#the LITs really didn't do anything this episode which is a little disappointing because I love them

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

Moving right along. Episode 5

Sad guy is sad and is hallucinating the weirdo.

wait what happened with the teacher and the voice that I assumed was the rival? did I miss something. Did they? oh well

Ok what was that? was that suppose to have come out of his mouth? Cause his mouth didn't move. not even a little. But it seems like what comes after is a continuation.

ok. weirdo apologized but that doesn't seem to help. this is some very weak conflict even by bl standards.

sad boys montage. And I'm not an expert but this song is really not doing it for me. it's not good. Seriously, not even the music? I am in pain.

The guy is sick. Of course weirdo found the guy's house and shows up. At least he brought food. And of course he just walks in.

Ok. I haven't mentioned until now but what is it with this lip tint? It was obviously put in post and it does not look good.

Obligatory messy eater moment. So of course he needs to be fed. And hugged. Did they just make up?

Rival in the house. And he also brought porridge. This isn't awkward at all.

Great moment for weirdo to confess and then run away. And it's the rival's turn. The guy is popular today.

oh the guy thinks he's bad luck for other people. that's sad.

He needs to choose. He chooses weirdo. Every pot or whatever it is.

Ok this time weirdo asks for the kiss. This is improvement.

Episode 6 - oh it's the last one. let's get it over with.

flashback time. I literally just saw this.it's been 10 seconds.

Ok, that was a good kiss. And a long one for kbl.

We're back at the weirdly lit coffee shop. Oh wait I recognize this dude. Isn't he from a strongberry short? which one? I need to look this up later.

Ok. the guy got the job at the coffee shop.that cake looks good. is that cheesecake? it looks like it. like blueberry cheesecake. and now I want blueberries. preferably on top of cheesecake.

More kisses and the sound effects are back. also the silent comedy music. How much longer? wait is the weirdo also working there?

OMG. WHAT WAS THAT VOICE? THIS WAS THE CRINGE TO END ALL CRINGE. Ok, it turns out that they are both weirdos and they are perfect together. I'm sorry but this bit of dialogue needs to be shared.

the guy : today was tough huh? the weirdo: It's very different from when I was a costumer.

Was it? that's so weird. It's just going from one side of the counter to the other. I mean how different can it really be. 🤦‍♀️

Oh the kbl classic. Boy sleeps on table with one hand under his head and arm stretched.

Another good kiss. oh he was just helping his boyfriend but now he got the job.

Hug from behind my beloved.

They're missing an ingredient and one of them has to go get it. I'm having MODC flashbacks.

of course weirdo wouldn't let him go alone.

What's with the sudden tension, is that the rival? can't be.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS???? WTF? Is that it? ok, then...

Final thoughts

Strongberry we need to talk. I forgave that whole 20 minute short split in 3 parts. Mostly because those 20 minutes were at least well shot and well acted. And because we've been together for quite a few of these and there was a certain level of trust between us. I'm afraid going forward that will no longer be the case. Of course I'll keep my eyes open and if you decide to drop by I still wanna see you, but it's not the same. I have been burned too many times in this bl world and sadly I need to protect myself from future disappointment. So consider this an adjustment of expectations. I'm getting really good at these so don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I wish you well on all your future endeavours.

If anyone has made it through all that, I thank you. posting these made the whole experience a bit better. also I did not spellcheck or look over anything so sorry if there are mistakes. 💜💜💜

Edit: previous posts in the series if anyone is interested. E1 E2 E3&4

[mdhwrites]

🦝 Got tired of Amity's "awesome gf" filter on her so much and I was thinking if her character still had any personal motivations, hypothetically speaking (although it SHOULDN'T BE), what do you think those would be to fit with the current events?

For me, based on the little that we had in S1 progressing to the present, I think it should be her realizing the ill intent of the emperor and the coven system on her own, not just because it's bad twoards Luz and that somehow affects her too, (we didn't even had a transition of that come to think of it). If I'd have to give her goal to fit with the present I'd say she would want to change/abolish the laws and indoctrination left by Belos. She wanted to be in the emperor's coven (not buying that her parents wanted that) and had the ex EC head as her teacher (Lilith), she had affiliations, I don't think it would've been hard to make a connection and give her an eye opener. Based on her toxic environment and past, I always thought she'd have the character trait of seeking freedom or justice.

Like Willow's drive to protect the ones close to her, or Hunter wanting to discover/find himself, (or Luz's wish to be accepted but I have issues with that one that I'll ask later)

I hate that it feels ooc to give Amity any priorities outside/besides Luz. It shouldn't be like this Ugh

Any thoughts?

fears the Luz question It's just annoying being lit on fire but I won't censor myself for it. Just that the first time I made my opinion clear on Luz's 'desire', I managed to piss of EVERYONE. -_-

I also have to point out just how many retcons or things the show did that you have to make to give Amity… Anything. It's genuinely just sad and someone today made me realize "Oh, yeah, the canon lesbian does kind of just get reduced to "I have a girlfriend" which is usually not great on the representation scale…" But I could be blowing smoke out of my ass with that one. Just your question itself kind of points out how hard the show has worked to define Amity honestly not by what she's interested in but what parts of her past she refutes.

Main problem with that is nothing replaces it. Even your claims make you have to ignore how she treats the coven system in general. After all, I phrase it as "Her deciding not to go to college" because that's the importance she puts on it. That it might disappoint people but it isn't some life altering, capital punishment level crime that she is committing with this choice. Worse yet, how it's framed and it being Odalia's dream actually takes away from her goal? in Reaching Out.

Because Reaching Out in theory is the closest that the show comes to giving Amity a motivation beyond Luz. Her want to connect with her dad has nothing to do with Luz after all. Now, by the end of the season, and even in that episode, you can see the hand of the plot and the writers forcing this to happen to setup for later and it's handled pretty poorly if you ask me, but it is technically there and so it must be discussed.

