#it's actually really nice to exchange cards/letters with them

[gateskp]

Libraries are important

My Silent Gen grandparents like to write me long emails and letters about everything going on in their lives. Today my grandma sent me an email and told me about how she negotiated for a lower internet/phone bill and got free cell service for a year, and she traded in her old cell phone (I think it was a flip phone, my grandparents didn't get a cell phone until 2013 and that was because when I was visiting, the car broke down and I had a phone that we used to call AAA) for a new one (a Samsung 14G? idk, I don't think she knows either)

ANYWAY. Grandma signed up for classes at the library so she can learn to use the phone because she's afraid of doing something that makes it not-work. She goes to the library to check out books and has taken classes there before.

SO: this is a reminder that public libraries are critically important. They're social centres, they teach important community-based classes to people (esp older people), they provide resources...I could keep going.

Libraries are so much more than just Book Castles. Support your local library. Protect it from those who seek to destroy it and the treasures stored within.

[twignotstick]

Broken Brothers (and How to Fix Them)

Part 3 💜 | Part 1 <- 🧡 | Part 2 <- 💙

Note: This story is based on @cupcakeslushie 's Empyrean Weeping au. These characters are not my own, and this story is in no way canon to the main story. I wrote this as my love letter to the story and the characters. Especially April :)

Tags: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, ROTTMNT, Donnie & April, April & the Turtles, NOT MY CHARACTERS, Empyrean Weeping AU, recovery (hehehehehe), talking it out because we're adults, skating, social avoidance? idk how to tag that

Warnings (if there's anything I should add here, tell me please!): yelling, some violent actions

Words: 2,065

Summary: April was able to figure out her first brother easily. Now, she gets three more, with a couple more issues to worry about.

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

One brother was already a lot. He was sweet, if a little violent. April was content with one brother.

Then she found out he had two more. Lost in their youth, taken away, never to be seen again. Suddenly, one wasn't enough. April wanted three brothers.

So she got them. One by one, she welcomed her new brothers into their home. She helped them feel safe and welcomed. And, in turn, they helped her learn her place as a big sister.

Now, four? Four whole brothers? That was pushing it.

Donnie was a wild card. Some days, he'd bounce around madly, blabbering about whatever “improvements” he'd made in the lair (always putting Splinter on edge, yet he could never find any problems with whatever Donnie did, probably because his brothers did damage control before he could catch it). Other days, he'd literally hiss at April until she left. Not just left the lair; left the sewers.

This day was supposed to be one of those days. Donnie was visibly shaking with all the pent up energy in him. The brothers had apparently had an “intervention” with Donnie after the previous night, when he had almost broken a major support beam in the lair just so he could collapse it on April. Now, he wasn't allowed to show violence to April in any form for a whole week. In exchange, he'd be allowed to take a single blood sample from each of his brothers, which was the weirdest trade April had ever heard. But Donnie really wanted it.

And boy, was it hard for him.

“Did you see that?! Did you see? I totally landed that one!” Mikey yelped, shaking on his skateboard.

“Good job, big man.” Raph stepped up beside him, lightly touching Mikey's shoulder and making his eyes widen as he tried to maintain his balance.

Mikey had been wanting to practice his skate tricks, and Raph wanted to make sure he did it in a safe environment. The skate ramp in the lair was perfect. Even if they were just practicing kickflips at the bottom, it was safe and contributed to good vibes.

While Raph and Mikey stood at the bottom, April, Leo, and Donnie sat at the top with their legs dangling beneath them. Well, April and Leo's legs were dangling. Donnie was perched up like a frog, knees thrown out to the sides and his hands curled on the edge of the ramp. Leo, of course, was between him and his self proclaimed mortal enemy, absorbing as much murderous intent as he could. It was a lot, to put it nicely.

“Do you think he'll ever actually get to use the ramp?” Leo asked, enjoying the spectacle of his youngest brother getting properly babied by his oldest.

“Four is definitely tough enough to survive a fall from this height,” Donnie responded cheerily. “His shell is the best of all of us. A human, on the other hand, would likely get severely injured if they were to be shoved off the edge.” His face grew the slightest grin at the imaginary violence.

“Watch the language.” Leo raised a brow to Donnie. “And it's Mikey, remember? Not Four.”

“R-right!” Donnie stammered, patting his hands on the side of the ramp. “Four is Mikey.”

“No, Mikey is Mikey. His name isn't Four, and it never was. Just like my name isn't Two, Raph's name isn't One, and your name isn't Three. You're our brother. Donatello.”

Leo was getting slightly agitated, and Donnie- or maybe Three- was starting to fidget and rock back and forth. It was clear that Leo wanted Donnie to just give up all this number talk and act like their childhoods hadn't happened. But that was just an impossible task. April could tell that this situation would be quick to spiral.

“Hey, uh, Leo?” April asked, getting his attention.

“Yes?”

“Betcha can't do an ollie.”

Leo turned fully to face April. “A what?”

“I-it's a skateboard trick…” Donnie said, causing Leo's attention to whip around again. “F- Mikey showed me a couple days ago.”

“Oh.” Leo's brow ridges tightened as he whipped back to face April. “You think I can't pull some stupid skate trick? You are so on.” Leo slid down the ramp, using his carapace like a sled. “Mikey! Give me your board!”

Donnie watched him slide down with wide eyes. “Has he… ever skated before?” He asked, mildly concerned.

“Nope. Never even touched a board.” April smirked. “He's gonna be stuck down there for at least an hour.” She looked over at Donnie, who was gazing down at his brothers with a lost glaze over his eyes.

“You wanna go join them, Donnie?”

The softshell's neck popped as he snapped to glare at April. The murderous intent that had been building suddenly channeled into his face, and he growled before standing up and stomping away swiftly toward his recently decorated room.

April glanced down at the three brothers having fun, then pushed herself up to follow the one who wasn't.

“Wait, Donnie! What's wrong? I-”

“Stop.” The turtle hissed, not turning around to face her.

“Stop? Donnie, what did I-”

“I SAID STOP IT! STOP CALLING ME THAT!” He pressed the heels of his hands into the sides of his head.

“What do you mean? Just tell me what's-”

The turtle turned on his heel in the doorframe. “JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! I don't know how to put it in a way your STUPID HUMAN BRAIN WILL UNDERSTAND!” His face morphed into a manic grin. “Goodbye! So long! Sayonara! Toodaloo! GET OUT OF MY FACE!”

The door slammed shut, and April was left breathless.

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

April came back the next day to a much quieter lair. The boys were keeping space from each other, whether consciously or not. Raph was wandering around, trying to act like everything was okay. Leo was training in the dojo. Mikey was spending more time around Splinter than he usually did.

The final brother was still locked in his room.

April decided to join Mikey to bring him his second meal of the day. The first one, a small plate of rice, was still outside the door, now cold and dry.

Mikey knocked lightly, barely tapping the door with his knuckles. “Donnie?” He whispered. “I've got more food for you. It's your favorite- flavorless mush! I tested it myself, no taste at all. I promise!”

The offer was met with silence.

Mikey sighed and let his shoulders slump, backing away from the door. “I just don't get it,” he muttered pathetically. “He hasn't even come out to pee, April. Do you think he's just peeing in a cup? Or a corner? Does Donnie have a pee corner that we don't know about?”

“Mikey, it's okay.” April grabbed his shoulder. “First of all, yes, he probably does, and that just means we get to bond over cleaning his room when this is over. Second, you shouldn't have to worry about this.”

“I'm so sorry, April.” Mikey looked down to his feet. “I don't know why he hates you so much. Maybe if we hadn't-”

“Don't apologize,” April interrupted. “If anyone needs to apologize, it's me.”

Mikey looked back up at his big sister with wide eyes. “Why?”

She sighed. “Because I did something wrong.” April took the food from Mikey's hands. “I'll get him to eat. I'll text you if things go super wrong, but otherwise, ignore any loud noises. I have a feeling this might get… violent.”

Mikey puffed his chest. “Roger, roger!” He saluted and rushed down the hall, supposedly to find Raph and warn him of April's plan before he could start panicking.

April stood next to the door. “Hey, bud,” she started. “It's April. I've got your food, and I'm not gonna leave until you let me in to give it to you.”

After about two minutes of just standing there and getting no response, April sat down. She would say something every few minutes, just to remind him she was still there.

48 minutes later, the lock clicked.

April opened the door slowly. Glancing around the room, she could see the state of disarray it was in. Clothes carpeted the floor, as well as abandoned scrap projects. The turtle was cloaked beneath blankets on his bed, only his bright eyes glaring out at the invader.

She left the door open and stood to the side, getting just close enough. She didn't want him to feel threatened or trapped. She placed the (well cold by now) food next to the growling blanket pile and backed away. Waiting a second, just until he proved he would actually start eating, she spoke.

“Why don't you want me to call you Donnie?”

The pile shifted. “You just… you just can't.”

“Why not?”

“...because Splinter gave me that name. It's my name as his son. As Raph, Leo, and Mikey's brother. Not yours.”

April was about to pose a question, but the softshell suddenly sat up and started showing his anger. In the action, he also revealed the red marks growing on his arms from squeezing them.

“Because I don't care how much time you spend around us. I don't care how much One likes you, or how much Four draws you, or how much stupid stuff you watch with Two! You aren't related to me. It's scientifically impossible. We don't share any genetic material. You aren't my brother!”

With frazzled eyes, he turned and grabbed April's collar, bringing the two face to face.

“And you are most definitely not my sister.”

He shoved April away and sulked back in his den. The girl decided to take the violent outburst as an invitation to get closer, and sat on the edge of the bed.

“...that's okay.”

She only got a sniff in response.

“I don't need to be your sister. Or your brother. All I want is to be your friend. And if that means I call you something else, that's okay. Just tell me what you want me to call you, and I'll do it. Maybe I can call you Purple like Splints has been. Or I'll call you Three, if you really want me to.”

The turtle, Donnie to some, showed his face, keeping the blankets wrapped around his shoulders. His fingers were digging into his upper arms.

“And I know you might not like me, but I'm not going anywhere. Your brothers like me, and they'll be upset if I go away.” When she saw the softshell's grip tighten, she quickly added, “And I know that if they had to choose, they'd pick you. But they don't have to. They don't want to.”

The turtle stared aimlessly in front of him. “...I don't… I…”

“I can just not call you anything if you can't decide. Y'know, just call you ‘dude’ and stuff.”

His shoulders lifted higher, touching the sides of his chin. “That… that works…”

April smiled wide. “Great.”

The two sat there, just accepting each other's company. Donnie's tight posture slowly loosened, and April focused on making sure his breathing was even.

This poor boy had never known true family. He had never known learning to trust people and taking them in. He had never been taken in. This concept, choosing family, was so foreign. Because to him, family wasn't something you could choose.

April would never allow that. Never again.

“...sooo, do you have a pee corner?”

“What?!”

April held her hands up defensively. “Mikey said you haven't come out to pee! I just wanted to know if you had a pee corner!”

“No?! Why would you automatically assume I have a pee corner?”

“Because you haven't come out of your room to pee! What, do you have a pee cup instead?!”

“No!”

“Then what have you been doing?!”

Donnie pointed to a spot in the room, and April looked over to see a very D.I.Y. toilet, made of scrap metal welded together. (She could recall that Donnie's welding materials had been taken from him weeks ago.) “I hooked it up to go straight into the tunnels,” Donnie boasted proudly. “I even dug the holes myself! Digged? Dug.”

“...yeeeah, we're getting rid of that,” April grimaced.

“WHAT?! WHY?!”

“YOU KNOW VERY WELL WHY.”

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

[In time, Donnie would let April call him by his name. And, in time, he would learn that his name was his, and his alone.]

○●○●○●○

And that's it! Totally! April has started on her long journey to fixing all of her broken brothers! She has NO OTHER BROTHERS THAT HAVE ISSUES, why would you ever think that 🟥🐢

This part gave me quite a few problems. Knowing that the "Maps" comic is probably going to explore April and Donnie's relationship, I was a little scared about making assumptions. Also, you don't realize how difficult it is to write someone who isn't all there until you're actually trying to do it. Eventually I just said "screw it, if he's out of character, its fine". So now we're here :)

ALso, no one tells you how motivating and powerful the high you get when someone you look up to praises your work is, I thought this would take me WAY LONGER to finish 🤡

aanyway, congrats to all the tmnt au comp winners, again. Can't wait to see who moves on from here :D

Part 4 -> ❤️

[impala-dreamer]

Meet Me At The Beach

A Supernatural Story

~ Texting and emails can feel so impersonal. There's nothing quite like exchanging tangible, handwritten letters with someone you love...~

Dean Winchester x F!Reader, Sam Winchester

4,025 Words

Warnings: Bittersweet Angst. SFW. 

A/N: This is for @jacklesversebingo "Writing Letters To Each Other" was the prompt. I hope you enjoy...

June 2

Dear Dean, 

This feels so weird. Do people really write letters anymore? Am I going to get strange looks at the post office when I go to buy a stamp? Will they even know what to do with this tiny envelope and folded piece of loose-leaf paper? I almost don’t know how to write anymore. My script looks kinda like chicken scratch, huh? Hopefully it’ll get better. It is weird not typing though. But emails just seem like work. Impersonal, ya know? Besides, it gives us something to look forward to when we hit the mailbox. Nice to open something that’s not a delinquent credit card bill, huh? 

Speaking of which- how the fuck do you do it? I just got another card canceled. My credit is non-existent. Fuck, I need to get a job. Could you imagine me in an office? High heels and panty hose and my hair tucked into a neat, matronly bun? I shudder to think! 

OK, this is weird. I just wanted to write “LOL” but it’s not an email. Or a text. Why are we doing this again? Oh, yeah, see above. 

Anyhoo- - - - I don’t even know what to say! Umm… I’m in New Orleans for a bit. Not working, just hanging out. My friend Emily from high school tracked me down online and we’ve been chatty. She’s in a band. They’re not bad. Not great, but not bad. So yeah, I took a drive down to see a show and I’m just lingering. Drinking too much, sleeping past noon. It’s fun. Nice little vacation. 

Which - ahem - you should be taking. When are you gonna get your ass out of that dusty old bunker and stick your toes in the sand? I already told you I’d meet you in Pensacola with sunscreen and a cooler of beer. You know you want to. Or are you just scared to show off your ugly toes in flip flops? Your boots might actually cry if you ever took them off, so I guess it’s just as well. 

Hey, do you remember that night in Richmond when it started pouring and your boots sank into the mud puddle? God, that was a mess. We were soaked to the bone. Nice way to warm up, though - cuddled in the back of the Impala. I miss that car. Sometimes, I think I can hear it at night when the world is quiet and the wind is still. It’s like the engine roars in the back of my mind and I start thinking about all our adventures, all the time we spent driving into the sunset. 

I miss you. Is that wrong? I probably shouldn’t. Or at least, I shouldn’t tell you that I do. But I do. I miss you so bad sometimes that it hurts. Like someone has punched me right in the chest. Maybe we can end up in the same town soon. Grab some tacos and sit on the hood. Make a mess. I’d like that. 

OK, before I get too emotional and start asking you to run away with me, I think I’ll end this ranting scribble of horrid handwriting. 

Write me back soon.

Love, Y/N

June 21 

Y/N- 

Your handwriting does not look like chicken scratch. I like it. Mine is like some toddler just learning his letters. Whatever. I never learned that fancy shit. I can sign my name and make a grocery list. That’s all I need. 

