the trouble maker and "bad influence" of the duo, always finding himself knee deep in trouble. Barnacles was always the one to get him out of trouble. But still, they did everything together. There was many play dates, days exploring the frozen coast line, and days spent sitting around fishing or playing in the sea.

Teen Years / Early Adulthood

Arthur stayed up north longer than one would expect. Food was just enough for his mother to settle there, so the friendship laster for years more.

Barnacles joined the scouts, Arthur got better and better at surviving alone, the years went on. During this time, their bond peaked. However, it all came crashing down when Barnacles eventually left for better job opportunities down south, leaving Arthur behind. They hoped to see each other again soon, though that wasn't gonna happen for a long while.

In the meantime, Arthur spent his early adulthood surviving on his own (mother kicked him out as soon as she could). He spent his days traveling and wandering, eventually settling upon the American Northwest as his home. Along the way, he found new company in the form of Winona, a wild mustang. Next to Barnacles, Winona is the closest friend he has.

Later Years / Octoagent Era

When Barnacles managed to track him down and find him, both were beyond overjoyed at seeing the other alive. Barnacles was glad to see one of his oldest friends still alive, while Arthur was glad to see his at all. Following this, the friendship rekindled, and they went on like there wasn't a separation at all.

To avoid Arthur disappearing into the wild again, Barnacles strongly "nudged" for him to join the octoagents. It took some time, but Arthur eventually did, being hired on as an "expert explorer." It was mainly an excuse to keep in touch, but somehow, Arthur actually was good at his "job" as he managed to discover and catalog many environments, animal populations, and changes relating to Northwestern American ecosystems So, Arthur's pretty good at something. That and also serving as a good guide for emergencies in places where not even gups can reach.

As for Barnacles, he's just happy to go on any mission with his old "friend", no matter how mundane it is.

Smaller Bits

- Arthur is a certified horse girl, as he loves his horse more than he loves most things.

- There is some beef between him and Kwazii, mainly starting as arguments of "who is actually the captain's best friend" which usually extends to personal blows due to contrasting personalities. Barnacles can not keep these two together for long.

- He is more of a nomadic type, chosing to live with nothing but a tent and some supplies than in a proper den or home. Makes it kinda hard to have company over.

- Despite being in a job that requires social interaction, he isn't the most social of people.

- Winona is too smart to be a normal non sapient horse, and no one really believes Arthur when he says they've had many "conversations" together. Most believe he's off his rockers already, but Barnacles believes him (only a little).

[variousqueerthings]

thoughts and feelings on episode 2:

i confess, the lightning bolt connection that was ray vecchio and fraser isn't here for me, but i do think that that is good for the dynamic -- it'd be weird and OOC for fraser to immediately gravitate towards this new guy, especially as said new guy is a bit standoffish with him

that being said, i doooo wish there was more obvious "trying to figure out where he stands with him" from fraser's side. there is from kowalski towards fraser, but really it's kowalski that we don't know yet, and while i am enjoying his discomfort in having to pretend to be someone he's not and the underlying identity Stuff going on with him beyond that, i did think it was too early (for me) to hear about his doubts and reaffirming his wish to be a cop. so there's a bit of an unbalanced-ness there that i expect to right itself as the season goes along

that being said, fraser does feel like he's still keeping a distance from kowalski, emotionally. he's Very Polite And Kind, which is kind of a default setting of his, where he'd pretty much allow -- i think -- much worse behaviour in order to make a partnership (a Remit even, from welsh and ray vecchio no-less) work. not that kowalski's behaviour is bad, it's just he's not able to give that kind of consideration back, because he's something of an emotionally immature guy

the dream catcher and the party made me sad, honestly. at least the former, if im overthinking it (and when am i not) would have required a long amount of pre-planning to do, which means it was something he was making for ray vecchio and his all-in attitude towards "keeping up pretences" means also keeping up pretences with this friendship, even though... kowalski's not ray vecchio. it kind of threw me (haha) when he tossed the dream catcher, even though that was in service of the plot, because i was kinda like... idk. "you didn't get it. the point of it..." and fraser's going so out on a limb to make him feel okay, to the point of giving a bit of his relationship with ray vecchio to him and he's not really honouring that, because, again, emotionally immature. the vibe to me is fraser literally wounded, and yet triaging for someone else who hasn't noticed (yet?)

really enjoyed the precinct stuff in this, elaine, huey, welsh, i hope to see much more of them this episode

i doooo sort of wish that it didn't hinge on another investigation for corruption against ray, that was done much stronger in the duel in s2, and while they do go "yeah no, absolutely not" in this episode from the get-go, there's still an actual question of... "okay but did someone steal that cocaine????"

so overall: im not in it yet, the it being the relationship between these two men, because it's still very one-sided in terms of who's trying to make it work professionally and predicated on a former relationship between fraser and ray vecchio that is in grieving, still

also from fraser's pov, just a highly melancholy episode. feels like fraser's put on a mask that had slowly been coming off over the course of two seasons. my man fraser has returned to his shell/emotional repression and is giving of himself way too liberally right off the bat. that cannot be good for you 😭😭😭

literally s3 opening episodes are just: hey remember ray vecchio? great guy. changed my life and DNA. anyway, im not allowed to talk about him ever and i have to pretend he's still there while looking into the eyes of a man who looks, sounds, and acts nothing like him

truly haunting the narrative (thank goodness they didn't actually kill him, my heart would not have been able to take that!!!)

[wombywoo]

I want to hear all your thoughts about Quinn and Marc's relationship. 👀 Please tell us all the things. <3

What can I say about Quinn and Marc...🤔

They met when Quinn was about 23, fresh off a tour in Afghanistan that left him a little..shell-shocked, to say the least. He'd had leave after an injury, so instead of wasting away off-base, he chose to participate in a weapons testing assignment; Marc's private security company, Darkhorse, had begun development on experimental supernatural equipment, and Quinn signed up as an evaluator. There were a few other army guys in the course, and it was mostly just testing the efficiency of certain weapons and tools, but Quinn had a knack for this kinda thing, so he'd often make suggestions and actually came up with prototypes for new designs on his own. Marc was...impressed by him. And yeah--there was very much a natural attraction right away. Quinn didn't know what to make of him at first--he'd assumed 'rich arrogant hot old asshole' just based on his ~vibe~ but after catching his attention a few times, they got to talking and he was surprised to find the man was very intelligent, funny, and easier to talk to than he'd expected. What was more surprising was that Marc, in turn, found Quinn just as charming. Maybe he liked that rough around the edges, lost puppy thing he had going on.

At any rate--Marc invested in Quinn; he had good instincts, good ideas, and the fact that he was young and pretty...well..

Their first 'date' was when Marc asked Quinn to stay a bit after the weapons demo; after some more design theorizing, he took him to a fancy restaurant and Quinn was nervous as shit. But Marc never seemed to insist on his wealth; he has an almost effortless charm, and it's clear that a lot of his power comes from just that. Quinn had joked about how out of his element he felt, but Marc claimed he liked him just the way he was. And he did. All throughout dinner they chatted about business, good ideas, and bad ideas, and really really stupid ideas, and for the first time he could remember, Quinn felt like he was actually sharing something with someone..

