#raphael has the best most cared for wings in all of heaven change my mind

[shipping-all-ships]

Raphael ends up bonding with Jack before any other archangel because they screamed when they saw the piss poor state of Jack's wings ("of course both of your failure of fathers didn't teach you how to care for them!") and forced Jack down to pick put the junk and straighten the feathers and brush away the dirt. It takes all day and they talk and bond.

[writingtoforgetreality]

Happy Birthday - The Devil´s Daughter Chapter One (Lucifer Morningstar x Daughter!Reader)

[Lucifer-Masterlist], [The Devil´s Daughter-Masterlist]

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Summary: Being the Devil´s daughter was not particularly fun but it was something you could not change, unfortunately. What would you do on your birthday when you finally had the chance to leave heaven? Leave everything behind and start over on Earth?

Words: 1,702

Warnings: Lucifer Season 5 Part 1 spoilers, nothing too crazy yet (pretty much introducing everything), Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, God, (Y/A) = your age, (Y/E/C) = your eye color

If you like my work & wanna support me: a coffee would be highly appreciated ❤

Heaven. Everyone has their own imagination of this place. Of how beautiful it is. Some people believe while others don´t. You, though, you did believe in heaven. How could you not? You had been there your entire life. Why, you ask? Well, you were an angel and angels were supposed to be up there. You were not an ordinary angel, though. What made you special was your father. The Devil. Yes, you heard that right. The daughter of the rebel, someone who was “disliked” by pretty much every single existing angel. We don´t need to talk about his reputation. Even though you had never met your father, you had been excluded from all angelic doings. Therefore, what other people saw as paradise, you saw as hell. Ironic, wasn´t it?

In all your years of existing, you had met a total of three other angels and, the one and only, God himself. Apparently, nobody else wanted to be close to you. You were the devil´s daughter, you did not have the best reputation either but you had never hurt anyone and never would. As you can imagine, being pretty much alone most of the time was rather boring. Once a day, Micheal came by to keep you company for a while. The two of you were close, he always made sure you felt comfortable and never judged you by your origin. It was not something you could change anyway. On lucky days, all three angels, archangels to be precise, were at your chambers. Mostly you guys chatted but sometimes you even had game nights, your absolute favorite. To say you were thankful for Michael, Gabriel and Raphael would be understatement. Without them, you would have gone insane ages ago. To you, heaven felt like a prison. You were not allowed anywhere but your chambers. “(Y/N), it´s for your own good, trust me.” God had told you this sentence way too many times and you were starting to grow tired of it.

While you were alone, the one thing you loved doing was watching Earth and humanity. How they lived so freely without any restrictions. It was no secret that you wanted to leave heaven as soon as you would turn (Y/A). By then, you would be allowed to go anywhere you liked, without God telling you what to do. Especially Michael listened to your complaints and wishes closely. You were sure you had his support since he had told you many times before. One person you did not tell. God. Maybe because you knew his answer. Maybe because he would try everything to keep you up here, even if you had not felt happy in years. Humans did not know you were the Devil´s daughter, your reputation down there would be just fine. At least that was what you had told yourself. It did not matter anyway, your mind was set. Your birthday was in one day. One day and you would finally be free. Away from the negative energy heaven and its angels were giving you. You knew you were about to make the right decision even if it meant that you disappointed God. But this was different from what your father did, right? Rebelling meant something completely different. You simply wanted to feel free and you knew you could never achieve that if you stayed in heaven. Would God hate you forever, like Lucifer?

“You know there´s literally no need for you to knock. We´ve talked about that, Mike.” you chuckled. Mike. That was the nickname you gave Michael a while ago. He seemed to like it so you kept calling him so.

“Yeah but what if you´re changing.” he entered, wearing his smirk. His appearance made you smile. Only a few more hours until you would be gone. Looking at him made you realize that, maybe, you would miss one thing. One angel. Him. He always had your back, told you stories about your father. Because of him, you knew you were nothing like Lucifer. Everything he had done? You used to be disgusted by sharing one bloodline. Michael, though, he helped you through all of your dark phases, telling you that you were so much better. Could do so much better. He knew you were no Devil. So did Gabriel and Raphael but Michael was another story. As mentioned, he meant a big deal to you, kind of being the father you always wished you had.

“What are you doing here? I thought you said you were busy today?” confusion was shown all over your face.

“Can´t miss my favorite´s birthday now, can I?” Micheal answered, stepping closer to your bed were you were currently sitting.

“Yeah...the big (Y/A), huh?” your eyes were focused on your hands in your lap. All of a sudden, you felt a wave of guilt hitting you. Micheal was far older than you yet had never left heaven. And you, you saw the first chance and were about to leave right away.

“You´re leaving, aren´t you?” you could feel his eyes on you but you did not dare to look at him. You would break down, something you definitely did not want to do.

“I never made a secret out of it.”

“Except for Dad.” Michael interjected.

“Except for him.” a door opening made the both of you look up.

“Father, we just talked about you.”

“Mike!” you glared at him.

“(Y/N), do you really think I don´t know what you´re planning?” God gave you a look of what you read as sympathy.

“But I never-”

“(Y/N). I´m God, did you forget that? I knew you were up to this for as long as you, trust me.” he made his way over to Michael and you, stopping right in front of you.

“You are mad.” again, your eyes drifted to your lap. You felt exposed in front of him.

“I`m not. I just want you to know that you will never feel this type of safety on Earth. Humans are...well, humans. You don´t belong there, (Y/N). You belong in heaven, like me, like Michael.” God tried reasoning. You were right, he wanted to change your mind.

“I might not be as safe but at least I would have freedom. Space to move. Not just one single chamber for eternity.” by now, tears of frustration were forming at the corner of your (Y/E/C) eyes. How could he be so convinced of himself? He had no idea of how you felt being locked up.

“(Y/N), sweetie, he just wants to keep you safe.” Michael said, putting one of his arms around your shoulders, something he did to calm you down.

