#spn doesn't really have anything to offer anymore

[justanearth-boundmisfit]

1/3 Wtf is this final? Chuck was a lazy ass and a dickhead who left psychotic angels with some stupid prophecy about Michael and Lucifer fighting, but he was never evil! He locked Lucifer in the cage because MoC corrupted him and he was dangerous to humans. He locked leviathans for the same reasons. And now tptb want me to believe he's suddenly evil? He's not lawful good, but he's not evil either. Irresponsible, yes, but not evil, for fuck sake! This twist doesn't make any sense.

2/3 People are praising it for being surprising, but that’s the point, it’s too suprising! Fans don’t have to predict the plot twist for it to be good, but the clues has to be there, so when people rewatch the season they can find them and feel silly for not noticing them faster. What was clues for Chuck being evil? I mean, I’m sure someone noticed something painted on the wall in some shots or a person dressed like Chuck in the other

3/3 but those are not clues, they’re supposed to be easy to notice in the whole context or without it, and by everyone, not only by delusional metas who see Destiel in a pebble kicked by Dean while walking toward Cas! And what even now? How are we supposed to be afraid of God, when we already know Amara is more powerful? And she’s still good? I mean, she should be. God, I’m so angry at this stupid show! Good thing I still have a good season final, like Gotham one, or good show like B99.

Hi Joanna, fair warning this got REALLY long, sorry (cringe), it goes under the cut for that reason: 

It feels terribly cheap right? Also, what I never really liked about spn is that they HAVE to have a cliffhanger or a twist in every season finale to shock audiences and bait them to keep coming. A story doesn’t always need a twist at the end, more so if it’s well written, imagine every tv show/movie having a twist ending. It would be boring af, that’s what happened to M. Night Shyamalan for example. We all loved 6th Sense, but he kept coming back with movies that only relied on the “twist” without concentrating on the whole story first and foremost and people got tired of his tricks. And that’s exactly what is happening with spn, although on another level of production of course. It’s a show that only can deliver shock, angst, death and twist! Without the care of preparing the story for those things. It just doesn’t work imo.

But fandom is used to that, and the majority keep coming back for more of the same old same old. Even if it just a cheap trick, or even, like in this case, doesn’t make sense AT ALL. Spn fandom it’s just loyal to a fault, and also the bait from tptb is extreme, they are always promising something that they are never going to deliver, it’s the best example of the carrot at the end of the stick. 

For some tv shows/movies you have to apply the suspension of disbelief for them to be enjoyable. I apply it to tons of superheroes movies for example, because if I’m going to be incredible analytical about them, well, nothing is going to make sense and just why bother right? In the case of spn we have to apply the same method all the time, BUT, some things just can’t be ignored. Why? Well because even the easiest plots to follow don’t make sense. You have to have a base storyline to follow, a central arc that in the end, makes sense and leaves you with a sort of satisfied feeling. If even the central arc, the most important storylines, or even the myths of the show don’t make sense from one season to another, we lost really important parts of the plot along the way. And it starts to feel cheap and just plain WRONG. That’s what happened to spn, imo.

I just watched a video of people talking about the whole MCU and how we arrived to Endgame (no worries not going to talk about any spoilers), and it’s really easy, even for the people that are not that much into the MCU, to see how well crafted the whole journey was. It’s not an easy task of course, and there are mistakes along the way, but you really can see the care for the core story and how they departed from point a, to arrive to point z, and it feels really well done. What I mean is: it CAN be done. Not only by MCU, GOT also is doing this, again with mistakes, but you can feel that they were paying attention, in some cases, even to minimal details. 

Back to spn, it’s painful to see how the show doesn’t pay attention to what came before, and how much they just don’t care. And it’s utterly obvious with this finale. Yeah it’s surprising, yeah most of the people didn’t see it coming, yeah it’s another shocking reveal… BUT where does it leave the central storylines and myths? Is it worth it in the end, to have a “twist” that erases and/or changes not only last season, but YEARS of story telling? My bet is on NO. But I’m in the minority here. I bet metas are going to write tons of posts saying how DUMB  people that didn’t see this coming are. How they only know how to read the narrative, and the people that complain about spn is just stupid and don’t even understand the basics of story telling. Whatever they can keep writing their lies trying to convince themselves that destiel (the pebble “subtext” made me laugh tons ^^) still exists and how amazing Dabb’s era is. 

But the truth is that it just.doesn’t.make.sense. I already said it in one of my many venting in the tags: God being this writer that has manipulated the bros (and Cas) storyline since forever, doesn’t make sense! It erases years of plot and core arcs and myths… also for the trope of Evil All Along you have to give your audience some clues, because the real joy is to go back and to see all the little hints that you missed along the way. What hints spn gave us for this forced twist to pay off?. Not one imo. Yes, like you said, Chuck is a douche, he’s not a good God, not a good parent, not a good anything… but the Big Bad Villain? Of ALL THE STORY ALL THIS TIME? Can’t see it sorry, it feels forced, it feels cheap, it feels poorly constructed. And it has been done before too with Metatron! I mean…it’s cheap AND recycled. 

Like I said in tags too, it also feels like All Just a Dream trope, one of the worst things you can do to your audience, because everything that you thought was real, now suddenly changes because the writers need a sudden surprising twist (see also Writer on Board). It’s an utter mess, a low way to trick audiences, but coming from that writers’ room I shouldn’t be surprised at all. 

This doesn’t bode well for season 15 imo, God being this super villain, how long is it going to last? Because the final season should be about wrapping up personal story lines, not about another incredible hard to beat big bad, that in the end is killed/vanished by one of the bros being all powerful a la Dragon Ball. 

