#that snowstorm watching is something i still obsess over

[flovverworks]

(person who was writing figaro & akira things) lots to think about in regards to akira w/ the (ex)northern wizards especially. lennox' white day event with the dishes inspired by your life and akira saying oz is something like a fluffy pancake perhaps (or whatever it was), & akiras actions toward oz in general (being very stubborn&honest when he's being silly about arthur, saying they wont summon another wizard if he turns murr to stone, etc) & their relationship (oz who can't use magic at night without akira, oz who's willing to listen to the sage's requests (even if thats transforming into a cat,,,,), oz who tells them not to forget their name, oz opening up about arthurs prophecy.....lots&lots of things). because akira knows about oz' past & has seen his strength (second anni.....), because the oz they know isn't the worlds strongest wizard oz but their friend oz,,,,,,,,,likeeee mithras similar too. knowing how strong he is, knowing he has killed in the past, but getting along with him so so well as well.

there's that part in early pt2 too where they speak about the sacrificium with him & 'doesnt it bother you to accept something from the twins' because it essentially puts akira within their circle of power? influence? protection? like how the twins protect their current village....but akira doesnt feel that way because they compare it to living within a country (even if thats also the part where they remark again that its tiring to deal with people sometimes). and i feel it ties in similarly.......?! figaro & snow & white are spoken of negatively a lot in the 'being kind' situations by the other northern wizards, but akira just doesnt have that pov/experience,,,,not to say they can ignore everything theyve done (figaros spot story help,,,,,,,,,,?????) but its. gestures widely. kindness in a person, kindness in someone's actions, being kind and being cruel, what's the goal, where did you grow up, the complexity of peoples thoughts and actions and being, etcetc....... lots to say in regards to figaro in general who initially shared he wanted to make the sage fall in love with him so he could manipulate their actions into world peace but also offered to listen to their worries (+ his tanabata event + card in general of his actions & surprise).

Because Figaro's a kind person—regardless of what Snow and White said, regardless of what Mithra and Owen said, but not regardless of Bradley. Everyone he known turned to stone and shackled as an example; see, there's good wizards who will help you defeat the bad wizards. For the sake of wizards and for the sake of humans Bradley had to lose the people he held dear. Akira could not disregard that.

do u get what im getting at <-speaking about things that arent deep at all

[stewpidcheescatarinabluu]

Late Night With You!

Synopsis: Late night movie marathon with your beautiful roommate!

I made ts since im extra lonely lmao

warning: cheesy asf

word count: 1,900+

It was late at night, and you were somehow stressing over an exam that was still three months away. Kinda ridiculous, but also… not really. It was the exam—the one that could change everything. Still, the cool breeze from the AC and the soft hum of the TV in the background made things feel a little less intense. The whole room had that cozy, quiet vibe—perfect for a movie night you didn’t plan.

You were lying on your back, eyes on the ceiling, when your phone started ringing. You groaned, already too comfortable to get up. It was somewhere in the apartment, probably buried under your notes. But before you could even move, the front door creaked open.

And there she was—Aeri. Most people knew her as Giselle, the cool, unbothered one. But to you, she was just Aeri. Hoodie slightly too big, snack bag in hand, and that little smile she always wore when she caught you mid-study spiral.

“Y/N, I’m back!” Aeri called out as she kicked off her shoes at the door. “I got those gummies you’ve been obsessing over all week.”

“Ya did?” you called out, glancing toward the front door while still half-slouched over the side of the couch, digging under the cushions for your phone. “Thanks, Aeri,” you added, voice a little muffled, but clear enough for her to hear.

Aeri laughed softly, stepping further in. “You ready for our movie night, Y/N?”

You looked at her with a small sense of victory, finally locating your phone just as the call ended. “Ready as I’ll ever be,” you said, meeting her eyes with a lazy grin as you grabbed the plastic bag stuffed with chips, sweets, and those gummies you’d been craving.

Aeri rushed toward the sofa, flopping down and pulling the scented blanket over herself like it was tradition. She immediately started scrolling through the streaming app, eyes locked on the TV.

“Hey, Y/N, you got a movie in mind?” she asked, half-distracted.

“I heard Fight Club was good. Never really watched it though,” you replied, glancing at your phone again, still wondering who tried to call you so late.

“Fight Club? Sounds good. Let’s watch that.”

Just as Aeri was about to hit the play button, she paused and groaned. “Ugh—I forgot to grab drinks.”

She turned to you with that look—wide eyes, pouty lips, hands clasped together in exaggerated pleading. “Y/N, come with me? Please?”

You glanced at her, heart doing a quiet little thump. That face... you could never really say no to it.

“Alright, alright,” you sighed with a soft smile, already getting up to change into something cozier. Meanwhile, Aeri, being Aeri, didn’t bother—she just threw on an oversized T-shirt and dolphin shorts, clearly underestimating the cold wind waiting outside the dorm.

The two of you stepped out, making your way down the quiet hallway. Your footsteps fell into rhythm behind hers, echoing softly in the stillness. When you reached the elevator, neither of you said anything—but the silence wasn’t awkward. It never was.

You stood close, shoulders brushing—not because there wasn’t space, but because something unspoken always pulled you together. Your warmth leaned into hers, and hers leaned right back, like some quiet agreement neither of you dared to name.

You both knew, but for some reason, you never talked about it.

You eventually reached the second floor, where a small convenience store was tucked away. But the first thing that hit you both was the cold night wind, slicing through the air. It wasn’t too bad for you—just a refreshing breeze—but for Aeri? It felt like a snowstorm.

You watched as she shivered, her chin trembling, arms crossed tightly around herself. She was clearly struggling to hold it together, and without thinking, you slipped off your jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Aeri froze, blinking in surprise. “Oh… you really didn’t have to,” she said, her voice soft, eyes wide as she looked up at you.

Her breath hitched, and you could see the butterflies in her chest. She blinked again, trying to push away the rush of warmth that was flooding her face. “I’m fine, Y/N. I didn’t think it was that cold…”

You just smiled, shrugging a little. “Better safe than sorry. You’re freezing.” You could feel the quiet tension between you two, like everything was suddenly a little more… meaningful.

Aeri rubbed her arms, her face still flushed. “I—uh… Thanks.” She said it softly, like she wasn’t sure how to deal with the sudden warmth spreading through her chest, both physical and emotional.

She looked up at you again, her expression unreadable for a second before she broke into a small, teasing smile. “You sure you’re not freezing, though? I mean, I’m cozy now, but... are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” You gave her a light grin, even though a part of you wanted to be a little closer to her, too.

As you both entered the convenience store, the warm air hit you immediately, wrapping around you like a blanket. The shelves were stocked with snacks, drinks, and random little items, giving the place that familiar, cozy yet slightly chaotic vibe. It was strange—just two roommates casually picking up drinks in the middle of the night—but it felt... right.

Aeri took a deep breath, letting the warmth sink into her. “Ah, this is better,” she said, her voice a little quieter, more relaxed now. She wandered over to the drink section, looking through the options. "So, what are we getting? You feel like something sweet, or...?”

You watched her for a second, feeling that unspoken connection hanging in the air between you. Something so simple, but somehow, it felt a little special.

“You look like a creep, smiling while staring at me, you know?” Aeri’s voice was light but teasing, her eyes still fixed on the drink shelves as she waited for you to decide.

“My bad,” you mumbled, quickly wiping the grin off your face, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks. You grabbed a case of root beer soda and another of Coke Zero, trying to act casual.

Aeri gave you a small, knowing smile, but didn’t comment further as you both made your way to the counter. After paying, you returned to the dorm in relative silence, the night air now feeling like a distant memory with the warmth of the building around you.

Once back in the dorm, Aeri made herself comfortable, already snuggling back into the couch with your jacket still wrapped around her. She kicked her feet up, pulling the blanket over herself, her body curling into a small, cozy ball. “You better make it good, Y/N,” she called over, her voice muffled by the blanket. “I’m starving.”

You nodded, heading to the kitchen to heat up the food she’d picked up earlier, the drinks already sitting on the coffee table. As the movie started, Aeri’s shock-faced reactions to certain scenes had you grinning—she looked so cute, so into it. Her focused face, brows furrowed just enough, was oddly mesmerizing, making it hard to focus on anything else.

You found yourself glancing over at her more than the screen. Every time she commented on the movie, or let out a little gasp, you couldn’t help but smile. “Uh-huh, really?” you’d reply, nodding along, but sometimes, you weren’t really listening. You were too distracted by the way her eyes sparkled when she was passionate about something, or how the corners of her lips curved when she was amused.

The movie played out as usual, but the real show seemed to be her. And maybe, just maybe, you didn’t mind that at all.

Before the movie ended, you found yourself inching a little closer to her, the quiet comfort of the moment pulling you in. Your hand brushed against hers, your shoulder grazing hers just lightly. The scent of her, faint and comforting, filled the space between you two.

She noticed it, of course. But rather than pulling away, she leaned in a little, a quiet smile playing at the corner of her lips. She didn’t mind at all. In fact, the small gestures you made—like how your hand kept inching closer, how you never seemed to be too far away—brought her warmth. She liked it. It reassured her, in a way, that she mattered to you. That she was precious, even in the simplest moments like this.

As the movie drew to a close, you didn’t even realize when your hand had moved to hold hers, fingers subtly intertwined. It wasn’t something either of you acknowledged aloud, but it felt right. A soft, shared connection that neither of you wanted to break.

The food you had heated up earlier—half-eaten and now cold—sat forgotten on the coffee table, the chips and snacks all but untouched. The bowls were pushed aside, and the once-crinkling plastic bag of gummies lay limp. Neither of you seemed to mind; the evening had shifted focus, your attention now completely absorbed in each other.

When the final line from Brad Pitt echoed through the speakers and the end credits started rolling, you shifted slightly, catching a glimpse of her. But what surprised you was that Aeri was already looking at you, a soft, adorable smile on her face, her cheeks dusted with a delicate pink blush.

For a second, neither of you said anything. You just looked at each other—quiet, but full of meaning. Her blush only deepened when she realized you’d caught her staring, but she didn’t look away. Instead, her smile softened, tender and genuine.

“You make everything feel... just right, Y/N,” she said quietly, her voice a little shy but filled with warmth. “Even the smallest moments with you… they mean so much.”

You couldn’t help but smile back, her words hanging in the air, a gentle echo of something deeper between you two.

And just like that, it felt like the night, the movie, everything faded into the background. All that was left was you two, sitting there together, hands intertwined, the world outside completely forgotten. The food forgotten too, its coldness a distant thought as the warmth between you two became all that mattered.

[lipstickmarks]

Modern Aedion headcanons

— Modern!Aedion Ashryver x fem!reader

Author’s note: I LOVE AEDION BARK BARK BITCH

Warnings: mentions of protests, mention of danger at pride, mentions of violence, mentions of being arrested, mentions of absent/neglectful parents, nsfw, smut, semi-public sex, finger sucking, male masturbation, food, periods, teasing, overstimulation

he likes all music. like ALL music. if you’re roadtripping it, he’ll go from sabrina carpenter to metallica to 2000s r&b to dierks bentley in one playlist and he will know every single word

had a bit of a ho phase before you so whenever you go anywhere, you almost always run into an ex-hookup of his. but you’re so not threatened bc aedion makes it obvious he only has eyes for you. if anything, you tease him about it

yall go to pride every year and Aedion is that person who’s on high alert and making sure everyone is safe, especially you. no taking drinks from randos, no getting too close to really rowdy crowds or lame ass protestors

he loves watching contact sports, not for the athleticism so much but for the rush he gets when two people collide. he’s a war general at heart in every universe so he wants to see someone get the beat down!

he would be ex military, probably coast guard and then work as a rescue EMT for people who get lost in mountains and snowstorms

his love language is quality time and physical touch but he loves to spoil🤭 but it won’t be assorted chocolates or flowers. He’ll buy you a whole ass new mattress or a 6-month SoulCycle membership. He doesn’t really give a shit about little things and he’d rather express his love to you by taking care of big expenses (try to stop him from buying you a car, I dare you)

loves a good old fashioned make out sesh

lets you play with his hair anytime you want. he has done heatless curls, curl creams, he even let you dye it aqua blue to match his eyes. Aedion is the definition of a down ass bitch and he will try literally anything, especially if it makes you happy. the fact that he gets to sit and have you play with his hair and touch his neck for an hour straight is just a bonus!

has a slight temu addiction

if you don’t have good parental figures, best BELIEVE he will let gavriel know and that man will treat you like his own flesh and blood. offering you advice, fixing your car, helping you move in/out of places, he will come over and barbecue steaks for you and aedion without even asking and he always always always makes sure you’re taken care of and that you feel loved. you get presents on your birthday, valentine’s day, christmas, but super dad gav takes it a step farther and gives you presents for EVERY holiday. sometimes it’s a stuffie and a card from “your father-in-law” even if you and Aedion aren’t married yet and sometimes it’s a $200 gift card to a nice restaurant so you and aedion can have a night out. gav will even walk you down the aisle if you don’t have someone to do that

Even if you do have good parental figures around, Aedion still wants Gavriel to be a part of your life. He’s just so obsessed with you and wants you immersed in his family as much as possible. The three of you even have a group chat where he wishes yall a good morning/night ever single day 🥹. Aedion is very much Gav’s little lion cub and a daddy’s boy at heart. The two of them spend lots of quality time together so naturally, you become a part of that too.

he has inattentive adhd and cannot stay still for the life of him. he’s always walking around, forgetting stuff, and struggles with stationary hobbies. if you’re a reader, good luck trying to get him into whatever you’re reading. he’ll try for you but he would rather be snowboarding or jumping rope or making dinner, something with his hands and body

he LOVES food trucks

if you’re a swiftie, he absolutely attended eras with you. he is in his red era but his favorite albums are fearless and tortured poets. he goes crazy for “fearless” and “the black dog” (likes songs he can scream to)

he’s definitely been arrested at a protest and for getting in bar fights defending your or Aelin

fav disney movie is tarzan but if he’s in his feels, then it’s lion king (reminds him of gavriel)

cannot sing. thinks he can. ruins karaoke night for everyone

keeps a picture of you in his locker at the EMT station. if anyone teases him for it, he cusses them out

posts lots of pictures on instagram of his family, views from the mountains where he lives and works, and you. once you two start dating, his feed is 90% you

not picky with food at all. going out to eat with him is the easiest thing ever and he always lets you pick but if you’re not up to it, he’ll choose for you (he somehow always manages to pick the best place)

the first time you got your period while you two were together, he had a minor freak out because he wasn’t prepared. from that point on, he always kept extra pads and tampons at his place

holds you so close when you’re in public areas. if you go to a concert or music festival, he’ll hold you with your back to his chest and his arm slung around your chest to make sure you’re safe and secure with him

he prefers fun, activity based dates to quiet dinners but if you have a preference for them, he will of course honor that. whatever makes you happy is enough for him

if you want to paint your house, he is on it. you don’t even have to ask. you’ll text him at 10pm “the feminine urge to paint my walls ballerina pink” and he’ll show up at your house at 6am the next morning with paint, primer, rollers, and a tarp.

loves taking couple pictures with you. he’ll spend an entire hour after dinner in the parking lot doing whatever poses you want and he’ll let you fuss as much as you want. whatever makes his girl happy.