It was nice. In the beginning.

Marc was a gentleman, and Quinn was his very stupid idea...

[zepskies]

Aww thank you, lovely friend!! 🥹💕 I tried my best to end this series with a bang lol, but also in a hopefully satisfying way that ties up the most important loose ends. I canNOT wait to dive into your thoughts on the grand finale!!

well, what a start! the action scenes were playing so vividly in my head, i loved all the details <3 and mato being a good son-in-law! love to see it 🤣

Ooh I'm so glad the action was gripping and vivid enough for you!! I don't love writing action scenes because it can be a lot of moving parts, but I try my best to make sure certain details stick out. And yesss Mato is on his A game now actually working with Dean! loll

felt a variety of emotions with this lol. sammy!!! i had a feeling he'd hear the commotion, so glad he's back!💓 (by now i think i've established my love for sam pretty well. 😂) i felt a bit confused too because cas what are you doinggg 😩 hopefully playing chess or something. 🤔 and it makes me sad that sam lost his hat, but his horse!!🥺 i'm not sure if it was his personal horse (like dean's baby) or not, however they shared a journey together :') wherever he ended up, i hope he's alright 💕

Oh I don't blame you loll. 😅 The "wtf?!" feeling with Cas was very intentional, even with the "yay!" of Sam being back in the game (even though he lost his hat and horse 🥲). But your instincts are right -- both of them were definitely playing chess on that one. I'm actually glad you wondered if it was Sam's personal horse because it's a thought I had and wondered if I should include that detail. In my head it wasn't his personal horse, but like you said, still a horse he shared a journey with. 💙 Though I also didn't specify this in the chapter, Cas/the soldiers took possession of Sam's horse, but he got him back afterwards (in the aftermath of it all).

phew 😅 also i cannot stop picturing the colonel from kfc every time sanderson gets mentioned 😭 white suit and all, the image won't leave my head loll

ahahaha yesss that's exactly what I was picturing, with Asmodeus's punk ass. 😂😂

absolutely beautiful <3 may he rest peacefully :(

Aw thank you for highlighting that line and Tahatan's dying words -- def one of my favorite lines for this entire series honestly.

i still don't like him but i will admit, this made me chuckle a little 😂 i really feel for mila and her people. it's just so unfair to be uprooted from your home like that :( and of course that grimy gremlin would go back on his word. the anxiety of it all 😩

Otaktay's redemption arc is slow on this one lol but I liked giving him that throwaway line. 😂

Oh yes, I drew historically from the "Trail of Tears" in American history, where the Native Americans/Indians were forced from their lands and they had to travel onwards to find new territory. It's a dark time that tends to be glossed over.

Yuuup gotta have our "bad guy goes back on his word" moment! 😅 If you've ever seen the movie Prince of Egypt, it's like that moment when the Jews are being chased after by the Pharaoh Rameses after he initially released them from slavery.

awwwww hell yeah i know that's right dean!!!😭🤍

hahaa YES! Dean's made his choice. 😌

ah yes that delicious pre-established relationship danger and peril angst, my hearttt 🥺 i love them sm<3

That moment where there's no time for goodbye, knowing you mind not see your loved one again. 🥲

i will admit this made me giggle 😭 I'm so sorry dean lmaoo :') the fight scenes were so cool though!! again, very vivid in my mind. didn't expect the otaktay save, but i'm glad he's gained some sense. and oh jack, i am glad he was spared but he fr just needs to distance himself from the colonel and his bs 🤠

ahaha I thought it was kinda funny too, ngl. 😂 Aw yay!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the fight scenes and that they felt vivid in your mind! Otaktay did step up, didn't he? Some new respect is brewing between him and Dean (finally), and you're very right loll. Jack just needs to go home and start a new life. Same with Cas and Benny tbh. 🥲

this was so cute 🥺 i was worried for her, but once again we see she's just as strong as she is stubborn loll

Oh yeah, Mila's still as tenacious and stubborn as ever! lol Pregnant ladies still kick ass, amirite? 😘

period benny. goodbyeeeeee and good riddance colonel 💅🏽 Šóta choosing peace was so mature of him, i'm glad he's not being so hotheaded anymore. completely understandable though given all that has happened.

Right?!! 😂 Begone, bitch~

And Šóta is finally maturing -- his father's death hit him hard, and he's learning what it takes to be a true leader. 💜

crying. just the sweetestttt 💞💞 to no one's surprise, i'm so glad sam decided to stay longer 🤣💗 given the circumstances i'm not sure how often he would be able to visit once he returns to his city civilian life, but at least for now he gets to spend time with his brother and good people -- family :3💘

Sam wants to stay with his bro as long as possible now that he's found him, especially for his nephew's birth. 🥹 And for that reason too (not knowing if he'll be able to visit again, or if so, how often). Family indeed! 💞💞

this had me meltinggggg 💓 they're going to be the sweetest parents. they're already so sweet to each other, i can't 🥺

You know, I did intend to stop here with Mila and Dean, but maaaaybe I'll have to come back to see how they're doing as parents and pillars of their tribe. 😏💓

sobbing. i love them so much, this was the most beautiful ending 💕 another wonderful series zep!!🤍:)

Omg thank you so much, Julia!! You don't know how wonderful it's been to get your support on this very niche little series that I didn't know if anyone would even want to read. 🥹 I always appreciate your input, but especially on The Honorable Choice/Outlander series. 💕

Outlander - Part 4

Pairing: Dean Winchester x OFC 

Summary: Dean Winchester has been stripped of his military rank, but he’s living happier with his new wife, trying to adjust to a new life in her tribe. What will it take for her people to accept him, especially when the battle for her heart might not be completely won? 

AN: Happy Birthday, Dean Winchester!! 🥳 Now, the actual grand finale…

Disclaimer: I first got inspired to write The Honorable Choice for @jacklesversebingo after a recent rewatch of Spirit: The Stallion of the Cimarron (with a tinge of Yellowstone in the mix). I’ve done a fair bit of research for this now ongoing series, both on the Native American Lakota tribe, and on American history during this time in the late 1800s; AKA: the Old West, during the American Indian Wars.

Jacklesverse Bingo24 Prompt: Western AU

Song Inspo: The Spirit Soundtrack

Word Count: 6K

Tags/Warnings: 18+ only. Protective Dean, survival situations, blood and violence, angst, fluff, and spice.~

🐎 Series Masterlist || Bingo Masterlist

Part 4: One People

Dean straps on his bow and arrow, but first he takes up his gun from his thigh holster. Then he saddles up Mato and climbs up on his back.

The horse is raring to go, and for once he responds to the firmness of Dean’s tone and trusts him enough to obey his commands.