Horrible writing, horrible treatment of the characters (of ALL of them not only Cas, what they did to Mary is horrible too), cheesy self insert, plots that make no sense, that’s what spn is going out with. It’s terrible sad that a show with so much potential is entering its final season on such a low note. 

Sorry it got long af as usual, or more than usual really. But can’t shut up about this horrible mess.

Hugs darling!

Ps: was going to tag this but it got too long. Somebody just msg me saying that Chuck was never presented as s whole good pure God. And I agree. But he was never presented as a whole evil God either. Capricious? yes. Lazy? yes, likes to play with people? Yes (the same could be said about Gabriel for example, was he evil? I don’t think so, the show was always sympathetic towards him). But to make him the BIG BAD all of a sudden? Nah, the show never hinted at him being a character that could open the gates of hell just to have his way. Metas can write tons of essays about occultism, religion and God in western culture, Sorry not buying. Metas can also have all the readings they want, it’s sad that they can’t get down of their high horses to start respecting other points of view…

[lol-jackles]

https://youtu.be/mI94S9OrFfA?t=1253 (20:55 if it doesn't go to the right spot)

He still can't answer anything about the show. Part of her question was "what we can expect from season 1?" and he just talks about how he's not in it much, he talks about who is working bts, and talks about reshoots (they apparently JUST are putting together the pilot reshoots which is... wow). Instead of telling us what to expect from the season or the show in general at all he talks about himself on the show (not in it much, we get Dean's voice etc) then we get this stuttering mess:

"I'm really I'm really excited for for you guys to see it, and I'm I'm excited to kinda see how it comes together we're um we've uh we've just put a bit of a spin on the pilot and did a few reshoots and stuff and that's really that's really coming together nicely uh and then the first episode after that um we have uh John Showalter (tangent about Showalter working on og spn) he is our he is our guy down- he is our boots on the ground he he moved over to New Orleans and he's the producing director of the Winchesters so it is in his good capable hands of somebody from the mothership as we call it and I'm just yea I'm just excited to see what you guys think and um excited for these two uh young very talented actors (fan who asked q interjects: "yea the cast is amazing") yea not just two, there's four and six there's uh we're just really got an amazing cast together and I'm just excited for you guys to uh to get exposed to them because I think they're awesome."

Ummmmmmm so what did we learn about the show?? Well, thankfully nothng about a lens this time. But literally all we learned is that he knows the name of his producing director but apparently doesn't even know how many actors he has on their cast let alone their names ("not just two there's 4 there's 6" like come on dude, I thought you were "on set every day"??). And we will never get exposed to them if you REFUSE TO USE THEM FOR PROMO!!

[I did send this ask to @neecy83 when the panel came out but I wanted your take on this mess. The man can barely make a cohesive sentence about his own show and he stutters soooo badly when he talks about it. Or 'talks around it' I should say since we never get any actual info on the show no matter what question he's asked]

Link.  Thank you for the transcript! Nicely done. Lol more boring behind-the-scene techniques that the fan didn't ask for. in some cons fans will ask about his directing experience, which Jensen loves that teaching opportunity, but this wasn't one of those times. As you pointed out, we learned zero and nada about the show and he generally referred to the cast as "they're awesome", nothing specific.

To be fair, Jensen may not have anything to offer because there's always a possibility they're doing some rewrites, as he mentioned reshoots, which in of itself is not unusual but generally not a good sign.

House of Dragons is an example of a good prequel because they're doubling down on GoT's canon, even when that canon was not part of the source material and totally made up. Nonetheless HoD is respecting OG canon and that went a very long way of earning respect of OG fans and HBO immediately ordered a second season of HoD nearly a week after the pilot dropped. The Winchesters have been so thoroughly roasted by OG fans for its disrespect to canon that Jensen tried to salvage it by promising a "twist" that won't go against canon, and now he won't even talk about it all anymore, just more BTS bullshit to distract people.

[darkshrimpemotions]

An SPN AU where Sam is just a little further to the left of normal from the get in ways John can't just ignore.

(Read on AO3)

By the time Sam is a teenager, John has pretty much made up his mind that his younger son has to die. But he's a coward who never took responsibility for anything in his life, so he pulls Dean aside after a hunt--Sam is in the car--and explains his suspicions about the YED's plans for Sam and his conviction that Sam isn't really human anymore because he won't touch salt or holy water and flinches when he reads exorcisms aloud.

And then he hands Dean a gun and gives him the order to shoot his little brother in the head. And Dean is shaking as John lays the gun in his hands, but when his fingers close around the grip he stills and a cold resolve falls across his too-young face as he nods, once, as though accepting what must be done.

He's 19. Sam just turned 15.

The gunshot that rings out a moment later startles a dozing Sam awake just in time to see his brother bolt from their hotel room alone, their dad nowhere in sight. Dean slides into the driver's seat and shoves the keys into the ignition with shaking hands. The garish glow from the motel's No Vacancy sign makes the dark droplets scattered across his face glitter like jewels. He peels out of the parking lot without answering any of Sam's increasingly loud questions. He doesn't speak at all until they're on the highway.

They head for Bobby's, and along the way Dean tells Sam the first lie he can think of. The thing lying dead in their motel room wasn't dad. Something must have gotten him, or gotten in him, on that last hunt. He attacked Dean and was coming for Sam too, and Dean had no choice. Sam is quiet and tearful for the rest of the drive, and doesn't move when Dean stops to fill up the tank and clean the blood from his face and hands.

When they arrive at Bobby Singer's late the next afternoon, Dean sends Sam up to their room for a shower and to sleep in a real bed. He tells Bobby the truth in hushed, broken tones and collapses into the hard hug Bobby offers after. Bobby tells him he did what he had to do, and Dean wonders if that will stop him from having nightmares about it for the rest of his life.