“Are you serious, Mike? I thought you supported my plan? Have you been lying to me?” you shook his arm off of you, looking at him with a hurtful expression.

“No, never. I would never lie to you. (Y/N), just think this through.” Michael changed sides right in front of your eyes.

“Mike, you know I want that. You should, too.” by the last part you made sure to look straight at God.

“(Y/N), you´re special. Nobody will-”

“MAYBE I DON´T WANNA BE SPECIAL!” you screamed. This was the first time you ever raised your voice but you were so frustrated, so angry, that you did not know what else to do. Both, God and Michael were taken aback by your sudden outburst.

“All my life, you told me I was special. Well, for instance,  I wouldn´t say being Satan´s daughter is special when I have never met him! I´m an angel with wings like everyone else and I happen to be Lucifer´s offspring BUT that doesn´t make me special, okay? What´s special about being in my chambers all day long, doing literally nothing but daydreaming? I´m leaving and you won´t be able to change my mind. I´ll be gone soon then you don´t have to worry about me anymore.” by the time you finished, you were facing the wall away from Michael and God.

“If you are leaving, don´t think about coming back. I gave you everything. Kept you and your not so special wings safe and that´s what I get in return? I´ll see you when you´re begging on your knees in front of heaven´s doors. Happy Birthday, (Y/N).” and with that, God left.

“Sure, special wings. Just because they´re not black like the others.” you mumbled under your breath. When you turned around, you still saw Michael sitting on your bed, looking at you expectantly. He did not leave with God and you were not quite sure why he was still with you after everything he just said.

“What?” you questioned after the staring became too uncomfortable for you.

“Just know that I still support you. Go to Earth, have adventures. If you ever need anything...I´m only one prayer away. Happy Birthday, sweetie. See you soon.” he was about to turn towards your door when you ran into his arms, hugging him with tears in your eyes.

“Mike? Thank you for everything you´ve ever done for me. You were the only one who accepted me from the first moment on. My wings didn´t matter to you, my origin didn´t matter to you. I mattered and I am forever grateful for that. I´d be happy if you visited me once, Mike. You´ll always be welcome to stay with me. Besides, you´ve never been to Earth either. It could be fun.” your eyes shined when you looked at his face, releasing the hug.

“It could be, yeah. Bye, (Y/N), take care of yourself.” before you had the chance to say anything back, you found yourself alone in your chambers. This was it. The moment you had waited (Y/A) years for. A few more minutes and your life could finally begin. Really begin. Without anyone judging you by your wings, by your father. Just (Y/N). You were ready for it. What city would you visit first? Paris? London? No. There had always been a city you were drawn to. Ironically, it was called the City of Angels aka Los Angeles. LA. Name it as you want. That would be your first stop. What would be waiting for you there? You were eager to find it out.

~to be continued~

Next Chapter

Published (08/24/2020) by Cathy

Tags: @fandomqueen2003, @natashaashleymarvelromanoff, @severewobblerlightdragon, @tenderlyunlikelyexpert, @zoseph, @comicbucky-s, @dad-ee-drea (let me know if you want to be tagged <3)

[lady-divine-writes]

Good Omens - “Death Takes a Holiday” (Rated PG13)

Summary: Azrael and Raphael are stuck trying to give relationship advice to a woman stuck in a literal Hallmark Christmas Movie, but she's just not getting the message. Raphael is having the time of his existence, but Azrael isn't too sure how much more Christmas cheer he can take. (2257 words)

Notes: Written for @theantichristmaszine 2020, and inspired by @dianacrimsonia's Ineffable Opposites au where Aziraphale is Azrael, the Angel of Death, and Crowley is the Archangel Raphael. Diana's art for this fic can be seen on their Insta: dianacrimsonia. Please go give them all the love :)

Read on AO3.

“So let me get this straight …” Azrael plants both hands on the table, staring down in frustration at the starry-eyed red-head in front of him “… you’re prepared to leave it all, your entire life, everything you’ve built from the ground up on this miserable cesspool of a planet … for love?”

A smile, serene in its decision, content with a shiny vision of the future, answers him before a single word slips past perky, coral-tinted lips. “Yes. I am.”

Azrael slaps the wood as he pushes himself upright. “That’s rubbish, that is.”

An amused tilt of the head sends crimson curls spilling over a narrow shoulder. “How can you possibly believe that? How can you go through life not realizing that love is the greatest God-given force in the universe?”

“How did he get you to do it? Hmm?” Azrael asks, purposefully dodging the question. “You’ve been here, what? Three days? A week tops? What magical spell did he cast that would lead you to make such an asinine decision?”

“Well … we went on a hayride,” manicured fingers count off, “we went Christmas tree shopping, watched the candy puller make candy canes, listened to carolers ... Oh! We had hot chocolate and then ...” A pause, followed by a dreamy sigh “… he kissed me. At this cafe. Right here at this picnic table, as a matter of fact.”

Azrael jerks his hands off the table top as if burned, scowling at the bench beneath his bent right knee as if it were diseased. “We had hot chocolate and then he kissed me,” he mimics, dreamy sigh and all. “You are, without a doubt, the most insufferable creature I have ever met! And if you had a clue who I play Pinochle with on Thursday nights, you’d know that that’s saying something.”

“In her defense, the hot chocolate here is very good,” Raphael offers, taking a careful sip of the steaming liquid in his own Frosty the Snowman mug.

Azrael’s eyes shift away from the infuriating woman sitting in front of him to the equally infuriating angel seated down the bench from him. “Please enlighten me, sunshine, on how you keep getting us into these unsavory situations.”

Raphael raises his eyes, countering Azrael’s glare with a mischievous grin as a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells - Azrael’s least favorite Christmas tune of all time - begins from out of nowhere. “I read. A lot.”

“I may have to confine your literary resources to picture books from now on.”

“We’re here because we’re needed,” Raphael explains to his unamused companion. “Obviously there’s something we need to accomplish. A message we need to send. It’s kind of what angels do during the holidays.”