Šóta, Otaktay, and the other men do the same with their horses. Soon, they’re thundering down the hill into the village.

It’s already chaos.

Dean recognizes the blue uniforms of the U.S. Cavalrymen tearing through tipis and shooting with rifles and revolvers. They must’ve tracked Šóta and his men back to the village.

Men and horses are the main targets, but women and children are getting caught in the crossfire. Šóta purposefully knocks his horse into an officer who had his weapon aimed at Misae and her two daughters. Otaktay guides them in the opposite direction, pointing the way to escape into the forest.

Dean rides onward through the village. He and Mato leap over fallen bodies and horses, and Dean shoots at an officer who would’ve shot him first. He has to be careful with his bullets though. He only has two left.

He fights his way to the center, all the while searching for any sight of Mila’s dark hair. It’s almost impossible to see with so many people running and screaming and fighting. But when he hears a familiar voice, Dean cuts to an abrupt stop.

Chief Tahatan rides his horse, white and dappled black. He wields an ax as the horse rears up on his hind legs and lets loose a powerful bray. Just ahead of him is Colonel Sanderson, flanked by Benny and another officer. The Colonel holds a rifle poised in his hands.

“Stop!” Dean shouts.

He rides hard towards the scene. He takes aim with his gun, and he shoots. The bullet clips Sanderson in the shoulder. Yelling in pain, he recoils from the force of the bullet and misses his shot.

Dean’s just not fast enough.

The Colonel’s bullet ricochets off the ground and hits Tahatan’s horse. The animal whinnies and buckles, and he brings Tahatan down along with him, rolling onto his side and crushing the Chief’s legs and most of his torso under the horse’s weight. Dean hears the crunch of bone as the Chief utters a stifled grunt.

Gritting his teeth, Dean brings Mato to a short stop in front of the Chief. Dean aims his gun at the Colonel. By now, the man is clutching his bleeding shoulder and staring at his former captain in disbelief. Benny is maybe a little less shocked to see Dean, but there’s conflict in his eyes—happiness mixed with turmoil.

The other officer is Jack Kline. He recognizes Dean too, with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

“You…” Sanderson trails. He blinks, his brows furrowing. “Dean Winchester.”

Other officers come to join him, both on their horses and on foot. A few of them have wrangled women and their children, along with a few men. One man is dragging Mila along by the arm, even though she pulls and struggles against his hold. He has a long, jagged cut over one closed eye that streams with blood, and Dean doesn’t have to wonder how it got there. The man holds Mila’s own knife to her throat.

Dean’s heart falls into his stomach as he meets her gaze. Hers is angry, until she finds him. Her brown eyes are relieved and hopeful, but then worried for him. Dean reads it all there. He knows her face as well as he knows his own.

“Now this is what we call an interesting development,” Sanderson says, dragging Dean’s attention back to him.

Dean only feels moderately better when Šóta, Otaktay, Chatan, and a couple of the other men come to flank him on either side. Weaya manages to shuffle away from the officer at her back, just to go to Tahatan. He’s still lying there under his horse, breathing shallowly. Šóta itches to climb down from his horse and go to his father, but he can’t allow Dean to stand on his own.

“Apparently your death has been greatly exaggerated, son,” Sanderson says. He glances at Benny, who wears a grim, guilty frown.

“I’m not your fucking son,” Dean says, his voice laden with grit. His hand tightens on his raised gun.

Sanderson tsks at him while Jack wraps a rag tightly around his arm to help stem the bleeding. Afterwards, he adjusts his blue jacket and his Stetson.

“Is this really how you’ve been living for all these months? Like a dog, sleeping in the thatch with the fleas,” he remarks as he glances around. But his gaze stops on Mila. His brows crunch together as recognition dawns in his eyes.

“Ah, now I see why,” he says. He reaches for his pistol at his belt and points it at Mila, like it’s merely an extension of his hand. Dean’s jaw clenches. Chatan and Šóta become even more tense; their horses shift in place, picking up on their riders’ unrest. Sanderson notes their reactions, and finally Dean’s too.

“Instead of putting this savage bitch down, you took her for yourself, didn’t you?” Sanderson wonders aloud. His face breaks into amusement, as his deep chuckle echoes in the clearing. “You threw it all away. A promising career, your respect as a man, and even your life. A traitor to your goddamn country. And for what?”

His thumb pulls back the safety on his revolver.

“Enough, you bastard. You deal with me,” Dean tersely demands. He slowly lowers his gun, and his last bullet. “Let her go. Let them all go, and you can have me. Court martial me. Hell, put me in front of a firing squad, or put me down like a dog if that’s what you want… But let them go.” 

Mila breaths in sharply. She stares at Dean like she wants to protest.

“Ah, but ya see, I didn’t come here for you,” Sanderson says. Without taking his aim off Mila, his shifts his gaze down to Tahatan, who struggles for every breath. “I’m gonna wash this land clean, from here to the West Coast. However long it takes.”

“Colonel!” an officer calls out. He approaches on a horse, though he leads a man by a rope that ties his wrists behind his back.

Dean’s eyes widen in shock. It’s Cas, and he has Sam as his captive. Sam is dirtier and more disheveled since Dean saw him off not too long ago. He’s lost his hat and his horse, but he doesn’t look afraid when he meets Dean’s gaze, then the assessing Colonel.

“Mr. Winchester. I should’ve known,” Sanderson says dryly. “Here to reacquaint yourself with your brother? Though I’ve got a feeling you already have.”

“What’re you gonna do about it? Kill me?” Sam says. “In case you’ve forgotten, I work for the government too. I’m a prosecutor for all the surrounding counties in Kansas City.”

Sanderson raises a brow. “Is that supposed to intimidate me, son?”

“It should, Colonel,” Sam says. He nods at his brother. “The world already thinks he’s dead. Fine. But there’s plenty of people who know I traveled to Fort Laramie. People high up in the chain of command. If you hurt me, my brother, or these people, someone’s gonna hear about it. And soon.”

“He’s got a point there, Colonel,” Benny says.

“You shut the fuck up!” Sanderson barks at his captain. “You’re lucky I don’t shoot you down where you stand. You and Novak. But believe you me, I’ll be dealin’ with you later.”

Sanderson continues to seethe. He thinks hard about the decision he makes next as he stares down at Sam, and then back up at Dean. He grits his teeth, his mustache twitching. Dean holds his breath, though he briefly meets eyes with his brother.

Slowly, Sanderson lowers his weapon away from Mila. Dean can breathe again, if shallowly. He doesn’t drop his guard though. In fact, he watches Sanderson even closer.

“I’ll give you dirty mongrels one hour to clear out of here,” Sanderson says, his eyes narrowed. “Anything left gets tied down and burned to charcoal.”

With that, he sharply tugs on his horse’s reins. He commands his men to fall back, and like the soldiers they are, they obey. Benny and Cas both cast Dean a backwards glance—one that tells Dean that he still has the loyalty of his friends. He now realizes that Cas brought Sam back for a purpose; it wasn’t to hurt him, but to help him. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if the whole “capture” was Sam’s idea.