Their father's body is reported as a John Doe, his wallet full of ID cards that lead nowhere. Sam grows increasingly quiet and angry, and Dean has no idea how to help him. They stay with Bobby, Sam enrolls in school. Dean helps Bobby around the salvage yard and doesn't let himself think about John, or his last twisted order, or hunting.

At least not until Sam announces, jaw clenched and hands balled into fists, ready for a fight, that he got into Stanford and he's going, and Dean can't stop him.

Dean wants to stop him. His chest seizes in panic at the thought of Sam on his own, so far away.

But maybe that's what Sam needs. Maybe that's how he saves his little brother: by making sure he never goes back to hunting. By making him as normal as possible.

So he hugs Sam tight and tells him he's proud, and he is. And the relief he feels as the anger melts out of Sam's body when he hugs Dean back is beautiful, like the first deep breath after spending too long under water.

He and Bobby help Sam pack the Impala's trunk full of everything he needs. Dean drives and Bobby follows in an old pickup truck. They help Sam move in, and hug him goodbye for too long, and then they get out of his hair. Dean makes the drive back to Sioux Falls feeling empty, like he scooped out his chest and left its mangled contents with Sam before he drove away.

Then he gets home, to Bobby's, and he sleeps for twelve hours straight, and when he wakes up there's coffee and cereal and a text from Sam, raving about his classes and his dorm and his roommate, Brady. Dean smiles, and his chest feels less empty, and he eats his breakfast.

And it's good. He goes back to hunting once in a while, helps Bobby out around the yard, makes a friend or two in Sioux Falls. Gets texts from Sam about California weather and his classes, calls him every few weeks just to check in. Drops everything and goes to pick him up every December for Christmas and every June for summer break. Meets his smart friends and his pretty girlfriend and watches them chase all the shadows from Sam's eyes in a way Dean never could.

It's the closest to peace Dean Winchester has ever been.

At least, until that fateful day in November of 2005, when Sam calls and begs him to get to California as fast as he can, his voice all wrong and sirens blaring in the background.

Dean breaks every speed limit between South Dakota and California. He arrives to a burnt-out apartment coveres in crime scene tape and Sam sitting on the sidewalk, looking haunted. Dean wonders if he crashed with friends, or if he's stayed right here since he called Dean.

He sits down next to Sam without speaking, unsure what to even say. Bobby called him on the way with the news.

Apartment fire on campus. Arson suspected. One casualty, Jessica Moore.

No suspects.

It's horribly familiar, and feels both unreal and inevitable, all at once. He sees his dad, looking up at their ruined home, determination settling over him like a shroud. He sees Sam, eleven years old and suppressing a shudder as he wiped a splash of holy water from his cheek. He hears the echoes of his father's last orders.

And Dean knows, when Sam looks up with rage and vengeance burning his eyes, that this is just the beginning.

[charlie-minion]

Hello, let's forget for a moment (or forever) the last spn episode. Do you think after Jack saved Cas from Empty, he would go see Dean straight away or like some headcanons shows on here he would be embarrased to see him after the confession or if he doesn't think Dean feels the same way and since there's no major threat, he would feel Dean doesn't need him anymore. What would be your headcanon of their reunion . Dean lives btw. Hope you have a good day.

Hi, dear! This is such a good question, thank you for letting my imagination run wild. I think that Jack would go to the Empty to give Cas the chance to choose what he wanted. Cas never answered the big question he was asked in 9x06: ‘As what [do you want to live]? An angel or a man?’

Jack would tell the Empty he would never interfere with its sleep again as long as it let Cas choose. If Cas chose to be an angel, he would stay asleep in the Empty forever, like all other angels and demons, but if he chose to be human, then he didn’t belong in the Empty. 

Cas, knowing that there’s no other cosmic threat, would choose humanity. In season 9, he became an angel again because a “war [was] coming” and he had to be prepared and because he needed to warn Dean about Gadreel. It was never shown to be something Cas really wanted. The only moment he expressed that he wanted to be an angel (at the end of season 9) was because he thought Metatron had killed Dean, so being an angel allowed him to numb a little the overwhelming feelings he had when he was human; he just didn’t want to experience the pain of the loss in such a strong way (he still felt it, ‘cause he was wasting away, missing Dean, at the start of season 10, but now imagine if he had been human... poor Cas!)

Whether he wanted to be a human or angel, Cas always based his choice on what he thought Dean needed (he wanted to be useful, he wanted to bring wins for Dean). But with Chuck gone, Jack in charge, and Dean safe, Cas could finally choose for himself (and that would have finally resolved his character arc and answered the big question that was always hanging over Cas). 

Whether Dean reciprocated his feelings or not, Cas would 100% want to go back to Dean, no doubt about it. He always enjoyed his time with Dean, their talks, and Cas’ happiness was not in the having, it was in just being, in saying it. So yeah, he would go back even if Dean could offer him nothing but friendship. Cas loved Dean unconditionally; he never asked for anything in return. It was enough for him to just be in Dean’s presence, so of course he’d go back to Dean... because a human life with Dean would be so much better than etenity in Heaven as an angel. 

Once he returned to Dean, Cas would be shocked when being tackled and kissed by the love of his life while also being told off for dying AGAIN and waiting till the last moment to say "I love you”. In that moment, he would realize that choosing humanity had never felt better. Everything he needed was right in front of him... still beautiful, still Dean Winchester. 

