#dean gives you an impossible choice sequel

[zepskies]

Choosing Him

Pairing: Dean W. x Reader, Sam W. x Reader

Summary: You and Sam have been dating and living together for a few months, when Dean shocks you with a confession. Now you have to choose.

AN: This was requested by this beautiful anon! (And also by my friend! ❤️)

Read this as a stand-alone or see this imagine for context: Dean gives you an impossible choice. (In which Dean is in love with Sam’s girlfriend.)

**Note: This contains two alternate endings: Sam vs. Dean.

Song Inspo: “I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen

Word Count: 4,300 Tags/Warnings: Angst, hurt/comfort, unrequited love, as well as love requited.

Imagine: Choosing him.

“Dean, just talk to me. What the hell happened?” Sam asked.

No, he implored. Angrily.

But he implored, nonetheless.

Dean was good at being stubborn. In fact, he was a professional. His lips were tight in a frown, his brows just as knitted as his brother’s.

He sat cross armed on the couch while Sam stood, using his hands to punctuate his exclamations, as he often did when he was frustrated.

“Nothing, man. I already told you,” Dean tried.

“No,” Sam said sharply. “She’s actively avoiding you. And you’re taking any excuse you can not to be within three feet of my girlfriend. So either you said something, or you did something.”

Dean looked up at his brother with a heavy sigh through his nose.

They’d been at this for a while now. So long that he was surprised you hadn’t come barreling into the living room already to break up the argument. Because he had a feeling that just the sight of you would shut them both up. (Not in a good way.)

Dean’s throat was tight, his stomach churning with unease, though he tried to show none of it on his face. He could see that Sam was on the verge of losing his shit. Just a hair away from assuming the worst.

And the worst of him.

That, Dean couldn’t abide.

“Look,” he gritted out. “I didn’t do anything.”

Sam paused, tilting his head. He took in a breath that was only slightly calming, enough that he lowered to a seat on the coffee table, across from his brother.

“Then what’d you say?” he asked.

Dean felt even guiltier just remembering.

Three weeks ago…

You wanted to know why he was drinking alone. Why he’d downed nearly an entire bottle of Jameson in the kitchen on a Tuesday night.

“You really wanna know?” Dean asked. His voice was both a rumble and a coarse whisper. His green-eyed gaze fell to your lips.

He watched you suck in a subtle breath. Your eyed widened, and your body froze. He also saw the blush staining your cheeks.

So he leaned in, slowly. He was mere inches away from finding out how sweet you really were.

He heard your shallow breath. His eyes flicked up to yours, and instinctively knew that he’d captured you. He was making you think about it.

“Tell me no,” Dean said. Tell me to stop, or I swear to God...

“Dean, what...” you whispered. But that wasn’t a no.

Still, he couldn’t. He just couldn’t do it. Not to Sam.

Dean merely reached out with a hand to soothe a gentle thumb across your cheek. He realized then that he loved you. He loved you enough to let you go, if he had to.

"It comes down to this," Dean said. His voice was deep, full of grit and desire. He saw the conflict in your eyes.

He swallowed. His heart was pounding against his ribcage, but he used every ounce of self-restraint he had left, forcing his hand to fall away from your cheek.

"You've got two choices, sweetheart," he said. And he pulled away, leaving you there at the table.

You never told him to stop…but he just couldn’t do it.

“It doesn’t matter,” Dean eventually answered his brother.

He ultimately couldn’t bring himself to voice the desperation of a drunken idiot.

He met Sam’s gaze directly. This much, he could say.

“All you need to know is I’d never…even drunk off my ass, I’d never hurt you,” Dean said.

Sam turned those words back and forth in his mind. His mouth firmed as he read between the lines, as he so often had to with Dean, who struggled to express the deeper parts of himself. Sam realized then what his brother was finally confessing.

“She loves you,” Dean added, with a self-deprecating smile.

That fell between them for a moment, as Sam rested a hand on his knee and processed all of this in record time. He glanced up.

“What about you?” he asked.

Again, with that quirk of a smile that didn’t reach Dean’s eyes.

“Don’t you worry about that either.”

He got up, clapped Sam on the shoulder, and left him there to continue thinking. Dean passed the kitchen and continued down the hall.

Neither man realized that you were standing behind the kitchen doorway. You’d been about to attempt a bit of stress baking. A chocolate tart, maybe. Or a cheese souffle. Or even the new cherry pie recipe you’d found for Dean. Anything to take your mind off your current predicament.

However, now you knew you couldn’t put it off anymore.

You didn’t want this, for either of them. You couldn’t let yourself be a coward.

Steeling yourself with a deep breath, you left the safety of the kitchen…

And you ventured into the living room, where your boyfriend was still brooding. He raised his head when he saw you out of the corner of his eye.

“Hey,” he said, clearing his throat. Even now, he was relieved to see you. He also felt like he was standing on unsteady ground.

“Hey, yourself,” you greeted back. You tried to smile, but your heart was in your stomach with nerves. “I need to tell you something.”

Sam seemed to realize what you wanted to talk about. He sighed.

“Look, don’t worry about it. Dean and I talked it out—”

“No. No, because I need to say this. Because you deserve to hear it from me,” you insisted.

You also paused, as you didn’t quite know where to go from here.

Sam’s brows furrowed, but he tried to be patient. He watched your gears turning as thought to thought shifted in your eyes. It was one of the things he loved most about you, how open and expressive you were. He could usually tell what you were thinking…except for today. And the past few weeks.

That was what had him more nervous than he’d like to admit. If a blow was coming, he’d really like to be prepared…but he just couldn’t fucking tell.

Until you began speaking.

“Okay, first of all. Nothing happened,” you assured. You rested your hands on Sam’s shoulders. He looked up into your eyes, but before he could even nod in response, you kept going.

“Dean was drunk, and I wasn’t. Which probably won’t make you feel all that better, but the point is, all I did was ask him what’s wrong? And he didn’t want to tell me. But then I pushed the issue, as you know I do sometimes. I’m working on it, I really am.”

You levied a finger at Sam, at which he could only nod. Again, before he could offer a reply, you kept going.  

“Well, finally he was all, you sure you wanna know?” you said, mimicking Dean’s deeper voice. Sam was tempted to smile, if but for what you were actually saying, and the way your gaze averted from his.

“And there was a moment there when…I thought maybe he might try to…but he didn’t. The problem is, I didn’t say no,” you confessed. Your brows knitted as you revealed how disheartened you felt at that, how guilt-ridden.

Sam’s eyes softened a bit, even though your words stung.  

“I should’ve said it,” you knew. “I should’ve pulled away, but I didn’t. Though in my defense! I was in shock. He was saying shocking things without saying them, you know? And I don’t want to be in this cliché…teen drama-esque, love triangle bullshit! You’re not Edward and I’m not Bella and this isn’t goddamn Twilight. And I refuse to be treated as such.”

You were huffing and puffing by the end of your little rant. Your eyes widened a fraction when you caught Sam trying to stamp down a smile.

“Is this amusing to you?” you snapped.

“Not at all,” Sam said. He shook his head, and with a sigh, drew you back to him with his hands on your hips. You stood between his open legs and grasped the front of his shirt.

“Look, thank you for telling me,” he said. “I know that we kind of rushed this a little. The moving in thing, I mean. It just…it felt right, at the time.”

“Yeah, I was kinda there for that,” you quipped. Your smile made him smile in return.

“Well, I guess I just need to ask you…if it still feels right,” he said.

He looked up into your eyes, still not quite sure what he would find. His heart was in his throat, no matter how many times he cleared it. He was good at looking calm when he wasn’t, and maybe his face was composed, but inside him was a tempest.

You calmed it with one touch. A gentle hand on his chest.

“Sam,” you said. Your smile was beautiful and warm. “After you left Stanford. After what happened to Jess…I didn’t know that her funeral was the last time I was ever going to see you.”

Despite that melancholy memory, your lips soon curved into a grin.

“Well, not for a long time anyway.” You both lightened at that.

Then you became more contemplative. Your gaze wandered beyond him for a moment, lost in the past.

Sam’s hands moved up to your waist and squeezed gently. You came back to him with a brighter expression.

“But when I saw you again, I thought…damn, he’s amazing,” you said with a giggle. “Even more amazing then when I knew him.”

Sam looked down at that, despite his smile. You picked him back up with your hand on his cheek. It was overgrown with stubble, a week or so past when he'd usually shave.

You didn't mind the scratchiness, but you wondered if you'd been distracting him too with your indecision. That thought made you feel all the more guilty.

“I still think that when I see you. Get to wake up next to you, research mythology and symbology and dead languages, and other things that should be impossible,” you said. “So yes, it still feels right for me. Very much so.”

Sam’s more genuine smile lightened you. He nodded and let you tilt his head back, slipping your fingers through his hair. He liked the way you touched him freely, both reassuring and affectionate.

He didn't want to admit it, but he'd been quietly afraid. Afraid he'd read you wrong, that his heart had somehow lied to him. Now he knew that it rang true.

“Okay. Good,” he said. And he reached up to touch his lips to yours.

At least, it was a simple touch at first. It soon grew in passion, becoming a more claiming kiss. He pulled you in flush against him. A hand tangled into your hair, brushing against the back of your neck, and you hummed in delight.

Your hands sunk further into his hair, just as your mouth wordlessly claimed him back. His long fingers trailed down your back and made you shiver against him. You gave more and more of yourself with each kiss.

"I love you," you whispered against his lips. Because he deserved to hear that too.

Sam paused. His eyes were still closed as he recovered some of his breath. He rested his forehead against yours and brushed a tender hand down the soft column of your neck.

"I love you too," he admitted. He had resisted saying it, and even felt a bit ashamed that he'd doubted your feelings. Now, he felt like an idiot for not fighting harder before.

This, what he had with you, it was worth fighting for.

He smiled at the way you kissed his cheek then, soft and slow and with purpose.

After a moment, you pulled away to stroke his cheek once more…and also to tell him one last thing.

“When I saw you again, I did have another thought,” you said. “He’s amazing, but…how can I think that about my best friend’s boyfriend?”

Sam frowned then, as that reality had crossed his mind as well, back when he reconnected with you last year. You held a hand to your chest, over your heart.

“Jess was like a sister to me. So how could I think about you like that? It didn’t matter how much time had passed since her death. That thought, and those feelings still had weight, Sam,” you said. “My point is…try not to be too hard on your brother for this. I think he’d rather lob off an arm than cause you any pain.”

Sam considered your words with a nod.

“I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry,” he said.

“No, I…I’d like to talk to him, if you don’t mind,” you said. “That is, if you trust me.”

Sam’s brows rose, and then furrowed slightly.

“I do, baby,” he said. “You can talk to him if you want, but…I have to. He’s my brother. He should hear it from me too.”

No need, Dean couldn’t help but think.

He pushed off from the wall, twisting a wrench in his hand as he made his way back to the garage.

It stung. Actually, it fucking cut and twisted. More painfully than Dean would ever, ever admit.

However, he knew when he needed to bow out. This was one of those times.

He’d just have to learn how to let you go, for good this time. He wouldn’t risk hurting you, or his brother again.

So once he made it to the end of the hall, he shut the door, once and for all.

Or…

You didn’t want this, for either of them. You couldn’t let yourself be a coward.

Steeling yourself with a deep breath, you left the safety of the kitchen…

And you ducked out the back way, heading down the hall.

You found Dean exactly where you’d expected—in the garage, getting ready to work on his Baby. He was sitting on a stool with his box of tools beside him. Tools he didn’t let anyone touch (except for that one time you hid his power drill, just to mess with him).

You crossed your arms.

“We need to talk,” you said.

Dean sighed, and spied your stern face over his shoulder.

“What fucking now?” he muttered. You didn't quite hear him, but you recognized his surly frown.

“Yes, right now,” you said. “Why did you do it?”

“What?” Dean asked, raising incredulous brows. “Why?”

“Yeah, why.” You stepped up to him while he swiveled in your direction. “If you supposedly had feelings for me, why did you wait so damn long? Why did you wait until we got here?”

You weren’t just casually dating his brother. You were living with him. Even if it had just been a few months, you loved Sam…and yet, you hadn’t pushed Dean away when he almost kissed you.

Why, why, why? you thought. Your teeth ground together when you thought of how tenderly Dean had touched you. The fire in his eyes, just barely held back by a thin wall of self-restraint.

“Tell me no,” he’d said.

And now, annoyance made his face tight.

“Look, just forget about it, all right? I was drunk—”

“No. You weren’t that drunk,” you refuted. “I’ve seen you slaphappy, laughing at nothing, grinning like the Joker and falling onto the couch face-first, passed out drunk. You were coherent that night. You were honest. So tell me, how long have you felt this way?”

Dean tensed. He didn’t want to do this. You both knew that, but he also knew that you weren’t giving him much of a choice.

And yet, you were waiting on him, as patiently as you could manage (something he knew was difficult for you). He sighed deeply.

“Pretty much from the beginning,” he said.

“What?” you said, ever so eloquently. You wanted to cringe at yourself. (And you called yourself a linguist.)

Your lips pursed in disbelief. “What part of the beginning?”

Dean glared heavenward, as if that could stop you from asking questions.

“From the first damn second I saw you,” he snapped. The longer he looked at you, however, he couldn’t help but soften. “I remember, you argued with Sam about dead languages, that Latin was for pussies. Ancient Greek was the tougher beat.”

That was true, you thought. And that argument stemmed back from when you and Sam were in college. Ancient history, you could say.

“The Greeks were more fun too,” you added. It triggered a smile to briefly lighten Dean’s face.

“Yeah, you said something about mass orgies,” he said, his brows furrowing.

You bit your lip at the memory. You might’ve winked at Dean with more confidence than you’d felt at the time.

Now, the man shook his head.

“Right then, I wanted to know you,” he said. “Problem is, the more I did, the more I liked what I saw.”

You stared back at him in dismay.

“Why couldn’t you have just told me from the beginning?” you asked.

Dean made a sound of frustration, carding a hand roughly through his hair.

“Oh, and what, break up the show?” he snarked. He waved haphazardly beyond you, to the moose of a man somewhere beyond the closed doors of the garage. Remembering his brother made Dean’s irritation start to fade, back into self-deprecation.

“You and Sam…you’ve got history,” he said. “He’s smart. He takes care of you, protects you. He’s uh, more the boyfriend type, anyway.”

Dean looked away from you then, crossing his arms. You relaxed yours and couldn’t help but draw near to him. A frown took over your features as you tilted your head.

“Okay, Sam and I have history,” you said with a nod. “But…you don’t think you’re smart too?”

Dean’s lips pursed somewhat as he glanced back up at you. You met his stare.

“You don’t think you’re capable of all those other things?” you asked.

Dean didn’t have an answer for you. At least, not one he was willing to say.

For the past few weeks, you’d been fighting with yourself. You’d turned that moment in the kitchen over and over in your mind, and why you couldn’t do what you were supposed to do.

Now, looking at Dean’s face, you understood why your heart broke for him. Why your heart ached with ridiculous longing for him in equal measure.

You knew then that he’d take care of you. That he’d protect you. And maybe…

“Sam and I don’t make a habit of going after the same girl,” Dean said. Even that, it seemed, was difficult for him to get out.

It broke you from your thoughts, again with your frown.

“Yeah?” you asked. A bit of your temper sparked once again. “Is that why you’re making me Yoko Ono? I’ll tell you something right now. You’re not John and Sam’s not Paul and I refuse to break up the band, Dean!”

“No one’s asking you to!” Dean said, finally raising his voice to match you.

He got off his seat and stood to his full height. Though he wasn’t as tall as his brother, he still towered over you. You craned your head up to glare at him.

His green eyes were once again full of fire. You tried to resist it, but that look made a jolt of electricity zip down your spine, and between your legs.  

“Oh, really?” you retorted. “That’s what you want? For me to forget you didn’t shake me the hell up?”

“Yeah, I really fucking would,” Dean gritted out. Even though his heart leapt at your admission, that he’d shaken you up at all.

“Why?” you said. “If you claim to care about me, why would you—”

“Why would you?” he shot back. He gestured at you with a dismissive hand. “The second you saw him, it was like your face lit the hell up. I’m not gonna get in his way. And by the time the you two were together, I just…I didn’t think you…”

Dean cut himself off, turning from you to wipe a frustrated hand over his mouth.

You watched him very closely, all while you made efforts to take in some deep, even breaths. You followed him, and more tentatively, you grabbed onto his wrist to tug him back around.

“Why would I what, Dean? You didn’t think I’d what?” you all but pleaded. Your grip lowered and tightened on his hand.

“Just talk to me,” you said. “Because this is your one and only chance.”

He was reluctant. For once, you could see it written all over his face. Or maybe you were just getting better at reading him.

“It’s fine. I’ve made my peace with it,” said Dean.

Liar.

He shook his head and slipped his hand out of yours.

“At the end of the day, you saw him, not me,” he said. “So go back upstairs, and we’ll never have to talk about this again.”

Your frown deepened as he sat back down and tried to turn away from you. You were so goddamn mad. At yourself, or at him, you didn’t know what percentages of each.

So you closed the distance between you and Dean and turned him back around, with a firm hand on his shoulder. Even with that small touch, your insides fluttered at the firm muscle there, and the broadness of his frame when he let you move him. He blew out an exasperated breath.

You wavered just slightly, as you contemplated the confession you were about to make. It shamed you, but at the same time, you were woman enough to admit your mistakes.

“I did see you,” you said, meeting his eyes. “But Sam never hesitated to show me what he wanted. And maybe…maybe he was safer. Familiar, and less dangerous.”

Dean’s brows furrowed, incredulous and confused.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked.

You couldn’t fault him for it. Your hand eased on his shoulder.

“Dean, seeing Sam again was like getting my best friend back,” you told him. “Back in college, we were thick as thieves. Me and Jess, Sam and Brady. And when you two found me to help with that case, I wouldn’t have ever seen him as anything more than my friend…until he did something about it.”

Your gaze was pointed. Dean’s lips pursed.

“When I met you,” you continued, “it was like the Godfather ‘thunderbolt.’ When you flirted with me, I didn’t know what to do with myself…whereas with Sam, I could fall back on my old habits.”

Dean’s face knitted further, making you sigh.

“With Sam, I’m the person I was when he knew me. The me that never faltered. That had all my shit together,” you said. Your small smile then was self-deprecating at best.

You felt vulnerable. Dean could see it in the way you held yourself. It was costing you something to be this honest, and that meant something to him. His face might've been stoic, but he was hanging on your every word.

“With you…with you I can’t hide," you said. Your voice was softer, slightly trembling. "And that terrifies me, more than monsters.”

Looking into Dean’s eyes again, you found him actually listening. He seemed to be digesting your words, and trying to make sense of them. You reached for him, clenching a hand in his shirt.

“So what was it that you thought I wouldn’t do?” you asked.

Dean studied your face a moment longer. He hesitated.