After the soldiers clear out of the area with the Colonel, Dean and the other men dismount from their horses. He beelines for Mila, gathering her into the safety of his arms. Then he spares a hand to grab his brother’s shoulder as he smiles.

“I think I’m more glad to see you the second time,” Dean remarks.

“I’ll take that,” Sam says. His grin is infectious, but Dean returns his attention to his wife. He touches her cheek and runs his assessing gaze over her body. He frowns as he examines the thin cut along her neck where the soldier pressed the blade of her knife.

“You okay? Are you hurt?” he asks.

Mila shakes her head. “I’m fine.” Though she inspects him the same way with a wandering hand across his chest. Dean takes that hand and gives her a reassuring smile.

It falls when he hears Weaya crying. She sits beside three other women, including Šóta’s mother.

“Father,” Šóta says lowly. His voice is a rasp as he kneels beside Tahatan’s broken body, holding his hand. The chief manages to raise his head slightly. He looks at his son, and then his gaze travels. Eventually, it falls on Dean.

Tahatan smiles.

“Under this sky,” he says. “We are one people.”

 He takes three more labored breaths before his eyes close. Šóta lays his father’s limp hand over his chest, which no longer moves.

Šóta’s mother gently raises her husband’s head to remove his long headdress. Among other things, it’s made of leather, glass beads, horsehair, and eagle tail feathers. Each feather represents a warrior’s honor earned in war, like a soldier’s insignia. 

With shaking hands, she places it on Šóta’s head. He takes a deep breath, and he looks up at the many tear-stained faces that mirror his own.

“We have to go,” he says.

Sam stays to help mobilize the tribe. He helps a mother join her children into one of the caravans, then he and Otaktay heft rolled up tipis and supplies into the back of it.

“You are a law man?” Otaktay asks him.

Sam nods. “That’s right.”

“Make better laws,” Otaktay says, and walks away.

Sam is left with a bemused look on his face. Dean comes over and thumps him on the back.

“Making friends?” he says dryly.

“Don’t think so,” Sam replies. He shakes his head and follows his brother over to the second caravan.

“Eh, consider yourself lucky. That guy pretty much hates my guts,” Dean whispers.

Sam raises his brows. “What?”

Dean explains the story in its simplest, briefest terms. Meanwhile, the mood around their packing is somber and quiet.

For Mila, it feels wrong. It’s wrong for them to have to leave the river where they’ve tilled and nurtured the land for three generations. It’s wrong to leave Chief Tahatan’s body wrapped beside Takoda’s on the hill without at least one proper night of mourning. She feels her grief down to her very core, but all she can do is sit in the caravan beside her mother and hold protective hands around the small swell of her stomach. Her tears fall silently down her cheeks and dissolve between the indigo beads on her dress.

She only raises her head when Chatan comes to check on her and her mother. He touches Mila’s cheek, drying her tears there. He leans in to kiss Weaya’s hand.

“We leave soon,” he says.

“Where is Dean?” Mila asks.

“Helping Šóta,” Chatan replies, but he stops short and corrects himself. “He helps our Chief.”

A few moments later, the caravans begin to move as the horses pull with the reins. Šóta leads at the front with a few of the warriors, but the rest of them ride strategically around and behind the caravans. Sam and Dean fall back to ride beside Mila’s caravan, where Chatan sits at the helm. Sam has been given the horse of a fallen warrior, while Dean rides Mato.

Despite how low she feels, Mila smiles at the sight of her horse allowing Dean to ride him, even with a saddle and bridle.

“Mato is being agreeable,” she remarks.

“You sound surprised,” Dean says, teasing slightly. “Told you I’d get him to trust me eventually.”

“More like wear him down,” she quips back.

“Hey, he impregnated my mare. Without my say so, I might add. I’d say we’re proper father and son-in-law.”

“Yes,” Chatan chimes in wryly. “That is what that means.”

Mila scoffs at him, but the gleam of good humor in his eyes amuses her. She smiles as she rubs a hand over her belly. Dean smiles too. It’s strange that he can still do that after a night like tonight, but seeing Chatan do it, along with Sam, and Mila, and her mother too, it gives him hope for them—for all of them.

Until the first gunshot fires into the air.

Dean freezes. His body coils tight, and he turns to look sharply over his shoulder.

He shouldn’t be surprised that Colonel Sanderson went back on his word. His cavalrymen are gaining behind them on horseback, hooting and hollering like it’s a game for sport. His jaw clenching in both anger and determination, Dean tells Chatan to speed up the caravan. He locks eyes with Mila for a moment.

Be safe, he tries to say with that look.

Then he gives Sam a nod; together they speed up to alert Šóta at the front.

“They’re gaining on us,” Dean says, gesturing behind them. “We need to lead them away from the caravans and pick ‘em off—as many as we can.”

Šóta nods in grim agreement, but he has a moment of hesitation as he considers Dean.

“You go with the caravans,” he says.

Dean shakes his head. “No, I’m ending this. Once and for all.”

“You are willing to fight your people?” Šóta asks.

The set of Dean’s determined face doesn’t change.

“I’m protecting my people,” he says. He looks to Sam. “Stay with the caravans. Make sure they get across the river.”

Sam agrees, and the men split ways. Dean turns Mato away from the group along with Šóta and Otaktay, and a few other warriors. The caravans continue with Sam to help guide them. Mila clings to the edge and watches with growing dread as her husband rides farther and farther away from her.

Dean can’t allow himself to look back. Instead of drawing his gun, he reaches for his bow strapped to his back and an arrow from his quiver. He takes aim at the first soldier he sees raise his gun, along with a steadying breath, and he shoots his arrow before the other man can fire. The arrow embeds itself in the man’s chest and knocks him clean off his horse.

Šóta and Otaktay follow suit. They shout out yips and battle cries on the air as they take aim. The soldiers begin to scatter out of their formation. They weren’t expecting the Lakota to go on the offensive. Sanderson has conveniently let his men ride ahead of him, but Dean hears him giving the orders from behind. The Colonel has his left arm wrapped in a sling while he holds his gun aloft.

“All right, mustang,” Dean says to Mato, tightening his hands on the reins. “Remind ‘em why they should be scared a’ you.”

He gives the stallion a subtle kick. It’s just enough for him to pick up into a full gallop. Dean tucks his head down and lets the horse speed forward like a bullet carving across the plain. The soldiers take aim, but that’s when Šóta and Otaktay join in from behind. They begin to take down the uniformed men, one by one as they weave between bullets. 

Dean tears between two officers and unbalances them. Mato, with his big head and chest, bulldozes straight through them. They shout in surprise and fear, and one of them even topples off his horse. Dean banks left and turns Mato around to finish what he started.