NEVER forgets to post you for national girlfriends day or international women’s day/month

if there’s a concert you really wanna go to, he’ll stay in digital queues to help you double your chances at getting tickets

always loses the idgaf war. he gives a fuck so hard all the time about everything

loves to kiss you by holding your chin in between his forefinger and thumb. it always makes you melt and he can practically see your toes curl when he does it and he loves getting reactions like that out of you.

he likes salt and vinegar chips. always fighting for his life at aelin’s house when he opens up a bag of them because everyone rags on him for it

at first he was annoyed that people compared him to thor but when you ran your fingers through his hair and said it was hot, he changed his tune like *that* (you two went as thor and jane for halloween that year)

loves it when you play with his muscles, especially at the gym. he gets flirted with a lot at the gym and he loves it when you go with him so he can keep his hands on your hips and while you fix his headphones for him or take cute pictures in front of the mirrors and spot him when he’s lifting weights

favorite shows are That 70s Show, Game of Thrones, and Family Guy but he’s also a hardcore disney girlie when he wants something low-stress to watch and he is NOT shy about it

NSFW

he likes to fuck sitting up with you leaning against the headboard and him facing you and then slowly lower you onto his back so he can hit deeper 🙂‍↕️

fell to his knees when you gifted him a boudoir photoshoot

he will fuck you anytime, anywhere. If you come visit him at work, he’ll fuck you in the closet and stick his fingers in your mouth so you don’t scream his name and get caught

not opposed to toys but he really does prefer to be a one-man show. he knows how to please you and is convinced his fingers, tongue, and cock are better than any toy on the market

He may not like toys but he loves lube and massage oils. You two don’t necessarily need it because Aedion is a hardcore ‘your pleasure > mine’ kinda guy. He gets off on getting you off and you’re always sufficiently wet before slips goes inside you. That being said, he just likes to play with the lube, experiment with different flavors and textures, etc. If they have ones that heat up. GOOD FUCKING BYE. he will torture you with that shit and tbh, you’re better off calling in sick to work the next day bc you won’t be able to walk anyway.🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️

jacks off to voice notes of you touching yourself whenever he’s away and then sends you pics of the aftermath 😔 “look what you made me do, babe…”

really into biting. he doesn’t pinch your skin or leave teeth indents (unless you ask him to) but he loves to nip and nibble, it’s something primal within him

if you ever try that tiktok trend of walking into a room naked and casually asking him a question, expect to have his dick inside you within 3 seconds and to be fucked until you’re shaking and overstimulated and can’t remember your own name 🤷🏻‍♀️

he can be a little cocky/arrogant if he’s ever in a dominant mood. Not mean necessarily but he will taunt you. “Oh, sweetheart, I think you brought this on yourself. Teasing me all day, tsk tsk tsk. I don’t think you deserve to cum yet.”

Follows you around like a pathetic puppy in Victoria’s Secret. If you try and tease him by skipping the lingerie and going straight to the body spray, he will pout at you like “where’s my treat, baby?🥺” until you laugh and give in. Then he buys you the skimpiest sets they have.

you always send him nsfw tiktoks. Sometimes it’s things you wanna try, stuff that turns you on, and sometimes it’s edits if your celebrity crushes because you know talking about it bugs Aedion and gets him all riled up and in the mood to give you a proper fucking when he gets home. “Henry Cavill can’t fuck you like this, my love.”

doesn’t like to fuck you in his car. he’s an artist, he needs room to do his thing. he will, however, tease you in his car. hand on your thigh, drawing little circles on your inner thigh. reaching over to fasten your seatbelt and “accidentally” grazing your tits.

oh speaking of tits

one handful at all times. he is always touching you. if you’re cuddling on the couch, his hand is def up your shirt. it’s not always in a sexual way, he just loves to touch ‘em! when you show him your outfits, he’ll run a finger down your sternum and over the curve of the top of your breast (especially if it’s something low cut)

always lets you set the pace. he can be more dominant if that’s what you like but no matter what, he always lets you decide how far you go and what you do and what things you try out

the only hard no’s for him are degradation, impact play, anything involving weapons, (he would NEVER be able to hurt you, even if it was for kink) and also nothing involving multiple partners. he likes all his attention to be on just you.

he likes to cockwarm after you’ve finished. he loves the feeling of collapsing onto your chest and cuddling for a bit and just keeping himself sheathed in you. it relaxes him

always puts a hand on your back or your ass when he’s passing by you, especially if you two are in the kitchen cooking together or something. most of the time, he just leaves his hand there. “Aedion, your hand is on my butt.” “It was an accident.” “It’s still on my butt.” “It’s still an accident.”

he’ll make out with you in public, he doesn’t care. A little PDA never hurt nobody 🙂‍↔️

loves to have you leaning against his chest with two fingers inside you, edging and teasing you for hours

He. Loves. Morning. Sex. It is his absolute favorite. There is nothing this man loves more than waking up and pressing kisses to your neck and jaw until you’re awake and ready for him. Lazy sundays where you two get to sleep in and slowly make love for hours are his favorite. He doesn’t care about morning breath or bed head or anything, he’s just obsessed with having you in his bed and being able to sink inside you with a happy sigh first thing in the morning.

[wayiiseetheworld]

Confession

Summary: a whisky laced confession to his best friend about his best friend's sister.

Warnings: Jack Abbot x OC. Drinking. Set before The Pitt while Jack Abbot is still in the army.

Word Count: 1,333

Author Note: I am obsessed with Abbot, Robby, and The Pitt. Slowly going to post my stories from A03 on here. Rewatching ER and Animal Kingdom because of this show. Thank you so much for reading! || Not my gif.

Apart of the Jack Abbot & Aila Abbot series. | Masterlist

A03 Link

Jack settled back in the old, worn chair of Aaro’s living room, the flickering light of the fireplace casting dancing shadows on the walls. Outside, the snowstorm felt like a distant memory.

With just two weeks left before they would be shipped back overseas, both men were eager for a night of relaxation. The air was infused with the subtle scent of whiskey and the earthy aroma of burning logs, a fragrance that transported Jack to his childhood, reminding him of the war stories his grandfather used to share and letting him sneak sips of his drink.

They had spent hours exchanging tales and sipping drinks, but now Jack felt a familiar warmth enveloping his stomach and a buzz that brought a dangerous clarity to the thoughts swirling in his mind.

“Hey, Aaro,” Jack slurred, his words coming out a bit unsteady, which took him by surprise. “Mind if I ask you something?”

Aaro looked over, his brow furrowing slightly. Aaro’s eyes go to the bottle they have been sharing before back to his friend, his brother. “You okay there, Jack? You’ve had enough for us both, I think.”

Jack waved his hand dismissively, a lazy, nearly silly, grin spreading across his face. “Nah, I’m good. Just... I gotta get this off my chest.” He paused, swaying in his chair a bit as he gathered his thoughts. “It’s about Aila.”

Aaro raised an eyebrow, his friend’s mention of his sister not coming as a surprise. He had noticed the way the two exchanged furtive glances when they thought no one was watching. Leaning in slightly, he asked, “Oh? What about my sister, Jack?” His curiosity piqued, he wanted to know what was weighing on Jack’s mind.

Jack shot Aaro with a knowing look. “Oh, don’t act so surprised,” he said, laughter tinged in his voice, though the gravity of his words was unmistakable. “You saw us, right? That kiss we shared before we left?” He tilted his head back, attempting to hide the warmth rising to his cheeks, a vivid memory flooding his mind of her lips against his and how he had pulled her closer, not wanting to let her ago.

“Yeah, I remember,” Aaro replied carefully, his tone steady. He recalled walking in on them sharing a kiss in the kitchen of his parents' house, quickly retreating to give them a moment of privacy. Now, he poured another measure of whiskey into his glass. “What’s on your mind, Jack?”

Jack swallowed hard, his grip tightening around his own glass. “Listen... Aaro, I’m not sure how to say this without sounding like a freakin’ idiot.” His accent slipped out when he said "freakin’ idiot." “I’m in love with Aila. Like, head over heels—I want to give her everything and more. I never thought I could fall so quickly, but here I am, and it scares the hell out of me.” The words spilled out in a rush, fueled by the whiskey but laced with a sense of vulnerability, he needed to get it out.

Aaro straightened, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn’t anticipated Jack confessing that he was in love with his sister, though he suspected Jack might have strong feelings for her. “Jack...” Aaro began to say.

“Don’t interrupt me please,” Jack insisted, waving a hand before bringing to his face to rub her hand “I’m spilling my guts here, Aaro.” Jack takes a breath, taking a big gulp out of his glass until it’s empty. “I can’t shake this feeling. I think about her all the time. She’s smart, funny, and God, that laugh of hers? It’s like—” He faltered, searching for the right words, he feels his heart beat a little faster. “It’s like sunshine, true sunshine, true light.”

Aaro remained silent, letting his friend find his footing in this weighty moment, let him talk about his sister. 

“Hanging out with her those few days over Thanksgiving, talking about everything from deep life conversations to the silliest little things... it just felt... right. So right, you know?” Jack leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, despite the emptiness of the room. “She makes me feel so much, Aaro, and I don’t know how to handle these feelings.” A small frown creased his brow. “I’m just a soldier. I’ve been a soldier since I turned eighteen and signed up for this, and then a doctor and nothing more. I have so much history,” he added, the weight of unspoken trauma evident in his tone. “...and she deserves someone who isn’t dragging around the baggage of this life.”

Aaro’s faces softens at his friends confession. “You’re not just a soldier, Jack.” Aaro’s tone was firm, his eyes locked on Jack’s with a mix of concern and protectiveness. Aaro and Jack were about the same age, only a few months apart with Aaro being older, but Jack’s life compared to Aaron’s were so much rougher and he thought of Jack as a brother, a brother that Aaro never got to have. “Jack - you are a damn good man. I wouldn’t have brought you home for Thanksgiving where my family is if you weren’t a good man. And Aila isn’t just anyone—she’s capable of understanding how tough this life can be, for us and she has her own things that she has been through. If she wants to try with you, she can handle you.”

“I just worry…” Jack’s voice trembled slightly, the bravado he had been holding onto slipping away. “I worry about the age difference; I’m a bit older than her. What if I screw this up? What if we go back overseas and I don’t come home? Or worse, what if I fall apart and can’t be the man she deserves?”

Aaro’s heart sank. He had never heard Jack speak like this before, and he suspected it was the whiskey talking. Leaning over, he gave Jack a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You don’t get to decide what will happen or dwell on all the ‘what ifs.’ Jack, love isn’t about being perfect; it’s about showing up, learning to lean on each other, and being real—no matter how messy it gets.”

Jack met Aaro’s gaze, the whiskey momentarily fading from his mind as the weight of Aaro’s words sank in. Though he wouldn’t voice it out loud, he sometimes felt unworthy of love. “You really think so?” he asked, searching for reassurance, knowing the man wouldn’t lie to him.

“Yeah, I do.” Aaro leaned back in his chair, his expression softening. “If you love her—and it certainly sounds like you do—then you owe it to yourself and to her to be honest about it.” He took a deep breath. “You can’t let her know I told you this, but when we were leaving that night and I saw how she was around you, the way you made her laugh and blush... she has feelings for you too, Jack, I can see it on her face. You can't keep your emotions bottled up, especially not for my sake. I want both of you to be happy, and if you make each other happy, I’ll support you both.”

Jack nodded slowly, understanding washing over him alongside the uncertainty that had been weighing him down. He was grateful that this conversation had turned out well and that Aaro was being so supportive. “You’re right. I’ll talk to her... tomorrow.”

Aaro took the now almost empty bottle of whisky off the table, pouring about two shots in each glass, and then offering a toast. “To taking chances.” 

Jack lifted his glass, a smile returning to his lips as memories of Aila flooded his mind. He thought of her contact saved in his phone, and a mix of excitement and trepidation washed over him at the idea of messaging her before the night was over. Alongside the fear was a thrilling anticipation of what the future might hold as he took a sip of his drink.

[picked-off-by-barzal]

DDBA 0109 spoilers below the cut holy wow :))) (this ended up being more of my live reactions than fleshed out after thoughts but wowza)

Vanessa is genuinely more evil in her manipulation of Dex than Fisk was.

Matt immediately asked for Karen because that my family.

Followed immediately by Matthew walking home ass out, wound open.

Frankie!!!!!

Frankie with da haircut!!!!

Everything about these last two episodes- perfection

The beginning of this episode- mind you- is all one night.

I truly want to put Matt and Frank in my pocket

Entering an apartment containing the punisher while bastardizing his symbol and expecting to come out alive.

The Red and Frank team up we’ve been waiting for that shit got me riled up

Watching Matt’s struggle with killing manifest itself has been crazy work and I wish the original team was more focused on stuff like that. I like that in the wake of the over all, the show is a bit disconnected because it mirrors how Matts life isn’t quite right, but I miss the details like that that bring us back to where we left off.

Matt and Frank in the middle of a domestic dispute and they jump out a window holding into eachother for dear life I’m obsessed

Daredevil Born Again is a comedy.

Maybe now that his apartment was bombed he can go home to the old apartment. Family reunion = old apartment returns.

What’dya know? Frank told someone something.

Will. You. Be. My. Eyes.

Would be a far better finale if Frankie and Karen kissed.

ITS BEEN 8 YEARS OF YEARNING OVER THREE SERIES SMOOOCHHHHH

(Fisks little man) best new character

The cops in this show are batshit holy wow

Matt believes in Kastle 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Avocados.