But he couldn’t keep lying to you either. What you’d just said gave him hope that he wasn’t about to fall flat on his face here.

With a deep, defeated breath, he shook his head and leaned his elbows on his thighs.

“I just got to thinkin’…” he said. “Why would you give up what you’ve got with him, for me?”

You didn’t know quite what to feel when you looked down at him. Disheartened, sympathetic, annoyed…but most of all, you felt your heart clench.

Your hands framing Dean’s face brought his eyes back to yours. You stepped in between his open legs.

“I’m going to try something. Just once,” you said, biting your lip. “And if it doesn’t work, we won’t speak of this again. Understand?”

A true smile finally twitched at the corner of his mouth.

“All right,” he agreed. You nodded.

Slowly, ever slowly, you leaned down and brushed your lips with his. It was chaste and sweet. Your hands were soft curving along his jawline. His hands found their way to your waist, molding to your shape. That steadied you, and encouraged you to dive back in.

You tilted your head and kissed him a bit deeper. He held you more securely against him, like he was afraid you were going to think better of this and pull away from him.

But you didn’t. His lips were soft and supple and knew how to move against yours. He soon guided you down for a seat on his strong thighs, even though the stool he was sitting on creaked at the added weight.

Then his tongue begged entrance past your lips. If this was his one chance, then damn it, he was going to make the most out of it.

You let him in with a moan. Your fingers tangled in his short hair, your nails dragging down the back of his neck and making a tendril of heat run down his spine. He squeezed your hips, down your thighs, while his lips continued to ravage yours.

It was one hell of a kiss.

But it wasn’t just lust either. At least, not for you. It was warmth, and an overwhelming feeling being right where you were always meant to be.

For Dean, it felt like a craving he wasn't meant to indulge in...but even so, having you in his arms felt as natural as he feared it would be. He didn't just want you. He wanted this. Today, and every day.

When his lips finally dragged away from yours, it took you a moment before you could even open your eyes, let alone catch your breath.

“Damn it,” you whispered.

Dean chuckled, and pulled back just far enough to graze your cheek with his curled fingers.

“Guess I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said. You smiled, but it soon fell.

“Oh God, Dean. What’re we gonna do?” you asked. Already there were tears stinging in your eyes. And still, you held him back with your arms curled around his neck. “I don’t want to hurt him.”

Dean’s relief, and a hidden swell of happiness, also dimmed. “That ship’s sailed, sweetheart."

You sniffed, wiping at your face. “Don’t joke right now, please.”

“I’m not joking,” he said. He held you a fraction tighter. His deep voice rumbled, with desire, longing, and remorse all at once. “I’m actually serious beyond fucking belief.”

You saw everything you needed to see in his eyes. It gave you the strength to be honest.

“So am I,” you nodded, sniffling again. “I’ll talk to him.”

Dean shook his head. “He’s my brother. I’ll do it.”

You stroked his cheek, feeling the rasp of stubble against your fingers.

“Together, then,” you compromised.

And with an unsettled breath, you reluctantly detangled yourself from Dean. Before this went any further, you needed to talk to Sam. It was easily one of the hardest things you’d ever contemplated doing in your life.

Dean seemed to have similar thoughts as he let you up, then stood along with you. He dragged a hand through his hair again and heaved a sigh.

“It’s not gonna be easy,” he said. His brows drew together as he considered every alternative reaction his brother might have. None of them were pretty.

You rested a hand on his arm.

“Look, Dean. If we’re going to do this…if I need to leave the bunker, I will. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work, as long as you’re in this with me,” you said.

Both your gaze and your will were unwavering. Dean didn’t doubt that you meant every word; that you were willing to jump into the fire with him. And that was just a small fraction of what had made him fall in love with you.

He took your hand, and pressed a lingering kiss to the inside of your wrist.

“I’m with you,” he replied.  

AN: So while it was painful to contemplate both of these scenarios, I hope I did them justice! 🥲

Which ending was your favorite: Sam, or Dean? 😘

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#Choosing Him #choose your ending #dean in love with sams girlfriend #unrequited love? #dean winchester imagine #dean winchester #sam winchester imagine #sam winchester #sam and dean #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester x female reader #dean winchester x you #spn #supernatural #sam winchester x reader #sam winchester x you #sam winchester x female reader #angst #hurt/comfort #dean gives you an impossible choice sequel #zepskies writes

[batking-lich]

putting the poll up early so i can go ahead and jump into the next book when i finish this one.

if any book(s) other than the winning choice gets notable support i'll mark it down for after the winning book

synopsis under the cut

prose and cons by amanda flower

Magic, books, and cats collide in a village near Niagara Falls in the latest Magical Bookshop Mystery from the author of Crime and Poetry.  In Cascade Springs, New York, Violet Waverly and her grandma, Daisy, are the proprietors of Charming Books, where the power of the written word is positively enchanting...  October in Cascade Springs means tourists are pouring in for the annual Food and Wine Festival, and Daisy hopes to draw those crowds to the store. She asks Violet and the local writing group, the Red Inkers, to give a reading of the works of Edgar Allan Poe in the shop’s back garden to entertain the revelers. Everyone eagerly agrees.  Yet their enthusiasm is soon extinguished when Violet discovers one of the writers dead during the event. After the shop magically tells Violet she’ll need to rely on Poe’s works to solve the murder, she enlists the help of her trusty tuxedo cat, Emerson, and the shop’s crow, Faulkner. But they must act fast before someone else’s heart beats nevermore...

(this is a sequel but cozies are generally pretty standalone & i'll give you a recap of the first book)

pearl by josh malerman (previously published as on this, the day of the pig)

From Josh Malerman, the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Malorie, comes the legend of Pearl, a strange new monster unlike any other in horror (previously published as On This, the Day of the Pig). NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL • “Daring readers should find this tale of a malevolent telepathic pig to be a memorable experience.”—Booklist (starred review) There’s something strange about Walter Kopple’s farm. At first it seems to be his grandson, who cruelly murders one of Walter’s pigs in an act of seemingly senseless violence. But then people in town begin to whisper that Walter’s grandson heard a voice commanding him to kill. And that the voice belongs to a most peculiar creature: the pig named Pearl. Walter is not sure what to believe. He knows he’s always been afraid of the strangely malevolent Pearl. But as madness and paranoia grip the town and the townspeople descend on Walter’s farm with violent wrath, they begin to discover that true evil wears a human face.

the murder wheel by tom mead

In London, 1938, young and idealistic lawyer Edmund Ibbs is trying to find any shred of evidence that his client Carla Dean wasn’t the one who shot her husband dead at the top of a Ferris Wheel. But the deeper he digs, the more complex the case becomes, and Edmund soon finds himself drawn into a nightmarish web of conspiracy and murder. Before long he himself is implicated in not one but two seemingly impossible crimes. First, a corpse appears out of thin air during a performance by famed illusionist “Professor Paolini” in front of a packed auditorium at the Pomegranate Theatre. Then a second victim is shot dead in a locked dressing room along one of the theatre’s winding backstage corridors. Edmund is in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time, and attracts the suspicion of Scotland Yard inspector George Flint. Luckily, conjuror-turned-detective Joseph Spector is on the scene. Only Spector’s uniquely logical perspective can pierce the veil of deceit in a world of illusion and misdirection, where seeing is not always believing. Tom Mead continues to pay homage to the locked room mysteries of the Golden Age in this second Joseph Spector novel.

(another sequel, but again mysteries can generally stand alone & i'll recap book 1)

grave witch by kalayna price

Grave witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, but that doesn’t mean she likes what they have to say. As a private investigator and consultant for the police, Alex Craft has seen a lot of dark magic. But even though she’s on good terms with Death himself—who happens to look fantastic in a pair of jeans—nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Alex is investigating a high profile murder when she’s attacked by the ‘shade’ she’s raising, which should be impossible. To top off her day, someone makes a serious attempt on her life, but Death saves her. Guess he likes having her around... To solve this case Alex will have to team up with tough homicide detective Falin Andrews. Falin seems to be hiding something—though it’s certainly not his dislike of Alex—but Alex knows she needs his help to navigate the tangled webs of mortal and paranormal politics, and to track down a killer wielding a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex her life...and her soul.

#bats makes a post #poll #book liveblog #liveblog poll

[pigcatapult]

If you won’t give me setting lore I have no choice but to make it myself, Dean.

I dare you to supercede this by releasing that sequel and/or movie. (No, really. Please supercede this by releasing that sequel and/or movie. A spiritual successor to Dust: An Elysian Tail has not appeared and I crave More.)

Right! So! It’s fandom necromancy time! Buckle in, my friends! There’s canon-typical genocide and canon-typical eating people under the cut.

Elysium is a planet that has civilization-ending cataclysms every few thousand years. Last time I was lorecrafting in this fandom, I went with demon apocalypses, but that’s a subject I need to revisit, too, so let’s just leave that mysterious for now. many, many eras ago, there lived a sapient species called humans. Humans possessed the perfect storm of curiosity, innovation, resourcefulness, and defiance of impossibility to propel their civilization to untold heights. They put a mastery of magic and even more mysterious forces that has never been seen before or since at the fingertips even the common people. Given such power, humans did what they had always done: Create.

The Cynthak were one of the first fully-sapient species to be created by bioengineering. They were born when this technology was still simple, and still required advanced skills to understand. Only a few experts worked together on the project, and they did not publicly release the source code used. Thus, the Cynthak are now known as a “closed source” species, and they are the only closed source sapient species known to be extant today.

In those ancient days, humans regarded such acts of creation with great caution, lest the world become unbalanced by their work. They designed the Cynthak reproductive system such that the male and female parts could not be joined directly, but only through a certain ritual which is now among the Cynthak’s most guarded secrets. Furthermore, their eggs had to be incubated in a narrow temperature range for female Cynthak to hatch, making them much rarer than their male counterparts.

But recklessness is also a human trait, and as bioengineering’s barrier for entry dropped, so did humanity’s fear of using it. Although the majority of new bioengineered “species” were crudely-designed partial organisms made for humor and not intended to survive as viable lifeforms, the fruit of a great many true efforts still thrive and mate naturally even now. In this time, great collaborations were undertaken and shared across Elysium, and a number of templates were made publicly available for anyone to use. These templates were called “open source”, and are the origin of most bioengineered species that live on Elysium today. Common sapient “open source” species include Klaix, Totha, and Atopots, all made with the same “anthropomorph” template.

Atopots are short, rounded anthropomorphs inspired by lichen. Their transparent skin takes on the color of the photosynthetic algae and cyanobacteria that live in and provide nutrients for them. They traditionally lay their eggs in high-walled clay or mud nests. They’re strict herbivores, but are hardy enough to live just about anywhere. If forced to live underground, they often form additional symbiotic relationships with fungi, letting them put down hyphae and draw nutrients from the soil.

Totha are anthropomorphs based on hooved animals. They can vary greatly in size and species of inspiration, but all have proportionately large heads for their body size, and unguligrade legs with short thighs and long hooves homologous to the human foot. All Totha are ruminants, with multi-chambered stomachs for breaking down cellulose. Male Totha often but do not always have horns. Most have neutral or earthy-toned coats, but many dye themselves other colors. Some Totha have ever-growing wool, and style, clip, or strategically shave it to express themselves, show group membership, or make a sweater.

Klaix, the most currently-prolific sapient species on Elysium, are anthropomorphs based on pawed mammals. They come in a very wide array of colors, sizes, and species of inspiration, though foxes, rabbits, mice, and cats are among the most common. Despite having existed and interbred for many eras, species of inspiration in Klaix remains completely discrete, with each child of a mixed union almost always having one parent’s species of inspiration or the other’s. Hybrids are possible, but rare and usually infertile. Though vast differences in phenotype occur within this species, Klaix almost never eat each other, despite their extreme omnivory giving them no natural inclination against eating the flesh of any other species, with no regard to sapience.

This trait is something their original creators would have considered a “glitch,” a bit of programming that just wasn’t quite right. If the creators of the Klaix had discovered this, they would have changed the source code and distributed a hotfix gene drive to the existing population. Unfortunately for humanity in the long run, this trait is easily masked by legal and cultural penalties for killing other sapient beings and by an abundance of readily-available food, which were both a given in the post-scarcity civilization Klaix were born into.

Then a cataclysm hit, destroying both of those protections in one fell swoop. Humans held on, eking out a less glorious existence in the next era in spite of many bioengineered species now exhibiting unintended behaviours. Klaix were far from the only ones whose design wasn’t doomsday-proofed, just one of the smartest and most adaptable ones. Humanity wouldn’t go extinct until the era after that, and while there were other factors, being hunted by hungry Klaix didn’t exactly help.

There have been many eras since then, and no-one remembers what “closed source” or “open source” originally meant. Most sapient species are still neurologically similar to humans enough that it only takes separating them into categories to fuel “my category is better than your category” behaviour. When combined with cataclysms and the closed source species’ poor fertility, they died out one by one.

The Klaix in the Kingdom of Falana have a particular appetite for buffalo Totha, and have decimated native populations. Only the Kush tribe has remained free by hiding in the Blackmoor Mountains and killing any Klaix that gets too close. General Gaius has had some success in conscripting captured Kush as muscle for his army (they are compensated by not being turned into burger patties), but they swing their war hammers with no regard for the safety of their alleged Klaix comrades. It’s worth it, Gaius thinks, to put an end to the cosmic mistake of the closed source.

#dust: an elysian tail #d: aet #dust an elysian tail #headcanon #general gaius #longpost

[onwardintolight]

Canon Catchup

With TROS coming out soon, I’ve been doing a lot of catchup on canon material that I’ve missed, particularly that which I think will be most relevant either for the movie or for Resistance Reborn (which I finished yesterday and will talk more about below). I will avoid major spoilers, as excited as I may be about some of them, haha, but I wanted to write out a few of my thoughts here while they’re fairly fresh.

A Crash of Fate by Zoraida Córdova and Galaxy’s Edge by Delilah Dawson—these don’t seem quite as relevant to TROS, but I read these two Galaxy’s Edge tie-in novels a few months ago and I thought I’d say a few words. I REALLY enjoyed the A Crash of Fate; it was such a lovely, heartwrenchingly beautiful story that reminded me a little of Lost Stars in the way that it focused in on a friendship/romance between two people who wouldn’t ever be main characters in the movies. The story was told primarily over the span of a single day, and wow did I not expect my heart to be pulled in so many different directions. Definitely one I will read again and again. 

I’m not sure I’ll do the same with Galaxy’s Edge. It was a super fun read, with some great, Indiana Jones-like action sequences, and I’d recommend giving it a go especially if you’re planning on ever going to Galaxy’s Edge—but it also had a few seriously problematic elements that I just couldn’t overlook. For one, NO WAY is Leia going to force Vi to work closely with someone who tortured her, and speaking of torture, many black people have already commented on the problematic nature of the excessive violence Vi undergoes in this book.

TFA and TLJ Junior Novelizations by Michael Kogge—I wanted to get a refresher on these stories, and since I’d never read the junior versions, I decided to give them a try. Overall I enjoyed these quite a bit. The TFA one was way better imho than the adult novelization by Alan Dean Foster, and both had some really meaningful character moments. There was one Leia scene at the end of the TFA one that brought me to tears.

Aftermath: Life Debt and Aftermath: Empire’s End by Chuck Wendig—I’d originally read the Aftermath trilogy as each book was released, but with everything I was hearing about Resistance Reborn, AND with the return of Palpatine in TROS and the promise of finally figuring out what’s been going on in the Unknown Regions, I thought it was a perfect time to revisit it. I skipped the first one (my least favorite of the three, and also my copy is in a box somewhere from when we moved last and the library’s audiobook copies were checked out) and read a synopsis instead to refresh my memory, then dived straight into Life Debt. Both of these books were as good or better than I remember them. I enjoyed them the first time, but I enjoyed them even better this time around. I feel like they’ve gained even more significance now. My HanLeia shippy heart is happy with some of their scenes, and also I rediscovered that I absolutely adore and would probably die for Norra, Wedge, Jas, Sinjir, Temmin, and crew.

Spark of the Resistance by Justina Ireland—this was a super cute but ultimately rather forgettable junior novel. The best part about it was seeing Rey, Poe, and Rose interacting. I may revisit it sometime after TROS and see if my unexpectedly skyrocketing feels for these characters (see below) makes it better.

The Poe Dameron comic run—I’d previously read the first trade (Black Squadron), the third (Legend Lost), and maybe a tiny bit of the second (The Gathering Storm), and aside from a really poignant bit in Legend Lost I just didn’t find myself very invested. This time around, however, flipped that on its head. Trades 4 and 5 (Legend Found and The Spark and the Fire) completely did me in, and without warning, I found myself 100% invested in Black Squadron. Poe, Jess, Snap, Karé, Suralinda, and L’ulo have officially joined the Aftermath crew in my list of characters I would die for. I just want all my babies to be okay! There were numerous moments in those last two trades (including the AMAZING Annual #2, a must-read for HanLeia new canon fans) which made me cry. I’m not even joking. So good. Well done, Charles Soule.

Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse—Buckle up because I have a lot to say! I HIGHLY recommend reading the Aftermath trilogy, Bloodline, the Poe Dameron comics, and watching the Battlefront II campaign (which I talked about in another post) before reading this because HOLY MOLY. You won’t be lost if you don’t, but it will mean so much more to you if you do. Speaking of crying, I literally lost count of the moments that brought me to tears, and so many were significant because of how all the stories I mentioned and more have been so beautifully interconnected in this one. Wedge and Norra, Zay and Shriv, and so many others—each was given their due and it was amazing. One character’s surprise appearance had me practically on my knees with joy and heartbreak all at once, and I would say more but I’m really trying to keep that promise not spoil you, haha. 

If the Poe Dameron comic weren’t enough to win me over, this book has officially cemented Poe as one of my favorite sequel trilogy characters. Tbh, I’ve had trouble feeling much of a deep connection with any of the sequel trilogy leads—I love them, sure, but not like Leia, Han and Luke, the trio I grew up with. I’ve wanted to love them more, I’ve wanted to be more invested in them, but it just hasn’t happened. I’m really glad I read this book before TROS, because I think this has changed that. I was definitely getting a few OT golden trio vibes with Rey, Finn, and of course, my Boi™ Poe—except they’re completely their own characters, and I’m really starting to love them for who they are.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book, it felt really meaningful, and I can’t wait to read it again. 

That being said, when I finished it yesterday I felt a little bit disappointed, like it tasted a little bit bittersweet. I’m still trying to figure out why that is, but I think it may be down to three things: 

1) Though there were a number of fantastic character reveals, there were some obvious people absent and I can’t help but wonder where they are. I hope they’re not dead. I hope TROS includes some of these characters, too. I hope we get the rest of their stories either way.