So… What does Amity want from her father? She claims it's to connect with him but that's a really nebulous thing and somehow she treats beating a tournament that Alador questionably remembers winning or caring about would somehow be as momentous as JOINING THE EMPEROR'S COVEN. No, sorry, it's actually made out to be somehow a greater achievement despite the EC supposedly being for the best of the best and kind of guarantying a good future for you, at least if you believe fucking anything Lilith said in Covention. If you tried to take these Stormtroopers ever seriously instead of only listening to the S2 assassination that happens to them.

So connection is viable but it feels week. Her motivation more towards the end seems to be recognition. And I say recognition, not being understood, for a reason. She literally just wants her dad to see her, go "Do whatever you want," and then… Profit? Because if she actually cared about his opinion or what he thought of her… Anything else in that episode would have mattered? Bare minimum, the FUCKING COVENS. But she throws that away easily and rejects any real form of affection.

Honestly, one could make a claim that her desire there is a want to be proven as superior to her parents. Superior to her past. That would honestly fit a lot more with her rejection of her father, of anything they care about, etc. like that but because the show wants Alador to be a good guy for… I guess a better answer to the Abomatons (something that goes nowhere really. At all. And everything to do with Alador's 'redemption' is S2B so you really can't blame the shortening for the lack of any plan or point) and that's about it. So Amity had to want to be closer to him but none of her actions reflect this.

Which just leaves us back with Luz. Hell, the desire to prove she's better than her past… Could be her trying to say that she is truly the person she needed to change herself to be to be with Luz. That would actually be half compelling because it'd bring out her worst traits pre-Luz in an attempt to prove how great a girlfriend she is, handle some actually interesting themes with how focused on Luz she is and how sole minded obsession is bad but…

We don't get any of that. We just get told that Amity wants to be close to her dad because it's her dad, even if they haven't been close for years and she should actively resent her parents, especially now for both trying to kill Luz and the childhood trauma of losing her best friend because of them. And that's without anything else she may resent them for for the years between those two things.

But that would have taken thought and a real plan for the Blight Family and outside of Odalia, rapid onset character change out of nowhere seems to be genetic. So… shrug

Oh, and for your personal motivation for her… I question it because of the cast, Amity has the biggest reason to need the largest proof that the Coven system is bad. Her family in general is the closest to the Emperor and the most committed to his causes, even if it's because of profit. They're also the happiest under the system. It would also be reasonable for an intelligent girl like Amity to say "Eda was a wild witch and Lilith turned traitor. It sucks he almost killed both of them but that is the risks they took with the crimes they committed and I'm not ready to take those risks myself." This is why her dismissal of the coven system is SO GALLING to me because it was RIGHT FUCKING THERE for good story telling and conflict and a good question about what a couple has to do when their trajectories in life take them inherently different places.

BUT NOPE! FUCK THAT! Amity drops the coven system as easily as one drops a hot fucking potato! And all the potential she had in the first season dies alongside it so that… So that it becomes hard to even enjoy S1 Amity without just thinking she's a lie. A well crafted, pretty lie but a lie nonetheless.

And it's hard to find motivation from a lie.

[magic-multicolored-miracle]

The Librarians and [I'M FEELING SO MANY FEELINGS]

“And the Graves of Time” was wonderful and possibly one of the most painful/emotional turmoil-y episodes to date. Right up there with “And the Point of Salvation” or “And the Eternal Question.”

Read at your own risk, and punctuate with a lot of screaming and trying to hold in my tears.

Not a good sign…

You should probably tell the others about Dare’s concerns. Poor communication is usually the majority of the problem in these sort of things

Can you really blame him for doubting the Library, or you, after learning about that?

Where is Baird and why is she missing?

Heeey Nicole…oh! And Baird!

Why are they looting your graves Nicole? What did you hide in them?

I love side-by-side fighting. Especially when it leads to…Competing? Flirting? Advising? All of the above?

I had so hoped we were done with preachy Cassandra…

Flynn’s clothing confuses and distresses me…

I don’t like how often I’ve thought “Jake’s completely right” this season. Also, Cassie, I feel like of everyone on the team you have the least ground to stand on/room to judge others’ morally dubious decisions, especially without knowing all the details (did someone switch/scramble their personalities when I wasn’t looking?)

Anything? Hey now *insert wiggling eyebrows*

She is way too excited to be Jenkins…

Jenkins should be kept far from Nicole, for both their sakes

Facing Guardians should definitely qualify you for hazard pay, I completely agree.

She had (at least) a daughter, a life, happiness even probably and she couldn’t do anything to keep it…that’s not fair…and she was willing to give it all up for Flynn? That’s kind of insane but not in a bad way. 

Eve…

I still can’t decide if I want this tethering ceremony to work out or not…maybe that’s an immortal Nicole’s true purpose? To have a guardian to tether the Library without Eve having to give up her mortality? I am 100% convinced that Nicole is not evil and there’s no way she did what Jenkins claims, at least not the way he thinks and of her own free will

Mean, Flynn. Just mean. I love it. 

Everyone having doubts and concerns and hurting me

Nicole…we were doing so well…

Revenge, or suicide?

Yes with her Jenkins. Shut up Jenkins. 

Yay for peptalks from Nicole and a definite, real change of tune. Maybe I will get my two guardian wish after all.

This guy is full of shit. And probably Rasputin’s spawn. And I don’t want to let him finish Jenkins. Ugh.

I’m sure she had her reasons, probably trying to infiltrate and defeat from within. But she couldn’t protect the Romanovs from him because history.

Emotional chats in a radiation zone. The surroundings fit the subject?

Russian nesting boxes? Really? Could the metaphors get anymore obvious?

[Insert Baird “NOPE” from the first season because I can’t find the damn GIF right now]

I jinxed it again didn’t I? I gotta stop getting excited/liking characters/thinking things will work out the way I hope...

Once again, Rasputin is the villain of my favorite stories.

Of course it takes her getting stabbed and probably dying for Jenkins to accept his mistake. Or it took Rasputin because Jenkins can’t fucking trust Eve or Nicole herself because he is paranoid and stuck in his preconceptions

Don’t taunt the villain till you win, Eve. You should know that.

Radiation’s a good way to kill the deathless. 