[yetanotherreader]

Pain, so much pain

[spn finale spoilers]

i'm in pain. in so much pain, it's crazy. i did not expect that ending at all. it's so hard to accept that this era has come to an end, and like this. this was the most unexpected thing to happen, to see sam carrying on without dean for the rest of his life. his "apple pie life" which wasn't half as beautiful as before because unlike the hard, monster filled life of pain, this one was without his brother. sam and dean lived only for each other. dean died giving sam what dean wanted the most, for him to live a life that was normal. sam gave dean what dean wanted the most too. the pain is excruciating. i can't believe the people i held onto in my darkest moments bid me a goodbye like this. i can't bring myself to accept this and am just somehow hoping for a miracle to happen and a finale be shot again. but unfortunately, it won't.

my life, personally, has been anything but normal. of course not as crazy as the winchesters but yeah haha. i've got a fucked up mental health and even more fucked up family. i haven't really got friends, and the people i met online who want to be there for me, i can't bring myself to talk to them about what i go through. so sam and dean have been the people i held onto, for a long long time. past few months were especially hard, and the past few days took a few hard turns for me. and it now feels harder to know that the people who were "there for me" aren't there anymore. and not only because the show has ended. it's funny how someone who doesn't even exist can have such a deep impact on your life. dean has been so special for me, it's hard to bring into words. he was my comfort person. a person i related to a lot. maybe the only character i actually did relate to. to see him going without even having the chance to live, after struggling all through his life took away a little hope from me, but again like he would say carry on.

Dean deserved better and Sam deserved better. They deserved all the happiness the world has to offer. They still do. What made me happy is that they actually are together, maybe not in this world but the other. But the possibility of what all they could have, what all they deserved just makes a little space in my heart which is hard to fill. They are always going to be permanent parts of my heart.

I know it's been so hard for everyone, but I guess this family we made here is together and will always be. Dean and Sam are alive for us and will be. Dean did not die an untimely death here, in this fandom he's living happily with Sam. Dean married (Y/N is you're a dean girl) and Sam married (Y/N if you're a sam girl). Every day starts with Sam forcing Dean to exercise while Miracle play around happily and it ends with Dean eating a big slice of pie while Sam shakes his head, sometimes annoyed and sometimes happily. They spoil their girls everyday. Sometimes they all sit together as the boys tell you about the hunts they've been on. Dean bragging about his heroism and Sam doing the same sometimes. It isn't until midnight when they're alone with their wives that they opened up about the struggles they faced. A few tears and a lot of kisses, you make love until his pain is replaced with pleasure. And just like that, a new day starts and their lives carry on.

I'm still not sure when I'll be active again, like I said it's been really hard lately. My career, my family and even myself. Nothing seems to go right. I'm surrounded by a lot of toxic and abusive people and now of course, now that my favorite people have gone, it's gonna be even harder. I guess I'll have to read a few fics to finally feel Dean alive again. So do suggest me if there are some fix-it fics. And please talk about your experiences too, I know it's hard on all of us. I love you, always keep fighting. 🦚

[phantomwarrior12]

Trickster Gets Tricked

Prompt: I know It's not from the bingo, but could I get Reader and Gabriel both complaining to Balthazar about how their - presumed - unrequited feelings until he can't take it anymore that he takes one from Gabe's book and trick them into confessing to each other?

Truth or Dare with Balthazar

Word Count: 4,616

Warnings: Swearing (it’s Balthazar, we expect nothing less), snark, and sneaky angels 

Summary: Sometimes love just needs a little nudge from an angel with a short temper.

A/N: Hey folks!

It’s been like three months, but I did it! I finished this wonderful prompt from a glorious Anon and I combined it with a prompt from the lovely @unleashthemidnight! Thank you so much for this prompt, I enjoyed writing it very much! Also, this is my first time writing Balthazar, so please, be gentle. xD

This is my second submission for the @gabriel-spn-bingo, and requests are still open! So, send them in! :)

Please leave a like/comment and let me know your thoughts!

Enjoy!

~ Phantom

-----------

"Hello, darling."

"Balthazar, this is a surprise." You smile, abandoning the dated lore book in front of you.

"Yeah, an unwelcome one." Dean grumbles, reclining against the back of his chair with his arms crossed.

"Dean, always a pleasure." The angel retorts with a smile, moving past the eldest Winchester to give you a hug.

"What brings you to Kansas?" You give him a tight squeeze, one that pales in comparison to the angel's.

"Oh, I was in the, uh, general vicinity and I heard Cassie was hanging about."

"What did you do this time?" Chiding arch of the eyebrow.

"Absolutely nothing, I just need a few moments with dear old Cas and I'll be on my way."

"Heaven forbid you actually stay in one place." All eyes turn to the hunter hovering over his laptop.

"Yes, heaven actually doesn't forbid that. Some nonsense about angels not being allowed to leave heaven?"

"That's because heaven is short on both angels and grace, the only thing keeping it in the sky." Castiel supplies, descending the stairs with Sam and Gabriel close behind him.

"Cas! Gabe! It's been some time," the blonde angel flashes a grin and beckons his brothers closer.

"Balthazar," Castiel greets with a nod.

"Little brother," Gabriel smiles, clapping him on the shoulder.

"How long's it been?"

"The last time we met, I believe you refused to help us fight Michael." Castiel provides with a meaningful arch of the eyebrow.

"Something I helped with, by the way," Gabriel supplies, slipping past his brothers to stand near you.

"Yes, well, a man can only fake his death so many times."

"Tell that to Gabriel," Sam snorts lightly, taking a seat beside his brother and exchanging an amused smirk.

"Uncalled for, Samsquatch."

Balthazar rolls his eyes, before turning to face you, "did you know that Cas, here, tried to kill me once?"

"I'm sure it came up at some point." You offer a warm, amused smile.

"No, it did not come up." Castiel interjects pointedly, leveling a stern gaze on his brother.