Foggy my perfect angel

One thing about Jonny Bernthal is he will grunt.

WHERE IS BRETT WE NEED MORE GOOD COPS

The gore killing the commissioner was so unexpected holy shit

Still recovering actually wtf was that

Karen being the one to pull Matt off the ledge just like the prophecy (my heart) foretold

Putting marriage counselor/arch nemesis’s girlfriend(?) on your payroll after trying to have your arch nemesis killed is insane work by Fisk.

Fisks little fireside chat is bonkers berserk bizzare when he’s the one who turned off the power. Hate how smart he is. Hate him. Love Him, but hate him.

Thinking you can set a curfew in New York City.

Maybe he’s not that smart

Never considered they’d have to recast young Matt. Missing my buddy.

Back on my Maren bullshit too now, one better go canon.

Wait so does everyone at Josie’s know Matt is Daredevil then? Not living how loosey goosey he’s getting with his identify.

Frank. In chains. In a cage. In Fisks cage. For Frank.

I’m sick to my stomach.

Rabbit in a snowstorm is so cold dawg.

BB under utilized this episode idk where they’d put her though.

The city without fear.

See y’all next year (🥲)

[ranebowstitches]

*taps mic* hello I was going through my old Google docs and I found this Ghostface/Michael Myers story idea that I never used and probably will never find the energy to fully write so if anyone else wants to please do so and please send me a link so I can read it and credit me and all that what not

..

A concept that I’ve thought of while disassociating work:

Michael and Ghostface lost in the woods (why? Idk) and it starts to snow, now it’s Michael and ghostface caught in a snowstorm ok

(And yes this is a ghostface who is obsessed with Michael and Michael is RZ!Michael)

So they’re making their way through, ghostface chatting through shivering clicking teeth Michael trudging through like he doesn’t know the snow or ghostface is even there

Once they’re completely soaked and ghostface is like maybe ready to just lay down and give up they happen upon a cabin in the woods (ghostface like ‘I’ve seen this movie’) and they bust in there

GF goes into survival mode and heads right to the fireplace, finding some matches and striking up a fire with shivering shaking fingers. He stands there for a moment watching the fire grow and trying to warm his hands before he realizes his clothes are soaked and he’s like okay time to take these off and wastes no time in stripping down including taking his mask off

He’s hanging his clothes over the backs of some chairs or something when he looks over and sees Michael just standing there sorta in front of the fire just kinda melting onto the floor and he’s like “Michael you have to get your clothes off you’ll never warm up with them on” and Michael might kinda tilt his head at him but doesn’t really do anything and GF like huffs and comes near to help but Michael pushes him away with a big cold hand against his chest and GF is like “if you won’t let me help you then do what I say!”

And there’s like a staring contest for a moment before GF huffs and sits down in front of the fire knees to his chest like “fine. Freeze then. See if I care.”

There’s a another few minutes of gf just staring into the fire trying to warm up before there’s a rustle and Michael sits down next to him sans clothes but still has his mask on and gf is like Wellp that’s probably the best I’ll get and he’s kinda like 👀👀 naked Michael but also like I just want to be alive

But then he notices that Michael’s mask is still dripping water onto Michael who keeps shivering from it and he’s like “dude your mask is soaked too. Just take it off it’s fine.” And Michael doesn’t move and gf maybe kinda reaches for it but Michael grabs his wrist and pushes him away and gf is like “I’m just trying to help!” But Michael just sits there wishing he had a knife to stick into gf to make him shut up

But of course he realizes gf is right and pulls his mask off a moment later, letting it flop to the floor in front of the fire. His long hair is dry at least as is falls over his face and shoulders and gf is like trying to look respectfully but is very like 👀👀

So they sit there in front of the fire trying to warm up as the storm rages outside and gf just keeps shivering he’s skinny so he’s probably got no fat on him so even sitting in front of the fire his teeth chatter softly and eventually Michael gets tired of hearing it and reaches over, just tugging gf over to sit in his lap, gf back to Michael’s chest, Michael’s legs on either side of him and his arms wrapping around gfs body

And gf just dies right there

He’s like hhoolllyyyy shiiittttt

Michael is warm and big and all around him and he’s trying not to like freak out or fanboy out or anything and for once in his life he just stays quiet and leans back into Michael letting his head tip back over Michael’s shoulder (a dangerous move around a killer he knows but even the thought of Michael wrapping his hand around his throat to kill him is pleasant) and his eyes close and he sighs. Michael eventually rests his cheek down on gfs shoulder, blonde hair falling over his shoulder now and they both kinda fall asleep in front of the fire like that

End it there and it can be cute

Continue and it can be horny

Cause they’re only like half asleep and like as they warm up gf can feel something hard poking his lower back and he’s like huh? And shifts against it making Michael grunt and tighten his hold on gf to keep him from moving and gf immediately is like 😳😳 and freezes and is like “do you want me to leave you alone I can” but Michael doesn’t let gf go nor does he seem to want gf to do anything about the situation and gf is like ok ok ok it’s probably just a bodily reaction from being pressed together it’s fine

And so gf closes his eyes tries to sleep tries not to think about how *big* Michael is but *oohhh it’s so hard not to when it’s pressed against him*

And I can’t decide if gf should just be a slut and be like I can keep that cock warm for you wink wink and Michael let’s him or if he’s like wink wink and Michael just gives him a death glare and doesn’t let him

May I also present, gf grinding himself off against Michael and Michael just watching him the whole time and that working gf up even more.

And then once he's all worked up and warm, Michael pulls him close like a heated blanket

Also, Michael fucks ghostface later that night, once they're both properly warm. Michael's like a snake and has gotta wait 'til he's warm to really give it all he's got. Lmao

Also I want Michael biting gf as a way to express both “yes” and “no” so gf is just like ?????? The yes bites are gentler, but only Michael knows that

And gf calling Michael a “brute” and also “big guy” at least once

[popcultureoverdosed]

The Curse of Saki Sanobashi

I'm writing this journal entry to document my experience with a certain film. I'm probably already dead if anyone is reading this, but please read on. I hate Saki Sanobashi and what it has done to my life. Most importantly, I hate the depraved bastards who made it.

Until recently, I've been an average college girl with only one notable quality: I love searching for lost media. Most people get a thrill from watching a good horror movie and I'm no different with lost media. There's just something about the elusive nature of it that makes the hunt so fascinating. There's a countless amount of entertainment that vanishes from the public eye for whatever reason and many remain completely forgotten. That never sat well with me. Maybe it's the history buff in me, but I believe every form of content should be preserved. It's scary to think that something that brings you joy could one day be forever lost to time.

Saki Sanobashi is a name that's been plaguing me for the last few years now. Every lost media enthusiast worth their salt has at least heard of it if they haven't already joined the hunt. I'm one of the several archivists who plunged headfirst into this monstrosity of a goose chase. I, like many others, got hooked on its tragic premise of a bunch of schoolgirls trapped in a bathroom where death is the only way out. The morbid curiosity in all of us compelled us to search high and low for this elusive anime.

That was years ago.

Now? Saki remains a distant memory in the minds of once optimistic researchers. Dead end after dead end had led to the entire thing being labeled as some elaborate hoax. Even I began losing faith in the search despite all the time I invested in it. It was disheartening knowing that one of the most fascinating lost media searches of all time could be fake. I would've quit entirely had it not been for that one fateful afternoon.

It was a typically brutal winter in Toronto which meant that a snowstorm would be picking up before the day was over. I thought it best to go to my favorite comic and stock up on my favorite books before the storm trapped me at home with my girlfriend. Marque Noir was different from other comic shops in that there exists a secret section of the store only a select few know about. Because I've been a loyal customer for a few years, the owner trusted in showing me the back room. I was hesitant at first to enter a secluded room alone with a man due to being a woman, but I figured he wouldn't try anything with customers still in the store.

What I saw in that room was the stuff of wonder. Several shelves were stocked with underground comics so obscure even the most hardcore archivists probably didn't know about them. The type of comics you can't even find on the internet. It was heaven on earth for a lost media obsessed girl like me. The original post mentioned Saki being an anime, but I was desperate for any type of media out there. What's fascinating is that there were also movies stocked with the comics. The cover art on each DVD case was incredibly low quality, to the point that I assumed the store owner hand-made them himself. There were no ISBNs or distributor info anywhere to be found so my theory seemed fairly likely all things considered.

I filled my bag with as many items as I could afford( which isn't a lot for a broke college student)  and excitedly swiped my card at the counter. The store owner gave me the weirdest of grins as I made my purchase. He seemed amused but almost in a mocking sort of way. He hardly ever emotes in the first place so that smile really caught me off guard.

I left the store and boarded the closest train to drop me off at the dorms. Though Halloween comes in the autumn, I feel like winter is the most ideal season to indulge in horror. The cold weather is like a reflection of the spine chilling fear I get whenever I read a good comic. I stepped inside my dorm room and immediately began browsing through my latest collection. They all looked so good I didn't know where to begin. As I rummaged through the pile of DVDs, I noticed something that threw me for a loop.

One DVD case was completely blank. The cover was pitch black and so was the back. There wasn't even anything on the spine. I couldn't imagine myself buying something like this so how it ended up with me was a mystery. Still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit intrigued by it. There could've been literally anything on that disc and the only way to find out was to start the movie.

I waited for my girlfriend to return from campus before starting the movie. Emily's a cute brunette, but she has zero tolerance for horror. She always shrieks her head off whenever I play my movies in the living room. All that blood and gore drives her crazy. She greeted me with a kiss on the lips and then paused when she saw the devious smirk on my face. She already knew what I had in store for her. Emily, of course, protested but I pleaded with her to watch the movie with me. Seeing her scream like a child over on screen murder was sometimes more enjoyable than the movie itself. She remained firm in her stance against it but eventually broke down after enough of my begging. It feels good having things my way.

I quickly inserted the DVD into an old game station and stared at the screen with anticipation for what was about to start.  After several seconds of a blank screen, some Japanese text appeared with an English subtitle that read " Requiem of the lost girls." The title naturally left me curious so I watched on with excitement.

The scene then faded back to black and what I saw after that made my blood freeze solid.

Three schoolgirls in a bathroom.

All of them had miserable looks of utter despair.

The scene was unmistakable. It was a scenario I ran over in my head countless times. It was Saki Sanobashi, the anime searched years for! Having the legendary film before me after all this time was almost too good to be true. And to think it came from my favorite comic shop. I've been shopping for years now and never even had a hint something like Saki would be there.

Emily was confused as to why I was so excited so I told her we just discovered the holy grail of lost media. The gravity of the situation was unsurprisingly lost on her but she smiled anyway for my sake. We watched the movie unfold just like the legend went. The girls remained trapped in the bathroom and lamented their misfortune all the while. As the film progressed, the agony in their expressions became increasingly visceral. Their eyes looked so hollow, their skin was so pale. Emily clutched into my hand with a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

The tone of the video was much more somber than I expected. Seeing the girls take turns telling the others about their hopes and dreams, trying desperately to alleviate their situation, felt oddly melancholic. I was growing attached to these characters to the point I hoped they'd find a way despite that going against the lore. We eventually reached the part where the girls realized there truly was no way out of their situation...except for death.

Their deaths were just as horrid as I expected them to be. One girl goaded one of the others into drowning her in the sink and another clawed at her own neck with visceral detail. The most painful part of it all was the bloodcurdling scream the last girl emitted as she bashed her head against the wall. It was far more realistic than it had any right to be.

Despite all the fear, my heart raced with excitement. I had to write a blog post to let everyone know about my discovery! The internet would go wild once I told them the good news. I quickly went to my Tumblr to start writing, but the site wouldn't load. I tried other social media sites but nothing was working.

I tried stepping outside in the hall to get better reception but the door wouldn't budge. The knob didn't move at all no matter how hard I pulled. My girlfriend and I were both freaking out at this point. We tried opening windows, calling 911, and banging on doors, all of which were in vain. We were somehow completely severed from the outside world. I wondered how the hell was any of this possible when the image of the movie flashed into my mind.

We were trapped just like the girls in Saki Sanobashi. Was the film cursed? That seemed to be the only explanation. I should've trusted my gut instincts and never let that guy lead me to the backroom. I knew there was something off about him and now I fell into his trap. So far we've spent two weeks in this hellhole of an apartment. Food has long since run out and any sense of hope is dead. It pains me to see Emily's body as pale as winter, her eyes devoid of life. Neither of us can last much longer. I'm writing this document as a warning to anyone searching for Saki Sanobashi.

Stay the hell away from it. It is a cursed film that dooms its viewers the suffer the same fate as the girls in the bathroom. I imagine the curse will be lifted once we die and our belongings will be collected by our loved ones. Hopefully, they will see this document and spread the news. Or maybe they'll brush this off as the crazed rantings of a lunatic.

I honestly don't know anymore. All I can say is to stay safe and never attempt to watch this damned movie.

[stygia-n]

Jade walks into the shed. He pulls off his hat and dusts snow off of it, before turning around and watches Idia following after him. A sweet little smile curls on his lips as he observes his upperclassman slam the door shut as soon as he steps inside. It's clear he wanted to rid himself of the cold as soon as possible, something that Jade wasn't bothered by.

He moves to the pantry to pour themselves two cups of flower tea, courtesy of Jade's and something he'd brought to Epel's hometown from Octavinelle. He sets one cup down in front of Idia, figuring he'd be grateful for having something hot to drink after the lengthy exposure to a snowstorm.

"We made quite a team today, don't you think?" His eyelids flutter when he recalls Idia assuming his sentences as if their thinking were of similar wavelength. As much as Jade would loathe to admit, he almost thought that Floyd had come along with them. He leans into one of his hands, gaze growing ever so soft, "I must admit, you're not what I originally thought you were, Idia."

Someone with a sense of humour. Someone wild. He silently adds.

The door slams shut behind him, cutting off the howling wind and enveloping Idia in blessed reprieve from the biting cold. It's still chilly, but Idia much prefers this to sweating under a hot, sweltering summer heat. He dusts the snow off his hat and clothes, then takes off his gloves to immediately wrap his hands around the cup that Jade sets down for him. Idia lets out a soft sigh as the warmth returns to his hands. He's never been much of a tea person, but it feels nice to have something hot after being out in the cold for so long.