Jenkins…

In the end Sir Galahad the Pure set things right again, just like he should.

So I was wrong. But I was right. But mostly I was wrong.

Flynn, no. Why didn’t you at least leave a letter goodbye?

[fitzs-trained-monkey]

Chapter One: Lonely Together

Jack Kline x OC

Rated: PG

~I might hate myself tomorrow

But I'm on my way tonight

Let's be lonely together

A little less lonely together~

Sent: 10:52 PM

Merry Christmas, stranger. I hope yours is as bright as new fallen snow. Stay warm.

I smiled down at my phone before clicking it off and slipping it into my pocket. I didn't know who I had sent the message to. It was just a number I had punched in at random. I didn't expect anyone to reply.

Wrapping my dark green cardigan tighter around my body, I pulled my knees in closer to my chest and pressed myself closer against the wall of the bakery. The wall was only slightly warmer than the frigid air around me. It was December 2nd and icy gales were blowing in from Lake Superior and stinging the skin of the city's occupants.

The sky hung dark, low, and flat over Copper Harbor, Michigan. Copper Harbor was an itty-bitty town at the northern most tip of the northernmost part of Michigan. You know that piece of land that's only connected to the mainland by a highway, that in-between place that really should be Canada, but isn't? That's where Copper Harbor is and that's where I was.

Copper Harbor was the sort of town where newcomers and visitors are as common as flying pigs and are treated with about as much scrutiny. It's not one of those small, friendly towns just off the highway; the ones that are pleasant to find yourself in if you've taken a wrong turn. It's quite the feat to get lost and turn up in Copper Harbor, considering its miles away from anything and everything remotely interesting, unless you're searching for Bigfoot or a drunk Canadian that took a wrong turn. Though those two things might just end up being one and the same. No, nobody came to Copper Harbor unless they had a reason. That's just the sort of place it was. And aside from the mind-numbing cold, it was exactly the sort of place I wanted to be.

The clouds were so heavy with the snow that now drifted down, dusting everything in a layer of fine white powder, it seemed that someone standing on even the lowest rooftop could reach up and touch them. The snowflakes raining down from those clouds gave the appearance of tiny shooting stars. Many would have found the sight beautiful. I didn't. I just found it cold and somewhat depressing. Some people say that shooting stars are angels, falling to the earth to bless the lives of people in need. I've never liked those sorts of stories. The stars belong in the heavens. The dust belongs on the earth. Collecting in puddles, the sparkling, sugar-like ice crystals did nothing to ease the bitter cold. I shivered and coughed, my breath fogging in front of me.

I should have frozen to death hours ago.

But I can't die. At least, not that way.

Suffering, on the other hand, I can do that to no end.

I put my head between my knees, hoping to retain what little heat my walking corpse had to offer. I struggled to remain conscious. The story of the little-match-girl was playing in my head. I'd never liked that story's ending. Hallucinations really weren't my thing, especially hallucinations about things I tried not to think about, the things I tried to burry in the farthest corners of my mind. I had to distract myself, to think about anything that would keep me awake. The problem was, there was nothing to distract me.

Pling!

My phone buzzed in my pocket with a text. I grasped it quickly, greedy for a distraction, but I paused upon seeing the number displayed upon the screen. It was that number I had texted the Merry Christmas message to. Whoever it was had texted me back. I unlocked my phone and peered at the mystery person's message.

Received: 11:18 PM

Merry Christmas to you as well!

The message read. I smiled a little, surprised that anyone would care to return my quiet Christmas wish. The screen of my phone lit up with another message.

Received: 11:19 PM

Who are you?

The question was a simple one. Though tone can often be difficult to infer over written text, the question seemed to bear no hostility, only innocent curiosity. I thought for a bit about what to say, the answer was not as simple as the question had implied.

***

Located quite literally one thousand miles away from Copper Harbor, was the small, out-of-the-way town of Lebanon, Kansas. Now, in the outskirts Lebanon there was a hill. The hill was modestly sized and carpeted with thick grass painted with a layer of frost. Although it was a rather pleasant sight for some stray hiker to find, the hill was really quite unremarkable. That is, if you ignored the hulking steel door built into the side of it that looked like the entrance to a post-apocalyptic hobbit hole. See, built under that hill there was a bunker. It looked like any ordinary bunker if one can ever describe a bunker as ordinary. But inside this ordinary looking bunker, sat something rather extraordinary and his name was Jack.

Jack Kline was quite happy where he was. Sitting with his legs crossed on a chair beside the bunker's fireplace, Jack held Sam's beloved lap-top between his knees. Sam let him borrow it on the nights he couldn't sleep. Those nights were many. Sleepless nights were one of the many side effects of being half-angel, but he didn't really mind. Jack wasn't overly fond of sleep, not like Sam or Dean who adored the few hours they got. Jack would much rather be awake because if he was asleep then he couldn't observe. He liked to observe. He loved learning. He loved taking in anything and everything going on around him, soaking it all up like a sponge with legs. He especially loved to soak up a story. Epic ones with heroes that defeat powerful villains. Jack loved stories.

So, no; Jack Kline was not overly fond of sleep. No, Jack preferred to just sit quietly and watch those epic stories as they played out in front of him on the screen of Sam's lap-top.

Currently, he was watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The computer had said he would like it, and the computer had been right. He had just finished season 2 and had begun on season 3. Some small voice in the back of his mind told him he should slow down and draw the series out a little longer, but Jack just couldn't find the will to do so. This story was just too good to stop. Jack shoved a hand full of popcorn in his mouth as he pressed the play button on the next episode. He had managed to sneak several bags of popcorn from the kitchen and into the secret stash in his room a few nights earlier. It was perfect, except popcorn needed to be popped and popping the kernels without attracting notice was a bit of a challenge. But he found that if he popped them during the day, when everyone was clamoring about and busy with whatever, the noise from the popping kernels wouldn't peak any suspicion. The only downside to his strategy was that it left him with cold popcorn. Though this too could be remedied via his angel powers, if he was careful about it, he could warm up the popcorn undetected.

