#raphael needs to learn the hard way that his actions have consequences and that hes not as great of a father as he thinks he is

[soulofamy]

thinking about the most infuriating take i had ever come across a few years ago where someone says that amy didnt actually become a shut-in because she was horrified that she had become a vampire and that instead that was just raphaels PERCEPTION of what was going on, and that the real reason she had fallen into a horrible depression is because she just wanted him to stay home and he simply refused to do that

[rolanslide]

Genuinely one of my favorite things rottmnt did to spice up the usual tmnt character dynamics is giving Raph Eldest Daughter Syndrome and banishing Leo to the Nebulous Middle Child Zone.

Rise Raph is outwardly kind and gentle when he has to be and he loves and cares openly, especially for his family. Rise Leo is the resident funnyman who doesn't treat things seriously and undercuts serious situations with bad jokes. Both of these characterizations seem completely at odds with their previous iterations...... until you really Think about it.

When you give Raphael the responsibility of being the oldest and strongest and the Leader, you get a Raphael who has to learn at a young age that his hot temper has Consequences. You get a Raphael who's hurt his brothers before and never wants to see it happen again. This Raphael has little brothers who look up to him, instead of ones he's always in conflict with. All of this gives us a Raph with a martyr complex that would make Atlas blush, and a Raph that's less afraid to be open with his emotions.

And when you give Leonardo middle child syndrome and take away his title and responsibility of "the Leader", you have a Leonardo who's deeply insecure about himself and is unsure at first how to define himself in the team/family. He becomes the face man/funny guy because he doesn't know how else to apply himself and kinda fears becoming the "boring rational one". He also never had to be the responsible one, even when he was capable of doing so, so when he's forced into responsibility he Fucks up the whole routine for awhile, leadership skills notwithstanding.

And when they squabble over leadership stuff, it's not an issue of who deserves it, or who would be the better leader, it's Raph telling Leo "Oh my god, you're really bad at this and you need to learn how to take responsibility before someone gets hurt." and then Leo learns the hard way what Raph has always known, your actions have consequences when you are in charge.

I like this show a lot.

[inhuman-obey-me]

On Simeon and what it means to be an angel

The beautiful, gentle angel who can smile through just about anything. But what's underneath the ever-present smile of his? Is he really just pure, sweet, and kind?

Not at all. Simeon can be very mischievous at some times, and scarily wrathful at others. Some of you may be thinking, just what kind of angel is someone like that? Well, let's talk about that.

(includes spoilers up to lesson 52)

Starting with the idea of what angels are supposed to be like - the common, pop-culture characterization of angels is that they are pure, merciful, peaceful beings who can only do good and are horrified by anything dark or bad.

And admittedly, Simeon doesn't seem to quite perfectly fit that mold.

[Disclaimer: Neither mod of this blog belong to the Abrahamic religions, so this is purely from our own research]

In terms of how angels have been described in various scriptures, however, this isn't actually what they are like. Angels act on behalf of God, and are usually not meant to have any free will of their own. The thing that separates angels from demons is not a tendency towards kindness and purity, but that their actions are aligned with God's desires rather than their own. What this means in effect is that, both in actual scripture and in the game, angels can and will do things that are a lot less pure and peaceful than their modern mainstream depictions would suggest.

For example, there is a part of the Bible (at least in various versions) where it is mentioned that an angel was ordered by God to kill one hundred eighty-five Assyrians, leaving their camp full of dead bodies in the morning.

The poet Rainer Maria Rilke states in his The Duino Elegies - "Every Angel is terror".

Seraphim - which is what OM!'s renditions of Simeon and Lucifer both formerly were - are basically six-winged snakes. Cherubim, as OM!'s Beelzebub formerly was, are actually multi-faced humanoid-lions with wings. "Do not be afraid," is a line angels often say when they meet humans because they are just as scary-looking as demons - just they're, you know, the "good" ones.

Actual descriptions of angels aside, even in-game, we are presented with example after example that angels are not perfect "pure and good" beings either. The game itself emphasizes this point at various times - if you upset Simeon during Surprise Guest interactions, one of his displeased lines is: "Just because I'm an angel doesn't mean I'm all forgiving." In lesson 51, though he initially says he left Satan to be with the Angel versions of his brothers for Satan's benefit, if MC actually agrees that he was just being kind, he is surprised that they really believed him.

It's not just him, either. Similar to Simeon's upset reaction, if you give Luke a present he doesn't like, he says, "I know I'm an all-forgiving angel and everything, but even so, this is a little too much..." When MC briefly lands in the past, the brothers actually describe Simeon as the least intense of the seraphim. Back when the brothers were angels, Lucifer was still known for being strict and arrogant. On the more extreme end, Raphael was known for keeping the angels in line via the pointy end of his spear, as Asmodeus fears will happen to him as punishment for going to a party. And Michael himself, the top-ranking leader, who one might think should be the most angelic of angels, is described as a sadist. In the Angelic Demons event, Michael even gets Simeon to give the demon brothers cursed bracelets that temporarily turn them into angels. It's not a very nice prank to pull on them, as it makes the brothers miserable to be converted back to their old forms, not to mention that the curse goes so far that they are turned into the caricature of overly nice and polite angels - but as it could be considered more in line with pulling them towards "God's will," this would actually be considered a good angel thing to do.

As the game points out, being the least intense doesn't exactly make Simeon easygoing, either. In fact, we have seen at this point quite a few examples of Simeon's rage. As a play director, he berates the brothers so much over any mistakes that they call him a dictator. Not to mention, the reason they are in the play in the first place is because the entire previous cast quit because they couldn't deal with him.

Later, when he and Luke are running the Angel's Halo, he drags the brothers into helping out. Though he is shown still smiling, everyone agrees because they are terrified of his menacing aura. Even Diavolo, when on the home screen, remarks about hiding because he made Lucifer mad again, but it's Simeon who he calls "the one person in this world I don't want to anger."

On a much lighter note, some of his less "angelic" behavior also comes from his playful, mischievous side. As referenced earlier, he is surprised if MC believes he was just being nice, but if the player says they thought he was pranking Satan, it gives intimacy points with him, and he says:

He also joins in on the teasing of Luke, having his name as "Luke (Chihuahua)" in his D.D.D. contacts. Multiple of his home screen lines also show how much he loves messing with Luke in general:

"I'm free right now, so I think I might go and tease Luke."

"Luke is like a Chihuahua who thinks it is a German Shepherd. Cute, huh?"

"I'm back! I was so excited to meet you that I left Luke behind."

"If you don't eat enough breakfast, you'll turn out tiny like Luke."

Plus, in dance battles, one of his chibi poses is him teasingly scaring someone, while Luke has a corresponding scared pose, suggesting that he may be meant to be scaring Luke in particular.

He also gets MC to mess with Belphegor when they are looking for him, instructing them to kick the tree that he knows he's probably asleep in as hard as they possibly can.

However, while none of those things make him any less of an angel, there is evidence to support that he is, in fact, a "bad" angel in a different sense.

As the two Celestial Realm exchange students, Simeon and Luke represent two opposite ends of a spectrum of angel attitudes. Luke, having still been very young when the Great Celestial War happened, has been taught to have very uptight views of the demons, insisting that they are evil and should be avoided at all costs. When he first arrives in the Devildom, he is terrified at the idea that the two of them could get corrupted by the demons and fall. This is the prevailing attitude taught in the Celestial Realm: that demons are wicked, and that angels are inherently better than them.

By contrast, Simeon does not hold this view at all. He is happy to spend time with the demon brothers, and doesn't look down on them for falling. On the home screen, Luke complains, "Simeon is too sweet to demons! He's sweeter than a cake from Madam Scream's!" In the Rain, a Fire and Simeon Devilgram story, Simeon even talks about how he actually prefers the hustle and bustle of the Devildom, feeling that the Celestial Realm feels too quiet now.

This difference between him and Luke is not only expressed in his fondness for the demons, either. Simeon understands the nuances of good vs evil, and he himself seems to operate in shades of grey at times, rather than being perfectly aligned with Michael's (and by extension, it's implied, God's) wishes. More than once, he displays quite a flippant attitude towards following the rules, such as his very hand-wavey dismissal when MC asks about his lying.

Luke also calls him out on his disregard for rules, saying that Simeon is just too loose about following them:

However, this glib attitude should not be taken to mean that Simeon doesn't know exactly what he's doing. When it seems the only solution to restore stability to the three realms is for MC to sever all their pacts with the demon brothers, he quickly realizes that the other option, the Ring of Light that used to belong to Lucifer, must be hidden among Michael's things rather than lost to time as everyone thought. He tells Luke that he needs to go back to the Celestial Realm to take care of something, but he is firm that Luke should not come with him - because he is going to steal the ring from Michael, a risky, rebellious move that he doesn't want Luke to get involved in. He is perfectly aware of what he's doing, and actively chooses to do it anyway, consequences be damned, because he wants to do what he feels is right.

When Michael does confront him about it, he's not the least bit sorry, either. In fact, he sasses him and talks back, unafraid to show disrespect to God's top angel.

We also know that he's been demoted at some point. Luke tells MC that Simeon is an archangel, making him one of the Celestial Realm's warriors, or as Simeon himself has jokingly described it, a "low-level grunt" who is overworked by higher-up angels like Michael. However, during MC's time travel back to the Celestial Realm, we learn that Simeon used to be a seraph right alongside Michael and Lucifer. It is again referenced during the fairy incident, when he makes the low-level grunt joke again but is then reminded that he was a seraph at this point in time. We're not sure yet why he was demoted - there's a lot of speculation on this point, and we can't draw any definitive conclusions yet - but if we take that being a "good" angel means being obedient to Michael and God, we start to get a far less rosy picture of Simeon's good standing as an angel.

What does this mean? Is he a "bad" angel? Kind of, but not for the reasons some may think. His mischievous, devious, and playful side is not what makes him less angelic. It is his more rebellious, nonconformist way of doing things that actually opens up the possibility of him gradually getting further and further away from being an ideal angel, and potentially putting him on the path of falling from grace.

[criminalmutantsins]

My Version of the Hamato Family

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading and liking part one. It made my day!

So, this is where I shine in writing. I love creating characters and their backstory; it’s so fun. I think it is more important to focus on characters than the plot since a character can create the storyline- well at least for me.

I’m excited to share! Hope you enjoy!

Comment your thoughts! It would be cool to read them! 😁

……………………..

 Leonardo:

We’re starting with the usual leader-in-blue!

Although I adore Leo, his “perfect” personality can get a little boring. His versions usually have flaws, though they are the kind that makes you sympathize with him rather than feeling indifferent like with Raph’s anger issues.

Season 1 Leo would be a toned-down Rise Leo. He can be cocky when he succeeds over his brothers and would jokingly comment how he is Splinter’s favorite. However, it doesn’t come without hard work. Leo trains the most out of his brothers and spends most of his time studying fighting techniques. He is not naturally talented in ninjitsu like the past incarnations. Also, Leo’s motivations for training very hard and wanting to be leader is more for himself than anything.

Compared to his brothers, Leo was relatively average. Donnie was extremely smart, Mikey had his kind and joyful soul, and Raph was naturally a great fighter. Leo felt left out and decided that training to be a hero would be his way of standing out. He also believed that being special like his brothers was the only way to get Splinter’s attention; and it kind of worked. With all the progress Leo made, Splinter praised him, and they had a way to connect.

Around the beginning of S1(maybe ep. 5), Leo became the leader though how was different. Instead of Splinter deciding, the brothers did; the explanation was the turtles were a team and should make a consensus as one. This news made Leo ecstatic; he was finally living his dreams. Even so, he didn’t realize the baggage and responsibility a leader had to shoulder. Over the course of the story Leo grows as a great leader and fighter.

The Karai/Leo subplot will follow the 2003 version. He is convinced that Karai is a good person and tries to have her switch sides. There will be romantic feelings but its not the main motivation for both of their actions. I can’t say too much since this plot revolves around Karai more.

   Donatello:

Donnie is a blend of 2003/12 versions. He is intelligent with an extremely high IQ and was a gifted child. However, his intelligence came with a cost; making connections with his brothers and father was really tough for him because of their different interests. This left him withdrawing from everyone and focusing on his inventions. His social skills evolve once the turtles visit the city and meet April. The increasing danger of the Kraang further builds his relationships since communication is important in teamwork, and Donnie’s talent in inventing grew more in the spotlight.

Because of her fascination with Donnie’s smarts and inventions, April and Donnie become good friends as the story continues. Donnie also gets close with April’s best friend, Irma since they are science lovers. At first, Casey irritates him as they have clearly different personality; Casey’s impulsive and extroverted attitude conflicting with Donnie’s plan-based mindset.

Donnie’s love for his family is showcased after witnessing a terrifying, apocalyptic future where his family suffers. Paranoia sets in. His work to calculate the cause of this terrible, and its solution leads Donnie to rarely take care of his needs. He has to learn to trust in others instead of doing things alone.

 Raphael:

Unlike Leo, Raph is instantly gifted in fighting. He has more physical strength than his brothers and would constantly beat them in practice. Since childhood, Raph was Splinter’s “favorite” in the dojo and that definitely got into the red-banded turtle’s head. He would brag to his brothers and jokingly poke fun at their techniques. It wouldn’t affect anyone. Except for Leo.

Raphael’s ego started taking hits once Leo caught up to him and beating him in practice once in a while. It turned into anger after noticing Master Splinter praising Leo more. The tension soured their brotherhood. Unlike most versions, Raph’s anger is fueled by insecurity. He believes that fighting is the only thing he is good at and will get territorial if his spotlight is threatened.

Throughout the story, he learns to move on from his demons and realize his worth.

Family is important to Raph. He can be hard on his brothers yet will do anything to keep them safe, especially Mikey- his positivity must be protected. Casey and Raph become best friends for their similarities and love for fighting- they are impulsive bros.

 Michelangelo:

Mikey’s role is to be the positive and glue of the team. He loves to make people happy and would always do something goofy or kind to do that. His family have nothing bad to say about their youngest member and are very protective of him. The youngest brother doesn’t take ninjitsu as seriously as skateboarding, dancing, or just general fun. Though, he will be serious when the situation calls for it, such as the fate of his family and the world.

Although being an open ear to anyone, Mikey is not open to expressing his negative emotions due to his fear of damaging the family dynamic. It is noticeable when he is upset because he jokes more often and not focus. A lesson he must learn is to accept the good and the bad. Mikey can be reckless, mostly when his brothers rarely let him participate in missions. He wants to prove to his family that he is strong enough to protect himself and others. Reading people is his best skill and takes great pride in it, usually taking on the role of a therapist.

 Splinter/Hamato Yoshi:

I really wanted to take Splinter’s role in the Shredder’s descent to evil in the grayer area. He is usually the victim/innocent party of the story, which can get boring after a while.

Hamato Yoshi was born as the heir to Hamato Clan and childhood best friend of Oroku Saki. The Hamato and Foot clan were allies for centuries and would usually fight by each other’s side. Matters changed when the Foot’s beliefs grew more sinister. This left the Hamato Clan to eradicate their former ally. Splinter saved Saki before he could be killed, though, it came with consequences. Oroku Saki vowed to exact revenge for his fallen home. Growing up, Splinter became one of the strongest martial artists in Japan and married a woman named Tang Shen, later becoming a father to a girl. His world ended once he saw his clan destroyed and his family killed by the renewed Foot Clan.

Yoshi decided to move to New York and forget his old life. Years later, the martial artist noticed strange people caging defenseless animals. He would fight them long enough to protect four humanoid turtles, deciding to keep them after a moment of compassion. Splinter would continuously fight the strange men until a strange liquid turned him into a rat. This turning point banished Splinter and the turtles to the sewers for protection.