“Seeing as we’re stuck in a movie on what’s apparently called The Hallmark Channel,” Azrael divines, squinting at a golden emblem that follows them around like a puppy no matter where they go, “I would say that part is accurate.” He turns back to the woman who has done nothing since the moment his attentions went elsewhere, as if she only exists when he’s interacting with her. And even though he’s an Angel of Death, regarded as one of the spookiest, most sinister omens in all of recorded history, it creeps him out.

“Does he have any investments?” Azrael implores, returning to their lost cause. “A retirement plan? A 401K?”

Sara shakes her head.

“Does he at least collect commemorative plates!?”

“Those things aren’t important to him,” she announces superiorly. “Besides, I have enough money socked away to take care of the both of us. We’ll want for nothing, as long as we have …”

“Love. Yeah. I get it. Probably what he’s counting on, the leech. Man almighty,” Azrael grumbles, running a hand down his face in frustration. “Unbelievable! This dillhole should be working downstairs with us!”

“Simon doesn’t want to raise his son around a den of corporate greed!” Sara argues passionately.

“Really?” Azrael scoffs. “What about a den of good schools and culture? Does he believe in those things?”

“All we need is love.”

“What you need, lady, I can’t seem to say out loud.”

“That’s because this movie is rated PG,” Raphael interjects. “You can’t curse here.”

“Pity. Give me exactly five seconds and I’ll make their ratings go through the roof.”

“More like in the toilet. Guidelines for these movies are extremely strict.” Raphael stirs his cocoa, staring wistfully into his cup. “Darling? You do believe in the power of love, don’t you?” he asks, a deep, abiding concern coloring his voice.

“Of course I believe in the power of love!” Azrael stares up at the too bright, too blue sky, mentally venting using every four-letter word he can think up. “But sometimes the power of stupidity is stronger!” He sighs, so long and hard it deserves its own backstory. “Look, lady, love is grand and all, but so is carving a name for yourself and being able to make your condo payments!”

“Love will provide,” is the only reply she gives him.

“This is a nightmare!” Azrael groans, taking a seat opposite his angel and burying his face in his hands.

“I don’t know,” Raphael says, gaining a chipper lilt and a gleeful little wiggle. “I’m having a grand time!”

“Yes, well, you’ve eaten seven Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer cookies, drunk three mugs of cocoa, and you bought a quilt!”

“It’s Amish! Hand stitched! Did you see the craftsmanship?”

“You won’t be able to take it with you,” Azrael points out in a taunting, sing-song way.

“The Hell I won’t,” Raphael murmurs, diving into the mound of marshmallows swimming at the top of his mug.

“This Holy Holiday Messenger gig is all well and good, but did you really have to go and get us stuck in an American movie?”

“I had no control over that, love. But look on the bright side (for you) - we’re not going to be here forever.”

“No?” Azrael blows out an incredulous breath through tightly pursed lips, producing a rude sound that turns a few heads. “It’s only going to feel like it.”

“The spell will wear off in twenty-four hours, I assure you. Which should give us plenty of time to …”

Azrael cuts Raphael off with a look that could melt lead. Raphael puts his hands up in surrender.

“Fine. Here - let me give it a go. Maybe all this needs is a touch of Grace.” Raphael scoots closer to Sara, who’s gazing blankly at a tall, overly decorated tree, with moony eyes. “Look, dear, as much as I hate to admit it, my gloomy but pragmatic friend is right.”

Sara turns on him, glaring like he just spit in her cocoa. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah,” Azrael says. “Excuse me?”

“It seems as though you have just as much wrapped up in your life in New York as your young man does in his daydream of fixing up a run down horse ranch that he doesn’t even have the capital to purchase yet. If I were you, I would go home, back to your life and your job. And either the two of you work things out apart and see how it goes, or find someone whose ideals better line up with yours. Someone who is worthy of you, who wouldn’t ask you to give up everything to live here with him. Because love - true love, the kind of love that lasts - doesn’t come from the sacrifices others ask you to make. It’s about the sacrifices you’re willing to make for others, freely and unsolicited.”

Sara stares open-mouthed at the traitor sitting beside her. But as aghast as she appears, there’s a moment when both Raphael and Azrael think a light bulb has gone off. She’ll agree with them, thank them for their time and their sage advice, then be off, winging her way back to NYC. But after a few blinks, she slowly shakes her head, tsking with every turn of her neck. “You guys just don’t understand the meaning of Christmas.”

Raphael shrugs and slides back to his original seat. “Guess not.”

“Don’t fret, my pet,” Azrael teases. “You tried your best. Guess it wasn’t a matter of Grace after all. There’s no getting through to her, is there?”

“We don’t need to,” Raphael says, reconvening with his cocoa.

Azrael frowns. “What do you mean?”

“I mean the person who needed that message has heard it, and has changed their mind about giving up everything for someone who isn’t willing to meet them half way.”

“Who was it?” Azrael asks, sweeping his gaze around, trying to spot the love lost soul in question.

“Someone out there.” Raphael gestures off to his right. “A real life person out in television land.”

Azrael grins at this turn of events, giddy with relief. “That’s … that’s wonderful! Now we can get the Heaven out of here!”

“Uh … n-no.” Raphael fidgets sheepishly with his mug. “I-I’m afraid we’re stuck here for the full twenty-four hours.”

“Wha---? How!? How can that be!? We fulfilled the requirements of the spell, didn’t we!?”

“Y-yes, but …”

“I know the rules behind these ultimatum locked spells! Once you fulfill your duty, then …” Struck by a sudden realization, Azrael turns wide, scolding eyes on his angel. “Raphael! What did you …?”

“I’m sorry, dear! But when I felt the spell start to pull us out, I just … shrugged it off!”

“But I didn’t shrug it off! How come I didn’t leave?”

“Funny thing that.” Raphael giggles nervously, peeking up at Azrael through glittering lashes. “I sort of … overrode it.”

“Raphael!”