This is weird, yeah. But it’s kinda nice. Feels more… like you’re here. Does that make sense? Like seeing your handwriting, the dents in the paper- I don’t know. Just feels more real. Like you’re not just some computer talking back at me. Also there’s something strange about answering questions weeks later. I meant to write this sooner, but I got a little distracted. There was a Kung Fu marathon on and I just lost track of time. Too much pizza, not enough Carradine. Ya know? You know. 

Remember that horrible motel in Raleigh when we both caught that nasty stomach bug and stayed up all night watching old tv shows? Saltines and Little House. I’ll never forget it. You were so sick that day. Shit, I was sure I was gonna end up taking you to the hospital. Sure, I was puking too, but you looked like death. I hated that. Hated that I couldn’t help you, make you feel better. I did cook up a mean chicken noodle soup though, didn’t I? Not that it stayed down for long. 

Thank god for that yellow Gatorade. And yes- it’s fucking yellow. Not green. 

Anyway- I miss you too. I try not to, I really do. Not all the time, no offense, but sometimes I’m just fucking insane with shit going on. But at night, especially, I miss having you beside me. I miss rolling over and seeing you there, or hearing you snore. I miss feeling your freezing feet under the blanket. I don’t know, I just- 

What can I say? I’m sorry. I’m an asshole. I’m the biggest piece of shit in the universe. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. 

Can’t change the past. Just gotta move on. 

Maybe someday you’ll forgive me. I hope so anyway. 

I’m sorry. I shouldn’t dump that all out in a letter. I almost ripped this all up and started over. I actually let it sit for a day before I came back to it. But, fuck it- we said we were gonna write to each other and be honest, and here I am, being honest. 

Fuck, I’m so tired. That kinda tired when sleeping for ten days wouldn’t even put a dent in it. Yeah, OK, so things are getting a little better. Chuck’s gone for good this time. Jack’s got things back in place, even made a few improvements. Sam’s- well, he’s Sam. He’s fine, doing his thing. The dog is- did I tell you we have a dog now? Yeah, I know. Me and a dog- yeah right. But we do. Miracle. He’s a good boy. I’ll send you a picture soon. 

Never thought I could slow down like this. Feels like for the first time we can just - work. I mean, I’m never gonna give up hunting, not totally, but- feels like I could just ease back a bit. Been looking at some jobs in town- nothing crazy, fixing engines and stuff like that. Don’t know if you remember, but I’m pretty good with my hands. 

Did you blush? 

You did. 

OK. I guess- that’s it for now. I have no fucking idea how to end this so - bye?

~ Dean

P.S.  I’ll meet you at the beach soon. I promise.

Fifteenth of July 

To Whom It May Concern:

Re: Beach Vacation

Dear Mr. Winchester, 

I am very pleased to hear that you are agreeable to meeting me at the beach. It should be delightful fun to run through the surf and hunt for sea glass with you.

Oh shit! Do you remember that new age shop in… where the fuck was that? With the sea glass necklaces in the window that I said were so pretty and the witch inside said they were blessed to give the wearer riches or some shit like that. Where was that? Who knows.

Feels like we’ve been all over the world together. Well, this country at least. Lord knows I could never get you on an airplane. If only you could drive to Paris. Did I ever tell you about my trip to France? God, it was beautiful. Rained the whole time, but it was this beautiful, warm spring rain that made everything smell like dust and petals. Not rose petals, but those little white ones that grow on trees, ya know? It was so beautiful. Fuck it. I’m taking you one day. You need to see more than the dash of your car and the backroads of America. Time to travel!

Speaking of- I’m glad you’re slowing down a bit. I know that won’t be easy for you but if you think about it, you’ve spent the last forty years running from problem to problem like a damned bomb-sniffing dog. 

A DOG?! Dean Winchester, I never thought the day would come. I can’t wait to see a picture. Don’t forget it next time. 

I think you’d be a great mechanic. It was always very hot seeing you covered in sweat and grease especially if you had those damned coveralls on. I mean… what? I don’t think about you like that anymore, you know. It’s over and done with and we’re just friends. We are friends, aren’t we? Maybe something more than friends, I guess. Ex lovers? Ew. I hate that word. Lovers. So gross. Well, then what are we? Just two souls swimming in a fish bowl…

Year after year. Day after day. Do you know that I put nearly a hundred thousand miles on my poor truck this year? Back and forth, up and down the country. I don’t have to tell you how exhausting it is. Fun, but exhausting. Rewarding, but not. I wonder how many people remember me after I leave? Does that family in New Haven think about me whenever they go into the basement and it’s no longer haunted? Is there a photo of me on a fridge in Wilmington where I saved that guy’s fiance from the vamp nest? Probably not. I’m sure people remember you - The Great Dean Winchester. The sexy hunter with the green eyes and the giant black car. You’re hard to forget. Also, you hang out with a giant. Tell Sam I said hi. 

I do remember that puke fest! And it’s green. It’s literally neon green. Fight me. 

We could probably write a book, you and me. ‘Winchester & Y/L/N Do America’. It’s a coffee table book with pictures of random diner signs and gas station bathrooms. Maybe a list of the country’s best french fry places. Shit like that. Let’s do it. I’ll call my literary agent in the morning. Ha!

SPARTA!! That’s where that damned sea glass shop was. It just hit me! Stupid brain. I swear, I’ve been hit in the head way too many times. Broken too many bones. I’m getting too old for this shit. Did you know that my left knee pops whenever I stand up now? Like, how old am I?? I can’t stand it. I need a month at a spa somewhere in the desert. That’d be nice. 

Damnit. I just got a call from Vinnie Alverez. Do you know him? Hunter out of Pittsburg. Anyway- he needs help on a job. Guess I’ll cut this letter short. Hopefully I’ll find a box to drop this in on the way to PA! 

Miss you. 

Sincerely yours, 

Y/N

P.S. - I do forgive you, Dean. Of course I do. Things were just too hard back then. Life didn’t want to cooperate for us. It’s not your fault. Not my fault. It just was. Please don’t carry that guilt in your heart. You deserve better than that. 

August 2

Dear Y/N- 

You’re a real character, you know that? Love the corporate letter. I’m in for the book by the way. Could be awesome. We do need a full chapter on onion rings though. Make a note. 

I heard about your hunt in Pittsburgh. Came through the grapevine that you kicked some serious wolf ass. Nice job, kid. Hope you’re being careful. I know how bullheaded and impulsive you can get when you’re in the zone. Just watch your back, OK? Promise me. Last thing I wanna hear is that you got your heart clawed out or you’re walking around with a demon in your ass. 

Demons. Haven’t seen so many running around lately. Queen Rowena’s been keeping them in check. So fucking weird that she’s in charge now. Not that I’m surprised- she’s a badass bitch. If I had a nickel for every ruler of hell I was friends with, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. The kids still say that, don’t they? See, I’m not old. I keep up with pop culture and shit. Started watching the tik toks. I still don’t get it, but I like the woodturning stuff. Thinking about taking up whittling. Maybe carve you a keychain so you stop losing them. 

I got a call for a job interview. Chickened out though. I don’t know if I’m ready to start all that, ya know? Start a real life in the real world- just seems- I don’t know, scary. Yeah, I’ve faced every deadly thing on this and other worlds but the idea of getting a 9 to 5 civilian job scares me. I’m some kinda fucked up, huh? 

I think about it a lot though. Getting a job, finding a little house somewhere, settling down. A little fenced in yard so Miracle can run around and dig up dirt. Might put a rocking chair on the porch and watch the clouds, some shit like that. Would you come visit me in my Barbie dream house? I’ll cook you breakfast every morning and you can rub my feet at night. Real cozy couple stuff. 

OK, so maybe I’m thinking about you more and more these days. Maybe I’m regretting leaving. Maybe I’m just an idiot daydreaming about meeting you somewhere in the middle and sweeping you off your feet. One of those running hugs that hurts when you collide but ends in a kiss that makes everything feel better. I’m a real romantic fuck, huh? I was digging through my drawers yesterday and I found a pair of your socks. Those tiny ones that barely covered your ankle. I don’t know why they were stuffed in the back of the dresser, but there they were. Dingy white socks with the pink threads on the toes. I’ll bring them to the beach when we meet up. 

Oh, Sam says hi and he hopes you’re good and he wants you to shoot him a text when you can. You can do what you want, but you better not mail him a letter. That’s just for me. God, my hand is cramping up. I’m not used to this. Oh, and you’re not alone. My knee creaks like a haunted house when I go up stairs now. And my right wrist pops, and my neck makes this weird almost squeaking sound, and my ass- well, I could go on, but just know you’re not alone. Kinda weird to think that we lived long enough to be this old, ain’t it? I never thought I’d live to be thirty and here I am staring down 42. Forty Fucking Two. Can you believe that shit? Goddamnit I got old. Let’s go find a nursing home together. Maybe we can get a double room- or a king sized bed?

Think about it. We could be cranky old people together. Losing our memories and shuffling around with walkers and shit. You’d look cute with white hair. And fuck, my beard’s already going gray. Should I grow out my beard? 

Write back soon. I really like seeing your letters in the box. 

Dean  x

My dearest Dean Winchester, it is with great happiness that I write this letter to you and I do hope that it finds you well and happy and all good things and I can’t keep this formal shit up. Ha!

Anyway- but yeah, things are good. I know it’s been a while since I’ve written, but I was on a little trip around the continent. Headed up to Montreal for a bit. Killed some nasties, salted some bones, generally fucked around. My beloved truck crapped out in Burlington, Vermont, so I had to hang out there for a while and gather my resources to get a new vehicle. I think you’d like her. Green Ford Explorer from ‘94. OK, she’s not as sexy as the Impala, but she gets me where I need to go. Which, apparently, was Maine! I met up with some friends in Greenville. Cute little town full of witchcraft. So much fun. Also had a lobster roll on a pier… I swear to god, they plucked this thing right out of the water and slapped it on a buttered roll. You’d LOVE it. I’m gonna take you there someday. 

Speaking of- We need to make plans for Florida. I picked up a little bikini on my travels and I think I really need to show it off. Maybe you could be my bodyguard and keep the creeps away while I’m sunbathing? To repay you for your services, I’ll gladly let you take it off me at night…

Oh, and I’ve thought about this extensively, and I believe that you should, in fact, grow your beard out. Like, full on, bushy lumberjack beard. I can’t wait to see all that gray. You know I have a thing for older men… and you’ll always be older than me, Dean Winchester and don’t you forget it!

And for your information, I don’t lose my keys anymore! I got one of those… apple taggy things. Now I know where they are at all times. Can’t find my phone to find them sometimes, but that’s another issue. 

Two weeks later, I’m picking up my pen again. Sorry this is taking forever. Things are stupid busy. I wish I could just… put this fucking gun down and go live with you on a farm somewhere. Not a working farm, we wouldn’t keep pigs or anything because gross, but a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Big white house with a giant tree in the yard and a tire swing and a picket fence and a kid chasing the dog around and - 

Shit. Do you ever think about it? I do. A lot. More than I’d like to and it fucking cuts me up inside every time. I know we could never have kept it, and life- I mean- it just wasn’t meant to be. But I do think about it sometimes. Imagine if we’d just walked away from the life and tried to be a family? Impossible, I know. Maybe in another life. 

Shit, I’m sorry. Fuck. Ignore me. I haven’t slept in a while and I just

I want to see you. Can we meet somewhere? Wherever you want. I’ll come to you. 

~ Y/N 

Dear Dean, 

This is my second attempt at writing this. Crumpled up the first one because I’m an idiot. Am I an idiot? Did I piss you off with the last letter? I honestly didn’t mean to. I just- we said we’d be honest, and you’ve been so open in your letters that I thought it was ok to talk about, but I guess not. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have dug that stuff up. 

I’m so tired and stressed and I miss you so much. Since we’ve been writing back and forth it’s almost like I can’t stop thinking about you. I get so fucking excited to check the mail whenever I roll back into town. It’s like… I don’t know, it’s like Christmas every time I see your handwriting in my box. Remember the time you wrote your name on my thigh in Sharpie? That stayed on for like a week. I shoulda gotten it inked on. That’d be something, huh? Branded by a Winchester. 

Fuck, Dean, I really hope you’re not mad at me. I really want to call you, but we said we wouldn’t. Just write me back, please. 

I’ll be in your neck of the woods next week. Got turned onto a haunting up in Abilene. Maybe we can meet on the road somewhere? Please? 

Hey, did you know there’s a Hunter, Kansas? Wonder why they didn’t build the bunker there. I don’t know, made me laugh when I was looking at the map. 

Anyway- Please write me back. Or call. Or text. Or send a damned pigeon with a tiny letter taped to its foot. I don’t care, how, just do it please. Even if you’re mad at me and don’t want to talk anymore, I get it. But please. Just let me know, OK?

I’m sorry. 

Love, Y/N

Dear Y/N,

I didn’t know you and my brother were writing to each other like this, but I found your last few letters to him in his private P.O. Box. I didn’t even know he had one of his own, but I guess we all keep secrets from those we love. I hope you don’t mind that I read your letters. Not all of them, but the last two that came through. Please know that Dean would have responded if he could have, I know he would have. He talked about you a lot recently. Said you two were in contact and that he was hoping to find some time to meet you for a vacation. I don’t know where you guys were planning on going, but I found a new Hawiian shirt in his closet with the tags still on it. 

I know we spoke on the phone after he passed, but I wanted to send this to you. I was cleaning up his stuff and found his notepad. Looks like he’d started a letter before we left for Canton. I think he’d want you to have it. 

I’m closing up the Bunker soon. I don’t really know where I’ll go, but I can’t be here right now. Not without my brother. 

I’ll always be around if you need anything or want to talk. I’ll always answer the phone for you, Y/N. 

Be well,

Sam Winchester

Y/N/N, 

If I could take it back I would. Every fucking word. I think about it now and I know we made the wrong choice. I know we could have made it work if we tried. But we are both total fuck ups who can’t be normal. We just can’t. 

Forgive me

That’s dog slobber up there, not tears. Just fyi. Definitely not tears. I think I might have been a little drunk when I started writing and then well-

Anyway- Maine sounds awesome. We were there once but no time for lobster rolls. Guess I missed out. 

Not much to report since the last letter. Been kinda quiet here. But… I did apply for a job. Well, I filled out the application. Well, I started filling it out. It’s actually underneath this notepad right now. I’ll get to it. I will. I just need a good kick in the ass. Or maybe a pinch… wink wink

I absolutely think we need to get together. Pick some place stupid like the World’s Largest Frying Pan or South of The Border. I’ll meet you. Just say when. 

Guess this letter will take a little longer to finish. We’re leaving for Ohio in a little bit. There’s a buncha vampire dicks making a mess. Gonna take ‘em to batting practice. Show them my machete swing. I’ll give a full report when we’re back home

Dean Dean, 

I made it to the beach. It’s hot, like stupid hot. Had to stand in the water just to keep my toes from burning. I’ve been sitting here for hours trying to think of something to say, but all I can say is I love you. I miss you. I wish you were here with me. I wish things had been different. I wish and wish and wish. 

If I throw this into the ocean will it get to you somehow or will my words just wash away like the sand? 

I’ll see you again someday. I hope so, anyway. Let’s just pretend I’m destined for Heaven. I know you’re up there. You were too good not to be. You sacrificed so much, cared so much, saved so many people. I know you made it. If there’s any mercy in this universe, I’ll be up there someday too. Just don’t have too much fun without me. 

I love you, Dean. Always. 