He retrieves his knife from his thigh holster and slices into one man’s neck, making him choke on his own blood. Dean forcefully takes the rifle off another man, and after flipping it around, hits him dead between the eyes with the butt of it—once, then twice until his nose breaks. He careens back off his horse into the dirt. Dean wracks the rifle and shoots the man for good measure.

The sound of a safety clicking back alerts him and turns his head, but he’s too late.

An arrow flies into the officer’s throat.

Dean looks over sharply. He finds Otaktay, lowering his bow.

Dean’s eyes widen. The other man just saved his life.

Dean nods in thanks, and Otaktay slowly returns the gesture. The moment is cut short, however, when Dean sharpens in alarm. Instead of opening his mouth to warn, he knows he has no time, not even to grab another arrow. He just throws his knife.

It carves through the air and hits Jack Kline where his arm meets his shoulder—his shooting arm that would’ve clipped Otaktay with his pistol. Jack falls off his horse and hits the ground hard, the air leaving his lungs in a hot rush. He groans in pain while clutching his arm. It’s not an easy wound, but he’ll live…as long as Otaktay doesn’t kill him first. Still on his horse, he towers over the younger man with another arrow notched.

“Wait!” Dean shouts.

He meant what he said about finishing this, but now looking at Jack, all Dean sees is a kid following orders. He doesn’t deserve to die like this, hundreds of miles away from home, just trying to make something of himself.

Otaktay looks up, wasting a precious second. Another beat, and a bullet tears into him, almost forcing him off his horse. Dean grits his teeth and speeds forward. Šóta rejoins them in time to help lead Otaktay away; he’s been hit in the side. There’s no telling how deep, but all Dean can focus on is the path ahead.

He comes face to face with Colonel Sanderson.

Dean raises his bow and arrow and ducks his head against another bullet, still shooting off his arrow. It misses its aim at the horse’s legs, but it spooks him enough to whinny in distress. It begins to buck off the Colonel.

“Whoa!” he shouts, trying to take back control of the horse. Dean rides in close and cracks a fist across Sanderson’s face. His head whips back with a pained grunt. Dean grabs his wrist and twists, until he feels tendons popping and the gun loosened from the other man’s hand. Then, Dean brings his elbow up into Sanderson’s nose and spills blood.

“Fuck!” Sanderson growls. He manages to land a punch of his own with his left arm, despite how it makes his shoulder bleed again. Dean recovers from the blow to his cheek and goes to grab that wound, digging in his fingers hard. He’s satisfied by the howl of pain Sanderson lets loose.

Dean doesn’t care if it’s a dirty tactic. He’s taking any opportunity he can, because right now, it’s not about his honor. It’s about protecting what’s his.

But Sanderson fights back just as dirty. He grabs Dean by the back of his neck and headbutts him, so hard he sees stars. Sanderson lands one more kick to Dean’s chest that almost sends him off of Mato. Dean has to grab on tight to the saddle and pull himself up, just in time for a lassoed rope to circle around his neck. Dean’s eyes fly wide in alarm. He slips his hand between the rope and his neck just in time before it tightens—because Sanderson tugs hard as he urges his horse into a gallop.

“Aw, sh—” Dean is yanked off Mato. He lands hard in the dirt, before he begins to be dragged across it.

Once again, the current is strong across Little Cheyenne. The first caravan has more horses to pull it through, but the caravan that Chatan is trying to lead starts to take on water. Mila and her mother sit behind him, along with Misae and her daughters, Tahatan’s widows, and Eyota and her husband.

The colt is doing his best to keep going, but Baby and two of the other horses are struggling in the pull of the river. They’ve hit a deeper patch under the water, and now it’s all the way up to Baby’s chest. She can’t handle the weight of the caravan along with the river’s current.

Sam comes closer with rope in hand, but Mila can see in his eyes that he’s trying to decide what to do. She grasps the edge of the caravan to pull herself up, and she points to the black mare.

“She needs help!” she calls out to him.

“Mila, sit down!” Chatan orders.

Mila turns back to her father with a determined set to her face. She knows his ankle has never healed entirely right. If he tries to do what she’s about to do, he’d probably fall into the river and get trampled by the horses. She knows what she must do.

She carefully stands up all the way and moves to the edge of the caravan, ignoring her father and mother trying to stop her. Sam’s eyes grow wide, but he tries to come in closer to support her. She steps out onto Baby’s back and slides into an astride position. The frigid water climbs up Mila’s dress and reaches her waist, making her shiver, but she ignores that too. She reaches out for Sam.

“Throw me the rope!” she calls out.

Sam follows her lead and does what she says. Mila not only catches the rope, but loops the ends of it around Baby’s bridle and around her chest. It’s hard work, especially because Mila has to tread water just to get the rope around the mare’s wide chest, but Sam helps her as much as he can.

When they’ve finished securing the ropes, Sam pulls ahead. With his horse leading Baby, she gets the momentum she needs to climb out of the dip, and eventually, cross the rest of the river.

Mila is sopping wet by the time they make it to the other side. Her braid has come loose, and so her hair becomes a black curtain around her face. She clings to Baby as she catches her breath, stroking the horse’s neck.

“Good girl. Big, strong girl,” she soothes. “Your father will be proud of you.”

Speaking of, Mila turns to look back. Across the river, the men are still fighting off the soldiers that sought to finish what they started last night. Mila scans with narrowed eyes for Dean.

“You all right?” Sam asks. He sidles up next to her and grasps her shoulder to make sure.

“Fine,” she breathes.

But she hesitates on a sharp inhale. Her brows furrow as she tries to make sure of what she’s seeing. Her mouth drops open in shock.

“Sam!” She points out the shape of a man she thinks is Dean. Sam follows her line of vision and becomes just as alarmed at what he sees.

Mila immediately takes her father’s knife from her shoe and cuts the ropes that bind Baby to the caravan. Mila puts her fingers to her lips and whistles sharply instead of kicking the mare. Baby sharpens to attention and heeds the command, just like she’s done for Dean a hundred times before.

Mila guides her back through the river.

Dean is being road hauled across the plain. He hits every bump, rock, twig, and dry patch of dirt in several yards as he twists and struggles to break free.

He lost his knife to save Otaktay, and he’s probably lost all his arrows along with his bow. Dean grits his teeth, as he can hear Sanderson’s insane hooting and hollering on the wind whipping past his ears, and not much else.

He doesn’t know where Šóta is, or if even Otaktay’s still alive, but his last thoughts aren’t about them. Instinctively, he thinks of his wife. It’s not even a coherent thought. It’s just her name, her face, her hand on his heart.

And the rope snaps.

Dean grunts as his momentum slows. He rolls across the dirt and grass to a stop. He probably has road burns and cuts and bruises all down his back, but at least he can stare up at the morning sun and breathe.

Heaving for free air, he tugs the rope from around his neck and shoves it off. He hears familiar horse hooves galloping his way. Somehow, he manages to raise his head.

Now, either the sun is playing tricks on him, or a black shape is thundering towards him.