2) The book is way too short. Especially on the heels of the Aftermath trilogy, this feels like only the first act of at least three. The ending comes way too soon, just after it really seems to get going. This I don’t blame the author or the publishers for at all; they are very limited, after all, in what they can portray leading up to TROS. But it really left me longing for more. This book had such a wonderful focus on character, but in the end, I wanted to see the character arcs get even more resolved than they do here... but I guess they really couldn’t be, and that’s what TROS is for. I just hope the movie does it well! I need all these people to be okay <3

3) It doesn’t shy away from grief, struggle, and the mental cost of war. Honestly, that’s part of why I love it so much, but I think that’s also part of why it left me feeling a little melancholy. The Resistance is in such a seemingly hopeless place, and while things do get better over the course of the book, there’s still such a terribly long way to go.The First Order rains merciless terror on anyone or any planet who gives even the slightest hint of opposing them or of aiding the Resistance. The whole galaxy is afraid. Poe struggles deeply with guilt and with how to make up for the horrible mistakes he made in TLJ (this is not brushed off in the slightest, not by the book or by the characters in it, and I appreciate that). Rey is confused and still unsure of her place in things. Characters are faced with the fact that they will almost certainly die because of their choice to join the Resistance, and it’s heavy. And Leia. Oh, Leia. I am deeply grateful to Roanhorse for her very realistic portrayal of Leia as someone who has lost so incredibly much (most recently her husband and brother), most definitely has PTSD, and probably is dealing with a bit of depression. Leia is weary. Leia struggles to keep stepping forward, struggles to figure out the next step for those she leads. Leia struggles to keep hoping. The battle between hope and despair in the face of terrible loss and terrible odds is very much felt in this book. But as ever with Leia, hope always wins in the end. By the end of the book, you can still feel the struggle, but hope wins. 

I think that because I personally relate so much to Leia, reading some of that was hard. Not because I feel like it’s contrary to who Leia is, but because I resonate with it so much and because it reminds me in a particularly strong way of some of the struggles I’ve dealt with that I’d like to forget. It’s no wonder that my heart felt heavy after I closed the book. But along with that, I also see how Leia perseveres, how she’s finally gotten to a place where she lets herself rely on and be comforted by others, and how she accomplishes the seemingly impossible just because she damned well refuses to give in to despair, no matter how tempting it may be. It reminds me that I, too, can accomplish incredible things despite all my struggles, despite the odds stacked against me.

Anyway, I highly recommend this book. Resistance Reborn hasn’t quite come up to the level of Bloodline or LPOA in my personal ranking, but with future rereads, it very well might someday. 

This book—along with all of this reading—has put me even more on the edge of my seat for TROS than I was before, if that’s possible. I desperately want it to be the best ending possible for the Skywalker Saga and for all these characters who’ve become so beloved to me. I’m trying to temper my expectation—TFA still isn’t especially my jam, after all, and while overall I’m a fan of the ST (the TROS trailers made me cry, for goodness sakes), I have a somewhat complicated relationship with it in general—but goddammit, I’m hoping anyway. There’s so much beautiful setup in the new canon EU, such a deliberate focus on character, and so many hints that this might reach through the whole saga and bring together something bigger than we can imagine. 

I’m hoping anyway.

#A Crash of Fate #Galaxy's Edge book #TFA #TLJ #TFA junior novelization #TLJ junior novelization #Aftermath trilogy #Aftermath: Life Debt #Aftermath: Empire's End #Spark of the Resistance #Poe Dameron comic #Resistance Reborn #Battlefront II #SW books #SW comics #Star Wars #SW meta #SW review #thoughts #I also caught up on some of the latest Star Wars comic line #but I'll write about that in another post

[seuzz]

Mary Sues: What You Should Really Be Worrying About

So, a couple of weeks ago, the Writers Write blog posted an article: Mary Sues and Why They Make the Best Protagonists. As it happens, I've been thinking a lot about Mary Sues recently, so the article’s appearance in my Tumblr feed gives me an excuse to put my own thoughts down.

1. What is a Mary Sue?

Yeah, good luck answering that question. A visit to TV Tropes (No link! It's the Sargasso Sea of the internet!) confirms that there's no widely agreed definition of the term, let alone a commonly agreed analysis of what makes the Mary Sue obnoxious. But Christopher Dean (the author of the above article) lists five traits of the Mary Sue:

- is an idealized version of the author themself - outshines everyone - can solve any problem - has flaws that are actually virtues - has some kind of secret

To these I would add:

- receives constant emotional validation - is given unearned victories

I include the last because it’s the trait I've heard most often mentioned in connection with characters like Rey and Carol Danvers in the Star Wars sequels and Captain Marvel—and no, I'm not going to talk about those characters or movies!—and the trait that is hit most heavily by those characters’ critics.

But is it a bad thing to give a character these traits? Dean argues that they aren’t, and that many respected and beloved characters have them: Tarzan, James Bond, Peter Parker, Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker ... You can go read his article to see if you agree.

2. What's the Problem with Mary Sues? Dean's Answer So if Mary Sues are a perfectly acceptable character type—

Or, better, if their traits are not flaws of characterization—

—then why do readers so often dislike characters who have these traits?

Dean pins the blame on writing skill. Skilled writers know how to write characters with these traits. Unskilled writers—don’t look now, fanfic authors, but I suspect he's thinking of you—don't.

Well, that may be. But if an author goes in dread of writing a “Mary Sue”, it’s no help to advise them to “Write better.”

I've got a different take on the issue. Here's the tl;dr:

A "Mary Sue" is not a mistake of characterization or of character creation. It's the result of bad plotting.

If a Mary Sue is a character type, and if non-Mary Sues have many of the same traits, then no wonder it's impossible to define what a Mary Sue is.

But there is one trait that is not commonly found in non-Mary Sues:

- is given unearned victories

Even if you agree that Luke Skywalker, James Bond, Tarzan, and Harry Potter are “Mary Sues” by some common definitions, it is hard to argue that their victories are unearned. On the contrary, these characters tend to lose a lot of blood in the course of their stories.

But “is given unearned victories” is not a character trait. It is an attribute of the plot.

3. Plot Structure Here I have to make a digression to talk about what a plot is, how it is structured, and what it is supposed to do. [These points are not original to myself; I learned them from David Mamet, among others.] Basic points:

a. A story describes a protagonist who jumps into action to achieve a goal whose stakes justify the expenditure, overcoming significant opposition in the process. These elements (Who wants what? What is stopping them? What happens if they don't get what they want?) define the shape of the story. They give the beginning (the who stung into action to achieve the what), the end (the who getting the what, or definitively losing it), and the boundaries within which the story will move (the stuff connected to the who, the what, and the struggle to get it).

b. A plot is the machinery that carries the protagonist to their goal. It is the set of actions performed by the protagonist (and the antagonist) while trying to get from A to Z.

c. A plot is constructed of scenes, where each scene is a micro-story. That is, each scene is defined by a protagonist, a goal, a plan by the protagonist to achieve the goal, opposition to the protagonist, and stakes associated with achieving the goal.

d. Every scene ends with the protagonist failing to achieve their immediate goal.

4. Wait, What Was That Last Bit? Yes, that last point is probably a surprise to hear. In each scene, the protagonist is trying to get something; and each scene ends with the protagonist failing to get it.

So let me try to explain why this is the way you want to write your scenes.

a. Failure decisively ends a scene by forcing the protagonist to set a new goal and come up with a new plan. This leads to variety.

b. Failure (provided it has been justified in a way the reader can accept; plot-induced stupidity in the protagonist doesn't count) frustrates the protagonist; it also frustrates the reader, which forces the reader into greater sympathy with the protagonist and strengthens the emotional connection.

c. Failure (again, provided the author is good) forces the protagonist into difficult choices that cause them to evolve. Failure is what causes character development.

d. Failure that results in renewed resolution in the protagonist will (all other things being equal) elevate the protagonist in the estimation of the reader.

By contrast, stories in which the protagonist achieves each goal they set will be boring, the way a one-sided ball game will be boring. (No one, not even fans of the winning team, enjoys a 151-0 blowout.) Instead of sympathizing with an underdog, the reader may come to feel contempt for a character who can never fail. The successful protagonist will have no reason to change, and will be the same person at the end of the story as they were at the beginning. And though the constant victories may feel earned in the sense that competence has been rewarded, they will not feel morally merited as a result of grit.

It's the last-mentioned consequence, the lack of moral merit, that causes victories to feel "unearned.” But the other consequences—boredom, lack of variety, lack of change in the protagonist—typically lead to reader resentments that fasten onto otherwise admirable character traits (hyper-competence, popularity with other characters) and make them obnoxious, even when the writing is otherwise adequate.

5. Can We Have an Example? Let's look at Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977). Here's a plot summary of that movie, emphasizing how Luke's scenes invariably end in disaster for him and others.

Luke, while cleaning some new droids, discovers a message from a beautiful princess. He wants to learn more about her, and lets one of the robots talk him into removing the restraining bolt that shackles the robot. The 'bot then shuts off the message; worse, the 'bot runs off the first chance it gets, which will land Luke in a heap of trouble with his uncle if he finds out.

Luke sets off the next morning to retrieve the robot. He catches up to it, but instead of returning home he pauses to spy on some hostile natives. He is ambushed and saved from death only by the intervention of a friendly hermit.

The hermit tells Luke of his heritage and asks Luke to leave home on an adventure. This is test of character, and Luke (who has said he wants to leave his home world) flunks it by inventing transparent excuses to remain behind.

Luke learns that enemy soldiers are on their way to his home. He rushes back to warn or defend his aunt and uncle, but arrives too late and only finds their corpses.

Luke and the hermit want to get a planet where they can deliver the fugitive robots and the secrets they are carrying. They succeed in booking passage on a freighter, but they arrive to find their destination blown to rubble. Worse, they are captured by an enemy space station—the fearsome Death Star.

Luke discovers that the princess is aboard the station, and talks his companions into trying to rescue her. They do get her out of her cell, but have alerted the station, and are trapped by enemy units.

The company (minus the hermit) successfully escape the Death Star and return to the princess to her people. But their ship has been tracked, and their escape tells the enemy where the rebel base is located. The Death Star approaches with the intention of destroying it and ending the rebellion.

Luke and friends mount a desperate sally against the Death Star. Even here Luke only succeeds due to the timely intervention of an unexpected ally. Without that ally, he would have been killed before he had a chance to get off the winning shot. (Go back and look: Vader locks his targeting computer onto Luke, and has even started to fire, before Han swoops in.)

Every time Luke sets a goal for himself, he fails to achieve it and typically winds up in even worse trouble. Yet his perseverance makes his final victory all the sweeter, and we get to watch him grow and evolve under pressure.

For contrast, here's the exact same story, with the exact same character, but in which he achieves each goal.

Luke, while cleaning some new droids purchased by his uncle, discovers a message from a beautiful princess. He wants to learn more about her, but he's too smart to fall for the robot's sly suggestion that he remove a restraining bolt. Instead, he reprograms the 'bot and forces it to play the rest of the message.

Knowing now that he has to get the 'bot to a nearby hermit, Luke sets off with the 'bot the next morning. He runs into some hostile natives, but quickly dispatches them with his blaster and quarter-staff, rescuing the hermit.

The hermit tells Luke of his heritage and asks Luke to leave home on an adventure. Luke exclaims that this is the chance he's been waiting for, and rushes home to pack a toothbrush.

Luke arrives at home in the middle of a firefight. With his blaster and quarter-staff again, he saves his aunt and uncle and kills all the enemy soldiers.

Luke and the hermit buy an old space freighter and Luke pilots it himself to the planet where the robots need to go.

They arrive in time to learn that the Death Star is approaching, and that the princess is a prisoner aboard it. Luke, after delivering the robots, races off to the Death Star. He successfully infiltrates it and gets out with the princess without setting off any alarms.

The Death Star, while still approaching the planet, is intercepted by a fleet led by Luke. He succeeds in firing the killing shot that destroys it before it can blow up the princess and her planet.

Of course, it's impossible to judge without seeing the alternative story dramatized, but I think Luke in this story would be denounced as a Mary Sue, and would be so denounced even if all of his original character traits were unchanged. The only difference is that he would succeed in each scene instead of failing.

6. Keeping Things in Perspective Having your protagonist constantly fail sounds like a risk—they may come across as a loser or a bumbler. There’s a couple of things to keep in mind that will help protect your protagonist.

First, success or failure is often a matter of perspective. Think of the escape from the Death Star. In one sense it's an absolute success—our heroes (minus one) get away. But in another way it's a terrible failure, for in escaping they are leading the Death Star to the one place in the galaxy that they want to keep it far away from, the Rebel base. So it is possible to partially resolve the tensions that drove the just-ended scene while still throwing your hero into even worse trouble.

There are two ways to do this. 

The first is playing a kind of “Monkey’s Paw” game with them: Give them what they were fighting for, but withhold the benefits they thought would come with it. This happens in Star Wars when Luke and Obi-Wan reach Alderaan, only to find it has been obliterated. They got to where they wanted to go, but they didn’t get what they wanted out of the trip.

The second is by giving the protagonist what they want with all the benefits, but giving it to them in a way that leaves them worse off then they were before. This happens when Luke and Han pull Leia from her cell. That's what they wanted to do; unfortunately, they've alerted the security forces, and now she and they are likely to die a lot more quickly than they would have if they hadn't tried to rescue her.

By resolving some of the tensions while keeping other tensions in play or introducing new ones, you can keep constant failures from being demoralizing, to the readers or to the characters.

Also keep in mind that the failures need to be failures of the protagonist's own, conscious plans to achieve a predetermined goal. However, the protagonist can, unwittingly or an accidental byproduct, be making substantial progress toward ultimate success. In his talk with Obi-Wan, for instance, Luke fails to embrace his destiny. But he learns many elements of that destiny, which prepares him for that destiny when he finds it thrust upon him.

Meanwhile, save the unequivocal and absolute failures—as when Luke fails to save his family from the stormtroopers—for moments when the protagonist needs to undergo a massive reappraisal of their lives.

7. Summing Up There are a lot of reasons not to employ the concept of a "Mary Sue" when critiquing stories or when writing them. The term itself (as TV Tropes notes) long ago became flame bait. And no one agrees on which traits of a Mary Sue are the obnoxious ones.

But if I am right, then the real problem is not that a "Mary Sue" is a bad character type. The problem lies  in a plot that has failed to challenge the protagonist by setting them up for the kind of failures that lead to character development and audience sympathy.

It is often said that an author needs to be his protagonist's worst enemy: Once you introduce your hero, your job is to make their life sheerest hell.

Instead of worrying that you have created a Mary Sue, then, concentrate on making sure that you're doing everything you can to kill your hero. If you can pull that off, then you will have gone a long way toward protecting your character from the charge that they are a “Mary Sue.”

#writing advice #writingblr #mary sue

[javocjovian]

The Road So Far...

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Sarasaurussex’s Masterlist

• Bingos • Bangs • Holiday Events • Other Works • Art

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Bingos:

2019

A Supernatural Menagerie A collection of short smutty Supernatural stories! Mostly for Kink and ABO Bingo, plus a few requests. | Chapter | Title - Ship , Kink/Tag/Prompt | ʟɪɴᴋs | Ch 1 | Dress for Success - Destiel, Clothing Sharing | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 2 | Work, Work, Work - Sabriel, Rimming  | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 3 | Bondage Therapy - Wincest, Bondage | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 4 | Fully Loaded - Sabriel, Breeding Kink (non-ABO) | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 5 | Two Feet Under - Sastiel, Footfetish/Breathplay | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 6 | Blood and Flesh, Mind and Soul - Mooseley (Sam x Crowley), Coming Untouched | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 7 | Sensory Overload - Sastiel, Scent Kink | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 8 | How To Make Sammy Sleep - Wincest, Domestic Kink | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 9 | Two Veils To Hide My Face - Wincest, Scent Marking (ABO) | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 10 | Wet Dreams May Cum - Debriel, Sleeping/First Times | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 11 | Getting To Know You - Sketch (Sam x Ketch), Friends to Lovers/Face Fucking | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 12 | An Angel and Demon In Us All - Meg!Sam x Castiel | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 13 | Exorcising Those Demons - Balthazar x Rowena, Fake Relationships | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 14 | Heaven and Hell - Megstiel, Squirting | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 15 | The Trap - Destiel, sub!Dean/Sex Pollen | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 16 | Ride ‘Em Cowboy - Destiel, Sexuality Crisis | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 17 | Ramble On - Destiel, Oral | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 18 | How To Train Your Demon - Dain (Dean x Cain), Caning | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 19 | Natural Born Leader - Calthazar, Societal Role Reversal (ABO) | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 20 | Whiskey and Spice - Dean x Ketch, Tattoos/Accidental Scent Bond (ABO) | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 21 | You’re Mine - Wincest (Demon!Dean x Boyking!Sam), Teasing | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 22 | Blueberry Pie - Wincest, Restraints (ABO) | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 23 | Down Boy - Wincest, Petplay | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 24  | It’s A Farcical Life - Sabriel, Sam Wesson | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 25 | Table Manners - Wincest, Voyeurism (ABO) | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 26 | Saving Grace - Castiel/Michael/Lucifer | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 27 | First Blood - Demon!Dean x Boyking!Sam, Bloodplay (Freespace) | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 | Ch 28 | BONUS | Dress For Success with Art by Purgatory-Jar! | ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ | ᴀᴏ3 |

A Close Shave | tumblr | AO3 | Square: Orgasm Denial Ship: Michael!Dean x Sam, implied Wincest Rating: E Word Count: 5,803 Tags: Orgasm Denial, Forced Orgasm, Aphrodisiacs, Multiple Orgasms, Edging, Teasing, Denial, Oral, Anal, Bondage Summary: Michael!Dean returns to his prisoner and has some fun. Part I not necessary.