Now, don't get the impression that Jack was being starved, or held in this bunker against his will, or something awful like that. As was mentioned before, Jack was very happy there. The Winchesters, Sam and Dean, and the angel Castiel, lived there with him and took care of him. They were his family and Jack loved them. The only reason he had a secret stash at all was because Sam was the only one in the bunker who cared about the importance of having a somewhat healthy diet. Whereas Dean let the boy eat pretty much anything he wanted and Cas- well in Cas's mind food was food and that's all there was to it. But Sam didn't like it when he caught Jack eating what he referred to as 'junk food'.

Somehow, Sam always caught him.

"That stuff’ll rot your teeth, Jack!" He'd sigh, as he'd flip on the kitchen light and catch Jack eating cereal sometime around midnight. Then he'd look at Jack with a disappointed look on his face until Jack threw the cereal away and went back to bed. Jack hated it when Sam looked at him like that, he just couldn't bear to let the Winchesters down.

But Jack loved to eat. Eating was enjoyable as it brought with it something new every time. Yet more things to absorb and to experience. Although the younger Winchester disapproved of the more sugary foods; Jack liked those a whole lot more than the salads Sam tried to get him to eat. Jack didn't like the salads or 'Rabbit Food' as Dean called it. No, Jack liked popcorn a quite a bit more.

He smiled as he brought another handful into his mouth. Yes, Jack Kline quite enjoyed eating.

Plip! Ploop!

Jack's head swiveled away from the screen to stare at the phone laying face-up on the arm rest of the chair in which he sat. The screen was alight with a text message. He picked up the phone and unlocked it. The message read:

Received: 10:52 PM

Merry Christmas, stranger. I hope yours is as bright as new fallen snow. Stay warm.

That was all. Jack was quite confused; he didn't know that number. Who had sent the text? What should he do? Should he say something back?

Curiosity and caution struggled in a match tug-of-war in his head. He wanted to know who the message had come from. He wanted to know why that person had sent it. He also wanted to know why he had a strange feeling that whoever had sent the message was horribly sad. But would the Winchesters be mad at him if he answered? Sam and Dean had given him the phone just a few days earlier.

"For emergencies," Sam had said as he laid the device in Jack's hand before resuming his packing. Jack had stared at it, rather confused as to its purpose. Castiel had been off somewhere doing something and Sam and Dean had been leaving for a hunt, leaving him alone which Dean was completely and utterly against.

"Only for emergencies," Dean had stressed, jabbing his finger in Jack's general direction as he inspected various articles of clothing before tossing them into a duffle bag. "That means don't text or call unless someone is breaking in or you're dying!"

Sam shot his older brother a warning look. Dean ignored it and pulled a pair of socks out of his dresser, sniffing them briefly before making a face and chucking them to the other side of the room. Jack looked back down at the small black rectangle in his palm.

"Okay so, only text or call in case there's an emergency. Got it." Jack clinched the thin black box between his thumb and forefinger, carefully lifting it up as if it might explode in his face. "But, one question, if something happens like-like you said, like somebody breaking in or me dying, how-how would I do that?" He asked, looking back at the two brothers. They both froze their hasty packing and pivoted to stare at him, their eyebrows raised with disbelieving question.

"What?" Dean asked the young Nephilim. Jack shrank away a little, not wanting to upset the older Winchester.

"How do I text or call you? I don't know how to do that," Jack had timidly replied. Dean just shook his head and returned to over-stuffing the duffle. Sam, however, was much more understanding.

"That's right, you-you don't, do you?" Sam asked, realizing his mistake. Jack turned his attention to the younger of the brothers, shaking his head in an answer to Sam's question.

"Unbelievable," Dean muttered, rolling his eyes. Sam shot him another glare which Dean merely shrugged off.

"Well, come on then, I'll teach you," Sam had said. Jack watched as Sam set the contacts and explained how everything worked. He showed Jack how to send a text, how to dial and answer a call, and all the other things Jack would need to know. Jack just watched him and took note of every little thing. Watching and replicating was how Jack learned best.

"Now, if I don't answer my phone, you call Dean. But if he doesn't pick up, I want you to call me again, if I still don't answer a second time, I want you to call this number right here. That's Jody Mills, she's a friend of ours and she'll help you, alright? You get all that?" Sam finished explaining and looked for Jack to confirm his understanding. Jack nodded.

"I got it!" He said, enthusiastically. Sam gave the young boy a nervous smile.

"You do? Can you repeat it back to me?" Sam asked Jack the question the same way Sam and Dean's father had always asked them.

"If something happens, call you, and if you don't answer, call Dean. If Dean doesn't answer then I call you again, but if you still don't pick up, then call Jody Mills." Jack repeated all of Sam's instructions perfectly, grinning proudly at the younger Winchester when he finished. Sam laughed a little, but nerves twinged his voice.

"Good, yeah. Okay," Sam paused, thinking things over, "You know what, Jack? If neither of us answer your call and it's really that urgent, don't bother calling me a second time. Just call Jody right away if you can't get through to either of us. Alright?"

"Alright!" Jack nodded, grinning. Sam nodded back, stiffly.

"Alright." He seemed like he wanted to say something else but didn't know how to say it.

"You two done in there, Sammy?! We gotta go!" Dean called, walking in from another room. Sam stood and looked at his brother.

"Uh, yeah. I think we're good," He took a few steps towards the stairs that lead up to the door before pausing and turning back to Jack, "We're good, right? You're gonna be okay here by yourself?" Sam asked again. Jack grinned and gave him a thumbs up.

"I'll be fine. You don't have to worry."

Sam nodded and smiled with so much nervousness it almost hurt to watch.

"Okay, good. It's good. We're good," He said, nodding and trying to reassure himself more than anyone else. Dean raised an eyebrow at his overly anxious little brother, tugging his old leather jacket on over his shoulders, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he directed his remarks at Jack.

"Hey, kid. Whatever you do, don't do anything stupid," He'd said, half glaring, "We'll be back in a few days." Then they'd left.