Y/N

2024 Forever Tags (Always Open! Send an Ask!)

@alwaystiredandconfused @babysimpala @beardburnsupersoldiers @chenshemesh1 @cosicas-cuquis @deans-baby-momma @deanwinchesterswitch @feelmyroarrrr @foxyjwls007 @hobby27 @impalaspixie @jackles010378 @kazsrm67 @k-slla @leigh70 @lunaroserites @lyarr24 @nancymcl @nix-rose @peachy-vans @pizzagirlxnsfwx @rachiem4-blog @rosecentury @sexyvixen7 @suckitands33 @the-wounded-healer05  

[jils-things]

I would never fall in love again until I found her

I said, "I would never fall unless it's you I fall into"

I was lost within the darkness, but then I found her

I found you

[3.25.23]

ouueeehh we're back to my corny love letters like last time 💜 again absolutely NO pressure reading these, because it WILL get lengthy 💜 this also serves as a personal love letter that i can archive!

ahh, steven st.one. a wild card in my f/o list. i never thought i'd find myself to like him... i've always tried my best to avoid the pretty boy design after i've gotten older which is why i was oddly in denial during my early steven days hehe... the earliest memory i have of him is just me battling him in my ruby emulator back in the 4th grade - but i don't think i actually remembered him too well, i only thought he looked like a silly anime version of the classical composer be.ethoven and tbh, i still like to think he does look like him in the rse style lolll 💜

for the whole, actual story - it was just last year - i was reading the r/s arc, of course. it was one of those days in school where i had nothing much to do and snuck my phone to read manga to pass some time. at some point, my classmate joined to read with me - it was at this moment where steven debuts properly and it caught my classmate by Surprise. she thought he looked very handsome! to which i teased her... strangely enough, this exchange impacted me? maybe it's because someone acknowledged what i was doing and even bothered to briefly read along with me - so in a way steven kinda bookmarked that memory.

so after that exchange, i just kept on reading. everytime he had something to say, i couldn't help but just stare at his face? he looked nice, i guess? he's also very gentle and polite... i kept this thought of mine for quite sometime until i was discussing the manga arc with my p.okespe mutual and he mentioned him. i somewhat confessed he looked nice and that was the biggest mistake i've ever done because what my friend did after was absolutely blow me with art after art of the pretty rock collector and i was STRUGGLING. it ultimately came down to this one cute panel in the o.ras chapter where he was blushing and I wasn't the same person since then 🚶🚶🚶and funnily enough, i told myself I wasn't going to fall for anyone because of the manga and whoopedoo p.okespe!steven my beloved the greatest man ever. i mean i love the game counterpart as well, they're nearly identical - it's just the manga that totally swept me... sighhhh

steven is such a nice character to begin with, he's honestly a very humble and nice champion. he's not showy about his identity and would rather be alone by himself to indulge in what he wants. he is willing to give up a very respectable position in the po.kemon league just to pursue his interests and with that i see a man not after power and fame but a man who just wants to find joy in what he does even if it demotes him. on top of that, he's just a sweet gentleman. he was raised well of course, and you can see it clearly in his acts in the story. i love him very much for that and who wouldn't want those traits?

i was really absolutely embarrassed to be all over this guy at first - it took a whole month for me to actually share to my blog about how i liked steven and took awhile to adjust to that fact that i opened up about it 😭 but the community was very kind and supportive about the pairing and if i'm being honest, i think stevaide made a super lasting impact on my blog recently and it's really so comforting to picture them as a young loving married couple with ruby. it made me feel unashamed with what i can do with my silly ships. i'm still very glad for the endless support for steven and jaide.

soo, yes. happy memoryshipping 💜💚 thank you for making my times of struggle more bearable if not perfect and thank you to everyone who enjoys this ship even if it was just a little bit :]

credits to @/cafekitsune <3

[littlewestern]

Are there programs (like Pioneer’s letters) to keep the engines from getting into boredom-induced mischief? Or are they expected to entertain themselves?

Not in an official capacity. Generally both of the museums' exhibits keep themselves out of trouble well-enough that it's not necessary. Most of these guys had a full service life and are just happy to be enjoying a retirement that affords them the luxury of relaxing over a game of cards, talking about their day, and maybe getting ice cream if time allows. (RIP Finnegan's, you will be sorely missed.)

At the IRM there's nearly always a new arrival to introduce yourself to and learn about, or if you get REALLY bored you can see if someone wants to organize a pickup game of frisbee golf or some other non-contact game that 2903 will have to mediate and break up because no one actually knows the rules and someone's probably going to start an argument about it. That's about the extent of the mischief anyone gets up to around here. Even then, most of the time engines at both museums are happy to play nice. Even Stuka and Spitfire keep their roughhousing down to a dull roar and make sure not to involve anyone in the crossfire who hasn't been explicitly invited to participate. (Spitfire keeps asking Pilot and he keeps turning him gently down.)

Pilot and Pioneer's impromptu letter exchange program was more the result of a bored guide than a bored engine. Pioneer is quite content in his little yard at the MSI in 1962, but he's so bright and well-read, it seems a shame not to let him get a little more socialization. The news about a new acquisition of a Zephyr trainset by another Illinois museum that seemed to be making something of a name for itself all the way out there in farm country sparked the interest of an enterprising individual at the MSI who made the connection. The penpal idea was floated to Pioneer under the pretense that he'd be welcoming a fellow Burlington engine into a new kind of service life, and that it would be nice for him to reach out and answer any questions this newbie might have about preservation, something that - up to this point - was highly unusual for recently-retired diesel engines. Pioneer agreed to it under those conditions, but it was always something they intended to benefit Pioneer as well. And it did! That Pioneer is inherently charmed by the romanticism of the post is what kept it from being a one-off, and is the reason he alone is a good candidate for having a penpal. As mentioned, other engines don't find this kind of thing nearly as entertaining as he seems to, but they like when Pioneer gets a letter and the guides read it out loud in the yard. Then they get to heckle him while he dictates a response while he laughs along with them about it, as is his nature. In that way, it's actually enrichment for the whole yard!

Great questions! Thanks so much!

[trashcanplant]

More Interactions with Marnie, Grover, Deirdre, and Jonesy

Alright back at it again but this time with our new baby!

Marnie: She and Julie do hair together. Marnie built the fence for Frank’s garden in exchange for teaching them violin (they actually really enjoy it now) Marnie’s pretty good in Italian because of how much music she reads. Her first instrument was the cello and from there she went wild. She thinks Wally is a sweet kid but doesn’t understand why he’s not picking up piano very fast as they’ve been doing lessons for months and he can still only play quarter notes. Marnie chalks it up to a lack of rhythm. She cannot dance! She is terrible on her feet. Marnie thinks Eddie is pretty nice but nothing more really. She gets along decently well with Poppy and she made a little carving of a bird for her home.

Grover: This man if given a credit card would have a panic attack then buy one loaf of bread. Grover calls himself cotton-headed when he makes a mistake (because it’s true). Grover’s heart is made of his mama’s favorite dresses all stitched together. Scarecrows are usually single parents who sew their children up. Grover decides that he wouldn’t be a good dad and doesn’t want to have a kid. His straw goatee falls out sometimes and he gets really sad when it does. Grover loves kids, doesn’t believe in himself to take care of one, and has little emotional control over himself around them. He can play banjo pretty good! Learned by himself, too. No thanks to Marnie. He only writes letters to Barnaby while he’s away.

Deirdre: She definitely writes fanfiction. She cannot stand things being dirty. Deirdre’s favorite coffee flavor is pumpkin spice. She’s basic. DeeDee HATES being called frumpy or grumpy as she takes great pride in her appearance and not being a stick-in-the-mud. She is a stick-in-the-mud though. She’ll never admit it. I think she has undiagnosed OCD. Deirdre has a lot of pollen allergies and it sucks so much. She’s the most violent out of my kids. She has beaten up the Grover multiple times and will continue to do it again. Deirdre can actually find truffles and has not told anyone about it. She shame eats.

Jonesy: This kid has ADHD. He has no thoughts in his head and too much energy. Howdy calls him ‘son’ sometimes. It’s giving Oliver Twist. Jonesy is in Deirdre’s class but often gets in trouble cause he’s technically a class clown. He loves strawberries so much. He plays with Julie and Eddie all the time. Howdy is his favorite though. Jonesy is surprisingly good at chess and certain word games. He can’t spell the word cinnamon though. It’s his Achilles heel. He sleeps in a hammock. Jonesy has a little fluffy tail. Poppy embroidered bat wings on the back of his vest. He would be a mummy for Halloween and by the end of the night have no more toilet paper left on him cause he kept tripping over it. Jonesy loves to work at the bodega in the afternoons and is actually pretty strong from carrying stuff in all the time. He has a model train set at home he’s been piecing together with the change that Howdy gives him from his jobs and when he’s done he’s gonna give it to him. Jonesy’s parents own a winery but decided to send him off so he could get a real education before deciding what he wanted to do. He has a nice little space that Marnie built him. Poppy checks on him all the time cause she worries.

[soda-boots]

I think it’s time for a return.

It’s been a hot minute (a little over a month) since I last wrote in here. I don’t really know where to be begin actually. My emotions have been a bit volatile actually lately since the ‘weeping of Ellis’ which is what I will refer to that whole embarrassing moment that was early November. I really thought we had something, but I have to remember ‘thoughts’ and ‘reality’ often don’t actually intersect. At least we’re still friends, and I can relish in that comfort for a while. However, I do feel a certain yearning for more, but I know with time “it will pass” . It seems like when I have a crush on someone they instantly become exponentially more attractive to me. They just glow an iridescent, alluring aura. Suddenly they appear as unblemished untainted creature. And I just have to bask in that warmth. With Jake Avery (who has a girlfriend lest we forget) that feeling is trickling in. I know if I’m honest with myself I don’t actually like him I just like that I’ve made a new friend with similar interests to me. It’s that melding of platonic interest and possible romantic tendencies that I’ve always failed to separate. I think that’s why I fell so badly for Ellis. We had enough in common that I just couldn’t help myself. That flawlessness is waning on Ellis and that’s how I know things are mellowing. I saw a tiktok earlier about how some people don’t necessarily yearn for romantic love, and I’m starting to feel like I may fall into that category. I don’t actually know if I really want a partner. Maybe a best friend who I do lots of things with, but isn’t that a partner to a degree ? I also want to kiss and make love, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be with the same person just people that I know and care about. I feel like I’m describing a polyamorous commune. Let’s not accidentally slide into that. Often, I just yearn to be loved by people who aren’t related to me. I know they’re there, and I feel that and I think that’s why I’m kind of content not having one [a partner]. However, I kind of do want someone.

I’m flip flopping again.

I downloaded hinge (2 weeks ago) and tinder (a week ago). For the first time, I’m actually making a conscious effort to try and meet someone. Organic meet cute be damned. I can’t while away complaining how I’m partner-less and not even try to reach out into the world. I am a firm believer of Quinnie’s lyric - “When you step out the world steps in to meet you”. So let’s see what becomes of that. The girlies on there are not the best of texters, but maybe I’m too available. I love the internet and internet culture. I am on my phone maybe way too much. Is it a problem if I enjoy it ? Yes. My enjoyment does not eliminate the possible dangerous/addictive of tendencies of a thing. I don’t really want to detach, but it seems like everyone else does much better (read offline) things with their time. I should do too. I should try to internet a bit less. Work on my skills! Learn new things regarding my hobbies. A baddie doesn’t need to meme and chit chat as often. It’s not like my friends are available to kiki as often as I am.

I wish people would return my letters. I put a bit of effort into sending them out and I don’t know I just hoped it would turn into something cute. A fun exchange. I’m so grateful to Seb for actually replying to me, and to Jake and Mo for their Christmas cards. Also everyone who thanked me for the card. While it’s not needed, it does feel nice when people acknowledge you (or the thing you did to show you like them). I know Tim is busy but it would be nice to receive a response from him. I like this new friendship I have forming with Miles. I didn’t think I’d meet so many cool and interesting people in year 2 of uni. Yet here they are surrounding me. I feel blessed

[hlmowrer]

Week 17: Miles schmiles

Hello all.  I'll need to keep this brief, because I'm down to my last 30 minutes of usable time today.  That's really a shame, because so much went on this week.  The struggles I referenced in my previous letter have continued.  I'm really quite tired of them if I'm honest.  But, there have been miracles.  There are always miracles when I choose to expect them it seems.  Right when I was at the end of my rope this week with the series of long fruitless days I enjoyed an exchange with my new zone leader in Traverse City which 1. offered me a chance to get to know/learn from him, which was important as it turns out we get along quite well and 2. gave me a chance to work in his much busier area, where we taught five lessons almost in a row.  I was dead tired by the end but having the opportunity to actually spend the day teaching and sharing was precious.  The following day I continued the train of positivity by having my transferly interview with my mission president.  He's leaving the mission soon, so it was the last time I would be able to talk to him one on one.  I had actually been feeling a little exhausted by his energetic daily goals and pleas to be more dedicated (he's a very motivated type of guy) but the opportunity to talk to him one on one and hear his thoughts and praise of how I was doing was really nice.  I love him a lot, and I'm very sad he's going home.

While Elder Jorgensen had his interview, I discovered that he secured President's blessing to travel down to Muskegon to be present for the baptism of a woman he taught there months ago.  We missionaries rarely have approval to exit our assigned area, so the road trip downstate was both awesome and a huge change of pace.  Plus, the baptism was beautiful. :)

We also didn't tell anyone else we were doing that, so sending pictures of us in downtown Muskegon to our district leader without any context was pretty funny.  I also sent that picture to Elder Wilchek (my former companion, who also served in Muskegon for quite a while) and it filled him with delightful envy.  Well...delightful for me anyway.  What's less delightful is the amount of miles this little excursion put on our car.  Our vehicle coordinator has the patience of a saint, but over 2,000 miles in a month might be a bit much.  Oh well.  

And then there was the conference.  This weekend was the annual conference of the Traverse City Michigan District (for you Latter-day Saint friends a district is similar to a stake, just with a slightly different organization).  People from all over northern Michigan came.  The first session was on Saturday, so we were hustling back from Muskegon and didn't really invite anyone.  It was incredible though, so we worked hard on getting our friends to the Sunday session.  One friend called Kami has been great, but really struggles to communicate.  Once we discovered that Kami's sister (who she loves and hasn't seen for years) would be there, we prayed extra hard that we would be able to get Kami to the conference,  By a precious miracle she was able to make it (despite literally being in a car accident on the way...the adversary is a petty dude), and had such a good time seeing her sister and meeting everyone that she's now being much more responsive and interested in what we want to share with her.  It was incredible.

Dear friends, there is so much more I'd love to tell you about, and I wish I could have had time to revise what I wrote for clarity and additional cool details but I'm afraid it's not in the cards this week.  I love you all, and I hope you're able to see God's miracles in your lives too.

-Elder Beren Mowrer

[writingforatwistedworld]

For the otome au what if the darling was that kind of player that do everything but the main route ? Player is going on the 451 side quest and doing mini games while the boys are waiting for them to continue the dang main game. With Riddle/Vil/Azul ?

(If there is even such thing as side quest in your otome au. I know they tend to be like visual novel and not have side quests but I know that some do to spice up the gameplay and avoid things becoming boring)

The au is still flexible so yeah, if you want to then there can be side missions.

Otome au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, murder, death, blood, imprisonment, killing, kidnapping, obsession, possessiveness

Riddle Rosehearts/Azul Ashengrotto/Vil Schoenheit-Player does everything BUT the main plot

Riddle was on cloud nine when he found out that you had started playing the game

For so long he had waited whilst preparing the Queendom with an iron fist for your arrival

He was a being created for the sake of love and a few annoying glitches would not get in the way between him and you

So he made sure that no one, absolutely no one, would dare to step out of line

That he was doing his duty as the supporting Villain, the “Queen” of hearts, was not something that crossed his mind

And then… you help a child to collect feathers… how… nice you are…

Ok great now come… WHY ARE YOU HELPING THAT GRANNY??!