Wherever I May Roam | tumblr | AO3 | Square: Roleplay Ship: Destiel, Cockles, Dean Winchester x Misha Collins Rating: E Word Count: 11,432 Tags: Angst, Hurt, Comfort, Heartbreak, Idiots to Lovers, Relationships, Emotional Sex, Realism, Condoms and Lube, Caught in the Act, Jensen & Misha & Dean & Castiel, Jared & Sam, Rejection, Arguments, First Time sex, Happy Ending, Fluff Summary: Sam and Dean get sent to another TV Land that’s slightly different than the last. In this version, Jensen and Misha are dating. Can Dean keep it together long enough to be rescued and avoid ruining his precariously platonic relationship with Castiel? (cue Sam laughing in the background)

Show Me Your Moves - sequel in progress | tumblr | AO3 | Square Filled: Neighbors Ship: Destiel (18yo!Dean x hunter!Castiel) Rating: E Word Count: 12,436 Tags: Top Cas/Bottom Dean, technically legal, age gap, enthusiastic consent, porn with plot, hand jobs, blowjobs, rimming, anal, fun positions, coming too early, multiple orgasms, cum licking, mentions of masturbation, lots of lube usage, horny teen Dean, mentions of abusive John, angst, apologies, Castiel is bad at talking, protective lil Sam, after-care, comfort, fluff Summary: While on a hunt, Castiel the slightly-OCD hunter keeps running into a cocky, sarcastic, drop-dead gorgeous eighteen-year-old named Dean Winchester. Turns out the kid is pretty good at punching ghouls, eating all of Castiel’s food, and getting dirty ;D Also appearing:sassy teen Sam (who volunteers at an animal shelter), Ellen and Jo, and a bunch of dogs. Mentions of John, Mary, Bobby, and Castiel’s angel family. 

| SPN Kink Bingo Masterlist (ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ) | SPN ABO Bingo Masterlist (ɪɴ ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇss) |

Bangs:

2019

Catch the Wind - Wincest Big Bang 2019 | tumblr | AO3 | WBB post | Ship: Teencest, Wincest, Wincestiel (at the end) Rating: E Word Count: 21,521 Tags: Flashbacks, Timetravel, Action, Angst,  Hurt/Comort, John Winchester, OC villain, Choices, the Butterfly effect, Changing the past, Wound Care, Making out, Don’t wake dad, Guilt, Healing Sex, Threesome Warnings: Teenaged Wincest (Sam16, Dean20), canon level gore/violence, emotional parental abuse Summary:  When a rogue angel Castiel once spared begins murdering angels on the West Coast, Sam and Dean help Castiel hunt the angel down once and for all. Along the way they find themselves in a place, they stayed in as teenagers. It brings back memories of Sam’s 16th birthday when he was being hunted by a delusional friend of John’s who was determined to stop the next King of Hell. Unbeknownst to Sam, Dean, or Castiel, the past and present are inexplicably intertwined, and sparing the angel in the past has unfathomable consequences for Sam and Dean’s future. Fate, chance, and redemption must all be confronted for the trio to move on.

Lost and Found - Supernatural Trope Celebration 2019 | tumblr | AO3 | STC post | Ship: Sastiel Rating: M Word Count: 12522 Tropes: Amnesia/Memory Loss, Reverse Sex Pollen, Deathbed Confessions Warnings: Mental Heath Issues, Mention of Suicide, AKF Summary: When Sam starts acting strange, Dean’s faith in his brother comes undone, and after a bad fight causes Sam to leave the bunker for good it seems impossible they’ll ever be able to reconcile. But Castiel suspects something more is going on. He finds Sam, only to discover his worst fear: Sam is not himself, and it might be too late to save him. Castiel enlists Rowena to help solve the mystery of Sam’s condition, cure him, and reunite the Winchesters.

Red and Gold - SPN Canon Big Bang 2019 | tumblr | AO3 | CBB post | Ship: Sabriel , Crowbriel (GabrielxCrowley), Crowsabriel (SamxGabrielxCrowley), background Destiel Rating: E Wordcount: 25,906 Warnings: Dub-con Summary: Back from the dead and acting strange, Gabriel finds himself in debt to Crowley. In order to free himself he must fulfill a contract by spying on the Winchesters, who are trying to shut the Gates of Hell. But after Sam catches Gabriel spying on him in the shower (naturally), the contract is voided and Gabriel finds himself enslaved to Crowley as payment. Sam figures out Gabriel’s deal with the devil and tries to help, but ends up caught up in it himself. Eventually, Sam and Crowley discover the cause of Gabriel’s strange behavior, and the unlikely trio of heroes and villains come together to save their favorite feathered frenemy from an even greater threat.

Black Mountain Side - Team Free Will Big Bang 2019 | tumblr | AO3 | TFW post | Ship: Wincestiel, Wincest Rating: E Wordcount: 7,792 Summary: Castiel gets injured on a hunt, causing tension between himself and Dean. Sam is forced to play mediator, but even he can’t predict how the night unravels. Held up in a shack in the mountains, the trio discovers how far they’ll go for each other.

Holiday Events:

2019

Chill Me, Thrill Me: A Supernatural Halloween Story Supernatural Trope Celebration (Halloween Edition) | tumblr | AO3 | Rating: T Trope: For Halloween, I’m Going as Myself Tags: Halloween Party, Costumes, Mystery, Monsters, Hunting, minor Sam Winchester/OC, Making Out, Humor, Holidays Summary: Sam and Dean Winchester get invited to a party on Halloween night, but they have no idea what kind of tricks and treats are in store for them.

What Really Matters Galentine’s Day Fic for @mrswhozeewhatsis​ | tumblr | AO3 | Ship: Castiel x Dean x Reader Rating: E Tags: Grace Healing, BAMF Castiel, Vulnerable Dean, Protective Dean and Cas, Bunker sex, Threesome, Dean in the middle, Sub Dean, Top Castiel, Power-Bottom Reader, Humor, Fluff, Smut Summery: Dean blames himself when you get injured in a fight. Luckily, you and Castiel know just how to bring him around.

2018

A Very Supernatural Christmas Party | AO3 | Ship: Destiel, Sabriel, mild Crowlthazar Tags: Christmas Smut, Destiel Angst (with a Happy Ending), Humor, Pranks Rating: E Summery: Gabriel and Castiel need dates to Metaron’s annual Christmas party. 

Secret Santa Illustrated Fic | AO3 | Rating: G Summery: Crowley comes across a certain celebrity soul in Hell. Written for a fan.

Guess Who’s Coming to Thanksgiving Dinner | AO3 | Rating: G Summery: Sam, Dean, and the gang hit a roadblock on their way to Jody’s for Thanksgiving

Other Works:

Wet Dreams May Cum Debriel Creations Challenge @debrielcc​ | tumblr | AO3 | February Theme: First Times My Prompt: Sleep/Sleeping Ship: Debriel (Dean/Gabriel, Dean/Gabriel/Dream-Gabriel) Rating: E Tags: Somnophilia, masturbation, wet dreams, embarrassment, first time anal (Dean), hand jobs, prostate milking, wings, consensual, mild pain enjoyment, grace sex, grace bondage, induced sleep, bondage via induced sleep, soul fucking, dream control, dream sex, mind-reading, time-loop Summary: Dean has a wet dream about Gabriel, so Gabriel turns it into reality.

The Angel Who Would Be Human | AO3 | Ship: Gabrizar (Balthazar x Gabriel) Kinks: Shower Sex, Bath Sex, Blow Jobs, Sass Rating: E Summery: Balthazar becomes human for a week. Gabriel give shim a place to stay.

It’s Not Gay If You Don’t Hold Hands | AO3 | Ship: Mooseley, Destiel Kinks: So many. Crowley addicted to Sam’s blood, BDSM, Bondage, Shibari Rope, Cock Cages, Destiel Angst, Wing Kink Rating: E Summery: Set in an alternate universe following the conclusion of Season 9, Sam finds Crowley before he joins up with a newly awakened demon!Dean, and Castiel finds Dean before he can run off on his own.  Note: This is my most popular SPN Fic from a few years ago, it’s an unfinished RP

Supernatural x Marvel Mini Bang | AO3 | Rating: T Summery: Mobster AU Crossover featuring the Family Business (Supernatural), the Avengers Assembly (the Avengers/Spiderman), and the L.A. Guardians (Guardians of the Galaxy). Also, Deadpool shows up uninvited.

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Art:

Withheld - DeanCas Reverse Bang Art Withheld - DeanCas Reverse Bang Master Post

I’ll Always Be There - Wincest Reverse Art I’ll Always Be There - Wincest Reverse Master Post

Snowbound - Wincest Reverse Art Snowbound - Wincest Reverse Master Post

The Good, the Bad and the Fluffy - Wincest Reverse Art The Good, the Bad and the Fluffy - Wincest Reverse Master Post

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#master list #my writing #archive of our own #Destiel #sabriel #wincest #sastiel #Mooseley #cram #gabrizar #supernatural #marvel #the avengers #spiderman #guardians of the galaxy #deadpool #fanfiction #fanfic #crowley x sam winchester #arthur ketch x sam winchester #masterlist #SUPERNATURAL AU #supernatural canon #sarasaurusrex #Gabriel x balthazar #spnkinkbingo #my art #Fanart

[gffa]

One of the best things about STAR WARS fic is that there’s almost always something for someone, whether you want something plotty or more time travel, whether you want to cry about how sad Leia Organa’s life is or revel in how strong she is despite it all, whether you want to dive all the way back to the prequels or if you’re here for the sequels, whether you’re here for the big name characters or the more minor characters that fandom will try to flesh out, there’s going to be something that appeals. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed as long as I have, because something will appeal, no matter my mood! Sometimes I want something more hopeful, sometimes I want something that will break my heart, sometimes I’m tired of one era or just more hyped for another. I appreciate that fic helps further the world of the Saga, beyond just the story of Anakin Skywalker! I appreciate that sometimes it still really, really is about him! I appreciate that there’s fic that appeals to my shipping heart, I appreciate that there’s fic that appeals to my gen-loving heart, I appreciate that there’s so much variety that it seems next to impossible to get bored with Star Wars, not when I have so many new branches that fandom will help me explore! STAR WARS FIC RECS: TIME TRAVEL RECS: ✦ Let’s Try This Again by Nny11, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka, time travel, 11.7k wip    Anakin’s life is shaken up when he finds a small togrutan toddler hiding in a dingy alleyway, after all, she did create a Force bond with him and is apparently his future Padawan. Wizard! ✦ In Time by Ripki, obi-wan & anakin & cast, time travel, 27.1k    As the Clone Wars drags on and the secrets between them grow, Anakin and Obi-Wan have begun to drift apart. When a mysterious holocron sends them through time, they don’t only have to confront their past and future – but the present as well. ✦ A Future in Crisis by WolfMarauder, obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & & padme & cast, 7.6k wip    Ahsoka has a vision that may change the course of the future. She just needs to keep her master from falling, keep his wife from dying, and the Jedi Order from dying out… That’s all. The first step is returning the the Jedi Order and she finds she has more friends than she thought. ✦ Palimpsest by PorgParty, ben & obi-wan & anakin & ahsoka & cast, time travel, 21.5k wip    Kylo Ren, newly-crowned Supreme Leader of the First Order, finds himself flung back through time to the era of the Clone Wars. He decides to capitalise on this opportunity and insert himself into the life of his beloved grandfather Anakin Skywalker. Together they will rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Unfortunately, Kylo has never been very good at being evil. ✦ Old Man Luke by scarletjedi, obi-wan & anakin & luke & leia & ahsoka & asajj & cast, time travel, 41k wip    Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes. “Who are you?” He asked, hoping a direct question would yield answers. The old man seemed adept at side-stepping information when asked a bit more deftly. “I’ve never heard of a Master with your level of talent.” ✦ Unexpected Awakening (The Rewrite) by Rhiw, obi-wan & cast, time travel, 6.4k wip    The life of General Kenobi is cut short at the hands of his Padawan, but the sight that greets his eyes upon awakening is not that of blinding light of the Force, but the Jedi Temple he knew when he was still a youth. As he struggles to understand the path laid out before him, Obi-Wan unwittingly captures the attention of a singularly unusual Temple Guard, and that of a reluctant Qui-Gon Jinn. ✦ Rewind, Repeat by tulomne, obi-wan/satine & qui-gon & cast, time travel, 23k    And just like that, Obi-Wan Kenobi dies. But death is just the beginning, he realizes as he wakes as he once was, Padawan braid and all, alongside Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Satine Kryze. Visions of the future, just out of his grasp, plague the young Jedi as the three traverse the galaxy, avoiding the dangers that follow the Duchess of Mandalore. PREQUELS RECS: ✦ Domo Arigato, Mr Roboto by amarielah, anakin & sam & dean & cast, crossover, 13.7k    When Sam and Dean investigate a spate of Vader sightings in a remote Wyoming town, they discover that – this time – they’re hunting the real deal. Vader, meanwhile, has to adjust to a world that seems designed to piss him off. All while trying his best not to strangle the Winchesters. ✦ The Living Force; Parables for Padawans by glorious_clio, obi-wan & cast, 6.1k    Since infancy, younglings are taught the Jedi Code, “Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force.” Obi-Wan Kenobi learns these tenets backwards and forwards again. But even as a child, he is interested in nuance. And so his teachers tell him parables. ✦ The Great Galactic Politics Mess-Up by iomccoy, obi-wan & anakin/padme & dooku & mace & cast, 6.8k wip    Obi-Wan Kenobi asks Count Dooku if he actually has any evidence. He does. It gets messier from there. ✦ A Future Unlived by AlexTirZeng, obi-wan & katooni & cast, 1.8k    Just because a war was on didn’t mean people didn’t dream of a future; if anything, it made them long for what would come after. Obi-Wan was no exception. He’d hoped to see Anakin raise Ahsoka to knighthood. He’d hoped to take another padawan of his own. ✦ Remedial Jedi Theology by MarbleGlove, obi-wan & anakin & mace & cast, 31.2k wip    Let us consider the fact that the Jedi Order is a monastic religious organization based out of a temple, with five basic tenets of faith. ✦ Lessons Learnt by Sweven, ahsoka & kit & cast, 2.4k    As a kid, Ahsoka struggled with many things. Sometimes you just need someone to lift you up and give a word of encouragement. ✦ The Ryloth Excursion by Icarus_is_flying, obi-wan & ahsoka & cast, 2.9k    After a surprise Separatist attack, Ahsoka and Obi-wan find themselves stranded on Ryloth’s plains. Now master and padawan must work together to make it back in one piece. ✦ Duet by Silver Sky 1138, oc & cin, 2.3k    Asha Scarsi, the Jedi Padawan who feels the Force through music, isn’t half as good at lightsaber combat as she is at singing and mindtricks. So she’s a little nervous when Battlemaster Cin Drallig calls her to the training room after class. ✦ Luminous Spirits by Pandora151, obi-wan & ahsoka & cast, 5k    Ahsoka and Obi-Wan, before and after everything changes. ✦ a choice made and made again by Sweven, obi-wan/satine & qui-gon & cast, 4.1k    A glimpse into the year on the run ✦ We Have Lost by ReneeoftheStars, barriss & luminara, 1.9k    It has been a long time since Barriss Offee was imprisoned for bombing the Jedi Temple. Not one to break, she has survived it. One day, she receives an unexpected visit from one she thought long gone from her life. ✦ The Sisters of the Little Kindness by ambiguously, ahsoka/asajj, NSFW, 4.4k    Ahsoka isn’t alone as she goes into hiding. ✦ The Talk by B_Radley, shaak & ahsoka ( & background barriss/ahsoka), 1.9k    A Jedi Master gives someone else’s Padawan The Talk ✦ The Only Home We Know by ReneeoftheStars, katooni & petro & ganodi & byph & gungi & zaft & cast, character death, child death, 2.4k    The Jedi Temple is under attack. Determined to fight for their home, younglings Katooni, Petro, Zatt, Ganodi, Byph, and Gungi make their way to aid the Jedi Masters in defense of the Temple. But the situation is far graver than they expected. ✦ Darkest before Dawn by AceQueenKing, padme/mon mothma, 2.3k    “I want my babies,” Padmé whispered, leaning into Mon’s shoulder. Mon tightened her grip on the younger woman, trying to reassure them both. Padmé, glorious flower of the Senate, was wilting fast in her arms, and it scared her, scared her more than she’d like to admit. ✦ Departed by Pandora151, obi-wan & anakin & vokara & bant & dooku, character death, 3.1k    One was too late; the other was taken too soon. ✦ Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Lady Friend by Sulis57, obi-wan & anakin & rex & cody & boil & waxer & cast, 3.2k    Anakin Skywalker just wants a quiet night at home by himself. Unfortunately, a group of unexpected visitors arrive bringing a potentially destructive acquaintance into Skywalker’s home. ✦ The Probability of Failure: The Mother by B_Radley, shaak & obi-wan & cast, 1.8k    A huntress and Knight struggles to find peace in the wake of devastating loss. Several beings attempt to help her. ✦ Or has time rewritten every line by ambiguously, anakin & ahsoka & kaeden, 4.1k    Ahsoka gets a message from an old friend that leads her to an older friend. ✦ Flickering Sunlight by Pandora151, obi-wan & anakin/padme & cast, 1.5k    In the aftermath of Order 66, Anakin comes to a decision. OBI-WAN/ANAKIN RECS: ✦ Equinox by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, sith!obi-wan (sort of), d/s, 95.9k    During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin crash on a remote planet and take shelter in the ruins of a grand estate only to find they are not alone. ✦ Little Moments by darlingamidala, obi-wan/anakin/padme, 2.8k    This is a series of obianidala-focused drabbles, prompts, and shortfics. ✦ WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE by anecdotalist, obi-wan/anakin & bail & ahsoka & cast, 30.1k wip    War has broken out between the Republic and the Separatists. But that is of no concern to Ben, one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy. All he’s focused on is his next target…until he’s invited to a tournament of hunters on Serenno. There, he meets a young Jedi Knight—the Hero With No Fear, Anakin Skywalker—who’s disguised as bounty hunter Rako Hardeen. ✦ Unmoored by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, ~1k    In every world Anakin and Obi-Wan will find their way to each other, but this time it just might be too late for both of them. ✦ within us, through us by allourheroes, obi-wan/anakin, nsfw, ~1k    The Force is everywhere. Obi-wan helps Anakin understand. ✦ a spring haze by bell, obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, 3.2k    Obi-Wan kisses Anakin back because he believes in him. ✦ Three Bodies In Orbit by rainglazed, obi-wan/anakin/padme, 4k    A collection of ficlets and drabbles I’ve written for the obianidala suggestion blog, now posted to AO3 for easier viewing. ✦ These Three Remain by shadowsong26, obi-wan/anakin/padme, 27.5k    Immediately after the Festival of Light (and Obi-Wan’s stint undercover as bounty hunter Rako Hardeen), Anakin and Padme leave Coruscant on impulse, in response to an anonymous tip sent to Padme’s office about vital intelligence hidden in a cache of stolen goods. But things go terribly wrong, and they find themselves stranded and injured, with limited resources and no one knowing exactly where they are. ✦ Intently by zarabithia, obi-wan/anakin & cast, 2.2k    Five times Anakin thought about kissing Obi-Wan in order to distract him. ✦ Tumblr Prompts by Darlings (FromDreamstoEmpires), obi-wan/anakin, NSFW, human au, 1.4k (for this chapter)    A collection of prompts that I’ve filled on Tumblr. ✦ Satisfying Victory by zarabithia, obi-wan/anakin/ahsoka, nsfw, time travel, 3.4k    The Force gives and Ahsoka takes. (Or, Ahsoka goes back in time and is totally going to fix everything. But there’s another order of business to attend to first.) ✦ untitled by themoosejthm, obi-wan/anakin/padme, NSFW, toys, 2.3k    Anakin whimpered as he lowered himself onto the toy, his eyelashes fluttering and his toes curling. ✦ Soft now by Gondolin, obi-wan/anakin/padme (pre-ship?) & cast, 3k    Luke and Leia saved the galaxy before they were even born, Obi-Wan saved them and got aggressively adopted by the Naberrie-Skywalker family. Bonding with dads (plural, yes, Obi-Wan) is important and Padmé needs a nap. ✦ Addictions by lilyconrad, obi-wan/anakin, human au, mafia au, 3.4k    A Sith AU with three-piece suits: Ben is a “negotiator” for the mafia and Anakin his faithful, frightening enforcer. ORIGINAL TRILOGY RECS: ✦ In Which Vader Discovers He is a Father by glompcat, anakin & luke & leia & cast, 27.7k    A collection of (mostly self-contained) AUs where Vader learns about his kids earlier than he did in the canon timeline. Exploring both that moment of initial discovery, and the way the story unfolds after Vader finds Leia and/or Luke. ✦ The Princess Who Remembered Her Name: An Alderaani Faerie Tale by glorious_clio, leia & cast, 6.3k    “Once upon a time, there was a kind and clever and courageous Princess,” Bail begins his favorite story, and Leia is excited to share this with him. She goes through her life with the story in her mind, and tries not to read too much into it. ✦ The Hermit’s Son by landsail0r, obi-wan & luke, 1.2k    AU where Obi-Wan raises Luke. ✦ Hope is a Four Letter Word by laniew1, obi-wan & luke, 3.2k wip    Obi-Wan’s life is simple; he wakes, he eats, he meditates and on some mornings he watches Luke (or the Obi-Wan raises Luke instead AU). ✦ may you inherit his light by notbecauseofvictories, anakin & leia & bail, 2.5k    In this, as in many things, Leia is her fathers’ daughter. ✦ for the hint of a spark by egelantier, luke & leia, 5.1k    This is the gift she wants - her brother, her valiant brother, and the word is sweet on her tongue - and the price she doesn’t want to pay, the legacy she doesn’t want to accept. Her father’s body is burning, and she’s glad. ✦ How to Be Dead by victoria_p (musesfool), obi-wan & anakin & padme & luke & leia & han & rey & cast, 2.7k    You lose everything. You give up. REBELS RECS: ✦ Untitled Rebels Fic by Mirror and Image, zeb/kallus & cast, 11.6k    Kallus, on Yavin IV, sees a Lasat that isn’t Zeb. Things go as expected. ✦ Eidolon by Mira_Jade, han & hera & cast, 4k    Captain Solo and General Syndulla, on the subject of shipcraft, idealism, and love. In no particular order. SEQUELS RECS: ✦ Of Worth by celeste9, rose & poe & bb8, 1.4k    After Rose assists BB-8 with repairs to Poe’s ship, she gets an unexpected thank you. ✦ What They Grow Beyond by rain_sleet_snow, rey & anakin & cast, 7.1k    The war is spluttering to a halt, and Rey goes to Tatooine to build a lightsaber. FULL DETAILS + RECS HERE!

#obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #padme amidala #obikin #obianidala #ahsoka tano #luke skywalker #leia organa #shaak ti #mace windu #asajj ventress #fic recs #star wars fic recs

[nicolabarth]

Fire and Lightning - Chapter 6

Pairing: Michean (main pairing), Samifer (pretty important for the plot, too)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Sovereign!Dean, Mage!Michael, Mage!Raphael, Necromancer!Lucifer, Knight!Sam, nonbinary!Raphael (they/their pronouns), Blood Magic, Graphic depiction of Violence, Curses, past Michifer, lots of brotherly feels

Summary: Dean is still not used to Sam’s new lover, the necromancer and blood mage Lucifer, when even more mages show up on the Winchester lands. Michael and Raphael claim they’re after Lucifer because of crimes he commited and they have to bring him back to their homeland so he can be brought to justice. But is Lucifer actually guilty? And then there’s the fact that having Lucifer taken from him will break Sam’s heart. Dean can’t allow that, even though the more he talks to Michael the more he starts to like the stubborn bastard. And Michael knows it’s his duty to capture and return his brother Lucifer home, but the more he talks to Dean the more he starts to doubt that everything he thought he knows is true.

Notes: This is a sequel to Blood and Bones, even though it can probably be read on its own. Thanks to @askatosch @coplins and @brieflymaximumprincess for beta reading and keeping me motivated while writing.

Read it on AO3

The sun was only just rising, when Michael and Raphael approached the tower. They had left the Winchester castle right after Michael’s talk with Dean, green eyes watching them from the wall walk. Michael still felt those eyes on him, even though there were a few miles between them and the castle by now. He tried to shake the feeling, but it lingered, even when he spotted Lucifer in one of the tower windows, leaning out. Lucifer hadn’t changed, blond hair still in dire need of a comb, and still the same smug smile on his face.

“Michael! Raphael! What a nice surprise!” he called down mockingly. “A bit disappointing to see you’re more the ‘knocking on the front door of the evil necromancer’s tower’ kind of people, though. Even some of the knights around here have more sense and try to sneak in, you know? Anyway … how are things back home?”

“You dare ask that?” At the angry shout, Michael turned to Raphael. In his sibling’s face were all the emotions clearly written that Michael tried so hard to keep locked up. Betrayal, anger, hurt. “You know how thing are? Gabriel ran away! After what you did, father didn’t trust him anymore, because he was Amara’s student, too. He couldn’t stand it.”

“Well good!” Lucifer gave back angrily. “That way at least he’s safe.”

Not that again. Michael couldn’t bear to hear it a second time. “Surrender, Lucifer, and you’ll get a fair trial back home.”

Lucifer shook his head. “I’m afraid I have to decline. As long as father is making the decisions, there won’t be a fair trial for me.”

Of course he’d say that. “We have orders to either bring you home in chains or kill you.” Michael had to force the words out. But those were the only two choices left, no matter how much Dean’s siren song still resonated in him. No matter how much he wished things could be different.

“Oh, orders!” Lucifer’s words practically dripped with sarcasm. “Well, if you have orders, of course you don’t have a choice, haven’t you, Michael? Always such a good son to the man who ripped you from your real family.”

Anger flared hot in Michael just like the fire that was second nature to him now. “I don’t have to listen to this, Lucifer! Come down here or we’ll drag you out!”

“Then come and try drag me out! We’ll see how well that’ll go!” With that Lucifer’s face was gone from the window, and the tower lay before them, silent and forbidding.

Raphael cursed under their breath.

Michael drew his sword and called for the fire, letting it burn through him, cleanse him from all hopes and regrets. “You didn’t expect him to listen, did you?”

A sad smile bloomed on Raphael’s face. “No, of course not.” They nodded towards the door. “I’ll give you cover while you break it down.”

The door went to pieces without much resistance. Behind it the difficulties started. The undead were waiting in the staircase. Michael’s sword cut lines of fire through the semi darkness, severing limbs from bodies and head from necks.

As soon as the first wave was done with, Michael started to run up the stairs.

“Watch out!” Raphael called from behind him. “Trap!”

Michael froze. He could hear more undead coming down the stairs, but for now he didn’t pay them any attention, let his eyes wander over the walls and the steps.

“Ceiling.” He could feel Raphael’s hand on his shoulder, then Raphael lifted their staff, touching it to a rune that was painted on the ceiling with what looked like a mix of paint and blood. For a moment, the rune glowed angry red, then that glow flowed into the staff like water.

“Cleared,” Raphael said, and Michael lifted his sword and continued to cut them a path.

They’d almost reached the top of the tower, leaving bodies strewn in their wake, when a tiny brunette woman stepped in their way. Well, not quite a woman by the way Raphael cursed under their breath. As Michael took a closer look, he saw it too. “Lucifer, you cursed son of a demon!” Even with all he’d heard about his brother’s misdeeds, it shocked Michael that Lucifer had dared bind someone’s soul to his blood and make it a weapon.

“Hello,” the woman said with a grin. “I’m Meg and I’m afraid I can’t let you pass.”

Michael lifted his sword, flames flickering higher. He felt Raphael’s protective magic wrap around him, but that wouldn’t be enough. “Raphael,” he whispered. “On my mark.”

Then Meg attacked so fast even he didn’t quite see it coming. Michael batted a hand away that had formed into a claw, but still felt sharp nails leaving red hot scratches on his right cheek. He sidestepped, swinging his sword as good as he could in the narrow staircase. The tip grazed Meg’s arm, and she hissed, when she came into contact with the flames.

The next few moments were a flurry. Attack, parry, counterattack. Raphael’s magic crackled around him, taking the force out of a few of Meg’s more vicious blows. Finally, he had her with her back to the wall. He plunged his sword right through her chest.

Her scream chilled him to the bones, not that of a grown woman, but that of the child she must’ve been, when Lucifer took her soul.

“Raphael, now!”

Lightning crackled. It jumped right from Raphael’s staff to the small figure of their opponent. It was just slightly tinted red, using the energy Raphael had drawn from Lucifer’s trap earlier.

Meg exploded in a shower of blood, but at least the scream finally stopped.

Raphael shuddered. “The things Amara taught him …”

Michael nodded. Disgusted he wiped some of the blood from his face. “We have to hurry. Those things are nearly impossible to kill. She might be back soon.” With that rushed up the last flight of stairs and through an exit that would most likely lead to the roof of the tower.

“Michael!” Raphael’s shout made him stop at the last step before he had even taken in his surroundings.

The first thing he saw a moment later was the Basilisk.

It wasn’t actually a Basilisk. Well, it had been, but then someone had chopped its head off and sewn it back on later. It looked at them with dead eyes that didn’t have the capacity of turning people into stone any more. Next to it was Lucifer down on one knee, bloody hand on some intricate runework that covered most of the flat roof of the tower. And that was probably what had prompted Raphael to call out. They must’ve sensed the spell, before Michael had had the chance to see it. Lucifer’s eyes were glowing with the amount of energy it cost him to power it, and the flow of it reached up to the tips of Michael’s feet.

“I’m sorry,” Lucifer said. “I’m pretty sure this won’t kill you, but it’ll burn your magic out.” With that he straightened up, spell finished, and jumped on the Basilisk’s back. The creature spread its wings, and in the split second Michael had before the spell would go off, he wasn’t sure, if he was actually angry about Lucifer getting away. It felt more like relief. And maybe that’s why he didn’t even try to do anything, just stood there, waiting for it to happen.

Raphael sprang into action instead. They stabbed their staff at the runework lines that went just in front of Michael’s feet. And instead of ripping into both of them, the energies flowed into the staff and from there into Raphael’s body. A very effective way to diffuse a spell, but also a very stupid one.

“No!” That was Lucifer’s voice, Michael was almost sure of it. He didn’t pay his brother any attention, though. Instead he put a hand on the bare skin on Raphael’s neck. “Share!” No way Raphael was able to contain so much destructive energy by themselves. You didn’t just go around absorbing spells that had already gone off and would’ve hurt you badly from the outside. This was going to burn them up from the inside out.

“No!” Michael’s sibling managed through gritted teeth. “He’ll get away. Get him!”

For a moment, Michael didn’t move. He had been prepared to lose one sibling today. But two? The thought alone hurt almost physically. This was his duty, though. He had his orders. Michael swallowed and forced all the hurt and worries down. There could only be anger. Anger he could use to feed the flames.

When he turned to Lucifer, though, his brother hadn’t used the distraction to flee or to cast another spell. Instead the Basilisk who had barely taken flight set down on the edge of the roof again. Lucifer jumped from its back and lifted both hands. “I surrender. Help them.”

Michael didn’t move, just staring at his brother. This … It had to be a trap. The brother who had plotted to murder Father in cold blood wouldn’t surrender, just because one of them was about to die.

“Michael!” Lucifer pleaded. “Believe me just this once! I surrender!”

Next to him Raphael gave a pained groan, a sound that made Michael’s heart clench. His sibling was hurt. And for all that he had to be a good son, he was an older brother, too. Without taking his eyes from Lucifer he reached out again, touched burning skin. “Share!”

This time Raphael did. It was just a small trickle at first, just enough to give him an edge should Lucifer still decide to attack. After a moment more and more power flowed into Michael’s body, just enough at once that he could still handle it. Michael welcomed it, soothed its destructive powers, stored it. Lucifer just stood next to his Basilisk, watching, muttering something about Raphael being an idiot. Despite himself, Michael agreed.

Finally the energy settled inside Michael, no longer burning, waiting to be used again. Next to him Raphael stood panting, but otherwise fine.

With a deep breath Michael lifted his sword again and took a step towards Lucifer.

Lucifer took a step back, reaching for the undead beast next to him. “I surrender under one condition.”

“I don’t think you’re in a position to dictate conditions, Lucifer.”

His brother gave a shrug and a loopsided grin. “Well, I still have my own blood and an undead Basilisk. That should be enough to not make this easy for you.” He suddenly turned completely serious then. “But the energy you just absorbed? That’s Sam’s. Sam’s life force. Don’t use it against me. Promise to give it back to him, and I’ll come with you willingly.”

Anger flared up in Michael again. “You ripped your lover’s life force out of him to fight us?”

“He insisted.” Lucifer shrugged. “What can I say? He’s become quite attached.”

Raphael made a small, disbelieving sound.

Michael shook his head. “That’s low, even for you. Using someone’s feeling to get something like that. You know, for a while I thought you maybe actually cared about him.” He should’ve probably known better.

That made Lucifer’s features go hard. “I don’t care what you think of me. Do I have your word that you’ll return to him what’s his?”

“Look at him,” Raphael murmured, sounding surprised. “He’s genuinely worried.”

Yes, Lucifer looked actually worried, but anger, fire and Michael’s orders demanded that this didn’t change anything, almost drowning out the memory of Dean’s siren song. “If he really cared,” Michael snapped. “He shouldn’t have used the person he cared about to power his spells.”

Then he turned to Lucifer. “You have our word,” he said. Maybe it was just another distraction, just a way to play for time to whatever end that might be. But they’d taken enough from the Winchesters as it was. “Now send your beast away, shed all of your weapons and come here.”

When the undead Basilisk took flight and Lucifer’s dagger clattered to the floor, Michael still expected a trap.

When Lucifer was on his knees, bound by iron and magic, Michael still expected a trap. But there was also the growing feeling that something wasn’t right here.

“Why didn’t you let Raphael die and take me on one on one?” he asked. “With that beast of yours you would’ve stood a chance.”

Lucifer spat. “I rebelled so none of you had to die. He won’t make me kill my siblings now.”

That again. Though now it sounded less unlikely.

But Father couldn’t have lied to them all their life, could he?

“I’ll take Sam Winchester’s life force back to him,” Raphael said.

Michael nodded. Now that the destructive forces of the spell had dissipated it shouldn’t be a problem for any of them to carry that amount of energy by themselves. And Michael wasn’t very keen on facing Dean Winchester’s disappointment again.

“I’ll keep watch over Lucifer,” he said.

Lucifer grinned. “I’m so looking forward to the opportunity to catch up.”

“Shut up!” Michael snapped at him. He needed time to think.

Or maybe it was better to just bury all his thoughts and doubts at the same place where everything else had gone since Lucifer’s betrayal. Where he didn’t have to acknowledge any of it.

He was the good son after all. He carried responsibilities. He had his orders.

Tagging:  @lucibae-is-dancing-in-hell​​@humongouscandycoffee@schizonephilim @coffee-queen448 @little-boyking @solo-skywlker@samwise-the-true-hero @talkmagically @whinywingedwinchester

#michean #thearchangelnetwork #micheal #dean winchester #spn #supernatural #fanfiction

[weekendwarriorblog]

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND January 25, 2019  - The Kid Who Would Be King, Serenity

(Yes, I realize the weekend just ended for most, but hey, might as well get an early crack at NEXT weekend, huh? January is winding down with what’s going to be seem like a fairly boring weekend after last week’s M. Night Shyamalan sequel disappointing when compared to the sensation of Dragon Ball Super: Brolly, a movie that few movie writers knew about before Wednesday but grossed $21 million in six days. But hey, variety is the spice of life, and the two movies opening wide this week certainly add some spice with a duo of films from reputable British writer/directors.

THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING  (20thCentury Fox)

Written and directed by Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) Cast: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Dean Chaumoo, Angus Imrie, Tom Taylor, Rebecca Ferguson, Patrick Stewart, Rhianna Doris, Denise Gough MPAA Rating: PG

On the one hand, this action-adventure film is an exciting one, because it’s the second feature from Joe Cornish following his astonishing 2011 debut Attack the Block, but also, because it’s Cornish’s first studio feature for a mainstream audience, geared towards family audiences in particular.

It’s a fairly standard take on the King Arthur mythos with a young British lad (played by Andy Serkis’ son) finding Excalibur, the legendary sword in the stone and having to team with his best friend (and a couple school bullies) to take on the return of Morgana le Fey (Rebecca Ferguson).

It seems like a good idea to get kids, especially young boys, interested in the tales of King Arthur even though the last few movies have bombed as neither Guy Ritchie’s 2017 film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword or the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced 2004 movie King Arthur found much of an audience. In fact, trying to bring any British legend to the screen and get American moviegoers interested might be a fool’s errand, as seen by last year’s Robin Hood bomb.

The thing is that other than Patrick Stewart – star of Fox’s ongoing X-Men franchise, which seems to be in limbo these days -- and Rebecca Ferguson from the last couple Mission: Impossible movies, there are no stars in the movie that could entice those on the fence about whether to see this movie.  On the other hand, reviews have generally been good which could help boost interest a little more going into the weekend.

At first, I thought maybe this would end up with around $10 million, but it’s basically going to be a family movie coming into a market where most other family films have been in theaters for three weeks or more. (Dragon Ball is an exception.) Fox was also able to get it into more than 3,4000 nationwide, because wisely, it waited until after Glass opened for this.  Because of this, I’m going to goose up my number to somewhere between $11 and 13 million with most of the family movies geared towards boys falling away and Joe Cornish’s older fans maybe giving this a look. Sadly, the movie is not being marketed as “from the director of Attack the Block” as it clearly should be.

Mini-Review: Granted that Attack the Block was always going to be a hard act to follow for Joe Cornish, and yet he has written and directed a follow-up that might appeal to younger moviegoers though maybe not so much Cornish’s older teen fans from his directorial debut.

Louis Ashbourne Serkis, who is indeed the son of Andy Serkis, plays Alex Elliot, a fairly normal 10-year-old, who stands up to a couple school bullies and while being chased by them finds a sword embedded in rock on a construction site. It is indeed the fabled “Sword in the Stone” Excalibur as used by King Arthur. Along with his best friend Bedders (Dean Chaumoo) and their two relentless bullies (Tom Taylor, Rhianna Doris), they all go on a quest to fight Arthur’s evil sister Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson) and save Britain.