“Azrael! It’s Christmas! I have been trying and trying to get you to take time off and go away with me! This twenty-four hours outside of time could be a holiday for us! Look at all the neat stuff they have planned!” Raphael snaps up a festively decorated flier. “Apple cider tasting, cookie decorating, a peppermint eating contest … and look! A Mistletoe Forest! Do you know what that means?”

Azrael crosses his arms over his chest. “It means this entire town has a huge fungus problem?”

“It’s a forest covered in mistletoe! Mist-le-toe!” Raphael repeats as if talking to a stubborn toddler. “You know … if you’re into that sort of thing.”

“Parasites?”

“No.” Raphael wraps a glimmering curl coyly around one slender finger. “I was thinking more along the lines of dozens of hidden corners to get caught under and kiss.”

“My star …” Azrael inches closer, lowering his voice in the hopes that only his love will hear him “… if you want me to kiss you, all you have to do is ask. In fact, you don’t have to say a word. Just look my way and bat those golden eyelashes of yours. I’ll kiss you anywhere you want, wherever you want,” he emphasizes with a cheeky bounce of his eyebrows. “We don’t need mistletoe for that.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Raphael breathes in deep, exhales long. “If you want to leave, I’ll understand. I’m sure that I can summon a portal and send you back to your mortuary. Your grim, dreary, lonely mortuary, with that single, sad wreath on the door …”

Raphael sniffs theatrically.

Azrael rolls his eyes.

“Would spending the day here make you happy?” Azrael asks with the enthusiasm of someone about to have teeth pulled sans anesthetic in preparation for a lengthy root canal. “Really happy?”

“Yes,” Raphael answers hopefully, sparkling a vibrant gold like the nebula he is. “Effervescently.”

“I can see that,” Azrael mutters. “All right.” He drops down onto the hard bench, level with Raphael’s beaming gaze, and despite this whole headache, he smiles. What can he say? He loves to see his starshine happy. “Finish your cocoa and come along. We have a PG rating to tank.”

“Ooo! Is that one of your fantasies? Whisking me off to the woods like a cad and having your way with me?” Raphael asks, blithely misreading Azrael’s mood. Too eager to be on their way, he snaps his fingers, transforming his snowman mug into an argyle-printed Thermos to transport his cocoa in. He wouldn’t want to waste good cocoa. Real or not, it’s way too tasty to leave behind. “Oh! Shall I change into a dress? I know! Something Victorian! With a red-trimmed corset and …!”

Azrael catches Raphael’s hand before he can snap his fingers again.

“Raphael! You are a strong, fiercely independent archangel! I would not think to insult you by acting out a fantasy that employs such a flawed and sexist stereotype!”

“Oh,” Raphael squeaks, equal parts stunned by Azrael’s response as disappointed, causing his shimmer to dim. “Oh, I apologize. Yes. Yes, I see your point. I …”

Azrael brings Raphael’s hand to his mouth, a wicked grin spreading his lips as he kisses Raphael’s knuckles one at a time, stopping to swirl the tip of his tongue on the soft web of skin in between, making Raphael’s glow go from brilliant to blinding. “That said - yes. Yes, it is. So please, if you don’t mind … wear the dress.”

***

The Hallmark Channel movie ‘Death Takes a Holiday’, which network execs couldn’t recall green lighting, not a single director remembered directing, nor likewise any of the writers recalled writing, was so insanely popular that, by virtue of a voracious, fan-led letter writing campaign, it ran for three weeks into the New Year, and prompted a sequel for Valentine’s - ‘Death Takes a Spouse’.

[drop-of-infinity]

No one asked for this but I continued my Destiel fic! This part is canon compliant with season 5.

Chapter one is here

<><><><><><><><><>

Chapter 2: Season 5

Sympathy for the Devil

{“I learned that from my friend Cas you son of a bitch.” It feels good to say, both the statement and the insult. It feels like a promise, a promise that Dean will get Cas back because he is his friend. Friends with a literal angel he thinks, and his lips twitch. They’ll get him back.

{“Put these boys back together and go. I won’t ask twice.” Dean feels more relief then he thought he would, the kind that takes the air out of your lungs and makes your knees weak. Cas is here and alive and safe and he just saved them, and maybe things will be okay.

{Cas knows he has a purpose. God him back, and that makes him feel like it’s okay to listen to his heart. God brought him back, so it’s okay to threaten Zacharia. God brought him back, so he’s allowed to save Dean, and he’s allowed to want to save Dean, and to want to keep him safe. God brought him back, so he’s allowed to want. Right?

Good God

{“I rebelled and I did it, all of it, for you.” It’s true, and Cas knows it as he says it. Some part of him thinks maybe he shouldn’t have said it though, because the way Dean is looking at him implies that he didn’t know that.

{All of it for me? Dean rolls the words around in his head, over and over. I did it, all of it, for you. Cas had been angry when he said it, but that doesn’t stop the warmth creeping across Dean’s chest at the thought.

Free to be you and me

{“I need your help because you are the only one who will help me.” Dean can’t say no after that. Cas rebelled for him after all, he’s all the angel’s got. I guess we’re going to capture an archangel.

{“When humans want something really really bad, we lie.” Dean straightens Cas’s tie as he talks, and Cas fights to ignore the lingering warmth from his fingers. They figure out where Raphael is, and Cas can’t help but think that if this is his last night on Earth, at least he gets to spend it with a friend.

{“I’ve never had the occasion!” Cas realizes with horror that his face is warm. Angels do NOT get embarrassed. Dean keeps talking about women and- other things, and Cas glances at his mouth as he talks. He looks away again immediately, heart pounding in his chest. What is wrong with me?

{“There are two things I know. One, Bert and Ernie are gay and two, you’re not gonna die a virgin. Not on my watch.” Dean winces slightly. That might not have been the best way to phrase that, but hey. Cas deserves to have fun once in his life, and Dean is going to make sure he does.

{“Come on.” They run out of the building and sit in the Impala. Dean can’t help it, he starts laughing. Cas’s face when that girl had yelled at him- he glances over to see the angel wearing a similarly confused look and laughs harder.