She can send the letter for her sick son in the Shaftlands herself

NO DON’T GO AND TRAVEL THERE YOURSELF!!! THE POST OFFICE IS RIGHT THERE!!!

This really doesn’t do good for his image because he has already beheaded three card soldiers. One put sugar cubes instead of honey into his tea, one didn’t feed the flamingos whilst wearing pink and one was just simply in the wrong place at the wrong time

The image of a heartless and cruel tyrant becomes more and more easy to spot as long as you are gone

When he was still awaiting your arrival he was at least somewhat decent (*gasp* I know)

But now you could exchange the red paint the soldiers use with the… other “special” paint

That’s how many are loosing their life right now

Usually I would say “Yeah, go explore that world!” but please stop

I don’t know if there will be any NPC left in the Queendom once you have done all thee side missions…

The next boat from the Shaftlands to the Queendom comes at noon. Please enjoy your last hours of freedom

Well, the octopus knew from the start that his home would probably be visited by you rather at the end of the Prolouge because… well… it’s under water

And then it’s finally time! Yay!

And then you are helping some worker to collect corals! Nooooo....

Azul is very angry my friend, very angry!

You see, he had already done the mind gymnastics on how to lure you to his cave in the middle of nowhere without acting like the supporting villain that he is

And then there is also the fact that that slimy prince is also starting at you lovingly whilst you somehow attend the birthday party of yet another suitor

He is stuck in that cave, ok? Give him some credit for not cursing the two at this point

There are actually cracks in the glass ball from the angry glare he is directing at it whilst watching what is happening

And then, thank the Fairy of Thorns (!!!), you don't spare the tow of them a single glance

No, you are doing side missions

Ok but... could you choose that redheads route already so you can enter the ocean? Please??!

But nope! You gotta feed the crabs, fishies and sea gulls

This may go well for the first three missions you are doing but please stop with them at this point

Azul is almost at the breaking point to just give himself legs, find you on the land and drag you into the sea

Not to mention that the next person asking you for help might be cursed on the next day.... they just turned to sea foam... don't know what you are saying that you could be the reason for that... haha...

Also... the longer you procrastinate doing the main missions the more he is thinking about putting a cage into his cave... until it's actually standing there...

“Mirror mirror on the wall, what are they doing, my most beloved of them all?”

“They are doing side missions.”

And yoink that mirror is out the window, glass flying everywhere as the king didn't bother to even open it

Vil is furious

You dare to refuse his affection? The affection of the fairest king??!

Gotta be honest u too brave for ur own good...

You would think that at this point he is already sending guards to get you but no... kinda

You know, the first King has met our dearest “Queen” of Hearts before once or twice so he spontaneously decides to be inspired by him

Those guards aren't after you, oh no, they are after the poor soul who had the audacity to think they were more important than the king

I would recommend getting a new identity, leaving the country and starting anew somewhere where no one knows you but this isn't you and only a character with very limited decisions so... try to keep it as little as possible with the missions

Whilst others would have patience when you would do the side ones he is blowing up when you are doing the first one

A lot of wooden boxes filled with hearts... a lot of wooden boxes...

But Vil isn't a monster

At least he will make you believe that the kind woman you were just talking to has decided to move and not breathe for the last time in the dungeon

Once he has you, or rather your avatar, in his grasp you are stuck in a beautiful room no matter what you do, even if you delete the safe you willstill always start there

Vil may not have you but he has your connection to him

And maybe one day you will also be in that room

Just you wait, only because this world was created by you doesn't mean that the magic happening behind the screen isn't real

[still-a-morosexual-help]

Lesson 64?

-Lesson 47 Anon

@lesson-anon @bisexualdumbass-world if anyone else wants me to @ them with these lemme know

As Usual;

• Links (to screenshots and theories) are in bold!

• Dialogue is HEAVILY paraphrased & the events are HEAVILY summarised/edited so this is in no way a substitute to playing the actual lesson

• Each paragraph represents one chapter of the lesson, I write each paragraph immediately after playing the chapter and so in one paragraph I might theorise what's gonna happen in the next chapter/paragraph

• Solely gonna focus on "Mammon's Route"

LESSON 64 SPOILERS

MC & Simeon haven't seen each other in months, unlike Solomon & MC (Simeon you little shit) , (Simeon you little shit screenshots) , (Solomon pls show more concern!) Simeon & MC talk for a bit and Luke & Simeon are back in the exchange program (Simeon being cagey) , (RIP Simeon's beautiful shoulders). Luke who's just finished submitting their paperwork (Guys seriously!?) And turns out they temporarily shut down their cafe to come here which Luke is actually happy about (character growth!). MC tells them about the whole student council thing (Luke!!? Where's your character growth!?) and Luke reveals he found a card sticking out from under a pot

The card, a fake, makes them play a game of shiritori which makes them unable to talk until they start their sentence from the last letter of the previous person's sentence (DUDE!?) and MC deliberately loses by ending their sentence with "n" to get outta the curse.

Satan arrives at the room because Diavolo's asked the 2 angels & solomon to the council room. Beel arrives to tell MC they've only got 1 hour to get the card (this isn't cannibalism right? Cause none of them are of the same species...). Instead of going to find the card MC follows the others to the council (Satan, my beloved) and just straight up demands that Diavolo gives them the card. They're all shocked until Diavolo laughs because he told MC that they could ask for help from Student Council Members up to three times and he is a Student Council Member

Diavolo is still laughing his ass off while Barbatos tells him to chill. He says he can't and that while he's always impressed by MC there are times that they completely blow his expectations outta the water but though they found a loophole he hadn't intended he can't just tell them where the card is. MC tells him he can't change the rules like that and Satan agrees. Diavolo tells them he'll instead give them a hint. The card isn't inside the building and there was already a hint buried in the first set of rules. Satan, who was told all the rules by Lucifer, is excited to solve it. Beel and MC go to search outside and find a card in the bushes

Luke comes running up to them too, Simeon & Solomon have stayed back to talk about something with Diavolo (SUS). The card asks Beel to say 100 nice things about someone. If MC suggests Belphie, Beel goes over the 100, if MC suggests Luke, Beel starts listing food and gets hungry, if MC suggest Mammon (BEEL!!!??) They're all however still stuck to the ground and unable to leave and Luke has an idea

Beel starts listing nice things about MC (here are a few that we didn't know already) and Satan sends MC a cryptic ass message before telling them that the hint is in the time limit that Diavolo gave them. They only have 10 more minutes. Do you think it's Serun? It was really odd for Mammon to just mention a random demon outta nowhere during the last lesson. And I deliberately mentioned that part in my last summary because of how odd it was. But then I figured they did it as a way to let us know it was currently 11am and that meant MC had 5hrs to find the card. But if the hint is the time limit then does it all lead back to Serun?

FUCK YEAH! I WAS RIGHT! uhh well partially right. It was the mailbox not Serun but still FUCK YEAH! The 3 Ss turn up and Solomon & Simeon figure out the hint. Saying maybe it's not that the challenge ends at 4pm and rather that the card won't be available after 4pm. Because Serun arrives everyday at 11am & 4pm to collect the mail. MC realises it's in the mailbox but Luke points out that they won't be able to make it there in time. Beel transforms and picks up MC saying he can run them there (after Mammon, he & Lucifer are the fastest) but MC says fuck that and teleports both themself and Beel and they better not fuck this up cause last time they didn't end up in the place they wanted to go

They end up near the mailbox with Beel (like the others had been) shocked that MC was able to teleport both of them. MC brushes it off and tells him to smash the box (their 3rd favour) where they find the glowing card. The others all come running along with Diavolo and Lucifer and MC's congratulated. Lucifer then goes on to lecture both MC & Beel about destroying school property. Satan says Lucifer is actually really happy and that you can see it in his face. Later in town, the Lucifer & Diavolo had to stay back at RAD to finish up some work and the others went to purgatory hall to unpack. Satan asks to read the hint in the card and the lesson ends.

So the locked lesson.....god I can't describe the locked lesson. The look of absolute dissapointment and regret on Barbatos' face after seeing what he walked into? How embarrassed Mammon & Satan are? How Mammon may sound like a cat but still has a mostly human (demon) thought process but was still having fun playing catch with Satan? How Satan understood what Mammon was saying not because he liked cats so much that he understood their speech patterns but because he knew his older brother? How Mammon didn't want Satan to leave him alone? Satan taking multiple pictures because Mammon was cute? It was purrrrfect

Oh yikes the hard lesson. The 3 are happy to be back in Purgatory Hall, comparing it to how MC feels about being back at the HoL and calling it their 2nd home. After Simeon & Luke ward away the looming threat of Solomon's cooking, Luke happily volunteers to cook and runs off. Simeon says he's being getting into cooking recently as well. Things get serious as Solomon asks Simeon if he's told Luke. Simeon, who is hestitant while talking, says he hasn't because he doesn't want to burden Luke with his own issues. Luke comes running back saying the kitchen is fully stoked and asking whether they can invite everyone else over too. The adults agree and Luke runs off again wondering whether he should call MC or Beel. Simeon says that though Luke may not say it he's been really excited about coming back and that Simeon doesn't want to see his smile get wiped off after he tells him and YIKES (Simeon and the Celestial Realm theory) , (Luke and the Celestial Realm)

[teiasviago]

Wonton Soup

A bit of a sequel to Tarot Cards.

University of San Diego, 1986

“Hello?”

Dana can’t prevent the flutter in her stomach, nor the smile that adorns her lips. “Monica, it’s me, Dana.”

“Oh, hi! Sorry, I forgot to label your number in my phone. How are you?”

“I’m good, I’m good. I’m sorry it took me a whole week to call you but I’m already busy with my classes and applying to grad school, plus work, and then yesterday I went out drinking with my friends to celebrate their twenty-first birthday—”

Monica laughs softly and Dana pauses. “It’s fine, Dana. I know you’re busy—way busier than I am, at least.”

Dana chuckles and, after a quiet moment, sighs. “I realize, um, that we didn’t really get to know each other before we... Look, I’m—I’m sorry, I’m terrible with emotional stuff, but I want to be candid with you. I really like you, Monica, but my family lives here and they visit me a lot and I’m not out to them... But I do want to be with you.”

She holds her breath, waiting for Monica’s verdict. “I’m not out either,” she admits in a small voice, “so I guess that’s something we have in common. And...I know you’re probably not doing grad school here.”

“Probably not,” Dana agrees. “I applied to programs all over the country, although I doubt I’ll get into many of them. It’s not like I paint a pretty enough picture, you know? A woman being a doctor? Preposterous, especially considering that I’m graduating with a bachelor’s in physics.”

“Oh! Med school? That’s amazing! Do you know what field you want to go into?”

“I’m not sure yet, except for the fact that I want to be a physician,” Dana says. “I’m free tomorrow around dinner. Do you want to go out?”

“Like a date?” Monica presses, smile evident in her voice.

Dana smiles, too. “Yes, a date. I’ll pick you up at your place at six?”

“Sounds good.”

“Good!” She’s a little breathless. “I’ve never done this before.”

“I figured. It’s a bit of a steep learning curve. I’ve gotta get ready for class, though. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

—

As soon as Dana pulls up in front of Monica’s dorm building, the younger woman comes bustling out, evidently having been avidly waiting just inside. “It’s nice to see you again,” Dana says, slowly pulling away from the curb as her date buckles her seat belt.

“It’s nice to see you again,” she replies with a smile to her voice. “You look nice. Where are we going?”

Dana pretends as if she hasn’t blushed at Monica’s compliment. “There’s a Chinese restaurant nearby that’s not too expensive, but I’ve heard the food’s good.”

“Take me away, Dana,” Monica says, and the two exchange a brief glance, smiling.

She doesn’t let silence overtake the car ride, instead talking about her day and asking Dana questions about hers. The restaurant is small, tucked into the corner of a small plaza, and a bell tinkles when they walk in. It’s tastefully decorated, and the smells coming from the kitchen are delicious.

“Table for two?” the host asks.

“Yeah,” Dana says, nodding, and boldly takes Monica’s hand in her own as he leads them to a two-seat table against the wall.

They order drinks and, later, food, their meals not much more than a footnote as they talk and talk and talk. Dana gets lost in the way Monica’s eyes light up when she mentions living in Japan.

“I was almost born in Japan, actually,” Dana admits with a smile.

“Really!”

“Yeah! But, in a stroke of luck—sort of—my mom got sick with me a little earlier than with my older sister and brother, so she sent a letter to my dad, who was at sea at the time, and then he requested to be transferred back to the States so that I could be born here. And so we were shipped to Maryland, and I was born in Annapolis!”

“Oh, God, that must’ve been tough on your mom, taking care of you and your siblings. I’m an only child, but I used to spend a lot of time with my cousins before I moved to the States.” They both glance over at the doors to the kitchen as a waiter approaches them. “I was born in Albuquerque but I grew up in Mexico. Compared to your childhood, I feel lucky that both of my parents were around a lot.”

The women sit up and remove their arms from the table as the waiter sets down their bill and thanks them for coming. Dana checks the time and is shocked to see that it’s past nine, inhaling slightly before releasing that breath with a small smile. “I didn’t realize how late it is,” she says, grabbing the bill before digging into her purse for her card.

“You know what they say: time flies when you’re having fun,” Monica replies, chin resting on the backs of her hands, propped up by her elbows. Dana itches to kiss her, or at least take her hand but settles for waiting until they’re outside the building. “Next time, I’m paying.”

She stands up and slings her purse over her shoulder, wallet and bill in hand. “I’ll meet you by the car,” Dana says, biting her lip as butterflies storm inside her stomach. It’s not like she’s never been on dates before—in fact, she’s been on plenty. But none with a woman before.

“Sounds good.” Monica stands up, bringing the strap of her purse over her head to hang across her body before briefly squeezing Dana’s hand.

—

“I had a great time, Dana,” she says, voice soft in the inches between them.

Dana smiles and takes her hand, bringing her other up to tuck a wave of Monica’s hair behind her ear. “Can I kiss you again?”

She laughs softly, crossing that last distance between them. “Yes.”

Monica boldly brings her hands up to Dana’s face, cupping her cheeks before pressing their lips together. Dana snakes her hands around Monica’s waist, bringing one up towards her shoulder blades, leaving the other at the small of her back. She sneaks her tongue into Monica’s mouth, inhaling sharply before breaking apart for air, grinning.

“We should go,” Dana breathes, cheeks flushed.

“Don’t be a stranger,” Monica says on an exhale, eyes twinkling in the light from the restaurant.

[13uswntimagines]

Secret Santa (Alex Morgan x Reader)

Reader is in the military and surprises her wife and daughter (with a little help from Preath). Merry Christmas from @literaryhedgehog and Me!!!

“Little bit still hasn’t told you what she wants for Christmas yet?” Kelley asked, munching on some pretzels and hummus.  

Alex rolled her eyes sliding into a seat next to her. “No, she utterly convinced that it won’t come true if she tells anyone but Santa.” 

“Didn't she write a letter? Why didn’t you just take a peek?” Tobin interjected, sitting on Kelley’s other side. Her fiancé had been so excited to have her niece for the day. 

“She mailed it to god knows where with Christen before I could,” Alex sighed, shaking her head. She had been fine with the whole mailing letters thing (actually watching your four-year old try to write out something heartfelt in blue crayon was kinda adorable), but then Camren had insisted on mailing it herself. Alex felt a little bad for the person in Antarctica who was getting the random letter. 