Apparently, his eyes aren’t lying to him. Baby slows to a stop, and Mila climbs down from her back. Mila rushes to his side and kneels beside him after putting away her knife. She takes his face into her gentle hands.

“Dean?” she says, her voice tinged with desperation.

He grabs onto her wrist and smiles weakly, looking up at her soulful brown eyes.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” he says.

She sighs and shakes her head, despite the tears in her eyes.

“Be quiet,” she laughs. Dean just grins.

She cups the back of his neck and guides him up slowly into a sitting position. His back is a bloody mess, but they’ll deal with that later.

“You all right, brother?”

Dean’s smile drops. He clutches at Mila’s arm protectively, but he looks up at Benny Lafitte. His horse shifts in place. Dean finally notices Sam is there too, with his gun trained on Benny. But Benny’s gun is raised right back at Sam.

They’re joined by Colonel Sanderson. He wears a self-satisfied look on his face as he approaches with his pistol held aloft.

“Well, well,” he drawls. “Ain’t this a picture. Traitors and savages.”

Mila keeps her back to the Colonel; she stubbornly defends Dean with her body, even though he’s gathered her to his chest protectively. With his right hand, he subtly reaches for the gun holster at his thigh. One last weapon. One last shot.

He shares a look with Mila, silently asking her to trust him. She gives him a subtle nod.

“Captain Lafitte,” Sanderson addresses Benny, even though his gaze is straight on Dean and Mila. He holds Sam in his periphery. “Now’s the time to take a stand. Are you gonna serve your country and put these three in the ground where they belong, or are you gonna join ‘em?”

Benny stares back at his superior officer. He thought he understood before, but today is when he truly understands why Dean made his choice.

Benny lowers his weapon down to his side.

“This ain’t the law,” he says. “This ain’t justice. It’s just pride, plain and simple. Your pride, Colonel.”

After a moment of genuine surprise, Sanderson rolls his eyes. He shifts his gun off of Sam and points it at Benny next.

A trigger fires, but the bullet that hits its mark is not the Colonel’s.

It’s Dean’s, and it hits Asmodeus Sanderson between the eyes.

Dean lowers his silver, smoking Colt down at his side, where Mila moved just in time for Dean to take his shot. He holds her to him now, taking in deep breaths.

Benny and Sam both look to Dean with shock still in their eyes, but before either of them can say anything, they notice Cas stumbling over on foot with a wounded Jack Kline leaning heavily on him. They’re flanked on both sides by Šóta and Otaktay. The latter has a cloth tied tight around his middle. His bullet wound just looks like a nasty graze.

The other warriors that remain follow behind, and they have Mato and Baby in tow by their bridles.

Dean realizes that Cas and Jack are the only other survivors from the rest of the unit. Šóta has taken them prisoner. He orders the other men to force Benny off of his horse. They shove him closer to Cas and Jack.

Dean quickly tries to raise up onto his knees, though it’s hard for him to stand. Mila helps him the rest of the way, and he keeps his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

“We will make an example of these,” Šóta says, nodding at Cas, Jack, and Benny. They look rightly nervous, shifting their gazes towards Dean.

Dean raises his hands to placate Šóta (and hopefully reassure his friends).

“Šóta, I know these guys. They were my men,” he says. “They were just following the Colonel’s orders.”

“And what does that mean to me, Dean Winchester?” Šóta says. He climbs down from his horse, his headdress of feathers tousled as a breeze rushes through.

“It means they won’t follow us,” Dean says. “They won’t tell the Army what actually happened here. They’ll keep their word if I ask them to. So I’m asking you…trust me. Trust me like you’ve trusted me before.”

Šóta seems to consider it, even though he doesn’t exactly like the idea. Otaktay seems to like it even less.

“We won’t betray you, Chief,” Benny says to Šóta, and to the other warriors. “We respect you, and we don’t want any more trouble. For us, or for Dean.”

Šóta considers this with a tilt of his head. Before he decides, first, he turns to Otaktay. Other than Dean, he’s now the man Šóta trusts most.

Otaktay looks over at Dean. Between them, there’s an understanding. Finally, there’s also respect. Otaktay returns his gaze to his leader, and he nods.

Šóta expels a deep breath. He addresses the three soldiers.

“Go. Go in peace, or next time, there will not be peace,” he says.

The soldiers breathe in relief.

Dean steps forward with Mila’s help. There he shakes each man’s hand. He’s said goodbye to Cas and Benny before, but somehow, this feels even more final than the last.

Benny and Cas are given back their horses. They help Jack up first, then Cas climbs up with him. Benny mounts his own horse, and Sam, Dean, and the Lakota watch them leave the way they came.

It takes days to cross the plains and maneuver through the mountains, but Šóta leads the rest of the tribe to safety within Sioux territory. They find a place to settle along the Big Cheyenne River, northeast of the Black Hills.

There they will learn the land and what to plant and forage there for the late autumn harvest, as summer ends. There is where they will honor the dead who couldn’t make the journey. There is where their traditions will be celebrated, old and new.

Like today. The men have painted each other with blue circles around their faces and blue lines across their foreheads, chins, and cheekbones. The women are painted similarly in red. It symbolizes change in its many forms, but most of all, it symbolizes new relationships, and new responsibilities.

Today, it’s Huŋkápi. The Making of Relatives. This ceremony formally welcomes Dean into the tribe by marriage. It also recognizes Sam as his brother, and so, it acknowledges Sam as a friend to their tribe as well. They are now all family. One people.

Dean sits with his brother around the large firepit, where a roasted boar is already half-eaten. Dean has shared a lot of meals with these people, but somehow, this one is the best he’s ever eaten. Maybe it’s the company, he thinks, as he laughs at some old story Sam is trying to tell.

“No, no, no, that’s not what happened. Let me tell it—”

“What, so you can make stuff up?”

“Oh, I’m making stuff up?”

Mila giggles quietly, but it’s enough to earn Dean’s attention. She sits at his left, and he turns to her with an amused smile.

“What’re you laughing at?” he teases. His arm wraps around her waist and pulls her in.

“You,” she replies. “You and your brother. You’re worse than me and Šóta.”

Dean chuckles and shakes his head. He points over at her cousin, their esteemed Chief, who’s busy making shadow creatures with exaggerated voices to impress the kids. Right now, it’s a big grizzly bear that threatens to eat the closest child.

“Worse than the grizzly?” Dean says.

“Hmm, maybe not,” she says with a laugh.

That evening, Dean is glad he convinced Sam to start sleeping in his own tipi. He agreed to stay until Mila has the baby, but while Dean is grateful to have his brother here for a few more months, he still wants some much-needed privacy with his wife.

He “helps” her undress for bed, all the while distracting her with lingering kisses across her neck and shoulders, winding his fingers into her long hair. He wraps his arms around her and cups her full breasts from behind, satisfied by the arousing way she moans.

“They’re heavier,” Dean whispers in her ear, gently squeezing her breasts. She hums in response. “Your thighs and hips are thicker too, nice and soft for me.” He squeezes those too for good measure.