Idia is still feeling the remnants of adrenaline from sledding earlier, so he can't help but grin and agree with Jade. It's like gearing up for a really tough boss fight, and he can feel his EXP bar moving on up... He also has to admit that he's surprised by how well Jade and him worked together earlier. They were so in sync it's actually scary. Each turn and manoeuvre had been executed so flawlessly one would think they'd been practicing together for years, it's like they just get each other.

Not to mention, it seems like Jade is the only one in their little group who actually wants to win. Idia would have happily gone out onto the track and set up several 'surprises' for the other teams with Jade. Alas, the freshman could be so obsessed with 'playing fair'.

Across from each other, Idia peers over the rim of his cup at Jade, brow raised ever so slightly in curiosity. "I bet you thought I'd chicken out in the face of adversity, or at the idea of physical sport, huh?" Honestly, so did Idia, but! "How about we don't judge a book by its cover? I'll have you know, with the right motivation I can get fired up just fine."

Idia takes a sip of tea and sighs. After another moment he does add, "It's pretty hard to find someone who can keep up so... that was kinda cool actually." Sure, Jade can be a little weird, but Idia can appreciate a competitive streak in others. This might even be the first time he can say he actually had fun with another student, and it had felt strangely nice to hang out with him.

[justmanic03]

Amethyst - Chapter Seventeen

What?! Gladlily is evolving!

"Oh, whats this? An evolution? This is going to go viral!" Chen grabbed her Rotom phone and pointed the camera so that it was now facing Lily, who was becoming shrouded in the exciting evolution mist.

Congratulations! Your Gladlily evolved into Gladimax!!!

Chen and I couldn't help but squeal in awe at the adorable, fully-evolved Pokemon that stood before us. Her hair had now grown into full-on tulip braids, and her body was now an assembly of leaves rather than just one single leaf she had back when she was still a Gladillum. However, she still retained those adorable black eyes and signature squeak! "Awww, she's so cute!" Chen gushed over her, as I glanced over at the chat on her live video. The gifters in the chat were now sending red tulip gifts to celebrate along with us.

"What a beautiful Pokemon!" One of them wrote in the chat.

"You're really lucky, Y/N," another said.

I laughed as I saw the viewer count had now exceeded ten thousand. At that moment, Buzz and Jordan appeared, causing Chen to grab her Rotom phone and step aside.

"Look at this! Lily evolved again!" I exclaimed, pointing at the beautiful grass Pokemon that stood beside me.

"Wow, she's so cute!" Jordan stuck his hand out to play with Lily's hair, which she happily squeaked in acceptance.

"So, you beat Chen, huh? That means you've got six gym badges now!" Buzz interjected.

"Yeah, he/she really brought up a snowstorm! I've never had this many gifts on a live before!" Chen called out from across the room.

"Anyway, Y/N, Jordan told me you wanted to talk to me about a theory that you have."

****

The Juniperia warden had kindly allowed us to use the town hall as a point for our second meeting. This meeting consisted of Buzz, Jordan, Danny and Mackenzie, but Lisa was unfortunately missing.

"What do you guys think of my new outfit!" Mackenzie asked, lifting his arms so that we could see his new hoodie. It was a pale white hoodie, in vast contrast to his dark hair, with a print of a shiny Gengar. He was also wearing ripped blue denim jeans rather than his usual skin-tight black ones.

"Glad to see you finally saw sense," Danny mocked. "That Moon outfit was horrendous."

"I'd rather put that behind me." Mackenzie scowled back, as Danny sent me a cheeky wink.

"Quite a few things have happened since our last meeting." Buzz explained. "Chairwoman Crystal and Deputy Chairman Clyde paid a visit to Birch's lab to examine the corrupted Aron Pokemon. They have all concluded that the Pokemon has indeed been messed with by some kind of mechanical device that switches up types. Crystal said it was something she'd seen before in one of Team Moon's bases."

"So does that mean we can safely conclude that Team Moon were the ones responsible for the incident?" Danny queried.

Buzz nodded. "It's looking extremely likely."

"Does that mean Lisa is off the hook?" I chimed in.

"Not quite. Maddie informed the Elite Four about Lisa's obsession with Team Moon, and they've taken her into their headquarters at the League to question her about it, and hopefully educate her and set her on the right path."

"Oh god, I hope they're not too harsh on her." Mackenzie interjected.

"I think she'll be fine. Crystal can be quite tough at times, but deep down she just wants to protect the safety of Taldourse and everyone in it. Not to mention Clyde likes to turn everything into a joke. They'll be like good cop and bad cop," Jordan explained.

I nodded my head, feeling slightly more reassured. Deep down, I prayed that Lisa would be okay.

"So, about this theory of yours?" Buzz snapped me out of my thoughts as I realised all eyes in the room were on me.

"Yeah, I was watching Chen's webcast. You said you think Team Moon could've been responsible for Kossi's death," Danny said.

I nodded. "Well, who else could it have been? Team Moon are disgusting. They've been proven to have harmed Pokemon in the past, who's to say they're not capable of harming people as well?"

"But Kossi was the strongest and most powerful trainer in Taldourse. Even Team Moon weren't dumb enough to try and mess with him. Besides, everyone knows that Team Moon were terrified of the Castors." Buzz interjected. "I can understand your theory, Y/N, but I'm afraid it just doesn't hold water in the grand scheme of things."

"I still believe it, though." I stood firm in my ground.

"I agree with Y/N. There's something seriously wrong with these people." Mackenzie spoke up.

"Anyway, back to the plan. As you all know, we've sadly run dry on leads." Buzz continued. "If we can't find any Team Moon grunts, it must be because they've ditched their uniforms and are starting to blend in with ordinary people. So they're hiding in plain sight."

"So you're saying any random person in any of the cities could be a part of Team Moon?!" Danny gasped.

Buzz nodded. "We can't trust anyone outside of our task force other than the Gym Leaders and the Elite Four. So here's the plan: I want Y/N, Danny and Mackenzie to continue with the gym challenge, and collect all seven of your gym badges. Then, head to the Pokemon League to take on the Elite Four."

The three of us agreed, nodding our heads.

"If you see anyone acting suspicious, give me a call on the Rotom Phone immediately, and if you see any more corrupted Pokemon, call Professor Birch. Jordan and I are going to head up to Opaquia and see if we can find any clues in Team Moon's old base."

****

And so, we began our descent down Juniper Mountain once again. Although climbing downwards was a breeze compared to upwards, we still had to be extremely cautious to avoid slipping. Despite everything, Danny managed to remain in relatively good spirits.

"I've evolved a bunch of my Pokemon now." He boasted.

"Oh really? What's your team?" Mackenzie inquired.

"I got Pikachu, of course, Zana, Slowbro, Sylveon, Flygon and Garchomp."

"Oh that's neat. So you're an electric specialist, huh, Danny?" Mack continued.

"Yep. Electrics are my favourites. What about you guys?"

"Well I'm more partial to ghost types. And Lisa is into fire and dark mostly," Mackenzie explained. "What about you, Y/N?"

"Oh, I don't have a specific type I'm into," I said. "I like to switch out my team a lot, give everyone a chance to shine, you know?"

"That's fair. Hey, I'm in a battling mood now!" Danny piped up, with a big grin on his face. "Who wants to take me on?!"

"Considering I've beaten you three times, I think I'll pass on this one." Mackenzie smirked as he backed away onto the sidelines.

Danny's eyes then turned to me. "Are you ready to get thrashed, Y/N?"

"No, but I'm sure as hell ready to do some thrashing!" I responded, grabbing a Pokeball as Mackenzie watched in ernest.

You are challenged by Pokemon Trainer Danny!

Danny sent out Pikachu!

You sent out Gladimax!

Pikachu used Thunderbolt!

It's not very effective...

"Lily, use Petal Dance!" It's super effective! Pikachu's HP is down to 1!

Pikachu toughed it out so Danny wouldn't feel sad!

"Haha, I love you Pika!" Danny cried. "Use Dig!"

Pikachu burrowed its way under ground!

I smirked. I had always enjoyed trolling dig users by using their own move against them, hence why I kept it in the move pool of the majority of my Pokemon. "Lily, use dig!"

Lily burrowed its way underground!

Danny's eyes widened in shock.

"Haha, I like your style, Y/N!" Mackenzie laughed as he clapped his hands in anticipation.

Pikachu used dig! Lily avoided the attack!

Lily used dig!

Pikachu fainted!

Mack and I burst out laughing as Pikachu fainted and was recalled back into his Pokeball. Danny, however, was red-faced in humiliation due to my trolling of him. Even Lily was squeaking in amusement. However, my laughter quickly came to an abrupt halt when I noticed someone rather unsavoury tracking across the snow a few yards away with an exceptionally large Latios trailing her, grumbling loudly.

"Optimus, no, I can't give you anymore rare candy; you are already on your maximum level." The blonde-haired lady attempted to explain to the disgruntled dragon. My fists immediately clenched.

Danny and Mackenzie immediately picked up on my sudden change of demeanour, and turned around to see none other than Harp Girl.

"Oh no..." Danny muttered. "Not this girl again..."

Her head suddenly snapped around in hostility as she picked up on our presence.

Her gaze was incredibly cold and hostile, just like it had been back when we had first met her on Juniper Mountain.

[scyllas-revenge]

A Shield Against the Snow

yet another only one bed scenario, because I’m obsessed with them

Boromir/Reader (gender neutral)

Word count: 1,472

Rating: T

Here’s my next installment of How to Cope with a Middle Earth Bed Shortage, this time with our beloved Boromir! (previous chapters include Eomer/Reader and Legolas/Reader).

Read on AO3!

“We’ll have to share.”

Boromir turned to look at you incredulously as you held your bedroll out to him, and for a moment you feared that your suppressed longing had revealed itself in your shaking voice. But your whole body was shaking with cold as it was, and it seemed you were safe.

“It’s our only option,” you added weakly.

Boromir had lost half his supplies in the snow hours earlier, nearly tumbling into a ravine in the treacherous climb up Caradhras. The two of you had gone scouting ahead for a safer path, but were now facing a night in a snowstorm alone, lost, freezing, and with a single bedroll between you.

“Nonsense.” He turned away, looking irritated. “Go to sleep, and I will keep watch.”

“Keep watch for what?” You gestured to the forest of boulders and ice, ominous in the dying evening light. Too inhospitable even for a campfire. “There’s nothing out here but snow.”

Boromir pulled his cloak tighter around himself and didn’t answer.

“If you’re not going to sleep, we might as well keep walking,” you went on, raising your voice over the biting wind. “We might be able to catch up with the Fellowship by dawn.”

“So late, and in this blizzard? The sun is setting, and soon we will be utterly blind!”

You jabbed a gloved finger at him in triumph. “Then how do you expect to keep watch?”

“I—” But you had bested him, and he scowled. “Just go to sleep.”  

“You’re being ridiculous!”

“The Men of Gondor can outlast a little snow.”

“Boromir, you’ll freeze—”

“I cannot share your bed!” He was breathing hard. “I cannot. I beg you, do not ask me again.”

You had expected a show of protest—Boromir always was a stickler for propriety—but the vehemence of his refusal stung. All these weeks the Fellowship had traveled together, he had never spoken so coldly to you. Always he had been kind, warm, talkative, seeking to walk by your side or offer you extra food at mealtimes. There had even been moments when his hand had rested on your shoulder, his eyes fairly glowing with what you had thought—what you had hoped was…

“I thought you were more practical than this.” Bitterness sharpened your voice to a swordpoint. “Would you truly rather freeze than lie beside me for a night? Just to stay warm?”

“Yes.”

He may as well have slapped you. Valar, he hadn’t even hesitated. But the shock of pain subsided quickly, fury taking its place. “Yes?” You stormed toward him, the bedroll shaking in your gloved fists. But the snow had frozen slick on the rocks at your feet, and Boromir’s hand darted out to steady you as you slipped.

Your eyes locked. He was all tension, jaw clenched, fingers tightening on your arm. Something desperate warred behind his eyes.

“Yes?” The word ghosted from your lips in a puff of white, a furious challenge.

“Yes.” His grip tightened, tightened, nearly painful. “For your warmth would burn me.”

“What?”

His breath billowed out in uneven clouds before him, anguish roughening his voice. “To lie beside you, to feel you pressed against me all through the night, to feign indifference all the while—” He released you and stepped away, shaking his head. “It would destroy me utterly.”

You stopped feeling the cold at once. 

Boromir must have seen the shock in your eyes and stepped back again. “Forgive me. I had hardly wished to burden you with my desires, least of all now, here.”

“Desires? But how—how long have you…”

He lowered his eyes. “You will think me a barbarian, for I have wished to share your bed since first we met. Though I admit, I had imagined rather different circumstances than this. I am sorry to bring you discomfort,” he added, misreading your stunned silence. “Sorrier still to threaten our friendship. But you understand now why you must sleep alone.”

The bitter wind whipped at Boromir’s hair. Squaring his shoulders against the cold, he turned away into the darkness to begin his watch.

“Wait.” You shook your head breathlessly, finding your voice at last. “No. Share with me. Please.”

You set down your bedroll in the shelter of a little rocky outcropping, in as much shelter as could be found from the wind, and turned back to him.

But the desire in your voice had been lost in the freezing wind. “I cannot…” His mouth moved, but no sound came out. Misery twisted his features, and he stepped back once more.

You came to him instead, reaching out a gloved hand to sweep the snow from his broad shoulders, your fingers lingering on his collar in a gesture he couldn’t possibly misunderstand. “It’s so cold, Boromir,” you whispered. “Let me keep you warm.”

A shudder ran the length of his body, and he pulled you into his arms so urgently that he stumbled in the snow, gathering you to his chest with a breathless laugh. “Yes,” was all he managed to say. “Yes, love.” 

And you kissed him.

Boromir’s lips were cold and chapped, but so were yours, and it was a sweeter kiss by far than any you'd conjured up during your long journey together. You melted into his embrace, heedless of the wind biting at your skin, and you clung to each other tighter even than the snow clung to your hair and cloaks.

Already you were warmer than you’d been in weeks. That wasn’t saying much, of course, considering how long the Fellowship had been hiking in the snow. And while Boromir’s mouth was invitingly warm, you felt no heat from his gloved hands, nor the snow-encrusted cloaks and furs between your bodies.