“Damn,” Kelley huffed, blowing her cheeks out, trying to drum up ideas. 

“Yeah, apparently it’s a Press family tradition or whatever, and Chris did it because Y/n isn’t here to. If she was she at least could have curbed some of her enthusiasm long enough to take a picture of the letter.” Alex grumbled, chewing thoughtfully on a pretzel. Your big sister had been picking up a lot of slack while you were away with the SEALs, but it just wasn’t the same as having you there. 

“We hired a Santa, so just listen to whatever she tells him,” Tobin shrugged, a look that Alex didn’t recognize crossing her features. 

“And pray to god it gets here overnight,” Kelley snorted. Hopefully whatever Camren wanted could be found at a local Walmart. 

 *****

The holiday party was in full bustle. There were benefits to doing training in Florida, so while Camren still had her heart set on snow for christmas, the adults had strung the outdoor tent with string lights and decorated it with holly and mistletoe. Camren had promised to eat at least two bites of every food there -- even the healthy ones that looked weird (her words not Alex’s) -- before she ate too many of Emily’s double chocolate chunk brownies, and so Alex was feeling rather proud of herself. She and her daughter were both there, dressed up, and only 15 minutes late for the party-- not bad for single parenting skills. Maybe after Camren was done talking to Santa, Carlie or Lindsey could be persuaded to babysit for a bit so Alex could go introduce herself to that lovely bottle of merlot she saw hiding in the corner. 

Alex was surprised with how comfortable her daughter seemed on Santa’s lap. Camren was a bit nervous walking over, but it was nothing compared to her fear last year, when she had bawled until you eventually gave up and held her behind the poor man. Perhaps it had to do with how tenderly the poor suited person seemed to hold the small child, and the little glimmer in their eyes. . 

Santa’s eyes met Alex’s for a split second, and the sense of security the slight contact brought her was slightly alarming. They looked so familiar and sent warm tingles through her chest. 

“Did you get my letter?” The little girl asked, drawing the bearded one’s attention back to her. Alex bit her lip, there was no way this random stranger got the letter addressed to Rudolph at the North Pole. 

The Santa nodded, their features softening. “I did. It seems you were very concerned about your mama getting her gift?”

The little girl nodded rapidly. “How do you know where to take it, if she’s on top secret missions all da time?” Her brow furrowed, “what if she doesn’t have a chimney to hang her stocking on?”

“I just know. Remember I know if you’ve been good or bad, or if you move. I promise she’ll get everything she wants. Now back to you. What do you want for Christmas?” Santa tried to explain. 

The little girl thought for a moment, her finger tapping on her chin, before she leaned up to cup the person’s ear. She whispered a few words, leaned back to look the bearded person in the eye. The (very fake) white beard at the top of the red coat bobbed up and down in a nod, and Alex saw a sparkle in their eye as their lips twitched above it. 

“Well that’s quite the order.” 

“Pwease? Its not that tall, and It’s the only thing I really want,” Camren pouted, pulling the puppy dog eyes that never ceased to make her parents melt. This was important, and if she only got one real chance to talk to the person who could make it happen, she wanted them to know just how much she wanted it. 

“I’ll see what I can do,” the Santa said, nodding seriously and stroking the beard as Camren jumped up and ran back to Alex. 

“What did you ask for?” Alex whispered. Good grief, wasn’t the whole point of hiring a Santa to hear what the munchkin wanted?

“Can’t say. Want it to happen,” Camren whispered back, twirling slightly as she buried herself in the hem of her mom’s skirt. This was going to be the best Christmas ever. 

****

Alex smiled widely as the Santa pulled another wrapped present from the gaudy red bag. It was a nice spin on their usual tradition, and she just hoped Pino didn’t get her for a secret Santa. That woman forgot every year, and Alex’s name hadn’t come up yet and that bag looked suspiciously empty. No wait, there was one- nope, that was Beckey’s present from Alyssa. Maybe there was a gift card in there somewhere? Alex looked down at Camren, who despite practically nodding off in Sonnet’s arms an hour ago, had woken up during the secret santa exchange. She was now sitting on the ground playing with the toy horses, blind to her surroundings.

“Hey, um Kelley? Who was running the secret santa exchange again?” Alex whispered, grabbing her arm. “I think my person forgot to get me a present.”

“What?” Kelley, turned to her shocked. “I think maybe Tobin was in charge this year, we’ll ask her if someone wrote down who your person was.”

“Oh that’s not necessary,” Christen’s voice broke in. Alex and Kelley turned to look at her and Tobin, who were standing with a very confused Emily.  “I’m really sorry, we just didn’t get a chance to wrap your gift. You’ll get it at the end of the party.” 

“Isn’t it like against the rules for Christen to get Alex since they actually spend Christmas together every year?” Sonnett whined. If she couldn’t buy presents for Lindsey, and Sam couldn’t do it for Kristie then that totally wasn’t fair.Sister-in-law and fiance-of-sister-in-law definitely had an unfair advantage on the ”knowing what presents to buy” front. She had to buy Jullie’s gift, and had just settled on some tea-rex patterned socks and a starbucks gift card. 

Lindsey glared in her direction. “Can it disonny,” she wasn’t about to let her girlfriend mess up a surprise that had been 6 months in the making. 

“It’s fine Chris, you didn’t have to get me anything,” Alex smiled sadly. 

“I mean that would have been cruel since Camren has been campaigning pretty hard for your present,” Christen snorted. It was all your daughter could talk about. She had even harassed every Santa she saw while they went Christmas shopping, and wrote several letters (that she forwarded to you) about the issue. 

“She told you what she wants, and you didn’t tell me?” Alex asked exasperated. She had been fighting with your daughter for a month to know what she actually wanted. Why on earth would she tell her aunt but not her mom? She was going to have to have a conversation with Camren about how Santa had different rules from wishing on a star or a birthday candle. Namely that she should tell her mom what she wanted!

Christen shrugged, a smile pulling at her lips, though Alex didn’t know what she was so amused about. “Well, it was for you, so I get a pass,”

“I for one think that Christen’s present is totally on point, even if it’s wrapped in ugly, sweaty red velvet,” A new voice joined the conversation, just as arms wrapped snugly around Alex’s waist. 

Alex froze, her eyes going wide and her mouth opening and closing several times. 

You chucked from behind her, spinning her around so you were face to face for the first time in almost a year. 

“Hi love.”

“Holy shit,” Alex breathed. Her hands reached up to touch your cheeks, the sense of touch confirming what she couldn’t trust her eyes to see. 

“Surprise,” You mumbled, leaning in and finally connecting your lips. You sighed into the kiss, thoroughly enjoying the way they moved together, and the taste of your wife. She impatiently pulled down the beard when you paused to breathe, and your hands found her hips, pulling her closer, while her fingers tangled in that baby hairs at the base of your neck. “Let’s do that again,” you said, your breath fanning against her lips before she pulled you back in. You had an awful lot of time to make up for. 

“Why is mommy kissing Santa Claus,” Camren asked from somewhere below your feet. You were fairly certain you heard one of your wife’s teammates explaining in the background that Santa left a little while ago, and Mama had just dressed like him to surprise Mommy. You were a tad busy to explain anything right now.

[timelyowl0]

Brittana/Faberry Fic Recs

Hi! Here’s a list I compiled of some of my all time favorite Brittana and Faberry fics! I was originally going to separate the list by Faberry and Brittana, but many of the stories have both, so instead you can just read the pairings listed for each. They are sorted by multi-chapter complete, multi-chapter incomplete/in progress, and one-shots. Each title is a link you can click on to take you to the fic. All credit goes to their respective authors :)

Also, here’s a quick rating guide in case you needed to know:

GA/PG - General Audience

T - Teen

M - Mature

E - Explicit

NR - Not rated

That’s all, I hope you enjoy!

Multi-chapter (complete):

Between The Lines (T) - 19 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana and Rachel/Quinn - Rachel invites Brittany and Santana to a sleepover. Brittany/Santana with a healthy side of Rachel/Quinn

The Only True Paradises (M) - 20 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - The tortuous evolution of Santana's feelings toward Brittany. See also "Pas de Deux," a companion piece from Brittany's point of view.

Pas de Deux (M) - 20 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Companion piece to "The Only True Paradises." The evolution of Santana and Brittany's relationship from Brittany's perspective.

Faithfully (T) - 5 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - "That moment when Santana had sworn, even though she and Brittany were standing at opposite ends of the raised platform…that she could still feel Brittany's energy zinging toward her, like they were connected on the same current." Brittana, Seasons 1 through 5, as told in five increments.

My Girlfriend's Sister's Keeper (T) - 13 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Brittany isn't the only Pierce that has Santana wrapped around her finger. Santana's life with her two favorite people.

Mariposa (M) - 5 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Like a butterfly, Santana's journey out of the closet occurs in stages. From the first time she heard the word gay to the first time she flew free from her chrysalis, she can remember everything.

time passes, in love and in seasons (T) - 4 Part Series - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Brittana, from the end of junior year and throughout senior year, told through the seasons. Mostly follows Season 3 canon.

Brittana Shorts (GA) - 8 Part Series - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - A collection of Brittana-centric short stories

it’s nice to have a friend (T) - 8 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - They're six when they first meet. It's the first day of school in a crowded classroom and Santana finds herself drawn to the new blonde girl. OR The story of how Brittany and Santana meet and all the significant moments in their lives following the first time they see one another. - sequel

A Matter of Miserable Time (T) - 10 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - "His voice was deep, quiet, and sure, so calm compared to the last words they had exchanged. Her voice was only a faint whisper as she questioned the man she hadn't spoken to in three years.'Papi.'"

Influence (M) - 26 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Brittany is perpetually cast as the dumb blonde, but the reasons behind her demeanor are more complex than that. She looks back on her childhood, her relationship with Santana, and the life-altering effects the decisions of her youth had on her future.

It’s Not Like I Wanted This to Happen (T)- 101 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana and Rachel/Quinn - Quinn takes a very drunk Rachel home from a party...encounters the Berrys…and herself. This story contains a huge amount of Brittana and a lot of Puck.

Rough Beginnings (M) - 44 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Quinn decides she needs to end this obsession once and for all, but life doesn't always work out the way we want it to. Sometimes it's so much better. Faberry.

Never Asked to Feel Your Halo (T) - 45 Chapters (1/2 in series) - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - The thing was, neither of them wanted this-whatever it was, but since when did the Universe care about what Rachel or Quinn wanted? Their cards had been dealt the moment they'd entered that shower together. Now it came down to how well they played them.

Standing on the Edge Dancing in the Flames (M) - 34 Chapters (2/2 in series) - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Life isn't all singing and dancing, not even in Glee club. And what if being on top of the pyramid just gives you further to fall. When everyone feels like a frienemy and fathers and faculty and babies and boyfriends complicate EVERYTHING, how are you ever supposed to get anything right? (Book Two of the 'No Halo' series)

The South Side of Anywhere (M) - 47 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Sometimes you fall in love with your eyes closed, and when you open them, the person is someone you never thought it could be. It started with letters, and turned into Faberry.

Somewhere in Between (M) - 77 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Imagine if Faberry happened instead of Finchel. This is a re-telling of every episode as if Faberry were cannon. Each chapter will chronicle each episode starting at the very beginning. Some things will change and some will remain the same. Longer description in first chapter. Also side Brittana. As well as Quinntana friendship, and Puckleberry bromance.

Didn’t See it Coming (M) - 63 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana? - AU HS. After a devastating breakup, Quinn turns to Rachel in need of a friend, and ends up with so much more. - "If, one day, someone asks me how it all started; I'll have to say it was a granola bar that finally did me in." Faberry.

Bet You Didn’t Know That (T) - 19 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Faberry. What she doesn't know, she doesn't need to find out.

Take Me As I Am Seasons 1 & 2 (T) - 48 chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana and Kurt/Blaine - The incredibly true adventures of Quinn and Rachel, starting from Sectionals Season 1. It's just like watching the show, if Faberry were the central couple and everything revolved around them! Brittana & Klaine co-star in supporting roles.

Take Me As I Am Season 3 (T) - 26 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana and Kurt/Blaine - The continued adventures of Quinn & Rachel as the starring couple of Glee. Some integration of canon events, but mostly this is the story of Faberry and their world! Klaine & Brittana co-star in supporting roles

Blink and You’ll Miss It (M) - 31 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Quinn Fabray and Rachel Berry discover they like each other. Against all odds, will they be able to get together before they tear each other apart?

You’re All I Need (M) - 17 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - A Faberry romance story, set when they are both single but I haven't specified when as I'm not even sure myself but most of the events are from series 3. Points of view will change every few chapters. And that's probably the worst description you've ever read but yeah I can't be bothered to change it.

quarantining or how quinn might lose it, once for all. (T) - 8 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - It starts like the worst horror movie ever but instead of being trapped in the basement of a creepy 50-something year old, Quinn finds herself being trapped in Rachel Berry's basement.

Once More From the Top (T) - 22 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana and others - Here's what you missed on Glee: McKinley's Glee Club reformed under the direction of Will Schuester. Rachel tried to recruit the Cheerios but that ended up being a total disaster. It's cool though because she heard Finn Hudson sing in the shower and he's actually really good. She successfully recruits him and now the Glee Club has enough members to be a real thing.And that's what you missed, on Glee!

Outside Hearts (M) - 37 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Rachel Berry's world is about to be turned upside down when one of Hollywood's most sought-after young actresses, Quinn Fabray, abruptly and mysteriously leaves her fame behind, moves to Ohio and tries to have a normal life while attending McKinley High. (Faberry w/ some Brittana)

I See That Ragged Soul Take Flight (M) - 44 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana, Mike/Tina, Kurt/Blaine and Sam/Mercedes - Ensemble cast piece exploring what happens after Season 3. Rachel, Santana and Kurt are in New York together. Quinn is at Yale. Explores adulthood, friendship and long-distance relationships. Eventual Faberry. Also contains, Brittana, Klaine, Tike and Samcedes content, plotlines back at McKinley, and frequent use of Santana POV.

All The Best (T, but I would rate M for descriptive scenes of suicide, eating disorders, rape, etc.) - 80 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - After spending the entire summer away, Quinn is eager to get back to normal and make the best of her junior year. Excited to put everything behind her and start fresh, she struggles to establish a new normal. But when she's least expecting it, Quinn finds support in the most unlikely places and is forced to confront the very feelings that landed her where she is in the first place.

take these broken wings (M) - 4 Part Series - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana and Kurt/Sam - Begins in Season one and follows Quinn through her life should she have chosen to keep Beth, realize she is gay, and fall in love with Rachel Berry. The main romantic relationship will be Faberry, with a bit of Hevans and Brittana, but apart from Faberry it will be very heavy on friendship and Quinn&Beth oriented.

the state of dreaming (T) - 3 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - Rachel couldn’t help the guilt that bubbled in her chest when she watched Quinn get a prom photo alone. Determined to make it up to her, she invites Quinn over for a sleepover. It becomes a routine. Set immediately after 2x20 (Prom Queen).