“I am changing,” she admits. “Are they good changes?”

“Hell yeah,” Dean says, his lips moving against her throat. He gently turns her around and guides her down to lay on the bedding and furs. He palms at the best change of all—the growing swell of her belly. She’s gotten bigger, and growing a little more each week. Dean really wants to meet his kid.

He dips down to lay a path of slow, tender kisses down between her breasts, and over her belly. Mila smiles and threads her fingers through his hair. It’s getting long, brushing past his ears.

“Do you want a son, or a daughter?” she asks him. It’s not the first time she’s asked, but she wonders if his answer will change now, after everything they’ve gone through to get here. She finds that her own answer hasn’t changed.

Dean shakes his head. “I don’t care. Either one.”

All he wants is for the baby to be healthy, and for Mila to be healthy too. He moves back up to claim her lips. When he kisses her like this, he hopes she knows what he’s really saying. Just in case, he says it anyway. He says it out loud to her for the first time.

“I love you,” he says. He pauses, then smiles a little. “You know, you’re the only woman I’ve ever said that to.”

She smiles, because she knows. With her hand over his heart, she knows.

And when their son is born a few months later, she has a dream. She dreams of an eagle’s wings that shift from white to gold in the light.

Dean plans to give him a name he picked out weeks before, Elijah. It was his father’s middle name. But she will also give their son a name.

Ikíphi, the name her uncle, Chief Tahatan, gave Dean Winchester himself.

Because one day, she knows her son will be worthy of it.

AN: And there we have it! A more definitive end to Dean and Mila's story. 🥹

For those of you who read and enjoyed this, thank you so much for sticking with me through this sequel of The Honorable Choice. This was an idea that wouldn't let go of me once I started, and it's the first time that I've written something like this. 💖💖

Pronunciation Guide:

Wašíču ("wash-ee-jew") Šóta ("sho-tah") Chatan ("chat-tan") Tahatan ("ta-hat-tann") Otaktay ("ogh-tac-tay") Weaya ("we-ayy-ya") Takoda ("ta-koda") Mato ("matt-toe") Misae ("mee-sah-eh")

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Series Tag List (Part 1)

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@jc-winchester @charmed-asylum @fromcaintodean @k-slla

[prime-adeptus]

Pretty in White

Jin can be good at surprises.

PAIRING.⠀Kamurai Jin x Reader

CONTENT.⠀female reader | crushes, flirting (kinda...), fluff, they have a wedding-themed photo shoot | ~0,5k words

A/N.⠀I.....he......I saw this card for the first time just now and it launched me into the orbit WTF!!!!!!!!!

available on AO3 | reblogs and comments are always appreciated!

“You know, I didn’t expect you to actually agree to this,” you speak up nervously, smoothing down the ruffles of your gown. “I thought you’d say it was a stupid assignment or something.”

“It is a stupid assignment,” Jin replies easily as he adjusts the tie around his neck. “What class is this for anyway?”

“It’s for a photography competition. I, um, owe someone in Hotarubi a favour, remember?” It feels awkward, standing so close to him that your hands are brushing against each other. Your heart pounds against your ribcage, heat rising to the tips of your ears as you try to keep your composure, though your stiffness says so otherwise. “Thanks again for doing this, by the way. Sorry to bother you.”

“Stop saying that.”

“I’m—”

He shoots you a glare.

“Okay. My bad. Nuh uh, don’t give me that look—I said my bad!”

He’s dressed in a pristine tuxedo, free from any dust or wrinkles. He looks handsome and regal dressed in all white, fitting for his title as the King of Frostheim. His presence seems to make your friends and their classmates tense as well, the scowl on his face a far from welcoming sight. It felt like a miracle seeing the little ‘read’ show up next to your text when you sent him a message, even more so when he replied with a simple where. A photoshoot seems like the very last thing he’d want to do, much less one themed after a wedding.

It was an impulsive decision. Your crush on Jin is relatively well-hidden (or at least that’s what you’d like to think) and though you spend most of your time fantasising, there was an urge to call for him this morning. Without thinking much, you did, and here you are now. Dressed in wedding attire with the man who stole your heart without warning. The worst part is that he doesn’t seem to have a single clue how much this is affecting you.

Why did I do this to myself?!

“Okay, so just face each other. Stand a little closer, please,” comes the voice of your friend as she readies the camera, lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Perfect. Lights, please.”

“Jin?” you whisper. He responds with a grunt. “What made you agree to this?”

His arms loosely wrap around your waist and pull you closer, nonchalantly resting his hands on your hips as you stare into his eyes with flushed cheeks. Shyness creeps into your system and you want to look away but you can’t, entranced by his stone-cold gaze.

“You know why?”

“…Why?”

He leans in dangerously close, lips barely an inch away from yours. “Maybe I just wanted to see you in a wedding dress myself.”

The shutter goes off.

“Perfect! Good job, everyone. Thank you all!”

Even as the camera crew are packing up, Jin never lets go, peering down at you with the ghost of an amused smile on his face. You’re frozen in place, lips parted in shock as every possible word you know slips out of your mind, completely gobsmacked by him.

You laugh sheepishly. “D-Don’t say things like that, Captain. It might give people the wrong idea.”

“Sounds right to me.” He pulls back a little, allowing you some space to breathe. “Come see me after you’re finished. You haven’t come over in a while.”

Is this man trying to kill you?!

“Y-Yeah. Okay, sure,” you agree meekly. “I’ll come over.”

“Don’t keep me waiting.”

God, he is trying to kill you!

[everythingaboutjude]

I was expecting a bigger coverage for Jude’s first public relationship but turned out it’s kinda meh? My timelines is pretty quite, and most of them are like “oh he has a gf? Ok good” and move on 🤔

Truee they are even laughing about it coz jude has always seen like a high valuable player on his personal life but now he is like nicolas pepe . The first public gf is someone with a reputation as bad as a prostitute . No other athlete has gone public with her coz they know they have game and experience to know what not to do wifefing an ex passed around screams starter athlete starter pack is like see some athletes as soon as they see a diamond an uknown one they cuff them coz those women don't appear like that and they don't have these kind of path . A MAN LIKE WISE MAN KNOWS WHEN HE SEES A WIFE AND WHEN ITS CLEARLY A ONE NIGHT STAND and Jude gives little boy like that travis hunter too innocent to know how to handle the situation . He is 21 and his first public gf is a total disaster nobody is crashing is more concern of what he is actually ruining his image like that he looks like a man who is constantly cheated on just by having a woman like that close to him . Look at his parents they don't have a clue on people mocking their son and questioning him lmao but hey good to see ya back dear💞

Good to be back to you all 💕

Yeah I expected full meltdown but everyone is either not interestedor laughing at it.