Now, Jack glanced back down at the phone in his hands, remembering Dean's warning about not doing anything stupid. But his curiosity regarding the sender of the message was overwhelming. It couldn't hurt to text this person back, right? Was that what Dean had meant by his warning? Did this count as something stupid? What was the worst that could happen? Deciding that the benefits outweighed the risks, he texted back.

Sent: 10:18 PM

Merry Christmas to you as well!

Jack wrote.

Sent: 10:19 PM

Who are you?

No sooner had asked his question, he began to worry that he might have sounded rude. He waited with anticipation for the mystery person to reply. He didn't have to wait long.

Received: 10:20 PM

It doesn't matter, you don't know me.

I'm just someone wanting to give you a warm holiday wish.

Jack frowned. Again, he got the distinct feeling that the person on the other side of this conversation was deeply saddened by something. He desperately wanted to know what. So, he did the thing he did best. He asked and waited to see what would happen.

***

Received: 11:21 PM

If you don't know me, why do you care?

I don't mean to be rude. I'm just curious.

Why do this?

I read the person's question once, then twice, then three times and I realized that I didn't have an answer. Why did I care? Why was I texting some random person a Christmas wish? For all I knew, this person may not even observe the holiday. I had so many of my own things to worry about I was nearly drowning in them. I didn't know this person. I had nothing to do with them. So, why did I care about their holiday season? Why was I doing this?

I told myself it was just a random act of kindness. But deep down I knew what the reason was, and even if I didn't want to think about it, I felt it in my heart. I was doing this for the same reason I did everything. So, I took a few moments and came up with a reply.

Sent: 11:25 PM

I'm doing this because I believe that no one should ever have to be alone,

especially during the holidays.

I sent my reply and remembered to keep on shivering. I could hardly feel the cold anymore, I had gone almost completely numb. But I knew if I didn't keep moving, I would surely freeze in place and be unable to move until spring came. I vaguely wondered how cold it was. I remembered having heard on someone's car radio that this was supposed to be the coldest winter Michigan had experienced in the last decade. Though winter had only just begun, it was already cold enough for the district council to be suggesting face coverings to prevent citizens from getting frostbite and losing their nose.

I sneezed. I had no such face covering. Hell! I didn't even have a jacket! Let alone a coat or anything mildly warm. All I had was my oversized green cardigan, my black Star Wars t-shirt and my black jeans. That was it. Yet here I sat, outside a bakery in well below freezing temperatures, shivering myself into next decade.

I could go to a shelter. At least there I wouldn't have to endure the bitter biting of the wind as it gushed with double its normal force through these tight, abandoned alleyways. But if I went to a shelter then there was no chance of leaving undetected, I reminded myself. No, it was better to stay here, cold and alone, than to risk human contact.

I was pulled from my thoughts by another pling from my phone. Another message from that unknown contact.

Received: 11: 27

Are you alone?

Again, the question was simple. And although the mere thought hurt like a knife twisting in a fresh wound, I looked around at the dark, trash littered alleyway I sat in, watching the scattered rags of paper flutter and tumble in the winter gales, and I looked at the brutally beautiful puddles of speckled ice gathering along my body and melting on my skin, and I examined the bleak night sky, choked starless by the drifting dreary clouds; and the utterly silent stillness of the sleeping city revealed the harsh reality of my answer.

No one was here.

Nobody cared.

Not even the stars would keep me company. Because the stars never cared who I was.

So, with no reason to keep the truth hidden. I answered the question honestly.

Sent: 11: 29 PM

Yes.

Sent: 11: 30 PM

I am alone.

I was completely and utterly alone.

***

Received: 10: 30 PM

I am alone.

Once again Jack got the distinct impression that these words carried a heavy burden. It made him frown. What could he do to help a person he didn't even know? He wanted to ask this person if they had any friends, but something about those words told him the answer. When this person had said they were alone, Jack got the feeling they weren't just talking about the current moment. But maybe that's what this person needed. Maybe they needed a friend.

Sent: 10: 32 PM

Well, I'll be your friend and talk to you. There, now you're not alone anymore!

Jack smiled as he sent the text. The reply didn't take long.

Received: 10: 33 PM

Thank you.

You don't have waste your time on me but thank you.

It didn't take any special powers to read in between the lines this time, anyone could see the sadness in those words. Though Jack wasn't sure if it was his powers causing that strange feeling or if he was just imagining things.

Sent: 10:34 PM

I don't mind. Really!

Besides, I don't have anyone to talk to either.

Received: 10: 35 PM

Well, in that case, we can be lonely together!

Jack grinned. He'd made himself a friend. He couldn't wait to get to know them.

***

Received: 11: 36 PM

Since we're friends now, what's your name?

I smiled down at my new mystery friend's message. There was something about the words that made them seem innocent and earnest. It couldn't hurt to give my name, right? It’s not like he could find me. After all, I'm supposed to be dead.

Sent: 11: 37 PM

My name is Martina.

I sent my name and waited for the response. It came quickly.

Received: 11: 38 PM

I like your name Martina!

It's very pretty.

I flinched as I read the text. Something about seeing my name written in the text brought me back to a conversation with a different person a long time ago. It was a painful memory, and I didn't want to see it anymore. I didn't want another reminder of the still bleeding wounds in my heart. I remembered why I didn't let anyone call me that name anymore.

Sent: 11: 39 PM

Thank you.

But I would prefer you call me Marty.

I didn't want to be so sensitive to things like this, but I just couldn't help it.

Received: 11: 40 PM

Alright! I like Marty too.

It's a fun name.

I smiled; grateful they didn't ask why it was so important that they called me by a nickname.

Sent: 11: 41 PM

Thanks for understanding.

So, what's your name?

Received: 11: 42 PM

My name is Jack!

I grinned to myself. I'd made me a friend. I just couldn't wait to get to know him.

Sent: 11: 43 PM

Heya, Jack!

It’s nice to meet you!

I think this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Received: 11: 44 PM

I agree, Marty. We are going to be great friends!

Sent: 11: 45 PM

So, what's your favorite movie?