{“It’s been a long time since I laughed this hard.” Cas stares at Dean’s smile, and revels in the fact that he’s the one who put it there.

{“Who cares what some ninja turtle says Cas. What do you believe?”

“I believe he’s out there.”

“Then let’s go find him.” Cas looks at Dean and realizes he’s serious. Dean isn’t giving up. Of course he isn’t. He never does. Despite what just happened, Cas smiles. He’s not alone in this mess.

{“I’ve had more fun with you in the last 24 hours then I’ve had with Sam in years.” Dean isn’t sure that’s fair to say, but he says it all the same. This feels fundamentally different then the fun he has with Sam. This feels almost giddy.

The End

{“What happened to you?”

“Life.” Dean stares at the man in front of him, who is Cas but so obviously not. Cas, but... not my Cas.

{“Good timing.”

“We had an appointment.” This Cas he knows, and the angel’s tiny smile lit with the glow of street signs makes his heart speed up, just a little. Dean doesn’t notice. He’s preoccupied with assuring himself that this is his time, that Sam is alive and Cas is here.

{“Don’t ever change.” Cas is taken aback by this... affection? By this request. He looks into Dean’s eyes -green like the first time I saw grass. I was so amazed that anything like that existed. Heaven is all blue and white- and wonders how he’ll manage that when he has been changed so much already.

Episodes 13-16

{“I’m.. fine.” Cas collapses against Sam and Dean. As he loses consciousness, he wonders why he’ll go against his better judgement in two seconds when Dean asks. A small, hidden part of him -one that is only heard in the brief interval between being awake and dead to the world- whispers that he knows the answer already.

{“He’s tough for a little nerdy dude with wings.” Dean hides the depth of his worry. They have other problems. Cas will be okay, he’s always okay.

{“I’m there now.”

“Yeah I get that.”

“I’m going to hang up now.” Dean’s field of view is completely covered by bright blue eyes. Personal space he thinks distantly. He decides Cas’s sudden appearance is to blame for his heart speeding up. He must have been startled, that’s all.

{“I’m dead.”

“Condolences.” Dean almost laughs. Well, at least he’s not completely alone in this mess.

17-18

{“You should probably just down the whole bottle.” Dean is trying to reassure him. Cas can see it. He’s talking gently and he’s being kind and his eyes and voice are soft. It’s strange that it works. Angels aren’t supposed to feel his mind whispers. I think we’re well past that his heart replies.

{“When I picture myself happy, it’s here. You and the kid.” Lisa stares at Dean. It’s true he thinks. It FELT true to say. Unbidden, an image comes to his mind. Cas, standing under the glow of a neon sign after saving him from Zacharia, a secret smile on his face like it was a joke only they understood. Dean pushes the image away. He has the freaking apocalypse to worry about.

{“Cas not for nothing, but the last person who looked at me like that, I got laid.” Dean winks, and Cas has bigger things to worry about, but he wonders why human vessels are so easily flustered.

{“I gave everything for you, and this is what you give to me?” Cas has that feeling he gets sometimes that means what I just said was true but I maybe shouldn’t have said it. He learned emotions from Sam and Dean for the most part. He wondered where he’d picked up on this one.

Two Minutes to Midnight

{Cas figured out he was human pretty soon after he woke up in a hospital bed. The biggest difference, he found, were the depths of emotions. Angels aren’t supposed to feel, so Cas’s feelings usually seemed like cracks in the pavement. People were commanded by emotions, so his feelings now seemed like tidal waves. He was drowning. He was more scared then he’d ever been, not because of the apocalypse but because he was alone in a strange city. On top of that he... he missed Dean. He missed him with a fierceness, an ache in his chest that made it hard to breathe. When he hears Dean’s voice on the other end of the phone line, something warm blooms in his chest. It’s rather alarming.

{“You are not the burnt and broken shell of a man I believed you to be.” Dean’s relief that Cas is alive allows him to find that statement funny instead of insulting. He’s okay. He’s okay he’s okay.

{When Dean hangs up and Cas is left alone again, he feels his eyes sting. Castiel cries for the first time in his existence not because he is a human, but because he misses one.

Swan Song

{Sam has been taken by Lucifer, and everyone has given up except Dean. Fine he thinks, although he knows it isn’t. I’ll do it by myself, but he knows he can’t. Cas suggesting getting drunk instead of trying to stop the apocalypse takes Dean back-forwards? To 2014. I asked you not to change he thinks bitterly as he drives away.

{“Hey, assbutt!” Cas can’t believe what he’s doing even as he does it, but he knows he would do it a million times to keep Dean safe. And as Lucifer blows him into pieces, he has no regrets.

{“Cas?” Sam is gone, and Lucifer is gone, and Michael is gone, and Cas... is here? Dean tries to process this as Cas gently lays two fingers on his forehead and heals him. Dean leans forward a little bit, too tired to stop himself from chasing the touch.

{“What would you rather have, peace or freedom?”

“You really suck at goodbyes you know that?” Dean knocks on the door and finds Lisa, because he loves her and Sam asked him to. Once again, he ignores the mental picture of Cas with a half smile standing under a street sign. He feels uncomfortably grounded.

{As Cas goes back to heaven, he wonders why his emotions aren’t as muted as they were before. Maybe being human changed him somehow. As he flies back towards being a good little soldier, he can’t help glancing longingly down.

But there are other things to worry about, and neither of them have time to yearn for things just out of reach.

[predictmyfuture]

The Most Comprehensive Guide to the Meaning of Red Cardinal Birds

What is a Red Cardinal?

The Red Cardinal bird is a brilliant crimson red songbird, also known as the Northern Cardinal or just Cardinal. This article is going to delve deeply into the totem animal meaning of the cardinal. The reason why it comes into your dreams, what the reason is that you’re explicitly noticing the cardinal right now, and much more.

The Cardinal finds its home across the Americas, with many spotted in California. However, mysterious sightings are reported worldwide and are associated with the belief that the Red Cardinal has strong connections to the spiritual world and has many psychic links. This is also known as Cardinal Symbolism.