Splinter equally loves his sons. He would always make sure to give them equal amounts of love to avoid lasting issues. Though, he has made some mistakes. Emotions were rarely discussed because of Splinter’s unintentionally withdrawn attitude. The rat master wouldn’t instantly notice problems between his sons, and usually didn’t know how to resolve them. No matter what, Splinter is proud of his children and would do anything to keep them safe; sometimes not realizing that it could hurt them.

Hamato Yoshi’s guilt and trauma over the terrible moments in his life would be the main focus of his development.

[ninwrites]

Shadowhunters 3x16: On Clary’s Actions and the  Consequences For Those Around Her

No, I cannot confirm that there is actually anything coherent here. Just my rambling thoughts, collected as well as I could. For the record, I don’t hate Clary, I just don’t think that the writers consider the impact of her actions on the people around her and I’m getting more than just a little tired of it. Please read at your own discretion.

Also, shout-out to @magnusbicon for encouraging this & @izzybabewoods for the inbox message that started it all. you’re enablers in the very best day and this wouldn’t exist without you.

Here’s the thing.

 In season one, the majority of Clary’s arc was quite self-centred. And that’s fine. For all intents and purposes, she is the main protagonist, and the reason we’re introduced to the rest of these characters - the Lightwoods, Simon, Magnus, Valentine, even the Clave - is through Clary’s connection and interactions with them. As the audience, we’re following her into this new world, and it’s as she learns things that we become aware of them too – we’re not just watching her go on this journey, in a way, we’re going on it too. If Clary wasn’t at the focus of the season, we’d miss out on important knowledge that helps with our understanding of the shadow world and the characters that inhabit it – because it is quite a large and complex world.

 Then comes season two. Jocelyn comes back, who – as much as I adore Luke – is mostly concerned with Clary, and rightfully so. This is her daughter, who she chose to keep in the dark about the shadow world, there’s a lot there to catch up on and to mend between them, and Clary needs somebody who she (supposedly) will listen to, to counteract her rash and impulsive behaviour, because as much as she’d love to think that she knows everything, Clary at this point really has no idea what world she’s come into. There’s a part of her that has already made up her mind about the shadow world, about Downworlders and Shadowhunters and her role here, and whether it’s right or wrong takes the backseat, leaving the season’s arc as the driving force. Or, rather, her part in it. Because – and here’s the bit that frustrates me the most – the character arcs, the desires of others, their hopes and goals and wishes all fall second, or third or somewhere closer to last, to whatever Clary wants. Despite not actually being brought up as a Shadowhunter, she manages to sustain quite the assumption that she is the most important person in the room, and therefore, that whatever she wants comes first.

 Sometimes, this is a good thing. Often, the line is blurred.

 Her intentions often come from a good place, with the consequences falling short because of her impulsivity more than an inherent ill-will. Look at Simon – he’s still in the show, yay! Only … he did die. I’m not saying that I would have done any differently, but from a factual standpoint – it is Clary’s desire to have her best friend back that turned him into a vampire, and by a tenuous, albeit valid thread, it is because of Clary that Simon was coerced and manipulated by Camille; homeless; all of the back and forth mess with Raphael; got turned into a Daylighter; got coerced into joining the Seelie Queen’s court; turned Heidi – and we all know how that turned out; got the mark of Cain; lost his mother; bit his sister; lost the mark of Cain. I’m sure there’s more that I can’t remember, but again, I’m not saying that Clary is the sole person at fault here. However, I am saying that all of this is – per the butterfly effect – because she didn’t think about the consequences past not wanting to lose her best friend. Additionally, I’d argue that through most of the above, Simon didn’t have the support from Clary that he deserved, or that she should have given. In that respect, the relationship between them feels awfully one-sided, and has since the first episode. There are moments, of course, but they’re becoming even fewer and further in-between.

 I could probably write a whole thing on Clary’s relationships with people she supposedly cares about (*cough* Luke *cough*), but I’m getting off point. I want to talk about 3x16 in particular.

 Firstly, the rune power. Maybe it’s just me - though I have a sense it’s not - but Clary’s rune power is getting a few miles north of the city of Absolutely Fucking Ridiculous, and veering towards Overused/Abused county.

 (Does that metaphor make sense? I have no idea).

 Anyway. Being able to just suddenly make a portal to Edom that doesn’t just summon Lilith, but literally pulls her from Edom – from essentially the cage that Asmodeus put her in using Magnus’ magic, which has already been hinted to as just as powerful, if not more, than a Greater Demon – without any resistance? Really? Seems a bit unrealistic to me. Because, either this means that Clary is actually an Angel, for all of the power that she apparently wields, or that she’s more powerful than Magnus, and actual Greater Demons. I personally chalk it up to convenience from the perspective of the writers, but that’s just me. Back to the rune – the idea that Clary has this power at all is already a bit of a stretch, especially with how willy-nilly the writers are when it comes to using it, but now it’s reached a point that is just nonsensical. No Shadowhunter is this powerful, not even the great Clary Fray.

 Then, there’s the part where Clary is the first Shadowhunter to possess this power, as far as we know; there is nobody that has the prior knowledge to train her, so again – for the sake of convenience, I’m sure – it’s something that apparently just comes to her as naturally as breathing. Which – okay. Fine. They don’t exactly have time to show a montage of her learning how to deliberately create these runes. I get that. But that doesn’t mean they have to render this power unreasonable. Creating portals? Cool. Realistic. I don’t actually mind that, even if I think it got a little to Clary’s head. The sunlight rune? Pretty cool, I won’t lie. I liked how that came about – there was a heightened emotion to the moment, it made sense that a rune would manifest under such stressful circumstances. But Clary just deciding that, because she wants this rune to exist, it instantly will? It will work, just by the strength of, what, her willpower? I know it’s quite strong, but this logic isn’t. It’s ridiculous. It doesn’t make sense. It’s cheating for the sake of an easy plot, without minding the six-feet deep holes left behind.

 Now, I’d also contend that as helpful as this power is, it doesn’t magically fix everything around her. Sometimes, it makes things worse. Such as during 3x16.

 The biggest thing that pissed me off about Clary in 3x16 is the fact that she decided they all had to do whatever they could to get rid of this rune, because she was sick of it and couldn’t handle it, so that must mean that everybody else has to turn all of their attention and focus towards her, regardless of whatever they were doing before. And what are we told this is prompted by? Her snapping at Simon; (which, by the way, wasn’t as harsh as I think we were supposed to believe. Clary going through PMS probably would have resulted in the same reaction. It was snappy, and angry, and a little rude, but not … evil. Simon looked more shocked than anything. Maybe if she’d snapped at everyone, it would be more believable. But like a lot of this episode, this felt a little bit like a cop-out.)

 Mere steps from this conversation, Magnus was lying unconscious because of magic that wasn’t his, that he’d sold his apartment for, because he didn’t feel like he was worth being alive, worth existing, without his magic, that his magic was all that made him special – which, he’d sacrificed for Jace, no less. Granted, Clary likely wouldn’t have known about how Magnus felt about losing his magic, but I do find it hard to believe that she wouldn’t have even realised that losing it at all would have been an incredible trauma for Magnus.

 Then again, it does feel like Clary only cares about Magnus when it suits her. It’s harsh, but I sometimes wonder if she’d care more if Magnus had died, or if she’d just be upset because she’d lost a resource. This mostly stems from how she’s written, I’ll admit, but it’s still how I feel.

 And I think canon backs me up here. After all, look at what Magnus has gone through at the end of 3A and into 3B alone.

 He sacrificed his magic to Asmodeus, the man who abused and emotionally manipulated him, who probably made him commit heinous acts, of which murder I’m sure wasn’t off the table, all after having to grovel and endure soul-crushing humiliation at the hands of aforementioned abuser, who he most likely had gotten comfortable with the idea of never seeing again, all to save Jace from Lilith’s control (only to return to see the love of his life bleeding out with no way of saving him – I don’t blame this on Clary, but it is a factor that has affected Magnus. How could it not?) After Magnus returns, mortal, mundane, barely half of the man he used to be – his feelings, not mine – he’s ostracised by Lorenzo and ignored by the rest of the warlocks from Lorenzo’s command, excluding Catarina, his only friend at this point. Just there, he’s given up everything for Jace, and whilst it’s possible that Clary doesn’t know, it seems a little far-fetched to assume that Jace wouldn’t tell her. If he did, it seems a bit unfair for Clary not to consider that, but then, there’s almost an assumption that sacrifices made for people that Clary explicitly loves – Jace – matter more than the people who made the sacrifice.

 Then, because he felt so empty and lost without his magic, Magnus had to forego his pride and dignity to ask for Lorenzo’s help – his mortal enemy, basically, who has always disliked Magnus – selling his apartment in the process, his home, only to then be rejected by the magic, resulting in him having to give it up to not die. Because of that, he has to go through the process of losing magic again, even if it’s not quite the same as his own, which would have teared his mental health to shreds, and completely destroyed any progress he’d made towards feeling better, feeling more like himself. Now, I do believe that Magnus understood the weight of the transplant and all of the ways it could go wrong, which just makes this even more painful, because he felt that dying was a better alternative to not having his magic – if it weren’t for Alec, and Catarina, and Madzie, I don’t think Magnus would have had the strength to give Lorenzo’s magic back. Yes, there’s an argument to be made that he only did it for Alec, but I personally think it was Alec’s insistence that he couldn’t lose Magnus – wouldn’t, lose him - that prompted Magnus into remembering that they were people out there who cared for him, and loved him, even if it’s impossible for him to understand why. Depression warps a person’s perception of themselves anyway; add on all of the trauma Magnus has undergone, and in such a short period of time, and it makes sense that he’d find it easier to do this for somebody else, than for himself. I don’t think this makes his decision or his reasoning any less valid, but I’m getting a little off topic here.

 Magnus doesn’t know who he is without his magic, and in this episode especially, but not solely, it doesn’t feel like Clary cares – because without his magic, he can’t help her, and if somebody can’t help her, they cease to matter.

 (Again, this is my perception.)

 Speaking of people who only matter if they can help Clary – let’s talk about Cain. ‘Cause I haven’t seen a lot of discussion on him, and I feel like he deserves the attention.

 Cain has lived with this guilt of succumbing to Lilith’s manipulation and killing his own brother for longer than I think it’s possible for us, as the audience, and the characters of the show to understand. You can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice – he carries this burden with him, and it’s suffocating. Inescapable. He couldn’t get rid of his mark, so cruelly named after him, and now he’s stuck living in a sewer, living off rats, because he’s dreadfully invincible. I have no doubt that he still felt Lilith’s hold on him, like a shadow, constantly creeping around him, that sensation that there’s something over his shoulder, something behind him ready to attack, but there’s not, there never is, it’s just him and his guilt and the sick crawl of Lilith’s voice taking hold of him, the drowning ache that never leaves, because if he’d been stronger, his brother might not have died.

 The last thing he wanted – or needed – was to see Lilith again.

 I can’t even imagine how that would have felt. Seeing the woman who destroyed you, knowing that nothing could ever keep her locked away, that there was no cage that she couldn’t break out of – he probably felt her power leaking out, creeping under his skin, whispering to him even as the direction of her voice was focused on the others. From the moment she addressed him, she had him hooked. Just as he knew she would. Because he warned them – he told them he wouldn’t do it. The only reason he helped was Simon – because he related to Simon, because he could see the guilt in Simon and knew that was no way to live, because he wanted to save Simon from suffering a fate as bad as his own. Cain trusted Simon. Because Simon trusted Clary. And now, he’s stuck with his abuser, because the plan failed just as he’d told them it would, because once again, Clary only thought about what she could gain out of this, and not how it would affect anybody else.

 Because when Clary wants to jump, she doesn’t take the time to notice who could be supporting her fall.

 You know who often has to take the fall for Clary’s actions? Alec.

 I cannot see the actions of this episode as anything less than taking advantage of the fragile situation that Alec was in, for Clary to get what she wanted. The love of his life – and I refuse to believe that Clary doesn’t recognise that, for all of my complaints I don’t think she’s actually stupid – was lying unconscious in the infirmary, and really, none of them could be certain that he’d be okay, that there wouldn’t be further consequences when he woke up. Because, again – he was unconscious!! And Clary, honestly thought – hey, there’s this rune tying me to my psychotic sibling and it’s torturing me so instead of formulating an actual plan and thinking through options to get rid of it, I’m just going to go ahead and summon the mother of demons, to get rid of it for me, and darn the consequences. Never mind the fact that the Head of the Institute has yet to hear of this plan, let alone sanction it - he’s too busy worrying about the health and well-being of his unconscious boyfriend, so why bother him about it and get clearance on a dangerous mission like this, when we could just, go ahead and do it anyway.

 (Because even in this fragile state, Alec never would have sanctioned it.)

 Clary doesn’t take a second to think about the consequences this could have on Alec, and she never really has when it comes to missions; the only thing she has ever considered is how it can benefit her. Stealing the mortal cup from the Institute? Sure, why not. It’s super dangerous and can be turned into a weapon if in the wrong hands, and is locked away for a reason, but rules are made to be broken, right? Season one, whilst frustrating, could be brushed off as Clary just not quite understanding the power structure – sure, Jace did, and he should have done more about making it clear to her as opposed to just going along with her plans because he was thinking with his stele, but again, season one.

 And, sure, there’s that bit in 2x10 where Alec has spent the entire night searching for Magnus’ body in the Institute because, despite his best wishes, he can’t deny the possibility that Magnus is one of Valentine’s Downworlder victims, and Clary remembered that they portalled in – cause, Magnus made the portal, as far as I can remember – but she lost him after that, and hadn’t even thought since then about his whereabouts, or his safety, or even considered that he might have DIED. But, you know. Season two.

 This is season three. The second half, for that matter. And Clary is still thinking with herself in mind first, without even a second to regard how it affects others. If the Clave find out that Shadowhunters under Alec’s supervision took a traitor’s weapon, adjusted it so that it was capable of electrocution and used it to trap a Greater Demon – and Lilith, at that – only for her to end up escaping, all whilst he was preoccupied with his warlock boyfriend/technically making threats to the High Warlock which could, if Lorenzo was so inclined, damage relations between the Institute and the High Warlock – well. To say that they wouldn’t be impressed would be quite the understatement. He could lose his title over this. And then what? Who is going to save their asses from suspension/the silent city then? To be quite crude; if the Clave find out about this, and then pair that with Alec and Isabelle’s investigation into Project: Heavenly Fire, Alec would be fucked. They wouldn’t give him the Institute after that, and he certainly would no longer retain the reputation he spent so long building back up after his not-wedding. I don’t know if Alec would care that much about his reputation, he seems quite content with just doing what he wants and letting people’s opinions be exactly that – their opinions. Of no matter to him.

 However, that doesn’t automatically make them go away. There would still be people dying to see Alec fail, to see him crash and burn, to talk shit behind his back because of their own feelings towards decisions he’s made, both in power and before it.

 Clary doesn’t think about any of that – about anything, really, that doesn’t involve her. And it’s fucking exhausting. I want to like Clary, so badly, because she is a badass character and there’s a lot to admire about her. But I can’t love her when she’s so selfish that other characters are consistently suffering because of it. When sacrifices are made and her response is to completely disregard them in favour of achieving something that she wants. When episode, after episode – season after season – she’s allowed to just do whatever she wants without care to the consequences and how it affects others.

 Clary could be a fantastic, game-changing character. As it is, she feels more like a petulant child who throws a tantrum when she can’t get what she wants, and refuses to listen when she’s told something that she doesn’t want to hear.

 I hope my opinion of her improves over the season. But I won’t be holding my breath.