And just like that, we talked until the sun came up. And suddenly, for the first time in quite a while, I wasn't completely alone.

***

"Hey, uh, Jack? We're back!"

Sam's voice drifted in from just outside Jack's bedroom door. Jack was surprised. He hadn't heard the brothers come in which, for him, was quite peculiar.

The door creaked open and Jack hastily attempted to pretend like he hadn't been using the phone.

He failed.

Miserably.

The device slipped from his hand and he fumbled to catch it before it smashed against the grey, polished concrete floor. He let out a sigh of relief as he snatched it just in time.

Sam peered around the door, checking in on Jack, who was now hanging halfway off his bed and clutching the phone. Scrambling to sit upright, Jack gave Sam a half-panicked smile.

"Hi Sam!" He waved a greeting, shoving his phone behind his back. Sam raised his eyebrows in a questioning expression and stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. He folded his arms and leaned back on his heels.

"Hey Jack," Sam seemed a little distracted, "Have you seen Cas?" He asked. Jack shook his head vigorously.

"He's not back yet," He answered. Sam nodded and started to leave before stopping and turning back. Only now seeming to notice Jack's odd behavior. Sam gestured at the phone hidden behind the boys back,

"So, what were you doing in here just now?" Jack's eyes flew wide as quarters and his gaze shifted rapidly around the room, focusing on anywhere but Sam. His mind was working overtime trying to find a viable excuse.

"Uhhhh...Nothing!" Jack tried; his brain had gone blank. Sam raised an eyebrow.

"You sure about that?" Sam leaned forward a little, narrowing his eyes. Jack leaned back to match; his face scrunched up with the guilt he was trying very hard to hide. Everyone in the bunker knew how terrible Jack was at lying. He might be able to pass a few simple fibs by a stranger, but his family saw through him like he was made of glass. He couldn't deceive them. But that didn't stop him from trying, however.

"Yes..." Jack said slowly, his eyebrows pulling together in a rather sad attempt at looking sincere.

"Jack, what were you doing?" Sam asked more sternly. Jack looked at his feet and didn't answer. His shoulders moved up and down in a shrug.

"Do I have to go get Dean?" Sam pressed. Now Jack's head shot up. He stretched his hands out in a pleading gesture.

"No, no! Don't tell Dean!" Jack begged. Sam's expression shifted into one of concern.

"If you tell me, I won't tell Dean." Sam agreed, moving to sit on the bed beside Jack who shifted to give him some space. Sam waited patiently for the young Nephilim to speak. Jack kept his head down and rubbed his hands together nervously as he tried to think of how he should explain himself.

"Well, last night I was watching Netflix when I got this text from somebody wishing me a merry Christmas-" He started.

"Someone we know?" Sam asked, interrupting. Jack shook his head and continued.

"I asked them why they would do that, and they said it was because they thought that nobody should be alone this time of year. So, I asked if they were alone and they said, yes ─" Jack looked the younger Winchester in the eyes ─

"I don't know why but I just got this- this feeling, and they sounded just so sad, and now we're friends! But Dean said not to do anything stupid, and now I'm worried that I did! Are you mad?" Jack finished, worry coloring his features. Sam blinked. Once again astounded by the size of the half-angel's heart, he shook his head.

"No, Jack. I'm not mad," He said, softly.

"Really?"

"Really. I think you did a good thing. Everyone needs a friend." Sam patted Jack's shoulder and smiled. Jack looked down, grinning to himself as pride filled his chest.

Sam waited a moment before getting up from the bed. Stretching his back out and groaning a bit as he stood. It had been almost 48 hours since he last slept, and he was more than ready for a long nap. His hand rested on the doorknob and he paused a moment before turning back around.

"Hey, uh, Jack. Just one more thing. Do you by chance know this person's name?" Sam asked. Jack looked up briefly before looking back at the floor again, trying to hide the embarrassment creeping up to stain his cheeks.

"It's, uh, it's Marty," He replied. Sam nodded and moved to leave again but he stopped. His eyebrows pulled down with confusion before he turned back.

"And uh, is that a boy's name or a girl's name? Do you know?" Jack turned his head a bit to the side and picked at a thread in his jeans.

"Does it matter?" He questioned back. Truthfully, it didn't. Sam wouldn't make Jack stop if he didn't want to. But to say that the boy's current evasive behavior didn't pique his interest, would be a lie. Though, the kid’s flushed cheeks told him quite a bit about the answer.

"It doesn't matter," Sam said, shrugging, "I'm just curious is all." The tall man watched the boy's reaction. Jack nodded and shifted as if uncomfortable.

"Marty's a girl." He answered, trying to force his voice into sounding nonchalant. And failing.

"Okay, cool." Sam nodded, turning around again, and reaching for the handle. Jack's head whipped around.

"Wait, Sam!"

Sam looked over his shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"Don't. Tell. Dean!" Jack stressed. Urgency was evident in his voice. Sam huffed a laugh.

"Okay, Jack." With that, Sam pulled open the door and walked out letting the heavy steel swing shut behind him. Behind the door, Jack sighed with relief. He'd dodged a bullet with that one.

Walking a ways down the hall, Sam got to Dean's room where his older brother was now unpacking. The younger brother leaned on the door frame and expelled the laughter he'd been holding on to since Jack’s room. Dean turned around, holding a pistol and a pair of weeks old and hopelessly blood caked socks in his hands, he faced Sam with a questioning look.

"What's got you so giggly all of a sudden?" The older of the brother's asked.

Dean glanced at the pair of socks in his hand. He grimaced at the stench and held them further away from his face, trying not to breathe. It didn't work. The socks odor was so pungent, Dean could smell them through his mouth. There was no hope of washing them. Nope, those things would have to be burned. Though, taking another whiff of them, Dean wasn't sure that even incinerating the socks would do him much good now. The stomach-turning stink would be branded into his memory forever. Sam straightened up, shaking his head of shoulder length hair.

"It's just something Jack said." Sam smiled and laughed again before taking notice of the unholy stench wafting off the socks. He coughed. "Dude, those stink. Bad!"