Enough to Believe (T) - 2 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - Years after Shelby ups and disappears from Lima with Beth, a blonde girl shows up on Rachel and Quinn's doorstep, armed with a lot of questions, and very familiar cheekbones.

you and her loathing this cruel world (M) - 3 Chapters - Pairings: Quinn/Rachel, minor Kurt/Quinn and Kurt/Sam - "Of all the girls he had to have sex with (which really, were none), of course it was someone with a painting of Jesus above her bed, so he knows that his only hope in hell that this will go away is in a negative test result." Season 1 AU; Kurt is pretty sure he's gay, but would like to make sure. Quinn Fabray has similar questions running through her mind. They put their theories to the test, with very much unintended consequences. - sequel

I’ve Been Trying to Reach You (T) - 25 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana, Santana/Puck, Rachel/Jesse and Sam/Tina - After falling pregnant in sophomore year, Quinn Fabray plummets from the top of the teen hierarchy at McKinley High to the very bottom. In an effort to give her a chance to start over, her parents transfer her to Carmel, a private school in the area with a blossoming arts program. It's supposed to be a new beginning, but what she doesn't count on is immediately becoming enemies with the most popular girl in school: Rachel Berry, co-captain of Vocal Adrenaline.

The Lopez Manifesto (T) - 8 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - santana starts writing a rachel/quinn fanfic for everyone at McKinley. it’s also extremely popular as everyone awaits her weekly updates. (usually based on what the girls are doing that week.) quinn is the last to find out and is… pissed.

my heart’s a leather jacket I am waiting to give to someone sweet (T) - 15 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Brittany is McKinley’s resident broody rebel who doesn’t see much point to high school, and who, completely incidentally, just so happens to be kind of a math genius. Santana is Lima's golden child, the perfect and unapproachable only child of public figure Dr. Lopez. She’s also the high school’s enigma; no one actually knows anything about her aside from the fact that she’s cold, distant, terrifying, aloof, and willing to eviscerate anyone who looks at her the wrong way. Unfortunately for her, Brittany is about to get a crash course in the complete mystery that is Santana Lopez when she is asked—or, more realistically, forced—to be Santana's math tutor.

Dead Girls Don’t Sing (T) - 39 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Quinn, Kurt/Blaine and Tina/Mike - S3 AU. Brittany doesn't believe in unicorns anymore, Rachel's dreams are as dead as the world, Santana is no one's hero…and Quinn? Quinn's just trying to breathe. The world as they knew it is gone -now all they can do is survive. Zombie Apocalypse. Faberrittana Friendship. Slow Burn Faberry. Character Death. COMPLETE

Simple Parts (T) - 13 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - That awkward moment when you travel thirty years forward in time and find out you're married to your high school nemesis? Yeah, it totally sucks...except...maybe it doesn't.

The Lateness of the Hour (M) - 12 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - "Brittany has much less to lose. She always has."

half of me (T) - 4 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - a run-in (quite literally) at the bookstore, two broadway tickets, and a seven-year-old in a plaid catholic-school uniform. what has rachel gotten herself into? future AU where quinn has beth and rachel makes it on broadway.

April Fools (T) - 10 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - Santana recruits - forces - Rachel to help her prank Quinn. All she has to do is pretend that a love potion has caused her to fall madly in love with the cheerleader. Simple, right? Wrong. Faberry.

Stars & the Moon (M) - 15 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - In the midst of dealing with Beth's adoption, Quinn ends up working on a summer community theatre production with Rachel. Hilarity ensues. Just kidding.

Love Me Any Less (M) - 25 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Junior year becomes the beginning of something no one expected, and maybe the beginning of something a few can't understand how they ever lived without. Starts mild but progresses to M rating. First fic ever! Faberry.

Better Where It’s Wetter (M) - 10 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - Rachel and her dads are going on a LGBT family-friendly cruise for the summer and Rachel's told she's can bring a friend. Who else to bring but Quinn?

Like a Seal Upon Your Heart (M) - 20 Chapters - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana? - Quinn Fabray is Daddy's little girl and the perfect Christian. She CAN'T be gay. But then her friendship with Rachel Berry starts to change...

Somewhere in Brooklyn (M) - 47 Chapters - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Santana and Brittany have been trying to get pregnant for a year without any luck. What happens when a teenage foster child and positive pregnancy test land in their laps on the same day? A unique journey of motherhood ensues.

Multi-chapter (incomplete/in progress):

Everyone's Gonna Know Now (T) - 8 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - 3/4 in series - When Santana confronted Finn about outing her, his response was, "The whole school already knows." That was pretty much true. This story is about the first moment or incident in which each member of Glee - and a few others - discovered Santana's secret.

Be Okay (M) - 2 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - “Kurt doesn’t know why he does it. It’s not as if he and Santana had ever had anything resembling a friendship, but he feels drawn to her, feels connected to the anguish in her voice as she realized that her biggest secret in the world was about to be revealed.“ This is the evolution of Kurt and Santana’s friendship taking place over a series of one-shots.

looks like a girl but she's a flame, so bright she can burn your eyes, better look the other way, you can try but you'll never forget her name (M) - 5 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - santana lopez writes down the story of her life for a reunion project set for the glee club by none other than rachel berry. aka, a deep dive into santana's life told through her eyes. very santana/brittana centric.

No One Left to Blame (M, read tags) - 30 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Quinn Fabray is well-versed in keeping the truths of her family and her past firmly hidden away. But, her efforts prove to be moot when Rachel Berry, armed with her own secrets of the past, arrives at Dalton Academy and manages to turn both their worlds upside down - or, perhaps, right way up. Faberry. Trigger Warnings.

I’m not breaking, I won’t take it (M, read warnings) - 2 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and minor Quinn/Santana - Santana gets up and starts toward her, “Jesus, what happened to you?” she mumbles, but she's softer than she was moment before. It's obvious that she’s concerned. Quinn chokes down a sob and then admits, “There’s something wrong with me.”“Hey, listen. Whatever it is, you’re going to be fine." Santana is still not getting it, but she’s rubbing soothing little circles on Quinn’s shoulders. There really must be something wrong with her too, because then Quinn is lunging forward and then she’s kissing Santana. Quinn feels her freeze, but then Santana relaxes and she’s kissing her back. or, a study in quinn fabray.

no love like your love (T) - 5 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana and Blaine/Sam - Following the death of her mother, Rachel Berry assumes guardianship of her six-year-old brother, Daniel. After a cross-country move for his sister's job, the first friend Danny makes is a soccer-playing, lucky fin having, firecracker of a girl named Beth.

Song of Mine (M) - 18 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Santana Lopez, the new Music teacher at a religious private school in Indianapolis, meets Brittany Pierce, the resident Math teacher. A love story with a happy ending. Promise.

Girls Over Flowers (NR) - 14 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, Brittany/Santana - Dalton Academy—a school of prestige, refinement and the country's wealthiest students—houses the famous F3. When "commoner" transfer student, Rachel Berry directly offends F3's leader, Quinn Fabray, she becomes their target. Mayhem ensues.

we were built to fall apart (then fall back together) (T) - 8 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - Rachel and Quinn haven't seen each other for seven years and neither thought they'd see the other again. They certainly didn't see themselves starring together in a Broadway musical, as each other's love interests.

A Different Life (E) - 33 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Brittany/Santana, Finn/Rachel and Kurt/Blaine - Canon!Divergent Brittana. Santana and Brittany move to New York after high school. Everything is going perfectly until Brittany gets a phone call that changes everything. Seven years later, Santana has a daughter and she and Britt haven't seen each other...Canon until 3x16ish. No Louisville, no second senior year.

you get too close you’ll get a royalty high (so breathe it in to feel the love) (T) - 9 Chapters (Incomplete) - Pairings: Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Quinn, Sam/Mercedes, Mike/Tina, Kitty/Artie and Kurt/Blaine - "Alright," she began uneasily. "I'll do it. I'll go to the dumb school."Her parent's smiles beaming back at her were almost enough to make her think this could possibly be a good idea, but the nerves surging in her stomach said otherwise. Boarding School/Royalty Brittana AU

One-shot:

Tattoo (T) - Oneshot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - "She soaks it in for a few seconds—this night, this place, these friends, this family room floor, this girl—before she says it back." Post-3x11. Brittana.

Eden (T) - Oneshot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Brittany and Santana teach Joe about love. 4K

Riding in Cars With Girls (M) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - After Quinn quit Glee club and joined a band Rachel feels the gap Quinn has left and sets out to get her back, whatever the cost. But what happens when Quinn's only condition involves her car and Rachel's lips on hers every day at five? Punk!Quinn

and things we’re all too young to know (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Five vignettes set after the point when Brittana become girlfriends. Not too many people would guess it, but Brittany knows that loving Santana is the easiest and best thing in the world to do; Santana is just the best person to love.

My Friends Say That I’m Falling In Love (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Brittany and Santana spend the week leading up to Valentine's Day giving Mercedes grief about her date. Brittana romance, Brittanacedes friendship. Mouseverse. One-shot.

And What Would You Say If I Wrote the Whole Thing Out for You? (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Some things have changed a lot since Sam left McKinley and some things haven’t really changed at all. Set circa 3x08.

The Landslide Brought Me Down (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Our girls’ story. Sweet lady kisses, Landslide, their separation, the night of Prom Queen, Songbird, Santana’s Abuela’s rejection, the night after Santana learned about the political ad, Brittany’s senior year falling apart, the lights of New York, and other scenes.

seven (GA) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - A companion piece to 'it's nice to have a friend'. Takes place after the first scene in the second chapter - can be read separately to 'it's nice to have a friend'. Basically just childhood fluff that examines their friendship and the items they connect to their friendship.

baby you don't gotta fight (i'll be here til the end of time) (GA) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - She sees red for all of last period, a strange twinge of pain in her chest because all these people think they know Santana but they’re all wrong. or: three times Brittany tells people they've got Santana all wrong and the one time she tells Santana

The Unicorn Tapestries (NR) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - We lie on our stomachs on my pale blue sheets, a book lying open in front of us that we bend our heads over, sunlight all over the page and bringing bits of gold out in your skin..

But You Could Sing (NR) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Why am I always the one who tells bedtime stories? Because your stories are prettier, BrittBritt. But you can tell real ones. Like what?

Colors (NR) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - The sunlight in my room shines from the south. The way I know: when I lean far out my window, the sun rises on the side where I can feel my heartbeat, and sets in the direction of my writing hand.

You’re Something Else (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - 'Quinn gets the impression she and Rachel are finally on the same page about what may or may not be happening between them. All she really knows is that it's colourful.'

Raising the Bar (M) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and minor/implied Brittany/Santana - Quinn never expected that the best matchmaker would turn out to be a lumpy pullout couch.

the one with the friends reference (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn, minor/implied Brittany/Santana and minor/implied Kurt/Blaine - "You can see it. Quinn standing in front of you, as close as she can get without touching you and saying, 'Are you attracted to me?'" Faberry. Post-season six.

Blame it on the Alcohol (or the gay, whatever) (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and minor/implied Brittany/Santana - “I can’t believe what you did to my body, I used to have abs!” - In which one sentence is totally incorrect and causes chaos and havoc and Faberry feelings to happen. Also known as drunk Rachel is kyoot and Finn is stoopid.

could you pass in love? (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - “'Quinn Fabray, I will divorce you, don’t think I won’t!'” In which Rachel and Quinn get married, sending them into a possibly out-of-character feelings frenzy . Season Three. Faberry.

Do You Wanna Know How This Story Plays Out? (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - It's not her fault that you feel the way you do about women, you know that, and you knew that then, too. But you've been angry at Rachel Berry for making you feel things you wanted to lock away for years, and it was far too easy to put all of the blame on her to avoid dealing with your own feelings. It wasn't and isn't fair, but it was about protecting yourself and it makes it a little easier to bear. - OR - After everything implodes with Finn, Quinn moves in with Rachel. They make out a lot without ever talking about how much more it means to both of them. Introspective Closeted!Quinn POV from second-person.

you succeed at being mine (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Kurt/Sam - Sequel to 'you and her loathing this cruel world'.

This Must Be The Place (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - Santana is eight years old when her Tio Carlos joins the Army. Or the less-cracky-than-you-might-expect Glee/The Losers crossover where Cougar is Santana's uncle. (If it tells you anything, i nearly titled this 'Ohana Means Family.')

This Modern Love (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Brittany/Santana - "How do you know when you're dating someone?"

Beth’s family tree (GA) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - "Now that being said, my family tree is composed by both my biological family and my adoptive family" Beth explains easily enough as she clicks the mouse. But then the next slide appears and the teacher gapes at all the information, names, colours and arrows in the diagram.

pictures of you, pictures of me (hung upon the wall, for the world to see) (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn and Brittany/Santana - "Quinn looked around her room again. She'd never noticed it before, but she had a lot of pictures of Rachel." or: a faberry oneshot set between seasons 1 and 2 where Quinn reflects on a series of moments with Rachel that led to where she is now

anything could happen (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - She stared down at the test in her hand. The line was faint, disappearing depending on the angle. It was possible she was just seeing things, but still. She pulled out her cell phone, tears running down her flushed cheeks. It felt like the earth could open up at any second, just swallow her whole. The line rang. Once, twice, she cursed quietly. She sucked in a breath as she heard a click signifying the call had connected."Hello? Rachel?" Her voice cracked. "Quinn. I need your help." A Faberry-centric rewrite of Rachel's season 4 pregnancy scare

Frannie’s View (T) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - When Frannie was a child she did everything she could to make her father happy. She was a daddy’s girl through and through. She was quiet and never disrespectful. She went to church every Sunday with her mother and father and prayed every night. Frannie had a lot of friends at school and was popular and well liked. She did very well in school though her participation grades were always low. Daddy told her women were supposed to be quiet and always treat their husbands with respect. She was a princess and he was the King. He ruled the house. Frannie absolutely hated the way her father treated her little sister. Frannie desperately tried to change Lucy. She thought if Lucy could be better then their father would be happier, nicer. OR A journey from Frannie's perspective of Lucy/Quinn and Quinn's sexuality and later feelings for Rachel.

According to Judy (PG) - One-shot - Pairings: Rachel/Quinn - How Judy Fabray deals with Quinn's infatuation with Rachel.

[chierafied]

Uncharted Waters

For @jilychallenge​ August 2021.

Theme: Summer

Partner: The wonderful @adenei​ who was endlessly supportive and kind enough to beta and make the lovely graphic! You can find their fic here!

Prompt: “I just wanted to get my school supplies early, how have we ended up sharing an ice cream together? wait… am I actually enjoying your company??”

2,699 words. Also on AO3.

Lily got off the Knight Bus, clutching at her leather bag, her hand stuffed in the pocket of her denim jacket, fingers curled around her wand. It was early morning in late July and the foggy London air carried a bit of a chill. Lily found it welcome; she was looking forward to autumn. Besides, she was sure the day would yet warm up – after all, the sun had only been up for a little over an hour. 

Lily strode into the Leaky Cauldron and found it nearly empty at this time of the day. She nodded at the proprietor as she crossed the pub. Out in the walled courtyard, shivering in front of the dustbin, Lily pulled out her wand and muttered under her breath as she counted the right bricks.

Although at 17, and after six years at Hogwarts, she wasn’t a complete novice to navigating magic London, it was rare for her to do so unaccompanied. In fact, this was the very first time Lily had ventured to do her shopping for school on her own. It had taken her all day yesterday to get her parents to agree to let her go alone. She’d played the “seventeen is of age in the magical world” card and may have even slipped in a little white lie of having promised to meet up with friends. 

Thankfully, her parents had agreed to let her go shopping alone. 

With the shadows of the wizarding world stretching and deepening and with the tensions rising year after year, Lily wanted to keep her Muggle parents – who’d stick out like sore thumbs in a crowd of wizards and witches – as far from the magical world as she could. Not that the Death Eaters would have been so brazen as to launch an attack at Diagon Alley in broad daylight… but with every whispered rumour and every screaming headline, Lily worried.