What is the Meaning of Cardinal Birds and What do They Represent?

Red Cardinal birds can have many meanings depending on the circumstances you are in when one is sighted. Cardinals are messengers delivering messages of Hope, Passion, Love, Personal Strength, and Endurance. Spotting a Red Cardinal means so much more than just to put a smile on your face because of its beauty; however, keep reading to find out what the cardinal represents for you!

What do Red Cardinals Symbolize?

Red Cardinal birds can be a symbol of many things and will visit you at points in your life when you need a spiritual message. The word cardinal, from the Latin word cardo, means axis or hinge. Like a door hinge, the cardinal is considered the hinge on the doorway connecting our physical world to the spirit world. They are messengers bridging the gap between our worlds. and they are guides and animal totems, loved ones bringing you peace. They are beautiful and wise. A Psychic from CA (California) said the following “What I saw was a symbolic spiritual sign, and the phenomenon is known as a Cardinal experience. Two of the beautiful cardinals were courting each other, one feeding seeds to the other. This carried deep meaning. I saw that the client would meet her soulmate that month and told her what to watch for. She met someone 23 days later, the man who became her husband.”  

She had spotted the Cardinals in her garden in California. How’s that for Red Cardinal Symbolism!

What is the Meaning of Seeing a Red Cardinal?

If you spot a cardinal, it can only be a good thing; spiritually, they tend only to deliver complimentary messages of hope and enlightenment. When they come to you, it is no accident; the universe guided them to you that day.

After courtship, Cardinals mate for life. They naturally want to stay close to their homes. They do not even leave for the winter if things get tough, bravely defending and providing for their family. This gives them strong ties to family, love, romance, hope, bravery, and a nurturing devotion to loved ones. This is representative of what their sighting means in your life as well, as per cardinal symbolism.

What Does it Mean If I see a Red Cardinal at my Window?

A Red Cardinal on the other side of your window means that you are slightly closed off from what the messenger has to tell you, or you are not listening. Try to spend more time outside or in meditation to seek the answers that you need in your life. Embrace the visit of this bird and find out what song it is singing to you. If it is a loved one that has passed, perhaps you still need to deal with the loss’s grief. They have returned to let you know that they’re okay and always with you.

Red Cardinals and Death

Red Cardinal birds  are often linked to death but not in a negative way. Often you may see one after a loved one has passed. Usually, this is a family member, close friend, or partner who wants to share an uplifting message or visit you. They want to provide you with strength and hope in these challenging times after your loss.

They often show up when you miss them the most or are in unbearable grief. Feel the warmth they bring and the positivity that has flown into your life with them, savor it and find hope and strength that you have been visited from the other side. Use this new-found strength and endurance to carry on. They also visit at times of celebration or family gatherings, not just at moments of despair.

Showing you that they are always with you and watching over you with love is what they’re saying. If you can sense them and know who they represent, you may have psychic abilities.    

Red Cardinals as a Totem Animal or Spirit Guide

The Red Cardinal may be your spirit guide or totem animal. It can be a great source of strength for you if you can get in touch with your spiritual nature and understand the teachings they have to offer.

A Redbird totem Psychic said the following: “If you can hear the song of the red bird in your heart and your mind, you can trust your inner voice and your intuition greater than most can. Embrace your feminine side and take care of your hypersensitivity. You can be a great leader and pioneer, strong and enduring.”

This spirit animal can help shrug off your fear of death, understand beginnings and endings, and offer hope.  

What a Red Cardinal Bird Showing Up Means About You

You are a natural-born leader with the capacity to endure any storm, enjoying new challenges, and starting new chapters in life. You most likely have excellent strategy skills, self-importance, and organizational skills. Gifted with self-reliance and self-manifestation, you excel with great power being placed upon you.

You should not hide away if you are a Cardinal person. Embrace your crest and brightly colored feathers, wear the clothes you want, the kind that represents you as a person. Don’t be shy; shine bright. Put a bit of that Red Cardinal Symbolism up for display in front of the world!

What Does it Mean When I

Dream of Red Cardinals?

It might be that you didn’t spot a cardinal bird in California – but it arrived in your dreams. A message needs to be delivered to your inner self. It can be a warning that you are not being true to yourself and are acting like something you are not. It’s often a message to stop forcing whatever doesn’t fit in your life to work. Find joy in who you are. Perhaps you missed your calling. Sometimes you ignore essential things in your life that you need to take care of. It’s time for some self-love and to take stock of your life. Explicitly, items that require your attention need to be looked at, then move forward with your life once done with the rearrangement.  

Maybe you saw a Cardinal bird, but it was not Red. In the spiritual world, the cardinal can be any color it chooses. Suppose it visits you in this form while you sleep. In that case, it’s a positive spiritual message that something defining and magical, unusual, and unexpected is about to take place. Brace yourself but be sure to go with the flow when it feels right to do so. Plans might change at the drop of a hat but trust the Cardinal to guide you.

Suppose the Red Cardinal has become a regular part of your dreams. In that case, it may be trying to tell you that you are a Redbird totem person or that it is here as your spirit animal guide. Furthermore, it may indicate that you have untapped and unknown psychic abilities.The wise spiritual messenger is trying to bring this to your attention.

What should I do if I see a Red Cardinal Bird?

Relax and be mindful. Please don’t interfere with the red cardinal bird but observe it with reverence and allow it to go about its business unhindered. At peace and relaxed in the same space as the Red Cardinal, ask yourself why the bird is there. Does it have a message for you, or is it purely a family member come to put you at peace or bring a smile to your face.

If you receive repeated visits from the Cardinal bird, it may be your totem animal or spirit guide. It may have a message for you that you do not understand fully or have not acted on. It might be here to deliver the message that you – like the cardinal bird, have links to the spiritual realm far more significant than others.

How well do you know yourself? Have you truly embraced your inner self? Are you living true to yourself in every way possible? Meditate on this or talk to someone about how to live up to your true potential. Respect this noble messenger. The Red Cardinal Symbolism at play here is not to be ignored.