"You always leave out all the best stories, Cassie." Balthazar returns smugly, absently flinging an arm around your shoulders, very visibly, in front of Gabriel, "but, it's a story for another time. For now, Cas, I have some news on that thing you wanted me to check in on."

He doesn't miss Gabriel's meaningful stare, a silent warning to keep his hands off of you.

"Of course."

"Thing?" Dean queries from the table, brows knit together in confusion.

"Some heavenly business." The blonde angel smiles, giving you a quick wink before starting from the room.

"Don't be such a stranger," you remind him, returning to your chair, Gabriel sliding protectively into the seat beside you.

"Of course, darling. I'll come visit again."

"You better."

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

You're in the kitchen, searching for chocolate and some cocoa before bed.

"Where's an archangel when you need him?"

"I'm no archangel, but the angelic aura is close enough."

You jump, spinning to face the smug angel by the door, "Balthazar, do you ever knock?"

"To enter the kitchen? Never." He pushes off the wall and strolls across the dated tiles. "What are you looking for so late at night?"

"Some hot cocoa before bed," you return shortly, turning back to rummaging through the cabinets.

"And the comment about needing a certain archangel?" There's a suggestive hint in his tone, coupled with an expectant tilt of the head and a smug expression.

You pause, meeting the angel's eyes with something akin to embarrassment, "He snaps up good cocoa, okay?"

Balthazar's grin widens, noting the pink flourishing across your cheeks as you divert your gaze back to the cabinet. You don't reach for anything, it serves more as distraction than anything else, and Balthazar knows that look.

"Oh, oh, you're in love with him."

"I'm not in love with him!" The response is too quick and Balthazar knows he's struck the right nerve.

"Oh, please. You two are practically fucking whenever you're in the same room."

Your head snaps to the left, jaw slackened as you scramble for a response. You can find nothing better than an indignant, "Balthazar!"

"I've seen the looks you two throw at each other, the longing, yet reluctant gazes when the other isn't looking. I'd say it's romantic if it weren't so pathetic."

You smack his arm, the pink turning to a deep red the more he talks, "Shut up! Gabriel doesn't think of me like that."

"Really?"

"Balthazar," you square your shoulders, shoving stray fantasies and fuzzy feelings aside in favor of silencing the cocky angel beside you, "I just want some cocoa. I don't want to be psycho analyzed."

"I don't need to psychoanalyze you, love. It's written all over your face."

Your shoulders slump and your chin drops to your chest, "Fine. Yes. I'm fond of Gabriel. Happy?"

"Ecstatic." A rush of air collides with your face and the angel is gone.

"Dick," you grumble, turning back to the counter, only to discover a fresh cup of cocoa sitting in front of you. You drum your fingers on the counter, tensing your jaw before picking it up, "Okay, less of a dick."

You're nearly out of the kitchen when you take a sip and your face sours. The cheeky bastard had slipped whiskey into the mix, not exactly a bonus when you wanted to sleep, but not enough of a deterrent to keep you from drinking the remainder of the cup when you reach your room.

You're not sure what will come of your reluctant surrender, but you'll take it as it comes, for better or for worse.

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

"You're my brother, and I love you, but if you don't get to the point--"

"--Gabriel, for dad's sake, will you sit down and listen to me for once?"

Gabriel narrows his eyes, but reluctantly sits back down, a scowl etched into every inch of his face, "What?"

"You know your little flirtation with Y/N?"

"It's not a flirtation, Balthazar. We're friends."

"Oh God," Balthazar scrubbed at his eyes, "you're both in denial."

"Denial? What the hell are you going on about?"

Balthazar shoots to his feet, hands slamming down onto the table in exasperation, "She's in love with you, you bloody idiot!"

"What?"

"Castiel, help me out here." Balthazar pinches the bridge of his nose, praying that their brother can help him get through to the archangel.

"Do not involve me in this," Castiel returns, eyes still glued on the book in front of him.

"Well, he's obviously not listening to me. He'll listen to you, though. Help me out, Cas!"

"There's nothing to make me understand, Balthazar. Y/N and I are just friends. Do I like her? Yes. Am I going to force her to become romantically involved if she obviously doesn't see me like that? No." Gabriel stands, pushing the chair back.

"Gabriel, I spoke to her. I know that she's interested in you. Why can't you see it?"

"Because he doesn't even like him." Castiel supplies from across the room.

"I thought you weren't getting involved," Gabriel folds his arms, the scowl now directed at his other brother.

"That was before we were addressing your emotional traumas," Castiel closes the book and folds his hands, gazing back at the two expectantly.

"We are not addressing my emotional traumas." Gabriel points at Castiel before turning back to Balthazar, "She's not in love with me, and that's the end of it. Now, both of you, drop this."

"I didn't say that she was in love with you."

Gabriel doesn't turn, already half way to the door, "Drop it!"

Balthazar's shoulders slump as he watches Gabriel's form retreat, heaving a dramatic sigh.

"You're not going to drop this, are you?" Castiel observes, settling against the back of his chair.

"Absolutely not. Those two are going to end up together. I'm tired of their eye-fucking in front of me." He sinks into the chair across from Castiel, "How on earth do you deal with it?"

"I tend to ignore human responses."

"Fair enough. Now, how are we going to get them together?"

"This is your problem," Castiel re-opens his book, paging through for the marked page.

Balthazar reaches across the table and slams the book shut, "No, it's your problem too, Cas. We need to come up with something."

Castiel levels an annoyed look on Balthazar, "How is it my problem?"

Balthazar hesitates for a moment, scrambling for a reason. Castiel pushes his hand off the book and reopens it, only for his brother to narrow his eyes and snatch out from under his hands.

"Because you want to see Gabriel happy. Who knows, maybe she'll fix some of that emotional trauma you mentioned. In any case, I can't do this without you. You've always been his favorite, he'll listen to you."