"Yeah, it's a sad day, Sammy." Dean nodded solemnly. Sam covered his nose.

"Why?"

"These were my second luckiest pair of socks."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Well, they're not anymore," Sam pointed out. Now, they were just rancid.

"I think we should give em' a Viking funeral, something to honor their service. I mean, I remember one time when I wore these things for two weeks straight!" Dean reminisced, grinning. Sam looked mildly disturbed.

"That's, uh... nice... But, uh, is there somewhere we could put them before the funeral? Because they, uh, they reek." Sam was trying hard not to gag and couldn't understand how Dean could be holding them and remain unaffected. Dean smirked.

"You wanna go put em' somewhere?" He asked, waving the socks into Sam's face. Sam leaned away.

"Ah! God! No! Put those things somewhere! Please!" He choked out. Dean just grinned and moved to the other side of the room. Grabbing a cardboard box from off the shelf, he shoved the socks in there and sealed the lid. The stench quickly began to dissipate.

"Better?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"We're gonna have to burn that box too."

"Yup." Sam still felt a little sick but at least the socks were gone.

"So, what was it Jack said that you thought was so funny?" The older brother asked.

"Oh, uh, nothing. It was nothing," Sam said. But laughter began to creep up on him again. Dean rolled his eyes and went back to pulling more dirty clothing from the duffle bag.

"Are ya gonna stand there or are ya gonna spill?" Dean pushed. Sam sobered up again.

"Well, I'm not supposed to tell you," He said.

Dean shook his head, mildly annoyed. He knew Sam was going to tell him whatever juicy information he had gotten, just like he always did when he got that sly look on his face. Sam could be a bit of a schoolgirl that way. Except, of course, when it came to the important things, the things Dean was supposed to know. Those things Sam always kept to himself.

"Well, Sammy, if you ain’t gonna spill─" he used the gun in his hand to gesture from Sam to the duffle bag─ "get workin'."

The younger Winchester moved to the bag and started unpacking, grinning his face off all the while. Dean knew his little brother was waiting for him to ask about the thing with Jack again, so he said nothing. He just waited for Sam to look over to him eagerly, which is exactly what Sam did.

"So get this!" Sam started.

'Here it comes.' Dean predicted internally. Sam kept starring.

'Yatzee.' Dean thought. He knew Sam like the back of his hand. Actually, he probably knew his brother better than that.

"Apparently, Jack got a text from some random person last night wishing him merry Christmas. And, well, you know Jack! So he─" Dean stopped his brother mid-sentence.

"What's her name?" He interrupted. Sam looked confused.

"I didn't say anything about a girl," Sam trailed off. Dean sighed and shook his head.

"Geez, Sammy! If you love drama so much, you should go be an actor. You ain't foolin' anybody. We both know where this is goin' so just cut to the chase!" Dean sighed, opening a trunk and tossing in the gun he'd been holding along with several knives. His small outburst had startled his younger brother, but Dean didn't really care. Sam wasn't the only one who hadn't slept in 48 hours. Sleep was calling and Dean wanted nothing more than to answer. Sam frowned.

"Marty. The girl's name is Marty," Sam stated, sounding rather put out that Dean had guessed at his not-so-cleaver ploy. The older if the pair turned to the younger with a perplexed expression.

"Wait, wait. Marty?" He clarified. Amused disbelief written all over his features.

"Marty," Sam confirmed.

"Marty?"

"Yeah. Marty."

"Like the zebra in Madagascar, Marty?" Dean asked, grinning. Sam nodded.

"Yeah, like that. But remember, you didn't hear anything from me!" He answered, smiling as well. Dean laughed as he turned his attention back to the mess of clothing and weapons surrounding him on the floor.

"Yeah, whatever, drama queen." Dean rolled his eyes and kept working. The room was silent for a moment before the older Winchester burst out laughing again. He couldn't help himself; he found the subject hilarious.

"Ah, man. Marty! Now there's a name!" He exclaimed as he started folding the few clean clothing items laying in the pile. "What? Did her parents just take one look at her and say: 'Look at our beautiful baby! Let's name her Marty!'" Dean scoffed.

Sam snorted and shook his head at his older brother's bad joke. Then he leaned his head back and yawned.

"Man, I think we need some sleep," Sam sighed. Dean smirked.

"Is it your bedtime already?" He taunted, expecting a playful retort. But this time, Sam didn't argue. He just nodded.

"Yeah, I think it is." Though worried about his little brother, Dean held his playful smirk in place perfectly, just like he had been doing for so many years.

"Well, you go ahead and hit the sack. I'll finish up here." He said, easily. Even though he was just as tired and Sam was, he would finish out like always. Sam raised an eyebrow.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, o'course. There's not much left anyway." That was a lie and they both knew it, but Sam took the offer of sleep while it was on the table.

"Thanks, Dean."

"You're welcome, Sammy."

Sam patted his older brother on the arm as he stood and left the room. Traveling down the corridor he got to his bedroom and was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Meanwhile, Dean mouthed the strange name of Jack's mystery girl and chuckled about it to himself. Sitting on the floor in his room as he continued folding the rest of the clean clothes, cleaning out all the weapons and putting everything back in its place. The chore took him two more hours to complete but when it was done, he stretched himself out and laid back on his bed.

"Marty. Now, that's hilarious." Dean snickered to himself as he drifted off to sleep.

~I might hate myself tomorrow.

But I'm on my way tonight.

Let's be lonely together.

A little less lonely together~

Lyrics from: Lonely Together by Jasmine Thompson

[aliensforleaders]

Tell Me Again Tomorrow

Pairing: Rami Malek x Female Reader

Summary: The reader lives in LA and her friend Alisha begs her to go to a party for the weekend at the beach. She really doesn’t want to go, but Alisha convinces her and she meets a captivating man.

Warnings: Just a bit of swearing. There will possibly be smut in this story later down the line if I can figure out a non cringy way to write it.