She tapped the bricks with her wand and walked through the opening archway. For a brief moment, she paused to take in the familiar sight of Diagon Alley, then started up the cobbled street towards her very first stop. She took the steps at the end of the street and slipped in through the heavy double doors. The impressive tall entrance hall of Gringotts was hushed. Though there were only a few scattered witches and wizards about, the goblins were all busy at their desks. Lily waited until she was beckoned forward, then walked up to the desk, flashing a brief smile to the goblin.

“Good morning. I’d like to exchange this, please.”

She handed over the purse her parents had given her that morning and waited while the bank employee completed the exchange. She accepted the wizard money with a smile, nod and a quick thank you, and hastened out of the door. Gringotts always made her uneasy. It was too big and fancy and marble-y, too obviously built to impress. 

Now that she had her money sorted out, it was time to hit the shops. Lily grinned in anticipation.

She entered the Apotechary first, mainly because she happened to chance upon it before any other shop she needed to get supplies in. She lost forty minutes in the shop, staying in to inspect the shelves and chat with the proprietor long before she’d found all the things she needed to replenish her potion supplies. She shouldn’t need too much anyway since the Potions class in Hogwarts had its own storage for the students to use. 

Flourish and Blotts was where Lily’s feet took her to next, and she spent at least an hour wandering the stacks. Picking out all her textbooks, yes, but also browsing the new releases shelves and paying particular interest to several different sections of the shop – Potions, Charms, Healing and fiction, to name a few. Lily was a voracious reader and bookshops were her happy place. If not for the shopping list in her pocket, she would have stayed even longer. When she finally left the shop, Lily wondered if she might still have time to go back after she’d finished with her other shopping.

Back on the street, she stopped before the shop window of Madam Malkin's and dithered. Her current set of school robes had seen better days. But could she really justify the expense of a new set of school robes when she had only one year left at Hogwarts? She could probably still make do with her current set, only…

"Oi, Lily!"

Lily whipped around, startled, clutching her wand tight in her pocket, already subconsciously aiming it towards the voice. Her shoulders slumped in relief when she saw Sirius Black and James Potter saunter towards her across the cobbled stones.

“Oh, it’s you two. Hi.” 

“Spooked, Lily?” Sirius grinned.

“Maybe a little. I was very much lost in my thoughts just now.”

“I noticed. I had to call your name twice,” Sirius drawled.

“You should be spooked,” James cut in, looking at her with a most uncharacteristic frown. “Why are you here alone? Where are your parents? Your friends?”

“I wanted to do my shopping alone this time. I’m a big girl, Potter. Of age, and all.”

“Yes, but that’s not – “

“James, Lily here can take care of herself. You should have seen that one time the Slytherins tried to give her a jump last autumn.”

“I don’t see your parents here, either,” Lily added, raising a pointed eyebrow at James.

“Mum wasn’t feeling too well,” James shrugged. “So she told Sirius and me to go ahead. Besides, it’s different. Neither of us is a – erm…”

Lily crossed her arms, hid her shaking fingers from both her classmates’ gazes. 

“A Muggleborn,” she said, her voice dull.

Sirius shrugged.

“I don’t mean it in a bad way,” James said, his cheeks now tinting alarmingly pink. “It’s just… the news and all. I get worried.”

Lily met his stare, looked into his earnest hazel eyes and saw the same anxiety reflected there that churned in her own chest. The corner of her lip curled up in a wan smile.

“Yeah. I do, too.”

“Join us, Lily. The more the merrier. And we need to spare poor James’ delicate nerves, don’t we? He has been fretting enough as is since we got our letters yesterday. Poor bloke was inches away from full-on apoplexy.”

The wan smile blossomed into a grin. There was something about these boys, an innate quality they shared – an ability to instantly cheer someone up. And why not join them for the rest of the day? She knew she’d be in good company and hadn’t spent time with them for many long weeks since their last term had ended.

“We can’t have that, can we? The world needs James Potter,” Lily replied, sliding her arm through Sirius’.

He winked at him. “James seems to think so, at least.”

“You sod, I’m right here,” James retorted, rolling his eyes. But he was smiling now too, the shadows gone from his eyes.

“How far along are you in your shopping?” Lily asked.

“Haven’t really started. We only just came in and got stuck in the Quidditch supplies shop for quite a while.”

“You say that as if you hadn’t spent fifteen minutes staring at the Quidditch robes on display,” James muttered.

Lily bit her lip to stifle a smile. “I’ve got my textbooks and Potions supplies.”

“Potion supplies?” Sirius slanted her an incredulous look. “Why in the name of Morgan’s mouldy mantle are you buying potion supplies? Slughorn’s classroom storage isn’t big enough for you?”

“It never hurts to have a few of the more common – and rare – ingredients around.” Lily shrugged. “Besides, you never know when you might need to brew a little something outside the classroom.”

“Please. You have Slughorn wrapped around your little finger, I’m sure he’d let you use the classroom and his personal potion supply stocks if you asked.”

“Maybe. But I like being prepared.”

“That’s a foreign concept to Sirius,” James quipped. “So he probably won’t understand.”

“You know, I really don’t.” Sirius agreed. “What’re you after next then, Lily?”

She didn’t even have to consult her shopping list. “Ink, quills, parchment and all that.”

“Stationery shop it is,” Sirius decided.

“Did you want to get robes, though?” James asked. He nodded towards Madam Malkin’s. “You were looking at the shop window.” 

“Ahh, I was dithering,” Lily admitted, glancing back at the shop. “My school robes are getting a bit worn but then again getting a whole new set can get expensive. And we only have one year left.”

“Everyone deserves nice things, especially when they’re clothes,” Sirius decreed. And as Lily’s arm was still hooked with his, pulled her along with him into the shop. James’ warm chuckle accompanied Lily’s startled laughter as he followed after them.

Lily did order a full new set of school robes for herself – as did Sirius and James. James, especially, had a good reason to. Lily couldn’t help noticing he seemed a good inch or two taller than when she’d last seen him. 

After splurging on the new robes, they did go to the stationery shop and got all the supplies they needed. Then, Lily had her chance to return to Flourish and Blotts for some more browsing while the boys got their textbooks.

The sun was peeking out from behind the grey clouds when they returned to the street and started strolling down.

“Where to next?” James asked, rearranging all the shopping bags he was juggling – he’d refused to let Lily carry her own shopping.

“The joke shop!” Sirius cried as they passed the window.

“Actually, I could use a little break. Rest my feet.”

James turned to her. “Fancy an ice cream, Lily?”

“Who’d turn down ice cream?” 

“It’s too cold for ice cream,” Sirius argued, his nose crinkling in distaste.

“Then go on and explore the joke shop to your heart’s content. Lily and I will go sit down and have ourselves some ice cream.”

Sirius shrugged. “Works for me.”

He’d already gone into the shop before Lily had even agreed to the plan.

“Shall we?” James asked, studying her.

“Let’s go,” Lily told him, a smile touching her lips.

Soon enough, they were hunkered together at a corner table inside the small but cosy Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, shopping bags gathered around their feet. They were sitting side by side, so close to one another in the confined space that their arms were almost touching. It was most distracting, in Lily’s opinion, especially when James kept fidgeting.

She slanted him a long look. He was pushing a strawberry around his bowl of sundae. 

Lily stopped with the spoon in her mouth. James Potter, not eating? Something was definitely up. He was staring down at the tabletop, frowning. His leg danced restlessly beside her. The strawberry made its third circuit around the bowl.

Lily was at her limit, already drawing in a breath to ask him what was going on when James spoke up.

“So, the Hogwarts letters came yesterday, right?”

Lily’s eyebrow rose. “Yes. They did.”

“Anything special about your letter?” James asked.

Lily looked at him. He wasn’t quite meeting her eyes, still pushing that infernal strawberry around, but there was something in the hazel depths that caught her attention. Expectation, perhaps. Hope. Something a little desperate bordering on a plea.

Oh. 

Immediately, warmth bloomed in Lily’s chest – a rushing flashback to the golden glow Lily had felt yesterday when she’d opened her letter. When the small pin had dropped onto her bedroom carpet and glimmered up at her. A buoyant, radiant warmth, as if she had swallowed the sun.

“There was, actually,” Lily said, unable to hold back her smile. “Yes.”

James’ posture relaxed. His restless leg quieted. He stopped playing around with the strawberry.

“Good. That’s brilliant. You made Head Girl, then?”

“I did, yeah.” 

“I was really hoping you would.” James ran his hand through his hair, mussing it up. Then he reached into his pocket, dug something out and thrust it at Lily.

Lily frowned but she put down the spoon and took the envelope. She opened it and peered in – and saw something glimmer up at her. 

She knew what it was, even when she picked up the small pin with numb fingers. She stared at the innocent letters carved into the metal. Head Boy.

And in that instant, her surprise melted away like James’ poor neglected sundae. 

Of course James was the Head Boy, who else would they pick? He had the leadership qualities, which he’d been aptly demonstrating on the Quidditch field. He was brilliant and always got top grades in his classes. He had an easy-going nature and a natural charisma that both endeared him to others and made other people look up to him. There was no one who suited the role better, who’d be more deserving than James. 

Lily brushed her thumb over the pin, then dropped it back into the envelope.

“Head Boy, huh?” Lily said, passing the envelope back to him. “Congrats.”

“Thanks. I still have a hard time believing it,” he told her, flashing a sheepish smile. He stuffed the envelope into his pocket and ran his hand through his hair again.

Lily tilted her head, filled her spoon with delicious chocolate ice cream. “Why?”

“Well, I’m hardly Head Boy material, eh?” James shook his head.

The gesture was dismissive, and Lily’s eyes narrowed even as the smooth chocolate sweetness melted on her tongue. Her spoon hit the table with a clank as she slammed her hands down.

“Look at me, James.”

He turned his head, his hazel eyes hesitant as their gazes locked.

“You’ve earned this. You’re nothing but Head Boy material. Honestly, if it was up to me to choose the Head Boy for our final year, I’d choose you.”

There was a shift in the air between them. His eyes grew wide and then impossibly soft. Something new and potent shimmered to life between them and all of a sudden Lily’s chest ached. 

She was trapped in his gaze and it was all a bit too meaningful now. With much effort, Lily looked down, picked up her spoon, focused fully on scooping up another mouthful of chocolate ice cream.

“You should eat up before the rest of your sundae melts,” she told him. And even though she didn’t look up, she could feel the warmth of his smile. 

His spoon finally trapped the errant strawberry from earlier and it vanished from Lily’s line of vision.

A moment later, she braved a quick glance at him and bit back a groan. 

Strawberry juice glistened on James’ lips, staining them red. Lily’s breath caught and she was too aware of James’ thigh, less than an inch away from hers. 

“Lily? You OK? Did you get a brain freeze?”

“Huh?” Lily asked, managing to wrench her gaze up to meet his eyes.

“Ice cream get too cold for you? Your eyes were going a bit glazed there.”

Lily shook her head. “I’m good. Just spaced out.”

She gripped her spoon tight to stop her fingers from trembling. Gave the chocolate ice cream a leisurely lick. 

James shifted, his thigh now pressing against hers. Lily’s flushed skin tingled under the weight of his gaze.

“We’re going to be spending a lot of time together this year, aren’t we?” James asked, the words coming out a little strained. 

“Uh-huh.” Lily slanted him a glance from under her lashes, the corner of her lip quirking up. “It’s going to be an interesting year, isn’t it?”

James’ eyes hooded even as he grinned right back at her. “I certainly hope so.”

They shared the smile and the knowledge, that little bright spark that danced in both of their eyes. They went back to eating their ice cream and after a moment the stretching silence filled with talk of their summer holidays. 

And all the while they sat at their little corner table, sharing ice cream and laughter and lively conversation, James’ leg stayed pressed against Lily’s. A little secret of their very own.

[littlegnoblin]

Happy Valentine’s Day to my best friend and other half @donestiel

read on ao3

Dean comes home from work to find Cas and Jack sitting at the table, red heart-shaped lollipops strewn in front of them. 

He gives Cas a quick kiss. “You trying to give the kid a sugar rush or what?” 

“Daddy! It’s for Valemtime’s Day!” Jack yells excitedly, hopping off his chair to hug Dean’s legs.  

“It’s pronounced valentine, Jack.”

“I don’t know, valemtime kinda has a nice ring to it,” Dean says. Jack beams up at him and he can’t help but ruffle his hair. 

“Yes, well, the holiday has become so bastardized that I suppose renaming it wouldn’t hurt.” Cas squints at the box the candy came in. “Does no one find it odd that their children are passing around cards demanding others belong to them?”

Dean sits down and pulls Jack into his lap, flipping through the little pink cards. “I don’t know that you’re supposed to think about it that hard, dude.” He comes across a card that reads ‘kiss me’ and holds it up. “This, on the other hand-- they’re five, what the hell do they need to be kissin’ for?”

“I want kisses!” Jack protests. 

“You’re a little kiss monster.” Cas leans in and presses a big, exaggerated smooch to Jack’s cheek. “How was that? Did it satisfy the beast?”

Jack giggles and nods enthusiastically. 

“Hey, I’m gonna need to sample one of those kisses myself. Make sure they’re regulation-- standard procedure.”

“Is that right?”

“‘Fraid so,” Dean says with a shit eating grin. 

He’s expecting a goofy kiss like the one he gave Jack but Cas uses his thumb to tilt Dean’s chin just so and kisses him deeply. 

They break apart when two tiny hands push at their faces and Jack tells them to knock it off. 

“This is what Valentine’s Day is all about, champ. Besides, I thought you liked kisses.”

“You guys do it gross.” 

Dean smiles and bounces his eyebrows at Cas, who rolls his eyes but can’t hide the small curl of his mouth. 

“Perhaps your father will help you write your classmates’ names on the cards while I get dinner ready.”

“I can cook,” Dean says quickly. The thought of Cas’ last attempt at cooking has his stomach churning and he’s pretty sure feeding that toxic waste to Jack would be considered child abuse. 

Cas holds up a cardboard box. “It’s frozen pizza.”

“Alright, I’ll do babysitting duty. Just make sure you take the plastic off this time.”

“It’s not babysitting when it’s your own child and that was one time.”

“One time too many,” Dean mutters.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Nothing, dear.”

Cas glares at him. “I expect you to eat a healthy portion of salad along with your pizza tonight.”

“You making it yourself or is it bagged?”

The glare intensifies. 

Jack tugs on his sleeve. “Daddy, did you like doing valentine’s stuff in school?”

“Nah, it, uh-- it wasn’t really a thing when I was your age.” 

That’s a blatant lie but Dean’s not going to tell him the truth and bum him out. What five year old wants to hear that their dad didn’t do Valentine’s Day exchanges because there was barely enough money for food, let alone candy, and he never really stuck around any school long enough to get included in the holiday stuff. Shit’s depressing. 

“So you never got no cards or nothin’?”

“Nope.” Dean never got cards but he did get invited under the bleachers a few times in high school to unwrap a different kind of present. He’s not telling him that either, though. 

“That sucks. Can I have a lollipop?”

“Nice try, kid.” Dean taps on the card in front of them. “Get to writing.” 

He oversees the careful labelling of the cards, reminding Jack to double check the list of names anytime he spells something wrong and corrects a few backwards letters. They debate who gets what card and Jack complains that he has to give one to Tom who keeps cutting him in line. 

Cas rejoins them in the middle of Jack’s impassioned rant, hiding his smile behind his hand. 

“While I agree that Tom is a-- what was it you called him?”

“A butthead.”

“Yes, right, a butthead. While I agree he is a butthead, unfortunately I think you need to be the bigger person. Maybe this will even convince him to stop cutting in line and you two can be friends.”

“No way. I don’t wanna be friends with Tom.”