Castiel's shoulders sag, head tilting in a manner that Balthazar can only interpret as defeat and reluctance combined into one exasperated glare.

"Fine. I'll help you, but if this backfires--"

"--yes, yes, you're in the clear." Balthazar waves off his concerns and grins triumphantly. "Where do we start?"

"If we're going to do this, we need to consult Dean."

"Why? What would the hairy ape know about getting an archangel and a human together?"

"He knows human customs and traditions better than either of us."

"Fair enough, let's talk to the cranky Winchester."

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

"Come on, Y/N! It'll be fun!" Dean follows you back and forth in the kitchen, constantly stepping in the way of whatever dish you need to make yourself some supper.

"I am not going to play truth or dare. It's a kid's game."

"Aren't we all kids at heart?" Dean nudges your arm playfully.

You pause, leveling an unamused glower on the eldest Winchester, "Not when you're a hunter. Where have I heard that particular line before?"

"Okay, okay, mock away. But, we can still have some fun! After dinner, we'll all play in the war room, Balthazar even roped Cas into playing. You don't want to be the spoilsport, do you?"

"Maybe I do." You turn away, checking the water on the stove.

"Gabriel's gonna play." Dean adds in a singsong voice, stealing a glance your way.

You tense and it takes everything you have to keep your voice from cracking, "Is he now? Why would that matter to me?"

Dean's smile fades and he really doesn't want to get into it with you, "Because, we'll have all three angels, so, come play with us. Please."

You turn and Dean adopts a pleading look, puppydog eyes that might even give Sam a run for his money. It's not the look that makes you cave, it's the archangel strolling past the doorway, pausing just long enough to flash you a warm smile.

You swallow the lump in your throat and allow y/e/c to drift back to Dean, "All right. I'll play."

"Great! I'll bring the beers after dinner!"

"Beers?"

"Drunk truth or dare is the best truth or dare, Y/N." Dean strolls out of the room with a victorious bounce in his step and you shake your head.

"I hope he realizes angels can't get drunk off beer."

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

"So? Did she go for it?" Balthazar all but pounces on Dean the moment he rounds the corner.

"She's in. She wouldn't even consider it until Gabriel walked by. Nice timing  Cas." Dean claps his friend on the shoulder with a broad grin.

"Yes, well, Gabriel wanted to retrieve some book from the library."

"What book?" Dean frowns slightly.

"You don't want to know." Balthazar interjects, holding up a hand to silence Castiel. "Doesn't matter, but what does matter is that Gabriel and Y/N get together tonight."

"All right, let's just agree that we start them off slow. A few funny dares, but nothing too serious and we mix it up so they don't feel like targets. Then, we venture near the romance side of things, truths that are cute, but not outright romantic." Dean glances between them, "and then the dares turn a little more...intense. Maybe a kiss? Something small, but not too insignificant."

"Bloody hell, that's your plan? We'll be here all night!"

"We don't want to rush them, Balthazar! They'll spook and then we're back to square one. We do this my way, or not at all."

"Castiel--"

Castiel holds his hand up to cut his brother short, "Dean's right. He knows Y/N better than any of us. We need to do this right the first time, because we won't get a second chance."

The blonde angel glances between the two before folding his arms across his chest and heaving a sigh, "This was my idea to begin with."

"Solid idea, poor plan." Dean returns, almost triumphantly, "just play it cool, and those two lovebirds will be thanking us in the morning."

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

"Are we ready to get this party started?" Dean claps his hand and slides into the chair beside Sam.

"Reluctantly, yes." You lean against the back of your seat, vaguely aware of how closely Gabriel's sitting.

"Why are we doing this again?" Sam asks, looking towards his brother for an explanation.

"Because we never do anything fun. Mom and Jack are out, Michael's dead and Gabriel is alive. I'd say we've earned a night off to drink beer, play games and tell stories."

"Yeah, I'm with Samsquatch, can I leave?"

"Gabriel, optimism, please."

The archangel narrows his eyes but reclines in his chair, sliding an arm across the back of your seat.

"Come on, Gabe, it could be fun." You nudge him lightly, offering a teasing smile.

"How on earth did they get you on the bandwagon?" He questions, returning your smile with a knowing tilt of the head.

Your smile falters and you know he can see the reluctance in your eyes. "I was promised booze," you look to Dean, "gimme."

Dean rolls his eyes and slides a bottle of beer across the table into your waiting hands. You start to pop the cap off, stopping only when Gabriel snaps his fingers the cap disappears. He receives an approving smile and nod from you before you take a sip.

"If you're all done with your petty protests, I was promised a night of confessions and adventures." Balthazar gazes around the table, "Shall we begin?"

"We most certainly shall!" Dean leans forward, "Balthazar, truth or dare?"

 "Dare." the angel returns confidently.

"I dare you," Dean glances around the room slowly, green eyes settling on the empty glass and pitcher of what appears to be water next to Sam. He leans forward, snatching up the glass, filling it up halfway before popping open a beer and pouring it in. "To drink this."

"Really? A watery beer? That's the best you can come up with?"

"I can add some more stuff? There's hot sauce in the kitchen." Dean starts to stand, only for Balthazar to slide the glass away.

"Fine, I'll drink the bloody water beer."

The blonde angel sniffs at the glass, expression turning sour when reality hits him. His eyes slowly lift from the glass, a sick look gripping hold, "That wasn't water, was it?"

"Nope." Dean settles against the back of his chair, a smug smile spreading across his lips. "Go on. Drink it."

Balthazar's eyes dart between the cup's contents and Dean before reluctantly lifting it to his lips and chugging it. He coughs and sputters and slams the glass back down, eyes watering, nose wrinkling and a laughing Winchester receiving the darkest look he can muster without vomiting.