[theheartchoice]

Lonely Is The Word 

teen  |  2k  |  canonverse s6  |  ao3

for @profoundnet's bi-weekly Bot Stat challenge. prompt issued: April 30th 2019 

Dean needs a beer. Cas is listening to angel radio. S̸a̵m̴ ̸i̶s̵ ̸f̵i̵n̵e̷.̸ ̷E̵v̵e̵r̵y̶t̵h̷i̴n̸g̴ ̵i̶s̵ ̷j̵u̶s̶t̵ ̷f̸i̴n̶e̷..̴.

Sam knows about his soulless gap year and Bobby's having a hard time trusting the resurrected version. Even without monsters, their lives are still a shitshow. Add in warring Angels and friggin' Purgatory-seeking Dragons and Dean just needs a second to breathe.

Dean only leaves because Sam is safe. No safer place than Bobby's. He just needs an hour or two to wrap his mind around things.

With Baby back to rights he drives 'til the sun dips below the wheatgrass horizon, no destination set in stone but half tempted to find a bar just south of the border. It's the best combo there is to clear his head: just the open road, whatever's on tap wherever he pulls up, and the right kind of company for just long enough to sate this desire to scream his lungs out - at crappy circumstance, at the Winchester family curse, at his own bad choices. 

He just wanted his brother back, is that so bad? Sam didn't deserve to be left behind - not in that place; no one does. He shudders to think how Alastair's torture might pale in comparison to Lucifer's. For Sam to go through that again - to re-discover whatever's left of him? Forget calling in Death for a quick-fix favour, because even Dean knows some things can't be fixed, can't be undone, unseen. 

Dean lives with his memories from the pit every day. Avoids 'em, as much as it's possible to do so without some magic mind-block, but he's changed forever because of 'em. And Sam might not've been the one dealing out damnation, but if time works in a similar way down there then he was Lucifer's chew toy for over a century. And if that doesn't shake anyone to their foundations just to think about then they're either a lunatic or a goddamn liar. 

Cas spelled out Dean's fear in no uncertain terms: Let me tell you what his soul felt like when I touched it: like it had been skinned alive. 

But was he right? Had Dean doomed Sam to a fate worse than death by trying to do the right thing? Trying to save him?

If you wanted to kill your brother you should have done it outright. 

Sam's fine - for now. But how long before his wall crumbles into Hellfire? The structural integrity's already been compromised, and no matter what Sam promised, Dean knows his brother: if Sam wants to right his own alleged wrongs then he'll do it and nevermind the cost to himself.  

And while Dean holds fast that whatever Samdroid did while his soul was MIA isn't on Sam, Bobby's less convinced. Just to throw another wrench in the gears of the 'better life' that was 'spose to finally be possible after the Apocalypse was averted. Not that that was really ever gonna happen. 

No Armageddon, but the tradeoff was Sam jumping into the pit. Sam gets resurrected, but his soul gets left behind. Dean gets a taste of the Apple Pie life, but hunting is his bread and butter. There's a civil war up in the clouds because (as everyone well-knows) Angels are dicks. And as if the self-crowned king of Hell trying to rip a hole between dimensions wasn't enough, apparently that little adventure is now on some dragon-dude's bucket list. 

Crazy as it sounds, Dean kinda misses the ol' days. Y'know, when all they had to do was take down a couple of overzealous Archangels. They've got shit stacking up on so many spinnin' plates right now it's impossible to tell which one's gonna be the first to topple and shatter, that crap raining down on 'em in a mess of blood and pain and one gruesome smear of trouble after another - and it'll soil a bunch of innocent people too, if they're not careful. 

Knowing their luck it probably won't be just the one plate, either. 

But when it comes to this sorta thing all they can really do is.. wait n' see. Try to be ready to divert whatever mountain of crap avalanches at them - or try to outrun it, sidewind it before the risk catches up with them and the goddamn consequences bury them alive. 

    Some small-town city limits come into view just as the clouded night kisses down the last of twilight. Dean knows this place. He can get what he needs here, on a lucky night. Hell, two out of three ain't bad. Booze? Check. Distance? Check. Company?.. Guess he'll have to wait and see. 

He'd kinda like some answers, too. Some goddamn direction to point himself in when he hits the road again. And there is a certain someone who might be able to help with that - or might not. But whatever the case, Dean wouldn't turn his company away. Maybe what he needs right now, more than anything, is a friend. 

Baby slows to a stop in the vacant lot across the street from the bar, Black Sabbath cutting out with the purr of her engine. 

"Hey, Cas.." And where the hell does he go from here? Honesty, or a passable lie? Maybe somewhere in between. "I know you think what I did for Sam was the wrong call, and.." Yeah.. okay. "..honestly, I dunno. I dunno if what I did is gonna make things better or worse in the long run. All I know is that I had to, man - I had to." There's really no more to it than that. Except maybe just, "I could really use a friend, right about now." Reckless little brother, uncle who lied to him for a year; seems he can't really go wrong seeking the advice of his Angelic best friend, right? Even if he has been out of sorts since their little reunion. Better than the alternatives at least, even if there is a year of space between them now. 

Dean'd be lying if he said he didn't wonder what Cas got up to during that year. Caught himself before shooting off a prayer more than once. Maybe just to check in, maybe to brainstorm ways to save Sam. His spirit - already struggling to dry off from the shitstorm of their lives - was dampened to learn that Cas wasn't the one who saved Sam from The Cage - or tried to. Cas did try though, so maybe that's somethin'. 

In the time it would take for Heaven and Hell to play out the last few bars of track seven and most of the closing number, Dean sits alone in the driver's seat, headlights lighting the way to nowhere, waiting. 

Turns out to be just another mistake in a long line of dumbass mistakes, another mark on the board for his tally of bad choices. Baby purrs back to life half only half a minute before she's put to sleep again and Dean's stalking away into the bar. 

    "—Castiel?" Rachel's voice pulls him back before his wings denote a telltale stretch - still a reflex he must wilfully deny. "Is something wrong?"

Yes. "No, I was just.. listening." 

Her eyes harden, and Castiel has been made accustomed to that look over the last mortal year as she nods. "Raphael's soldiers think blocking our channels with their rhetoric will hinder our efforts, but his numbers are not what ours are. And they can't affect our communications for much longer." 

Of course. It is a tactic only effective in the short-term, for the amount of energy required to interfere would significantly drain the Angels pervading the etheric communicative transference. 

She proceeds to inform him of their recent losses in battle along with how many of Raphael's soldiers were presumably wounded or killed. 

Castiel dreads such knowledge perhaps most of all; knowing the extent of Angelic grace being spilled in a war that would not be waging if not for his actions, his choices alone. The only reprieve he finds from the guilt is in the belief that Raphael would have spilled more - and destroyed the Earth, as well - if Castiel and his brothers and sisters had not taken up arms against him. 

He manages a tight-lipped smile, something enough to satisfy that he understands. "Have we any more news of the missing weapons?" 

"Not yet." 

"Then I suggest you get back to it." 

In the very least, being the Commander of garrisons affords him seniority, and with it the propensity to not have to explain himself further. 

She takes her leave, and once he feels her grace reach an adequate distance in the aether, in her absence, he takes flight. 

The familiar silhouette of one 1967 Chevrolet Impala is almost indistinguishable from the night sky, if not for the gleam of street-lamps off the polished metal belying an impression of the sun. 

The moon is hidden tonight, as are the multitudinous stars of this galaxy - a favourite among many Angels throughout the eons. However, given the events of recent times, Castiel suspects he may be one of few Angels who prefer it over other galactic creations primarily for its housing of one particular solar system, which bears one particular planet, upon which a very special species makes its home. 

Dean is gone. 

The bar seems his likely destination, and if Castiel concentrates, allowing his Grace to reach out and survey the atmosphere.. yes. He can feel him near: warm and alive, though not at peace. He has never known what it is to feel Dean at peace in the mortal realm. There was a singular moment - fleeting and seeming so long ago, now - when his Grace touched Dean's soul raw and exposed; it seized his fear, incentivised Dean to feel safe, to trust in Castiel's intentions.

It was something akin to peace, perhaps relief. At the time, Castiel had thought it might be resignation to God's plan. But as he came to know Dean, he came to interpret that feeling as something intensely personal and not at all connected to The Grand Plan. 

Perhaps, once Castiel completes his mission, once he stops Raphael and prevents the Apocalypse for all good, Dean will know peace. He deserves that much. He deserves much more. 

The inside of the Impala is cool. Not as cold as the night air outside, but enough that Dean wouldn't be comfortable if he were to emerge from the bar this instant. Castiel places a hand on the dashboard, and while the engine remains silent, the interior comes alive in light and sound and air-ventilated warmth. 

The music is not familiar, despite having listened through much of Dean's collection during his time with the Winchesters. Over the past year Castiel has not regretted safeguarding Dean's chance for peace, his life away from supernatural beings and the chaos and destruction they wrought. Although, he will admit to a certain discernible ache for their foregone time together; on the road within this now-familiar vehicle, or in whatever capacity Dean would have allowed, in any way that he might have needed Castiel's help. 

The war in Heaven is not going well, despite Rachel's assurances. Without weapons at their disposal, Raphael's forces will soon diminish their own and all will suffer because of Castiel's failing. Which is precisely why he cannot fail.

Castiel always knew the chance of defeating an Archangel on his own was impossible, and therefore anything that could afford him victory in this war - to end the graceshed, to save Humanity, and the Earth, and Heaven from itself - then he must take it. 

But even against all reason, all dangers considered, there are times when Castiel, too, does want for a friend.

For one friend, in particular. 

..been higher than stardust 

I've been seen upon the sun 

I used to count in millions then 

But now I only count in one 

Come on, join the traveler 

If you got nowhere to go 

Hang your head and take my hand 

It's the only road I know.. 

If only Castiel could pray to Dean. 

..Yeah, Lonely is the word 

Got to be the saddest song I ever heard.. 

But the want of a friend is selfish, dangerous. 

Drawing Dean into the skirmish of Angels would further remove him from any chance at peace. And that, Castiel decides, is not worth the win. Even if Dean wants to help, he cannot allow it. He must keep Dean safe, and far away from the destructive reach of Heaven's current state. 

..Yeah, Lonely is the name 

Maybe life's a losing game. 

[azraelcfdeath]

@bextus 

When was the last time she stepped foot in the Silver City, Azrael could not be so sure. It was beautiful as it always was, pristine, orderly. Michael’s work, she presumed. That seemed to be a commonality among the Princes of Heaven, the eldest, the leader, the one who would follow God’s every word and desire, the good son, the foil to Lucifer’s rebellious spirit, the one who they all looked up to, the closest to God any of them could come.

She blinked long and hard, doing her best to keep focus on one foot in front of the other. Her chest still throbbed from the ferocity of her panic earlier that evening but she had to keep calm, continue as if her existence in this world was not fabricated, as if her emotions had not been toyed with, as if she was still their sweet sister who’d follow them to the end of the world.

And the worst part of it? She probably would. Knowing the truth did not faze the sense of obligation she had to these angels, she could see her own siblings in their faces. She did not want any of them to die, to vanish with no trace. 

This God manipulated and meddled far worse than her own Father ever did. At the very least she knew she was a spare, replaceable, and never fooled into singing false praises and love. It left her feeling violated, unable to distinguish what true feelings she had for Adonai and if any of it was real as opposed to a script programmed within her to obey.

With each moment, things from her own world grew clearer at least. Rae Rae remembered Amenadiel, God’s favorite son, even above Michael. He had a son now. Broke dad’s rules, in fact one of the most sacred, and he was not extinguished. Maybe she had been luckier with her parent than she could have ever foresaw. 

Still, she steeled herself, approaching Michael, having donned her crimson red cloak, the closest thing to armor she will ever equip, along with the Blade of Death holstered at her hip. She had memories of this universe still. But if Azrael thought long and hard she supposed this might be the first time she has actually interacted with him. It was trickier now to follow the memories, separating the false from the real, and needing to maintain the facade. 

Did he know her plans for Uriel? The real reason she finally stepped foot back in the Silver City. Her last interactions with Adonai were positive. A knot tightened in her stomach at the very memory. Everything had been so different then. She had wanted so desperately to ease His grief, hoping He’d find a way to cope.

Her eyes traced the path towards the archangel. Did he know the truth about her? Had he taken part in His Father’s plan to manipulate and deceive? 

One foot in front of the other, Azrael reminded herself. 

It was harder to retain her suspicions and focus on her rage as she approached. Michael’s grief for his other half may be undetectable to most but for the Angel of Death, it was palpable.

Oh, Michael.

It seemed she was far from the only one Adonai’s actions have hurt. 

Amenadiel had a crisis of faith, once. Not quite fallen but something else entirely. In that, Azrael watched their oldest brother, their protector, their leader, experience a life outside of blind obedience. He suffered great for a time but obtained a better future, one with his own son in it. She had to wonder whether or not this Michael, these angels’s shield against the world, would ever reach that epiphany for himself. Or was he doomed to follow the path of all children too obedient to ever learn to question— the path that ended with disappointment and regret, no true sense of identity.

She bowed her head in greeting.

“I’m sorry it has taken me so long to come home. As you know, it’s not easy to find time to... step away from my duties.” 

Azrael rose, drawing courage from stupidity, the lack of concern for consequences rather liberating as she took in, fully, the extent of the archangels grief. 

“But I wanted to know how our siblings were doing... how you are doing in... light of everything?”

So busy leading, hardening himself against the pain in order to be a beacon for his legion of siblings, so very much like his Father who did Michael have now to turn to with Raphael gone, Lucifer a fraud and Uriel imprisoned. 

Worse yet, she could sense renewed grief. False hope that had been ripped away, likely the traces of Adonai’s arrogance in bring back what was no longer his to bring.

What a mess. 

[ketzwrites]

Rewatch 108: Bad Blood

The plot thickens. Both Clary and Alec have to make their minds over decisions that will influence people they love: only Alec’s involves himself and Clary’s is over someone else’s fate. Unrelated, Izzy looks really good in a lab coat.

Teaser

The first rule of shadowhunting has three parts and they all amount to “be irresponsible but look cool.”

For posterity, Izzy agrees that they need to give the Mortal Cup back to the Clave. But Clary and Jace want to use the MC to, I guess, lure Valentine into a trap but not give it to him. They still think they can outsmart him.

Lucky there is never other shadowhunters on patrol. Imagine if it wasn’t the core four who found Raphael with Simon’s corpse, hm? Awkward.

Act One

Izzy justifies a war against an entire race because of the actions of one person. Jace is ready to fight that war. I’m having flashbacks of 103.

Oh, the irony of Raphael belittling Simon for coming back for blood “like an addict”.

There’s a discussion to have about Raphael’s role in Simon’s death. He is responsible for choosing to follow Camille’s orders, but he is also the person that essentially saved Simon and warned Simon to stay away. He is also the person that ensured Simon would have a chance to come back as a vampire after Camille killed Simon. No deed cancels the other, but I particularly blame Camille for Simon’s death and only then I blame Raphael and Clary for Simon becoming a vampire.

“Not the sexed up, romantic kind. The ugly, blood-sucking, coffin dwelling kind.” Raphael is right there, proving that wrong. Camille proves it wrong. In fact, every single vampire we’ve seen so far is sexed up and romanticized.

Jocelyn still wears a wedding ring? Really? Well, at least Valentine puts two and two together and realizes Clary is his kid.

It’s interesting how Robert is painted as the down-to-Earth, good parent while Maryse is the suck-up, bad parent. How things will change in time.

The last straw for the Lightwoods to lose the Institute is their meddling in Downworlder affairs. I wish the writers of the show remembered this piece of world-building down the line.

It’s not your fault that bad people exist, Clary.