You shivered in his arms. Without speaking, you both trudged, still clinging to one another, to your bedroll, climbing hurriedly inside and draping your snow-encrusted coats and cloaks over the covers for extra warmth. It was more cramped than you’d anticipated, but you found you didn’t mind. The length of Boromir’s body was pressed tight to yours, and you grinned, nuzzling even closer to him.

Boromir wrapped his arms around you, drawing the covers as far over your heads as you could to shelter you from the wind. And without wasting a moment he slanted his lips over yours again, his fingers carding through your hair. He still wore his bulky gloves, making the gesture more uncomfortable than romantic. You laughed fondly and drew away.

“Let me.” You untangled your hair from his glove and took his hands in yours. Inch by inch you slipped the worn leather from his fingers, first one hand and then the other. His eyes were locked on your movements, his breath hushed.

You removed your own gloves next, and the warmth of his bare skin against yours was more welcome than a roaring fire. You gathered his fingers in your smaller ones, heating them against your lips with a long breath. Gently, you massaged his heavy palms, his calloused fingers, his broad fingertips.

“Had I known what sharing a bed with you would be like,” Boromir whispered, eyes slipping shut contentedly, “I would have mislaid my bedroll days ago.”

You laughed, withdrawing one hand slowly to trace the side of his face with your fingertips—the unkempt beard, the weathered skin, the little lines at the sides of his mouth where his smile widened. You had never touched his face before, and you wondered how you’d managed to go so long without doing so.

Boromir mirrored your gesture, cupping your face in his hand. With his other he propped himself above you—protecting you from the worst of the elements even now—and kissed you as though he’d been thinking of nothing else all those weeks you’d traveled together.

He drew away only to press a kiss below your ear, his lips parting hot against your racing pulse. You gasped, arching into him—and the covers above you shifted, sending a flurry of snowflakes cascading into your faces.

The next minutes were spent spluttering, coughing, shivering, knocking knees and elbows as you hurried to readjust the blankets above your heads.

Peace fell again at last, and your breathing calmed.

The wind was quieter now, as though it regretted its former cruelty, and the sun was nearly gone—Boromir’s face was little more than a warm silhouette under the blankets.

“Is this better?” you whispered, the last of the snow finally brushed away.

Boromir swept a strand of your now-mussed hair from your forehead. “No. I wish I could feel more of you tonight.” His voice was soft, the words ghosting warm over your lips.

“So do I.” Your fingers played at the hem of his tunic. “Perhaps, if we were very careful…”

For a moment he looked tempted, but you both knew it was a foolish idea, and he drew your hand up to his lips, kissing your knuckles. “There will be time for that later, my love. I would hardly have you freeze to death now.”

“No, nor I you.”

He laughed softly. “You return my affection, dearest—how could anything harm me now?”

[matsbarzal]

Hi my dear!!! I’m here to request another fic/blurb bc I cannot get enough of all the ones you’ve written for me/others so far! 🤩💕

If it’s still available, could you please do random/au #4 the moment you look into their eyes... you just know. with Mat Barzal??? Thank you so much! 💙💙

au #4. the moment you look into their eyes... you just know.

pairing: mat barzal x reader word count: 1.2k

They always said, the day you found your soulmate… you just know. It was something in their eyes, they always said, like everything finally clicked in your soul, both halves finally complete after years of being separated by time and distance.

As the years went by, it seemed probable to you that you’d never meet your soulmate. There was never any twitch inside, never a pull or a need to go somewhere you weren’t. You had deduced it to the fact your soulmate wasn’t looking for you simultaneously, they didn’t care to find you, or they just didn’t care to find you yet.

Everyone had their examples of the worst way they’ve met their soulmate. Some while they were out for dinner with their significant other at the time, some in the middle of a rivalry high school football game, and some? Well, some apparently met in the middle of a National Hockey League game.

Number Thirteen’s eyes bore into yours from his spot on the bench, his entire body turned so he could stare at you, a look of confusion slowly fading into a look of understanding, and then he was shoving into number nineteen. Beauvillier, as his jersey said, whipped around to look over the crowd, his eyes eventually falling on you just rows back from their bench.

You could feel it, every time number thirteen looked at you, every time your eyes met for even a second. He was the person you had been waiting for, for so many years, and who was to even say you’d see him again after the game?

Both gazes were ripped off you when their line was told to get on the ice, number 13, or Mathew Barzal as your parents had told you the moment they realized what was going on. Mat had tried to keep his focus on the ice, on the puck on his stick, on the weaving players around him.

Everyone could see the distraction in his movements, the puck flying far left of the net, his speed not up to the caliber it usually was. After two periods of impeccable hockey from the Islanders’ forward, just to crash midway through the third, his teammates were confused and so were his fans.

The end of the game came quicker than you were hoping, Mat’s eyes attempting to never leave yours as he went down the tunnel. The tunnel walls cut through that almost immediately, disappointment settling in your stomach when you realized it was unlikely you’d be able to get a chance to see him again until God knows when.

“We could wait, darling? Maybe he’ll send someone to look for you?” shrugging your shoulders gently, you pursued your lips as you looked around, people eager to get out of the arena to miss the traffic that they were going to inevitably be stuck in regardless.

“No point, probably, like anyone’s even going to be able to make it through all these people. May as well just—”

Your words were cut off by the sound of something slamming against the glass behind you, all three pairs of eyes turning their bodies to look at the source. The puck didn’t leave a mark on the glass, but the person staring back at you through it sure left a mark on you.

He was yelling something, his voice illegible by the chatter throughout the arena. It was easy to read Mat’s lips when he was only saying two words multiple times in a row, hoping you’d eventually be able to hear him, or at least try to.

“Stay there,” you could even see the huff in his voice, the aggravation from the crowd taking forever to clear out, and not quietly at that.

You nodded your head back, a look of awe in your eyes as he grinned up at you cheekily. Winking at you, he quickly made his way back down the tunnel again, two of his teammates peering out around him to see what he was so eager to get to after the game.

“We’ll go wait in the car, hun. Give you some time to… acquaint yourself,” nodding at her, you watched both your parents follow the departing fans as you sat back in your seat, thumbing through your phone and eagerly looking around you every few seconds.

It was only minutes later when you heard footsteps slamming down the stairs next to you, most of the building cleared out. Turning to the sound, you were instantly met with the same eyes that had just… made it click inside of you. The pull was even stronger with you being so close to one another, even more eager to encourage you to get closer to the man now just steps away from you.

“Couldn’t have like… come to a game that wasn’t dire for our playoff push, huh? Already distracting me and I don’t even know your name?”

You couldn’t help the guffaw that fell from your lips at his words, a small grin taking over your face as you stood up and extended your hand towards him. “Y/N, sorry for distracting you. Fate works in funny ways, Barzal.”

Nodding his head with a laugh, his hand instantly engulfed yours and before you realized it, he was pulling you into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around your back as his chin gently placed itself on the top of your head. It didn’t take much thought to hug back. For the fact he had just played almost an hour of hockey, he didn’t even smell awful.

Pulling back, the grin never leaving his face as he looked down at you. “Never thought I’d meet my soulmate, to be honest with ya. Tito, Beau, Anthony Beauvillier, always told me to just wait it out, suck it up and eventually you’d come around. Em, his soulmate, showed up almost four months ago. Guess I had to top him by finding mine in the middle of a game, huh?”

Shrugging your shoulders, you just laughed and nodded your head. “Pretty sure it’s a double-whammy for him too, you’re beautiful, and our first look is ten times better than his story.”

“Oh, I’m sure his soulmate and their story are just as beautiful. Just maybe not as great as ours.”

Nodding his head, Mat just shrugged his shoulders as he gestured to the teammate that was now standing at the top of the stairs to your aisle.

“They met in a Walmart parking lot in the middle of a snowstorm back near his hometown, he almost ran her over with his car. Tito always says she came around swinging before they even made eye contact, you’ll love them, everyone does.”

“Are we going to keep talking about your teammates and their soulmates, or are you ever going to kiss yours?”

Surging forward at your words, all elements of the previous conversation now gone when Mat pressed his lips to yours. The fireworks in your brain set off immediately, the butterflies in your stomach jumping around the moment your lips made contact for the first time. It was definitely something you wouldn’t mind happening forever, his lips eagerly pressing against yours as his hand cupped your cheek, the smile pressed into your lips a clear sign that he was thinking the same.

note: im literally obsessed with you, thank you for being my biggest supporter always!! i hope this blurb is fit perfect to the request, and thank you for requesting, ily <3

[holycatsandrabbits]

Tollense, an original serial romance by Dannye Chase, Chapter 4

A history professor falls in love with his best friend, a 3000-year-old vampire.

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Chapter 4

1997 (One year later)

The convention center had been beautiful under the blue Minnesota sky when Liam had arrived, and it was still beautiful now with its windows backed by heavy showers of falling snow that threw diffuse, moving light onto the walls inside the conference room. Beautiful and alarming.

Liam’s university was located in Florida. Florida was quite nice in January, and besides, there were theme parks. Didn’t people always like theme parks? But instead, the conference was being held in Minnesota, and this was the final day. In an hour, Liam and his colleagues, other faculty of the history department, were supposed to start the twenty-some-hour drive home.

“Could have been at Disney World,” Kurt remarked, startling Liam. Liam had been too busy watching the storm to realize Kurt had come up beside him.

“What on earth?” Liam asked, quite rightfully surprised, not by Kurt’s sudden unexpected presence, as he was used to that by now, but because Kurt was not a history professor, and therefore didn’t have a reason to be at the conference.

“Thought I’d drop in,” Kurt said. “See how things were going. Anyone interested in your research on Tollense?”

“Everyone. It’s very exciting.” Liam kept his voice low. “Am I talking to myself, or can everyone else see you?”

Kurt smiled at him. “I wouldn’t give you that kind of reputation. I’m visible.” Liam could see it was true, as Kurt’s good looks were attracting a few appreciative glances. “Are you ready to come home?” Kurt asked.

“Yes, we’re due to head out soon. Not that we’re really looking forward to it.”

“Well, your co-workers can head out whenever they like. I’m taking you home.”

“What?”

Kurt looked surprised by Liam’s surprise. “You’re from Florida. You have no idea what to do with snow. They’re pulling locals off the roads, Liam. I'm not letting you drive in this weather.”

“But you don’t even know how to dr— wait.” Liam felt a bit of a shiver crawl up his spine. “Oh, no. I’m not teleporting home.”

“I’ve been doing it for thousands of years. With humans. You know that. It’s perfectly safe.”

“No.”

Now a bit of hurt flashed over Kurt’s features, and like all his dark expressions, it was vaguely unsettling. “You don’t trust me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t want to teleport.”

“Why on earth not?”

Liam hated to lie to Kurt. Partly, it was because Liam was not entirely sure that Kurt couldn’t somehow tell that he was lying. Kurt claimed that he couldn’t read minds, but he was a vampire who could teleport himself from Florida to Minnesota, and Liam would not have been at all surprised to find that Kurt was aware of the snowstorm confronting Liam without having checked the weather.

But it was also true that Kurt was Liam’s best friend and it seemed wrong to lie to him. Except Liam couldn’t tell him the truth about this, because that wasn’t going to help anyone. It was better if Kurt didn’t know that Liam was in love with him, that for over a year now, Liam had been obsessed with the memory of Kurt kissing him, slow and sweet, and that the last thing Liam needed now was for Kurt to pull him close and show off his impressive supernatural abilities in a rescue. Kurt had made it clear that he never allowed himself to fall in love with humans that he met, and Liam had to be protective of his heart, already cracked and in danger of breaking.

“Look, if you are so dead-set on it, you can use your mind-control powers to convince me,” Liam joked, and immediately realized that was worse than lying, because Kurt flinched.

“If I do that,” Kurt said, in what sounded like a carefully controlled voice, “I will lose you anyway.”

“Wh— you’re not going to lose me. I’ll get a hotel, then. Drive home later.”

“I don’t want you driving to a hotel!” Kurt looked exasperated. “Liam, you are the most adventurous person I know. Why not this?”

“Oh, I’m hardly—”

“Yes, you are. You’re like an explorer, always hungry for something new and unusual. You’re brave, and not terribly cautious, which is bad for your driving habits, but it’s perfectly safe when it comes to me, because I am never going to let anything happen to you.”

Kurt had stepped close, and Liam could tell how upset Kurt was because Kurt was losing his grip on the human appearance and mannerisms he tried to put on. Right now he looked sleek and strong and shadowy. He didn’t reach for Liam with his hands, but Liam could feel something surrounding him, like a faint cool mist. It felt oddly familiar, and Liam got the impression that the mist might actually always be there, a piece of Kurt holding onto him, and Liam had just never been consciously aware of it before.

And then everything suddenly snapped back into place: Kurt looked ordinary again, and Liam realized with a shock that a couple of his colleagues had approached them.

“What do you think?” asked one of them. “We’re talking about getting a hotel.”

“I have a ride home,” Liam said faintly. Everyone looked at him in surprise, including Kurt. Few of Liam’s fellow faculty had met Kurt, partly by Kurt’s design, because he wasn’t terribly social, and partly by Liam’s. Liam was aware that his very close friendship with a very handsome man was likely to give him a certain other reputation, one that was quite deserved (though sadly not much practiced), but not very wise in the current political climate.

Nothing for it now. “Chris Mullens, Doris Sullivan, this is my friend Kurt, ah, Smith. He was in town for something else and is heading back to Florida today. He offered me a ride.”

“Is it safe?” Doris asked, looking concerned.

“Kurt’s a very good driver. Got a— a car like a tank.”

Doris laid a hand on Liam’s shoulder, and to Liam’s surprise, Kurt seemed to bristle at that, almost literally, and the whole room seemed to go with him, the air around them feeling oddly sharp. Liam understood that Kurt was concerned that he’d change his mind and be convinced to travel with his colleagues, but it undoubtedly looked like something else from the outside— a sort of possessiveness.

“What a nice friend,” Chris said lightly, looking at Kurt in a way that Liam did not like at all, as if Kurt was not a person but a problem, not a good-looking man but a tempting trap. Liam’s personal belief was that men who were so vehemently opposed to homosexuality were probably terrified that they themselves might be vulnerable to such a “trap,” but it was better if that went unsaid.

Kurt rescued him, of course. “Yes, Liam and I have been friends for a while. I used to date one of his students, Martina.”