"What the hell did you pour in there?" You try to hide the amusement in your voice, but the way Balthazar scowls at you tells you that you didn't do it well enough.

"Vinegar."

"All right, that's going away." Gabriel snaps his fingers, the pitcher vanishing.

"You couldn't have done that sooner?" Balthazar snaps, conjuring up his own glass of water to wash away the vile taste in his mouth.

"I didn't know until now," Gabriel shrugs, watching his brother down another glass of water.

"No more vomit-worthy dares, Dean."

"That's half the fun, Y/N."

"Well, I'm not cleaning it up and unless you want to, I suggest you find less sickening dares."

"Buzzkill."

"So, Balthazar, still looking forward to an evening of adventures and confessions?" Sam arches an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Samuel, I will not hesitate to smite you."

"Balthazar." Castiel reprimands sternly, leveling something akin to disapproval on his brother.

"You indulge them far too much, Cas."

"I do not."

"Anyway, Balthy, you're up." You interject, noting the tension steadily rising.

"Fine," he heaves a sigh and snaps away the glass of water, "Sam, truth or dare?"

"Truth," Sam answers quickly, noting the disappointed look in the angel's eyes.

"Sissy. How many lovers have you had?"

Sam's nose scrunches up, confusion and discomfort evident in every inch of his features, "Seriously? That's your question?"

"Just answer it, Sam." Dean nudges him before taking another sip of his beer.

"I don't know...serious or flings?"

"Serious, because Dad only knows how many one night stands you Winchesters have had."

"In that case, two or three."

"That's it?" Balthazar leans forward, gazing at the larger Winchester skeptically.

"What?"

"If I didn't know better, little bro, I'd say you're looking to become his next lover." Gabriel supplies with a smirk.

"Absolutely not," Balthazar snaps back, folding his arms across his chest.

Gabriel leans closer to your ear, hot breath fanning across warm skin, "He's into Samsquatch."

You giggle, ignoring the curious looks as you clear your throat and look to Sam, "You're up."

"All right. Cas, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Cas isn't taking any chances." You laugh, watching the blue eyed angel fold his hands in front of him.

"Who's your favorite brother, Gabriel or Balthazar?" Sam settles back in his seat, watching Castiel glance between Balthazar and Gabriel.

"I don't have an answer." Casteil returns shortly, blue dropping to the table.

"Just answer the question, Cassie." Balthazar interjects, leaning forward.

"You're both my brothers and I love you very much. Don't make me pick." Cas looks to Sam pleading.

"You gotta answer it, Cas."

The angel's shoulders sag in defeat, "Fine. Balthazar."

"Wait, what?!" Gabriel leans forward, something akin to hurt in his eyes.

"Balthazar has fought by my side on countless occasions. I trust him with my life."

"What about me? I took you two on field trips out of Heaven!"

"Yes, but you were always more of mentor than a brother to get into trouble with." Balthazar supplies, clapping Castiel on the shoulder, "Wars form many bonds, Gabriel, mine just happens to be stronger with Cas."

"I call b.s. What the hell, Cas?" Gabriel narrows his eyes at his brother.

"Let it go, feathers." You smile, patting his shoulder, "Sam put him in an awkward position. He knows not what he says."

"Moving on. Cas, you're up." Dean slaps the table and grins.

"Very well. Dean, truth or dare?"

"Dare." There's a mischievous grin playing at the corner of Dean's lips.

"I dare you to ask Gabriel a truth."

"That...isn't how the game works." Sam frowns.

"We can make an exception." Balthazar offers, "you know, given that Cas is new to this game."

"Cas is the only exception." Gabriel clarifies.

"All right then, Gabriel, I have to ask you a truth." Dean smirks, rubbing his hands together.

"Ask away, Dean-O." Gabriel reclines in his chair, a confident grin etched into his features.

"If you had to pick one human in this room to spend the rest of eternity with, who wouldn't be and why?"

"Y/N." Gabriel answers without missing a beat.

"Why?"

Gabriel hesitates, cautiously glancing between your expectant eyes and Dean's smug look, "Because you two knuckleheads would drive me insane, obviously. Plus, Y/N is more fun," warm honey flickers to you, "she's got the best sense of humor."

A hint of pink flourishes across your cheeks and you divert your eyes to the table in front of you.

"Well, that got sickeningly cute." Balthazar rolls his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Shove it, Balthy." Gabriel narrows his eyes at his little brother, smile fading.

"No family drama." Dean interjects pointedly, "Gabriel, you're up."

"Y/N, truth or dare?" Gabriel smirks.

"Truth."

"Wow, play it safe, why don't you?"

"Can you blame me? It's you." You scoff lightly, leveling an amused look on the archangel.

"Fair enough. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

"Disneyland." You settle against the back of your chair.

"Seriously?" Dean arches an eyebrow, "Disneyland?"

"Leave me and my inner child alone, Dean." You stick your tongue out at the eldest Winchester, who holds up his hands in mock surrender.

"You're up, sugar."

"Everyone's been picked, so, Balthazar, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Someone didn't learn his lesson," Dean mumbles to Sam.

"It's Y/N, she isn't a sadistic bastard like you." The blonde angel narrows his eyes at Dean.

"Play nice." You chide, "I dare you to...remain silent for the next five minutes."

"Oh please, that's simple." Balthazar scoffs.

"Prove it." You smirk smugly, propping your chin on your fist.

"Fine, I nominate Dean to go next on my behalf."

"...that's uncharacteristically nice of you." Gabriel frowns slightly, exchanging a concerned glance with you.