A/N: Hi so it’s been a few years since I’ve written anything for public viewing. I want to specially thank @wutheringshay for answering my message and making me feel better about writing and posting this. Love you Shay! I’m really glad I did because I very much enjoyed writing it. So if you enjoy it let me know because we all need a little validation right?

Today was Friday. Like every other Friday my plans were to stay home, eat way too much junk, and watch way too many episodes of Love Island. Alisha had other plans, however, and she wasn't leaving my apartment until I agreed to come along. 

“Come on (Y/N)! You never do anything fun on the weekends. Please come with me? I need you to help me find someone cute! And you haven’t seen Wendy in so long.”

She had told me about the beach party that she got invited to for the whole weekend. It was her very rich cousin, Wendy’s birthday, which meant everything was free except the hotel room. It’s not that it didn't sound fun it was just that I would have to pack clothes and leave the comfort of my apartment, and that was harder for me than I'd like to admit. But maybe I needed this? And plus it would be nice to see Wendy again. 

“Three days?” I asked again.

“Yep!” she said, with hope in her eyes.

“Ugh. Alright. What could happen in three days, right?” I agreed and Alisha jumped up off the couch full of excitement.

———

It didn't take long for me to get my things together. I threw my bag into Alisha’s trunk and we were off. The drive was beautiful once we got out of the heart of LA. It was very easy for me to get sucked into the day-in, day-out that was working and living in the city. I suddenly started to feel at ease as I zoned out to the music playing from the radio and the beautiful landscape out my window.

We arrived at El Porto Beach a while later. It was far enough away from the city to feel like a real vacation, and I got even more relaxed when I saw the blue waves crashing onto the shore. Okay maybe I could do this. The wind blew through my hair as I got out of the car and I could smell the ocean in the air. It was overwhelming my senses in the best way.

After we had gotten our room and changed, we decided to head down to the bar outside where the party was supposed to be. I wasn’t too thrilled about that part, but I planned on grabbing a drink and disappearing for the evening.

The sun had just started to go down when we got downstairs. There was way more people here than I was expecting, but I still felt at ease somehow. Ambient music played from speakers all around.

“Oh my god! You guys came!” I heard a loud female voice behind me and whipped around to see Wendy running towards us, drink in hand. She ran up and hugged us and all I could smell was tequila. She was always nice to me and hung out with me and Alisha a lot when we were younger.

“Happy Birthday, Wendy!” I said giving her a tight hug.

“Thanks girl! I have to say though I am surprised Alisha got you to come.”

“Yeah it wasn't easy, but I'm here.” I laughed, feeling a little on the spot.

“Well come on let’s go get drinks!” Alisha chimed in, breaking the slightly uncomfortable silence.

An hour had gone by and Alisha and Wendy wandered off somewhere leaving me by the bar. I was sipping on something with vodka and a lot of sugar when I turned and saw him.

He was leaning against the bar all the way at the opposite end, standing next to a slightly more muscular guy who looked very similar. They had to be related. He had the most intense eyes with an indistinct color. His dark curly hair fell in just the right way on his forehead, and wow that smile. After a minute or two, we locked eyes and I quickly looked away, sipping my drink nervously, trying to look as normal as possible. I glanced over again and this time he was whispering to the man standing next to him with a huge grin on his face. I saw him step away from the bar and my heart began racing. Shit. 

It had been so long since I’d put myself in a situation like this and I felt very out of my element. I stood up straight, pushed some hair behind my ear, and took a swig of my drink. I could see him approaching me out of the corner of my eye. Here we go.

“Excuse me.” a very deep, languid voice spoke and I finally turned to meet his gaze. Wow. His eyes took hold of me instantly.

“Hi sorry to bother you, I just saw you standing here alone and wondered how in the hell that was possible.” he smiled again and my heart fluttered, but I kept my confident posture even though I was having a damn heart attack. It’s a super power I possess for some odd reason.

I laughed, swirling the straw in my drink, looked back into his eyes, and replied,”Well I’ll tell you how that’s possible. I hadn’t seen you yet.” I shrugged and threw back the rest of my drink. That vodka was bringing out a whole side of me I never got to utilize.

“Wow.” he laughed loudly, not taking his eyes off me, watching the vodka disappear past my lips. “I’m Rami, by the way. Can I get you another drink?”

“(Y/N). And yes you can, but only one. From the looks of you I’d better keep away from the vodka tonight.” we both laughed at that and he called the bartender over to get me another.

“So Rami, how do you know Wendy?” I asked, turning towards him and sliding onto the stool next to me.

He did the same and replied,”My sister is actually friends with her. They went to college together. So my sister invited my brother, Sami, and me. How do you know her?”

“Alisha and I have been friends for pretty much our whole lives and Wendy used to hang around.”

Rami hummed in response, his eyes watching my lips as I spoke, that intrigued smile never leaving his. We talked for a while at the bar about a lot of things. He was a good listener and he asked a lot of questions, always keeping eye contact. My phone buzzed a while later and I saw it was Alisha asking where I was.

“It’s Alisha.” I told Rami. I locked my phone, standing up and putting it in my bag.

“Does that mean you have to go?” he asked looking very sad and sounding almost disappointed.

I giggled, “I should probably make sure she gets to bed okay. But hey um..” I trailed off looking around and grabbing one of the paper coasters on the bar and asked the bartender for a pen. I quickly wrote down my number on it.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” I asked him.

“Definitely.” his face lit up.

I laughed at his almost childlike excitement. “Okay then here. Call me tomorrow. I need a reason to get out of socializing with these people.” I gestured to the groups of people spread around the beach and bar area.

He stood up, taking the coaster from my hands. He looked deep into my eyes with a passion that almost made me gasp. “Did I tell you that you are absolutely stunning.”

“No, but you can tell me again tomorrow.” I smiled and leaned in placing a quick kiss on his cheek. I grabbed my bag and walked away from the bar. I glanced back to see him running a hand through his hair, mouth agape. 

Okay well that happened. I still couldn’t figure out where all that confidence came from, but I didn’t care. I just spent two hours talking to the most beautiful, intense, intriguing man I’d ever met. I set out to find Alisha and praise her for making me come to this thing.