[skeletonfromthecloset]

added too much milk to my tea. i fear my life may be over 💔💔

[fivescocoa]

nothing i love more than handing people fics i love, i hope one of these soothes your being 💞💞 apologies for how excessively long this is

i've got 2 complete series to recommend

nine weddings and no funerals by @gluupor Words: 28,578 Chapters: 10/10 (fake dating andreil going to weddings together and having some of the best banter. this is so fluffy and happy and a super satisfying read)

Summary:

Neil's just been unceremoniously dumped by his longtime boyfriend before a busy wedding season where it seems like everyone he knows is tying the knot. Desperate not to look like a pathetic loser in front of his ex, he goes along with a plan to bring along a fake boyfriend to the weddings. Since neither Neil nor his date Andrew are interested in pursuing a relationship, there's no chance that anyone's feelings will be hurt. Surely nothing about this plan will backfire.

new horizons by mapjogger Words: 34,313 Chapters: 14/14 (a perfectly crafted AU where andrew is tasked with helping neil get back on his feet. the journey from them being strangers to having grown beautifully intertwined is so so warm. also their banter is great)

Summary:

Andrew, despite being a felon and general disappointment, is working as a delivery driver and managing to stay out of trouble. Nicky would be proud, except Andrew's boss is Ichirou Moriyama and his cargo isn't exactly legal-- but hey, it's a living. Not a great living, but a living nonetheless. One day, Ichirou offers Andrew a new job: become the driver and caretaker of his newest "asset", the injured son of a Baltimore associate. It's a nine month contract, with all expenses paid. Andrew could use the steady income, and he's had worse jobs before. He can do anything for nine months. Besides, it's not like he can actually refuse.

and now for a handful of oneshots

right side of rock bottom by @littlespoonevan Words: 20,019 Chapters: 1/1 (an oldie but a goodie. truly this fic shaped and expanded the way i view andreil. i was not the same coming outta thing fic its so healing)

Summary:

Neil thinks it might be the first time he’s taken a breath in days. He hadn’t realised it because he’d been so caught up in packing and saying goodbye to everyone but now that it’s over he remembers his self-imposed countdown was meant to be up by now. It’s the end of the school year and five months ago, he thought he’d be dead by now. Instead he has a team and a future and a home and Andrew. (The last two might be interchangeable.) * A little look into Neil and Andrew's relationship after The King's Men where they learn to touch, to talk and to trust.

staff recommendation by @wilsherejack Words: 3,151 Chapters: 1/1 (everything you can ask for outta a bookshop au. this fic nailed everything i adore abt bookworm!andrew)

Summary:

Andrew works at a bookstore. Neil stumbles in during a bad storm.

home by @cloudysonder Words: 2,995 Chapters: 1/1 (one of the best missing scene kinda fics. adds so much emotional context to the post baltimore vacation. not as heavy as you expect, neils lovey and incredibly grateful to be alive. its so good)

Summary:

Neil had never known family. He knew the definition of it in four different languages and knew the word for it in twice as many. He never understood it, and probably never would. But, looking out to what seemed like a sea of people in one room, looking into the eyes and the faces of people who would fight for him, people who he would fight for, and home, in the form of blonde hair and an uncaring stare that was a cocktail of both, he guessed that perhaps it would feel a little like this. --------------- Set in the cabin vacation after Baltimore; drunk, honest, sorta sappy Neil (it's Neil) realizing that he's come home, and hoping, for the first time in his life, to stay. Also: Drunk Neil is excellent at flirting, Andrew wants nothing, and they both give the Foxes heart attacks.

fireproof by @mostlymaudlin Words: 2,097 Chapters: 1/1 (i love some non-serious sickfic, when the characters arent like detrimentally ill just a lil under the weather. andrew doesn't feel good and gets clingy, but feels so in character about it. its so warm and gooey and good.)

Summary:

Andrew gets his flu shot.

blasted also by mostlymaudlin *Words: 2,357 Chapters: 1/1* (dialogue is so good in this, the cutest fic where andreil are silly little guys living their lives. theyre older and happy. very domestic)

Summary:

It’s the off-season. Andrew and Neil get high.

so kiss me by @rekikiri Words: 4,754 Chapters: 1/1 (throwing a curveball, this is jeaneil being forever partners. it's heavier than most of the others on this list because it takes place in the nest with raven!neil. but i would say this is the Fluffiest end of nest content and wonderfully captures the forever partner dynamic, whether you view it as platonic or romantic)

Summary:

“I wish I knew what it was like. At least, if I don’t make it, I won’t die wondering,” Jean admitted quietly, almost too quietly for Nathaniel to hear. He almost hoped that Nathaniel didn’t hear his confession because he was suddenly so embarrassed by his weakness. “What what is like?” Nathaniel asked. Jean didn’t answer right away, hoping that if he didn’t clarify that Nathaniel would drop it. He doesn’t, instead gently jostling Jean in his arms. “What is it?” “Kissing,” Jean finally said. “I saw Kevin and Thea kiss, and I just wish I could know what it was like.”

if i ask for fave aftg fic recs preferably on the softer side of the spectrum (but im not picky) would yall send some my way

[sleepy-edits]

[freakinator]

i feel like perhaps my own sense of morality and personhood gets a lil lost in translation when i do analysis type shit so just some things to keep in mind when reading anything from me

i dont really have an internal sense of morality, simply consequences and principles

this means i dont really care for whats "good", simply for whats logical which can sometimes be confused for/muddled with whats good cause to me whats logical is whatever causes the least problems in the long run

this also means that things like hypocricy, selfishness, deceit, etc are value neutral to me and are only really problems when they actually Cause problems so when i say someone has a trait thats commonly seen as something negative i dont necessarily see it as such

related to the above, i believe most personality traits are value neutral including things commonly seen as "good" and that on their own they dont mean much of anything, their meanings come from how the actual person uses them

its also why i dont really take much note of "negative" values until they pass a certain threshold or if im specifically talking about those traits

i react a lot more than i actually feel cause if i align with what i actually feel then yall are literally getting nothing from me ever lol

im a Lot more paranoid and emotionally & interpersonally disconnected than i let on which definitely colors how i do analysis

this especially applies to psychology things cause things related to it can be a genuine danger for me (both socially and my own psyche) so im a lot more hyperreactive of warning signs regarding that (whether perceived or true)

uhh i dont think it actually Changes what i say but it might change how yall read my posts, unless ig youre someone who already assumed i dont actually care that much lol

[mwagneto]

my lady jane lgbt but specifically trans allegory was so crazy djnfjefjdnm like i'm like 100% sure that's what they were going for w the whole ethian thing. like that whole scene where they talk about how he can possibly stand constantly being challenged like this and him saying that he doesn't care bc people that matter to him know who he is, plus the narrator literally calling non-ethians cis like it's not subtle

and i really love how the whole narrative was like. people are starving and there's constant riots and a few idiots control the entire country but the person trying to seize power isn't addressing any of those issues because her entire campaign is "when i'm the ruler i'll exterminate every trans person". and it works. feels very relevant right now and i really liked the way all that was handled