“You never know,” Dean says. “I didn’t like your dad when we first met, but I think he’s a pretty okay guy now.”

Jack looks at him wide eyed. “You didn’t like Daddy?”

“No way, he was a butthead.”

“It was more of a misunderstanding,” Cas explains. 

“Oh is that what we’re calling it?”

Cas lifts an eyebrow and stares him down. “What would you call it, Dean?” 

Shit, that should not be so hot. 

“Not the point; the point is that I didn’t think I would ever like your dad and now we’re married. Things change.”

Jack furrows his brows, considering. “I don’t want to marry Tom.”

Dean snorts. “You don’t have to. In fact, please don’t. His mom is a nightmare.” Cas kicks him under the table. “What! She is!”

“You don’t have to marry him and you don’t have to be friends with him,” Cas says, ignoring Dean completely, “but you do have to give him a card and some candy.” 

Jack grumbles but does as he’s told. Dean’s legs are starting to fall asleep but he’s become increasingly aware of how fast Jack is growing up and soon-- way too fucking soon, if you ask him-- he won’t be sitting in his lap at all so he silently resigns to not feeling his legs for the next ten minutes. 

“All done!” Jack yells and throws his hands in the air. 

“Sweet, now let's stick some candy in these bad boys and call it a night.”

“Wait, there’s a extra, what should I do with it?”

“Is there anyone who’s not in your class that you’d like to give a valentine to?”

Jack gasps and slaps a hand over Dean’s eyes, nearly poking one out in the process. “Close your eyes, Daddy!”

Dean dutifully closes his eyes until Jack tells him he’s finished. He slowly opens one eye and sees the pink card held about an inch from his face.

“For me?” he gasps dramatically.

“Yes!”

The front of the card reads ‘You’re the best!’ and when he opens it, he finds ‘Daddy’ written in some of the neatest handwriting from Jack he’s ever seen. Beneath it he’s signed his name, the K backwards like it always is on his first try. 

“I gave it to you because you never had one before and also you’re the best daddy ever, who makes me yummy chocolate chip pancakes and cheeseburgers and does funny voices for bedtime stories,” Jack explains. 

Dean wraps his arms around his son and rests his cheek on top of his head, his heart feeling fit to burst. “Thank you, Jack. I’m gonna keep this forever.” And he means it. 

“Welcome. Can I have a lollipop now?”

Cas points at Dean. “He gets that from you.”

 After the valentines are carefully put away and they’ve had dinner (plastic free and edible, which Cas seems proud of), Jack gets a bath and is tucked in bed. Dean and Cas spend the rest of the night sprawled out on the couch watching reruns of Doctor Sexy and drinking beer. Party city. 

When the Doctor Sexy reruns switch to Jeopardy, Dean knows it’s officially midnight. 

“Happy Valentine’s Day, I guess.” 

They tip their bottles together. 

“I hope I didn’t disappoint you by not planning anything,” Cas says, picking at the label on his beer. 

“What? No, of course not. We never do anything. I thought we were on the same page about avoiding that shit after our first Valentine’s together.”

They both shudder thinking about the sweaty cupid ‘handshake’. 

“We are, but we never actually discussed it and I…” Cas pauses and tilts his head. “I think having Jack around and seeing the world through his eyes, experiencing things in a new way, it makes me wonder if we’re not missing out on some of the little things.”

“Hey, we appreciate lots of the little things-- like you not cooking frozen pizza with the plastic still on.”

“Dean.”

“Okay, okay. So you sayin’ you wanna celebrate now?”

“Sam and Eileen do.”

“Sam and Eileen are saps. And they don’t have a five year old running around.” 

Cas makes a sound of agreement and softly strokes the back of Dean’s neck, sending shivers down his spine. “You make a fair point. In all honesty, I don’t want to do anything extravagant but I would like to take the opportunity to remind you how much I love you. Am I allowed to be sappy for a moment?”

Dean clears his throat. “Yeah, I guess you deserve one day to get it all out.” He puts their bottles down and faces his husband. “Lay it on me, big guy.”

Instead of looking annoyed, Cas just looks fond. “You know, it’s ironic that a man as full of love as you are is so quick to dismiss any sentimentality. You are a fascinating creature.” A thumb sweeps under his eye where he’s got permanent dark circles and settles at the corner where his lines get deeper every day. It makes Dean want to squirm but he holds still under the reverent touch. “Perhaps that’s why I never stood a chance.”

“C’mon, man,” Dean says, dropping his eyes to the couch. 

“Hush, I’m allowed, I’ll have you know. My husband gave me explicit permission.”

“Well, your husband is thinking about rescinding the offer.”

“I love you.” 

Cas says it with such conviction that Dean can’t help but look back at him, at his bright eyes and soft smile; at the evidence of his love written all over his face. 

“I love you, endlessly, Dean Winchester. For everything that you are; the good and the bad. From the moment I saw your soul in hell, so bright it was almost blinding, I knew I would never be the same. You breathed life into me, gave me meaning and purpose, taught me the value of love, and you did it all, selflessly, simply by being the man that you are.” Cas draws him close, presses their foreheads together. “I can never give back all that you’ve given me but I promise you will have my love until we are nothing but a forgotten memory, and longer still.”

Dean squeezes his eyes shut and they breath together in the small space between them. 

“You can’t-- you can’t just say shit like that,” he whispers. 

“And why not?”

“Because it’s not true, first of all.” Cas opens his mouth to argue but Dean covers it with his hand and hurries on. “You’ve already given all of that back and more. God, Cas, if it weren’t for you I’d have been dead years ago. I needed to stick around-- to take care of Sammy, to stop whatever or whoever was trying to end the world next-- but you… you made me want to live. Really live, not just survive, you know? I fuckin’ love you, man.”

Cas pushes Dean’s hand away and presses his lips against Dean’s fervently. 

When they finally break apart for desperately needed air, they both pretend they aren’t sniffling like little girls. 

“You happy now? Can we go back to not doing this?”

Cas laughs. “I hadn’t planned on making it quite so emotional, I apologize. You always bring out the most in me.”

“Ugh, enough,” Dean groans, shoving Cas’ smiling face away. “You aren’t allowed to say anything even approaching romantic for the next twenty four hours, capiche?”

“I can agree to that, as long as I’m allowed to give you a gift later.”

“I thought you said you didn’t plan anything?”

“It’s nothing big.” Cas’ fingers sneak under Dean’s shirt and trail along his stomach, dipping to his waistband. “I just happened to walk by Victoria’s Secret and see a pair of pink satin panties in the window.”

Dean’s heart beats a little faster. “Oh yeah?” he says breathlessly. “Not gonna lie, that seems more like a present for you.”

Cas hums and leans over Dean, forcing him to lie back on the couch. “Well then I suppose I’ll just have to do whatever you want while you wear them.”

When he kisses him he tastes like cherry candy and Dean thinks could learn to like this holiday. 

[harrypotter-imaginess]

Part 1 Here!

Commission Info for letters from your favorite comfort character here! 

A/N: If you want to be added to the tag list for this, The draco muggle series, or the Fred and George Weasley best friends Series let me know!

- “What’s the hurry boss? Where are you heading off to?” One of your co -workers asks as you rush around the store double checking all the locks on the entrances and giving your plants one final spritz

- “Hot date?” The other asks with a suggestive raised eyebrow

- “Yes.” You say simply,

- They both sputter at that

- “What? Seriously?!”

- “With who??” The other shrieks

- And right on cue there’s a light tap on the door

- Cue your employees squealing again

- “Him?!?”

- “The hottie with a dye job?”

- George offers you a smile and a wave and you smile back

- “Ainsley I trust you can lock up?” You ask, pushing the key into their hand

- They only nod

- Henry’s looking at you with his his mouth open as he watches you leave, George and you smiling at each other like a couple of lovestruck fools

- “I told you he had a crush on them” Ainsley says with a grin and Henry has a blush blooming on his cheeks as he pulls a five pound note from his wallet

- “I mean I did too- I just didn’t think he would work up the nerve to actually ask them out.”

- A moment of silence fills the air

- “I bet Ten pounds they find out if that’s their natural hair color tonight” Ainsley says with a grin, and Henry looks at her with a slightly mortified expression

- I mean, the implication of how you would find that out is just-

- “Yeah alright, our boss is a prude there’s no way” he says shaking Ainsley’s hand.

- So when George meant dinner- he meant dinner

- You’re at the tower restaurant in downtown London

- It’s on the fiftieth floor at a skyscraper at the heart of London.

- He reserved a table specifically next to a window with a view of the canal and the London eye

- It’s quite spectacular

- “Have you been here before?” He asks

- You’re glad you dressed a little nicer than you were originally thinking

- “A few times, once for a birthday and once-“

- You’re interrupted by your server bringing a bottle of champagne

- George gets a puzzled expression, he hasn’t even ordered yet

- “Compliments of the Owner, we’re still grateful you were able to fulfill that order last minute when our other florist backed out.”

- “Not a problem Charles, it was my pleasure”

- When he’s gone George flashes you a smile

- “I feel like everyone knows you” he says, lifting up a champagne flute as you toast.

- “That was just one person” you say with a smile and a giggle

- “You should have been at the store last week, my brother wouldn’t shut up about you” he says with a grin

- “Who’s your brother?”

- George describes Ron, but it doesn’t spark anything in you until he mentions the red hair

- “Oh yes, Ronnie! He comes by every month to get flowers for his girlfriend, I didn’t know he was your brother”

- What a small world

- You should have seen the similarity from the start, the hair was a dead give away really

- How come no one else at the shop had noticed either?

- “Well one of them” George shrugs

- “How many brothers do you have”

- George grins

- “That’s enough for a volleyball team!”

- “We have a sister too, the running joke is our parents wanted a girl, just one”

- By the time the appetizers are being brought out George has got the family picture from when they visited Bill in Egypt out (charmed so it doesn’t move of course)

- “You have a twin?”

- You know the second you’ve asked it that you said something wrong

- It’s not that George looks upset, or that his expression has darkened-

- He just looks so sad

- The kind of sadness that’s as deep as the Mariana Trench, hidden behind a kind smile and the gentle warmth of longing

- “I did have a twin-“ George knew this would come up sooner or later, he just didn’t want to ruin the nice mood you had going so soon

- “He passed away a few years ago”

- George is waiting for the look-

- The wide eyes, and the slight pout. That overly sympathetic look he’s gotten so often, it’s only natural. It happens to everyone, he won’t hold it against you. 

- And it forms on your face a little, because you can’t imagine what it’s like to lose someone like that. But the next thing that comes out of your mouth is original

- “What was he like?”

- “What?” George is taken aback, he was expecting words of condolence, as is typical for this situation

- “You told me all about Bill, and Charlie, and Percy, and Ron, and Ginny-“

- Now he’s surprised that you’ve remembered all of his siblings names, and correctly at that

- “Now tell me about your twin”

- Your eyes are twinkling when they look to him. All of London stretches out behind you, like something from a painting. Your face is illuminated by the small candle in the middle of your table.

- It feels like something out of a movie, and George is afraid he might cry from the sheer beauty of it

- He never thought he would feel this way again

- “His name was Fred, and he was my best friend”

- He’s talked about Fred before, to his family, to his therapist and old classmates

- But he’s never had an experience quite like this

- “Umbridge? Oh she was the worst, like the bitter old nun who slaps your wrists with a ruler”

- Only worse

- “Anyway Fred and I- we planned this entire thing when we decided to leave school-“

- He tells you about the fireworks in the main hall of their boarding school, and the way they raced through the door and never came back

- “I think I would have liked Fred” you say, a warm look in your eyes

- He would have liked you too, George wants to say

- But that’s a little forward for the first date, he feels like he’s already unloaded enough with his broken family and their loss

- Lucky for him, dessert has just arrived

- “Compliments of the owner, we hope to see you both here again” Charles tells you, setting down two impressive plates of Tiramisu

- “Why do I get the feeling that whatever you did was more than just a last minute order fulfillment?”

- You shrug

- “Well after the whole thing- they started contracting me to do their regular day to day flowers” you shrug, it’s not that big of a deal, fancy places like this use a few different vendors, they probably have a different one for each day

- Which is for the best since your shop can only handle a few days at most.

- It’s not that you can’t produce enough flowers or anything, it’s just you wouldn’t be able to give Ainsley and Henry the leisurely work hours you do now, not while maintaining quality for your existing customers

- And that’s a big no for you

- “I take it business was always this good?”

- With how successful you seem, he honestly can’t imagine you struggling

- You scoff

- “It was tough at first, when I was by myself.” You still remember your family telling you that it wasn’t to late to declare bankruptcy and get a real job. “Things got better when Ainsley showed up- holidays are still tough though.”

- “Ron’s told me all about the hour long line at Valentine’s Day” George says with a grin and you bury your face in your hands with a muffled groan

- “Oh it’s going to be terrible this year.” Valentine’s Day is still a few months away, but you can already feel the dread

- “We started doing appointments only last year- because the amount of people that just show up and ransack the place is just-“

- “Oh I know,” George says. “My store doesn’t even sell anything all that romantic, but the amount of people who show up last minute to buy anything- one time a bloke even bought the decorations I had up.”

- “Have you noticed-“ you voice lowers as you lean forward. “That’s it’s never people looking for things for their significant other, it’s always-“

- “For the mistresses?”

- You nod enthusiastically

- “I thought maybe it was just my store-“ George leans forward as well now, talking very quickly

- “No the same person who ordered flowers two months in advance for their husband, will spend thirty minutes begging for me to put a bouquet together for their special friend”

- George leans back and shakes his head

- “It’s crazy isn’t it? How many people cheat?”

- You sigh, leaning back into your chair shrugging

- “It’s not our place to judge.”

- Especially not when the person in question is shoving fifty quid in your face for a god d*mn cactus and a card

- George knows that, and he knows there have been times that the only reason he was able to keep his shop afloat after Fred left is because of Valentine’s Day

- But still- cheating just irks him

- It’s the most unforgivable thing a person can do, to betray the person they love the most like that

- George knows every relationship is different- and that things aren’t clear cut-

- But he can’t ever imagine doing that to someone

- “I don’t get it though, I can’t even get one lover, let alone two or more” you laugh, and George swears it looks like you’re glowing

- He feels a smile twitch at the corner of his lips, the mischievous streak in him rolling awake after what feels like years of slumber

- “What if I told you I was trying to change that?”

- His arm is on the table, the tips of his fingers brushing against yours slightly

- You feel your face grow hot as his words sink in one by one

- A smile spreading across you face

- “I would say, I’m looking forward to it.”

BONUS:

- “So did you find out if Hottie’s color is natural?” Ainsley asks, a mischievous smile curled onto their lips. 

- “Ainsley, his name is George, he owns a hobby store a few lanes over.” You say as you finish tying the bow on an arrangement. 

- There’s a second of silence in which Henry and Ainsley exchange a look. Henry’s feeling pretty confident right now, Ainsley might have worked here longer than him, but he feels like he knows you pretty well, and he-

- “And yes it is, so you should both stop calling him Dye Job.” You say with a smile twitching on your lips. 

- Henry.exe is broken.

- Ainsley has to hide their joy, internally cheering and wondering how to spend the money. 

- “H-how do you know that?” Henry asks, maybe you’re just saying it so he and Ainsley will stop teasing your new love interest. 

- You stop, looking up from your arrangement in slight wonder.

- Ah, he was right! It looks like you’re trying to come up with an excuse.

- “Well his brothers all seem to have that hair color, I think they get it from their Dad.”

- Ainsley and Henry.exe have stopped working. 

- “YoU mEt HiS fAmIlY??” Ainsley shrieks.