Lydia’s entrance is incredibly badass and well-written. She’s supposed to be all business and testing the Institute, so she masks herself as their so-called greatest enemy and walks in. She’s able to evaluate the Institute’s defense mechanisms and reaction time. It also shows her confidence in her own abilities and that said confidence is justified: Alec’s aim has been shown to be lethal and she is the first person able to defend against him. Truly well-done.

Act Two

Lydia is also shown to be competent and tough, but in the most unlikable way possible. We’re not supposed to like her, but we are supposed to respect her. Like Izzy does.

There are no women in the NY pack, are there? Too bad they didn’t introduce Maia’s character already in the first season. She could’ve been just a background character, much like Alaric, and then get a bigger role in season 2.

Even suspension of disbelief isn’t enough to accept that Elaine wouldn’t have heard Jace and Clary talking in this silent room she is also in.

Lydia is supposed to be inquisitive of everything, but it is not suspicious that the Acting HotI has the contact of the closest Alpha. I’d think it would be expected of Alec to receive word when the Downworlders of NY are attacked.

I deeply appreciate the explicit references to Simon’s Jewishness in this episode. I also like that Clary knows where he keeps his religious stuff in his room. It creates great normalcy for all of it and it proves how integral to Simon’s life his religion is. So much so, his non-Jewish best friend can gather the important stuff while discussing how distressed she is with her sort-of-boyfriend.

This exchange between Clary and Jace is absolutely amazing and it should’ve been the foundation of their relationship. But, more importantly, it should’ve been Clary’s brand of shadowhunting: being compassionate and showing mercy makes her different than the others. It makes her better than the others.

And now, Lydia’s mini “redemption” arc starts. Her harshness gets softened and she is kind to Alec, showing that she is not just a bitch trying to pry the Institute away from the Lightwoods. Once, she followed her heart, but only got sorrow for it. So, she masks that side of her and, instead, portrays herself as the soldier she is meant to be. The perfect shadowhunter in the eyes of the Clave.

In sum, Lydia is a cautionary tale for Alec. And, at first glance, we could think Lydia’s story is supposed to tell Alec to suck up his feelings and follow his orders. That, by doing so, he too can become an envoy personally mentored by the Inquisitor. He too can get his own Institute to lead one day. But that would be the wrong read. Because Lydia is a cautionary tale, but of what Alec shouldn’t do. He shouldn’t suck up his feelings and follow corrupted and elitist people like Imogen Herondale. He shouldn’t stop following his heart, even when it leads to sorrow and complications. So much so that, in the end, it will be Alec who will inspire Lydia to change; to defy Imogen by rescinding her accusations against Izzy and to accept the dissolution of a mutually beneficial marriage. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

It’s still funny to me how Lydia has no social skills whatsoever. She is literally the only other character that could play bad cop to Alec’s good cop.

Act Three

The whole scene with Lydia and Alec at the morgue is perfect. Perfect. Not in small part for Lydia trying to justify being Circle Member as a forgivable “mistake” and the contrast with Alec’s absolute disgust. He knows it isn’t a mistake to be a part of a violent blood supremacist group: it’s a choice. His unwillingness to excuse his parents is what sets Alec apart from the other shadowhunters.

Ps: Magnus invented the Portal. Lydia’s ancestral was there. Just to make it clear.

Clary going to Luke for solace about Simon’s death is much more emotional to me now than it was back when I first watched this scene.

This scene with Magnus and Izzy is such a classic. Too bad they don’t get to interact much.

The internalized racism that Luke deals with is an amazing plotline. We barely scratch the surface here but it’s a very poignant arc that could’ve been underline his whole character development. Luke clearly still hurts to talk about his transformation: him finding pride in being a werewolf is something I’d be interested in seeing.

Act Four

Alec feels comfortable enough with Magnus to just pour down his deepest and most urgent issues about his life. To Magnus’ credit, he listens and takes Alec’s doubts seriously. Also, shirtless scene.

Raphael’s coup d’état is done so unceremoniously, it’s a shame. The ideologies in conflict here are just what I like to see: morally gray and still compelling. Camille killed Simon because she wanted to, simple as that. Camille was ready to just get rid of Simon’s corpse and keep on as if nothing had happened. She gives no damns about the Accords. Which is awful when it hurts mundanes, but the Accords are the shadowhunters’ rules. Why should Camille follow them?

Raphael, on the other side, wants to follow the Accords. Although, it’s not because he cares about the mundanes: he just doesn’t want problems with the shadowhunters. It’s an interesting conflict and it’s a waste that the Downworlder politics existed in the season but were reduced to the background of Simon’s arc.

BUT Clary straight up punches Camille on the face and I am here for that.

First instance of hearing “the Law is hard, but it is the Law.” And, as always, the Clave focus on palliative measures instead of doing its job and actually protecting the Shadow World. If the Clave really believed the Lightwoods could be working with Valentine, it would’ve removed the whole family from the city, not just the command of the Institute. This is a political maneuver for show only.

Excellent use of camera angle to show which piece of wood Clary chooses while keeping the suspense to the maximum.

Act Five

Shadowhunters does great work with songs and emotional scenes. Simon’s burial is incredibly well crafted.

Alec is now on the point in his arc where he makes his first attempt to correct the consequences of his wrong-doings. His proposal to Lydia is not the ultimate right move, but it is a move in which Alec is ceasing a little control of his destiny by at least choosing his bride. He understood the concept of shaping his own destiny, but he’s not thinking big enough. Alec still has to learn not to accept his punishment (the arranged marriage) at all. Halfway there.

Jace is very sweet here, listing all the things Simon’s survived.

Act Six

This whole blood thing confuses me. Valentine used seelie blood - which is half angel and half demon blood – on the mundanes before drawing the runes that turned them into Forsakens. But Izzy identified the angelic and mundane blood – she mentions “Nephilim” while studying the corpse. Not the demon blood. Why?

Valentine using angel blood on the Forsakens to get them inside the Institute was a smart plan and I applaud the writers for coming up with it. I just wonder what Valentine’s goal was. Where the Forsakens supposed to take the Mortal Cup? In which case, they are not smart enough. Where they supposed to kill all the shadowhunters in the Institute? In that case, just one of them is too few.

As well acted as this scene of Simon waking up as a vampire is, I don’t understand why Simon would say he is repulsive. He was more than happy to talk about how hot Camille was, Jace has mentioned how mundanes romanticize vampires, and Simon is established as a fan of geek stuff. I’d think he’d be more traumatized for having died.

[nei-ning]

Endless Fear - TMNT Horror fic

                                               Endless Fear

*This story will contain death, blood, eating human flesh, chopping a body etc. heavy stuff! If you are sensitive to such things, please don’t read this! Thank you!*

She was slowly coming back to her consciousness, feeling cold iron against her naked wrists. Air was moist just like the floor and whole room smelled so bad… And familiar. Her naked body shivered in cold her legs slowly moving back together. Looking from behind her long brown hair she watched how this big muscular turtle stood shell towards her pulling his pants back on.

Oh yes. She remembered now what had happened. This turtle, Leonardo was his name, had once more come to rape her violently. He said it was for claiming, keep her marked as his so that his brothers wouldn't touch her. At least not without his permission and or his presence. Closing her eyes April sighed deep. She had no idea or even know anymore, of how long she had been there, in that small room which had become her cell. However she remember it all so clear when she had been brought there by Leonardo who, later, had raped her and forced his brothers to do it as well while he was there watching them. At first it all had started as ‘sharing’ and him wanting to let his brothers experience something what they all had always wanted to experience, but soon escalated to where it was only Leonardo that was allowed to touch her. Seeing a trail of light when the door opened Leonardo halted and turned towards April, madness shining so clear and bright in his eyes. This wasn’t the same Leonardo anymore. Master Splinter’s death had turned him… insane. “Don’t look so down, April. I know you loved it. One of us will come to feed you later. Until tomorrow.” Desperation filled her heart as she tried to pull her weak hands free and go after the last trails of light, but it was all in vain. A heavy click locked the door and she was left alone in darkness. How much time had passed she didn’t know but whenever that door opened fear was the first emotion she felt, her guts turning upside down. Super silent sigh of relief got free between her lips when biggest of the turtles stepped in with candle, bowl and cleaning supplies. Ever since she was raped first time, this big turtle, Raphael, came and cleaned her. She didn’t know if it was Leonardo’s order or if it was his own choice. Somehow she knew the answer was, he came willingly. Slowly lowering himself on his knees Raphael pushed her legs apart while placing candle near enough so he could see. Blood. She was bleeding once again. Leonardo had become very rough with her, it seems. Deep in his mind Raphael growled. He didn’t like what his brother was doing. He once tried to speak about this to his older brother but not without serious consequences. Gently wetting a small hand towel in the warm bowl of water, he squeezed the excess water out, and wiped her groin slow and gently, making sure there was no trails of blood left. He knew it wouldn’t take away the experience, or memories and feelings, what she had went through, but tried his best to make her feel comfort. Placing the dirty towel, hanging, back into the bowl Raphael took a fresh towel and dried her. Never making eye contact… even before. “P… Please, Raphael… Let me go… I’m scared. I want to go home. … Please.” Only reaction was deep inhale and longer exhale. She knew this big turtle wasn’t bad like his blue eyed brother so she kept pushing. Maybe he would finally give in. Fighting tears back she continued with silent and trembling voice. “I beg you… Let me go. I miss my home, I miss Vern. He must be sick and worried of me... I… I don’t want to die here.” Dropping her head down she no longer wasn’t able to hold her tears. “I want to live. I want to get out of here. I want my life back… So please, just… Just let me go.” Light green eyes now looked at her beneath strong eye ridges and for the first time, their eyes met. She was begging and it became difficult for Raphael to keep looking into those eyes of hers. “Why don’t you say anything?” Her voice was trembling with her whole body. “Do you despise me so much you can’t say a thing? DAMMIT! JUST SAY SOMETHING!” He swallowed hard, lifting his head up. After making eye contact once more, Raphael opened his mouth witnessing her eyes growing wider with gasp. Without a word he closed his mouth, stood up and took bowl and candle with him as he exit the room. – “So, have you finally got any results to your tests, Donatello?” Icy tone of his brother’s made Donatello stiff for a moment but with a cough he relaxed himself, turning to face his leader. “I actually have. You might want to sit down.” “Just spill it out.” Leonardo’s voice was even colder and demanding, anger brightening his eyes. “O-okay, um… I did her pregnancy test 3 weeks ago and --” “Answer, Donny!” “S-she’s not pregnant.” “Damn it!” It was another blow to great leader who spun around on his heels, flipping over one of Don’s research tables. Listening in silence Don watched how his brother kept rampaging and growling back and forth. “Why isn’t she pregnant?!” “I… I… Leo, it’s because of our mutation. Mutagen somehow influenced our sperm when we mutated. We don't have the same sperm count needed to impregnate anyone.” Sparking with anger and insanity Leonardo’s eyes shot at Don like darts. “You're telling me I'm not able of making her pregnant!!? That I’m not PERFECT!?” “Uh... No, I--!” Don took a step back as his brother marched in front of him, grabbing hard on his arm. “You dare to belittle me, HUH?! I’m perfect! I’m the ultimate ninja! I don’t have any breeding issues even if you three have! I’m not the fault of her not being pregnant!...” Slowly his fast panting started slowing down, his hand releasing its hold on Donatello’s arm. It seemed like if Leonardo had realized something as he turned side ways staring into emptiness, nodding to himself. “Yes… I was right. It’s not me. I’m not the issue here. She is. She can’t get pregnant. Yeah. Yeah! That’s it!” Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello changed looks carefully behind their brother’s back. They had grow to fear their fearless leader and brother. He wasn’t the same anymore. Not even one bit. “S-so um, what do we do to her now?” “Easy, my dear little brother. We get rid of her.” “How?” “You’re not that stupid, Michelangelo. Or perhaps you are, I don’t care. We do the same what we have done to all those other girls we had here.” All three swallowed. All the others had gone through horrible, painful and slow deaths in the hands of Leonardo who enjoyed making them suffer. Just like they had made the turtles suffer. At least, that’s what Leonardo kept believing. Those women were innocent, it wasn't their fault they were mutants who needed to hide and live in the sewers. Even more horrible it all became when Leonardo had forced them to cook and eat those poor women. Getting rid of all the evidence was all the eldest brother cared about. Even thinking about it and knowing they were eating human flesh made the brothers sick to their stomachs. And now they were going to consume April… Their friend. “W-with all respect but isn’t there any other way?” “What was that? Did I heard you questioning me and my orders?” “No, no! I just… Do we really need to kill and eat her? Can’t we just let her go? And why you need to get her pregnant? In the past you said we should never make a human woman pregnant since she would end up giving birth to another mutant. And we all know how this world relate to mutants. You said it all to us in the past, Leo!” In a flash Leonardo was beside his little brother having him in a head lock, sword ready in his hand. “Your tongue, Mikey.” Tears started to blur his vision, mouth slowly opening, pink tongue finally revealing itself to cold and moist lair air. Feeling cold and sharp blade against his warm and sensitive muscle, Michelangelo closed his eyes getting ready for the pain. “Listen, Mikey, and listen good. One more question or stupid comment from you and your tongue is cut off – Just like Raphael’s.” Giving evil smirk to his hot head brother who looked away, moving the rest of his tongue in his mouth, Leonardo leaned closer to Mikey’s head, whispering; “You remember what happened to him, right? He couldn’t stop arguing with me, correcting me, belittling me. Always arguing and questioning me and never doing as I said. He paid a price of using that nasty tongue and language of his. So, dear brother, if you want to keep yours, learn to shut your big mouth. It’s starting to annoy me greatly. And remember – I don’t need to explain myself or my actions to you.” With that Leonardo withdraw pushing his little brother out of his way, leaving his three trembling siblings behind. – The door of her cell once more opened and this time there was very faint light that came in. April assumed it must had been night time and the turtles were asleep. Except one. Despite his massive size Raphael moved very steady and silently, kneeling next to her small body reaching for her chains and locks around her wrists with small key. “Wha--- A-are you letting me go?” Only answer was firm nod. “B-but won’t you get in trouble? I want my freedom… but I don't want to bring you any harm.” By now, Raphael didn’t care. He would be able to handle Leo, somehow. At least he wouldn’t go down without a fight if it would come to that. Taking hold on April’s chains Raphael placed them on the floor without a sound as April stood on her shaky feet, moving a bit away. Silently she watched how Raphael covered many pillows under the blanket like she was still chained and asleep. His big form stepped in front of her but for some reason he hesitated a moment. April started to think he would change his mind and lock her back up, but instead Raphael wrapped a big blanket around her naked body and lifted her in his arms. Making sure no-one was awake or around, Raphael left the lair with April as quickly and silently as possible. – Landing with heavy thud on the street in the shadows Raphael put April down, keeping his hand near her to assure her safety. She wobbled some but stood on her feet. Hearing small sound of keys she looked down on that big palm which held her apartment keys. Raphael had kept them all this time! Happy tears escaping her eyes she reached for her keys, sealing them against her chest. Looking up in those light green sorry eyes she sighed and lift her hand on that big round cheek. “Thank you. Thank you so much for freeing me. I – I really wish nothing bad happens to you… You could stay here with me if you want to. You would be safe here.” Raphael shook his head. As much as he would had loved to stay and not return back home, he knew he needed to. His two youngest brothers needed him to be there and protect them from Leo. Taking April’s hand in his, Raphael gently tapped her hand, smiling a bit at her for the first time since they met. For some reason April felt bad and she reached to hug this big turtle, tears leaking down between her eyelids. “Please, do come visit me at any time. And most importantly, stay safe. Don’t let Leo hurt you or your brothers.” She felt how that big head made slow and gentle nod in her arms. Slowly letting her hands slide off on Raphael he took a step forward watching her slowly making her way inside the building where she lived. Within few seconds Raphael reached top of next building, seeing clearly in April’s apartment from there after she had enter and turn lights on. For a some reason he had very sad feeling about watching her. Like he would never see her again. – Returning back to the lair was the scariest part in Raphael’s life but he had to pull that door open and enter the lair. Just as he had feared Leonardo stood in the middle of the lair, holding April’s chains in his hands. “Where is she?” That icy voice was low and cold, freezing Raphael in his place but he didn’t answer. Growling in anger for not receiving an answer from his muscular brother, Leonardo marched closer to him suddenly swinging chains through the air, hitting Raph on the face and neck with them. Painful inhale and step backward was the only reaction Leonardo had gotten out of his brother. Hitting him over and over again caused bruises to appear on his dark green skin but Raphael just couldn’t bring himself to fight back and hurt his brother. He still loved him so, strongly believing that sweet big brother who he once had the privilege of knowing, was still somewhere deep in this maniac who just looked like Leo. Another growl with loud yell filled the lair Leo tossing chains out of his hands, poking Raphael hard in the eyes which made Raph fall on his knees covering his face with his hands. Reaching on his shell Leonardo pulled his deadly blades in front of him, starting to slice pieces off on Raphael’s body. A sounds what were weird and horrible sounding screams woke Mikey and Don who came to the scene. “Tell me where she is, you fucking piece of shit!” “Leo, stop! You’re killing him!” “Then that’s his own fault! He deserves to die after betraying me! Stealing our meal from us!” “We didn’t want to eat her in the first place, Leo! She was our friend!” Suddenly Leo stopped giving deadly glare to Michelangelo who swallowed and regretted his words instantly. “Oh? You didn’t want to eat her? Well then...” Stepping next to heavily panting Raphael, who had lost a lot of blood, Leo’s tight hold on his bandanna forced his head up. “How about we eat him instead?” “Are you insane!? Raphael’s our brother!” “That’s right, Donnie, but by eating him he will always be part of us.” Turning to look Raphael from the corner of his eye Leonardo continued. “Even that he hasn’t been the best brother.” Moving his shiny blade against thick neck, Leonardo leaned down and whispered; “Shame. Truly shame, Raphael. You know you were my favorite brother because of your temper and brutality. Know I blame her for ruining you. But also know this; I really feel bad for doing this. After all you’re my brother and I love you, but most of all, I hate traitors.” Looking up at already crying Don and Mikey Leonardo smirked. “Any last words, Raphael?”Gathering his last strength he lifted his eyes to have eye contact with his younger brothers. He had his voice but without his tongue talking was hard so he only moved his lips: “Forgive me, my brothers. I love you.” In that second when Raphael’s lips stopped moving, Leo jumped up and with a flash of his blade Raphael’s head came off, rolling few feet away from the body. Mikey’s scream echoed in the lair as he rushed to Raphael’s head to pick it up, hugging it tight while still warm blood dripped on his naked thighs. Swallowing repeatedly Don made his slow way next to Mikey, reaching his hand to close Raphael’s eyes. Further away, Leonardo swung his katanas, splashing the blood off of them on the moist floor. “When you two are done crying like babies, clean this mess and chop him. We have food for days now, thanks to his massive body.” Turning away and taking few steps their oldest suddenly stopped. “Oh, almost forgot. Keep the head. And Don, find April.” Nodding with silent tears Don and Mikey spend their time to grieve after their lost brother, finally getting themselves to take the cold body in the bathroom where they, with heavy hearts and sick feelings in their stomachs, cut flesh off from the bones, chopping bones in smaller pieces to add more flavor in the food. They knew Leo would punish them if they would waste anything. Raphael’s shell they washed and saved, hanging it on the wall in their bedroom what they now would be sharing. Either one of them didn’t want to sleep alone anymore. Nor couldn’t they, nightmares would be too much to bare alone. – It was night and April was getting ready for bed, when a sudden loud thud came from her balcony. On guard she approached the door hoping it would be Raphael who would had come to visit but when she opened the door, there was no one in sight. Only thing what was on her balcony was a big box. She studied it and took it inside. Kneeling down on living room floor near the window she slowly opened the mystery package. When she fully opened it, her eyes grew huge and color faded off on her face. She had to slap both of her hands on her mouth from preventing her to scream and alarm her neighbors. “...No… N-no! No, Raphael… Not this… I didn’t… I’m so sorry…!” Reaching her shaky hands in the box she lifted Raphael’s bluish head out hugging it tightly tears rolling down like waterfalls on her cheeks, hitting dead harsh skin of Raphael’s head. Little bit she knew she was watched from the near by roof by Leonardo who had a twisted and satisfied smirk on his face. Raphael actually had done a good job at letting April go because now, instead of killing April, Leonardo could come here to scare her, make her live in fear, for the rest of her life... God, how much fun he will have now! The end