"Oh please, its because I want something to entertain me while I sit here in silence." Balthazar rolls his eyes and settles against the back of his chair, arms folded.

"Fair enough."

"All right, Y/N, truth or dare?" Dean leans forward with a smug smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I don't trust you, so truth."

"Oh, come on! I'm not that bad!"

"You made Balthazar drink vinegar beer!" You gesture to the angle beside you, who nods his head.

"And it tasted like rubbish!" He remarks in the back of your mind.

Your eyes snap to his, a stern look etched into your features, "Talking includes telepathy, Balthazar!"

He scowls and Gabriel snorts beside you.

"That includes angle radio, too!"

"He says he doesn't like this game." Castiel remarks, glancing between his brother and you.

"Tough, he said he wanted to play. Y/N, what's it gonna be? Still playing it safe?" Dean interjects, ignoring the glower from the blonde angel.

"Fine, dare."

A wicked grin slips across Dean's lips, "I dare you to sit in Gabriel's lap for the next five minutes."

"No!" You protest a little too quickly for them not to notice the red flourishing across your cheeks.

"Oh, come on, sugar. It won't be that bad." Gabriel chuckles lightly, sliding out his chair a little.

You turn your glare to Gabriel, "I will burn you with holy oil."

"You most certainly will not." Castiel protests, leveling a stern gaze on you.

"Relax, Cas, she's joking." Sam assures him, hazel drifting to you. That's when he notices the serious expression, "Oh, she most definitely wasn't joking..."

Balthazar tries to hide his laugh, but fails miserably until the back of your hand connects with his shoulder, "You're next, Balthy." His smile fades and they can almost see his wings tuck a little closer around him, as if they could see the celestial plane.

"All right, all right, the only wings getting fried are the Kentucky kind we're getting for lunch tomorrow. Y/N, sit your ass down on Gabriel. Gabriel, behave yourself."

"Don't I always, Dean-O?" The archangel rolls his eyes, and he gestures you closer.

"No, you don't." You retort, slowly easing yourself onto his lap, yelping in surprise when he winds his arms around your waist, and pulls you all the way against his chest.

Crimson burns your cheeks and you scramble to collect yourself, trying to ignore how suddenly self-conscious you are about where his hands rest, thumb gently rubbing a patch of skin beneath your flannel.

Dean arches an eyebrow, but smiles, "Looks good to me, you're up."

You huff, "Sam, truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to dare me to get off Gabriel's lap."

"That's not how the game works, Y/N." Dean jumps in, "Cas is the only exception."

"Fuck off, Winchester." You stick out your tongue, "Fine. Sam, I dare you to smack your brother."

"Hey!" Dean's promptly silenced when Sam swats his shoulder with a laugh, "Sam!"

"What? It was a dare." The youngest Winchester grins, leaning away when Dean smacks him back.

You smirk slightly, jolting when the archangel's fingers move to rest on your hips, "Sam's up." You try to hide how aware of the angel's hands you are, but you realize he can read every thought tearing through your stumbling brain--not that he would.

"Right, Y/N," Sam turns his attention to the archangel, "truth or dare?"

"Dare."

Dean nudges Sam under the table, and Sam sits up a little straighter, shooting his brother a pointed look, "I dare you to sit in Gabriel's lap for twenty more minutes."

"Seriously? They got to you, too?" You roll your eyes, arms folding across your chest as Gabriel's hands snake around your waist.

Sam shrugs meekly and sinks into his chair, avoiding your gaze.

"Unbelievable. You're all unbelievable." You throw your hands up in defeat.

Balthazar gestures to himself, confusion evident.

"Don't play innocent with me, you're probably the instigator."

"Well, you're not wrong." Dean snickers.

"Can't say I'm surprised." You return evenly, narrowing your eyes at the angel beside you.

"Why's that?" Gabriel questions suddenly, leaning around you to gaze upwards.

The color drains from your face and you redirect your attention to the table in front of you, "No reason."

"I think there's a very good reason." Dean returns.

"Shut up, Dean."

"Y/N, what's he talking about?" Gabriel's voice drops, and he gently turns your frame enough for him to catch a clear glimpse of your face.

"It's nothing."

"Sugar." There's a shadow of concern in glistening gold as he tilts your chin towards him.

"I don't want to talk about it, Gabe."

"Why not?"

"I'm just--"

"All right, five minutes are up and I've watched about as much of this bloody soap opera as I can stomach." Balthazar interrupts abruptly, pushing to his feet, "Gabriel, Y/N is in love with you. Y/N, the archangel is head over heels for you. Now just fucking kiss already, you're making me sick."

Your jaw slackens, frozen in the archangel's arms and suddenly you're too scared to meet his gaze. You jolt when his fingers brush against your jaw, turning you to face him. 

"Is that true?" Disbelief grips hold and you can read it in every inch of his features.

You nod slowly, "I guess, yeah. I didn't know how to tell you--"

You're swiftly silenced by his lips pressed against yours, tugging you close and every nerve ignites when his fingers tangle in your hair.

"Wow, that was easier than I thought it'd be." Dean remarks after a moment.

"That's what happens when you're direct," Balthazar's lips curl upwards into a self-satisfied smirk.

"Great, now that they're making out, what do you propose we do?" Sam arches an eyebrow.

"Leave." Gabriel snaps, pulling back long enough for you to catch your breath.

"How about you two leave and get a room?" Dean retorts, waving towards the door.

"What do you say, sugar?" Gold finds y/e/c.

"Let's go." You lean closer, pressing a line of soft, sensual kisses down his jaw and it's all the incentive he needs to snap his fingers and the two ot you disappear.

"Well, that's a job well done," Balthazar claps his hands together, collapsing back into his chair, glancing around expectantly, "Who's next?"

"No."

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

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