Chris’s face cleared a bit, losing some of its distaste. He had apparently not heard of bisexuality, or whatever word might describe Kurt. “Oh. Sure.”

“Ready to go?” Kurt asked Liam. He barely waited for an answer before steering Liam out of the room. They walked down an empty hallway where the storm winds were pushing hard enough to make the windows shift in their frames. Kurt spoke in a gentle voice. “Give it a few years. The world is becoming more tolerant again. Humans keep discovering their natures over and over.”

“This must all be very trite to you.”

“Not in the least.” Kurt’s eyes were sharp on him. “Do you think Chris is the one sending you those threatening letters?”

Liam scoffed. “He barely knows how to tie his shoes. Worse than even the typical history professor.”

Kurt looked unconvinced. “I’ll keep an eye on him all the same.” He held out a hand to Liam. “Let’s go home.”

Liam looked down at Kurt’s hand. A pale blue vein ran delicately along his wrist, and Liam wondered what flowed there, if anything. “What about my luggage?”

“I already picked it up from Dr. Sullivan’s car. It’s at your place.”

“You’re awfully confident that I’d say yes to this.”

Kurt sighed, exasperated. “I can’t believe you haven’t asked me sooner. I thought I’d be taking you to the Louvre every weekend. Or Rome. At least Antietam.”

Liam laughed. “I should have.”

Kurt smiled, looking at ease for the first time since he’d arrived. “You should.”

“Next weekend then.” Liam finally took Kurt’s hand, and their fingers fit together easily. As always, Kurt was slightly cool to the touch.

The convention center faded away into a sort of bland white light. Liam felt like he was floating, but still with his feet planted on the ground. He looked down and found his own office floor beneath his shoes.

“Stay still a moment,” Kurt warned. “People can get dizzy when they’re not used to it.” He dropped Liam’s grasp and put a steadying hand on his arm instead. And now was the moment Liam had dreaded: Kurt was so close, so strong, and so hauntingly strange.

“We must seem so very fragile to you,” Liam said.

“You are fragile.” There was a harsh coldness in Kurt’s voice.

“So how did you learn to do that? To teleport?”

Kurt shrugged. “Just always could.”

“Always?” Liam frowned. “I thought a vampire’s abilities were based on age.”

“They are.”

“But if you’ve been doing it as long as you can remember— since at least Tollense— doesn’t it follow then that your origins would have to be a great deal older than that?”

Kurt narrowed his eyes, considering.

“Or else,” Liam said, “maybe you’re not a vampire.”

“I drink blood.”

“A lot of creatures— uh, beings— are said to drink blood. I’m sorry, it must be so frustrating not to be able to remember.”

Kurt looked at him with a sort of gratitude, but then he turned away, toward the door. A second later, there was a knock, and Kurt finally let go of Liam’s arm.

It was one of Liam’s graduate students at the door, Jonah. “Hey,” he said. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything. Just have a couple of questions. I thought I heard you talking. Do you have company?”

Most of the students never met Kurt either, despite the fact that he was around quite a bit. Liam had learned by now that Kurt only appeared to those students he thought he might start a relationship with. Kurt had been alone since Martina had graduated, and Liam assumed it would only be a matter of time before he picked another student, someone to provide him with blood and share his bed. In between lovers, Kurt drank blood from animals, but he had told Liam that it was much better to have a human source. Kurt chose those people whom he thought would be open to the idea of a finite relationship with a vampire, those who wouldn’t be afraid of him but also wouldn’t want to stay with him indefinitely. Because Kurt never got attached.

“Let’s find out,” Liam said, and opened the door wider. His heart sank immediately when he saw that Jonah could see Kurt standing by the desk. Liam thought back for a moment to Kurt’s reaction when Doris put her hand on Liam’s arm. But Kurt wouldn’t get jealous, of course.

Liam definitely was.

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Updates Fridays on Ao3 and DannyeChase.com (rated E), and Tumblr (rated T)

Want to create fic, art, or other works based on this series? Please do! Just dm or tag me.

My previous serials are for Good Omens: Mr. Fell's Bookshop and Love's Endless Light

My Carrd

[gojoscloset]

Blame.

GETO SUGURU X READER ANGST/FLUFF

Warnings: Bad words

Shitty writing /unedited

Pt. 3 / 4

(Please read A/N at the end, I’m sorry )^: )

❣️❌❣️❌❣️❌❣️❌❣️❌❣️❌❣️❌❣️❌❣️

Geto’s senses were overstimulated at the sight of you.

He was overwhelmed with what felt like a rush of warm colors; it was enough to form Goosebumps on his skin.

The sound of your voice made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up straight.

Your voice was music to his ears, like each word that slipped from your mouth was honeyed and he desperately needed a taste.

Geto immediately recalled the nights he watched the videos he had saved, ones that had your voice in them and how would replay them over and over again until it almost became an obsession. But those nights were nothing compared to how your voice made him feel now.

He could smell your perfume. The perfume.

One he had gifted you many moons ago, one that drove him wild, and he insisted you wear for him whenever the two of you went out on dates, And you did, because you weren’t one to deny him of anything he asked for.

Knowing that you took the time to put it on gave Geto Hope. Hope that maybe just maybe he still crossed your mind like you crossed his.

But it was when his eyes met yours that did it for him. The pseudo smile he carried wavered instantaneously. He repeated your name with trembling lips and averted his gaze, but quickly brought it back to meet yours. He had been deprived of your entire being and didn’t want to deny himself of what he'd been craving for weeks, yet his demons yelled in his ear to look away. He felt undeserving being in your presence.

It was evident you utilized your time away from him properly, it showed in the way you carried yourself. Fear struck his heart with realization that all he did while you were away was sulk while you worked on yourself.

He began to have doubts about whether or not you would come back to him if he hadn’t worked on himself as much as he should.

“Suguru…” you whispered and reached over to gently take his hand in yours, he immediately laced your fingers with his.

The kind gesture that was meant to soothe the pain only made him cry more. “I think I’m ready to talk…” you whispered softly, looking at his torn expression tugged on your heart strings. “Let’s go to the apartment, yeah?” You suggested since it seemed he wasn’t going to stop crying anytime soon.

—

The walk to the apartment was silent,with the exception of occasional sniffles and the sounds of you taking sips of your coffee. The silence was not uncomfortable, but it was unfamiliar.

Under better circumstances he would talk and tease you, but for now you two walked next to each other, like friends. There was a gap between the two of you, but it wasn’t vast, to you, But for Suguru it felt like it was a mile wide.

It wasn’t until you entered the apartment that the uneasiness hit you. Everything was eerily untouched, exactly how you left it, almost to the T.

The sweater you wore that same day still on the couch sprawled over the armrest. Your house slippers in the same position, you tried sneaking a glance into the room you two once shared, but the door was closed.

Your mind couldn’t help but wonder if the drawers were left open and if things were still scattered across the floor.

“Sorry..about the mess.” He spoke quietly and took a seat at the dining room table, you sat across from him, giving him a smile.

“Don’t worry about it.” Again there was a silence between the two of you, not uncomfortable, but unfamiliar.

“Do you need a moment, Suguru?”

“No.” His voice cracked.

“Okay...Uh… hmmm...Where do I begin?” You looked around the room while you organized your thoughts.

“I do have a lot to say, I hope I was not interrupting anything….”

He quickly shook his head giving you the floor.

“Then Please allow me to tell you how I feel… about everything” you cleared your throat and he nodded, listening closely, tears having stopped but heart was understandably extremely sensitive.

“Being away from you made me realize a lot Of things, A lot of things, Suguru. First and foremost being how much I love you. But I also realized I love myself more, which is why-“

“Please don’t leave me…” he interrupted softly before you could continue. “I know I have been selfish and it is becoming a commodity in the relationship and I don’t mean to interrupt you and don’t expect for you to change your mind, but in case you do leave me I just want to tell you how much you mean to me and how much I need you.”

You swallowed the lump forming in your throat, the ‘tough cookie’ exterior you put on when you approached him quickly crumbling the more he spoke.

You weren’t going to leave him, that was the last thing on your mind,you wanted to give him a piece of your mind before continuing to live the life you two created together.

“Being encased in a home we built together is karma I put on myself. I miss you. I miss everything about you. Everything” he emphasized with hand gestures.

“Your smile. The way you smell. The way you call my name. The cadence in your voice, your walk, your talk, sometimes I would go out and someone laughed like you and I-...I ...“ he choked out a sob and buried his face in his hands.

“I’m not leaving you Suguru…” The two of you locked eyes with each other, there was hope in his eyes.

“I just wanted to tell you how much that shit sucks. Being accused of infidelity when I gave you as much of me and my love as I possibly could, but even so…” you wiped the tears from your eyes, Geto was hit with deja vu, recalling the scene the day you left and how he wished he could wipe the tears for you.

He was being given another chance at redemption and he gladly took it.

He stood up from his seat, making his way to you, he knelt down beside you and wiped the tears away, as he should have the first time.

“I’m so sorry… I love you more than I could ever put into words y/n. What I said was out of insecurity. This doesn’t justify my actions or what I said, but my words came from a place of insecurity and fear. I was afraid you would go to Gojo because he literally has everything you could ever want…”

“You ARE everything I want so stop saying that!” you quickly interjected before he spiraled into a self deprecating headspace.

His hands laced with yours and he dropped his head. You could almost physically feel the doubts that had been eating at him disappear with those 9 words.

“I love you..so so much…” he sobbed quietly whilst lacing your fingers together. He brought your knuckles to his lips placing multiple kisses on them.

“And I love you so so much” you whispered, cupping his face in your free hand, wiping away his tears.

The rest of the night consisted of non stop chattering and laughter. Tears were shed and stories exchanged about how the two of you felt away from each other.

Boundaries were reset and apologies were made, a new chapter in your relationship was written that night, and as long as the pages are written with love, the story will go on forever and ever.

—-

🤠 howdy! It’s me again! Ahh I apologize for this chapter, I was in the middle of writing it when the snowstorm hit (I live in shithead Texas) and pretty much my whole life went to shit momentarily.

But thankfully things finally went back to normal ..kinda (after 2+ fucking weeks of no water) the damages are fixed and stuff but guess who is now $2k+ in debt

That’s right! Yours truly!

LMAOO hate it here

Y’all don’t invest in a home in America unless the area is good. And please check the foundation because wow. I hate it here sometimes.

Anyway, again I do apologize for such a shitty written chapter, but expect a part 4 (the final chapter) and also hopefully with a lot better writing. Like I’m literally so so so sorry I feel like it’s so anticlimactic but I got y’all, don’t worry. Ahhh again sorry if it’s anti climatic as fuck

I wanted to put something out for y’all so bad )^:

Anywho

Please anticipate my next works and also a master list and finalizing my blog theme

Finally lololol.

Thank you

I love you

Neptilian ✨

[little-diable]

Christmas morning - Jasper Hale (fluff)

Request by anon:  Hi there I REALLY need some serotonin rn and I was wondering if you could make a Christmas Jasper Hale imagine? Something like it’s Christmas morning and they all managed to convince Reneesme that Santa is real and everyone’s exchanging gifts and maybe she’s still human too? Idk you can run with it as you please. THANK YOU ❤️✨✨🌸💛

Oh thank you for this request, as you probably know, I’m such a Christmas freak,  totally obsessed with it. Enjoy my love. xxx

Michael Bubles “all I want for Christmas” rang through the speakers in the living room, (y/n) and Esme were standing in the kitchen, leaning against the kitchen unit, watching the snow fall. A cup of hot chocolate was placed in front of (y/n), the smell was clouding her senses, a content smile on her face as Esme pulled her into her side, “merry Christmas, love”. 

“Jesus Renesmee, slow down.”, Bellas voice hallowed through the hallway, the little girl ran towards the kitchen, jumping into (y/n)s awaiting arms. The girl was fumbling around in her embrace, excited for what was yet to come, the Cullen siblings somehow managed to convince Renesemee, that Santa was indeed very real, only fueling her excitement in the process. 

Jasper and Emmett were placed on the sofa, eyes focused on the tall Christmas tree, presents were placed around it, the shiny paper was glistering in the candlelight. Jaspers mind began to wander back to yesterday, (y/n) had been sitting on the floor in his room, surrounded by presents and wrapping paper, a concentrated look on her face as she began to work on the things Jasper and her had bought together. 

After preparing a cup of hot chocolate for Renesmee, (y/n) walked into the living room, pulling her sweater, the one that Esme had knitted for her, tighter, placing herself in Jaspers lap. The vampire pulled his human mate closer, wrapping a blanket around her frame, he pressed a kiss onto her forehead, “good morning darlin’.”, a yawn escaped her lips. 

(Y/n) couldn’t stop herself from repeating Michael Bubles words just as the song ended, she silently whispered against Jaspers pale skin “all I want for Christmas is you”, a warm feeling flooded through her, she was head over heels in love with her mate. 

The whole family was now conjoined in the living room, Renesmee was impatiently wandering around the room, “please, mommy, can I open my presents?”, she whined as she grabbed Bellas hands and trying to pull the vampire towards the awaiting presents. 

(Y/n) couldn’t stop the chuckle from escaping her as she watched the small girl, the sight reminded her of her childhood, the bitter feeling that momentarily overcame her, didn’t go unnoticed by Jasper. His grip on her got tighter, he grasped her chin and pulled her in for a kiss, “what’s going on, darlin’?”, Jasper whispered against her lips, stroking her soft skin with his thumb. She pressed another kiss onto his lips, her smile began to spread as she slightly. shook her head and turned her focus back onto Renesmee.  

It didn’t take them long to unpack their presents, joking around while doing so,  (y/n) couldn’t stop smiling as she looked down onto her own ones, next to the  massive stack of books sat a bottle of perfume, a present from Rosalie and Emmett, some clothing and a necklace, a special present from Jasper. “I love you.”, (y/n) pressed her forehead against the crook of his neck, inhaling the scent of his body wash, a smell that made her feel like home. 

Later on, Emmett, Jasper, Edward and (y/n) were helping Renesmee to build a snowman, spending some time with her, before they were heading off towards Charlies. (Y/n) adored the girl, she’d do anything for the Cullens, she was extremely grateful for Jasper and his family, they treated her like one of their own, something she wasn’t quite used to. 