[howyoutalktostrangers]

So,

It may be one of our country’s most iconic pastimes, but since 2012 the number of players registered with Hockey Canada has dropped by over 200,000. With controversies around concussion protocols, headline-making fist fights between parents in the stands and an increasing awareness of the toxic culture that sometimes permeates kids’ ice-time, it’s little wonder the national sport organization is going to extreme lengths to give their pastime a makeover.

In her memoir Home Ice: Confessions of a Reluctant Hockey Mom, Fernie writer Angie Abdou shares the story of watching her son Ollie become a hockey player. A naturally artistic and empathetic preteen, he struggles to make a place for himself at the rink while she watches anxiously from the stands. With a keenly watchful mother’s eye, she picks apart the traditional thinking of those immersed in that world, advocates for her kid and envisions a better way forward. She questions the wisdom of having athletes specialize in one sport early, decries the cruelty of cutting young players from the team and wonders aloud if there’s a way to limit the violence.

“We have elevated sports into a cultural religion,” she writes. “I know how tied up one’s identity can get with success in sport. I know how all-consuming that focus on gold can be. I worry about the transition to post-sport life.”

But this isn’t an anti-hockey screed, as you might assume from reading the opening few chapters. Rather, this is a call to arms for parents to embrace large-scale culture change, focusing on participation and fun rather than competition. She envisions a future for hockey culture that is more inclusive and less fixated on the outcome of reaching the NHL. 

According to Hockey Canada’s website, their chances aren’t very good anyway: only 1 in every 4000 players makes the cut.

A contemporary Colosseum

There have been a lot of negative headlines in the hockey world lately, with news of Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters using the “N-word” towards a player, Don Cherry getting fired for making remarks about immigrants and and numerous reports of violent hazing and racist bullying coming from the locker room. Writer and broadcaster Waubgeshig Rice recently shared on Twitter that he was routinely subject to racist taunts, and many others have come out with their stories of abuse.

A few years ago I took a job as a general assignment reporter for the Nelson Star, and ended up covering a local boys’ league called the Leafs. Headed by a belligerent bully coach who would ultimately be fired, the team was a breeding ground for macho entitlement and unnecessary cruelty. I was shocked to learn that the American teams they were playing still had racist names, like the Spokane Braves, and I marvelled at the Colosseum vibe in the arena as they banged their sticks against the boards and shouted epithets at the kids on ice. My distaste for the sport was at its zenith.

When I first picked up Home Ice, I was relieved to find that I wasn’t the only one disgusted by the current state of the sport and questioning whether things could be done better. And as I delved into the pages, following Abdou’s experience shepherding Ollie through a sometimes hostile environment, I found many of my particular issues being addressed head-on. If hockey culture is ever going to evolve from its barbaric past, it’s going to take buy-in from pretty much everyone: spectators, parents, players and coaches. Just as Rome’s gladiator fights have been phased out and replaced, it’s time for hockey culture to invest real time and money into making their sport appropriate for the present day.

And once I started spelunking around the Hockey Canada website, checking out the many ambitious initiatives they have underway to radically tweak the culture, I was heartened to find out they haven’t been sitting on their hands —just the opposite. Long before Abdou’s book was released, they knew they had to alter course. But like trying to turn a giant steamship, it’s not as easy as a quick pivot. Instead it requires diligent long-term attention from professionals who care about the well-being of the athletes.

Reasons to hope

In Home Ice, Abdou explores the consequences the Graham James sex scandal had on her brother Justin Abdou.

“In my story, my brother sidestepped any true ugliness. In my story, my brother saw James for what he was and knew enough to steer clear … The subtext implies that the sort of horror inflicted on Theo Fleury and the other players under James’ charge happens to people different from us, people less alert, less strong,” she writes, before learning the truth —that her brother had narrowly avoided being sexually assaulted by him as a teen.

“Let’s revise my history then: my heroic brother — who brings to mind my own son in a way I find very uncomfortable — was never immune from this particular personification of evil.”

But there is also reason to hope that the culture is improving, epitomized by the work Sheldon Kennedy and his organization Respect Group are doing to talk about subjects that were formerly verboten. By providing mandatory e-learning resources and launching campaigns to raise awareness about abuse, he’s working to ensure that organizations don’t create the sort of toxic, abusive environments that he grew up in. Part of that means establishing safeguards to ensure predators can’t take advantage of those less powerful than they are.

And even in Nelson, where I was initially horrified by the culture I experienced, progress is being made to create a more inclusive and supportive culture. One of the coaches, Sean Dooley, has championed a mental health program called Breakout that aims to disrupt these unhealthy cycles. Having experienced abuse that led to destructive behaviours in his own life, he’s now on the frontlines of making things better for his players. The more Sean Dooleys and Sheldon Kennedys we have in the world, and the less Graham James, the better our hockey system will become.

Something you can’t have

As hockey culture improves, one thing that needs to be addressed is accessibility. Abdou notes that it’s a rich person’s sport, historically inaccessible to people of a lower income. Even innovative programs that aim to foster inclusion often fall short. In Home Ice she writes about one such program, First Shift, which bankrolls the kids’ first years in the sport but then doesn’t continue into the rest of their career.

“First Shift gives these kids a taste of the sport: here is something you can’t have … it’s become a cheque-book sport available only to the well off,” she writes. “Research shows that … ninety percent of Canadian children miss out on the benefits of the sport and participating in the culture of hockey so synonymous with Canadian.”

This is a hurdle that many within the system are trying to address, but progress has been slow. Those who love the sport would like to see as many people involved as possible, from every facet of society, but don’t know how to bankroll that. In order to change this, and to address the many issues the hockey world is facing, some organizations have gotten proactive about making incremental changes to their systems. That includes BC Hockey.

“There’s a lot of traditional thought processes in hockey culture, and many people feel that things have always been done a certain way and there’s been a success to it. But at the same time we can sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture and it is important to embrace new ideas,” said BC Hockey’s Vice President of Programs Sean Raphael.

The way Raphael imagines it, we’ll be studying the successes of their institutional makeover to see the impact on an entire generation of kids. This information will be crucial for organizations as they make decisions moving forward.

“Overall long-term athlete development is a general concept that doesn’t just apply to hockey, it applies to all participants’ lives and their physical development. It may differ from one sport to the next, but I think the general concept of developing the overall athlete is a good place to start.”

Mobilizing solutions

At last year’s Sport for Life Canadian Summit, Abdou shared with delegates from across the country and did a reading of Home Ice. She was invited with the hope that her observations could be a catalyst for change. And though some of her opinions may have come across as incendiary or controversial, she was embraced by representatives from the hockey world largely because they agreed with her verdicts. They know concussions are a problem, they know bullying and racism are a problem, and they know there are better ways to implement the long-term development framework. Change takes time, but at least they’re getting started.

In an environment that sometimes rejects outside-the-box thinking, Abdou’s contribution was a breath of fresh air that had a large impact for those in attendance. They saw that she wasn’t only identifying problems; she was also offering solutions. By championing Kaizen, which means ceaseless self-improvement, she has given Hockey Canada deep analysis from outside their system that has the potential to create real change.

Next up: the hard work of putting her suggestions into action. 

The Literary Goon

[bonniexbellefleur]

The Winner Takes It All // self-para

“For someone who moved to a town where actual monsters could be your next door neighbor, you make it too easy for little old me to walk through the front entrance all willy nilly.” That familiar voice tingled the confines of Charles’ memory and caused his shoulders to tense the minute he stepped into the living room. Eyes cast to the redhead seated on his couch with legs crossed, natural hunter instinct immediately kicking in. “Bonnie,” Charles spoke through gritted teeth as he stepped further into the room. “Not that it’s wonderful having someone drop by uninvited while I’m away, but I am not within my chipper mood to entertain visitors today.”

Bonnie gave the man a cheery smile with a shrug of her shoulders. “I won’t take up too much of your time, Charles, this isn’t truly a social call. If it was, well...let’s just say I would have ripped those inconvenient clothes to shreds on my way to jumping your bones the second you walked through that door.” The hunter gave her a look, throwing her his best deadpan snark, “Okay, great, I’m so glad I know that.” He honestly didn’t know what it was about the Bellefleur cousins and their obsession with sex, whether Bonnie was only joking or not being the main question. Charles couldn’t say for certain if that was the case, but he had a spare silver switchblade in his pocket should the vampire look to find out. “What do you want?”

“You have to ruin the moment, Sinclair?” Bonnie sighed dramatically and pushed herself to her feet, taking a few steps closer to the man as Charles took the same amount backwards. “Can’t we take our time, drink some bourbon, have a hot night of passion by a glowing fire?” Sensing his need for space, Bon pouted and remained where she was. “This is business, Charles, it’s about that baby bouncing boy you and your fam lost about four months ago. I find it truly tragic your fuck buddy cop hasn’t told you shit, honestly, it’s not a surprise. She seems to shut down and push anyone away when the going gets tough emotionally.”

“Don’t talk about Rebekah in that way.” Charles narrowed his gaze at the woman in a suspicious glare, something telling him Bonnie knew more than she let on. “If you have a point rubbing my son’s death in my face, make it, or the door’s that way. I already spent too much of my goddamn time mourning Henry and worrying over my kids’ safety. I don’t need your fucking smug ass coming here and defiling my boy’s memory.” The redhead scoffed at this, nevertheless, allowing the silence to grow at an alarming rate. If Charles was going to be a grumpygills and lose his patience just like Raphael had, which it was clear from the man’s death glare that he was, he would have to learn how to wait for the biggest news he’d ever receive. It could’ve been thirty seconds or a whole minute that passed, it mattered not. Bonnie was the one to finally break it. “Henry’s alive, surprise!” She came out right with it in an explosion of misplaced excitement. Well...certainly misplaced for the elder man. Bonnie continued before there was time for interruptions. “Well, not technically alive, but he isn’t worm food six feet under. I’ll give it to you in a nutshell before I have to scram, though, but it goes like this: Eloise had a charming pet progeny, your dearest darling Anna, I wanted what she had, and that’s exactly what I did. I gave myself my own Sinclair in the handsome form of your son. Trust me, it hasn’t been easy keeping him tame for four fucking months, but I say I’m proud of myself. Totally awesome news, right?”

Charles did not move, he did not blink, he did not even breathe during the entirety of this vampire’s rant. Just stared. Just simply stared while his brain attempted to catch up with the meaning behind the words. He wouldn’t make the accusations that she was lying for the sick enjoyment of the world’s cruelest joke. She was a Bellefleur, after all, no matter Bonnie’s personal feelings towards her cousin. “You bitch...” He spoke in an infuriated hushed tone, “You fucking bitch...” Charles advanced towards her with a slow stride, blinding rage boiling with each step he took. “For four months, for four fucking months, you put us all in a state of Hell. Making Henry’s death look like an accident or some kind of suicide, pushing his car off the cliff with some poor asshole stuck inside, and you’re telling me,” As Charles spoke, his tone rose to a deafening shout, “that this was all about YOUR SENSELESS VENDETTA?!”