Red Cardinal Birds and Numerology

One defining characteristic of the Cardinal is that they remain in the same place all year round, defending their family and territory. Thus, otherwise known as ‘year-round’ birds, their numerology association is number 12. Made up of prime number 1 and then 2, becoming the number 12 represents independence, harmony, perfection, and completion when placed together. Especially with love and romance because when we find a particular person, we want to be with them all year round, all 12 months.  

Are Red Cardinals Guardian Angels or do they Mean Angels are Near?

Cardinal birds are a sign that angels are near. The Hebrew word for angel is “malach,” and that translates to messenger. Angels are Gods’ messengers. The four angels known as cardinal angels are Uriel, Raphael, Michael, and Gabriel. Our passed loved ones bring angels with them on their journey.

Another link between these birds and angels are their wings, which are often used for protection.

Does God Send Cardinal Birds from Heaven?

Once we die and pass from the earth, our immortal soul goes to heaven. Red Cardinal birds are your loved ones who have passed but returned to visit. Bringing peace or a message; they came from heaven and were sent by God to bring us peace.

Your belief system will define this and what you know to be accurate and right in your heart. It’s best not to let anyone tell you what to believe; you will know in your heart what’s right for you.

An American Indian Legend about the Red Cardinal Bird

This American Indian legend of the Cardinal has been told for generations, and it’s quite interesting!!!

The tale starts with a raccoon walking down a wooded path where he encounters a wolf. The rebellious raccoon cannot resist his nature and proceeded to insult the resting wolf. As the wolf heard the raccoon insulting him, he jumped up and began to chase the rude raccoon. The raccoon sped off as fast as he could, and when he made it to a large tree, he scrambled up to hide in the tree that overhung a creek. The raccoon sighed a sigh of relief, curled up, and stayed silent, hoping the wolf will pass him by.

The wolf, who had lost sight of the raccoon, was out of breath from the chase. Wandering upon a creek, he decided to stop for a drink. As he lapped up the freshwater, he spotted the reflection of the raccoon in the water and dived toward it, snarling. He plunged headfirst into the water only to realize that it is only a reflection of the raccoon.

Amid the watery illusion, the wolf had jumped in the creek without care. It almost drowned in frustration before he reached the safety of the shore.

Exhausted from all this, the wolf quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Naughty Raccoon

The raccoon, still hiding nearby in the tree, saw the wolf fall asleep and climbed down from the tree. Devising a dastardly plan to prank the wolf, he fetched some clay mud from the bottom of the creek. The naughty raccoon plastered the wolfs’ eyes shut with the clay and escaped into the night, highly amused with himself.

When the wolf awoke, he was blind because of the now hardened clay over his eyes. Panicking and struggling in frustration to remove the clay, he failed and began to howl.

A small, dull, and boring brown bird heard the wolf’s lamented howls and fluttered down to him to see if he could help. The unattractive bird pecked away at the clay until the last piece of clay fell away, granting the wolf his sight back.

Grateful Repayment

The wolf was so grateful for the bird’s help that he offered to do anything for the bird. The kind bird explained that he needed no reward, but the wolf had an idea. Inviting the bird to come with him to a place near his home, where red rocks covered the earth, the wolf mixed water with the red rocks. The mixture created a crimson paste. The wolf painted the kind bird red, declaring that he was now a bird of “cardinal” importance. He was now a ‘Red Cardinal Bird.’

From that day on, all his children and children’s children would be born with beautiful crimson feathers.  

What is the overall significance of the Cardinal? Is it Powerful in Other Ways?

As mentioned, “Cardinal” means hinge, and the cardinal birds are the hinges on the door to the spiritual realm.

Cardinals are significant members of the Christian faith and senior officials of the catholic church.

A cardinal direction is one of the four main directions (North, South, East, West)

The cardinal mark is a sea mark, like a buoy used to mark hazards and the course of safe water.

A cardinal number is found in mathematics.

As well as the Red Cardinal bird, there are other species of Cardinal birds. It also shares its namesake with a species of butterfly and a type of freshwater fish.

It is also a plant, a table grape first produced in 1939, perhaps because of the large number of sightings of the red cardinal birds in California.

Cardinal is the name of several places in the United States and Canada; it lends its name to a high school and a power plant.

There is even a comet named Cardinal.

Conclusion – Meaning of the Cardinal

If you see Cardinals, you are likely psychic or intuitive.

Cardinals are hinges on the doorway between our material world and the spirit world.

Cardinals mean angels are near. The Hebrew word for angel translates to messenger.

Take heed of the message the Cardinal is bringing just for you.

Cardinals are messengers from heaven.

Cardinal is a passed family member, close friend, or partner, bringing you an uplifting message.

Cardinals deliver messages of Hope, Passion, Love, Personal Strength, and Endurance.

Passed loved ones are sharing that they are always with you and watching over you with love

You are a natural-born leader with the capacity to endure any storm.

Cardinals in your dreams tell you; it’s time for self-love and taking stock of your life.

The Red Cardinal may be your spirit guide or totem animal, a mighty source of strength for you

[mittensmorgul]

why tell me why everyone says metatron is the worst? i mean yes he is a douche and he killed dean but what naomi did was even more cruel, instead of killing dean herself made (tried) cas do it, he almost did it, naomi is the worst in my list

Hi there! This is an interesting comparison, because I think Naomi and Metatron both started out pretty darn bad. But the more we learned about them, we saw two very different characters with very different motivations, and very different journeys.

Our first impression of Naomi from the end of 8.07, was horrible, indeed. She was The Bad Guy just for the fact she was using Cas, controlling him against his will. We later find out that this is what she’s ALWAYS done. That was her job. Reprogramming angels to “correctly” serve heaven again.

We’re led to believe that she’s the one Cas was sent to back in 4.20 when he was sent off to “boot camp.” We’re led to believe that she was the one who “reprogrammed” Anna and set her back on her “rightful mission” to kill Sam Winchester in 5.13. And we know how she “trained” Cas to kill thousands upon thousands of copies of Dean.