The first major hurdle this otherwise fine kids’ action-adventure faces is the fairly weak cast, because without liking Alex or his colleagues, it’s hard to root for them even with the stakes never feeling too great. The one exception is Angus Imrie as the young Merlin who somehow manages to get more laughs than the older Merlin, played by Sir Patrick Stewart. Alex’s mother is played by Claire Foy lookalike Denise Gough, and she also doesn’t bring much to what should have been touching scenes with Serkis. Ferguson is decent as Morgana, although the role doesn’t give her much to do.

Using many of the same creative team used by buddy and sometime producer Edgar Wright on Baby Driver, including DP Tim Pope and editors Jonathan Amos and Paul Machliss, as well as production designer Marcus Rowland, it’s a safe bet that Cornish has made another movie that looks damn good.  As with Attack, Cornish’s FX team perfectly integrate the many CG beasties with the human characters.

The thing is that Cornish does a fine job with this material, so that the movie is better than the Percy Jackson movies or other similar family films, and he should be commended for making such a smooth transition to studio family films. Even so, by the third act, I was just getting very bored, especially when I thought it was ending, and it went on for another 15 minutes.

The Kid Who Would Be King is perfectly fine -- it has its moments -- but there’s something about it that left me wanting, because it seems like it should have been a lot better overall.

Rating: 6.5/10

SERENITY  (Aviron)

Written and directed by Steven Knight (Locke, Redemption, “Peaky Blinders,” “Taboo”) Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou  MPAA Rating: R

The other new release of the weekend is something that possibly could have done very well in the ‘90s or early ‘00s as an erotic thriller, a genre that has had its ups and downs but has mostly done decently at the box office. This is the third movie from Steven Knight, the director of Lockeand writer of Eastern Promises, “Peaky Blinders” and “Taboo,” though I’m not sure his previous hits will convince many to see this in theaters.

Matthew McConaughey plays fishing boat captain Baker Dill, who has been living in hiding on Plymouth Island after his divorce. His ex-wife Karen, played by Anne Hathaway, shows wanting her to kill her violent and abusive husband (Jason Clarke) in order to save her and Baker’s teen son.  

McConaughey’s career has been all over the place in recent years, but his recent crime-thriller White Boy Rick didn’t do very well, and it feels like Serenity is heading towards a similar fate. In fact, McConaughey has been in quite a string of bombs since winning an Oscar for 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club with his biggest hit being the animated Sing. His most high-profile movie The Dark Tower made $120 million worldwide based on $60 million budget which made it barely profitable but especially disappointing due to its studio’s franchise plans.

Having Anne Hathaway could help as she’s been a lot more careful about her choices since winning her own Oscar a year earlier with last year’s Ocean’s 8, in which she played herself,being a relative hit with almost $300 million worldwide. Her last movie with McConaughey was Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar in 2014, which grossed $188 million domestically, so that’s somewhat of a bonus. The cast is rounded out by the ever-present Jason Clarke, who has yet to really break-out despite being involved in many Oscar-caliber films, as well as Djimon Hounsou, who is becoming a superhero film regular, having just appeared in Aquaman and having roles in Captain Marveland Shazam.  (Some might remember that he also had a great scene with Chris Pratt early in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie.)

While erotic thrillers have done well in the past, this movie was originally supposed to come out last September, and there was advertising trailers all summer – I know that because I saw the trailer for this in front of a ton of movies – but then it was moved to January, which is never a good sign of faith. This is a rare release from fledgling distributor Aviron Pictures, who released just two movies in 2018.  Aviron is releasing this one into just 2,500 theaters, which might already be too many screens considering how little marketing the film has

Reviews are still embargoed until Thursday (never a good sign), but I’m probably not going to review the movie, since I saw it quite some time ago, though I do have to say that that the big twist in this movie angered me more than anything in M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass.

This movie looks like the epitome of a late January bomb, one that probably won’t come close to $10 million for the weekend and might even end up closer to $5 million or a little more. Either way, it won’t have to make that much to end up in the top 5 this weekend since it’s going up against many movies that have been playing since before Christmas.

This week’s Top 10 should look something like this…

1. Glass   (Universal) - $19 million -53%

2. The Kid Who Would Be King  (20thCentury Fox) - $11.6 million N/A

3. The Upside (STX) – $10 million -33%

4. Serenity (Aviron) - $6.5 million N/A

5. Aquaman (Warner Bros.)  - $5.5 million -47%

6. Dragon Ball Super: Brolly (Funimation) – $5 million -49%

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse  (Sony) - $4.8 million -37%

8. A Dog’s Way Home  (Sony) – $4.2 million -42%

9. Mary Poppins Returns  (Disney) - $3.1 million -45%

10. Escape Room  (Sony) - $2.8 million -46%

LIMITED RELEASES

Many of my colleagues will be heading to the Sundance Film Festival this week, but I’m not going, so I don’t have much to say about it. Sorry!

On a more local level , we get  FIAF ANIMATION FIRST FEST over the weekend, focused on the booming French animation film industry with a 20thanniversary screening of Michel Ocelot’s Kirikou and the Sorceress and 17 US  and New York premieres, including the New York premiere of Funanand a number of shorts programs. Studio Ghibli’s Isao Takahata, who died last year, will be honored. You can read the full program and schedule of events Here.  I personally have never attended, but if I wasn’t busy I might check out some of the programs.

As far as the limited releases…

Following its November qualifying run as Germany’s Oscar entry and with two Oscar nominations under its belt, Oscar-winning filmmaker Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s (The Lives of Others) new movie NEVER LOOK AWAY (Sony Pictures Classics). The historic drama is loosely based on the life of visual artist Gerhard Richter with Tom Schilling (Woman in Gold) playing a young artist who has watched East Berlin go from Nazi occupation, watching his older sister be sentenced to death due to her mental illness by a ruthless Nazi doctor (Sebastian Koch), to falling in love with a young woman (Paula Beer) who happens to be that doctor’s daughter and escaping to West Berlin during the country’s contemporary art movement.  I found the movie to be overly long and a little confusing, because I wasn’t sure what the movie was supposed to be about until about 30 minutes into it.  

Just a few months after his last film The Mercy barely got a glance, The Theory of Everything director James Marsh’s new heist film  KING OF THIEVES (Saban Films) will open in theaters (including New York’s Cinema Village) and on VOD and Digital HD on Friday. The true crime tale about a group of retired crooks trying to stage an elaborate jewelry heist stars an ensemble of legendary British actors in Michael Caine, Jim Broadbent, Michael Gambon, Ray Winstone, Tom Courtenay along with Charlie Cox aka Daredevil. I had high hopes for this movie being better than the likes of Zach Braff’s Going in Style, something classier like last year’s The Old Man and the Gun, but sadly, it’s an obvious money grab for older British men and women reminiscing about all the better crime movies made by the cast.

Claus Räfle’s docudrama THE INVISIBLES (Greenwich) follows four German-Jewish youth who decide to stay behind in Berlin as World War II is beginning, living vicariously while dodging Nazi officials before eventually joining the resistance.  This story of survival opens at New York’s Quad Cinema and Landmark 57, as well as in L.A. at the Laemmle Royal on Friday.

The Brazilian animated film TITO AND THE BIRDS  (Shout! Studios) from filmmakers Gustavo Steinberg, Gabriel Bitar and André Catoto tells the story of a boy and his father who are looking for the cure for an illness inflicted on someone after being scared. After playing a number of film festivals, it also opens at the Quad Cinema in New York

It’s hard to believe that 88-year-old French New Wave filmmaker Jean Luc Goddard is still with us and making movies, but all the recent repertory series in New York and L.A. have been leading up to his latest film THE IMAGE BOOK (Kino Lorber). Don’t know much about this film which received a special Palme d’or at Cannes last year, but apparently it’s a “collage film essay,” which means that it probably doesn’t have a plot or narrative that’s easy to explain. It opens at the IFC Center and Lincoln Center in New York.

Tom Arnold and Sean Astin star in Ron Carlson’s Dead Ant (Cinedigm) as the members of an ‘80s hair metal band called Sonic Grave who had a power ballad hit 30 years earlier, and while they’re on a road trip to Coachella, they find themselves trying to be relevant again…. Until they’re attacked by giant killer ants. Okay, I think I need to see this movie, as it seems like my kind of movie.

Playing for one night only nationwide on Thursday as a Fathom Event is Timothy Woodward Jr.’s horror film The Final Wish (Cinedigm), starring the wonderful Lin Shaye (Insidious), Michael Welsh, Melissa Bolona and Tony Todd, and produced by Jeffrey Reddic (writer/producer of Final Destination).  Welsh plays Aaron Hammond who returns to his hometown after the death of his father to help his bereaved mother (Shaye) and deal with the demons from his past, finding a mysterious item while going through his father’s belongings.

Opening at New York’s Cinema Village on Friday and at L.A.’s Laemmle Music Hall on Feb. 1 is Francois Margolin’s controversial French drama Jihadists (Cinema Libre), co-directed by by Lemine Ould Salem, which was banned in France. It follows two filmmakers who were given access to fundamentalist clerics of Sunni Islam to show what it’s like to live your life under jihadi rule.

From Bollywood comes Vikas Bahl ‘s drama Super 30 (Reliance Entertainment), starring Hrithik Roshan as Patna-based mathematician Anand Kumar, who runs the famed and prestigious Super 30 program in Patna. Not sure of the theater count but it’s probably opening in a dozen or so theaters.

Opening on Wednesday following its premiere at Doc-NYC is Robert Townsend’s doc The 5 Browns: Digging through the Darkness, which looks at the 5 Browns, a group of Julliard-trained sibling pianists who rose to stardom only to be devastated when it’s revealed that the three sisters were sexually abused by their manager father Keith Brown. It opens at the IFC Center for a single-week run.

Also opening at the Cinema Village and in select cities is John Kauffman’s Heartlock (Dark Star Pictures), a love story about a female prison guard, played by Lesley-Ann Brandt,  who becomes the subject of affection from a charming male convict (Alexander Dreymo) who wants to use their relationship to help him escape.

STREAMING

The main film streaming on Netflix on Friday is Jonas Akerlund’s POLAR, his follow-up to Lords of Chaos, which premiered at Sundance last year and comes out a few weeks later. Based on the Dark Horse graphic novel, it stars Mads Mikkelson as assassin Duncan Vizla, known as the Black Kaiser, who is getting ready for retirement in a suburban town when he’s dragged back into one last job, but when it goes wrong, Duncan’s new love interest (Vanessa Hudgens) is dragged into it. I’ve never read the graphic novel, and I’ve generally been mixed on Akerlund’s films, but this one is definitely in the same absolute insanity realm of his earlier film Spun with a lot of crazy over-the-top performance from the likes of Matt Lucas (Little Britain) and Johnny Knoxville (Jackass), but in this case, it’s not a good thing. Mikkelson gives another stellar performance, and Hudgens is also quite good (didn’t even recognize her) but the craziness surrounding them from Lucas and the other assassins sent after Duncan made it hard to enjoy the film, especially compared to Mikkelson’s other upcoming film Arctic, but hey, it’s on Netflix so I’m sure people will watch it anyway.

Speaking of which, I also want to note that last week, I didn’t notice that a science fiction film called IO: Last on Earth, starring Margaret Qualley (Novitiate),was also streaming on Netflix. I haven’t watched it yet, but one of the writers also co-wrote Claire Carée’s Embers, which is one of my favorite festival discoveries from the past few years.

REPERTORY

METROGRAPH (NYC):

The Metrograph has a couple new series starting Friday, including Hou Hsiao-Hsien in the 21st Century, featuring 35mm prints of four of the Chinese filmmaker’s recent films: Millenium Mambo, Three Times, Flight of the Red Balloon and Café Lumieré. Then on Saturday, the Metrograph will show the classic Gone with the Windto kick off its Produced by David O. Selznick series, and there’s some great stuff to come, including Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellboundand Rebecca.  The theater will also be screening a 35mm of Ken Loach’s 1991 film Riff Raff, starring Robert Carlyle, who would breakout in Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting. On top of that, Kay Francis: Queen of Pleasure continues with William Dieterle’s Jewel Robbery (1932) and 1929’s The Cocoanuts this weekend, while this weekend’s Late Nites at Metrograph  option is Chantal Akerman’s News from Home  (1977) and Playtime: Family Matinees shows the 2015 animated film Shaun the Sheep.

THE NEW BEVERLY  (L.A.):

Weds. and Thurs. see double features of the 1977 film The Late Show and ‘78’s The Big Fix, starring Richard Dreyfuss. Friday sees a double feature of American Graffiti  (1973) and The Lords of Flatbush  (1974) with More American Graffiti (1979) added on Saturday… for just 10 bucks!The weekend family matinee is 1947’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, starring Danny Kaye.  The Sunday/Monday Franco Zeffirelli double feature is Romeo & Juliet (1968) with Brother Sun, Sister Moon  (1972). Tarantion’s Jackie Brownonce again plays at midnight Friday and the Tuesday Grindhouse triple feature is Katt Shea’s Poison Ivy  (1992), Streets (1990) and Stripped to Kill  (1987), which is already sold out online but may have more tickets at the door.

FILM FORUM (NYC):

Far Out in the 70s: A New Wave of Comedy, 1969 - 1979 continues with La Cage Aux Folles and The Seduction of Mimi on Wednesday, double features of Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? and Theater of Blood on Thursday, Woody Allen’s Sleeper and Bananas on Friday, then Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Saturday, and Papermoon, What’s Up, Doc? starring Barbara Streisand and Woody Allen’s Play It Again Sam on Sunday. As part of the series focusing on the great filmmaker and actor Elaine May, Film Forum will show A New Leaf (1971) and Mickey and Nicky (1976) next Tuesday. The weekend’s Film Forum Jr. is Gordon Parks’ 1969 film The Learning Tree.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):

Beginning another fun series of double features this weekend with Argento/De Palma with a double feature of Suspiria and Carrie on Thursday, Blow Out and Inferno on Friday, and Dressed to Kill and Tenebrae on Saturday. Saturday sees a special presentation of Craig Owen’s The Silent Film Era at the Alexandria Hotel, while the 1916 Douglas Fairbanks film His Picture in the Papers will also screen on Saturday with live music accompaniment.

AERO  (LA):

The AERO is offering an eclectic mixed bag of films this weekend including the 4k restoration of Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire (1987; Janus Films) on Friday night, David Fincher’s Fight Club  on Saturday, and the WC Fields comedy My Little Chickadee (1940) on Sunday night.

QUAD CINEMA (NYC):

Continuing the theater’s attempt to keep up with ‘90s Cinemax with its X-rated fare, Just Jaekin’s erotic drama Emmanuelle (Kino Lorber; 1974) will screen in a special engagement, leading up to next week’s Beyond Emmanuelle Just Jaeckin retrospective and Erotic Journeys: The Many Faces of Em(m)anuelle. 

IFC CENTER (NYC):

On Friday and Saturday at midnight, the IFC Center will show the 4k restoration of Dario Argento’s Suspiria as part of its Late Night Favorites series. While The Image Book opens here on Friday, Weekend Classics: Early Godard  continues with a 35mm print of A Woman is a Woman  (1961) and Waverly Midnights: The Feds screens Michael Mann’s Manhunter(with Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal coming in the next two weekends!)

LANDMARK THEATRES NUART  (LA):

Friday night’s midnight screening is the Rocky Horror Picture Show follow-up Shock Treatment (1981).

MOMA (NYC):

This week’s Modern Matinees: Sir Sidney Poitier offerings are A Patch of Blue  (1965) on Weds, They Call Me Mr. Tibbs! (1970) Thurs, and No Way Out  (1950) on Friday. MOMA is also screening Ida Lupino’s Never Fear (The Young Lovers) (1950) to end its 16th annual To Save and Project series, although there’s a couple second screenings for those (like me) who only just found out about it now.

That’s it for this week… next week, it’s February! Already?? While many movie writers are still at Sundance and others are preparing for Super Bowl Sunday, Sony releases the crime-thriller remake Miss Bala.

#WhatToWatchThisWeekend WeekendWarrior TheKidWhoWouldBeKing Serenity Movies Reviews BoxOffice

[death2thevirgin]

Survivor part 3

Characters: Me (sorta), Castiel, Bobby, Dean and Sam

Word Count: ~4,600

Warnings: Reference to past child abuse, Sexual abuse and physical assault. (Not much though) Violence, anger, language, Cannon divergence

A/N:  So I know I totally “skipped” the whole Lilith breaking seals season and jumped straight to the apocalypse thing, but it works better for the story to play out this way in my opinion. This is the final chapter, the way it ended leaves it open to do a sequel. This fic was one of the most challenging thing I have ever written. I want to say thank you to @iwantthedean for having this challenge that provided the perfect setting to get some of my story out there.  I have never met a group of people as amazing as the SPN family! You are all so special to me and remind me everyday to always keep fighting. Thank you all so much! I wrote this for @iwantthedean ‘s mini milestone challenge. The challenge was to write yourself into a fic and to clarify the only things that are based on my real struggles was the childhood abuse.  Everything else is fiction built around it or in a way what I wish really happened. This is part (3/3) I would appreciate if feedback was kept to the positive kind on this one. PLEASE READ WARNINGS! Thank you all for reading!

Catch up: Part 1, Part 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cassie’s POV 

When I left Bobby’s house I didn’t look back, I never stopped moving.  I knew as soon as Lucifer found out about me he would do whatever he could to get me to be his vessel.  Not only could I not allow that to protect the people I love but I had to protect all the innocent people of the world. I’m not too sure how much time had passed since I left, it could have been weeks or months. I knew I made the right choice, I could find a way to beat Lucifer but not if I was worried about protecting my loved ones.  A lot changed since that day, not only did I feel different but I was different.  

The first time I realized these changes I was in a diner and I thought I was just over hearing normal chatter but as I focused it became apparent that it wasn’t just normal conversation, I could hear thoughts.  At first it was a bit overwhelming but I calmed my breathing and when I focused, I realized I could control it.  That wasn’t the only change though, I didn’t get tired and was never really hungry.  I could feel pain but only in extreme amounts, I would cut myself and I wouldn’t bleed much.  All I could think was why didn’t this happen to me sooner? Why couldn’t I have these abilities when I really needed them?

I did my best not to use my abilities, afraid that maybe it would be a beacon that would bring all of Heaven and Hell down on me.  That was until tonight while traveling down interstate 70 when a truck pulled over.  Inside the truck two men peered down at me, giving me an all too familiar feeling. “What’s a pretty thang like you doing out here all alone?” The man in the passenger seat spoke in a southern drawl as he spat out his chew.

I try to just continue walking but I am frozen in place. I don’t think it is fear of the men that froze me, no, I took down monsters double their size.  It wasn’t necessarily the men themselves, more like what they wanted to do to me. I couldn’t move because I was assaulted with the memories of all those other men.  Their unwanted hands covering my body, the names they would call me and the hits I would receive if I didn’t listen.  The passenger takes my fear as his opportunity, he jumps out of the truck and make his advance against me.  As if my hunter instinct finally kicked in I start walking backwards attempting to increase the distance between us. “Keep going and just leave me alone!”  my words come out louder and stronger than I expected.