Bonnie lifted a hand to her ear and made a mocking spectacle with an overdramatic wince. “Goddamn, Charles Sinclair, no need for a shouting match. Where’s the gratitude, huh? I gave you back the one thing that was making your other two kiddies lose their minds. Of course, Raph doesn’t have a liver to destroy and Anna will wallow at her murderous actions, but now they’ll see it was a waste of precious time.”

“You expect me to show you gratitude after kidnapping and turning my son against his will while his loved ones believed he suffered a painfully agonizing death? Well, it looks like he really did.” The redhead smirked, a look Charles really needed to smack from her expression more than literally anything. “Get out.”

Bonnie pouted yet again. “Oh, come on, Charles, we-” The man cut her off. “Get. Out.” Still, she did not budge even as Charles shouted at her. “GET OUT!” The woman stood standing where she was for a moment, a smile clear on her lips as she turned on her heel and headed for the door. “Oh, and Bonnie,” His voice halted the vampire within her tracks, “I hope you enjoy these last moments of glory alive while you can. If neither of my family manage to kill you, Gideon certainly will. Undying devotion can bring the fiercest rage of them all and make the very earth beneath your boots quake. Now, imagine that rage in a dark witch lover.” Bon leered at his parting words yet disregarding them nonetheless as she opened the door and vanished from Charles’ abode.

______

After her enlightening conversation with Charles, his threats gave her food for thought. Bonnie wasn’t an idiot, of course she knew revealing the identify of who changed Henry Sinclair and faked his death as an accident would place a target on her back. She could’ve kept it secret and stewed with the satisfaction, but one slip from Henry’s lips would have cut her infamy short before she would be given a chance to brag. Bonnie indulged in the seven deadly sins on a daily basis and she had a stubborn determination not to let any of them become her untimely downfall.

Slipping into Eloise’s house was as easy as Charles’, perhaps, easier. Bonnie held a small inking of a doubt she wouldn’t be caught by the two vampires living there considering the Sinclair home only contained a human owner, however, she had nothing to fear. It appeared neither Eloise or Tiberius were nowhere to be found, their current location being anyone’s guess and not really her concern at the moment. Bonnie glided down the steps to the basement just as she did that previous day only there wasn’t anyone guarding the little vampire locked away for her crimes. In truth, she commended Anna for letting loose and having her fun like a typical teenage rebel. Something she could’ve encouraged before Anna was placed in this unfortunate prison. With a smirk that can make the slimiest heathen’s skin crawl, Bonnie pushed open the door.

The youngest Sinclair was not having an enjoyable time. She was hungry, she was weak due to the hunger, but she believed it is what she deserved for killing those people senselessly without considering the consequences. All day and through the night, she heard muffled voices from beyond that door, some recognizable and others not. At some point, Anna swore she heard her father’s, but even his faded as well. Then...there was silence. Complete and utter silence. She couldn’t tell how long she was down there without sunlight or the moon to give her any indications. Still, Anna remained slumped against the wall, pressing her entire body against the surface in a cowering position. The creaking of the metal door scraping against the concrete like nails on a chalkboard, though, immediately snapped her head in that direction and she quickly rose to her feet while using the wall for support. “T-Tiberius, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I promise I won’t-”

Bonnie’s soft laugh brought the girl’s apologies to an abrupt end as she stepped into the only dim light hanging from the ceiling. “Oh, Tibs did a real number on you, didn’t he?” She whistled. “Damn, Anna, where’s the sharp Sinclair I knew before because she is certainly not the cowering, dirty, and disgustingly smelly girl standing before me.” Anna took a step forward, her starvation carrying her on somewhat shaky legs. “Bonnie? What are you doing here?”

The redhead swept her gaze along the young vampire’s frame, taking in her extremely disheveled appearance for a pregnant pause. Bonnie mulled over the choice of bringing a blood bag for mercy’s sake and ruining Anna’s intervention in turn, but she couldn’t risk being a literal magnet for one very hungry vampire. “I dropped by your daddy’s house and gave him some very interesting news earlier today and just thought what kind of person would I be if I did not share that courtesy with you? I know how hard you’ve been hit with your brother’s death, Anna.” Bonnie moved closer until she was practically circling the girl like a hawk surveying prey. Anna followed her with her exhausted gaze as the vampire continued another long spiel, “It’s tragically heartbreaking how I had to watch your family shatter at the seams. Charles needing his children as a crutch, Raphael drinking every liquor store he could find, and then there’s you. Anna Sinclair, the new vampire, the youngest of the clan trying so hard to remain strong when she finally grew tired of it and murdered any human she could get her hands on. Anna Sinclair, the lost little girl, under lock and key as punishment for her actions. Frightened, alone, flinching at every small sound. Fearing the coven leader who placed her here. You never were going to be the same after this, sugar, and you’d be a fool to think you would be.” Bonnie finally ceased circling the brunette and stood directly in front of her. “I wonder how Henry is going to feel once he discovers his baby sister slaughtered the innocent.”

Anna kept her silence while Bonnie rambled on, never truly seeing the similarities between her and Eloise until exposed to their infamously endless rants. Anything that reached her ears wasn’t new for Anna, she had plenty of spare time on her hands to consider her current state of mind and grew ashamed at the feebleness now present with the girl. A Sinclair persevered, a Sinclair did not cower in the face of fear. They stood tall with a stiff upper lip and faced the enemy armed with their classic sarcasm and bite. She, however, wasn’t a Sinclair once she looked in a mirror. She was a scared, seventeen year old girl slapped with a life she never once asked for. “What are you talking about? He’s never going to know. Henry’s dead, okay, he’s dead. And he’s not coming back.”

Bonnie waved a finger and clicked her tongue in a tsking manner. “Oh, how wrong you are, Anna love, how wrong you are. Can I tell you a story? Let me tell you a story.” The older woman began pacing the confines of the room, gaze running along the instruments her cousin used for torturing purposes. If she were not there for important business, Bonnie would have tried a few of them on Anna for fun. “Even as humans, Ellie had everything despite our same social status and my sister felt the same exact way. We were very close, Margaret and I, much like you and Raphael. Eloise knew how much my sister fancied William and she married him anyway. The night she discovered Margaret tangled in the sheets with her husband, she brutally killed them both. You know the fury better than anyone, Anna, when you lose a sibling. It leaves you hollow and it leaves you empty. I used that rage, found a vampire willing to turn me, and set on a path for vengeance. And when I come to this bumfuck town, it’s deja vu. Eloise had everything. A hot boy toy, a torturing queen reputation that couldn’t be beat, and a stolen girl she turned to stir up trouble. Needless to say, jealousy can become a terribly delightful motivation.” She hummed lightly, “I knew I needed a Sinclair and Henry was ripe for the picking.” Bonnie stood where she was as her gaze settled on the girl’s brown hues, “I kidnapped your brother. I tortured him, turned him, and locked him away for a rainy day. That body in the car you thought was Hen? A decoy. A little compulsion here, a little persuasion there, and it was the perfect plan.”

“What?” Anna didn’t have trouble understanding a single statement, but she swore the hunger must’ve twisted the meanings in a cruel way to make her believe Henry was actually alive. In vampire form, but not stuck in a coffin six feet below the dirt. Whoever was resting in that grave was not her brother, but a complete stranger. “You’re lying to me. Henry can’t-” She felt the same way she had when Rebekah told her he was gone. Confused, devastated, stuck in a nightmare she could not wake up from. “He can’t be just...” 

Bonnie nodded several times, hands on her hips as she stepped closer. “I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried, dollface. Do you want to know what the real kicker is, though? You sliced and diced and tore out throats without a care who saw in the name of your older brother.” Anna slowly backed away as the panic set in, despair clutching at her throat with the intention to suffocate her. “No...” The woman continued on, “You committed unspeakable murder without your humanity switch flipped off and allowed the guilt to build and build and build as much as it could until it was the only damn thing you were left with.”

“No....Please....please stop...” The tears streaked the girl’s cheeks as she choked out a gut-wrenching sob she couldn’t contain. 

“And would you care to find out what that means? You succumbed to the monster deep within you for absolutely nothing. Henry lives his immortal life as a vampire hating you. Your brother and father will look at you with such disgust and hatred, Eloise and Tibs will look with disappointment.” Bonnie began walking backwards in the direction of the door. “You have no one, Anna Sinclair, you are nothing. Remember that during your meaningless existence.” And then the redhead vanished.

The girl stared off in the direction of the door, having backed herself into the wall at this point with an uncontrollable sobbing she hadn’t done since Raphael’s death at Dante’s hands. Her legs couldn’t contain her entire body weight and she suddenly collapsed to the floor with a pitiful whimper. Nothing, it was all for nothing. She should’ve been joyous Henry was for the lack of a better term alive, albeit a vampire doomed to his sister’s fate. The humans whose full lives she cut short fell at the actions of not a grieving vampire, but a loathing monster...and she would have to face that. 

Anna sucked in a deep breath and released it in an agonizing scream loud enough for the entire population of Killgrove Hills to hear.

The trouble is...

No one would be listening.

[hiddlesgirl]

SH 204: Day of Wrath

A great episode; it was really well paced and the characters had breathing room for dialogue, it didn’t feel rushed like last week’s did. The scenes felt more drawn out so that you could get into the dialogue without being pulled away into another scene too quickly; I also liked the establishing shots. I loved the Magnus scenes in this episode; I also liked Jace in this episode.

In the first scene Clary visits Jace in the City of Bones; she wants to help him but he sends her away. I liked how genuine this scene felt, Clary wants to help Jace in any way she can because she feels responsible for his imprisonment; he is her brother and wants him to know that she is there for him. However, Jace still has romantic feelings for her which Valentine told him was a result of his demon blood. He feels self loathing because of his feelings for her, he also knows that Valentine will use those feelings against him. He wants to protect Clary and the best way he thinks to do that is to keep distance between them; he feels that he has to go it alone.

We then have a cute Malec scene. Magnus has been reprimanded by Aldertree; Alec thanks Magnus for his presence during his coma. Alec and Magnus discuss their first date when Raj interrupts them to drag Alec away for a demon meeting. I love this scene. I love that Alec tells Magnus that his presence did help him, and thanks him for it; Magnus’ presence is what made him hold on long enough for Jace to get to him. I think that Magnus is slightly taken aback by the admission, but ultimately pleased that he did help Alec despite his feelings of helplessness at the time. Magnus asks how Jace is, slightly stumbling over his words which is unusual for him; I think that Magnus is accepting that he and Jace don’t have to be opposing forces in Alec’s life. They are both important to him in different ways, they both care for Alec and will always be there to help him as was apparent in the last episode. I think that Magnus was wary of Jace to begin with because he knew of Alec’s feelings for Jace but now he is accepting Jace as a part of Alec; they are a package deal in a way.

Alec stutters out, with Magnus’ help, that they haven’t gone on their first date yet; I really love this because even though Alec is becoming more confident dating is still new to him and makes him nervous. As always Magnus is there to help him and suggests portaling to Marrakech; I love the smiles they exchange, they are both excited for their first date. The moment is broken by Raj, Magnus says he looks well and Alec smiles clearly amused. I love this because it means that at some point someone (I’m thinking Izzy) told Alec about how Magnus used his magic on Raj to prevent him from making Magnus leave Alec; and he is clearly amused at the situation.

Alec turns to Magnus with apprehension as he knows that once again their plans will have to be put on hold, he feels nervous that once again his job has got in the way of them spending time together. He doesn’t want to upset Magnus; but Magnus reassures him that he doesn’t hold a grudge and knows that Alec has a job to do. Alec clearly wants to make an effort with Magnus and doesn’t want his job to come between them; Magnus understands as usual, he knows how important Alec’s job is and doesn’t hold his responsibility against him.

Alec and Clary are tracking the demon; I like their back and forth with each other. Even though he gets frustrated with her and her lack of training he is willing to teach and guide her, albeit impatiently. They always play off each other well; I’m glad that Alec’s animosity towards her is dialled down at the moment, now that Jace is back he is thinking more clearly.

Aldertree brings Raphael in for questioning which turns into torture; oh my gosh this scene shocked and slightly horrified me. Aldertree seems completely blasé about the fact that he is torturing the vampire, calling it motivation despite the fear and injury he causes. I loved David’s acting in this scene; you feel the fear Raphael is experiencing and feel horrified on his behalf. You also feel scared at how far the Clave are willing to go to obtain information; if they are willing to use concentrated UV rays on vampires what else are they willing to do?

Luke and Jocelyn discuss her transfer to Idris, Luke decides to go with her. I think the scene is sweet; Luke is so in love and devoted to Jocelyn that he willing to leave his life behind to be with her. However, I feel a bit frustrated with Luke because he has a responsibility to the pack; to protect them and care for them, but he is willing to abandon them to follow Jocelyn. I understand that he loves her and doesn’t want to be parted for her but I also feel that he is letting down the pack by being so readily prepared to leave them.

Raphael turns up on Magnus’ doorstep looking a mess with burnt lines across his face; Magnus is horrified at the sight of him. He gathers him in his arms and tells him he is going to take care of him. You can see the concern on Magnus’ face and feel the care in the way Magnus holds Raphael; I really love that they are bringing their relationship into the show (as I said before I haven’t read the books but I have seen information).

Magnus is healing Raphael with his magic when Raphael asks for his help in turning over Camille. I love that Magnus refers to Raphael as a son to him and you understand why he was so badly injured, this was Magnus’ punishment for help Alec as well as about getting Camille. Raphael knows how hard it will be for Magnus to help them turn Camille over but needs to protect the clan from the Clave.

Simon shows up, also asking Magnus for help with Camille; he sees Raphael and a fight almost breaks out but Magnus stops them. I love this interaction, it’s like a parent stopping siblings from fighting; Downworld Dad Magnus.

Clary and Izzy are in the utility tunnels trying to find the demon which is now inside the institute. It is the first time demon ichor is mentioned (again I know about this via fics and tumblr). Izzy and Clary discuss Clary’s possible move to Idris with her mom; Clary is unsure what she wants to do, her mom lied to her for her whole life. Izzy makes the point that her mom wants to fix the mistakes she made, you can feel the wistful longing in Izzy; Maryse always seems to disapprove of Izzy and you understand why Izzy would long for a mom who wants a relationship with her. Izzy also says that she doesn’t want Clary to go because ‘no one in Idris is going to teach you to fight in 5 inch heels’. I really love their interactions and friendship; Izzy is encouraging Clary to make an effort with her mom but at the same time letting her know that there is a place for her at the institute and she would be missed if she left.

I really love the scene between Simon and Magnus on the balcony. Magnus opens up about why he is so attached to Camille, she was there for him when no one else was and stopped him from committing suicide. It is a very vulnerable moment for Magnus and I love the acting from both Harry and Alberto. Simon comes to understand that Camille is Magnus’ Clary, therefore understanding how hard it is for Magnus to turn her in and let go of her. It also helps us as an audience understand Magnus’ lingering feelings for her. I love that he opened up to Simon, letting him in; he knew that Simon would understand. I really love how their bond is growing and cannot wait to see more of their scenes together.

Jace’s trail has begun and Aldertree is questioning him about his actions with Valentine; he then questions him about his feelings for Clary. It seems a bit strange because it has no real relevance to the trail, the only reason I can think of is that he wants to get under Jace’s skin. I like Dom’s acting in this scene, the way he struggles with his words trying not to answer the questions but the words are forced from him. I love the way they are using the sword, much better than how it was displayed in a chunk of ice in episode 11 of season 1. Jace goes to kill himself with the Soul Sword; it raises our concerns for his continuing decline of his mental state; especially after Valentine reinforcing his lack of self worth.