It’s unfortunate that she’d spent most of s8 being the adversary, going so far as to pull that sneaky “lie of omission” stuff with Dean. (cue my re-re-re-reuse of this gif:

Because she’d had an agenda, but that agenda was legitimately to do what she thought was best to protect Heaven and all the angels. She was willing to go to some pretty extreme lengths to achieve it, including misleading Dean about the truth of why Cas ran off with the tablet.)

She was doing her job, believing it to be the correct thing to do. It’s what she’d always done, as horrible as it looks to us.

But I think of her as one of the Bureaucrat Angels, the pencil pushers, the Water Cooler Angels, who suddenly found themselves with a lack of any sort of leadership after a couple of major upheavels in Heaven’s power structure. After the failed apocalypse, and then after the civil war between Cas and Raphael, there was a power vacuum at the top and Naomi was one of the angels who was trying to fill the void.

(we’ve seen what tends to happen to those angels back in s7… they don’t have the right tools to be able to see the bigger picture… sort of like the British MoL in s12 don’t seem to have a grasp of the full picture either, but that’s a meta for another day. And I’m pretty sure someone’s already written meta comparing the BMoL to the heavenly ranks…)

These were the angels Cas was talking about in 6.20, who no matter how he tried, he couldn’t make them see the world another way. It’s like teaching poetry to fish.

Oddly enough, at the end, Naomi started to get the poetry. At least, she was willing to try and learn it.

At the start, she’s also set in opposition to Metatron, who we’re led to believe is a Good Guy (or at least a well-intentioned guy). He’d supposedly been hiding out on Earth for millennia (since God went AWOL), hiding from angels like Naomi who only wanted to crack into his programming for any information that God had given him (as scribe, that included all the various Tablets, all the knowledge of Creation itself). As Cas said in 7.21, that information wasn’t written down for angels. So Metatron ran.

The end of Naomi’s timeline on the show coincides with the beginning of Metatron’s, and their overlap was pretty intense. Naomi was hunting down Metatron when she got word that he’d been found, but by the end of 8.23, the tables have turned dramatically.

From 8.23, Naomi says this to Metatron before starting in on his noodle with the Divine Dental Drill:

“Well, how would you know? You ran before I had the chance. But…here we are. I just have one question before we begin. You had to know that we would leap at the chance to extract all of God’s secrets from that head of yours, which is why I ask myself…Why? Why did the scribe suddenly come in from the shadows? And what are you doing with Castiel?”

But then we have to assume she discovered the truth of Metatron’s plans while digging around in his head, and that leads directly to Naomi’s redemption of sorts, because she didn’t need “redemption,” per se, but only to be able to see that bigger picture, to see that she’d been wrong, and then try her best to make amends for it. And she did try.

She was appalled by Metatron’s true plans. And poor Cas was still snowed. But after she sees the truth, Metatron reveals himself to be the true Bad Guy here:

Do you have any idea what it would be like to be plucked from obscurity, to sit at God’s feet, to be asked to write down his word? The ache I felt when he was gone, telling myself, “Father’s left, but look what he’s left us – paradise.” But you and your Archangels couldn’t leave well enough alone. You ran me from my home. Did you really think you could do all of that to me and there’d be no payback?

He’s doing all of this for SIMPLE REVENGE. Like he eventually tells Chuck himself in 11.20:

METATRON: Well, I was a terrible writer. A worse god. It’s good I’ve got something going for me.CHUCK: Yeah, you know, I have to say, I didn’t see the whole evil-turn thing coming.METATRON: Mm-hmm.CHUCK:  Why did you try to be me?METATRON: That was just a sad, pathetic cry for attention.CHUCK: Who’s attention were you trying to get?METATRON: Yours. You are light… and beauty. Creation. Wrath. Damnation and Salvation. And I don’t care if I was just the angel nearest the door. You picked me. Your light shined on me – Me! Oh, and the warmth. But then you left me. You left all of us.

But it take Metatron three full seasons, losing his grace and becoming human, suffering with learning how to be human, before finally getting a chance to hash out all of his issues with Chuck before he finally moves beyond the repugnant little worm seeking revenge before he can truly do something selfless, standing up to Amara in 11.21.

But Naomi’s change of heart came instantly and decisively in 8.23. Dean was willing to hear her out, but Cas had already chosen to believe in Metatron. Cas had been lured in by Metatron’s deceitful words far more easily than by Naomi’s attempted mind control (and doesn’t that say something powerful about Cas… and also why he’s not nearly so willing to trust in simple words anymore, such as with the BMoL, and even with Dean’s repeated assertion that Cas is part of the family and belongs with them, Fool me once, and all that… *pauses to stab self in own heart*).

Dean was already on the phone with Kevin, who said this (it’s in the words again!):

I think I found the Angel trials, but I don’t see anything about a Nephilim or a Cupid’s bow or anything like that.

So Dean HIGHLY suspects that Metatron has been lying to Cas about what he’s been using him for. But Cas has let himself be convinced.

Naomi shows up and tells Cas that she’s not there to fight him, but Cas just can’t trust her after what she’d done to him. Dean, however (not knowing just how Naomi had hurt Cas), believes her, because he’s also got Kevin on the line essentially backing up what Naomi is telling him about Metatron…

And when Cas gets to Heaven, he finds out that Naomi had been telling the truth, and Metatron had been deceiving him all along. Metatron killed Naomi and stole Cas’s grace and tore the wings off every other angel as an act of petty revenge, which Naomi was only trying to stop.

(and yeah, in the end, after a very long and terrible life, Metatron took the brunt of God’s anger on himself, convinced him to get up off his ass and not throw in the towel on creation, admitted humanity was his best creation, and then sacrificed himself to save it, but everything he did, breaking heaven and being responsible for so much death and destruction AND KILLING DEAN THAT ONE TIME oh gosh Cas will never forgive him for that one... the consequences of all of his actions are still rippling through the universe)

So… how exactly does this make Naomi the worse person?