“We don’t want to hurt you doll, we just want to have a little fun.” He coos as if to reassure me. By now the driver is out of the truck and coming at me from the other side. “Get her” with that they both charge towards me.

I can’t really explain the feeling that came next.  It was a mix of terror, anger and frustration. I was terrified that I would belong to them and they would use me up just like every other man before them. I was frustrated because I seemed to attract these type of men, it was like they knew I was damaged goods and it didn’t matter if they used me a little more. Most of all I was pissed, I refuse to let this be my life.  I refuse to be used and discarded at the whim of a man.  That feeling settles in my stomach and sends a warm sensation over my body.  I feel like I am vibrating from within and it washes over me.  As the men get closer I reach my arms out, each palm facing a man “I said leave me ALONEE!!!”  On the last word the heat that built up through my body feels like it is leaving through my hands.  I drop to my knees, head down… I feel like every molecule in my body was drained.  I look up still expecting to see the men coming towards me, but not only are they nowhere to be found every thing that surrounded me looks like it was blasted away. I quickly look around, maybe I wasn’t alone. Maybe Castiel found me and this was his doing, but there is no one else there. 

Once I regain enough energy I stand, pain making its was to my head.  I hear a high pitched noise that only causes the pain to worsen.  I start walking again, stumbling a little as I regain my footing. I only make it a way down the road, then I decide to turn around and look back.  Where I was standing appears as if a bomb was detonated, the radius of the blast was so large I couldn’t really tell where it ended.

~~~

Castiel’s POV

She has been gone for two weeks, four days and thirteen hours.  I reread her note often, not that I believe it will lead me to her but it brings me comfort.  After I filled the Winchesters in on Cassie’s situation Sam offered to agree to Lucifer just to protect her but Dean wouldn’t allow it. He said he loved Cassie but he couldn’t let Sam sacrifice himself for her.  Not that it would work, once Lucifer possessed Sam he would know everything Sam knew about her.  Zachariah insists I forget about her and focus on stopping Lucifer and getting Dean to say yes to Michael.  I refuse to abandon her again, I will not leave her to be destroyed.

Dean and Sam continue on there own meeting a prophet named Chuck and learning about the four horsemen. Not sure what I can do, I get the idea to use Deans amulet to find Father.  If I find him, he will have to stop all this or at least explain why he is allowing it to continue.

I search for father refusing to believe he is dead, when I am not searching for him I’m looking for her. After searching with no results, I decide the best way I can protect her is stopping Lucifer before he even finds out. I go back to the Winchesters and help them, even if that means going against my brothers.  We finally track Lucifer down to Carthage, we get a chance and Dean shoots him with the colt but it didn’t work and we nearly escape.  Every step we take forward we get knocked back ten.  Trying to defeat Lucifer was difficult enough but with every Angel interfering nearly made it impossible.  Having to take time from the important matter to stop Angels from trying to kill Sam when we should be finding a way to end Lucifer.  Having to get the Winchester out of Heaven after the are killed and realizing that Father has abandoned us all were major set backs. I could feel myself draining, this fight was getting to me.

Then I used myself as a bomb to clear the way for the brothers to rescue Adam and defeat Zachariah.  I am blasted far away; I have no idea where I am or were I am going. I float in the vast nothingness and think of Cassie.  I have failed her in many ways and I hope by helping the Winchesters I was keeping Lucifer from her.  When I wake I am in a strange hospital and I have no idea where I am and I’m unable to heal my vessel.  Just as I grab my phone to call Dean I hear it.  The noise is soft at first, sounding like a train in the distance but then it is deafening.  It is a high pitched scream and instantly I know it is Cassie’s. Even with my weakened grace I can feel her and know exactly where she is, like a beacon.  

Unable to fly, I make my way to the Winchester gaining Pestilence’s and Death’s rings.  I inform them I know where Cassie is and if I do that means so do my brothers and Lucifer.  I implore to them that she is no longer safe and we must keep Lucifer from her or the world stands no chance.  The things I tell them are all true but they are not my main motivation.  Yes, I want to keep earth safe and stop the fighting from my brothers but I know I can’t loose Cassie.  Maybe it is my weakened grace, maybe its just the things I’ve been through since I first returned to this planet but I never felt this way about another person. If she is harmed or dies, I won’t care about the apocalypse they can end everything because my everything is Cassie.  

~~~

Cassie’s POV

After my run in with those two men I felt an urgency I’ve never felt before, I couldn’t say why but I just knew I had to get away from there and fast.  The open road held a feeling of danger, I was exposed and knew I needed to get hidden.  With a hurried pace I quickly make my way to the next town, Stull Kansas. Walking around I find a motel and set up for the night, I paint sigils on the walls just like Cas showed us. After taking a shower I lie down, though I haven’t really been tired lately after what happened earlier I felt a little drain. I was only planning on grabbing a few hours of rest before I pushed forward tomorrow.

I am lying on the bed when I notice the light begin to flicker.  I am quickly on my feet, grabbing my iron knife with one hand and my gun with the other. The flickering speeds up until all the lights in the room blowout.  Just my luck I would get the haunted room. “You room isn’t haunted Cassandra.” The voice is coming from behind me, I quickly turn on my heels spinning and coming face to face with a man whose skin is a little withered.

“Who or what the hell are you and how the fuck did you get in here?” I pull my gun up aiming between his eyes as I cock it.

He tilts his head sideways “Now Cassandra, that is no way to speak to your father is it?” He is wearing a cocky smile.  

My heart drops, Lucifer. “How did you find me?”

“Oh, well you put on quite a show earlier, smiting those low lives.  You sent a pretty powerful buzz throughout Angel radio, which I happen to have a subscription to.”  He steps closer to you causing you to step back until your back is against a wall. “I think its about time we get to know each other a littler better.” He sniffs the air between us “I can literally smell you power.”

I can feel his grace flowing off him like a tsunami, he is much more powerful than Castiel’s and it terrifies me.  “It’s not Cassandra, its Cassie and I have no desire to know you! You are nothing to me.” My words betray me and come out shaky but I take a deep breath, trying to find my courage.  “I already know what your going to ask me so don’t waste your fucking time. The answer is no… no now, no tomorrow and no forever.”  The more I speak the more empowered I feel, I stand a little straighter and square off my shoulders. It dawns on me he won’t lay a finger on me because he needs me.  

“You got a mouth on you, don’t ya.” He hisses, I can tell I am pissing him off a little.  “Just think about it Cassie, between your soul and our combined grace we would be unstoppable.  I know the things you’ve been through. I know you spent most of your life feeling like you had no control over what happened to you. Imagine never feeling powerless again, imagine punishing the ones that ignored your prays and pleas. Imagine getting to know your father, you’ve always wondered about me, haven’t you?”

To say I didn’t consider his offer would be a lie but of course he knew just the right things to say. “You’re right, I am tired of feeling powerless but you’re also wrong, I don’t want to punish anyone.  I just want to move past it with my family... This conversation is over and your answer is still no.” I push by him walking to the other side of the room.

“You’ll change your mind, they always do and when you do Ill be there.”  He adds a clap on the end for drama.

I jolt awake sitting up in bed, maybe it was all a dream. I know it wasn’t, I grab my watch looking at the time I realize how much I actually slept. I needed to get moving, to find a way to hide myself better.  I gather my belongings making my way to the door swinging it open and I am met with a steely gaze.

I don’t know how they found me but I can only guess it was the same way Lucifer did.  I just stand there unsure of what to do-do I apologize; do I try to run… I feel like I want to cry “I am so sorry guys.” I drop my bags and begin to cry silently, I squat down putting my head between my legs. That’s when I feel his arms around me, at first I thought it was one of the boys.  That is until my eye lock with those blues ones.

“We know you did it to protect us Cassie” Sam looks at me understanding. “But we always work better as a team and that is how we are going to stop this.”

“Cassie, you worried me… I didn’t know if you were safe.” Castiel whispers so only I can hear him and squeezes me a little tighter.  

I let the boys in and they fill me in on everything that happened while I was gone. The four horsemen, the rings and their brother who is the vessel for Michael. “So guys, what’s the plan?” I can see Dean clench up at my question, he turns his head looking out the window.  

Sam clears his throat directing the attention to him. “It’s a long shot but it is all we have at this point. 

Dean continues to stare out the window the whole time Sam goes over their plan.  He says he is going to say yes to Lucifer, he is going to fight him and use the Horsemen’s key to lock Lucifer back in the cage.  This also meant that Sam would be sacrificing himself in the process. “No.”  The room goes quiet and all eyes are on you, confused looks all around. “No Sam, you’re not going to do that. I am going to do it.”

Sam begins to protest. “No, Cassie you’re too powerful, we can’t risk him having access to your grace.”

I reach over grabbing his hand. “That is exactly why I have to do it Sammy, because I am going to be more likely to win against him.”

Dean comes over to were Sam and I are sitting, he takes a seat next to me, grabbing my free hand. “Sweetheart you don’t have to do this, it is our mess and we will clean it up.” His emerald eyes search mine for any hint of hesitation. 

I risk a quick glance at Castiel he is standing in the corner with a look of disapproval on his face. I look back to the first men I ever trusted in my life. “I know I don’t have to do it, but I should.  I am his daughter and a Nephilim, technically I shouldn’t be alive anyway.”  I smile trying to ease their guilt. “Besides you two have done so much for me.  You two have each other and do so much good for the world.  You two would be missed, me not so much.” I let out a soft laugh, I can tell they weren’t amused by the last part.  

I face Sam tucking his hair behind his ear “Sammy, you remind me so much of my younger brother, I can only hope he turned out to be half the man you are. I want you to know you are so much more than your past.  Yea, sure you made some mistakes but who here hasn’t.  You are smart and have such a big heart, please let yourself experience love again.” I lean in a place a soft kiss on his tear stained cheek.

I turned to face Dean giving his hand a tight squeeze. “Dean, if I ever got so lucky as to have an older brother I would wish he was like you.  If you were my older brother I would have grown up happy and safe because I know you would never let anything happen to me.  I need you to promise me you will go easier on Sammy… but also on yourself.  Not everything is your fault.”  Dean was able to keep his composure for the most part but he had a few tear sliding down the cheek I kissed.

Both brothers are unable to speak, I fought off crying but I was starting to loose that battle.  The tears came fast and flowed freely, I wasn’t upset about what I had to do, I just was going to miss these boys, my family. I stand looking a both of them “What is it that Bobby always says? Family don’t end in blood but it doesn’t start there either.” I am just able to get the words out before the sobs really start but in an instant Dean and Sam’s arms are around me. “I’m going to miss you two so much” 

Our hug lasts for a moment before Dean pulls away “Alright no more chick flick moments.” Which get a light laugh from the room. I give the boys both individual hugs and ask them if they mind stepping out and giving Castiel and I a moment alone, which they oblige. “We are going to make sure we got everything we need; we’ll be back.”

Once the boys are gone Castiel just stares a me, his expression unreadable.  He is standing in the corner when I grab his hand and lead him to the foot of the bed where we both take a seat.  Now that its just the two of us I can see that Castiel is different, its his grace it very faint.  With out speaking we communicate, I touch his cheek signaling him to look at me and when he does he doesn’t make direct eye contact.  I know he is upset that I am going through with this but its more than that, I think he is embarrassed about his grace. “I can’t even take you to our place one last time before you go.” His voice is growly and low. 

“Close your eyes Castiel.” I grab his hand and guide him back till we are laying side by side on the bed. Once his eyes are closed I focus on the lake.  The lake Castiel would take me too, I am not sure how I know how to do this but it comes naturally.  It takes a few minutes but when I open my eyes Castiel and I are at our lake. 

“I did it, I wasn’t sure I could.” I am sitting next to Castiel and It takes me a moment to realize he is holding my hand. I look over to him and can see he is adverting his gaze. “Castiel please look at me.” He obliges me. That’s when I see the sorrow in his eyes. “Castiel, what’s wrong?”

 He lets a long breath before answering me. “I failed. I failed Father, I failed my brothers and sisters and worst of all I failed you.” 

His pain breaks my heart. “Castiel no you didn’t.  You told me that God told you that he had a plain, that he trusted you to watch over me.” I tell myself I wont cry. “You kept me alive, I’m sure I wouldn’t make it to fifteen if it wasn’t for you.  You were an excellent Guardian Angel” I nuzzle into his side and rest my head on his shoulder, he is stiff at first but then he relaxes. “When I’m gone please take care of them, all of them. Watch over them like you watched over me.” 

I feel Castiel shift and look up to meet his eyes. I’m sure he is going to say something but instead he takes his hand reaching under my hair to cradle my head.  He places a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Always.”