Clary finds a confused Alec in the hallway with a bloody hand, she discovers Jocelyn’s body. This shocked the hell out of me; I was not expecting them to kill off Jocelyn at all. It will be interesting to see the consequences not just for Clary and Alec, but for Luke and maybe even Valentine who still loved her in his own twisted way.

Magnus had sent Raphael and Simon with a list to Catarina’s, it was just a rouse to get them out of the way before summoning Camille. He uses his magic to imprison her so she cannot escape. He wanted to face Camille alone; he knows that Raphael and Simon despise her. When he tells her that he won’t let Raphael suffer for her deeds she dismisses Raphael as an insubordinate vamp; you can see that it angers Magnus. Camille has sired hundreds of vampires but Magnus cannot have children; his expression tells us that if he could he would love children. The Downworlders he takes under his wing are his children, his family; and he will protect them above everything, even Camille. Camille exploits Magnus’ weakness of fear of loneliness to try to convince him to choose her; she knows exactly what to say to sway him. She has no reservations about manipulating him and his feelings for her to get what she wants. I love Magnus’ line ‘Enjoy Idris, I hear the weather’s a delight’. He creates a portal and sends her to Idris. He cannot watch as the portal takes her because he still has feelings for her, but his children’s safety comes first. I just love this entire scene, Harry is amazing again and I like Kaitlyn too she is very captivating. I really like that we are learning more about Magnus’ past and his relationships with other Downworlders.

The City of Bones is attacked by Valentine who wants the Soul Sword but he also tries to convince Jace to come with him. Hodge helps Jace by pinning Valentine to his cell, but Valentine kills him as Jace takes the Souls Sword from him (another unexpected death). I really like the fight scene between Jace and the two Circle members; the fight scenes are always really good. Jace once again shows his willingness to die when Valentine puts the sword to his throat; I am getting increasingly concerned for Jace and I hope that his feelings are addressed at some point. We get another great fight scene as Valentine leaves with the Soul Sword as Jace saves Aldertree.

The demon has possessed Izzy she attacks Alec who cannot fight back because he doesn’t want to hurt Izzy. Clary stabs her and the demon leaves her body; Clary then kills the demon. She finally lets herself feel the shock of her mother’s death, Simon and Jace walk in at the same time. They both move to comfort her, Jace lets Simon be the one to comfort her because he knows he cannot be what she needs right now. Jace hugs Alec and Izzy who are on the floor; Alec carry’s Izzy out of the room, Jace looks back at Clary and Simon before leaving. I like this scene, I think that the music really fits and you can see the numbness wash over Clary; at first she doesn’t even hug Simon back. You can see the anguish in her eyes, she only just got her mom back and now she has lost her forever; she doesn’t know how to process that. I love Simon; he can see that Clary is in no state to talk so just offers her comfort. Jace’s expression is beautiful; he wants to help and be there for Clary but he knows that right now she needs Simon who is her rock.

I really liked this episode; the pacing of scenes was a lot better, there was more breathing space and time for dialogue. Magnus’ scenes were beautiful and I look forward to more scenes with him with both Raphael and Simon. I cannot wait to see the affect that Jocelyn’s death is going to have and am excited about the twists that are happening because I know Jocelyn doesn’t die in the books. It will be interesting to see what other twists they have in store.

[deepdisireslonging]

Consequences Part 4: Rabbit Punch

Uriel and Raphael make sure that Dean pays for his insubordination… with Sam’s bout.

Characters: Reader (Y/N), Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, Uriel, Raphael, Cas, Virgil

Warnings: Boxing Violence, gun mention, blood mention, hospitalization

Word Count:  3200 (Sorry. Worth it.)

Note: Sorry this got out a little later than usual. If you can believe it, even this isn’t the climax to everything. Let me know how you like it by commenting, reblogging, and liking my fic. I hope you guys enjoy it!

Dean was buttoning up his shirt when Sam burst in.

“Jeez, Sam, can’t you…”

“Uriel’s goons are coming down the hallway.”

Dean and Bobby shared a glance. “Bobby, take Sam and get to the ring; don’t let him out of your sight. They won’t hurt him before, they might try afterward. Sam, watch Bobby’s back while he watches yours and get out of here. They don’t need to see you warning me.”

Sam nodded and waited for Bobby by the door, keeping an eye on the hall.

Bobby clapped Dean on the shoulder, “Be careful, boy. Get out to the crowd if you can.” He and Sam left.

Dean finished his tie. He wasn’t going to rush. Maybe a little. He grabbed his hat and coat and almost made it to the arena entrance before they caught up to him, one running up behind him and two blocking his path.

“Come on, Winchester,” the back one said, poking something hard into Dean’s spine.

“I hope that’s a gun you’re packing back there,” Dean grumbled.

“No,” one of the front guys said pulling out his own pistol, “he’s just happy to see you.”

From her seat on the second row, Y/N twiddled her thumbs and bounced her knee waiting for Dean. He’d won, like what was agreed. Dean wondered on their way over if Cole was going to fight for real to go to the finals himself.

“You’re making me nervous, Y/N,” Cas chuckled.

“Oops. Why isn’t he back yet?”

“It takes a while to shift into civilian clothes. There’s a lot of cleaning to get the ring stench off.”

She sighed. “I’ll appreciate it… when he gets here.” She didn’t stop twiddling and bouncing.

Uriel pulled Dean into Raphael’s office, pistol whipping him to the floor. “You’re done breaking contract, Winchester.”

Dean rubbed his jaw and stood to his feet. “You said the win was mine, that Cole would take a dive. If anyone’s broken their word, it’s you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Dean,” Raphael growled from his desk, “you have been nothing but disrespectful. Uriel told me what happened this morning. Yes, you took your win fair and square, but you can’t leave the ring without paying your dues. Since Cole didn’t finish taking it out of your hide, our visitor is going to take it out of Sam’s.”

Uriel had the gun pinned to Dean’s ribs before he could launch forward. “You want me to pay? Then let Cole finish it out back. Sam stopped being part of the deal…ugh.” Uriel jabbed the muzzle further into Dean’s side.

“Just shuddup and watch. We’ve even got a perfect seat for you.” He shoved Dean towards a bar stool set up by the window. Dean looked down over the crowd and into the ring. Bobby was double checking Sam’s gloves. Dean took a split second to find Y/N and Cas, letting out a relieved breath to see her safe. Uriel forced Dean to sit down, then laughed, “enjoy the fight.”

The final people rushed to their seats as the announcer stepped into the ring.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our stadium’s trumpeter will play our National Anthem.”

Everyone in the stadium stood. Dean shot a look at Uriel as he stood too, but he didn’t turn his attention to the flag. He was too busy boring a hole into Castiel’s head, hoping that somehow he could get his attention.

As the Anthem finished with applause and whistles, Castiel looked up towards the office, growling to see Uriel backlit, and hovering over Dean’s shoulder in the window. He caught Bobby’s eye and directed him towards Dean, then turned to Y/N. “I don’t know how much of this you know, but Dean’s not going to sit with us.” He nodded up to the office, making Y/N gasp. Cas barely caught her in time to help her into her seat as her knees buckled. “They won’t kill him, he’s got to attend finals. They can still make money off him, but be ready to run just in case.”

The announcer spoke into the mic, “the officials appointed by the State Athletic Commission are: the attending physician attending at the ringside, Dr. J.D. Houston, the timer at the bell, Bill Stapleton, counting after knockdown, Bill Doty, the judges, Mike McAddams, and Captain A.R. Dowdy, and the referee, Balthazar Smith. The contestants: 10 rounds at 158 from Kansas, wearing white trunks with a black tracer, and weighing 183, Sam Winchester, the defending Cruiserweight Champion. And his opponent,” the announcer pulled a card out of his pocket and began to read, “from St. Louis, Missouri, weighing 182 and one-half, and wearing black and red trunks, Virgil Akins. Referee Balthazar Smith will now give the contestants their instructions.”

Balthazar stepped to the middle and ushered Sam and Virgil forward. He looked anxiously between them. He laid out the rules like he always did, but somehow the words “I want a clean fight” meant more. “Now go to your opposite corners, and at the bell come out fighting.”

The bell rang and the radio reporter in front of Y/N and Cas launched into action. “This is the opening round, and this is the chance of the spectators, as well as the fighters, to study style. This is a brilliant audience on hand, half of Chicago must be crowded into the space, and the other half listening at home. Movie stars, politicians, and of course the fans all squeezed into the hall here. They’re all watching Virgil Akins use his unique jumping-jack style. Referee Smith cautions him for a kidney punch Akins lands on “Law Breaker” Winchester. He shows no fear of Winchester; in fact, he’s bullying him around the ring to say ‘I’m the boss in here.’ They are matched nearly pound for pound, and looking like one of the greatest fights this ring as ever seen.”

Sam was taller than Akins, giving the smaller man plenty of space to hit him. Y/N couldn’t help but see how the smaller man used it. She could feel Cas’s nervousness, and she could see Dean watching them from the office.

“Akins landing punches like he’s the boss and he knows it. Winchester biding his time, learning his opponent. Beautiful long left by Akin. But he’s doing the most damage while in Winchester’s clinches. Winchester digging for the body, trying to lower that guard as he towers over Akins who carries his gloves high. Protects his chin well. Glancing right off the cheekbone of Sam Winchester. There might be blood early, folks.”

Dean tensed as Sam staggered back, stunned. He kept the smile to himself as his brother then dove back in. Every second he was watching Sam, he was hyper aware of the firearm in his back.

“Winchester digging with light left jabs. Akins using an up and down elevator style, now each pushing leather gloves into each other’s faces in the clinch. Beautiful right and a left hook, making Winchester coming back on his heels then; that was a stiff punch. Those thumps are the punches in close that Winchester had a great deal of trouble smothering. A champion, Winchester, but up against a very unorthodox boxer. And that’s the bell ending the first round.”

They sat in their opposite corners. Sam showed Bobby his mouth. It wasn’t gushing yet, but Bobby and Cas knew it could become a problem. Cas explained how it could possibly even choke him around the mouth guard if it got too bad.

Y/N watched Virgil sit in his corner and noticed him glance up to the office behind Sam. Virgil shrugged at something his coach said and stood up, sending up a quick prayer as the next bell rang.

“Akins relaxed in his corner, whether it’s phycological warfare or not, we don’t know. But he’s acting like this is just another outing. He doesn’t have a care in the world. He’s crossed himself as the gong sounds and comes out ready for round two. Winchester has suffered some cuts inside his mouth. He keeps circling clockwise around Akins’s best punch and his stiffest hand. The one that does the most damage is the left as Winchester staggers back again. Winchester is angry now, nearly puffing smoke like a bull ready to charge. Winchester, maneuvering to land his combination punches, steps back but Akins moves in swiftly. Gives him no chance to take a step.

“Come on, Sam,” Dean mumbled. “I know we’ve worked on this.”

Uriel chuckled behind him.

“Winchester bends down in the same kind of a bob as Akins. But Winchester is mostly fighting standing up while Akins bobs up and down as a very difficult target. Akins is a natural middleweight, but he’s gained some heavy muscle to fight at the cruiserweight level. Winchester reaches out and lands on Akins’s face, snapping his head back! The crowd cheers for Winchester!

“Akins grins through his mouth guard, clearly enjoying himself. Winchester disinclined to fight too much in the clinches. Referee Smith keeps cautioning against the whipping punch over Winchester’s shoulder. A blow to the neck is a strong reason for disqualification and for being disbarred from boxing altogether. Winchester has very little success blocking that. Both men are now trying to out-feint each other. Winchester keeps reaching down for Akins, who backs away out of reach of the taller boxer. Akins uppercuts, but misses him by a mile. And that bell is round two.

Y/N kept her focus on Virgil. Something about him seemed off. She watched him as he shot a look towards Balthazar, who nodded back.

“Cas, something’s wrong.”

The bell rang over her worries, preventing her from sending any kind of warning to Sam.

“And here we go, round three, still at the start of this match but it’s been hot. Winchester has held his own against the bouncing Akins, and Akins is not being kept down due to the height difference. Akins is out maneuvering him at every turn. Of course, what he has is a good punch in either hand and a lot of strength in those clinches. Akins really pounds Winchester with that left hook; you can see Winchester’s back jarring from the blow.”

Y/N turned with a shout into Cas’s shoulder as Sam was knocked into the ropes. She peaked out and whispered, “come on Sam. Hold him off.”

“Winchester still in the fight, but a little feeble with that right, shoulder hurt. Akins paying no attention to Winchester’s cut mouth or shoulder pains. He has his man really studied. Akins swings in with a right lead just as Winchester was feigning with his shoulder. Winchester steadies himself on Akins’s shoulders, rolling them into the ropes. The ref separates them, but no rest. As soon as Winchester steps back to ready himself, boom, Akins moves right in on him. Winchester needs a little bit of a moment to prepare an attack, and that’s when Akins takes the moment, breaking his opponent’s flow. Winchester over stretches his stance, cinching Akins’s arms where he can, but Akin reaches up to beat him around the head. He almost hits the ref that time. Akin seems to back just out of punching range, then Boom, shoot in.”

Dean laughed as Sam’s glove made contact with Virgil’s waist, sending him jerking upwards from the force. “This guy is definably yours.”

“What makes you say that, Winchester?”

“All cheap shots and no gut. Sound familiar, Uriel?”

Uriel replied with a low growl and tightened his grip on the pistol.

Y/N was not listening to the reporter anymore but heard it all as background noise.

“Akins is remarkably hitting powerfully with each hand, favoring neither the right or left. Winchester sets himself to move around and hit with a hard right only. Now he’s moving in retreat. He hasn’t had a hard shot at Akins’s head other than one or two times so far, and it looks like Akins is going to keep it that way. And of course, Akins is not cut up or marked in any way. He keeps back just enough to make Winchester overreach, then leaps in, giving him a little pat in the ribs. Getting in the closing minutes now of the round. There’s a champion in that ring, only time will tell which man it is. Winchester still pounding away, right down to the last second. His face is bleeding, and he looks groggy already, but he’s still rapping away at the body. Oh! And down goes Referee Balthazar Smith!”

The audience and judges leapt to their feet as Balthazar went over the ropes and apron. Everyone’s view of the boxers was obscured by the person in front of them, and the front row people were craning to see Balthazar. Virgil took the moment of distraction to hit Sam in the back of the neck, then upper-cutting him to explain the fall.

Sam fell to the canvas with a thud. The counting ref swooped in and made it to ten and could have made it to thirty before Sam even groaned, but there was too much pandemonium to get him off the canvas. There’s was a deliriously happy crowd circling Virgil’s corner, already celebrating the win.

Bobby jumped into the ring and pushed everybody back as the announcer lifted Virgil’s arm high. The crowd’s cheers died down as the doctor followed him in, cracking Sam’s eyes open. The doctor shook his head and motioned for the cot to haul Sam to the hospital.

“Well that was some fighting, wasn’t it Dean?” Raphael said, relaxed in his office chair.

Dean was fuming. He stood, even as Uriel pressed the pistol to his temple. “You won’t shoot me. All those witnesses down there? And how are you going to explain why the semi-finalist is dead, no matter which way you throw it?”

Raphael nodded and motioned for Uriel to lower his gun. Uriel sneered and twisted it. “Uriel. Put it away,” Raphael commanded. When it was out of sight, Raphael poured himself another shot of bourbon. “Even with what’s unfortunately happened to Sam, you are still owed a congratulation. You’re going to the Amateur Finals, well done.”

“What’s your play, Raphael?”

“Michael Mulligan. Smart kid. Young in the face, I admit. But he’s got a fighting wisdom about him. Beat our darkest prodigal to meet you.”

“Do you ‘not own’ this one too?” Dean mocked.