As soon as Edward, Bella and Renesmee had left the house, (y/n) had pulled Jasper towards his room, begging him to watch “the muppets Christmas carol” with her. Her head was placed on his chest, Jaspers fingers combed through her (y/h/c) hair, a content hum left her lips as she momentarily drew her eyes off the screen, focusing on the snowstorm that was raging outside. 

[theowhy]

[thiam] following footsteps

2.4k / g / oneshot

note: hello friends :’) long time no post, i just never have any free time these days. my writing brain cells are rusty but here’s a short thing that was meant to be a, uh, christmas fic but that i couldn’t wrangle into shape until now. it’s not terribly contingent on the christmas season and i hope it’s enjoyable even two months late lmao

The cold is the worst thing when Liam finally comes to. Everything bombards him at once: the bruising ache in his back, the smell of dirt and pine and damp clothes. But the cold—that chills him straight to his bones.

“Shit,” Liam says.

“‘Shit’ is right,” says Theo, a disembodied voice somewhere off to Liam’s left because Liam can’t even bear to open his eyes yet. He’d recognize Theo’s presence even if blind or dead.

How annoying. Though in this moment, it gives Liam a weary sense of comfort, knowing he’s not alone.

“What happened?” he groans, bringing a hand up to gingerly touch his temple where a headache currently pounds.

“You got your ass handed to you,” Theo says. He shifts, clothes rustling, a crunching sound beneath his feet.

Ice? Liam opens his eyes.

They were in the forest, he finally remembers. And sure enough, they’re surrounded by dark trees and a white landscape, grey clouds beyond them, a hard ground beneath. There are rocks, too: Theo must have found some kind of outcropping in the hills to shelter from the snow flurrying through the air. Had he dragged Liam under here after… whatever happened before he was out?

“Yes, I dragged you here,” Theo says, then rolls his eyes. “Don’t look at me like that, your face was obvious.”

Liam grimaces. “Did I get hit?”

“Thrown through a tree, actually.” There’s way too much pep in Theo’s voice when he says it. He points out away from them, towards a splintered tree stump in the distance. Its other half lies not far past it, slowly being buried beneath the snow. “That one.”

“Ouch.” Explains why Liam’s back is killing him. “What was it?”

“You don’t remember?”

“I got thrown through a tree, cut me some slack.” Liam gingerly moves to sit up and rub some warmth back into his arms.

“It was… I don’t even know how to describe it.” Theo frowns as he remembers. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. This big white ball of… energy. Ice. It got mad when it saw us and blew you into that tree. There’s been a snowstorm ever since.”

“Did you… kill it?” Liam asks apprehensively.

“Hell no, I grabbed you and hauled ass. You’re lucky it didn’t follow.”

“So it’s still out there? We have to tell the others.”

Theo wordlessly digs into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He taps the home button. The screen doesn’t light up.

Liam gapes. “Did you seriously bring an uncharged phone out into the middle of nowhere?”

“It’s not my fault you were out for an hour, okay?” Theo snarls. “We were supposed to take a quick look around and go back, I didn’t know some mythical snow spirit whatever the fuck was going to attack us. At least my phone is still in one piece.”

“What?” Dread sinks into Liam’s stomach. He digs into his back pocket, pulls out a mess of circuits and glass and dented metal. He squeaks, “Oh no.”

“Yeah, nice.” Theo sighs. “What is that, your second phone this year?”

“Third.” Liam buries his head in his hands. “My parents are going to kill me.”

It was hard enough convincing them to let him go on this trip to the mountains, where Scott and the rest of the pack had rented a cabin for the weekend. Ostensibly it was to investigate reports of sudden blizzards and extreme snowfall, something Deaton had thought concerning enough for them to check out. But in actuality, none of them expected it to be anything more than some random meteorological weirdness. Scott brought his Nintendo Switch and Mario Kart. Lydia brought wine.

But they’d hardly settled into the cabin before Scott suggested they take a look around before dark, just to get some work in before Mario Kart and chill. Figures Liam didn’t even get the chance to kick Theo’s butt at Mario Kart before the universe decided to screw him over and make his parents ground him forever. It’s not his fault his life suddenly became full of a whole lot more fighting than Liam ever expected, even into his senior year of high school.

“There’s no way I’m gonna try and find my way back in this blizzard,” Theo says, with the finality of a nail into a coffin. “So I suggest you get comfortable.”

Liam sighs, watches the white puff of his breath fade into the air. The wind howls in long, drawn out tones. His whole backside is wet from lying on the ground. His head still hurts.

“Yeah, real easy,” he mutters, pulling his knees up and wrapping his arms around them. First things first, try to get his body to stop shivering.

There’s quiet for a moment. Liam’s so preoccupied finding any vestiges of warmth in his body that he startles when something soft is pushed onto his head. He turns his gaze towards Theo.

Theo, whose beanie has now been placed on Liam’s head.

“It ain’t much, but take it,” Theo says, hardly more than a murmur, nearly lost to the sound of the wind. But Liam hears him.

“I’m fine,” he says.

Theo rolls his eyes. “Liam, just take it.”

“But what about you?”

“I can handle a little cold.” Theo crosses his arms tighter, breathes a big exhale that sends a shroud of white around him, thick as smoke. It hides him for a moment but fades away soon enough. His hair is mussed from tugging his beanie off. His nose and cheeks are red, and there are stray snowflakes on Theo’s shoulders, caught in strands of his hair.

It’s more than just a little cold. The beanie helps, in a small way; Theo had given what little he could. That matters, Liam thinks.

It must be that—along with instinctual, human need—that compels Liam to scoot closer until he’s pressed up against Theo’s side.

Theo goes rigid.

He doesn’t say anything. Neither does Liam.

Finally, Theo says, “What are you doing?”

“It’s cold,” Liam says simply. “You said get comfortable.”

“Comfortable does not mean sitting on top of me.”

“I’m not on top of you,” Liam scoffs. “We gotta huddle for warmth.”

“Sure, huddle. Not cuddle.” Theo pointedly scoots away. Liam follows. “Liam.”

“Theo, come on. I’m not dying out here.”

“I’m not dying out here, either,” Theo says, then shuts his mouth.

Liam laughs.

“Glad you find this funny,” Theo grumbles, but this close together, Liam can feel the way he relaxes, the way he presses in by one reluctantly given inch. But it’s something.

Liam tugs the beanie more snugly onto his head, trying not to smile. Yeah. It’s something.

It doesn’t change the fact that they’re stuck out here until whichever happens first: the blizzard goes away (not looking likely), the pack finds them (even less likely, given that Liam hopes they have the wisdom to stay out of the blizzard, too), or God intervenes. Liam’s never had much luck with the last one.

So he takes in his surroundings instead. There isn’t much to see, really, besides trees, trees, and more trees. The occasional bush. Plenty of snow. And—

“Oh!” Liam says, sitting up straighter and pointing. “Mistletoe!”

Theo doesn’t even look and says, “Nice try, Liam. If you wanted to kiss, you could just ask.”

Liam sputters and shoves Theo hard on the shoulder, which hardly budges him. Theo smirks. “No, dude, ugh. Christmas was like a month ago, anyway. I mean there’s literally mistletoe growing on the trees.”

“Riveting,” Theo drawls, but humors Liam anyway. He looks out to where Liam’s pointing at a bushy mass growing in the branches of one of the trees ahead of them. “That it?”

“Yeah.” Liam squints. He can see its leaves rustling with the wind, how different they are from the leaves of the oak tree it rests in. “Phoradendron villosum. Pacific mistletoe. Don’t eat it.”

“I know that.”

“Did you know mistletoe is a parasite?”

“It’s poisonous, that doesn’t surprise me.” Theo looks mildly interested anyway, and Liam feels a small thrill of victory over it. It’s not often that he gets to share some biology knowledge that Theo doesn’t already know. “So why are people obsessed with hanging it in doorways and stuff?”

“Why do people do anything? Superstition. Folklore.” A particularly strong gust of wind sends a branch of the mistletoe flying. It lands in the snow a few feet ahead of them. “Some cultures saw it as a symbol of fertility. I guess the white berries remind them of—er.”

An awkward beat of silence.

Theo says, “I hope the snow kills us soon.”

Liam’s face burns. At least he feels a little less cold now.

He clears his throat. “Anyway… It’s also associated with protection from witches and demons and stuff.”

“I never took you for a mistletoe nerd.”

“I wrote a report about them in freshman bio. It was kind of interesting. Makes it a little less romantic to know they actually kill the trees they grow on.”

“How beautiful,” Theo says flatly. “You’re still a nerd, though.”

“Shut up.” Liam nudges his shoulder against Theo’s. The corner of Theo’s mouth tugs up just slightly.

Liam’s never done it before, kissed someone under the mistletoe. Hayden came and went too quickly for them to ever reach Christmas, and there hasn’t really been anyone since. There was never any time. And, more honestly, no one else has ever made him feel quite the same.

Well. Almost no one else.

But that’s only ever been a passing daydream, one that’s plagued him in random moments. On an elevator ride back down to the first floor of Beacon Hills Memorial. In the passenger seat of a truck. In sparse texts, shared late at night long after pack meetings have ended.

In a snowy forest, surrounded by no one else.

“Hey, Theo,” Liam says.

Theo grunts and turns towards him.

“What?” he says.

Liam presses their lips together. Theo stops breathing.

A kiss would describe it generously. Liam breathes when it becomes evidently clear that Theo won’t. That’s fine. Taking him by surprise is pretty nice. In any case, the kiss ends almost as soon as it began, and Liam pulls away from the corner of Theo’s mouth. The warmth lingers afterwards.

“W-What the hell was that for?” Theo stammers—Theo, stammering—and brings his hand up over his mouth.

“Mistletoe,” Liam says.

“You—idiot.” Theo brings his other hand up to cover his face, but it’s not enough to hide the red lingering at the tips of his ears. It’s a nice color. “You are so… You…”

“Yeah, you too,” Liam says, not bothering to suppress a grin.

Theo gives him a look through the gaps between his fingers, and Liam expects him to grind out another poorly executed insult when Theo drops his hands, his eyes widening, mouth falling slack.

“What?” Liam says.

Theo just grabs him by the shoulders and tugs him back, further into their little shelter.

“What?” Liam says again, more irately. He turns to look where Theo keeps gaping over Liam’s shoulder.

He finds a great, big ball of blue. Liam’s voice dies in his throat.

His first thought is of ball lightning, something he and Mason had spent one sleepover watching way too many videos of on YouTube. In truth, they didn’t care for the science of it rather than the fact that it looked super fucking cool. Just a sphere of pure energy and light, sweeping through open plains or swathes of sky. This doesn’t feel quite like that, but on the surface it seems the same: crackling, blue-white energy, swirling in a sphere that must be a meter wide, at least. Its core is opaque, like hard ice, and there’s a strange hum about it as it drifts closer to them.

It is frighteningly close. Theo draws an arm out across Liam, pushing him against the rocks at their back. But the sphere doesn’t attack them, doesn’t whip them with a sharp slice of wind like Liam was hit with earlier.

It only drifts over their hiding spot, passing by like an elk through the woods. Calm and constellated with flecks of ice and snow. Something about it feels as old as time itself.

Both of them hold their breaths as it passes. It disappears over them, drifting over the hill. The winds calm. The snowfall begins to diminish until it ceases completely.

It’s quiet.

They stay still for one, two, three heartbeats. Then Theo drops his arm. They both exhale.

“Holy shit,” Liam says, panting like he ran a marathon. “Was that it?”

“No, it was a different big blue ice ball,” Theo says. “Of course that was it.”

“That… was awesome.” Liam crawls out of their shelter to look around for any sign of it. It’s long gone, not even a trail left in its wake.

“I see you’ve already forgiven it for trying to kill you.”

“I don’t want to get thrown through a tree again, but it didn’t attack us this time. We probably spooked it earlier. And look, it stopped the blizzard.”

“You’re way too chipper for seeing something that unreal,” Theo says, following Liam out.

The newly returned sunlight falls over Theo’s shoulders, making him that much easier to see. Theo turns his face up to the sun. His damp hair curls at his temples.

Despite Theo’s griping, Liam can see the wonder in his eyes, the way they glow. He looks alive. Liam thinks about how the blood inside him and the blood inside Theo must be the same, despite everything.

Liam says, “Hey. Thanks.”

Theo frowns. “Why?”

“For saving me earlier.” And the time before that. And the time before that.

Theo scoffs, and where Liam usually sees shutters falling over his face, a mask piecing back together, now he sees a hint of a smile. Something brighter, underneath.

“Whatever,” Theo says, and snatches his beanie off Liam’s head so he can ruffle his hair aggressively.

“Dude!” Liam yelps. 

Theo laughs and whirls away, tearing through the snow in a direction Liam will have to trust is home.

There’s no hesitation at all before Liam chases after him.

--

note: big ice ball inspired by the leschach entite of ffxii. because..... im a nerd :p 

[stusbunker]

AGA: Word to the Wise

A Supernatural Fan-fiction Denny AU Series

Featuring: Dean Winchester/Benny Lafitte, past Dean/Jo

Other characters: Sam, Bobby, Cas, Mick, Ash, Jo

Word Count: 3000 (whoa)

A/N: Sam gets on Dean’s nerves and Dean ends up taking a late night detour. Big talks ahead.

Special thanks to my beta @cracksinthewalls​ who puts up with my whiny ass. Also grateful for @there-must-be-a-lock​‘s insight.

The bowling league was in lean attendance due to a surprise snowstorm, but that didn’t keep Singers’ Slingers from mopping the floor with their competition. Dean ended on a spare in the last game, putting him just over his average for the night. State bowling wasn’t until spring, but if they kept up their momentum Dean was sure they could place well. And a weekend away would be a welcome break from his usual exhaustion. 

Dean still owed Mick a rematch from last year’s trip. Mick drank him under the table and Dean didn’t want to lose two years running, he had a reputation to uphold afterall. Bartending had cut into his training time, among other things.

Ash was the first one to bow out for the night, knowing his side towing business would be busy with vehicles in ditches for however long the storm lasted. Cas bummed a ride with Mick, since his car had never done well in this weather and he was still dragging his feet on upgrading. Dean knew he had been hinting at shopping around, but Dean wasn’t going to push the topic and get dragged into helping or finagling with the salesman for the guy. Cas could figure it out on his own, and Dean was finally in a place where he felt comfortable letting him. Huh.