We stayed like that for a while not needing to talk.  Eventually I knew we needed to get back to reality and I bring us back.  When we get back the Winchester are there, they ask me one last time if I am sure I want to do this. “You don’t owe anyone; Cassie you don’t have to do this.” Sam gives me one last chance to change my mind. I don’t, I say my final goodbyes and leave.  I know what I have to do and I am resolved in my decision.

~~~

Castiel’s POV

“Hey Assbutt.” I call as Sam throws holy fire at Michael causing him to vanish with shrieks of pain.

“Sam did you just Molotov my brother in holy fire?” Lucifer in Cassie’s body asks rhetorically. “No one dicks with Michael but me!”  She brings her hand up and snaps her fingers causing Sam to burst into a million pieces. “Didn’t need him anymore anyway.” Turning her attention towards Dean, easily snapping his neck with a twist of her wrist. “Castiel what are you doing here?” I have no time to mourn Sam and Dean, they are already gone. I have to help Cassie, even if that’s just to let her know I am here.

“Cassie, listen you are not alone I’m here to help you.” I try to reach her.

“Cassie isn’t here and she will not be sending me into the cage like you planned.” She stands ready to attack again. “I didn’t even know I had a child and I am already a better father then ours.  I will protect her and make sure she is never harmed again. The things he let her suffer through and yet you still fight for him.” A look of sorrow flashes over her face briefly.

“If you knew anything of your daughter’s pain you wouldn’t be boosting.  If you loved her, you wouldn’t have just killed the Winchesters. Cassie I need you to listen to me, you are stronger than him! You have to fight.”  I try to reach her, preparing for failure I ready for Lucifer’s attack.  When he doesn’t I look into her eyes. “Cassie I am here.  You can do this.”

I don’t know if I am getting through to her or not but when I look into her eyes I see a glimmer of hope. Her eyes are dark and she lets out a sigh “Oh Castiel, if you only knew the things she blamed you for, how much she hates you.” She steps closer to me grabbing the lapel of my coat.  “If you could feel the anger she has towards you, you would stop trying to get her to fight.”

I try my best to stay strong, but his words are hitting me in all the places that hurt.  “I know I’ve failed her in the past, that is why I won’t fail her now.  If she wants to go through with this plan, I will help her.”

“I knew you were stupid, but really?” She sneers “I guess I will just have to show you.”  With that she is swinging her punches landing hard on my face.  I know I should fight but I deserve this.  I deserve every blow; I deserve it for abandoning her all those years ago. I deserve it for not fighting harder to protect her.  I deserve it for all the things I should’ve done for her. “She is going to feel your bones snap; she is going to be the one that kills you.”

There is no use fighting, I know what is to come. “Cassie, it’s ok.  I am so sorry for not being there for you.  I am so proud of you, you are strong.” A few more blows land. “OLANI HOATH OL GASSAGEN” I close my eyes welcoming the final blows, welcoming the end.

“It’s ok Castiel, it’s going to be ok. I’ve got him” Her words come out with huffs, she sounds like she is struggling.  I open my eyes and see her grab the rings out of her pocket, tossing them to the ground and saying the incantation.  When she finishes the ground opens up, I pull myself to my feet. Stumbling towards her she puts her hand up as if to stop me.  I still go to her “Castiel I need to do this.”

“I won’t stop you but before you go you need to know.” Its hard for me to breath, she touches my temple and I can feel her grace run through me, I know I am healed. I need her to know before she goes, I need her to know how I feel. 

She places her hand on my cheek, her eyes never leaving mine “I love you too Castiel, I think I always have.”

“I am so sorry; I should have protected you.  I should have stood up for you and never stopped. So much of your pain is my fault.” Her eyes fill with tears.

She smiles softly, leaning forwarded and placing a gentle kiss on my lips.  She pulls away, but before she can speak I take her lips again this time with more passion.  I pull her close to me, not wanting to let her go.  

“Cassie it’s not gonna end this way; I have fight my brother.  It is my destiny.” Adam says as he appears.

She pulls away and takes a few steps back looking me in my eyes, I can see the sorrow written on her face. She closes her eyes, drawing in a deep breath. She spreads her arms out and falls back, Michael reaches for her but he is too late and he goes tumbling in after her.  The hole closes and they are both gone.

I stay knelt there for a while.  That is until I feel a hand on my shoulder I look up and see Sam. “Sam you’re alive?”

“Apparently.” He gives himself a once over inspecting himself.  “How are you?”

“Psychically I feel fine; my grace has been restored.  I don’t know how though. Do you think it was God?” I get to my feet walking over to where Dean laid, I place two fingers on his temple and he springs up gasping for air.

“What the hell happened?” Dean exclaims.  Sam fills Dean in as I walk to where she last stood.  I can hear the brothers when they walk up to me.  “You ok Cas?”

“I just lost the woman I love; I don’t think Ill every be ok.”  I think about all the things I would say to her if she was still here.  I think about her smile and the way she scrunches her nose; I don’t know what father’s plan was but this couldn’t have been it.  

  Tagged people I thought might be interested:

@iwantthedean, @grimesftwinchester, @vougebandit, @anavalentinelove, @teepartyy, @kikiamr, @maileann, @ryansgirl5509 , @spnfeelstrain, @mrstheorossix3 , @ykcim24-7, @rattyretro-blog-blog, @iamnotsaneatall, @dancingalone21 , @jerkbitchidjitassbutt , @notnaturalanahi@simplycheyenneautumn , @devilackles , @boredoutofmymindstuff, @supernatural-fan-123, @16wiishes, @notnaturalanahi, @illbeguiltyifyouwantmetobe, @tom-is-in-my-tardis, @ally-miller16, @impala-dreamer, @tatortot2701, @im-super-potter-locked, @eileenlikesyou-maybe, @jensen-gal,

#SPN #SPN Imagine #castiel #YouAu #youau challenge #self insert #voilence #cannon divergence #child abuse

[zepskies]

Hey could I request angsty and fluffy headcanons for Dean having a crush on reader but he thinks she has a crush on Sam but she actually has a crush on Dean back

Hey lovely!

So I kiiiind of already did this type of prompt with "Dean gives you an impossible choice" and its sequel, "Choosing Him."

But I'll do another imagine in this vein for you! ❤️

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader Word Count: 1,000 Tags/Warnings: Fluff, angst(ish), fear of unrequited love, mutual pining

Imagine: Dean reads you wrong.

When Dean falls for someone, it's "slow and steady wins the race."

But the spark. That spark is instant.

He feels it with you.

Your pretty smile. Your "get it done" attitude that mirrors his. The way you know all of his references, whether it's movies or TV or music — you grew up learning how to tell time from what was on TV, just like him.

It's the way you laugh with him, share quiet moments of contemplation with him, and even moments of grief with him. Even when it's his grief, you always come. Whether it's to sit beside him, or share a drink with him, or make him something you know he likes, or get him to take a drive with you.

But realistically, you have more in common with Sam.

Both of you are bookish (nerds). You two get into heated discussions about Dante's Inferno and proper Latin translations. (You always accuse Sam of his pronunciations being off, while Sam argues, "At least I remember the whole exorcism. You think the damn demon cares if my vowels are off?")

You and Sam bicker. You playfully tease him, bring smiles to his face just as often as you bring them to Dean's. You're comfortable with him, playfully jabbing his arm or his chest when you mess with him.

Sam takes it with a smile, or a slight roll of his eyes, but always with fondness.

Dean can't help the churning in his stomach. Every time he thinks he has a read on you. Every time he thinks it's safe to maybe, one day, after a hunt, after an episode of Dr. Sexy, after you get out of the shower, after he's made you a home-cooked meal, after you sit with him and talk about everything and nothing while he works on his car — he thinks he might have a shot if he asked you out.

But he always falters, because he just can't fucking tell. He thinks you and Sam have something.

And Dean...he likes you. A lot.

More than he's ever willingly expressed.

But despite his reputation with women, he's never, and will never, step on his brother's toes.

Until he can't help himself.

It's your birthday. Sam got you a series of books he recommended to you last month. (Again, fucking nerds.) Dean got the booze and made the food to celebrate.

But you're surprised, and even a little teary when he brings out the cake he bought at an honest-to-God bakery. He even stood in line, waited 30 minutes to have them write your name on it, with little balloons. The frosting letters are drawn in your favorite color.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart," Dean tells you. His tone is a little too soft. It's because he sees your unshed tears, and his heart clenches.

It's just a fucking cake.

Does it really matter that much to you?

But he still feels a well of warmth and pride in his chest. He turns to his brother with a smirk. "I win."

It's meant to be playful, but he kind of means it. Sam just eyes him knowingly.

"Sure," Sam laughs.

What the hell does that mean? Dean nearly frowns. But he's soon distracted — by you leaning in close to kiss him on the cheek.

He turns just in time (with slightly wider eyes) to see you blush.

That smile tells him something.

"Thanks, guys," you say to both of them. But your hand lingers on Dean's wrist, squeezing a bit.

At the end of the night, Sam turns in early. You stick around to help Dean clean up.

"Aw, stop. You're the birthday girl. I got this," Dean says, waving you off. You join him at the kitchen counter and lay a hand on his arm.

"Dean," you say softly. It earns his attention. You look a little nervous, your eyes falling from his, then meeting them again.

"What's the matter?" he asks. His brows furrow. He's thinking of your lips on his cheek. Unconsciously he glances down at your pretty mouth.

"Was wondering if you could help me with a birthday wish," you said.

A smile begins to tug at your lips, and Dean can't help but smile back. Intrigue, and a small tremor of something triggers up his spine.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" he asks.

You bite your lip. "Okay...I'm going to ask you this once. Yes or no. And if it's no...then we won't talk about it ever again and you'll have to wipe it out of your memory, because I don't want to make things weird or make you uncomfortable and I don't want to have to do something drastic, like leave the Bunker—"

Dean's smile falls as his brows raise in slight alarm. He also raises placating hands to stop your verbal flapping.

"Whoa, hey. What? What the hell kinda birthday question is this?"

You close your eyes and take a breath. "Okay."

Your eyes open, and as what happens far too often, Dean's captured by them.

"Close your eyes for me," you request.

"My eyes need to be closed to answer a damn question?"

"Damn it, Dean. Just do it, please!"

He lets out a slightly peeved breath, but he obliges you, shutting his lids. He really doesn't know what the hell is going on...until you lay a bracing hand on his chest and press a soft kiss to his lips.

For a moment, he freezes.

He inhales deeply through his nose as the surprise fades.

Relief floods in its wake.

A smile reaches his face.

But soon enough, before you can pull away, he grasps your upper arms to hold you in place. He dips his head down to kiss you in earnest. His lips find yours, gentle at first, and then gaining in passion.

He learns quickly the pattern of your lips, and the heady feeling of that knowing travels straight to his brain, stronger than the whiskey he drank earlier.

It's like you two were made to move together. To end up just like this.

You both are breathless by the time your eyes slide open and meet one another.

Dean's lips curve into a smirk. "How's that answer for ya?"

Your smile is beaming bright.

"Yeah, that works."

Chuckling, he pulls you in closer and tugs a strand of hair behind your ear, his thumb brushing your blush-warmed cheek.

And he answers you again.

AN: Ugh, I'm sappy as hell. 😂 Hope you liked this! Let me know what you think. 😉

Read Sam’s version: “Sam reads you wrong.”

Dean Winchester Imagines

Dean Winchester Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Ko-Fi Me ☕

Dean W. Tag List:

@hobby27 @kazsrm67 @letheatheodore @agothwithheavysetmakeup @foxyjwls007 @wincastifer @iamsapphine @simpforbuckyb @vanillawhiskeyflavoredkisses @roseblue373 @this-is-me19 @emily-winchester @spnexploration @deans-spinster-witch @deans-baby-momma @iprobablyshipit91

@melancholictearz @nic-kolas @sanscas @sleepyqueerenergy @wayward-lost-and-never-found @thewritersaddictions @just-levyy @samanddeaninatrenchcoat @deanwanddamons @antisocialcorrupt @lacilou @adoringanakin @theonlymaninthesky @teehxk @midnightmadwoman @brianochka @branj19

@agalliasi @venicesem @chriszgirl92 @lyarr24 @ladysparkles78 @solariklees @xsophianicolex @deansbbyx @candy-coated-misery0731 @curlycarley @sarahgracej @bagpussjocken @deanfreakingwinchester @chernayawidow @beskarfilms @mimaria420

#Dean reads you wrong #dean winchester imagine #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester x you #dean winchester x female reader #reader requests #ask me stuff #dean winchester #sam winchester #dean winchester fic #spn #supernatural #zepskies answers

[farm-blog]

The /r/movies BEST OF 2018 series returns this Thursday, December 27! As you attempt to recover from your holiday parties, think back to all the new movies you watched this year, and tell us about the ones you loved! Date Topic Thursday, December 27 Best Score of 2018 Friday, December 28 Best Trailer of 2018 Saturday, December 29 Best Scene from a 2018 Film Sunday, December 30 Best Performance of 2018* Monday, December 31 Best Film of 2018 Tuesday, January 1 Most Anticipated Film of 2019 *The customary Sunday "What was the best film you watched this week?" thread, to discuss all the other movies not from 2018 that you enjoyed that week, will be posted on December 30 as well. The way this works is that you post a review of the best film you watched this week. It doesn't have to be a new release, just any film you have seen over the last seven days that you feel is worth talking about. Here are some rules. 1. Check to see if your favourite film of last week has been posted already. 2. Please post your favourite film of last week. 3. NO TV SHOWS! 4. ALWAYS use spoiler tags. Report any comments that spoil recent / little-known films (e.g. Aquaman) without using the spoiler tag. 5. Comments that only contain the title of the film will be removed! Here are some great comments from last week's thread: Aquaman, they finished principal photography and the move was in post production for over a year and it completely shows that. The movie looks fantastic, sound editing is incredible, the way it changes when they are on the surface and when they go under water. James Wan truly did something many believed was difficult or near impossible, he made an mind blowing Aquaman movie, big credit also goes for Jason Momoa for adding his personal touch to the character. The movie have a few dialogue issues and a few weird song choices, but the action is incredible, you cant help yourself but agree with most of what the villains are fighting for, and a variety of side characters that you will wish you can see more. As far as superhero movies goes, this does a great a job introducing the character and the world he lives in, making way for a sequel that can be more focused. Hard to choose but I'll give it to Paris, Texas (1984) – dir. Wim Wenders. Got to see it in my art house theatre, and I absolutely loved it. Harry Dean Stanton brings such a great performance, seemingly transitioning from a child-like adult to a grizzly and haunted man. Nastassja Kinski is incredible as well, and so is everyone in this film(the child especially impressed me) except for perhaps the French actress for Ann. Not enough time has gone for me to collect my thoughts on it or to understand the whole picture, but I know that I just watched an incredible film. My first from German director Wim Wenders, and now I’m excited to check out his other acclaimed film, Wings of Desire, although before watching this movie I didn’t know it was the same director that made them. Great director nonetheless. Even though I saw nothing from Harry Dean Stanton while he was alive, I've been thinking about the movie and overall just being sad about his death all night long. Great actor. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) - Haven’t seen this since I watched it in class and I get the sense this isn’t the most beloved Shakespeare adaption, but god did I love it. It’s looks gorgeous. The music is stunning. The overall aesthetic is the best, very summer evening vibes. It has a pretty stacked cast and Keanu Reeves doesn’t actually seem to bad in it as I once thought. I found Robert Sean Leonard a stand-out, but then I’m biased and just love his melodramatic, loud but sweet portrayal of Claudio. This film is honestly just so fun, much like the most of the cast, I just never stopped smiling and having fun. Humour and dumb romance overshadows even the more tense moments. Overall, definitely recommend if you haven’t checked it out already. For further expansion of the rules, please read this link. Have fun and play nice! contentsuka

#moviesblogpicture

[zepskies]

DEAN WINCHESTER IMAGINES

Stories are Dean Winchester x Reader unless otherwise noted. These imagines include reader requests, headcanons, and one-shots from other story verses.

(**Notes 18+ only and/or smut)

You are Dean's one exception. 💚 In which Sam's in love with his brother's girl. (How Dean reacts.)

Sam crosses the line. ✨ You're dating Dean. Sam secretly loves you. He finally sees his chance with you after he's hit by a witch's spell. - [Sequel to You are Dean's one exception.]

⭐ Bonus: The conversation between you and Dean after you "find out" about Sam's feelings.

Reuniting with Dean.** 🩵 Dean returns from Purgatory. Will either of you be the same?

Texting Dean when he's on a hunt.📱 Sometimes he likes your teasing...other times he doesn't.

Dean gives you an impossible choice. 🫢 In which Dean is in love with his brother's girl.

Choosing Him 💞 You’re forced to make a decision between Sam and Dean. - [Sequel to Dean gives you an impossible choice. Contains both Sam and Dean endings.]

Say It Right 💜 You ask Dean for the truth: "Do you love me?"

Headcanon: Personality types Castiel, Sam, and Dean would be attracted to. ⭐

Vintage Collection** 📖 You and Dean discuss (argue about) his favorite magazine, Busty Asian Beauties.

Headcanon:** How Dean Winchester, Beau Arlen, and Soldier Boy (Ben) would react to seeing your breast reduction scars. ❤️‍🩹

Headcanon: How Dean Winchester, Beau Arlen, and Soldier Boy (Ben) would make up for pissing you off. 😤

Dean reads you wrong. 🤔 He likes you. The thing is, he thinks you might like Sam...

Headcanon: How Dean Winchester, Beau Arlen, and Soldier Boy (Ben) would react to you teasing him under the table. 😉

Headcanon: How Dean Winchester, Beau Arlen, and Soldier Boy (Ben) would react to you getting "morning" sickness during pregnancy. 🤢

Dean Winchester Masterlist

Supernatural Masterlist

Main Masterlist

✍️ Writer Support:

Have you enjoyed my Dean stories?

If you'd like to keep supporting me as I continue writing, here's a way to keep me caffeinated: Ko-Fi Me ☕

💌 Get Notified:

Follow @zepskieswrites (with notifications on) to get notified every time I drop a new story.

#Dean Winchester Imagines #Dean Winchester Masterlist #dean winchester #dean winchester x reader #dean x reader #dean x you #dean winchester x you #spn #supernatural #dean winchester smut #reader requests #dean winchester x female reader #dean winchester fanfiction #dean winchester x plus sized!reader #dean winchester x latina!reader #dean winchester x plus size!reader #dean winchester headcanons #zepskies writes

[zepskies]

Poll: Fic to "Podcast Fic"

Thanks to the lovely admins over at @spnfanficpond and @talltalesandbedtimestories, one of my SPN stories will be made into a podfic! I'm very excited, but I also need your help. 💕

If you're interested, which story would you enjoy listening to in podfic form? (Links and summaries below the poll.)

I tried to include longer stories or chapters in the options, but if there's a different SPN story (or series chapter) of mine you would prefer, please list it in the comments below! 💜

Stories Mentioned:

(Links and summaries below the cut.)

Choosing Him You’re forced to make a decision between Sam and Dean. - [Sequel to “Dean gives you an impossible choice.” Contains both Sam and Dean endings.]

Smoke Eater (Part 1) Dean Winchester is the cocky, but well-respected Lieutenant at Firehouse 25. He leads by example, but he’s also known to break a few hearts. He’s starting to crave something he’s never had, though. Something stable. Something real.

Midnight Espresso - (18+) You’ve never taken Dean’s flirting seriously…until he asks you for an impromptu Spanish lesson.

A Wish to Build a Dream On (18+) Dean has been harboring the archangel Michael in his mind for weeks now, putting a strain on your relationship. When Dean makes a wish that accidentally brings his father back from the dead, you get to meet the (in)famous John Winchester. But as always with magic, your boyfriend’s wish has unintended consequences.

Big & Tall - (18+) You steal Sam’s shirt. But that simple theft comes at a big price.

Make It Right (18+) He didn’t mean to claim you. Not like this. Not before he’s meant to die. [Omegaverse/ABO dynamics]

#poll #Fic to “Podcast Fic” #help me choose #dean winchester #dean winchester x reader #sam winchester #sam winchester x reader #dean winchester x latina!reader #dean winchester x plus size reader #alpha!dean x omega!reader #firefigher!dean winchester x reader #dean winchester x you #sam winchester x you #supernatural #spn #espresso verse #smoke eater verse #zepskies polls

[zepskies]

Needless to say, i love your stuff💗🌸

And I feel my fellow Zepskiesians🦋 would also love to know what happened next in “Dean gives you an impossible choice” after Dean made an entire orchestra play in the reader’s heart👀

No pressure tho, but just can’t get enough of your writing hun✨🙇🏻‍♀️✨

Hope you’re healthy 🫂💖and drink water!!! Stay hydrated 😘💗

Hello, lovely anon! You're so very sweet. 🥰 Thank you for your kind words!! 💕 I'm alternating between water and coffee to keep me going. 😘

So my requests are technically closed (for now), but you’re actually not the only one to request this sequel prompt to that imagine: "Dean gives you an impossible choice."

The lovely @iprobablyshipit91 did as well, and even gave me a great idea on how to do it!

(P.S. love the phrase "entire orchestra play." Highly accurate lol.)

This one got kinda long with two alternate endings, so next week I'll be posting the sequel imagine: "Choosing him." [Edit: this is out now!]

Quick update as well: I have a couple more requested imagines from my current bank that I plan to release before “Smoke Eater.”

Anywho, stay tuned...there be some angsty romance ahead. 😏

#ask me stuff #dean winchester #dean winchester imagine #dean winchester x reader #sam winchester #sam winchester imagine #sam winchester x reader #dean winchester x you #sam winchester x you #spn #supernatural #unrequited love? #sam and dean #angst #sequel imagine coming next week #zepskies answers

[farm-blog]

The /r/movies BEST OF 2018 series returns this Thursday, December 27! As you attempt to recover from your holiday parties, think back to all the new movies you watched this year, and tell us about the ones you loved! Date Topic Thursday, December 27 Best Score of 2018 Friday, December 28 Best Trailer of 2018 Saturday, December 29 Best Scene from a 2018 Film Sunday, December 30 Best Performance of 2018* Monday, December 31 Best Film of 2018 Tuesday, January 1 Most Anticipated Film of 2019 *The customary Sunday "What was the best film you watched this week?" thread, to discuss all the other movies not from 2018 that you enjoyed that week, will be posted on December 30 as well. The way this works is that you post a review of the best film you watched this week. It doesn't have to be a new release, just any film you have seen over the last seven days that you feel is worth talking about. Here are some rules. 1. Check to see if your favourite film of last week has been posted already. 2. Please post your favourite film of last week. 3. NO TV SHOWS! 4. ALWAYS use spoiler tags. Report any comments that spoil recent / little-known films (e.g. Aquaman) without using the spoiler tag. 5. Comments that only contain the title of the film will be removed! Here are some great comments from last week's thread: Aquaman, they finished principal photography and the move was in post production for over a year and it completely shows that. The movie looks fantastic, sound editing is incredible, the way it changes when they are on the surface and when they go under water. James Wan truly did something many believed was difficult or near impossible, he made an mind blowing Aquaman movie, big credit also goes for Jason Momoa for adding his personal touch to the character. The movie have a few dialogue issues and a few weird song choices, but the action is incredible, you cant help yourself but agree with most of what the villains are fighting for, and a variety of side characters that you will wish you can see more. As far as superhero movies goes, this does a great a job introducing the character and the world he lives in, making way for a sequel that can be more focused. Hard to choose but I'll give it to Paris, Texas (1984) – dir. Wim Wenders. Got to see it in my art house theatre, and I absolutely loved it. Harry Dean Stanton brings such a great performance, seemingly transitioning from a child-like adult to a grizzly and haunted man. Nastassja Kinski is incredible as well, and so is everyone in this film(the child especially impressed me) except for perhaps the French actress for Ann. Not enough time has gone for me to collect my thoughts on it or to understand the whole picture, but I know that I just watched an incredible film. My first from German director Wim Wenders, and now I’m excited to check out his other acclaimed film, Wings of Desire, although before watching this movie I didn’t know it was the same director that made them. Great director nonetheless. Even though I saw nothing from Harry Dean Stanton while he was alive, I've been thinking about the movie and overall just being sad about his death all night long. Great actor. Much Ado About Nothing (1993) - Haven’t seen this since I watched it in class and I get the sense this isn’t the most beloved Shakespeare adaption, but god did I love it. It’s looks gorgeous. The music is stunning. The overall aesthetic is the best, very summer evening vibes. It has a pretty stacked cast and Keanu Reeves doesn’t actually seem to bad in it as I once thought. I found Robert Sean Leonard a stand-out, but then I’m biased and just love his melodramatic, loud but sweet portrayal of Claudio. This film is honestly just so fun, much like the most of the cast, I just never stopped smiling and having fun. Humour and dumb romance overshadows even the more tense moments. Overall, definitely recommend if you haven’t checked it out already. For further expansion of the rules, please read this link. Have fun and play nice!

#movies-blog