Uriel piped up, “you are correct. Not even the heat knows we control that canvas, and we are going to keep it that way.”

Raphael down the last of his drink then walked to tower over Dean. “You are going to lose one last time, then retire. Make it look good and you can leave with a shred of dignity.” His voice dropped, sending an uneasy shiver down Dean’s spine. “You will throw it, Dean, or I will personally pay a visit to Sam and your girl to prove my point.” He grinned. “Now go see your brother, I think he’ll want to be seeing you.” Raphael turned away like nothing happened. Uriel stepped out of the way begrudgingly.

Dean was off like a shot.

Y/N considered her stomach to be a strong one, but when she finally caught up with Sam at the hospital, she almost fainted dead away.

“How is he?” Dean croaked, catching her as she swayed on her feet.

“Dean, you’re alright.” She embraced him, shivering against him. She met his gaze, holding his face in her hands. “He's really beaten up, Dean. The doctor hasn’t said how bad yet.” Y/N felt her heart shudder in her chest as he closed his eyes in defeat.

“This is all my fault.”

“No, it isn’t.” Y/N surprised herself with how strong her voices sounded but kept going. “It’s not your fault. Or Sam’s fault, or anyone who is held under your bosses’ thumb. They are the ones deciding who lives and who dies. You have fought against their power and they are doing everything they can to crush you. They are afraid of you, Dean. You can’t stop now.”

“Y/N,” Dean choked, “they’ve threatened to come after you next if I don’t do what they say. I can’t keep doing this if you are at risk. I thought Sam would be able to hold his own, but they stooped lower than I ever thought possible. I can’t let them take a jab at you.”

Dean moved to walk away, but Y/N grabbed his vest.

“Don’t you walk away from me, Winchester. You need all the friends you can get right now.” She poked him in the chest, flicking it into his nose when he looked down at her. “Do you think they’ll leave me alone because you broke up with me? They may be a lot of things, but they are not stupid. I am safest with you, and Castiel, and Bobby, and Sam.” Y/N sighed and wrapped his arms around her before wrapping her arms around his waist. “You are strong with a support system. Sam knew what he was walking into, and you need people to watch your back. Don’t push us away.”

Dean chuffed and squeezed her closer. “How did you learn me so good, so quick?”

Y/N laughed into Dean’s chest. “Cas ratted on you. He’s worried you’ll do what you always do when trouble comes.”

“That jerk.” Dean rubbed his hand up and down her back. He kissed the top of her head, whispering into her hair, “thank you.”

The doctor stepped out of Sam’s room. “Mr. Winchester?”

“Yes, sir.” Dean let go of Y/N, but held onto her hand, focusing on not crushing her delicate fingers with his stress.

“Sam is going to pull through.” He gave Dean and Y/N a moment to let out a sigh of relief before continuing. “We’ll need to keep him her for a while, and we won’t know the full damage till some of tonight’s boxing wounds heal, but I really think he’s going to be alright. If I could confide in you, though,” he looked passingly at Y/N. Dean nodded for him to go on. “It is of my personal, and professional opinion that this man’s injuries were not caused by an upper cutting punch. If you have anyone you can trust, I have enough evidence to prosecute his opponent.”

Dean thought for a second. “Thank you, doctor. I’ll keep that in mind and in my pocket. Thank you.” The pair watched the doctor as he left.

“You’re going to try, right?” Y/N asked.

“No. Not yet. It’s enough for Virgil, not for the top level.” Dean looked at her, taking in how her focus listed to one side. “No. Y/N you can’t go to the police. Not yet. You promised.”

“And your boss promised you’d win with no ramifications too,” she snarked. “Fine. I won’t go. But the second we have something I’m the voice. You guys are too close. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Bobby peaked his head out of the room. “Dean, he coming too.”

For a split second, Dean held back. Then he stepped forward, Y/N at his side.

Part 5: Prizefight 

Tags: 

@kittenofdoomage @supernatural-jackles @theriumking @mysteriouslyme81 @bringmesomepie56 @jpadjackles @sassy-losechester

[ourloveisforthelovely]

Damages 3

A/N: more light smut

Words: 2,556

____________________________________________

Sophia sat in her and Gabriel’s room waiting for him to slam through the door. When he didn’t she was honestly surprised. She figured he would have came storming in after her trying to explain himself. When he didn’t her anger and depression hit an all new high. How could Gabriel not tell her about this? He knew who her mother was and this was a rather important detail!

“I’m leaving…I’m gone…I’m done.”

Sophie said coldly as she went to the closet and began pulling out clothes. Mid way through her crazy pack, she froze. How the hell was she going to get out of the bunker without someone seeing her? One of the Winchesters would be in the living room and Cas would be wondering around somewhere. In the odd chance she did get out Gabriel would catch her for sure. How the hell he wasn’t picking up her feelings of running she didn’t know.

With a grin, Sophia knew what she would do. After dating Gabriel for the past two years she had learned to mimic a lot of of his trickster skills. She would trick him, Cas, and the Winchester’s to get them out of the bunker. Once they were gone and far enough away Sophia would make her escape. She felt guilty for lying to Sam, Dean, and Cas though. They had always been so kind to her and treated her like family. The thought of hurting them made everything worse.

Sophia sat down on the bed putting her master plan into play. Snapping her fingers, she tapped her foot waiting inpaitently until there was a knock at the door.

“Yes?”

She asked softly to be greeted with Cas’ gravely voice.

“Michael called Gabriel and wants to talk. We are going to speak with him and see what he wants. I think it would be wise if you remain here.”

Sophia smiled. Her trick was working so well already.

“Ok Cas. That is fine with me. I think I am going to take a nap.”

“Very well. We shall return soon.”

When her things were put in the car she left a note on Cas dresser apologizing for leaving and telling him not to worry. For Gabriel, she left a simple note on his pillow that said…

“I love the way you lie.”

2 hours later….

“That was lame. The mother fucker couldn’t even show up when he called.”

Dean grumbled as he threw his leather jacket down. Sam sighed.

“He could have called and said he changed his mind. That just wasted two hours of our time. Stupid archangel.”

“Aren’t you sweet?”

Gabriel said coldly. Sam winced.

“Sorry should have added a disclaimer to my previous statement”

Gabriel smirked.

“Its fine. I was being a smart ass anyway. I’m going to try to talk to Sophia.”

Dean chuckled taking a sip of the whiskey he had just poured or himself.

“Well good luck to you.”

Gabriel rolled his eyes as he walked down the hall lightly knocking on the bedroom door.

“Sugar can we talk?”

When she didn’t respond Gabriel had enough and stepped in. He frowned not seeing Sophia sitting on the bed or on the little love seat in the corner.

“Sugar where are you?”

Gabriel turned and walked into the bathroom wondering if she was drowning herself in the tub again. He froze the moment he walked into the bathroom to see the tub empty.

“Sophia?!”

He called her name more loudly before focusing on her emotions feeling nothing. Walking back into the bedroom Cas walked in holding a sheet of paper with a frown on his face.

“Gabriel…she’s gone.”

Gabriel quickly walked to Cas taking the letter from his brother.

“Cas,

I’m sorry but I had to go. After this mornings regretful events it became even more evident. I don’t want you to worry. Tell Sam and Dean that I am fine as well. I don’t want any of you worrying. This is for the best. Tell Gabriel I have too many of my mother’s tendencies.”

Gabriel felt his heart heart plummeting as he turned back to their bed noticing the little note. He walked over slowly picking it up.

“I love the way you lie.”

1 week later…

Sophia had successfully avoided Gabriel and the others. That didn’t mean they weren’t trying to reach her. They had been blowing up her email as she had turned her phone off. She had been using her power to keep herself hidden from Gabriel as well. He wouldn’t be able to find her if she kept her walls up. She could sense his desperation to find her. He was almost pleading with  her to tell him where she was.

“Please sugar…just one word. Let me know you are okay. Let me find you so we can talk this out. I’ll tell you anything that you would want to know. I love you so much. Just one word sugar…that is all it takes.”

Sophia shook his sugary sweet words from her mind. She knew if she said “Gabriel come for me” he would have her in his arms.

“You’re the most beautiful creation sugar. I just can’t get enough of you. Your the worlds best candy.”

Gabriel said smoothly. His voice as sweet as honey as his champagne eyes looked her heaving body over. Sophia lay on a bed in red satin sheets. Candles lit the bed side tables as Gabriel lovingly stroked his fingers over her body.  

‘”Gabriel please.”

She could only beg as he pumped his fingers into her.

“You’re so precious when you beg.”

“I can beg more if that is what you want.”

Sophia whimpered as Gabriel rose up pressing a deliciously sweet kiss to her lips. Gabriel chuckled.

“I could listen to you pleading for my cock all day sugar.”

Before he day dream could go any further Sophia’s day dream was interrupted as the chair in front of her was pulled out. She looked up quickly to see Chuck sit down across from her.

“Fancy seeing you here.”

He said in his usual kind awkward voice. Sophia smiled looking around.

“It’s a coffee shop. Who doesn’t like coffee?”

Chuck nodded.

“Fair point. So where are Sam and Dean?”

Sophia shrugged.

“Back at the bunker I suppose.”

“And your boyfriend?”

Sophia scoffed.

“Don’t care. I’m on my own now Chuck.”

Chuck tilted his head to the side looking at her. It didn’t take him being God to know what happened. She didn’t even have to say a word to him.

“I understand. Gabriel can be a little impetuous. He’s always been that way…for millions of years.”

Sophia frowned.

“Come again?”

Chuck sighed looking at her a little more intensely.

“My son can be a giant pain in the ass. Trust me I know what he has been up to but he really does love you.”

Sophia looked at Chuck lost his ever loving mind as she started to speak. Chuck held up his hand.

“Its time you know the truth dear. I’m God. I know all about why you are on your own and what you have chasing you. Sophia it really isn’t wise for you to be on your own while Michael is hunting you.”

Sophia looked totally flabbergasted.

“So if your God why don’t you just get your psycho son on a leash?”

Chuck laughed.

“Because believe it or not Sophia…Michael needs to learn his lesson the hard way. I am a big believer in free will. Sometimes interfering with free will is not the best thing. Michael needs to learn the consequences of his actions as does everyone else. I can’t sweep up everyone messes Sophia. Gabriel and the Winchesters can keep you safe and that is my concern. I’m very fond of you.”

Sophia laughed hard.

“Really? No disrespect Chuck…god…uh….”

“Chuck is fine.”

She nodded before going back into her spill.

“Chuck then…You let me be some abomination that angels and hunters hate. My mother is a psycho angel who slept with my boyfriend and has tried to kill me too. You let my sister die. She was the only person in this world who loved me completely. My own boyfriend can’t even be honest with me. He tries to say he loves me but he just…doesn’t show it. This whole soulmate business is a bunch of shit…I mean crap.”

Chuck leaned back sipping his coffee before sitting the cup down.

“Are you done?”

Sophia nodded frowning as Chuck learned forward taking her hand in his.

“I am hearing a lot of things that isn’t true. First off you are no abomination. I don’t understand why angels like Michael or Raphael created the whole nephilim abomination theory. Sophia I create every angel with a purpose. I made nephilim to be a link between angels and humans. You have a lot of advantages angel don’t have. You understand humans. You see their beauty and complexity but you have all the power of an angel. From what I can tell you can mime Gabriel’s powers quiet well. Your sister Kathleen is safely in heaven. Like Gabriel told you my dear you can visit. She’s very happy. Also a lot of people love you. If you saw the upheaval going on at the bunker you would know that you are loved. I agree with you one your mother however. I never created Ingrid with the purpose of her going rouge. Sophia I gave my angels the choice of free will they just had to reach out and take it. Your mother didn’t use that choice wisely. Now as far as soulmates….Gabriel is bonded to you and you to him. I didn’t create angelic soulmates as a way to be miserable. Like I said before my youngest archangel is very impetuous and sometimes doesn’t make the best decisions but I don’t doubt his love for you. When you two bonded I was relived. I’ve been worried about him for many many years. As his father I am very thankful for you. Please I’m not telling you to run back to Gabriel but think about it.”

Sophia didn’t know what to say after all of that. It was like Chuck had said everything that she had dreamed of hearing and then some.  

“I will.”

She manged to get out. Chuck smiled.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here. You can stay with me until you make your mind up what’s best. Think about what I have said and if you want to discuss things more I will.”

Sophia nodded again as Chuck stood leading her to his car.

Things were awkward for the first few moments. Sophia had no idea what to say. She had literally known Chuck for over a year and had no bit of inclination that she was dealing with God. Embarrassment washed over her as she remembered all of the times that he had walked in on her and Gabriel all but fucking in the living room or in random places.

She put her hand over her face remembering his comment the last time that he had walked in on them with Dean at his side.

“I’ve never seen so much dry humping in all my life.”

“And that was true. It’s a wonder Gabriel hasn’t knocked you up yet.”

Chuck said as he pulled onto the highway. Sophia quickly looked over at him.

“Sorry you had to see all of that. I’m sure that wasn’t pleasant.”

Chuck smirked.

“A little uncomfortable from a father’s perspective.”

“I’m able to get pregnant?”

Sophia finally asked. Chuck nodded as he turned on the radio.

“Yes you can.”

Sophia chuckled.

“Wow I can’t wait to see Gabriel’s face when someone clues him in on that little fact.”

Chuck raised an eyebrow.

“He knows you can conceive. He has probably just been protecting you from it.”

Sophia understood now.

“Angel mojo.”

Chuck nodded eagerly as he stopped his radio hunt when Rick Jame’s “Mary Jane” came on. He smiled putting both hands on the wheel.

“I’m Rick James bitch. Now that guy was funny.”

Chuck looked over at the shocked expression on Sophia’s face.

“What?”

Sophia shook her head with a smile finally appearing.

“I don’t know. I just never thought I would be in a car with God, listening to a song about pot or a loose woman, and god say I’m Rick James bitch.”

Chuck laughed hard at that.

“Good times.”

The following few weeks passed peacefully. Sophia actually enjoyed being with Chuck. He was a lot more understanding than Sophia ever imagined God being. Chuck listened to her whine about missing Gabriel to all but yelling about how infuriating Gabriel could be at times.

“He thought it was funny to glue Dean to the toilet seat! How old is he 4?”

Chuck shook his head.

“Gabriel learned too many tricks from Lucifer I am afraid.”

After that it went to Sophia talking about all of the things she and Gabriel had done together.

“He took me to Paris, Dubai, and Greece all in one day. He told me he wanted me to see the world and told me I was the most beautiful of all creations.”

Chuck smiled.

“He tell you that a lot.”

Sophia nodded looking down sadly.

“He does….did.”

Chuck reached out cupping her face.

“He still does. He still loves you more than you will ever know. Sophia you have every right to be upset with him about him not telling you about Ingrid but I think you should hear him out.”

Sophia nodded.

“I’m starting to think so too.”

The next morning Sophia got up walking downstairs craving blueberry muffins. She had woken up at 2 am wanting blueberry muffins so bad. Plugging in her ipod she didn’t really care what came on.  

“Like a child you whisper softly to me You’re in control just like a child Now I’m dancing It’s like a dream, no end and no beginning You’re here with me, it’s like a dream Let the choir sing”

She didn’t pay attention to anything around her until the lights flickered. Sophia stopped mixing the muffin mix and looked up. Her eyes darted around the room before she turned to see Gabriel standing feet away.

Sophia knew her mouth had to be hanging open as she looked at her boyfriend. She could barely process a thought as she looked him over. He was still handsome Gabriel. He stood dressed in those jeans that were tight in all the right places, the red button down shirt he wore on their first date, and a black leather jacket.

“Hey sugar, miss me?”

@greenappleeyes

@djs-lacrimose