Sam had been quiet all night, but Dean hadn’t mentioned it, attributing the sour mood to post-break up blues. They bought Bobby his weekly drink, “team dues” as he called it and settled in along the bar. 

Dean kept the conversation going, trying to keep the mood light, but Bobby was too tired to ham it up and Sam was not amused by his brother’s antics. Once Bobby polished off his last beer and headed home to Ellen, Dean was rolling his eyes in exasperation.

“Fine, you know what, I’ll reel it in, don’t want to interrupt your sulking,” Dean muttered after another joke fell flat. Sam winced at Dean’s jab, which Dean instantly regretted. Though it did seem to shake Sam out of his funk, if minutely.

“So, tell me about Benny,” Sam brought up with elephantine grace.

Dean stared at Sam like he proclaimed he was quitting the law firm and joining the circus, coulrophobia and all. 

Sam huffed. “What?”

“Nice segue there, counselor,” Dean grumbled. “What about him? Hmm, you want a new bowling bag? Because that was already on my list for you for Christmas.”

“Dude, you don’t have to do that. I mean, that’d be great, but no, I was kind of wondering what your deal was? Like do you hang out a lot?” Sam started fishing.

“Yeah, totally, everynight,” Dean deadpanned. “I mean I only work two jobs when I’m not moving your sorry ass back into Mom and Dad’s.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Sam said, waiting to figure out where he was going with this line of questioning and just shot in the dark. 

“What I’m trying to say is, is this, like, a Cas thing?” Sam choked out, unable to put it any more delicately. 

Dean burned with shame as his hackles raised in defensiveness. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Sam cocked his head and pursed his lips, unamused and unimpressed. “You know what I mean, man. Don’t make me spell it out.”

Dean wouldn’t budge, he dropped his beer with a thud. “Well, you’re gonna have to, because I have no fuckin’ idea what you’re talking about.”

“Dude!” Sam shook his head and rolled his eyes.

“The fuck is your problem? You got something to say, just say it, Sam.” Dean fumed, daring him with a murderous glare. Sam inhaled pregnantly, face still inching towards bitch mode. Sam eyed the bartender who was trying not to listen and the late game bowlers who suddenly decided they could catch up lane side instead.

What Dean didn’t realize was that he needed Sam to say it. He yearned for it, for his truth to be spoken, and known without him having to say it himself.

��Look, I know this isn’t something we talk about. But, I just want to make sure you’re okay. Alright? In the beginning with Cas, it was like you were obsessed, man. And since he just always seemed to need something from you. I just want to make sure you’re not getting used, I guess,” Sam unraveled the heart of his concern without saying too much, which Dean was not expecting, at all.

Dumbfounded, Dean retreated, annoyance trumping any chance at relief. 

“I think I can handle myself, thanks,” Dean spat. Petulantly, he took a sip from his beer, the cold glass solid in his hand, giving him something to clutch or even throw, if it came down to it.

“I didn’t say---,” Sam broke off. “Fine! You know what? You’re on your own. Just remember that I should have listened to you about Ruby and now I’m paying the price for my own stubbornness.”

Sam stood and reached for his money clip, tossing an extra five on the bar for the dramatics. He gave Dean one last chance to come clean, to own up to what they weren’t saying. Dean stared straight ahead, eyes unfocusing on the liquor labels behind the bar as if Sam had already left. So he did, just as he came: pissed and questioning his brother’s motives.

    Dean didn’t go home after that. Instead he absently followed a plow down the main road until he happened upon a familiar turn off. Which he took slow and steady until it ended in a T. The little brick ranch at the end of the lane held a lot of memories. And it was more inviting than ever with its Christmas card perfection in the falling snow. Dean put the Impala in park and let the radio play, wishing he had a joint just for the sake of something to do. 

He wasn’t there ten minutes before his phone rang, which he answered without processing the caller ID.

“You gonna come in or you just gonna sit out there feeling sorry for yourself?” Jo’s voice sliced across the line.

“Didn’t know if you were still up,” Dean bullshitted.

“Uh-huh. Whatever you say. Backdoor’s open,” her unimpressed reply. She hung up before Dean could make up an excuse to leave. He slouched out of the car and trudged down the long country driveway. As soon as he had stomped the snow off his boots, Jo welcomed him in with a firm hug and an appraising glint in her eye.

“Thanks, it’s a real mess out there,” Dean explained.

Jo just shook her head at him. “How’d ya bowl?”

“619 series, finished strong in the last few frames,” Dean answered. “Were you at your folks?”

“Nah, just know it’s Wednesday night, which means the boys were at the alley,” Jo smirked as she reached atop her fridge for the good stuff. 

She held up the whiskey in offering and Dean nodded, bending out of his coat. He slipped it over the back of a chair and settled in at the vintage kitchen table. She poured him a glass and watched as he inhaled the first round like he had been outside for hours and needed to fight off a much deeper chill.

“Well alright,” Jo resigned herself to playing shrink and poured Dean another drink. “So, what’s got you stuck in your head, hm?”

Dean weighed his head from side to side as he let the whiskey roll over his tongue. He never got far into a pouting session when Jo was around, but he also didn’t know which chamber of his heart he could stand to prop open for her inspection tonight.

“How’ve you been, Jo? You still schooling those truckers on taking care of their own rigs?” Dean sidestepped with ease.

“You know it,” Jo confirmed. “Not a day goes by that I don’t have to put another asshole in his place. Pays good, though.”

Jo had followed in Bobby’s footsteps and became a mechanic, but two Singers were already one too many for the shop and salvage yard. So she took her skills out to the interstate and made a name for herself as the only female diesel technician in four counties. Dean used to hate it when she would fix something faster than him, but it had been more than a decade since her skills had made him feel inferior. Dean knew Jo’d be his boss someday, but he wasn’t too worried about those far off futures; Bobby wouldn’t retire unless Ellen made him or killed him first.

“How’s Rufus holding up?” Jo teased, knowing her dad’s old friend was getting worse for the wear, much like John had.

“Stubborn, and as glib as ever. Good thing your dad rehired him, because he’s a bit too mouthy for most customers,” Dean admitted.

    Jo hummed with nostalgia. “I gotta swing by and bug you guys sometime, but it just keeps getting busier.”

    Dean sighed. “I hear that. What’s it been? Labor day? No. I haven’t even seen you since the Fourth. Christ!”

“Yeah, well, you’ll see me next week for Thanksgiving, don’t get too sentimental about it now,” Jo quipped. She took a short sip off the bottle as Dean swirled the last of his second helping.

“I’m seeing someone,” Dean staggered the words, like he wasn’t sure if their meanings and sounds fit together.

Jo sighed dramatically, “Finally, the truth is revealed! What’s up? She’s not pregnant, is she?”

“No.” Dean had to bite back his guffaw. “Definitely not.”

“Okay, then why the sad face? Not pulling a Ruby on ya, I hope?” Jo tested the waters.

“No, it’s--uh--- it’s been good. Really good. I just, kind of need to make up my mind if I’m in it for the long haul. Ya know?” Dean clarified, relaxing with each little confession. 

“Uh-oh it’s getting serious,” Jo mock whispered.

Dean rolled his shoulders. “No, well, it could be. I don’t know.”

Jo giggled. “I can’t believe you! You’re fucking twitterpated, aren’t you?!”

“Jo, if you start making Thumper jokes, I’m shutting up right now,” Dean warned with a pointed finger. “Care to top me off while you’re at it?”

“Okay, okay, gosh.” Jo rolled her eyes dramatically as she poured him another drink before pointedly putting it back on the fridge. “But you’re in deep. You’re all blushy about it.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m ready to go big. It just means they’re willing to put up with me until I say the word,” Dean tried to downplay his feelings and Benny’s confession.

“So do it! Bust out the grand gestures already,” Jo encouraged.

Dean scoffed, “I’m not built for commitment, you know that!”

“Except you kinda are! You’ve changed, Dean,” Jo insisted, head hung to pour her honesty from her eyes. “I don’t know when it happened, but you’re not that reckless boy that I knew. You’ve always been a good guy, but now?---- Maybe it’s been since Sam came home, I don’t know. But somewhere along the way you grew up.---- It’s okay to let yourself want something more, you know.”

Dean grumbled and rolled his neck, breaking the eye contact. She always could do this to him, just like her mother, see straight through his every defense. “I always thought it’d be you, you know?”

Jo smiled without teeth. “Firsts can do that to people. But, we’re not those kids anymore, Dean. So, if you’re asking for my permission or seeking my approval---?”

Dean dropped his head to his hands, thick fingers poorly hiding him from Jo. “It’s a guy, Jo. I’m--- I don’t know--- Bi? I guess?”

“Dean?” Jo waited until he stopped being sheepish and looked at her, even if it was only out of the corner of one eye. “You’ve been head over heels for Cas for years. If you dare tell me this is about him, so help me, I will throw you out right now.”

Dean couldn’t help but laugh ruefully at that and toss back what was left of his whiskey. “You saw that, huh?”

She didn’t answer, waiting for him to work through it on his own.

“It’s not Cas.” Dean smacked his lips and held up his glass for a refill. Jo stood and brought the bottle back to the table. Dean poured himself three fingers worth and pondered the sloshing liquid before he continued. “Your mom know?”

Jo licked her lips, cocked her head, and sighed.

Dean closed his eyes and asked, “Bobby? Fuck!--- my mom?!”

“No one has ever said it out loud, Dean. I don’t know who knows, honestly. But we’re family, that doesn’t change.” Jo grasped his wrist firmly, he held her hand to his and then she slapped her other one on top. Time stopped long enough for Dean to accept that his secret was finally out, but also that it was safe.

“I can’t believe I’m talking about this with you, of all people.” Dean thumbed her knuckles, staring into eyes he knew as well as his own.

“Really? Who else would you be talking to about it? Sam? Ash, maybe?” Jo giggled. “I’m honored, actually. It means you stopped hating me.”

Dean pulled his hands away and took another drink. “I never hated you.” 

“Okay, well, maybe it means you stopped hating yourself,” Jo corrected.

Dean’s brows crooked incredulously.

“Too much?” Jo asked apologetically.

Dean shook his head and sighed. “You are your mother’s daughter.”

“Now you’re the one being rude,” Jo muttered before taking a solid drink off the bottle this time.

Dean let himself relax, let the whiskey and conversation work into his muscles and set his worries aside. They talked like the old days and about the old days. Those in between years after high school and before anyone was ready to face responsibility. When half their friends went to college, they had just kept on working. After another hour, Jo leaned back in her chair and started scrutinizing him once again.

“You know how I know you’re happy with what’s his name?” Jo teased.

“Beh--- I didn’t tell you, fuck! Benny, his name is Benny. Goddamnit Joanna Beth,” Dean cursed through a chuckle; more details dragged out of him than he had planned on.

Jo cocked her head and considered the name.“Benny, right. You wanna know how I know?” Jo pushed.

“Fine, how?” Dean held up his hand, beckoning for her to hit him with her response.

“Because this is about the time of night you start giving me the lazy once over. But not tonight,” Jo proclaimed, chin out condescendingly. She had him, every few years they’d find themselves back in each other’s beds, for a night or a weekend and then they’d move on. He always thought of her as his home, his starting point. But maybe they weren’t the same thing at all.

“You still look good, Jo,” Dean replied, trying to save face.

“That’s not what I meant, Dean. Besides, I know!” Jo snarked, straightening her spine and tossing her hair over her shoulder. Dean couldn’t hold in his laughter anymore and it spilled out over a toothy grin, making Jo almost choke on her drink. God, Dean felt like anything was possible. That life was good. 

After the hysterics had calmed down, Dean exhaled. “Thanks, Jo. I needed this.”

“You sure did, nobody else was gonna hand you your ass so kindly,” Jo agreed, standing and taking the bottle and Dean’s glass with her to the counter that held the sink. He whined comically, but knew her timing was right. She leaned back and smirked.

Dean grew quiet and Jo waited to see if it was exhaustion, the alcohol or something else. She didn’t have long to prepare.

“How’m I gonna tell my dad?” Dean asked, the pain and panic pulling at his face until she saw the telltale tears well up.

“Fuck ‘im. I mean it, if your dad can’t get his head out of his ass to see how happy you are, he isn’t worth your time,” Jo said adamantly.

Dean let his thoughts roll to the side of his head and licked his lips, biting against the tremor. He quickly wiped away the tears that escaped and inhaled wet and ragged. Jo slipped to his side and ran her hand through his hair, letting his face fall against her chest as he breathed through the onslaught. Dean couldn’t help but think how motherly the affection felt.

She pulled back to look him over at arms’ length. 

“So what now? You want the couch? Or should I call you a ride? I’m sure Sam owes you one,” Jo asked, as no nonsense as ever.

“I’ll be fine,” Dean dismissed her concern, rubbing up his face to wipe off his nose.

“Well, you ain't driving.” Jo held up his keys. Dean blanched, feeling his pockets for them, fruitlessly. He stood to snatch them, but she had already skipped across the kitchen, too far to catch. “Nuh-uh, no way I’m letting you risk your baby. Or your thick skull in this weather.”

 Dean put his hands on his hips, and blinked through the dizziness. He realized he hadn’t stood in a few hours. “Sam.”

“What’s that?” Jo prodded mischievously, ear leaning in as if she couldn’t hear him.

“Very funny. Call Sam, will ya?” Dean rolled his eyes as she scrolled through her contacts, murmuring the names under her breath. His keys were raised in victory, as if he couldn’t reach them above her head. He could have snagged them in an instant, if he wanted to.

 While Jo woke Sam, Dean checked his own phone. Ignoring some texts from his mom and Cas, he selected the conversation with Benny. There were no new messages since that morning. Dean hesitated before relocking his screen.

“Sam’ll be here in twenty. You want something to eat? I’ve got chips.” Jo offered, opening the cupboard.

Tagging: @flamencodiva​ @dolphincliffs​ @dontshootmespence​ @fookinghelljensensthighs​ @fangirlxwritesx67 @dawnie1988 @mrswhozeewhatsis​ @cosicas-cuquis​ @foxyjwls007 @tumbler-tidbits @wingedcatninja​ @defenderrosetyler​ @ericaprice2008  @crashdevlin​  @mylovelydame21 @cajunquandary​ @itmighthavebeenintentional​​ @thoughtslikeaminefield​ @there-must-be-a-lock @tatted-trina6​ @cracksinthewalls​ @atc74​​

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